Leah Dowdy getting a boost from her brother Carlton Gantz over the finish line
I cannot tell you how this picture makes me feel. This past Saturday somewhere in Indiana, two of my kids completed the Spartan obstacle course. After about 5 miles of mud pits, water, fire, barbed wire, rope, etc. Leah Dowdy and Carlton Gantz finished the grueling event with a few friends. Continue Reading…
This is the next video from Jefferson Bethke after his viral video called Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus. I have to say that watching this video stirred me deeply in my soul. I hope it does the same for you.
January 27, 2012 in
Marriage with
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The past few months have not been ideal for our family when it comes to attending Sunday morning worship services together. My wife, Suzie works in the retail field. She has asked for scheduling considerations for Sunday mornings. Her department manager has consistently scheduled her on Sunday mornings. This did not change after her request.
The result has been that I have been attending our services by myself. The best part of our Christmas celebration was being able to attend the worship service of First Baptist Church of Boynton Beach together. We joined the others in praying, singing and hearing from the Word of God. It was great.
After the service a lady behind us spoke to us, “I’ve seen you (looking at me) here on Sundays. Who is your friend (looking at Suzie)?”
How would you answer that question?
The most important thing a parent can do for his/her children is to pray for them. Prayer is not the only thing we do for them, but it is the most important. Think of some other things we should do for our kids:
1. Provide for them
2. Protect them
3. Teach them
4. Discipline them
5. Spend time with them
All of these are important. But do not attempt them while neglecting to pray for them. You can provide abundantly for them and still deprive them if you are prayerless. You can shield them from pain yet keep them what is most important. You can teach them (even about God) and they can be lacking in the power of God. You can harness their inappropriate behavior while the miss out on the one who can strengthen them for holiness. You can play with them they still do not experience the greatest joy.
Continue Reading…
Saturday was the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Louisville, Kentucky. My daughter, Leah participated in her first race as a breast cancer survivor. (Here is the post I wrote when we first found out about her cancer).
The news team of WHAS 11 caught up with Leah before the race and interviewed her. You can watch her talk about support and hope in this video as well as the Rowdy Dowdy moniker.
Leah’s part begins around the 3 and a half minute segment of the video.
http://www.whas11.com/home/The-faces-of-the-Race-for-the-Cure-131387958.html
The past two weeks have been a whirlwind for my daughter, Leah and her family. Leah is my daughter who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. (You can read my initial account, My Daughter Has Breast Cancer.) We have all been amazed at the outpouring of prayer and support from so many people. We are blessed to have so many dear friends.
Leah will soon undergo a double mastectomy and reconstruction followed by chemotherapy. You might want to bookmark Leah’s journal for all updates. Thanks to the folks at CaringBridge.org for making this possible.
Yesterday, I did a video chat with Leah and Caleb (her 4 year old son). Leah told me that she talked to Heath (her 8 year old son) about the changes that would taking place in their home. She told him about the physical changes and the financial changes. (Leah has been working as a nurse at the hospital where she will have surgery.) Leah will not be working in the near future. Heath responded by getting his piggy bank as a way of helping out financially. He is such a wonderful little man.
Do you hear voices inside your head? I hope so. I also hope they are the right voices. I do hear voices inside my head. Now before you think I am losing it, please hear me out. Or listen to this Chris Young song. He identifies the voices of his parents and grandparents that have shaped him and taught him.
Yesterday I answered my phone as I saw my daughter Leah’s number pop up. I eagerly punched the button to talk to a young lady who has demonstrated such love to her dad, her family and so many others. She is the mother of my two grandsons. I was not ready for what she had to say. She told me that she had just received news that she has breast cancer and will be undergoing surgery very soon to remove a large mass.
I felt like somebody punched me in the gut. Tears filled my eyes and I found it difficult to speak. My little girl was hurting. I have four amazing children. Leah has been the rock in our family. In good times, she is the life of any get together. In tough times, she keeps everybody close. As her father, Leah has brought tremendous joy into my life. From a child, she has always been disciplined and lively. How can I forget checking on her after she had gone to sleep and finding her clothes laid on for the next day in the shape of a body? No bed time was needed as she would trudge off to bed on her own. On family trips she always had a song in her heart and on her voice. If she wasn’t singing songs from The Cabbage Patch cassette tape, she was making up songs on her own. “Going around the curve” was her favorite whenever we would travel winding roads.
The Grandkids - Heath, Caleb & Emma
As 2010 prepares to be rolled into the archives of history, I thought I would share with my readers a list of some key events in the life of Frank and Suzie. It has been an interesting year to say the least. We have been
rather nomadic and less certain of what the next day was to bring. In the midst of all of this, we learned afresh the importance of trusting in the Lord. Since we have been married, we have not faced as much uncertainty in a year. Yet, we have learned more of God and more from God. He has demonstrated his goodness to us.
Here are our top ten events in this year.
1. The move from Louisville, KY to Chattanooga, TN.
The company I was working for at the time promoted and transferred me to Chattanooga from Louisville. We left behind the kids and grandkids. Chattanooga was a beautiful city, but we didn’t have any real connections there.
2. The launching of Fruzie’s Collectibles.
In April we launched Fruzie’s (Frank + Suzie). We find and sell collectibles, antiques, books and just about anything. We love combining a hobby with making some money. You can check out our eBay store here or our website here.
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