from friendly blogger...

I know this is kinda late and out of order. Bev and I met yesterday and couldn't reconnect to finalize this entry as she mentioned last night. She should be in the hospital right now readying for surgery. Hoping she doesn't mind, and can always delete later, I decided to compose this to reflect my notion of what she wanted to convey....

Sunday was a very busy day and today will be as well. This busyness keeps me sane. As surgery reaches closer, I am a whirl of emotion, up and down and up again. I feel very much like a mother about to give birth to her first child. Filled with love, trepidation, hope, excitement, fear, sadness and joy, here we go (again!) Am I starring in a soap opera about to have brain surgery? Seems surreal much of the time. Not only traumatic, but dramatic.
5 out of 100 won't survive this surgery, I'm told. However, I've been surrounded with prayer, love, and well wishes by friends and family. I'm cradled in the promises of God's word, and if I leave here now, what a wonderful way to go! If I get to stay, what a blessing!
Yesterday John and I attended worship services and then went before the elders for prayer. This is not the first time the elders have prayed over me, but it is always a very special experience from which I draw immense strength. I feel very honored, comforted, and protected beyond measure. I know that everything is going to be O.K.. The elders anointed me with oil as commanded in the book of James and it was wonderful. I cannot express the sense of calm it brought over me.

James 5:14-16
1s any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up.... 16... The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.