He is Good.

"And we know...

that in all things...

God works for the good of those who love Him...

Who have been called according to His purpose."

Romans 8:28

This past weekend E and her friends spent a whole weekend together in Fayetteville. This is the first time E has been out of town overnight without her family since the accident. We celebrated God's goodness and blessings together. Elizabeth is SO good. I can't even describe to you the person she is today. She is perfect. God has blessed her with health and heart that is so full of love and life.

Elizabeth's family is mourning the loss of a close family member from this past weekend. Please remember her aunt and family as they buried their youngest son this past Friday. He was 19.

Elizabeth takes a driving exam on Thursday at 10 am. She is a little nervous since she hasn't driven a car since the accident more than 4 months ago! We are so happy that she is nearing the end of her therapy. The doctor thought that 6 more weeks would be sufficient!

Please keep a friend of Elizabeth's in your prayers. We mentioned Mark several weeks ago who suffered a brain injury not long after Elizabeth did. Mark has not been as fortunate to recover as Elizabeth and remains in critical condition in Little Rock. He has not woken up since his accident before the holidays. Pray for Mark and his family. Pray that they would have peace and comfort and that God would send a miracle to heal Mark. I will have a link to his caring bridge site soon.

PRAISE. "Praise be to God who has heard our prayers and healed our sweet Elizabeth. Thank you God for sparing her life and restoring her mind and body!"

PRAY. "Lord we ask that you be with Elizabeth as she gets back to life. Walk with her daily and give her the strength that she needs to do rehab. Be with her as she tests her driving on Thursday. Help her to know that you are with her always."

PRAY. "We pray for the Parsley family. We pray that each trial that you take them through brings them closer to you. We pray for Elizabeth's aunt and family who buried a child this week. May they been comforted in a way that only you can provide."

PRAY. "We pray for Mark. We pray that your will be done in Mark's life. We pray that glory would be yours. Lord we pray a miracle would be in store for Mark. We pray that just like in Elizabeth's case, his body would be healed and that it would only be explainable as an act of Yours."

Amen.

Run With Lizzie... Really You Should!

Several weeks ago I posted about the Little Rock Marathon and our idea to have people to sign up for the 5K to run/walk with Elizabeth. I am so excited that many of you have signed up and that we can look forward to this day of celebration! This is also a goal that Elizabeth has for herself to get ready physically for the race and something she is looking forward to doing with so many people that have prayed/are praying for her.

So... here are the details again.

Date:       Saturday, March 5, 2011
Time:       8 am
Location:  President Clinton & Commerce Streets

To register, please go to http://www.littlerockmarathon.com/EventsRaceInfo/5K.cfm
The fee right now is $30. All of this goes to the Little Rock Marathon. This is not a fund raiser for Elizabeth, this is an event to show our support as she attacks this goal she has set for herself to complete a 5K.

If you do not wish to run/walk alongside her, you can still come and cheer along the side lines or participate in the "post race party" we plan to host.  You will not need to register and pay for the 5K unless you plan to participate in the actual race.

We do ask that if you plan to be a part of this day at all that you email and let us know at prayersforliz@live.com  If you register for the race, you will receive an email and you can forward that to us so we know you have signed up. If you plan to come to show your support from the sidelines, please know that in an email. If you can help with a "post race party" by providing tailgate tents, drinks, food, etc please let us know in an email.

Any other questions regarding LR Martathon 5K with Elizabeth, email prayersforliz@live.com

Elizabeth (right) and her best friend, and sister, Rachel participating in the Little Rock Marathon in 2008.

Hebrews 12:1-3
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Elizabeth Lately

Forgive the lag in postings, this blogger needed a little break! I am happy to let you know that Elizabeth is doing well, yet still in need of constant prayer.

Lately Elizabeth has been working on getting back to "life." In December Elizabeth traveled to Branson with her mom, sister and boyfriend, Jacob. They had a wonderful Christmas and have so much to be thankful for.

Some of Elizabeth's sorority sisters got together over the holidays for the first time since the accident. We had such a great time and are all amazed at what God is doing in Elizabeth's life. I often think about how any one of us could have been in the wreck that night... we've traveled that interstate a thousand times. It is hard to not ask God why a tragedy like this would occur... why such a sweet family would go through such heartache... why a perfectly healthy 24 year old would go through such pain. Instead we must focus on the Lord and His will. We must rejoice that the God of the universe saved Elizabeth's life physically, and praise Him for her life that she will have eternally with Him. We should thank Him often for hearing and answering our prayers and continue to lift her up as her needs and the needs of her family are great.

 Delta Zeta pledge sisters! Courtney, Tyler, Heather, Britney, Elizabeth, and Becca. We had a yummy dinner at Oak Street Bistro and then a crazy game of scrabble. We partied 'till almost 11 pm!

 Lizzy beth and Heather

Becca and Liz. Two peas in a pod they are!

I have also come to grasp that life is but a vapor (James 4:14). We are never guaranteed another day. We have but a short time to impact the lives of others and spread the love of Christ.  I know that Elizabeth and her family have realized this too and I am so very encouraged by their faith. Let it be a testament to us all that God walks with us through the deepest valleys of life. Michelle commented while Elizabeth was still in the hospital that she's not sure how other people make it through tragedies without the hope of Jesus.

Elizabeth is doing very well. She is the same sweet Elizabeth that we prayed that she would be! If you met her on the street for the first time and didn't know that she nearly lost her life you would never know the difference! (PRAISE!) Her smile is the same, her laugh is the same, her sarcasm and silliness is the same (trust me, ha!). Elizabeth is still dealing with some vision issues so she is still unable to drive. She will remain at her parents house for now since she has to be driven to and from appointments.  She averages 8 therapy sessions a week! That makes me tired just thinking about it so you can imagine her exhaustion. Elizabeth is learning to get back into "life." She has began working again (slowly) by showing houses and doing paperwork. (Did I mention that she sold a house while she was still "sleeping" in the hospital? That is some pretty mad selling skills if you ask me!)

Truth be told, she is PERFECT. Praise be to God for just letting her spend another day with us. The doctors mentioned when Elizabeth left the hospital at the end of October that in January, (this month) they expected her biggest problem to be memory issues.  It was hard to believe at that time since she had such a long way to go but she is better than ever expected. And she barely has any memory problems! There are still some things that are holding Elizabeth back from being 100%... and we would love your prayers on these things.

PRAY. Pray that God would help Elizabeth to know that she is PERFECT. Pray He would give her comfort and strength when she feels that she is going through this alone. Pray that she would be JOYFUL and that God would use her as a vessel.

PRAY. Pray for Elizabeth's encouragement. Pray that the therapists, E's family, friends, and even strangers would constantly be encouraging her. Pray for her physical strength to get her through grueling therapy sessions. Pray that she would have energy.

PRAY. Pray for Elizabeth's vision. Pray that she would see clearly again and can get back to driving soon.

PRAY. Pray for E's family. Pray for them as they encourage Elizabeth and help her to make decisions about her health. Pray for them as they get back to work that they would have physical and mental strength.

PRAISE. Praise the Lord for never leaving Elizabeth's side. Praise Him for being our Healer.

PRAISE. Praise Him for Elizabeth. She is a medical miracle! Pray that all who hear her story and see the faith of she and her family would know the same living God!

But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead...

Philippians 3:13