Day 8

We just woke up from a deep, deep nap that we were able to take in our own bed. Pierce has been hanging steady and one of our favorite nurses, Lindsay, is watching over him today, so we decided to come home while we can. It is funny. Lindsay and I were just talking about how Pierce has had a few steady (again relatively speaking) days and we can already feel our hearts drifting. Our hearts can quickly deceive us into thinking that we can just do our own thing again without leaning on the Lord. Of course, acknowledging that is a major part of the battle. And we acknowledge it, ask for forgiveness, and ask for God to help us continually walk with Him. I don't think the cliche should go, "There is no rest for the wicked." I think for the cliche to be accurate, it should go "There is no rest for the righteous." Our most vicious enemy is our self and we must continually pray and read the Scriptures to follow hard after God. If not, we can quickly begin to live again in the delusion that we are the center of the universe and are the ones in control of our lives. The wicked are constantly resting from the battle for righteousness, the righteous never can.

Anyway, before we entreat some prayer requests for Pierce, I wanted to say thank you. We want to thank all of our family and friends. We have felt your love and we want you guys to know that we love you. To all of you who have posted on our facebook pages, blog, and have sent us personal messages, thank you so much. We can't return all the messages at this time, but do know that we receive them. We have received some of the most beautiful, encouraging, and tear-jerking messages from so many people. Again, we love you and do keep them coming. We have never met some of you who have contacted us and who have been following this blog. And that is humbling. We are overwhelmed with gratitude and humility by how many people across the world are bowing before the Father on behalf of our family. We have heard from people all over the U.S, people in Taipei, in Brazil, and in Germany. That is what the Church is all about. God's manifold wisdom is put on display for the whole universe to see through the Gospel work of the Church(Ephesians 3:8-10). I want to thank Reformed Theological Seminary for all their support. I had five weeks left in my 2nd year there when all this went down. Shortly afterwords, I received an email from the registrar letting me know that Dr. Kruger, the Academic Dean, had already granted me an extension so that I can complete my current courses. The Women's Cabinet of RTS, under the leadership of Teresa Simons and Nicole Chitty, are the ones that came up with the fund-raising campaign (HUMBLING!) Not to mention all the prayers that have been lifted up by the faculty, staff, and students. There are some mighty people of God at that school. Also, Lindsay's bosses, Brad and Melanie McMinn, have given us their full support through this. So many more people to thank and Lord willing we are going to have plenty of posts to do it. Lindsay's mom, Susan Monts, and my mother, Sylvia Franks, have been here for the last week helping us out and reminding us of the things that don't really cross your mind when your child is in the NICU. Our dear friend Ashlyn Monza is responsible for organizing the meal drop off. Thank you all! May God's love be poured out upon you for the love that you have shown to us.

Tomorrow is going to be a big day for little man. Instead of going ahead and administering the medicine for the PDA today, they were able to let him rest one more day because it hasn't caused him that much trouble. They almost weaned him off his oxygen today, but decided not to. We wish they could just leave him alone, but if they don't act first, his body will. So pray that Pierce's body, in particular his kidneys, will hold up strong as they administer the medicine to close the PDA vein tomorrow. Also, pray that the medicine will do the trick quickly and that he won't need surgery to close it. Your prayers have been effective, and we ask you to not to stop praying. Keep praying about his brain bleed too. Pray that if there is any clotting in his ventricles that it would go away so that the blood would be processed out. God is faithful. God is alive. God is good.

Being in the NICU, we have met several heart-broken parents. A couple of the babies you can pray for are Liam and Mykala. There are others, but I want to ask for the parent's consent before sharing them with you. God knows who they are though, so please pray for all the parents and babies in the NICU.

The Psalm that I read to Pierce today was Psalm 16.

Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
I say to the LORD, "You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you."
As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.
The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names on my lips.
The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.
The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.
I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.
For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.
You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
(Psalm 16)



Christ is all,



Nik, Lindsay, and Pierce