Debra Basham

Living and Loving

Tag: Jeremiah 29:11

  • Doctor Mickey

    He had Agent Orange. Agent Orange is a powerful chemical weed killer that the U.S. military sprayed over millions of acres in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War to remove dense plant cover. For years his health had been compromised, and he had undergone the best of modern medicine. He needed heart surgery, but was not strong enough to survive that. This was the second weekend he had ended up at the ER and being admitted to the hospital.

    They were both so touched by the presence and kindness of a petite female doctor making rounds on Saturday morning. She had a complex name, so his wife just called her Doctor Mickey.

    He had lost one kidney to cancer, and his remaining kidney had failed and was bleeding. His hemoglobin was so low…. he felt weak and was having difficulty breathing. He needed transfusions. The kidney could not be removed due to the condition of his heart. They were facing the limits of what acute medical care could do. Saturday evening Doctor Mickey came in to talk to them about hospice. She found out he was a Veteran. And they found out Doctor Mickey is the main person from the VA that handles hospice! He was discharged from the hospital that night.

    They knew it was time to have his care managed at home with the VA hospice. A few days later, follow-up visits with his primary physician and oncologist were tearful thank-yous and good-byes. They had been so blessed with excellent medical care. He would still be transported Monday, Wednesday, and Friday to receive dialysis, and any needed transfusions would be done right next door. He would continue to receive the processes that were giving him the best quality of life.

    Now they could do the things they enjoy and spend time with those they love.

    Thank you, Doctor “Mickey” and thank you, Jesus! The way had been prepared. They were being guided and blessed. The Lord had them….

    “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”. ~ Jeremiah 29:11

    (The photo snip is of him sharing this news with his brother using a humorous filter!)

  • Divine Timing!

    Our grandson, Adam, and (his now wife) Rachel wanted to give the guests at their wedding a memorable experience at Sandestin, a 2,400-acre resort located in Miramar, Florida. I assure you the five-day unfolding was an on-going call (and answer) to prayer.

    At 4:41 pm Thursday, September 10, I received a frantic call from our daughter, Stacey, from Ed Walline Regional Beach in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. She and Doug were there setting up for the rehearsal dinner. She said she had mascara running down her face and needed me to bring her some makeup remover. She said nothing was set up yet! I assumed all of this was because of the rain we were having at the house. During Sunday’s drive back to Tennessee from Florida I learned it never rained on them, but permitted events were not allowed to set up until 5:00 pm. This “formal” rehearsal dinner for 80 people was scheduled to begin at 5:30! People raved about the food and the venue. With weather threatening all around us, the event was gorgeous and so was Stacey and her heart-rendering mother-of-the-groom speech!


    After intense thunder and lightening in the early-morning, the rains stopped just in time for photos on the golf-course.

    Screenshot

    Adam’s wedding band was from his paternal grandfather, George Ross, who passed away five years ago. Following a very meaningful ring warming, the ceremony was rich with articulate and intimate personal vows. Adam’s and Rachel’s marriage ceremony was held as dreamed: outdoors at Eden Gardens State Park beneath the “Wedding Tree” which is estimated to be over 600 years old. Blessed beyond words to be able to officiate for them.

    The perfectly planned wedding reception was a 3-hour dinner cruise aboard Solaris Yacht, kicked off with live saxaphone, punctuated with spectacular speeches by Rachel’s dad and our own grands Christina (Matron of Honor) and Brad (Best Man). Dancing was over the top, and John and I got to take home the leftover cheesecake.

    After several days of rainy and cloudy weather which graciously gave way for our meticulous schedule, Saturday’s beach day was blessed with continuous sunshine. At sunset we were back at the marina for dinner and drinks and cheering UT to a win on the outdoor big screen!

    Sunday Stacey and Doug and John and I were just minutes behind a very serious multi-car accident south of Birmingham. We got through debris on the road as those involved were still on the scene standing stunned awaiting emergency crews. Courtney and Jackson were driving back with Courtney’s dad. We we surprised to hear they were in front of us and shocked to learn they had been mere seconds ahead of the crash. Courtney’s dad saw it in his rearview mirror!

    After four delays on their flight out of Florida, Rachel’s mom and family had a “Hail Mary” 20 minutes between landing time and departure time in Atlanta for their connection home to California. They landed there at their original ETA. So grateful, so grateful, so grateful…. As Stacey often says, “God hasn’t failed us yet.”

    The conditions invited us to be purposeful in our practice of prayer and if it was possible to choose just one scripture for this amazing start to Adam’s and Rachel’s married life it might be:

    “For I know the plans I have for you…
    plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
    plans to give you hope and a future.”
    ~ Jeremiah 29:11

  • A Cute Young Boy

    Her grandmother was being cared for in a facility. Meanwhile, she and her husband and two daughters had been renting her grandmother’s home. Although her grandmother’s will gave her first option to purchase the home, when her grandmother passed and the house came up for sale the situation was complicated because of her divorce.

    Thus, her grandmother’s home ended up being sold to someone else. Her mother told her, “I sold your grandma’s house to a cute young boy. He would be perfect for you.”

    Interestingly, he never came down that road. His home was being bought as part of a property development. He saw the For Sale sign, and as life would have it, she ended up married to that cute young boy. Their family lived happily in her grandmother’s former home!

    “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” ~ Jeremiah 29:11

  • Marquette

    Her sister and brother-in-love had been planning a move from their hometown to the upper peninsula of Michigan, where their youngest grandchildren were. She wanted her sister to be where she needed to be, but to be honest, in her heart a move to Marquette for them felt like loss. Significant relief came when they had decided to stay in the area, but sell their current home and move into something else.

    “We just found a duplex to rent. It has a basement!” her sister’s text read. “What a story to tell. Call me when you can.”

    They were in the car driving to a jam session so she she called her sister right then.

    The duplex was on Marquette Woods Road, very near her! And close to everything…. She heard her brother-in-law say in the background, “We thought we were going to be moving to Marquette, and I guess in a way we are!”

    Directly across from her at the jam session was a musician wearing a hat with one word on it: Marquette.

    “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” ~ Jeremiah 29:11

  • God Has a Sense of Humor: Speedway

    Sacred Stories

    She lost her job due to a corporate merger. It was a mixed blessing, because the new culture was not at all the same as the one she loved.

    On the first day of her new job, she sent this text and photo,”God has such a great sense of humor! The view from my new office window.”

    Her new office window overlooks one of the stores in the chain of the corporation whose culture she loved at her old job….

    For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ~ Jeremiah 29:11