Ira's heading home today

With great anticipation, excitement and worry, we all wait for Joe's posting and picture of Ira Lester Hays in the surroundings of his family in his own home.
Please remember them today, as you feel Ira on your wrist and in your heart.
Lift the family up in prayer, to be covered by the peace of the Holy Spirit, to be held in the arms of Jesus Christ and to be guided by the eyes of God.

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I talked to Laura about 9:30am Houston time, and she was told from Joe they would be leaving within 30-60minutes. So by now, the journey should be taking place.
steve

"Celebrity" sightings

I've got lots of pictures to post, but feel free to send in yours.
There were some celebrity sighting at ACU of Ira Wristbands and his family.
[ Kelly Parvin]










[Jeremy(Laura's cousin) at American Heart Association "Heart Walk" in Daytona Beach, FL]













[Alyssa,Julie & Ethan Whaley and Ira at Nashville Zoo]












[Heintz & Eller families-L to R - Amber,Gavin,Kay,Jason,Steve,Jen,Jackson,Harvey,Tate,Blakely]










[Steve,Jen,Tate,Grandmother Lambert (JoeClyde's GM), Julie & Johnna-cousins
(sorry if I spelled this wrong, email me and I'll fix it)]









[Blakely & Jackson with their new "Great"... and Ira]

"the Band"

We're taking Ira to ACU homecoming today. And I look forward to seeing how many people we can find with their Ira prayer-band on. So hold 'em high if you're there, and look around for others so we can share our lives together. Or leave a comment to let us know you'll be there. I'm going to bring some with me.. in case you need 1.

I'll post some more pics and stories on Monday of friends with Ira.
Have a blessed weekend.
Steve

Why Green?

Well, I posed the question a few days ago (10/1), what green means to you. When Julie and I were looking through the 5000 colors to choose from for this wristband, it came to me that Green would be a good color because of its symbolizism of life and growth. That was my simple answer. However, I am glad to see how that "simple" thought is lived inside you as well. Calissa posted her thoughts the other day about the color, and it does a much better job at why I think Ira Lester Hays should be written in green:

To me GREEN symbolizes growth, springtime, new beginnings, health, and life. I LOVE that the prayer bands are green... immediately when I saw them, I thought it was the perfect color for how God is healing Ira and renewing (the) family.

How about you? Does that describe the color in your eyes?

Ira's Journey

from Donna Eller:
(beautiful aspens in Lake City, Colorado) It is amazing to see God's magnificent creation and know He still loves and cares for us. Ira's little life is as beautiful as any of the aspens and we continue to ask God to heal him.

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from Beth Nathison:
Hi, my name is Beth and I am a friend of Laura's from high school. On Tuesday Ira came with our family to the lake. We were celebrating Tashlich, a custom during the Jewish new year, where we cast our "sins" (bread, bagels, crackers, etc.) on the water and and pray for forgiveness while also praying for guidance and compassion in the year to come. One thing we talked about this year was how the ever-watchful eyes of God are also eyes that constantly peer down on His creations with mercy. This year, we added a special prayer for Ira, that God would peer down on him with mercy in the year to come.

Stories with Ira

I wanted to post a few comments sent in with the pictures, so you can see the life Ira lives in those who love him.

My name is Brenda Tipton. I am Laura's cousin. This is a picture of my son Matt and myself with Ira's wristband. Matt is a Senior this year and plays football for Central Arkansas Christian, North Little Rock,AR. This picture was taken in Marriana, AR. Ira plays football every week in Arkansas.

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I'm Lane Smith and I've been following Joe Hays blog about Ira since shortly after he was born. I ordered an "Ira bracelet" just shortly after they were announced and have been wearing mine since receiving it last Saturday, Sept. 10.
Sept. 10 is also the day that my son, Cory, came home from college and asked to be baptized. Cory was raised in the Church of Christ here in Temple, Texas, has attended Abilene Christian University for the last 3 years, been on numerous mission trips, attended several christian summer camps, and has always been an example of Jesus Christ but just never "took the plunge".
The picture shows me, Lane Smith, on the left (wearing the LIME GREEN Ira bracelet) and my son Cory Smith on the right (wearing the UNEMPLOYED t-shirt!)
When people ask me what my LIME GREEN bracelet represents I tell them that I'm a "prayer partner" for my friend Joe Hays baby, Ira. Actually I have never met Joe Hays but was referred to his blog and feel like he's super christian awesome cool dude as reflected by his emotional, honest, and straightforward tales of life in the ICU. I've been in his shoes and know he's doing an excellent job of coping in a terribly exhausting and emotional time.

You and Ira

Here are a couple of pictures that have come in I'd like to share with you.
-Steve & Jackson, during hurricane Rita vacation









-Kenny and the Jets







-Kenny on Raquette River in the Adirondack State Park in upstate New York









-Joe and Anthony










-Ira with Baby Tate, Jen and Steve









-Julie & Ethan during our Rita evacuation to Lake Whitney,TX









-Lane Smith,with newly baptized son Cory Smith



















The cool thing about the Smith's, like many of you, is they have never met the Hays' family. This is a testimony to the love the body of Christ has for each other. It brings to life the following verse:
I Cor. 12:27 “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”

Ira at JDF Walk

We took Ira to the JDF walk this last Sunday, as well as a great number of friends who supported the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Thank you!!!
Jen also has her Ira-band on, but its on her left hip. That's 9 kids. Because Ira and Noah were both with us.
It was a nice outing. Send me your pictures of you and Ira.

New Orders & Why Green

We are shipping out the most recent wristbands today. Thank you for your patience, but more importantly the funds that you have donated for Joe, Laura, Sophia and Ira.
To date, you have given over $6000. There are still wristbands at the churches in Tahoka, St.Louis, and Fortress. I am mailing a package to Manhattan Church today.

We chose the green color for a reason. But just for fun, what does it mean to you?
(Awesome job on the image Jason)

Thank you for the pictures and stories of where you took Ira. Keep em coming.