I saw these and thought they were very clever!
Friday, January 26, 2007
Thursday, January 25, 2007
My Grandpa
My grandpa (my dad's dad) is getting up there in years, but he is doing good. Until he hurt his shoulder picking up Josh, he was out golfing regularly. I know he has been slowed a bit by Parkinsons and the toll the medication gets, but most of the time he is the same guy he always was.
I am in complete denial that people around me are aging. I even want to deny that I am aging. I want everything to continue like it is today. Or like it was.
It turns out he fell and hurt himself badly a couple of days ago. I know that is not age related, but at his age, the consequences can be pretty tough. He has a few doctors appointments coming up for his facial bones with an opthamologist and to check if he has a broken rib with his primary care physician. I feel so bad for him and his wife, my Gramma Lee.
Here is the news in her words to my dad:
First of all, your Dad is OK. We were at the golf course yesterday, I was
playing and Bob was driving the cart and putting. We were on the 8th tee
and I had just hit my tee shot , Bob was in the cart and I was putting my
club back. The guys were on the back of the tee. I looked up and Bob was
starting to walk across in front of the cart, he was on the grass and then
there was a curb and I feel he didn't see the curb and he started to fall
just as I looked up and I saw him hit the cement and then I saw his head go
down and really hit hard, I could hear his head hit that cement. I ran to
him and couldn't get him up. The guys rushed up and he was saying I want to
stand up. Two of them took his shoulders and picked him up. He was
bleeding from cuts and abrasions all over the left side of his face, his
glasses had shattered. His nose and other places were bleeding a lot. We
got him back into the cart and I drove us back to the parking area where the
car was and I told him I was taking him to the Emergency Room. He said no,
but I said yes. We went, we got there around 9:00 am. We were in there
until l:00 pm. The Doctor said I am going to take three scans. A brain
scan, a facial scan and a cervical spine scan. The results were, he has a
fracture in the lower orbital floor and they said he should see an
ophthalmologist within two days... Needless to say he looks pretty bad, his eye is swollen closed and that whole side of his face is swollen. We put ice packs on it yesterday.
He is now telling me he thinks he has a cracked rib...
Please keep both of them in your prayers.
I am in complete denial that people around me are aging. I even want to deny that I am aging. I want everything to continue like it is today. Or like it was.
It turns out he fell and hurt himself badly a couple of days ago. I know that is not age related, but at his age, the consequences can be pretty tough. He has a few doctors appointments coming up for his facial bones with an opthamologist and to check if he has a broken rib with his primary care physician. I feel so bad for him and his wife, my Gramma Lee.
Here is the news in her words to my dad:
First of all, your Dad is OK. We were at the golf course yesterday, I was
playing and Bob was driving the cart and putting. We were on the 8th tee
and I had just hit my tee shot , Bob was in the cart and I was putting my
club back. The guys were on the back of the tee. I looked up and Bob was
starting to walk across in front of the cart, he was on the grass and then
there was a curb and I feel he didn't see the curb and he started to fall
just as I looked up and I saw him hit the cement and then I saw his head go
down and really hit hard, I could hear his head hit that cement. I ran to
him and couldn't get him up. The guys rushed up and he was saying I want to
stand up. Two of them took his shoulders and picked him up. He was
bleeding from cuts and abrasions all over the left side of his face, his
glasses had shattered. His nose and other places were bleeding a lot. We
got him back into the cart and I drove us back to the parking area where the
car was and I told him I was taking him to the Emergency Room. He said no,
but I said yes. We went, we got there around 9:00 am. We were in there
until l:00 pm. The Doctor said I am going to take three scans. A brain
scan, a facial scan and a cervical spine scan. The results were, he has a
fracture in the lower orbital floor and they said he should see an
ophthalmologist within two days... Needless to say he looks pretty bad, his eye is swollen closed and that whole side of his face is swollen. We put ice packs on it yesterday.
He is now telling me he thinks he has a cracked rib...
Please keep both of them in your prayers.
You, Me and Dupree
I am so overwhelmed with the response to the post on my toes!!! At this time, there are 17 comments, plus the counter reads 140 hits! I'm telling you, the response did my heart good. After getting almost no response initially, I was so sad, that I took the post down for about 12 hours. Then, I was asked about why it was missing. So I swallowed my self-pity and re-posted.
I'm so glad I did. My heart is bursting! (Thanks dad for spreading the word!)
Now back to our regularly scheduled program - my everyday "ramblings" (hence the title of the blog).
Tim and I watched this movie over the last couple of days. It was funny and had some laugh out loud parts. Definitely deserved the PG-13 rating, though. I love all types of movies, however, and this "Tim pick" was a good choice.
I'm so glad I did. My heart is bursting! (Thanks dad for spreading the word!)
Now back to our regularly scheduled program - my everyday "ramblings" (hence the title of the blog).
Tim and I watched this movie over the last couple of days. It was funny and had some laugh out loud parts. Definitely deserved the PG-13 rating, though. I love all types of movies, however, and this "Tim pick" was a good choice.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Thanks
I want to offer a humble "Thanks" to those who read and commented on my latest blog. I'm normally a very private person (outgoing, but still private) but I know there are people who care about me and have asked me how I'm doing over the last 5 1/2 years.
Posting my journey of faith on a blog may seem a bit impersonal, but this particular post was in fact very personal. It seemed to be the best way to put out the word of how I'm doing.
So thank you all who commented, both on the post and to me personally. I feel blessed.
Posting my journey of faith on a blog may seem a bit impersonal, but this particular post was in fact very personal. It seemed to be the best way to put out the word of how I'm doing.
So thank you all who commented, both on the post and to me personally. I feel blessed.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
My toes are numb
I woke up a few days ago with a numb feeling in my toes - like when they fall asleep or are very cold. I tried to tell myself that's all it was.
But I knew differently.
October 31, 2001 I was diagnosed with relapse-remitting multiple sclerosis. In July of that year I woke up one morning and my left arm didn't. After many tests, including a particularly brutal spinal tap, the diagnosis was given. Relapse-remitting meant that symptoms would appear for a period of time, weeks or months, and then slowly go away. Over time your body loses it's ability to heal itself and the symptoms do not go away anymore. My arm had all feeling restored by this time and I was told to go on a medication that would require a shot once a week. I hate shots.
I quickly agreed and began following the regiment. It wasn't long before the medications consumed my thoughts. Although I had no physical side effects to speak of, my mind suffered. I poured over the medical information, you know, the tiny stuff no one reads. I greatly desired to find what wasn't there - hope for a cure. I discovered that the best case scenario was that it would slow the progression of the disease by about 30%. Everyday, I researched and worried ("five more days until another shot... four more days until another shot...).
A month later, as I was praying over the story of the centurion and his faith, which astounded even Jesus and led to the healing of his daughter, I began to ask God what "astounding faith" looked like. He answered, "Go off your medication." I immediately thought, "No! It's my only hope." Those words rang loudly in my head and I realized how true they were. This medication, which was not a cure and made no promises, had become my only hope.
Lots of prayer later, I went off the shots. He became my only hope.
Soon, the relapsing part of the disease kicked in. I lost sight in each eye (fortunately not at the same time). My right arm went numb and returned, then I lost feeling in both arms (almost impossible for me to write or type in that condition). Finally my legs kind of just gave out. I could walk, but I looked like Frankenstein. I had to tell my body what to do. "Pick up right foot. Bend knee. Put foot down. Pick up left foot..."
For the next year and a few months, not a day went by when I didn't experiencing some sort of symptom. But my faith never waivered. If I was going to be healed, I reasoned, I needed something from which to be healed.
But my faith was certainly tested when, much to my surprise, God told me to begin taking the medication again. I argued with Him. He won. He pointed out Abraham and Namun, two people who did not hear what they expected to hear.
It's been almost four years now and not a single symptom - unheard of. My doctor is amazed. I consider this a down payment on a healing I believe God has promised me. But I also believe God has a genuine miracle in store for me.
Unfortunately, if you really want to be healed, you have to be healed from something. I was content waiting because I knew that someday would come and I didn't know what it would look like. How bad would I get before He delivered on His promise?
So now I have numb toes. Not terrible in the grand scheme of things. Irritating, but not terrible. At least I can still write and type! Is this a precursor of things to come? Is this where it begins or is this just a reminder that I am not healed... yet. Is it a heavenly encouragement to keep hoping in Him and to not, once again, place my hope in medication?
I don't know.
But what I do know is that God is faithful and I can trust Him. As I go back through the journals I kept at the time, this verse stuck out to me: Exodus 10:2 "You will be able to tell wonderful stories to your children and grandchildren about the marvelous things I am doing... to prove that I am the Lord." Believe me, I have stories!
But I knew differently.
October 31, 2001 I was diagnosed with relapse-remitting multiple sclerosis. In July of that year I woke up one morning and my left arm didn't. After many tests, including a particularly brutal spinal tap, the diagnosis was given. Relapse-remitting meant that symptoms would appear for a period of time, weeks or months, and then slowly go away. Over time your body loses it's ability to heal itself and the symptoms do not go away anymore. My arm had all feeling restored by this time and I was told to go on a medication that would require a shot once a week. I hate shots.
I quickly agreed and began following the regiment. It wasn't long before the medications consumed my thoughts. Although I had no physical side effects to speak of, my mind suffered. I poured over the medical information, you know, the tiny stuff no one reads. I greatly desired to find what wasn't there - hope for a cure. I discovered that the best case scenario was that it would slow the progression of the disease by about 30%. Everyday, I researched and worried ("five more days until another shot... four more days until another shot...).
A month later, as I was praying over the story of the centurion and his faith, which astounded even Jesus and led to the healing of his daughter, I began to ask God what "astounding faith" looked like. He answered, "Go off your medication." I immediately thought, "No! It's my only hope." Those words rang loudly in my head and I realized how true they were. This medication, which was not a cure and made no promises, had become my only hope.
Lots of prayer later, I went off the shots. He became my only hope.
Soon, the relapsing part of the disease kicked in. I lost sight in each eye (fortunately not at the same time). My right arm went numb and returned, then I lost feeling in both arms (almost impossible for me to write or type in that condition). Finally my legs kind of just gave out. I could walk, but I looked like Frankenstein. I had to tell my body what to do. "Pick up right foot. Bend knee. Put foot down. Pick up left foot..."
For the next year and a few months, not a day went by when I didn't experiencing some sort of symptom. But my faith never waivered. If I was going to be healed, I reasoned, I needed something from which to be healed.
But my faith was certainly tested when, much to my surprise, God told me to begin taking the medication again. I argued with Him. He won. He pointed out Abraham and Namun, two people who did not hear what they expected to hear.
It's been almost four years now and not a single symptom - unheard of. My doctor is amazed. I consider this a down payment on a healing I believe God has promised me. But I also believe God has a genuine miracle in store for me.
Unfortunately, if you really want to be healed, you have to be healed from something. I was content waiting because I knew that someday would come and I didn't know what it would look like. How bad would I get before He delivered on His promise?
So now I have numb toes. Not terrible in the grand scheme of things. Irritating, but not terrible. At least I can still write and type! Is this a precursor of things to come? Is this where it begins or is this just a reminder that I am not healed... yet. Is it a heavenly encouragement to keep hoping in Him and to not, once again, place my hope in medication?
I don't know.
But what I do know is that God is faithful and I can trust Him. As I go back through the journals I kept at the time, this verse stuck out to me: Exodus 10:2 "You will be able to tell wonderful stories to your children and grandchildren about the marvelous things I am doing... to prove that I am the Lord." Believe me, I have stories!
Monday, January 22, 2007
My latest scrapbooking page
Here is my latest page. I LOVE this photo of Tim and me. We were down at PF Changs in Long Beach and while we were waiting for a table, this most amazing sunset occurred. Since most people will never see my scrapbook, I thought I'd present it here. 
Saturday, January 20, 2007
We have a shed!
Building a shed as been a project of ours for about a year. We bought the shed around February of last year and had the area cleared out. Then we spent about 8 months saying, "When are we going to build the shed?"It seemed like a such a daunting project.
We first had to build a deck and then put the "snap-together" shed on top of it. So, spending every free weekend moment, we built the deck! Then came the "Big E-Zee" snap -together shed - part. The directions were over 24 pages!! It didn't sound too E-Zee.
Fortunately for us, it really was E-Zee, except for the fact that we didn't leave the required 10' on all sides (or actually on any side) and we accidentally caused the shed to fall off the deck and fall apart! Once we fixed that... we were back on track.
So now came the task of emptying the garage of the stuff that was going in the shed. A couple more weekends and WE ARE FINISHED!!! Here are some pics to prove it. The first is of the actual shed and the last two are of our nice clean garage.
Life Group at It's a Grind
On Thursday, for various reasons, our Life Group was especially small. I knew of only 2 people who were for sure coming (and it turned out that one of them stayed home with a sick child). So I thought it would be fun to go on a field trip.
We ended up with four people, in addition to Tim and me, warm and cozy at the new It's a Grind on Clark and Candlewood.
The great part was having others come and ask us what we were doing. We were able to encounter several fellow Christians, and with such a small group, everyone spoke and we got to go deeper than we might normally have been able to.
I really enjoyed it and I think everyone else did too. Next time, I'll bring my camera (maybe that will be my New Year's Resolution - to document more photographically), and some of the cool Revolutions cards to pass out.
We ended up with four people, in addition to Tim and me, warm and cozy at the new It's a Grind on Clark and Candlewood.
The great part was having others come and ask us what we were doing. We were able to encounter several fellow Christians, and with such a small group, everyone spoke and we got to go deeper than we might normally have been able to.
I really enjoyed it and I think everyone else did too. Next time, I'll bring my camera (maybe that will be my New Year's Resolution - to document more photographically), and some of the cool Revolutions cards to pass out.
Monday, January 15, 2007
Jack's Back!!
The most Christ-like figure on T.V. is once again back from the "dead". Taken prisoner and tortured by the Chinese, Jack's release was orchestrated so that he could sacrifice his life to save the nation... We lost count of how many times they said the word sacrifice. Except for the several dead bodies left in his wake, he did everything the way Jesus would have. I think. I'm not sure Jesus would have shot Curtis. I'll have to get into the scripture on that one.
So while it is not completely theologically sound, it is a great show that definitely keeps you on the edge of your seat.
We had a good time watching his resurrection with fellow 24-ers from Revolution. There was Rick, Bobby and Rachel, Will, Jamie, Jamie's friend Sheryl (I think...), Jenny, Garhett, Mike, Tim and me. No 24 themed food because they don't eat on 24, so we had potluck.
Thanks Rick and Bobby for orchestrating it.
So while it is not completely theologically sound, it is a great show that definitely keeps you on the edge of your seat.
We had a good time watching his resurrection with fellow 24-ers from Revolution. There was Rick, Bobby and Rachel, Will, Jamie, Jamie's friend Sheryl (I think...), Jenny, Garhett, Mike, Tim and me. No 24 themed food because they don't eat on 24, so we had potluck.
Thanks Rick and Bobby for orchestrating it.
My nephew in the news
Here is a cool article profiling my nephew Ryan. He is the son of Tim's brother, Terry and I have watched him grow up since birth. Currently he is playing hockey in St. Cloud, MN and will most likely be drafted by the NHL soon.
I guess when he's famous I can look back and fondly tell the story of the time he purposely stomped on my foot with his ice skates. At the time it seemed like a bratty little 5-year-old thing to do, now I can see it was a mark of greatness!
http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/sports/homepage/article_1544663.php
I guess when he's famous I can look back and fondly tell the story of the time he purposely stomped on my foot with his ice skates. At the time it seemed like a bratty little 5-year-old thing to do, now I can see it was a mark of greatness!
http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/sports/homepage/article_1544663.php
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
What I did today
Here we are at Disneyland today. I am especially proud of Chandler's score. It was her best ever. Second photo is of Regan and Ashley Bambrick.
Monday, January 08, 2007
I got a bicycle!!
After Chandler got her new, super-cool bicycle for Christmas, I wanted one just like it. Well this weekend we were at the cycle shop where her bike is from and I noticed they were having a sale! So I asked Tim if it could be my Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Anniversary (we're still debating birthday, but definitely NOT Christmas) present. To my utter shock, he said, "Yes"!
So I got a super-cool, pink bike similiar to Chandlers. I couldn't download a photo, but here is the website. You'll have to check it out.
So I got a super-cool, pink bike similiar to Chandlers. I couldn't download a photo, but here is the website. You'll have to check it out.
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