We have a request for you. Other than "PRAY FOR US" we try not to make too many requests. This one isn't very challenging. Here's some background: there is a theme running throughout the Bible of spiritual markers. Especially in the Old Testament, when someone had an encounter with God or God did something for them, they were often instructed to build an altar to remember that place and what God had done. Tim & I have been so overwhelmed by how many people have prayed for Blaze and we feel that God has been doing miraculous events in our lives. Our request is that you either email us or post it under the comments section on the website, where you are, all of you wonderful prayer warriors. We want to know the town or area you are in as you pray for Blaze and our family. Tim & I will map out the locations on State, U.S. and World Maps. (And tell us the name of your church if you have requested prayer for us there.) So, if you send this email on, please be sure to let us know where the emails are going. Tim & I know that we are going to be encouraged to hear back from you, this isn't just for Blaze. This will encourage us now and be a tremendous blessing to Blaze when he is old enough to understand.

We're noticing some changes in Blaze. He is getting tired faster at night and wanting to go to bed earlier. This is a mixed blessing. We are concerned it is because of the blockage in his shunt that he is going to sleep earlier, but we're also relieved to get some sleep. Plus, we feel this might help him gain weight, it's hard to burn off calories as you slumber! He also is not liking to jump in his jumper as much as he used to. He is enjoying it more now that we raised the seat a bit, but his tolerance with it is much shorter than it was. It is hard to wonder about it all...and we do constantly wonder. It's the unknown that is so challenging right now. Tim & I are struggling with this upcoming surgery. We know God is in control and we are so grateful it is in His capable and loving hands. It is hard, though, to know your little one is going in for open heart surgery and there's nothing you can do for him, other than be there with him. While we know he has to go through this, we are hurting. We appreciate your encouragement more than you know.

Blaze is still doing really well. We do not want to sound all gloom and doom. At night he is scooting around his crib. He gets himself trapped in a corner and gets angry that he cannot get out of it. One night Tim and I just took turns going in his room and turning him around. It was so funny! His big thing now is to throw his pacifier. He has an amazing arm for such a little fellow! He can literally throw it across a room. I think he gets a kick watching us look for it. We actually have had to move furniture in order to retrieve it. He also loves a show on t.v. called "Imagination Movers." Who knew? We get a few minutes to accomplish tasks when this show is on. It is so funny to watch Blaze. He leans forward and really watches it. He is so fun. Early (really early) one morning, Blaze was not feeling well, he had a runny nose and he was having problems sleeping. He was fussy, so I rocked him and held him and he continued to fuss. So, I started making up a story about a little boy named Blaze and his doggy Maggie and all the fun adventures they had. I just talked and talked and talked (shocking, isn't it?) and I got to a point in the story where Daddy helped Blaze build a tree house and suddenly I had to stop. Blaze had put his hand over my mouth! I laughed and tried to talk some more to see what he would do...he made a noise like, Hush, Mom, left his hand over my mouth and went to sleep. SO FUNNY!!!! Blaze delights us. He is a fun kid and we are so blessed to have him.

We have our first Parents As Teachers visit tonight. They wanted to visit pre-surgery. We shall see how it goes! I am excited to learn new activities we can do with him. I think it will be beneficial, especially for Melissa who is at home with him for such a long stretch of the day.

We are gearing up for our St. Louis trip. We will be leaving immediately after the job fair on Saturday, Feb 14th. Tim & Blaze will be there to pick me up and we will head out to visit family for a few days before heading to St. Louis. We are so looking forward to meeting Tim's new nephew!!! It will be a highlight of that week! I plan on being back to work on March 2nd. On March 3rd, Tim & I have been asked to share our testimony on KLFC. You can listen online. The website is http://www.klfcradio.com/ . We're on at 7:30 CST.

Thank you so much for your continued encouragement and prayers. We will keep you updated through emails or through the website while in St. Louis. We will have internet access at the hospital. We're so blessed to have you in our lives!

Joy Gilzow