Dr. James Peoples, a Friend and Mentor

What is a mentor? 

According to Management Mentors, "Mentoring is most often defined as a professional relationship in which an experienced person (the mentor) assists another (the mentoree) in developing specific skills and knowledge that will enhance the less-experienced person's professional and personal growth." 

What does a mentor do? (according to Management Mentors)

• Teaches the mentoree about a specific issue
• Coaches the mentoree on a particular skill
• Facilitates the mentoree's growth by sharing resources and networks
• Challenges the mentoree to move beyond his or her comfort zone
• Creates a safe learning environment for taking risks
• Focuses on the mentoree's total development

When I think of a "mentor", I automatically think about Pastor James. As I read through the list of what a mentor does, he has been exactly that in my life. He has taught, coached, facilitated, challenged, and invested into my life, and in countless other men's lives. 

This weekend Pastor James will celebrate 20 years as pastor of Trinity Baptist Church, Keystone Heights, FL. The Lord has truly blessed his ministry over the years! A lot can be said about the impact of his ministry on so many lives, but I am thankful for his friendship and personal investment into my life. Love you my friend!

CONGRATULATIONS ON 20 YEARS OF MINISTRY AT TBC! 

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Investing in children

I have a special privilege of leading a Bible bunch program for Brooker Elementary School every Wednesday at 7:10am.  During this time, I get to share from God's Word that Jesus loves them and has a special plan for their lives. Currently  we have about 30 (3rd-5th grade) students who attend.  This is a great number considering, there is a total of 50 students in those grades in the school.

As part of this program we put together a trip, as part of an incentive for attending each week of the Bible Bunch.  Brooker Elementary School Principal, Mrs. Deborah Parmenter, contacted "In His Wakes" for us to attend one of their "Day to Remember" events.  We had 25 students sign-up and this past Monday we took them to Lake Swan in Melrose, FL.

We got our instructions from Nate and how they all needed to "GET OFF THE DOCK!" They were taught how to "get off the dock" and try and learn something they had never done before. More importantly they were taught they needed to "get off the dock" with Jesus Christ. To have a personal relationship with Him and that with His help they could do anything in life!

It was such a joy to see all of the students swimming, tubing, skiing, trying the Zup board, and many more fun events!  I am truly grateful for the opportunity that I have to invest in the lives of students in my community. My prayer is that I will see many of these children come to Christ and then grow in their relationship with Him, but to then see their entire families reached with the Gospel.  Reminded of Matthew 19:14 where Jesus says "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for such is the kingdom of heaven."  May we all invest our lives into children in our communities!

Update on Kaylie

It has been 2 weeks since Kaylie came home from Brooks Rehab. She is doing really good and is glad to be home.

We went back to Orlando this past week for a follow up with her neurologist and neurosurgeon. They were both pleased to see how well she was doing! 

This past week Kaylie got reevaluated for therapy and should be starting soon! She is still not walking by herself, needs help, but should be soon!

It has been nice to see her personality since all her surgeries! It is like she is out of the fog that the seizures had her in! Kaylie has us laughing, her sense if humor is alive and well!

Thank you for praying and for all those still interested on how she is doing!

Praise The Lord!

Kaylie did not throw up last night and both head and stomach scan came back with no concerns!

Thank you for your continued prayers!

Here is a picture of the kids together, from yesterday!

Urgent Prayer needed for Kaylie!

Thank to all of you have been praying for Kaylie and our entire family. You will never know what it has meant to hear of all those praying!

Kaylie has been doing really well at Brooks Rehab and her discharge date to go home is November 22.

Thursday night around midnight Kaylie woke up and starting throwing up. Right away we were concerned that the shunt has already begun to malfunction. LeAnne then remembered that a therapist that was working with her was home the day before with her sick kids. So we were hoping and praying that this is all it is. Kaylie threw up Thursday night every hour until about 5:00 Friday morning.

The doctor at Brooks thinks it was viral or flu, son they just watched her. The doctor also was checking her stomach and it was making noises but that it was tender when mashing on it. We were told that it could potentially be apendicitus.

Friday she was doing alright, didn't want to eat much until dinner. Well last night around 11pm I get another text that Kaylie was throwing up again. It concerns us that she is throwing up again after lying down for a couple of hours and about the same time as the night before! They drew some blood to check apendicitus  or maybe her liver. Doctor still says not related to shunt, but they were wrong about that is was CSF fluid leaking before the shunt.

LeAnne feels like it is the shunt! She has been right with Kaylie even before doctors came to that conclusion! We don't know anything for sure!

We need your prayers! We need them bad! Pray that God watches and protects Kaylie! Pray that it's not the shunt! Pray for wisdom for the doctors! Pray for peace for LeAnne and I!

Brooks Rehab

Kaylie has been at Brooks for almost one week, and has been really working hard. 

Kaylie has non stop therapy all day! She continues to make progress every day. 

Good news: Kaylie has a discharge date of November 22!

Thank you for your prayers! God has been so good and we are grateful for His hand on Kaylie and our family!