GOOD Friday

We just got home from church...a moving service, reminding us of the sacrifice that Jesus made for us, for me. We sang, "all the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them". that had extra meaning for me this time. I think of how I've given up so much, my job (which was more than a job to me, so much more...) time, a bit of myself, sleep...so much I've "given" up, but still I'm left with more every time I do. So that helps me know it's a God thing..he's calling me to better things, I just know it..and one of those is the face I get to gaze upon every night around midnight....

A couple other faces have joined me tonight, Colby and Tysen are here, right now snuggled into bed with Poppa watching Bolt. it's a sweet reminder of what the really good things in life are.

I must admit, I've been with out a radio job for a week, and I'm missing it. But I still have peace about it..and to further prove that God has a sense of humor...today I received my first job offer since leaving KCWN...to do the morning show on a OLDIES station! I told them I would consider if I could add in a few rocking Third Day, Casting Crowns, Jeremy Camp, songs along the way and continue to be me...Talk about an opportunity to evangelize!

so you never know what's around the next corner...
All I can say tonight is
Ain't God Good??
I'll be switching the blog address to bevdevries.blogspot.com very soon, since I see my link and my bio have been removed from the KCWN sight..as is fitting...so watch for the move..and the new sight is called...
a Better Day.
I'll explain that one later, it's time to fix a snack for the movie crew!
Happy Easter!!

Bev

THANK YOU..many of you have written to me since i posted this last difficult post. God is taking care of me, your emails have come at JUST the right time, so you taking time to thank me for years of sharing on KCWN, have ministered to me MORE than you'll ever know...

On the radio right now, Kathleen Carnali, Carry Me. and before that my new personal favorite..Bebo's Pull Me Out.

and why am i UP at 11:20 when the BABY is asleep?? I think God just needed to send me a postcard of assurance...

Blessings to you all tonight.

love you....too

Bev

When I first started this blog, It was to keep people I know updated about the changes i anticipated in my life. I could have never imagined how many changes there would be.

First and foremost, we've seen miraculous healing for Valerie. After a month of "chemo pills", her white blood cell count is normal. Her heart function returned to near normal within 6 weeks, not the predicted one to 6 years. She's still dealing with some medication issues, and regaining her strength after declining health for over a year. And we do have a 2 month old baby in the house, whose schedule does not always jive with ours!

Georgia is now 2 months old, has grown to over 9 pounds and as you can see from the picture, is doing quite well! Here she is all dressed for church Sunday, in her latest outfit straight from the Pella II consignment sale (if you missed that sale, don't miss it next year!!)) Her Baby Gap cotton dress came complete with matching sweatshirt, and socks! Dressing a baby girl is sure fun!

Now to the biggest change that I never thougth would happen. I've been debating what to do about my job at KCWN. My boss, Marion Vink, has been very generous in granting me leave for the past two months, and we had discussed the possibility of me being on leave til August. But I really felt that this would create awkward situations for the staff, not being really sure of who was managing what areas of the station. I prayed that God would give me a sign as to stay or go, and I felt that sign was clear to me on Friday morning. Val's health situation and our home circumstances are definitely improving, but other areas seemed to be stuck. So I decided for my own health, and for the good of the station, that it was time for me to leave. I never thought that day would come.

I went to work on Friday night with intent to pack up my office..which I did. it was amazing to me how God took care of me that night. He sent my dear sweet friend and former co worker, Cinda, to the station. We prayed together, shared a tear or two and laughed about how we would have never thought a year ago that we would both be former KCWN employees! Todd Rowland was working on air, but had a family emergency to attend to, so I offered to work on air for him. What a gift for me, that's my first love, sharing GREAT Christian music on the air, connecting in a real way with all of you. Todd's wife stopped by to tell me how I had helped her through Nurses Training..and how she would miss me. (Everybody has an ego that needs stroked now and then..Friday night was my night) I was reminded of the MANY great friendships I have been able to enjoy because of my work at KCWN. And then, we just played music...and I was able to enjoy again the MESSAGE of the music. I have learned over the years (13 of them!) that we never need to explain the message of the song, because God uses the words to speak to each of us in just the place we are. And he did that in a mighty way for me on Friday night.

My thanks to Marion and the board of KCWN for entrusting the management, music and airwaves to me for over 13 years. My thanks to Lisa Williams and Casey Wright, true radio professionals, who trained me and gave me the confidence to be on the air. Thanks to my family for putting up with my strange schedule over the years, and the weekend calls from staff, and running in to make sure all was well "at the station". My thanks to many of you who have welcomed me into your homes and cars and workplaces, showing an interest in my family, and often sharing yours with me. I have learned that your stories are unique and I have tried not to share more than was fitting on the air. But most of all, thanks to God for giving me an amazing place to share my gifts and talents. I pray He was honored and that you were uplifted, and that you could see from my life, that it's not always easy, it's often hard, it doesn't always work out the way you planned, but you can be sure, God is always good.

My prayer is that KCWN will continue to bring you the best Christian music, that the personalities will connect with you in your daily walk, and that KCWN will glorify God in all that it does.

thank you too for all your prayers for my family, this past year and in years past. Continue to pray for me to find a new calling, to continue feeling the peace I had when I made my decision to leave. And who knows, maybe the door that I have closed at KCWN will become a window of opportunity for one of you!

there may be more blogging as well, I need to find somewhere to use up all the words I used to use on the radio!

and wouldn't' you know it, the NIGHT after I resigned, Georgia slept from 7 PM to 1 AM! When she finally woke up , i told her, my dear little lady, did you just want nanna to quit her job and stay home with you? to which she replied with a HUGE smile, and then, I am not kidding, she laughed out loud!

God and my Georgia have the same sense of humor.

Bev

by the way, love to hear from you. bdevries@lisco.com

and I'll be changing the location of my blog...i guess calling it the KCWN new day isn't' really right.

suggestions??

These are the boys, Colby De Vries a first grader at Sully Christian, Noah, in kindergarten at Pella Christian, Henry James, who just turned one, one of the "big boys" Randy, with his 3 year old, Tysen.

This is Georgia at 3 weeks and Jessa at 10 weeks! Hard to beleive how much they grow and change is such a little amount of time. We are looking forward to lots of fun with these two little gals, who will no doubt spend a lot of time running after the 4 boys!

This is me, Georgia, at 5 weeks old, i decided to try on something that was NOT pink...but mommie and nana still like to dress me up in ALL pink, or green, or lavender! I've even heard talk of a dress, and a headband with a flower on it!! I'll just keep dreaming of when I can go out and fish with daddy and poppa!!

doctor update: Val's meds are being adjusted, increasing the "water pill", which hopefully takes down the fluid, but that might also mess up a few other meds, and blood pressure..My but the body is a complicated and complex machine"! If yours is working anywhere close to "normal" tonight, you should go to bed very grateful!

A probably heart ultrasound in Pella on Friday, and then a return visit to the doctor next week, as we monitor symptoms and hopefully report progress next week.

Georgia says..good night, or time to party, I'm not sure yet which is which!

Too Busy to Blog

if you've been checking in, you may have noticed, we havent' had much to say! it amazes me how the day flies by...and how busy we are just getting up, getting dressed, eating..and taking care of Georgia! She's doing great, and I hope on Saturday to post a few pics. Her sleeping habits are still not what we'd like, but we see signs of her adapting to sleeping at night.
Our Nanny Laurie has returned from NW Iowa! We are GLAD that Western Christian of HUll made it into the Boys State BB tournement in DM, for that brought Cousin Laurie to Desmoines and then to our house! I feel like we've totally taken advantage of her, by letting her sleep on our sofa, right next to the swing where Georgia spends her nights! But the nanny seems to enjoy these accomidations, and only asks that she has off to enjoy the ball games. That we can manage!
Val will return to see her Heart Doctors in Des Moines today, shes' been retaining fluid again, and this is a problem we must stay on top of, so pray for a good report and easy solution to this current problem. Val continues to struggle with exhaustion, but is really dealing with everything rather well, and finding much joy in taking care of Georgia.
Our needs have been met in so many ways, including delicious meals made for us every night for the past two weeks! Dennis' cousin Joan Van Zante (rjvanzante@gmail.com) has done an excellant job of organizing this for us and also providing a couple meals herself! When the days have seemed long from lack of sleep or too many appointments, we have always been able to sit down to a meal as a family at home. A simple pleasure that after a few weeks of hospital cafeteria food, really hit the spot! Our sincere thanks to all of you who have helped us in this way.
If you should notice the time of this post, you'll see that I am in fact UP early! I think I may have ALMOST gotten too much sleep last night! Perhaps I should be storing up , for when the nanny returns home!
I am still on leave from KCWN. Sometimes I miss it..Sometimes I can't beleive I ever did have a life before this current one! But I guess it's all part of learning to Trust...
Thanks for caring for us
Bev

Sunday

AFter a night of little sleep and lots of visits between Georgia and myself, I thought church would be out of the question for this past Sunday. But when I finally grabbed two hours of sleep between 6 and 8 AM I awoke to find Val all showered sitting on the sofa asking if we shouldn't all be up to get ready for church! so within an hour all four of us were ready and heading for Pella II.
We had not been in church for a month, and it was Sweet to be back. Our church family has been so faithful in praying for Valerie's health and for the heathly birth of Georgia, and on Sunday we were able to present our living miracle.
For me, Sunday was super Sweet, for many reasons. Family. Gems Sunday. Gems, a club for Girls in the CRC, used to be called Calvinettes. There were celebrating their 50th anniversary. I remember when i was a little girl, being obsessed with the
Cadet Club of the First CRC in Oskaloosa. My dad was a leader and the boys met in our basement. I would lay on the living room floor every Wednesday night with my ear pressed to the floor to hear them singing along with our record player, all 3 verses and the wonderful chorus of Living for Jesus. ( a song that i know by heart to this day...) I wanted to badly to be a Cadet, but alas this was for boys only! I remember reading their magazine one Sunday afernoon, when my dad told me about Calvinettes, and from that conversation, I wrote my very first letter to a council of the church, requesting that they start a Calvinette Club in our church. I'm not sure how long it took, but thanks to lots of caring loving people in that church, we had a Calvinette Club! WAtching the video about the history of the GEMS in church, i know lots of ladies were remembering their own Calvinette story, complete with blue jumper, white blouse, and scarf and badges! The them of the video was "begin with small ones"...
that phrase hit me...begin with small ones...which seems to be exactly what i've been called to do in the past few weeks and the weeks ahead. Who knows what God has planned for Valerie and Georgia to do in His kingdom? who knows where all these sleepless nights will take a tiny little girl later in life? so in the hours when I would rather be sleeping, we're spending sweet time together..beginning with small ones..
Oh and if just being in church with our friends and family wasn't enough, and celebrating GEMS< our Praise Band was leading worship. I am their biggest "fan", which means I love using the music I bring to your on KCWN in worship (for me, it helps connect everyday worship with Sunday worship... I realized I had not sung a song for over a month! (except for one poorly sung but heartful accapella rendition of Praise God from whom all Blessings Flow when Val took her second dose of Gleevac without throwing up!!) It was Good to sing Praises to our God. with the band. Making a joyful loud noise..In church. a good Sunday.
Our whole family came over for supper, and it was good to see ALL the kids, including baby Jessa, who is so loves to be talked to and smiles and coos and tried very hard to talk back! I think she knows she'll have to get on with it to keep up with all the boys!!
It was an exhuasting day, but ever so sweet, and well, Normal.

we've spent every day since recovering!

A doctor's visit on Tuesday gave us good news that Val's white cell count has continued to go down, now at 12000. It was 58000 after GEorgia's birth. I'm not sure about the usual amount of time for Gleevac to work, but I would think this is pretty fast, and that's cuz I'm pretty sure it's NOT all about the Gleevac..it's about Faith and the prayers of many many people. While we still have a long ways to go, we are on the road..with a light at the end.

Miss Georgia also had a chance to get on the scale and we report her weight is now 6 pounds 9 and half ounces! Seems all those late night snacks are doing her a lot of good! We're both gaining really well..but nanna has to find a way to stop!

Thanks for checking in on us, sorry i've been away for a few days. i cant' beleive how busy we are! the meals that cousin Joan organized for us have been wonderful!! THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!! I think we're covered through the end of this week, then I might have to figure out how to do more than wash dishes and fix bottles in the kitchen!!

Hope you were able to find us after our move from the KCWN web page!! you can still respond to this blog,or email us directly at bdevries@lisco.com

Seize the Day
bev

Randy and Colby sang for Jessa's baptism. Tysen sat on the "big green pastor chair' behind the pulpit!

Noah loves his new cousin, "I wish she was my sister!"

Our "nanny" Laurie telling Georgia that it's time to sleep!!

Henry turns One Year Old and finds the snack drawer at nanna's!

Beautiful Baby Jessa Kay in her baptism dress!

We caught Georgia with a smile!

and a picture of Nana Bev (Doctor Nana in her scrubs, the day Georgia was born)

Moving

I'm moving the blog from the KCWN web sight, so I hope you save us in your favorites!!
I'll be taking a one month leave from work, as I've used up more than my vacation time this past month, and I just don't feel ready to come back to work yet. As Val gets stronger, and Georgia sleeps more, I think I'll be ready, but not now, not yet, so my thanks to everybody at KCWN for keeping things going without me for another month. (It's amazing how much a person thinks they are needed, when in reality, life rolls on with out you!!)
I think today i'd just like to share some pictures of our life this past month, Enjoy!!

3 weeks

ago, Georgia was born! what a 3 weeks it's been...
this week has been interesting too, another homecoming from the hospital on Tuesday, adjusting to being home, sleepless nights while we figure out Georgia's ever changing schedule. Tuesday and Wednesday were a little rough, mostly on Nana! But last night, we both enjoyed the tranquility of the Graco Sweet Peace Swing. From 2 am to 6 am , Georgia enjoyed a most peaceful sleep, as did Nana! Funny how much more refreshed you feel in the morning if you've had 5 hours of sleep as opposed to 2.
so yes, it's a NEW DAY.
Val continues to work on regulating meds and activities. Being a new mom, there is a lot she would LOVE to do, but recoving is top priority. Adjusting to the new reality can be overwhelming at times, but we know that God continues to give us strength that we could have never dreamed of.
We definetly live day to day.
For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.

-- Isaiah 41:13
http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Isaiah+41:13

THOUGHT:
Life crashes in and we wish we could be children again and have
someone to take care of us and protect us. Into our confused and
chaotic world, God's promise comes to us once again. Like a loving
parent with a frightened child, God reaches out and takes hold of
our hands and comforts us with his precious words: "Don't be
afraid. I'm here with you. I will help." Even when he seems
distant, the echo of this thought can remind us that we are never
alone or forgotten. (cf. Heb. 13:5-6)

PRAYER:
Abba Father, whose presence and help are always near, please
help me have faith that you are here. I confess that at certain
points in my life, you have seemed distant and I have felt alone.
Please remind me through your Spirit of your nearness and your
care. In my moments of struggle and doubt, please make your
presence known. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Amen
blessings to you my dear friends.
Bev

couldn't say thank you any better than this

and since I haven't had a ton of sleep in the last 24 hours...this is for all of you...... February 25, 2009


VERSE:
The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine
upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you
and give you peace.
-- Numbers 6:24-26
http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Numbers+6:24-26

THOUGHT:
How would you like to place the mighty name of the LORD on
people you love? God promised that this priestly blessing in
today's Scripture enabled his name (his power and authority) to be
placed on his people. What an incredible gift that we have the
power to give to others with just our faithful words! Blessings are
found all throughout Scripture. Why not begin looking today for
ways to pronounce God's blessing on others? You can start with this
one, and then add a bunch of others as you find them in Scripture.

PRAYER:
O LORD of every good and perfect gift, your blessings are too
many to count and too wonderful to fully comprehend. Please use me
to share those blessings with others. Give me eyes to see and ears
to hear so that I can share your blessings with others today and
each day! In the name of Jesus, your greatest blessing, I pray.
Amen.

Home sweet home

we are here!! and home has never looked so good, even after a week of watching HGTV..even though I do have a few projects in mind for Dennis....
Val is very very tired..and sleeping now. Please pray for her to regain strenght..and to have courage to face all this is ahead of her.
Georgia WAS sleeping, i hear her calling me...from what the Nannies tell me, I best rest now, for I think we might party tonight from midnight to 2 AM!
thanks for all you've done for us! Continue to pray, not only for us, but for our friends that we left on the 8th floor...
Bev

If you access this blog through the KCWN web sight, check out the verse for the day..I just did as i was signing off to head down to the cafeteria....Jeremiah 29:11..For I KNOW the PLANS I have for you...
Sweet.

Tuesday

Dr Westburg has returned from vacation, and saw Valerie this morning at 7:10. He is giving us the okay to go home, after one more look from the lung doctors at her CT. He thinks what they are seeing now is some calcium buildup from an old infection. SO..we are quite optimistic that TODAY is the DAY to go HOME.
Val will have a lot of followup visits..and we still have a ways to go in all this, but it will ever so sweet to be home, especially now that HOME includes our little Georgia Naely.
Georgia had a good night, skipping her usual "fun time" from midnight to 2 AM, but choosing instead to have a snack every two hours through the night. Our Nanny Jude has gone to work today, Poppa had his first experience at dropping a baby off at the sitter, and STacey is doing the honors today of keeping Georgia til we can get HOME.
thanks again for caring for us, for praying for us.
It looks like a good day for a road trip to Pella.

CT scan results show NO blood clot,that is good news, but leaves us without an explanation for tonight of what is causing the heaviness in her chest. the CT was delayed due to trauma cases that were more pressing. By 7 tonight, Val was back in her room, and Georgia had arrived for a short nite time visit, so our evening did improve. We also had to delay supper til after the CT, which meant room service and the cafeteria were both closed, so that meant Mc Donalds for supper! You know you're in a bad way when Mc Donald's seems like a step up from what you might have had for supper!
Our nurses assure us that whatever is causing the heaviness does not need attention tonight, or someone would have been in to see us yet tonight, so we shall do our best to have that peaceful, healing rest and see what the doctors say in the morning. Hopefully, Prayerfully, we will find ourselves in a place where HOME is the next place to rest!
For some reason tonight, I find myself weary. Very Weary. Maybe tomorrow is the shattering.
Good night all
thanks for caring about us.
Bev
oh, i havent' been able to pull up my emails today..they have disappeared..so hopefully I can get some tomorrow?

Monday ONE week at Mercy

I know you are all anxious to hear what is going on...
so am I. We have not seen our Oncology doctor yet today, not the heart doctor. Val has been extremely fatigued, so much so that our twice daily walks have had a rest stop in the middle and considering it's only a walk to the end of the hall and back, that's not much. Val did have some "heaviness" in her chest, though the xrays look okay, so she had an EKG this morning, and the took blood to test heart enzymes. Other than that, she's been sleeping, and I've continued my new addiction to TLC What Not To Wear and HGTV Design on a Dime. If nothing else, if and when we finally leave here, I should KNOW how to dress better and be a whiz at home design.
who knows? This could open up a whole new career for me!
Those who know me know that my humor often covers for me when I am sad, mad, anxious, or afraid. I guess all of those would be true today. Every little complication now makes me wonder what is really going on with Val. I'm fighting the urges to let fear take over, and holding on to faith that all is well.
Nanny Judy is at home with Georgia, who is enjoying a nice lazy day at home. We made no plans for her to come to us, we thought we would go to her! But, as stated many times before, Our Plans don't always come to be..
Now if a doctor comes in while I'm down here posting this (another reason you haven't heard from me, "my" computer on the 8th floor wont' connect to the Internet..where is ITT when you need them! Steve...are you out there??) and says, Miss Valerie, you're just tired and wore out! Go home, enjoy your baby, sleep a lot, and we'll see you in 6 months. well, if that happens, you can all remind me, Oh Bev, ye of little faith.
Keep praying. My devotional today was about how God empowered the Israelites, even when the odds were against them, over and over again. And God SHATTERED their enemies..even when their faith was small..and they were grumbling...even then.
I'm ready for a shattering.
Bev
oh, thanks for everybody who has expressed interest in helping with meals!! I hope Joan doesn't regret asking for a list of our friends!! We are blessed indeed.