Luke's Birthday Party: His Best Birthday Gift!
Luke's Birthday Party
November 30, 2005 9:00 PM
We just returned from Luke's surprise 16th birthday party. And it WAS a surprise!
We all gathered at a local pizza place where the Pippenger's and Bill Jones had decorated with bright-colored balloons. When Luke walked in he was greeted by many of his friends and the party got cranking.
We ate pizza and ice cream cake and Luke opened gifts and cards. He got an I-Pod, also some pretty cool headphones and some gift certificates. After the party he had his buddies went off to Best Buy to redeeem the certificates for tunes.
In the meantime the older crowd went for coffee and relaxed at the end of a long day.
At the coffee shop, as we were leaving, we noticed a group of women circled up in a Bible study and as Steve walked by he greeted them. As it turns out these women and their church had been praying for Shea! So the circle widens and the love grows.
Then we said good-bye to David and Joy Pippenger and their son, Jonathan. They return to Colorado tomorrow. They've been here for 11 days! Many thanks to them for all their support.
The Best Gift Ever
I was just about to post this to the blog and Susan just called. She said she and Steve, Luke and Jesse had gone over to the hospital to see Shea. (Luke hadn't seen her today). When they actually pulled up to the hospital, Luke decided to stay in the car. He said, "You guys go in; I may come in if Shea is at all alert. I'm not sure." So they went in and came back and told Luke that Shea was restless and somewhat "awake."
Susan said Luke came in and went to the bedside. When he called her name, Shea opened her eyes and turned her head to look at him and Susan said they looked at one another in a real recognition, a real encounter that went on for some time. Then Luke took Shea's hand. Susan said, "Shea, squeeze Luke's hand and say Happy Birthday." And she did. She very obviously squeezed his hand.
Luke said, "Wow, this was the best birthday present I have ever had!"
What a way to end a beautiful day! We give thanks for all the blessings of the day, for the many people who continue to surround Shea with their love and prayers.
--Michael Anderson
November 30, 2005 9:00 PM
We just returned from Luke's surprise 16th birthday party. And it WAS a surprise!
We all gathered at a local pizza place where the Pippenger's and Bill Jones had decorated with bright-colored balloons. When Luke walked in he was greeted by many of his friends and the party got cranking.
We ate pizza and ice cream cake and Luke opened gifts and cards. He got an I-Pod, also some pretty cool headphones and some gift certificates. After the party he had his buddies went off to Best Buy to redeeem the certificates for tunes.
In the meantime the older crowd went for coffee and relaxed at the end of a long day.
At the coffee shop, as we were leaving, we noticed a group of women circled up in a Bible study and as Steve walked by he greeted them. As it turns out these women and their church had been praying for Shea! So the circle widens and the love grows.
Then we said good-bye to David and Joy Pippenger and their son, Jonathan. They return to Colorado tomorrow. They've been here for 11 days! Many thanks to them for all their support.
The Best Gift Ever
I was just about to post this to the blog and Susan just called. She said she and Steve, Luke and Jesse had gone over to the hospital to see Shea. (Luke hadn't seen her today). When they actually pulled up to the hospital, Luke decided to stay in the car. He said, "You guys go in; I may come in if Shea is at all alert. I'm not sure." So they went in and came back and told Luke that Shea was restless and somewhat "awake."
Susan said Luke came in and went to the bedside. When he called her name, Shea opened her eyes and turned her head to look at him and Susan said they looked at one another in a real recognition, a real encounter that went on for some time. Then Luke took Shea's hand. Susan said, "Shea, squeeze Luke's hand and say Happy Birthday." And she did. She very obviously squeezed his hand.
Luke said, "Wow, this was the best birthday present I have ever had!"
What a way to end a beautiful day! We give thanks for all the blessings of the day, for the many people who continue to surround Shea with their love and prayers.
--Michael Anderson
posted by admin | 9:46 PM
29 Comments:
That's better than any money can buy! :) Love Dani
Amazing! ....but God is doing amazing things there! To HIM be ALL the glory, honor and praise!!
Happy Birthday, Luke!
Praying for you all,
a friend of Aunt Kathy's in Jamestown
That must have been a real blessing to be able to see your sister like that. Praise God! That will be a neat memory
Marlene.
Happy Birthday Luke!
I love you SheaTown! I miss you and I'm going to come visit you soon. You're in my thoughts and prayers. I love you!
Tori Carroll
(Torville)
No words here...that's pretty special...
Hayes
Happy Birthday, Luke!!
I'm so glad that you were surprised! It's really hard to pull off a good surprise party, but it sounds like you had one! That will be a great memory that you'll remember forever!
Cynthia & Joe Taylor
Shea- sorry its so late today, i had to work and close at my restaurant. But I heard you had a busy day. geez, a whole bunch of people constantly telling you to open your eyes, or squeeze a hand or something!!! I can't tell you how i praise God for his love and care over you. What miracles He is doing through you! I heard your mom kissed you today and you responded so well. I always thought you had such an amazing mom. I ve found that as we grow older, THEY get smarter! Funny how that works, I just hope you and your mom share that special bond of friendship that my mom and I have come to love appreciate. Well, IO think i need to cut it short today, its about 11 at night and I have 5 am class. Yuck!!!
Luke- I'm glsd you had a great birthday, you may not remember me but ill never forget the stories Shea would tell me about you two!!! Have a fabulous birthday and feel loved and appreciated.
Rachel Sunderland
Lauren Shea: He is a Mighty God! Once again, we've been blessed to hear what He's been up to in Macon!
It's starting to become a recurring theme: "It was a GOOD day in Macon." ~~ and we continue to praise Jesus for it!
Luke: sounds like you had a really COOL birthday. Bet you won't ever forget this one!
Keith & Kathy Shull
Steve, Susan, and family,
I am posting this from my classroom as my poor unfortunate students are taking a Lit test.
My 7th gade homeroom students are wondeful prayer warriors. Our prayer time is full of petitions for Shea, you guys, and all those there in support.
We have been praying especially for the surgeons and the surgery coming up. Tomorrow,we will pray all hours of the school day for your precious baby and her recovery.
The blog has been encouraging for my students to see how Christ can truly be shown in the lives and situations of others. Many of my students are going through tremendous difficulties and this site has been a great blessing to them. In fact,i am about to read the post about Luke's B-day party and his great gift.
Brenda and I remember, love, and miss all of you.
Leonard
Hayes said it best, "no words here"... just praise and tears.
Love,
Ring family
I had a good cry at my desk this morning after reading Luke's Birthday Blog. God never ceases to amaze me at the beauty He allows us to see on earth. Luke- what a wonderful thing you experienced with Shea! Shea- we continue to pray for you everyday and praise God for His mercies. The whole family- You are in our prayers and thoughts all the way over in SoCal- God continues to extend His family. Cami (Willmington) Ferreira
Hey shea I love you so much and cant wait till you get better you have are beautiful you have an awesome voice u also have faith like I have never seen!!!
I miss hearing your voice in church and cant wait to see you and love you so much!!!
Im praying for you!!! luv ya!!!
love,Payton Polhill
Good afternoon Shea!
Well it sure seems you wish they would let you wake up so that you could yip yap with all these people standing around your bed! Last night our Life Group at Moon Valley Bible Church prayed for 4 specific things 1) your facial surgery tomorrow 2) your emotional recovery as you wake up and heal physically 3) your friends--Sam, Kati, & Courtney and all the others across the country--that God would give them peace and a close walk with the Lord as they go through this "God sized answer of prayer". 4) For a great birthday for Luke and I'm guessing that about the time we were praying he was at your bedside. OH--and for the worship time Don played your 2 songs--love that--"I will never cease to praise You--You are the song in me"-WOW! Rest up for your surgery!
Oh--one more thing--to clarify one of my early comments--I did not throw Don in the trash!--it was a misplaced something or other--too many teachers on this blog--I must be more careful! :)
Love all you guys--I miss so much being there!
Karine Beard
Morning doll. I didnt see any new postings for today, but im sure you are continuing progress. I just got back from an oral surgeon. Yes, its time for me to go get my wisdom teeth out. So, I'll be the brunt of several bad family jokes for the next few weeks becuase of my apparent loss of wisdom. Haha. So I guess we will both be under around the same time. Well, I just hope they give you the "happy" drugs they are giving me.... Well, its beautiful here right now. About 40 degrees in the mornings, which, for us Phoenicians, is cold enough to freeze our blood! Haha. It must be snowing there in Georgia. So you have to get better hon, so you can go out and make some snow angels for me!!!! So, I have the night off work and Kacie is throwing a dinner party, it should be fun and then we are headed out to see Pride and Prejudice. Yeah, I'm still a "cool nerd." I think you were the one who coined that phrase, weren't you??? Well, I still use it. Thanks.
Ok, its time for me to go, just know that i love you and im praying for you tomorrow as you go into sugery. I know it'll be big day..... So, I'll be checking in.
Rache
HAPPY BIRTHDAY LUKE!!!
This story made me cry... joyful tears of course. God has replaced my fear and confusion with peace and hope. I've been personally blessed by Shea's recovery and continue to pray and be amazed by God's power and love!!! Thanks for the blessing Shea! :) Can't wait to see you the next time you come out to AZ
~Amy Gleason~
Hey Shea,
Shea you are doing so much better eveyday. My class is all praying for you. Each day someone asks about how you are doing.
Love Ya,
:)Madison(:
Wow this entry almost made me cry...that is soooo amazingly precious! i am so excited to read about you guys everyday! Luke happy birthday...I'm sure this is one that you will never forget! We pray for yall everyday! Shea we miss you so much! You're sooo tough! We love you~
-Megan Hoag
I'm not gonna pretend that that didn't bring tears to my eyes! Praise God! What a sweet gift...
nate
Luke,
You have always seemed 16 to me. Actually older than that! The way you reach out to other people, especially kids is great!
I am so happy to hear your Birthday was such a bash! And especially about the squeeze you received from Shea! You really are the coolest teenager we know!
Happy belated Birthday!
Rhonda, Ruddy, Parker, Payton and Abby
Hey Luke... I get choked up at many of these enteries, but that struck a chord like no other, and made me want to call my younger brother.
By the way, my little boy Nicholas turns two today, so he wishes you a happy birthday, too! Although, I'm elbow deep in berry blue jello for his party, I want you and your family to know, we are checking in and praying for Shea. I just know God is going to bring her through the surgery tomorrow with flying colors. Next thing you know, it will be a BEAR HUG she'll be giving you!
We love you guys... Happy 16th,Luke!
Jenell, Stephen, and Nicholas Roberson
Wow. This last blog made me choke up and get tears. Partly because i really wanted to be there for Luke's birthday, but i was so happy to hear that Shea looked at him, and Luke was totally right when he said that was the best birthday present ever.
Shea, i hope you're doing well, and the rest of the family.
Love you tons Lukie! :)
xo- shan
I was so touched and amazed by this post, I almost missed the one below (before) it. Yay Shea(!)that knee surgery may not even be necessary! I'll be praying for your surgery tomorrow - that God will guide the hands of the surgeon and that every single nerve in your face will stay fully functional.
Love,
Betty Anne
Dear Steve and Susan,
It's like I can't wait to wake up in the morning to read and cry about the next miracle that God is entering into your life with Shea and her healing. I know how selfless you two are, but I do hope you are getting your rest and feeling the enveloping of Gods presence in your life..
Susan I was so touched to read what you said about Shea’s expressiveness, how true that is (and she gets it from her mom). I find myself so often thinking of you and Steve, and the times we’ve all laughed together. That sounds kind of different to be thinking about, yet there is a yearning in my heart for you two to be able to laugh again as a family. We will be praying for the surgery tomorrow and for our great Physicians to be guiding the doctors hands.
We love you two and your beautiful family,
Rick and Terri
thats amazing! we've been praying for shea @ our church...and ive been praying for her on my own...its great that shes starting to get better!! i go to shumc..
just wanted to tell u that
<3
okay...so this is a day late and maybe nobody will see it...not important. I just had to say that Christian Tessmer aka ostrichisagooddinner is the BlogMeister...hard to believe a guy as creatively twisted as that is a drummer...or maybe that's WHY he's a drummer...(hey everyone: that's a band joke...we love you christian)...
Great chatting with you tonight Lukus...we love you too...chat soon
I love luke, shea, and the entire fam. i wan you all to know that i am here for you guys if you need me!!!!!
-Blake
Luke- Happy Birthday Bro, I'm glad to hear that Shea's getting better. If u feel like callin me hit me up 480 231 4186 sometime. Talk to you later, and happy holidays to your family bro.
-David Layton
I have read through your entire journey, beggining to present. I am in tears.
Until tonight, I was not a religious individual by any means.
Shea should know that her accident and miraculous recovery has inspired a perfect stranger to reverse his life, and follow God.
It just feels so good to believe, to KNOW that we are being watched and taken care of. I got a euphoric wave of tears when I came to the realization that there is no end, no leap into the dark when you live through God. Shea's suffering is not without reason. The ripples of this new found faith will bring more people to God.
I haven't cried in years.
Very powerful.
God bless.
-Lee Floyd
Reading this birthday share really made me happy. Went for a gender reveal party of my neighbor at one of the open spaced LA venue few days back. Liked the buffet table stations done on sides and mock tails served were of branded quality. Liked the lovely theme cake with nice blue crockery.
Post a Comment
<< Home