Saturday, May 31, 2008

Love from Ladeva

Hello to my A Team!

Thank you for all your wonderful prayers and encouragement that sustained me throughout this time. I know it has been mentioned several times on the blog about the healing quilt. I would to share with those of you who do not know the full story, what it is all about.

My mother died during my senior year in high school. When our dad died, things were divided up among us. A few years after my oldest brother's divorce, his ex-wife called me and asked if I would like a quilt top that my mother had made. After some years of not doing anything with the quilt top, I passed it on to my niece. And after some years of not having it made, she passed it on to my sister Donna. Donna checked around several places and was told the quilt was too fragile as the material was so old. Donna took it to show her quilter friend, Linda Fowlkes. Linda asked Donna to leave it to see what she could do with it. The quilt came to Donna on Valentines Day of this year. Mother had sewn each small block by hand. So her friend had completed the quilt by hand stitching the quilt. It was a real labor of love. As Donna held the quilt in her hands, she prayed and asked God who the quilt should go to since there are seven of us. In her prayer time, she felt God saying to her: This is a healing quilt. Your mother covered you with her love, her prayers, and now with the her quilt. Whoever is sick will use it. When they no longer need it, they will pass it on to the next family member who needs it.

I was sharing this story at the hospital and was overwhelmed by how much God loves us. He knew when Mother died, this quilt would be held until just the right time. As I was sharing the story, this scripture came to mind.

Ephesians 3:18-19
And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

I have been so blessed to have Mom's quilt over my bed. But I will also be thankful when I will no longer need it. I hope this blesses your heart. Thank you again for all of your support. I go back in about 20 days for another PET scan. Please pray for a good report.

We love you all,
Ladeva and Warren

5 comments:

Mickey and Jeanne said...

Beautiful story, thank you for sharing it. God knew EXACTLY when the Quilt would be needed and when. HIS timing is perfect. I love the idea of being wrapped in a huge prayer cloth of love and prayers.

I wanted to share with you that God has done some mighty miracles in our lives. I don't know why He has blessed us so, but I was healed from a major brain stem stroke, our youngest daughter was healed of a broken neck and a ruptured appendix (ruptured 6 days before they operated). Mickey received an awesome touch thru his cancer problems two years ago. I can go on and on, but I want to share with you the last miracle God gave us.
Our youngest daughter is 41. She has a 3 1/2 year old daughter (Hannah, who is a FIREBALL)... and then she lost a baby after only 4 days due to a condition called Trisome 18. She then miscarried two babies and was told by her doctors that her eggs were no longer viable. She and her husband were told they would have to go the invitro route with a donor egg, so they were preparing to do that last summer. God had given me a dream that they had another child, and I really prayed to God and said, "God, if you are going to do it - you HAVE to do it now." because she was scheduled for shots to basically 'kill' her eggs to prepare her for invitro. Mind you, she still produced eggs, but only a few, and not healthy ones. The shots were to begin on a Tuesday. She was here visiting us and came out of her old room on Sunday morning ready to go to church with us, and I took one look at her, and told her..."Judy, you are pregnant." (She just glowed). She smiled and shook her head and said, "No Mom, there is no way...." Well, that was in July of last year. Just on the off chance that Mommy knew something she didn't, she bought a pregnancy test, and sure enough, there was a faint line. The end result was, she did NOT start the shots that week that would have killed eggs (even the fertilized one).... and even tho they more or less recommended she abort because the fetus was probably not viable, she carried the baby to term. On March 16th of this year, Reilly Shea was born and is absolutely beautiful and perfect.
My faith was so strong that God would do what He promised, I just have to shout it out. Tell your little nurse friend that God is in control, NOT the doctors... And the same goes for you.... It is what GOD wants to be done, that will be done, for He has a plan for each of us. That is why we can place you in His hands and trust He will do the right thing. We love you Deva... talk to you soon. jeanne

Anonymous said...

Ladeva, I have to admit that the 'healing quilt' brought tears to my eyes. What a perfect wonderful legacy your dear mother left you kids. And for the Lord to impress that on Donna the way He did is just another miracle. How precious it is to have 'believing brothers and sisters' in your family.Not to mention the cousins.We have many quilts that my mom left but none have taken that meaning on for us as of yet.
I'm thinking about the song "Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow" and saying to myself 'yeah, they sure do'. Thank you for sharing the story about the quilt. I'm sure your mother is smiling down from Heaven on your family and saying 'You know Lord, you and I did a good job'.
We are just trusting Him for your complete healing knowing that all Praise will go to Him. God uses doctors with the knowledge He has given them but still the ultimate goal is in His hands.
God Bless you and Warren as you travel this road together. The Lord is certainly walking it with you.
Had to chuckle when Donna called my hubby Eddie. No one does anymore unless we are around old friends or family. And no, he doesn't mind it one bit. He has gone his round with cancer also, but again God is faithful and as of now he is cancer free. Praise the Lord.
Praying for you daily.
Love you,
Ed and Ruby

Mickey and Jeanne said...

Okay... don't get tired of hearing from me, okay? Planted garden today and as I worked I was talking with the Lord and wouldn't you know it... several things popped into my mind concerning you. Remember when Dolly Parton sang the song Coat of Many Colors? THere was lots of 'Mama's Love' in EVERY STITCH... And I thought of your Mother sewing those blocks together by hand so many years ago. Think of the love and prayers and blessings she put in every stitch. Then God reminded me of a story I read about Yellowstone Park when it burned years ago. They came upon a grouse hen in the ashes and she looked to be perfectly preserved. But when they touched her, she crumbled but in the ashes were all her little babies alive - she had covered them over with her wings and protected them. That quilt is like your mothers wings - and like God's hands.... He Hideth My Soul in the Cleft of the Rock - and covers Me There With His Hand... and Covers Me There With His Hand.

Sleep well tonight Warren and Ladeva, God is watching over you, and He covers you with His hands.

love, me

Anonymous said...

GO DEVA!!
GO DEVA!!
GO DEVA!!
IT WAS SO GOOD TO HEAR FROM YOU.
ISN'T IT FUNNY HOW WE ALL ARE BUSY DOING OUR OWN THINGS, BE IT GARDENING, SINGING OR WHAT AND WE THINK OF YOU DEE AND THE THINGS THAT WE ARE DOING REMIND US OF YOU? WELL THAT IS GOD'S LITTLE NUDGE TO US TO KEEP HOLDING YOU UP!! HE MUST JUST LOVE YOUR NAME!
BECAUSE AS I SAT AT THE ( ARE YOU READY FOR THIS ONE?) HA! RACES TONIGHT I THOUGHT OF YOU AND HOW YOU AND I USED TO GO TO THE RACES WITH DADDY AND HE WOULD BUY US LITTLE POINTED, STRAW HATS SO THAT WE WOULDN'T GET SUNBURNED. AND HE BOUGHT US A HAMBURGER WITH ONIONS COOKED ON IT AND I DRANK COFFEE FROM HIS THERMOS?? WHAT FUN THAT WAS AND FOR ME IT IS STILL THE BEST THERAPY!!! COME AND GO WITH ME!!!WHEN I GO THERE I THINK OF DADDY AND THINK THAT HE MUST BE SMILING DOWN, AS I WATCH THE RACES AND ROOT FOR MY FAVES DRINK MY COFFEE OUT OF A PAPER CUP:)
BUT EVEN AT THAT I COMPARED THAT TO YOU AND THE DARN CANCER, AND I THOUGHT HERE WE GO ALONG LIVING A GOOD LIFE, (GREEN FLAG) JUST GOING ON DOING OUR OWN THING AND THEN SOMETHING HAPPENS AND WE GET SICK OR HAVE TO HAVE SURGERY ( YELLOW FLAG, CAUTION) AND SOMETIMES IT IS REAL SERIOUS AND THEY THROW A RED FLAG. THAT MEANS STOP!!! CALL EVERYTHING OFF. SOMETHING IS NOT GOOD. WE NEED TO MAKE SOME CHANGES. GOTTA HAVE SOME HELP HERE!
THEN AFTER THINGS ARE BETTER WE CAN START UP AGAIN AND BEFORE YOU KNOW IT THERE IT IS JUST AHEAD OF YOU!!! AND THERE YOU GO!! THE CHECKERED FLAG!!! THE FINISH LINE AND YOU HAVE WON THE RACE!!!! AND ONCE AGAIN LIFE IS GOOD. AND YOU HAVE THE TROPHY AND CAN TELL THE STORY OF YOUR SUCCESS AND HELP OTHERS WHO ARE ALSO TRYING TO FIND THEIR WAY DOWN THE TRACK TO THE FINISH LINE.
DUHHHHHHHHHH BUT IT MADE SENSE AT THE RACES. SEE I THINK OF YOU ALL THE TIME!!!
WELL I AM ONE OF YOUR BIGGEST FANS!! SO YOU GO DEE!!!!WE ARE ALL CHEERING YOU ON.( and betting quarters on you, ha!
THANKS FOR SHARING THE STORY ABOUT THE HEALING QUILT. I AM GLAD THAT IT BLESSED YOU GUYS. IT SURELY DID ME. A GIFT FROM MOM , 46 YEARS AFTER HER DEATH:) AND THE BEST PART IS THAT IT BELONGS TO EVERYONE!
EDDIE (LORD) I REMEMBER AT LEAST 100 YEARS AGO, GIVE OR TAKE:) THAT YOU MADE A RECORD OR TAPE OR SOMETHING BUT IT WAS A SONG THAT YOU SANG AND IT WAS ''GATHERING FLOWERS FOR THE MASTER'S BOUQUET''. I AM SURE THAT YOU REMEMBER THAT ALSO??
WE ALSO CALL OUR SISTER EDNA "EDDIE".
JEANNE, THAT IS WONDERFUL NEWS ABOUT YOUR LITTLE MIRACLE BABY. WHAT A BLESSING SHE MUST BE TO YOUR FAMILY. WE HAVE A LITTLE ''HANNAH'' BLESSING IN OUR FAMILY ALSO.
SHE IS NOW 5 YRS OLD AND FULL OF SPUNK. THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT MAKE HIS LOVE SO REAL.
(WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH 6 AWESOME GRANDCHILDREN)
WELL SISSY, YOU TAKE CARE AND LET PEOPLE FUSS OVER YOU. ( NO JUST GO AHEAD AND MAKE EM SWEAT)!!
I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU,
djkz

Anonymous said...

Dear Deva,
I just love the story behind the healing quilt! How special to have a little piece of your mom with you right now--just when you need it the most. I never got to meet your mother--I was only 4 when she died--but I heard Granny and others tell wonderful stories about her. You have such a wonderful and loving family and I've always loved being an extended part of that family! We lift you up in prayer all day long--just as often as we think of you--and as others have commented, you come to mind in subtle ways (a nudge from God, heh Donna Jo?) and at different times throughout the day. We love you bunches! Karl and Candi