Please Pray for these Families

I know that the bloggy community is full of praying people so I am asking you to take a moment to say a prayer for two families this week. The first family is a friend of mine through our adoptions. Diana and her family are currently in China adopting their second daughter, Sienna, she is 4 1/2 years old. After receiving vaccinations in China the other day Sienna has spiked very high fevers and has been ill. They have only had her for a week, I cannot imagine what this little girl is going through. Long story short, they have received an expedited Visa so that they may fly home to the US today, a week earlier than planned.That was an answer to prayers in itself. Please pray for Sienna's health and strength to take the 15 hour flight home and pray for Diana, Jeff and big sister Ainsley as they travel with her.

Secondly, my heart goes out to the family of James B. Many of you know that I am married to a police Lt., my second family is the police community, they are a brotherhood like nothing I have seen before. I have been in this family for 20 years now and nothing is worse than being notified that another officer has died in the line of duty. Yesterday James was shot and killed in a nearby community, he was just 26 years old. We do not personally know James but he grew up in the community where my husband is a Lt. Mark was informed yesterday that he will share in the distinct honor of planning James' funeral. This is a huge undertaking, we know this because one of our friends and co-workers was killed in the line of duty 6 years ago and Mark was in charge of planning his arrangements as well. These funerals are huge, thousands of police officers come from all over to show their respect to the officer and their brother in blue. Please join us in praying for this family as they lay their son to rest and deal with this senseless tragedy.
This hits so close to home, my Mark was involved in a fatal shooting 5 years ago this past month. I will never forget the confusion of that day, the unknowns, the sadness, the fears and frustrations. Friends, family and clergy visited our home that day, it was such a blur. Watching the television and seeing the story plastered all over was difficult, but I was so thankful at the end of the day for the outcome. I almost lost Mark that day, believe me, I never take for granted that he is here with me. As difficult as it has been and always will be for Mark and I to live with the fact that he took another man's life, we know that the Lord was watching over him that day, he gave Mark the strength and confidence to do what he has trained to do and not become the victim himself. I know that James will always be a hero, his life was taken for a reason that we do not understand, but that is not for us to try to figure out, he is in God's hands. I ask that you pray for his family and for his co workers, it is going to be a very difficult time for them. Thank you !!!!