I'm a sad, sad girl

I'm so sad, and tired, of seeing my friends and co-workers lose their jobs. It's disheartening and scary. Today I lost a dear friend to budget concerns, and my days will never be the same here.

It's so hard to watch the landscape of your work environment change. We become accustomed to the same views, sounds, and activities in our daily lives. As a cube dweller, I have become so familiar with my neighbors, we have a special bond. Kristin is a dear person, and a great friend. When J was home from the hospital, she made us dinner and brought drawings from each of her children wishing him well. They had asked her what kind of person he was, what he liked, she told them what she knew and I got these adorable renderings of a muscle man with a bicycle and a football field. She would drive to Irvine every day from Corona (in case you don't know, it's a whole county away on a terribly congested freeway). She works so hard for her children, who are so well-behaved and polite that you know she is raising them well.

Kristin, who has these three beautiful children to care for on her own.

Please, if you can spare the time today, say a prayer for Kristin and her children.

List of Prayers Needed

*Added a picture*

Keep praying for Patti Gobel, my friends. She is having some complications. She is the mother of my amazing friend, Lisa, and I don't want anything to happen to her.

Also, some prayers are in order for baby E, who I photographed two weeks ago. She's been sick, and is now at CHOC with a respiratory infection, bronchitis, and pneumonia. :(

My mom's favorite picture of Elizabeth.

And here she is in the hospital. Poor thing.

List of Prayers Needed--Updates and additions

Please don't forget my constant: Lance Corporal Collin Salisbury.

He is currently serving our country in Afghanistan. 

Awful weather there, by the way. I check it every morning. I have sent him two letters so far; I just need my life to be more interesting so I have more to say!! If any of my readers would like to send Collin some love, leave a comment below with your email address and I will send his mailing address to you.

Collin, I wish you warmth, comfort, a feeling of security, and some good food. I wish for time to pass quickly. Most of all, I pray for your safe return to us.

And an update:

J's aunt Shar's surgery was very successful. It involved the removal of Sally, a basketball-sized tumor, from her stomach. She is recovering at home (and not smoking! Go Shar!!)

Lisa's mother, Patti, also had a successful operation and is awaiting test results. Prayers for Lisa, Patti, and family are still highly requested. 

Michelle's dad was laid to rest on Friday afternoon in a beautiful service. Prayers for Michelle and family as, if you've lost a loved one you know, the hardest part may be yet to come. What a wonderful man he was. Topic of another post, perhaps.

List of Prayers Needed

This is probably going to be a new feature, as I find more and more often that the power of prayer is incredible. When J was missing, there was no reason he should ever have been found, except that a ton of people were praying their little hearts out, and he was found. I know that not everyone who reads this is religious, but I believe that it just can't hurt...Whether you believe that someone is listening, or if you would just fervently think the words and believe that the power of positive thought can make miracles happen, I would love for you to read through the words below and pray or "power think" them for my friends.

For Lisa and her mother Patti: that Patti's operations tomorrow to remove cancer in her abdomen will be successful and pain-free, and that she will be cancer-free as a result. That Lisa will have the strength and courage to support her mother. That the entire family will have peace and confidence in the ability of the human body to heal and persevere.

For Michelle and her father, Steve, who passed away on Tuesday: That Michelle and her family will be comforted and loved, and that they can eventually smile again. Sweet Michelle just wanted her father to walk her down the aisle, and hurriedly planned a March wedding. That she can feel his presence on that day, and that she can still rejoice in the joy of marriage despite this sadness.

For Shar, J's dear aunt, who is at home recovering from her own surgical operations to remove cancer; for quick healing and as little pain as possible.

Here is an image to focus on while you pray/power think, if you'd like.