TEARS OF JOY! #2 UPDATE

This is an update from Jessica (Jess), Casie's sister.  It was Faith Assignment #2 and on a prior update.  God's FAITHfulness is seen again and again and He is glorified!  Please continue to keep Casie in your prayers.  Thank you, Jess for you and your family's example of faith!

Hi Ms Kathy! Here is an update.

Casie had her second surgery to remove her ovaries, lymph nodes and arteries in her pelvis on Dec 18th. The surgery went very well. She had very little pain after the surgery and some swelling but that was it. The doctors stated that this surgery would send her immediately into a menopausal state with bad hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause. Casie has not had a single symptom of any of that. The doctors cannot explain it but consider it a blessing for her.

On Jan 3rd, Casie had her 2 week check up with the surgeon and we received the best news ever. Her pathology came back negative for cancer. The cancer has not spread!!!! Tears of joy were definitely shed with this news. The next day, Casie continued to get more good news. The hospital in which she had her first surgery paid her doctor bill for the first surgery!!! What a blessing!!!  The good news continues, she received a call that same day that she has an appointment on Jan 15th at the Sarcoma Center at Vanderbilt in Nashville for a follow up. This is one of the best hospitals in the nation. Not only that, I work as a nurse for Vanderbilt, so she will get to stay with me for her appointment. Yay for more family time!

I cannot put into words how happy we are for what God has done for my sister and our whole family! Noone can deny that God has been in control of this situation the whole time. We are so very thankful and give all the praise to Him! Also, on a personal note, I have to say I am thankful that God sent sweet angel Briley to the world because without her story and the faith of her family, I do not think I could have ever made it through this time in my life. My faith has been renewed! God has never left me even though I wouldn't acknowledge that He was there. I am now aware of His presence in my everyday life and feel so much more at peace. God is good and I will continue to share with others what he has done for me and my family!

  

Jess

If you would like to know this Savior, our only answer, our only hope, please email me at k.fogarty02@gmail.com and I will be glad to share the story.  It's my FAITH ASSIGNMENT.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

#16 - FROM A DISTANCE

According to distancefromto.net it is 9,375 miles between the United States and Malaysia.  According to God, miles and hearts of His children are connected by His message.  It doesn’t matter whether one mile or thousands of miles apart, He will send that perfect message at the perfect time for someone who needs encouragement, a tear wiped or just to laugh.  It is their FAITH ASSIGNMENT!

Below is an email received from a lovely young lady who loves the Lord.  God used her through Briley FAITH’s story to send an encouraging word to someone.  This time that someone was me…

Hearts connected and the miles disappeared.  Thank you, Lord for my new friend from a distance.

Hi Kathy,

I'm a 24 year old Chinese lady from Malaysia, a small country in South East Asia. I came across Briley FAITH's facebook page through another child's facebook page who also suffered from SMA. I was very inspired & touched by the posts, especially the beautiful pictures of Briley, her parents & her sweet brother. I'm currently in my final year as a medical student & will be taking my final exams on 25th Jan. I was supposed to graduate in June last year but went into a state of depression. My dad suffered a severe stroke in 2007 & he is currently unable to move his left side of his body. Since then, my mum has been the sole breadwinner of the family. Praise the Lord that I was able to continue my studies after a few months of treatment. SMA is not very common in my country & I have only seen one case of SMA during my posting in pediatrics. It was a case of SMA Type III.

Ur blogs have truly inspired me & my prayers are with u all. May the Lord continue to guide u all in ur lives. Briley is in a better place now. She is with our Lord & Saviour. She is a true inspiration to all. I felt like giving up after my illness, but God pulled me through. And after reading through ur blogs, I'm sure that God will guide us through all challenges in life. Thanks a lot!!

Ng Le Shin

  

If you would like to know this Savior, our only answer, our only hope, please email me at k.fogarty02@gmail.com and I will be glad to share the story.  It's my FAITH ASSIGNMENT.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

#15 - THE STORY GOES ON!

Brittany realized God had a purpose for her life.  When He used Briley FAITH’s story to build her faith and confidence, she became a willing vessel for God’s glory!  Brittany’s first “Faith Assignment”, was #7 posted on November 12, 2012.  It was about how God used her and other volunteers to feed many at Thanksgiving.  I suggest you go back and read this amazing story.  But, God did not stop there and Brittany continued what God had called her to do; to feed the hungry and help the poor.  Here is another “Faith Assignment” she shares as her walk of faith continues…

Last night my friend, Christina and I met with another family to donate gifts to her family for Christmas. We filled her car and trunk with presents and food for her three children... She hugged us and told us her appreciation... Yesterday while finishing up their shopping her little girl had asked for a baby alive walk on around doll... So last thing on the list I went back to Walmart.  This doll... was nowhere to be found so I found a very nice older lady that I explained my situation too and how I need that specific doll for this little girl. It's was a $45 dollar doll that obviously every little girl wanted because there was only one left.. I was actually thinking the doll would be cheaper and hesitated to buy it because I’ve really had to watch my money with how much we are spending on each child.  As I approached the check out a lady approached me that I didn't know saying she overheard by conversation with the lady that worked at Walmart... She said she just wanted to hug and me and actually followed me through Walmart to the checkout.  She went on to say how she was having what she thought was a "bad" day and then heard my conversation about the "doll" and how I had to have that "doll" for a little girl that I got picked from school counselors for Christmas.  She went on and said I had inspired her.   She then told me THANK YOU and said she was going to go fill her buggy up with toys and donate them!  With her tears in her eyes she hugged me again and walked off back to the toy section in Walmart.  Christina and I came to my house afterwards and finished wrapping and met this young single mom to deliver too.. This has been hard work for me and the many others who have helped me but I will have to say.... The end result is so worth every second of the hard work and I know that lady at Walmart and myself were placed in that toy section and that exact same time for a "reason"!   It's amazing how God works!

I am finally done!  Well,  I've seen a lot from no heat, no indoor plumbing, tarp for a door and more!  This has really opened my eyes with an urgency to share these stories of how we need to help here in our own community.  

Because Brittany answered God’s call, over 221 hungry souls were fed and Bibles and groceries were sent home with them!  Because Brittany took a step of faith, many children have jackets and clothes to keep them warm.  Because Brittany said “Yes” to God, toys delivered put smiles on many faces and an electric bill was paid so a mother and her child could stay warm.  Because Brittany shared her story, it inspired someone else to carry out their purpose.

The story began with an infant and her purpose.  Without one word Briley FAITH told of God’s grace and faithfulness.  Brittany took the “Faith Baton” and ran with her purpose, then hands it off to a lady at Walmart.  The story goes on as long as we say “Yes” to God.

If you would like to know this Savior, our only answer, our only hope, please email me at k.fogarty02@gmail.com and I will be glad to share the story.  It's my FAITH ASSIGNMENT.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

#14 - THREE VIEWS

Mimi, who is one of Briley FAITH’s grandmothers, sent this Faith Assignment.  There are so many ways we can all learn about God’s love.  Here are three.  Thank you, Mimi!

GOD uses a child to show us His assurance and strength.

The night of Briley's visitation, Cara, my granddaughter, was throwing a fit in the bathroom and someone said "Mimi, you are needed in the bathroom"   I went and asked Cara what was wrong.  She wanted to see Briley.  I told her she had to quit crying and I would take her down.  She quit and I did.  She looked at Briley and said "Oh Briley, you are so beautiful". I told her she needed to give Aunt Cici(Crystal) a hug because she looked like she had been crying.  She looked at Crystal and said "It's O.K. Aunt Cici.  Briley is all well now.  She is in heaven playing and singing with Jesus.  It will be O.K."  She then picked up the kleenex and went up to several others at the church that were crying and told them they didn't need to cry, Briley is all well now, in heaven with Jesus and gave them a kleenex.   If we all just had the faith of a child.

GOD’s mercy holds the line for a lost soul.

The day of Briley's celebration, my sister Kathy was going through the line to pay her respects.  When she got up to Crystal, she was "holding up" the line. I noticed she was crying very hard. Crystal was holding her face in her hands so she would look at her and Crystal was talking to her. I could not hear what she was saying, but I noticed that Josh had started praying and I knew he could hear, so I went to Bro. Jason and Pa Tom and told them I thought she was under conviction, to please pray and I started praying. She prayed right there and asked Jesus to be her savior. How amazing is that.

GOD restores joy and gives hope.

Today, when I went back to work, one of the ladies I work with told me she had come to Briley's celebration and that the service was beautiful.   She has followed Briley's Story from day one and it had already made changes in her life.  She has now started going back to church and said that she is not going to miss a Sunday.  My co-worker saw the amazing faith Josh and Crystal have and said she wants more.   She also told me that she feels like her husband is under conviction.  (He came to the service with her) He asked lots of questions and could not understand why Crystal and Josh were so faithful.   She told him that it was because they have the Lord as their Savior and put their full trust in him.  That they live for the Lord every day.   She thinks that he may start going to church with her and just may be saved as a result of what he heard at Briley's Celebration!   Please pray for him.

If you would like to know Jesus Christ, our only answer, our only hope, please email me at kfogarty02@gmail.com and I will be glad to share the story.  It's my FAITH ASSIGNMENT.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

#13 - FAITH BRINGS FAVOR

This Faith Assignment involves SHOPPING!  I enjoy the fellowship with good friends much more than walking the malls, unwanted reminders of why something doesn’t fit, and scary encounters with the mirror in the dressing room! 

Shopping trip #1

Since I’m all for spending time with my friends even if it includes shopping, that is why I, Granna, was all for hanging out with Idgie and Mimi!  All Briley FAITH’s grandmothers and her Aunt Shanda went shopping for something to wear for that special day; Briley FAITH’s celebration of life!  We were on an adventure to find bright and bold colors to wear!

We entered Lane Bryant and started our scavenger hunt!  A wonderful sales clerk, Andrea, asked if she could help.  Idgie told her what we were looking for and shared Briley FAITH’s story.  In the meantime I found these bright, bold sweaters with matching tanks.  There were several colors to choose from.  We could each have the same but in a different color!  How fun is that!  I showed Mimi and Idgie and they loved the idea, too! 

I was standing near the clerk and Idgie, when I glanced at the price tag… another reason I don’t shop much.  It was way more than I could spend.  In disappointment, I mentioned I will need to find something else and that it was a fun thought, but, it is A-okay!  The outfit returned as quickly as I lifted it off the rack.  No big deal at all, God’s got a plan.

By the time I got back to where Idgie and Mimi were, our new friend, Andrea, asked us if she could get the outfits discounted would we still want them.  She was moved by Briley’s story and said she really did want to help us out.  Idgie said, “It is probably according to how much of a discount.”  We all told her we appreciated it.  Let me interject right here that we three grandmothers were not on the floor kicking and screaming; we were not whining for the sweaters or anything…  that would have been a pitiful site.  Although, I do have to say that before we left the store, Idgie and Shanda accidentally set off an alarm!  The fact of the matter is the story of God’s faithfulness and goodness was shared.  He does the rest…

In no time, here comes Andrea.  She was able to give us a huge discount!  Praise God!  We were all able to get what we needed for that very special day!  Andrea just had one request to ask of us; if she could take a picture of us in our outfits and send to the District Manager along with Briley FAITH’s story.  We, of course, said sure!

She took our picture and all four of us with tears in our eyes hugged and said goodbye.

 Shopping trip #2

This shopping trip was the very next day.  Darla is a very special friend of mine who flew in from Texas to be with me during this hard time.  She wanted to take me shopping to get something to wear for the celebration.  She is precious like that.  I adore her!

Well, since we grandmothers had already got something for that day, Darla suggested we shop for something for the visitation.  So, again, here we go looking for bright and bold! 

Darla and I decided to explore Vanity Fashion at the mall.  Immediately, a precious, young sales clerk, Ashlee, approached us.  She asked if she could help and if we are shopping for Christmas.  I told her we were not shopping for Christmas, but for Briley FAITH’s celebration and then I shared her story.

Several items were tried on and I settled on a pink sparkly top and a lime green scarf!  Perfect!  We get to the counter to pay and Ashlee tells us she is going to give a 20% discount!  She was moved by Briley FAITH’s story about an amazing God!  Glory to God again and again!

Then, on top of all that, all the bright and bold clothes, earrings and bows that now rest in my shopping bags was all paid for!  God had a plan, but first, I had to be content in my circumstance.  

Ashlee also shared with us her brother, Jermaine, has sickle cell anemia.  Please keep him and the family in your prayers.

The reason these stories are considered a “Faith Assignment” is they show what faith can do even in the simple things in life such as shopping.  Briley FAITH’s story of God’s grace continues and is one that will never grow old. 

Faith is simply this, peace with favor.  God always give a peace that passes all understanding when we trust Him; when we are content with our circumstances.  His way is perfect and always full of favor, even when it hurts. 

Contentment opens the door to God’s favor.  Then in our struggles He will use the Andrea’s and the Ashlee’s of the world to share His favor with us.

Andrea

Ashlee

Idgie, Mimi, Granna

(I later exchanged the orange for a bright blue)

  

If you would like to know Jesus Christ, our only answer, our only hope, please email me at kfogarty02@gmail.com and I will be glad to share the story.  It's my FAITH ASSIGNMENT.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.



#12 - LOVING HER ALL UP!

This Faith Assignment is about how God used my grandson, Jude, in helping someone understand His FAITHfulness!  A mommy whose little boy goes to the same preschool as Jude sent in this story.  Apparently her son and Jude have had a few discussions about little Miss Briley FAITH.  It will make your heart swell!  Below is the email message sent to Jude's and Briley's mommy and daddy.

I just wanted to let you all know that Jude has touched my little boy, Jett Garcia’s (from preschool) heart... He always notices when Jude isn't there. He told me other day, "Jude was sad because his sissy was very sick." So I tried to explain a little, as he has lots of questions. He asked me at the end of our conversation if he could give some of his "well germs" to Jude's sissy, and I lost it. I don't know how y’all hold it together. I mean he only spoke a sentence about Briley... I have such respect and admiration for you both. We pray for you all every day, as does Jett in his night time prayers. "Jude's sissy" is actually the only thing he mentions every night without fail...

One other little tidbit about this story; when I heard of Sweet Briley’s passing I had to tell Jett. So, at night time prayers I sat him down and told him. He didn’t cry. Not a tear. (I was just a boohooing) My very small 4 year old climbed in my lap and hugged me and said "It’s ok mama, Jude's little sissy is all better now. God’s just up there looovvviinngggg her allll up." How a 4yr old knows so many things about the good Lord I will never understand.  God gave him the wisdom to understand that she was ok now.

Again let me know if there is anything we can do.   God bless you all

And remember what Jett said, “God is "lovvviinngggg her alllll up!" and holding your sweet baby girl forever in His arms.

The Garcia's

 There is so much we can learn from the little children. 

If you would like to know Jesus Christ, our only answer, our only hope, please email me at kfogarty02@gmail.com and I will be glad to share the story.  It's my FAITH ASSIGNMENT.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

#11 - FAITH WALKS THE STREETS

A dear friend of mine, Darla, along with a few others, weekly go to the streets of Fort Worth, Texas and minister to the homeless.  She shared this story with me and checked with the person it is about and made sure it was okay to share with you.

His name is Dean, a homeless, recovering alcoholic.  He has been clean for six months.  But, because of all the problems he had caused in the past, his family will not open their arms or doors to him anymore.  So, he walks the streets… his new family.

He found a few new friends when the street ministry started.  Darla was one.  She had been praying with and ministering to him for several months.  During the prayer time, she had mentioned Briley FAITH to him.  Although Dean never prayed aloud before, well, with Darla he hadn’t; he welcomed her prayers.  Once a week he looked for his new friend and asked about Briley FAITH.  Darla and her husband, Keith, have both prayed with him and even gave him their cell numbers to call if he needed prayer. 

Last week, we were in Texas for my husband’s uncle’s funeral.  During this time we got to visit with Darla.  She said the night before, she received a phone call from Dean.  He shared the good news that he had been accepted for housing.  He also shared with her his brother had passed away and the family would not allow him go to the funeral.  It broke his heart.  She prayed for him. 

During their conversation, Darla told him that we were there and why.  She also mentioned  the connection we have with Briley FAITH; that she is our granddaughter.  Immediately, he told Darla I want to pray… I want to pray for Briley FAITH.  His prayer was for a baby girl who was miles away that God had used to touch his heart.

Even in the streets where all seems hopeless to the homeless, God reminds them He still cares and He is there.  They know.  Dean knew.  If He didn’t think God was there, he never would have prayed.  It just took Briley FAITH to remind him. 

Our friend, Dean.

If you would like to know this Savior, our only answer, our only hope, please email me at k.fogarty02@gmail.com and I will be glad to share the story.  It's my FAITH ASSIGNMENT.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.