A month of Answers to Prayer!

• Eleonora had a good night and is doing better today! No updates on Faith Marie, so please keep praying for both!
  

Thank you for praying and I thought it would be good to remind us all of some of the MANY, many answers to prayer in Eleonora's first month of life~ PRAISE THE LORD WITH US:
Not in order but here are just a few of the requests that God has specifically said YES to!!!!

• last week Eleonora was back on mama's milk 2 weeks earlier than expected!!! ( now pray she could again be put back on the best milk!~ during the infection they cut way back on it)
  
• No second surgery as previously planned~ her intestines " healed themselves!' We know GOD did it!
• Sarah( and Philipp some nights) is able to stay right across the street from the Hospital at the Ronald McDonald House ( a volunteer run home for families of children in the hospital requiring only a $15 daily donation) This has worked out real well for Sarah.
• Philipp is catching up on his studies and it looks like he still will be able to graduate in May ( keep praying about this one!)
• Eleonora's organs are all healthy...lungs, heart....
• NO BRAIN BLEEDS~ so common in preemies of this age!
• Kangaroo Kare ( skin-to skin ) holding of Eleonora on Sarah and /or Philipp almost daily for many days in a row ( Pray she gets well quick so this can resume!)
• and so many, many more things to Thank and Praise God for! ******************** Love and thanks for your prayers and love for this little, precious life! Gratefully yours, Gran~Momie Ruthie
  

A little Infection Starting

Do say some Extra prayers for our little Eleonora these next few days as they found the beginning of an infection. This is so common in preemies and yet can become serious quickly. She is on antibiotics and we will keep you posted.
Faith Marie, three weeks old, our niece, also needs prayers for her Staph infection to clear up quickly. She had to have an emergency surgery on her leg and has been in the hospital since Thursday .They are also on the East Coast.
The distance may be far but our hearts are drawn near in prayer.
Blowing hugs and kisses to these precious baby girls~
lovingly,
Gran~Momie Ruthie
Psalm 23 The Lord is my Shepherd!....

Continued prayers please!

It is still about 12 weeks until Eleonora was to be born! She does well most days but each day brings challenges for all micro-preemies even under the best of situations. She is still receiving help breathing and so many things have to be constantly monitored. Things we take for granted !

Do pray that she will really start THRIVING and growing at a good rate. She is slowly gaining weight and is at 1# 10 ounces ( very close to what she was at birth 3 weeks ago) . She needs to weigh 4 pounds to go home and be healthy. Keep praying infections away!!!! An infection can take a preemie in just hours.
Sarah and Philipp must also remain in our prayers! Praise GOD they have remained healthy and able to visit their daughter multiple times daily. Philipp is trying to complete his studies to graduate in May. This is a long and weary road and yet with the LORD there is peace and joy knowing HE IS IN CONTROL and knows the whole story.
When we can not trace GOD'S hand we can ALWAYS trust His Heart!!!
YOUR PRAYERS ARE VITAL!!!

Trusting and Obeying The Lord!
Prayerfully yours,
Gran~ Momie Ruthie

With God!!!

Life is Full and Beautiful!

Keep praying and praising with us over the miracle of Eleonora's tiny life!
Every day has ups and downs and we pray she will soon be off all the " normal" preemie medications . Perhaps this is part of why she does not have deep sleep cycles yet.
We are thankful for how well she is doing and each day they have been able to increase the amount of Breast Milk she gets through the feeding tube~and she is gaining weight!!!
Both Grandma's ( One from Austria and me!) get to visit our little grand~love in the next month and this is exciting!
Elizabeth flies home tomorrow and prepares to go to another family birth in Oregon as their Doula!
Elizabeth is a little angel wherever she is ~ do pray for her too!
LOVE YOU ALL!
As my life gets fuller~ do not forget to check our daughter Lydia's blog for updates on Eleonora~ especially when I am in Florida!http://zantoriafilms.blogspot.com/
Blessings from Roseberry Hill
Ruthie

The Power of Prayer and the Power of Motherhood

So far so good ! Eleonora seems to be handling Mama's Milk in the feeding tube so far and she is back to her birth weight 1 pound 8 ounces!!!Papa is holding her as I write this . Now we need to pray that she stays stable and continues to grow and that she will THRIVE!

What an amazing weekend I just had with Nancy Campbell , Editress of ABOVE Rubies ( a wonderful magazine whose purpose is to " strengthen families across the World"!) and all the ladies from near and far who gathered to be encouraged in our roles of mothering and being Godly wives.
I WAS SO BLESSED!!! I wish you could all have heard Nancy's beautiful prayer for Eleonora and Sarah and Philipp. It is a treat just to hear this woman pray!
She has written and sent this magazine out for 30 years strictly on a donation basis and I recommend it to all women of any age for encouragement. Check out http://www.aboverubies.org/
for information a magazine subscription or to get a free devotional email every so often.

Lovingly,
Gran~Momie Ruthie
James 3:16-17

I believe in MIRCACLES for I believe in GOD!

IT looks like God healed our little Eleonora without a surgery!!!!
The Dr. said the tests look good and they will start her back on the tube feeding ever so slowly to see how it goes ( PRAY!) . More details and updates on Lily's posts at http://zantoriafilms.blogspot.com/
I will be gone this weekend to ABOVE RUBIES retreat and it is not too late for you to join me in Olympia, Washington!

Love to you all with a grateful heart!
Gran~momie Ruthie

Psalm 71 for Eleonora!

GOD is GOOD ! ~ all the time! Even when the computers shut down for 2 days~ I wrote this 2 nights ago but could not post it. We are still praying for a miracle that Eleonora can start back on Mama's milk very soon and not need any more surgeries~ she is stable and we are thankful for each day the LORD has given. Psalm 71 was especially comforting and verses 1,3,5,6,7 and 21-22 ( For Thou art my hope, O LORD GOD; thou art my trust from my youth...by Thee have I been holden up from the womb....I AM AS A WONDER UNTO MANY; BUT THOU ART MY STRONG REFUGE....Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day...."The whole chapter I dedicate to Eleonora!....

so here is my last update from the other night:

Even though our hearts and prayers are in Florida ~Life goes on here on the Farm in Washington.
Track has officially started for Joshua and Caleb despite snow flurries . On the rainy days Andrew and John have enjoyed making boats to float in the puddles or building their amazing lego creations by the fire. MaryAnna and Lydia are such great helps with everything around here and I am so grateful for the full life we have.
Last night I took the older boys to the Centralia College for a night of music by the Pacific Northwest Chamber Orchestra.
It was a treat to hear F.Schubert's Symphony in B Minor and then a collection of Irish Tunes including :
Long, Long, Ago taking my thoughts back to Florida and that precious baby there ~ longing to hold her and praying GOD would hold her and sing to her for me ~ So here's the song for you to enjoy:

Long, Long Ago
Sing me the songs that to me were so dear
Long, long ago, long ago
Tell me the tales I delighted to hear
Long, long ago, long ago.

Out of th e past on the winds of the years
Sung by a voice that could still all my fears
Softened by laughter and gentled by tears
Long, long ago, long ago

Sing me the songs that were mine at the start
Long long ago, long ago
Tell me the tales that were dear to my heart
Long, long ago, long ago

Now I shall share with a child at my breast
All of those songs that once put me to rest
Safe in the arms of the one I loved best
Long, Long ago, long ago.

Then imagine how comforted I was to hear that Sarah was able to resume Kangaroo~ Care last night for the 2nd time only( surely the same time that song was being sung!) and got to hold Eleonora for a whole hour and a half ~" safe in the arms of the one she loves best"~ her Mama!!!! Elizabeth was with her and was delighted to get to help ~ touching and stroking her for the first time. Eleonora is quite stable and we remain hopeful and grateful for all GOD is doing!!!!
Sweet dreams to all of you of the LONG, long ago and the here and now also make every day special~
love from Gran~momie Ruthie's heart and...
a big HUG across the miles! romans 15.13

2 Weeks! Every day a "WIN" for Eleonora!!

See http://zantoriafilms.blogspot.com/ for updates!!!! and KEEP praying!
thanks,
gran~momie Ruthie

12 days with Eleonora!

Praise God with us that Eleonora is stable and looks good after her surgery!
Do ask for pray at your churches and keep her before the LORD! It is a long and hard road for these little ones that still should be under Mama's heart in the secret place!
We are confident that God is in control and that GOD is watching over her and His angels also but we are commanded to pray without ceasing ~ so when you think of her DO pray.
We pray she would start gaining weight now and growing and that GOD would do a miracle and spare her from more surgeries and yet we trust Him and put her continually in His care and loving Hands . We are thankful that HE is the master Physician and that HE has a plan for her little but very significant life.
Blessings and Peace!
A grateful Gran~momie

The Garden Path Quilt

Here is a picture and the description of the quilt we worked on ~ one of the many that will be auctioned off tonight! May God be glorified and lives be saved and encouraged through this ministry!

The Garden Path!

Hand-pieced....hand quilted ..this ultra soft baby quilt has been lovingly made by a group of 3sisters and 2 friends and finished off by their 2 mothers. The garden path quilt reminds us of how God can take unplanned scraps and put them together to make something amazing!
Right now He is making another quilt in heaven with all the " thrown away" supposedly unwanted babies- making a Garden Path of Life where, even though Satan meant it for evil -GOD will turn it all around and make " EVERYTHING BEAUTIFUL IN HIS TIME!"

Let's pray for an end to Abortion ~pray for life for the unborn and the born: Eleonora ~20 oz of love now!~ and 14 weeks to her due date ! May she grow quickly, not need any more surgeries ( we need a miracle for that one!) and be "comforted" by our love and her Heavenly Fathers all day long! Let's all blow tiny Ellie a kiss and a prayer RIGHT NOW!~~~~~~~~~~

Retreat Date change!

Oops! The Above Rubies Retreat is NEXT weekend~Mar 13-15! Please spread the word and DO NOT MISS Nancy Campbell in person if at all possible~ she is a rare treat and you WILL be blessed and I plan to be there also, LORD willing. See the last post for link and information.

Have a blessed restful weekend and do pray for the Care Center Quilt Auction which is raising money to help women and men who need education support and hope during an unplanned pregnancy.
Eleonora seems to be recovering nicely from her surgery and Sarah spends more and moretime with her now as her health improves and she recovers also.
Sarah and Elizabeth sounded very good but tired and were planning on an early to bed night !
Sounds good to me....nite~ nite....
Lovingly,
Gran~momie Ruthie
Joy to YOU!

Day 11 Praises!!! but don't stop praying!!!

Eleonora's surgery went well~ a bit longer than expected but she is resting peacefully and we pray for a speedy uneventful recovery so Sarah can resume Kanagaroo ~CARE!!! in a few days.
Yes ~ Sarah was able to hold her precious baby~love for the first time in 9 days the night before the surgery ~ for a whole hour right on her chest~ skin to skin ( amidst tubes and hook~ups etc...it is complicated! ~ but PRAISE GOD~) This comforts my heart SO and I am SO THANKFUL since I did not get that blessing 19 years ago until Luke was dying in my arms ~~ but GOD is using all those tears of 19 years ago and lessons learned to reap a harvest of JOY today ~~! JOY Beyond compare and I feel I am the most blessed o Do pray that I WILL BE TIM"S CROWN !!!! I have really blown it at times through the years ( intentionally and unintentionally !!))) BUT "IF we confess our sins one to another HE will heal and forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness!!!
I am confessing a LOT these days ~ so much SIN ! but even more GRACE!!!!
I am on day 10 of the 40 days for LIFE fast (to end abortion, life for Eleonora , healing in my marriage , home, Tim's family, ....) And it is SO exciting to see what GOD is doing ~ the IMPOSSIBLE in every area!
Do join me and pray for me that I can keep lifting up my hands !!!!
This weekend is Nancy Campbell in Olympia http://www.aboverubiesretreats.com/7101.html
and the Care Center Auction ~ 360.330.2229 Care Center Centralia for questions!
Pass along the WORD to your circle for PRAYERS and participation if possible.
Thanks!!!
Remember for more infor or more current updates when I am unable check our daughter's site that Lydia is so wonderfully doing:
http://zantoriafilms.blogspot.com/

love to you ALL
Ruthie Elizabeth
Tim's Crown (striving to be !)
Psalms 37.23-24.....the LORD holds me in His hands
Do check out info on putting an end to Abortion on Demand in America:
http://40daysforlife.com/index.cfm

Faith, Mercy and "the Rose" special birth Announcemnts!

After praying with me now for Eleonora's safety and healing during and after her heart-valve surgery Thursday do rejoice with me and Praise God for 2 more sweet babies! ANNOUNCEMENT! ANNOUNCEMENT!!!

Faith and Mercy both arrived safely Wednesday, March 4th! Thanks to those who joined me in prayers for these new little rosebuds from heaven~ truly precious gifts from GOD! A new second cousin for Eleonora , Faith Marie was born in the morning ( on the East Coast) and a new friend to be for Eleonora, Mercy Lee, was born in the evening safely at her grandma's home in Ripon, Califonia, as planned. Though 4 weeks earlier than her due date baby is perfect and weighs 5# 8 oz ~ big compared to Eleonora's 1# 4 oz that she now weighs!

Now my sweet sister-in-love Pam Rose and dear friend Kathy Lee and I, are all 1st time Grand~mothers within days of each other! I dedicate this poem to these dear prayer-warrior "sisters" of mine and to Philipp's mother and my dear friend ,Rosa Gollner in Austria especially, and also to all Grand~mas and Gran~mommy's to be!!!( Sisters ,Patti in April and Cathy Ann in JULY!!!)

Gran~momie, Gran~momie
( to the tune of Matchmaker, Matchmaker from Fiddler on the Roof)

Gran~momie, gran~momie that's what I'll be,
rocking a babe, singing some songs
reading a book or just staring at you
A gran~momie's GRAND to be!

For now, I sit and I dream and I pray a lot for thee
You have changed my life, oh so much
and I hardly can wait to see...

Your face and hands in my own loving arms,
Singing with you Praying some too
Hugging and Smiling and Kissing you OH...
A Gran~momie's GRAND to be!

Soon we'll be baking and cooking and gardening ~ you'll see,
You will grow up so very fast
but your Gran~momie I'll still be

Praying and Dreaming for you will not stop!
I love you now
I love you lots
And my great JOY will be just to see you....

A GRAN~MOMIE"S GRAND TO BE!!!!!

Lovingly written to my 1st Grandchild when Sarah was on bed-rest with complications Jan 27th 2009.
Today I dedicate this poem to ;
Eleonora, our miracle micro~ preemie
Rosa Gollner her other Grandma called "Oma" in Austria
and two special "sisters" and now Grand~mas with me :
Pam Rose and Kathy Lee Trout and their daughters ,
born just hours apart the same day~ March 4th 2009
Faith Marie Stoy and Mercy Lee Trout!
May God bless all the Grandmas and Grandmas to be and their babes!

The Rose

It’s only a tiny rosebud

A flower of God’s design;

But I cannot unfold the petals

With these clumsy hands of mine.

The secret of unfolding flowers

Is not known to such as I…

The flower God opens so sweetly

In my hand would fade and die.

If I cannot unfold a rosebud

This flower of God’s design,

Then how can I think I have wisdom

To unfold this life of mine?

So I’ll trust in Him for His leading

Each moment of every day,

And I’ll look to Him for His guidance

Each step of the pilgrim way.

For the pathway that lies before me

My Heavenly Father knows-

I’ll trust Him to unfold the moments

Just as He unfolds the rose.

-Anonymous
(thank you Michelle Cover for your favorite poem above, received just at the right time! ~ you are a dear ~hugs to you and your mom !!! and bless you at New Tribes Mission ~ your blog is refreshing and encouraging!)

Day 9-2 evening Surgery set for Thursday morning

Do pray for the surgery and GOD'S peace on us all.
See Lydia's post for details each day.
thanks!
http://zantoriafilms.blogspot.com/

"His eye is still on the Sparrow!!!"

Day 9 Eleonora might need 2 surgeries!

FAITH is seeing LIGHT with your heart when all your eyes see is darkness!!!!

FAITH is the VICTORY!
There are some updates already posted on my daughters' blog~
Please read for Urgent prayer requests!
YOUR PRAYERS DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE~ THANKS...

www.zantoriafilms.blogspot.com

"...The LORD hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted!"
Let us walk in the light of HIS love today and always...
lovinly
Gran~ momie
Ruthie Elizabeth
Tim's Rose

Day 8 In the Hollow of GOD'S palm!

Hello!
It feels like a cyclone or whirlwind has come through our home since a week ago Monday, yet GOD's peace has been so clear and present most of the time. There are hard moments to be sure , but then I must just choose to return to my rest ( looking to GOD and the promises of HIS WORD in the Bible~ Like a bird going back to it's nest in a storm.)

This poem helps explain it well:

At the heart of the cyclone tearing the sky
And flinging the clouds and the towers by,
Is a place of central calm;
So here in the roar of mortal things,
I have a place where my spirit sings,

IN THE HOLLOW OF GOD'S PALM. Edwin Markham

That is where I am and where I see Eleonora!
The Psalms comforted me all day !Psalm 63 and then chapters 23-25 and then later chapters 93-96 especially. All day the song in my heart was " His eye is on the Sparrow" which was a favorite of my dear mother, who has been in Heavenly Peace for almost 13 years now!

I can not thank you enough for your prayers for :

PRAYER IS BRINGING DOWN THE POWER OF HEAVEN TO EARTH!!!!

Praise GOD with us: Eleonora looks good today and is very stable despite the tummy issues the past few days!
It is a very delicate balance with feeding these micro~ preemies that should still be in " GOD'S secret knitting WOMB"! for 15 more weeks!!!
Sarah and Elizabeth are getting more sleep and each day is a little easier as they work out a schedule and routine with Philipp back at work and school. and the Ronald McDonald house across the street from
the hospital is working out well.
Prayer Requests: That Eleonora would be able to be put back on her mama's milk ~ SOON!
God would protect her from any and all infection !
God's peace would REST upon us all ....with sweet dreams for all....
And whatever else God puts on your heart!

lovinly
gran~ momie ruthie

Celebrating One week of LIFE for Eleonora!

The day started and ended with the brightest fullest double rainbows over our house! God is answering all of the requests we put out and His LOVE and peace are as clear as the rainbows!






Everywhere I look, God reminds me how He creates beauty in unexpected and tiny things!


Have you ever looked really closely at a violet or one flowerlet of the Lily of the Valley?



These tiny plants both blooming at our house right now are some of the most fragrant and lovely and yet also the most petite! What joy they bring and such bright hope for spring~ just like Eleonora's life~ a sweet fragrant 'bright one' shining brightly!


We celebrated Eleonora's first week of life at breakfast and Elizabeth happened to call and so she joined us on the speaker phone as we sang "Happy Birthday dear Eleonora!"Daddy said a special prayer of blessing on his little grand~daughter and we heard good updates from Florida.
Eleonora is stable and has very healthy organs so the biggest threat is what all preemies are prone to : infection. Please pray that no epidemics break out in the hospital and that she continues to grow and can get put back on mama's milk soon which should be within the week.
Her tummy trouble seems to have settled down and life is calming a bit.
Sarah's pain is diminishing slowly but surely and they are all getting more sleep. Do pray for continued healing and refreshing sleep and SWEET dreams for all!~~~ lovinly gran~momie ruthie

FAITH sees the invisible
believes the incredible
receives the impossible !

Enjoy every precious moment with the children and loved ones in your life ~ every moment is a miracle!

Day 6 Keep praying and hoping!

There is MUCH HOPE and yet with all preemies it is a very delicate balancing act ~ vitals going up and down ~ breathing and eating issues . JUST KEEP PRAYING AS GOD LEADS for health and life and peace for our sweet Eleonora and her loving family and growing list of loving fans! BUT if GOD takes her out of this pain-filled world may we all be prepared for trusting HIS LOVING hand.
NO MATTER what, we can and must trust GOD!
Philipp and Sarah and Elizabeth have a lot to process and deep refreshing sleep, the healthiest of foods and nourishment are practical things to pray for as well as a bit of fresh air, sunshine and exercise. ( perhaps a massage too!!!) Each day Sarah is improving and baby was resting comfortably on a "gel" bed on her tummy today again which she seems to really like.
Lydia has a blog that you might be interested in checking out http://zantoriafilms.blogspot.com/
May GOD bless our week! Hope you all had a worship~full Sunday!~ lovinly gran~momie ruthie

Preemie Luke 19 years ago

So tiny~ so perfect~ next to momie ruthe's hand!
Here is a picture of our precious " bearer of light and knowledge" :
LUKE Henry Clifford Rose! May 9-16 1990
due on His Grandad Henry Rose's Birthday 8.28.90
His one week of life changed our lives for the better because we chose that.
Life is a matter of trusting and obeying because sin and bad stuff are going to happen here and we will not have paradise until we get to heaven.
It sure brings back memories and yes they are bitter~sweet but so is the Cross of Jesus. Without the cross there is NO way to heaven ~ but it sure cost a lot ~ a lot of pain~ but I still embrace it.
Do you embrace it too?

With greater love and prayers full of HOPE for both here and in heaven,
deine ( yours)
ruthe elizabeth
(hope you do not mind a bit of German sprinkled in ~ Eleonora is bilingual from before birth!)
please see my last post below for updated prayer requests if you have not done so already