In June of 1998 I received a heart transplant and that in itself is enough to write about in the subject of miracles and things that God has done for us.  I have many times shared, through talks and writings, stories of those times.  But it seems that God used that day as the starting date for so many miraculous things that organ transplantation almost seems a minor procedure in comparison.  After all we hear about the miracles of modern medicine we have become so accustomed to them that we almost forget to associate them with God.  How very vain we frail humans are.  As if we developed the abilities and knowledge without any help from Him at all.  That “minor procedure” took place seven and one half years ago and since that time, God has woven so many miraculous incidents into my life that even the most devoted skeptic would have a hard time denying His part in it all.  I used to ask every day, “Why, why would you choose someone like me to lavish your most wonderful gifts on?”  I don’t ask that any more.  Because I finally realized that it’s not because of what I have or haven’t done, who I am or who I am not.  I feel sure that just about anyone who is willing to give Him the credit would soon acknowledge that He has played just as big and as important a part in their lives as He has in mine.

Over time, I will try to share more of the stories of His part in the events of my life, but for now, I want to share the latest.  God’s hand is so blatantly evident here that I just can’t imagine anyone, no matter what their level of faith or where in their walk they are could dismiss this as coincidence.

It has only been a couple of months ago that I began to think about moving back to Denver where my family has lived for years.  I reached my 65th birthday, and the changes in Medicare, and other aspects of my income looked as if I might need to make a move anyway, and I thought, but not real seriously, about making the big one.

Almost immediately a fact that had been kept secret from me because of my health was divulged.  My mother, at eighty nine years of age had taken a fall and though no lasting damage was done, it was an indication that her body was truly beginning to show her age.  That was all it took.  The thought about the move became the need to make the move.  I could move into an apartment in the same building as she and be close enough to be at her side in a moment.  I decided I needed to put some serious prayer time into the decision, because it was not a small one.  I just asked God to give me direction since there were serious obstacles that would need to be overcome for this to even be possible.  Financially it was totally impossible without His help.

Well, from that point on, He took over.  I did the ground work to find out what I needed to do and He made sure it was accomplished the way He wanted.

The health insurance issue became a non-issue, the fears I had about being released from my present lease proved to be groundless, the rental application for the new apartment, though I was missing a few details that were requested, was approved.  Now the only thing was to wait for an apartment in Denver to come open.  So I sat back to wait, but there was still a nagging worry.   My brother from Denver had volunteered to come out and move all of my belongings in his truck.  I was very grateful for this, but deep down I knew this was not the answer.  It would have been such a burden, I was concerned about him having to drive all of the way, pack my stuff up and then turn around and drive all of the way back.  So, I just gave this obstacle over to God as well.  About a week ago I got a phone call from my daughter who works for a major moving company, and she volunteered to do the move for me as no cost to me at all.  This was a major thing.  I could not have asked her to do such a thing, but she wanted to do it and it has made the whole move a truly feasible adventure.

Now there were only two things yet to be accomplished.  The final being that an apartment would become available for me to move into.  But the one thing I had not yet faced or given words to was the hardest thing.  I had a Shetland Sheep Dog (Sheltie for short) that I had since she was a puppy and who was now 14 years old.  She has been like a child to me, the most loyal and obedient and loving dog I have ever had in my life.  What was I going to do with her?  I found out the apartment complex would have allowed me to have her, and if it came down to that I would have taken her with me.  But she was old, had an enlarged heart and had had a tumor removed about six months ago that if malignant would probably reappear in time and I feared her making the trip across country in the car.  I could not leave her here; she would have been broken hearted.  Though I tried not to think about it and leave that in God’s hands as well, it still played with my emotions and gave me concern.

Well, folks, God took care of that as well.   Just two weeks ago I had given her a bath, brushed her and inspected her carefully.  At that time she was fine, no signs of anything out of the ordinary.  Monday, of this week, she showed signs of trouble in her hips and I checked her again.  There was no doubt that the cancer had returned, and massively.  I took her to the vet Tuesday morning and released her back to God’s loving hands.  It was the most painful thing I have ever done, but they left me alone with her for a few minutes and I just knelt and thanked God with all of my heart that he had given her to me for a time.  And that He had chosen this way to take her.  No time for pain and illness to overcome her slowly, no changes in her comfortable routine, just a quiet, peaceful changeover from here to there.

Though painful to me, and I will miss her more than words can say, I trust God in this just as in all of the other things. Now, I learned last night that an apartment has become available and will be ready for me in March.  I don’t know the exact day yet, but probably will within a week.  I don’t think anyone reading this could possibly dispute that God has a reason for this all to be happening and that He has a job for me to do.  I feel as if I have been watching a great Maestro as He conducted the greatest musical orchestration of all time.  From the sweet violins of the first hints of what is to come to the crashing of symbols as the beat picked up and the performance became swift and the waves crashed in, to the sad tones of the oboe’s mourning the loss of the loved.  He has accomplished it all.  And the composition is not yet complete.  I look forward in awe to the realization of the plan, the unfolding of the great mystery, and in gratitude I raise my arms waiting to be taken up and set down right where He wants me.  A long time ago I gave my life to Him, and He has shown me what that truly means.  I am His

Wanda Brewer

Family and Friends,

This is a repeat for some of you but I wanted to update everyone at the same time.

Wednesday night about  7pm, Emilee stopped breathing.  One minute she was crying and the next second she wasn’t breathing.  Most of you know that Don is truly my knight in shining armor but now even more so.  I totally give him credit for saving Emilee’s life.  He didn’t miss a beat!!  He sprung right into action.  All I could do was reach for the phone for 911.  Thankfully we had two friends here at that time as well who were a total blessing to us!!  Emilee was admitted to Memorial last night and they have done a battery of test.  The conclusion was we won’t ever really know why she stopped breathing.  There are two strong theories one being a complication of her reflux, which is probably what it was.  We are home now, and her momma and daddy are tired w/o about 40 hrs of sleep!!  It is good to be home.  Emilee came home with a monitor to monitor her heart and lungs.  The drs have added one medication to her regime as well for now.  Emilee is resting peacefully now and we hope to be doing the same soon as well.

THANK YOU to all of you who knew what was going on for you support and prayers!!  Don and I truly felt them.  Please continue to lift our family up as you pray daily.

On the way to the hospital last night, Godly gently whispered in my ear.  He reminded me that Emilee is His, not ours.  He just chose us to raise her for Him!!  He will protect her and I believe that.  We don’t know why this happened, but I am sure there is a reason. 

Keep Praying!

Rebecca, Don, Emilee and Scarlet too!

I want to share a story of where I've felt God at work in my heart this week.

I went on a Homeschool Moms' Retreat this weekend at New Ebenezer.  There were about 20 moms there, but on Saturday morning 3 of us took a walk together and ended up in the church on the property.  It was the quietest place I've ever been!  We tried to pray together, but as one woman told the Lord, "This silence is deafening."

I felt prompted to begin singing Agnus Dei.  The other 2 joined in.

None of us has a particularly beautiful voice, but sound filled every inch of that place.  I could be easily persuaded to believe that a choir of angels joined in because it was so powerful and beautiful! 

After we sang, my friend told me to come kneel on a specific spot in the front of the church.  When I did, sunlight streamed down upon my face all around a cross that stood between me and the window.

My friend put her hand on my shoulder and said, "HiS face shines down upon you."  It was the same thought that had just come across my mind a split second before.  I just wept. 

I knew we had found favor with God because of our uninhibited, unrestrained, spontaneous worship.

When I got home, there was an email from a friend who didn't go to the retreat.  In it, she quoted a verse from Exodus that said "His face will shine upon you."

Too cool for words.