We have just returned from an evening of reminiscing and reconnecting with friends from the past - it is the 50th anniversary celebration for the church we used to attend here in Prince George. Many have moved on, and some have passed away, but so many have returned for this weekend's celebrations! What a joy to see so many familiar faces from years gone by, and to share with a few more about our story from the past year. Many knew of what we have been through, and several mentioned that they had followed our story on this very blog. Again, we are so thankful for the development of it, and that it has been a tool that so many of you used to pray for us and thereby keep us strong throughout our struggle. Once more I was challenged to put the whole story together into book form, and to be honest, I had sort of set that aside, but I think that I may again attempt to put all the memories down on "paper" before I forget the details. I was encouraged by one of these dear friends who has herself been through a "God Journey" and put it down for all to read. (Thanks, Cheryl!) There's so much to learn about how to do this, and it will be another part of the journey, but I think that with the right direction and proper guidance, I'll try again!
Our family has again had more joy to celebrate...our eldest son Christopher proposed to his girlfriend, Corinne, last Sunday! So we are going to have the pleasure of two weddings this year!! And more precious daughters-in-law I couldn't ask for! They both love the Lord with all their hearts, and fit so well with our family! What blessings!
Aaron is doing well in Austria, traveling with a group to Venice this long weekend! His back has been bothering him some, and has kept him from a few activities. For the most part he is fitting in well, and making new friends. Time is passing far too quickly for him, but we look forward to soon having him home again!
We were planning on doing some yardwork, but the weather turned on us this morning (we woke up to a light covering of snow on the lawn!), so plans have changed for now. That's okay - relaxing is also a good thing! Not so sure about the snow, though...!
All in all, more blessings than can be counted are ours to enjoy, regardless of which way we go! I pray that you will also be experiencing God's blessings! Have a great weekend!
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Mother's Day
Wow, here I am again, apologizing for having been away so long! Life is just going by too quickly, I guess, which seems to prove that I am indeed doing okay! At least things are getting worked out for the surgery. I still don't know when it will be, but it will happen someday. Aaron is doing well in Austria, and today is his 20th birthday! Wish we were there to celebrate with him, but we got in the party and all before he left. I talked to him the other day (thank goodness for Skype!) and he is adapting and learning what he can and cannot do. Mostly we pray that he will absorb all he can of what he is being taught about the Bible and personal growth. Living in the middle of the Austrian alps is a perk!
Today was also Mother's Day, and I was so blessed to have my other kids here with me, even though we missed Aaron so very much. Jason and Dani made us breakfast, Ben took us out for lunch, and Christopher and Corinne made us dinner! It was a gorgeous, sunny day, and almost perfect! If only all the good food didn't go straight to one's waist! Sigh! But, always looking for the good in everything, I am SO thankful that I can eat normal food!! And that I can be with my family for this precious day, and all the other days, too! God has been so faithful to us, and kept us together as a family, and is giving us more family to love! Each day is a new joy, even when there are struggles. It's all worth it!
I want to send out a special shout to the creator of this blogsite, Sarah Kesler. When the accident first happened, she took it upon herself to create this tool for all to check how things progressed. She also took care of our home and our dog when Christopher and Jason were traveling back and forth to Edmonton, and gave a huge amount of support. She gave without thought of recognition or recompense, and I can never thank her enough! But now she is moving on to a new chapter and a new adventure in her life. Sarah has been studying radio and television arts, with the goal of becoming involved in Christian ministry through this media. She has recently set up her website www.sarahkesler.com detailing her plans for the coming summer. Sarah has been accepted to be a working volunteer with Focus on the Family Ministries, specifically working with Adventures in Odyssey radio broadcasts! How exciting! Please take the time to check out her site and give her encouragement as well. For all of you that follow this blog, that can be your way of saying thank you to her for starting it all!! We pray God's blessing on you, Sarah, and will keep you in our thoughts this summer!
Carrying on...Judy
Today was also Mother's Day, and I was so blessed to have my other kids here with me, even though we missed Aaron so very much. Jason and Dani made us breakfast, Ben took us out for lunch, and Christopher and Corinne made us dinner! It was a gorgeous, sunny day, and almost perfect! If only all the good food didn't go straight to one's waist! Sigh! But, always looking for the good in everything, I am SO thankful that I can eat normal food!! And that I can be with my family for this precious day, and all the other days, too! God has been so faithful to us, and kept us together as a family, and is giving us more family to love! Each day is a new joy, even when there are struggles. It's all worth it!
I want to send out a special shout to the creator of this blogsite, Sarah Kesler. When the accident first happened, she took it upon herself to create this tool for all to check how things progressed. She also took care of our home and our dog when Christopher and Jason were traveling back and forth to Edmonton, and gave a huge amount of support. She gave without thought of recognition or recompense, and I can never thank her enough! But now she is moving on to a new chapter and a new adventure in her life. Sarah has been studying radio and television arts, with the goal of becoming involved in Christian ministry through this media. She has recently set up her website www.sarahkesler.com detailing her plans for the coming summer. Sarah has been accepted to be a working volunteer with Focus on the Family Ministries, specifically working with Adventures in Odyssey radio broadcasts! How exciting! Please take the time to check out her site and give her encouragement as well. For all of you that follow this blog, that can be your way of saying thank you to her for starting it all!! We pray God's blessing on you, Sarah, and will keep you in our thoughts this summer!
Carrying on...Judy
Saturday, April 24, 2010
A change in plans...
Friday morning Aaron and I flew down to Vancouver and I went to the pre-admission clinic at VGH for an appointment. While there, the anesthesiologist asked about my status as carrier of hemophilia, which led to some phone calls. The outcome is that my surgery on Monday is canceled. Instead I will be having an appointment with a hemotologist, getting looked over for what needs to be done prior to having surgery to treat my condition. So no surgery...for now. I'm disappointed, but for whatever reason this is the way that it is, and I will look for the plans the Lord has through this. At any rate, I will enjoy a good weekend with my family!
Friday evening we went back to the airport and dropped Aaron off - he is on his way to Schladming, Austria for 9 weeks at the Capernwray School. There he will be studying the Bible and taking discipleship classes. It will be a time of learning and growing, and we pray that he will do well with his health. We covet your prayers on his behalf for this.
I have to think of the verse that says that His ways are not our ways, and accept that. Why things happen the way they do is beyond me, but through the frustration I know God can make good result from it. So we carry on!
Friday evening we went back to the airport and dropped Aaron off - he is on his way to Schladming, Austria for 9 weeks at the Capernwray School. There he will be studying the Bible and taking discipleship classes. It will be a time of learning and growing, and we pray that he will do well with his health. We covet your prayers on his behalf for this.
I have to think of the verse that says that His ways are not our ways, and accept that. Why things happen the way they do is beyond me, but through the frustration I know God can make good result from it. So we carry on!
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Another anniversary
So today marks one year since I was flown down from Prince George to Vancouver to begin my rehab program at GF Strong. It was a good flight, even though I was on a stretcher. Today I flew to Vancouver (another appointment!) and did it all on my own! What a difference a year can make! I stopped in at GFS to say hi to a few people, and was again forcefully reminded of the miracle that God allowed to happen in my life and body. Medically speaking I know there is no explanation for the fact that I walked out of there last June. My heart was so full of gratefulness and thanksgiving! I don't deserve this ability any more than any of the other people who will never walk again due to lesser injuries. So why have I been so blessed? I truly don't know the answer to that. But I intend to spend the rest of my days making sure that I tell as many people as I can that God is still in the business of miracles! Especially ones within the heart. Of all the healing that has taken place in my life this past year, I KNOW that this are needed the most work. And I know that I am still a work in progress. Lord, thank you so much for each and every day that you gift me here, so that perhaps one more person might understand exactly who you are and what you want to do in their life!
I am enjoying today and tomorrow here in Vancouver with my sister, and plan to spend the day with her tomorrow celebrating her birthday. I did have another purpose for coming down - I had another appointment with the eye doctors today in preparation for my surgery on the 26th. Everything looks good (pardon the pun!) and will go ahead as scheduled. PTL!!!
I am enjoying today and tomorrow here in Vancouver with my sister, and plan to spend the day with her tomorrow celebrating her birthday. I did have another purpose for coming down - I had another appointment with the eye doctors today in preparation for my surgery on the 26th. Everything looks good (pardon the pun!) and will go ahead as scheduled. PTL!!!
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Sunday's comin'!
Tomorrow is Easter Sunday, the day we celebrate the greatest victory ever won on this earth, and beyond! It's a day to celebrate what Christ has done in the lives of those who acknowledge him as their Lord and Saviour. It's a day to realize that without his amazing sacrifice, which is far greater than we can ever comprehend, we would be dead ourselves, without hope and without a future! Praise God for the incredible gift, and for the hope that we now can have because of his great love!
It's also been an year since the first time I was able to go to church after the accident. I was wheeled into church last Easter, and this year I'm walking in!! What a glorious day!! I am still so thankful for being allowed to walk, talk, take care of myself and eat (oh, yes, eat!!) and I pray that I will never lose that perspective.
I pray that for each of us, our minds will find that which draws us closer to Jesus, and be thankful for it. Whatever it is that makes you thankful, remember it is a gift from God. And for that which makes you frustrated or angry, remember that it could be worse! You might have a life without hope at all if it wasn't for Christ!
Have a blessed Easter Sunday!
PS - I'm going to try to attach a link to a video clip which gives me cause to think each time I see it. I trust it will encourage and motivate you as well!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naajYZSbWdw - that's the link just in case the upload doesn't work!
It's also been an year since the first time I was able to go to church after the accident. I was wheeled into church last Easter, and this year I'm walking in!! What a glorious day!! I am still so thankful for being allowed to walk, talk, take care of myself and eat (oh, yes, eat!!) and I pray that I will never lose that perspective.
I pray that for each of us, our minds will find that which draws us closer to Jesus, and be thankful for it. Whatever it is that makes you thankful, remember it is a gift from God. And for that which makes you frustrated or angry, remember that it could be worse! You might have a life without hope at all if it wasn't for Christ!
Have a blessed Easter Sunday!
PS - I'm going to try to attach a link to a video clip which gives me cause to think each time I see it. I trust it will encourage and motivate you as well!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naajYZSbWdw - that's the link just in case the upload doesn't work!
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Forgot the picture again!
All things new for spring!
Each season has its own specialness, but spring is definitely a highlight for me after the dreary months of January and February. And this year spring came earlier than usual, which is always a bonus! The sunshine and the rain are washing away the last bits of snow, and it's finally time to get things started again!
And what a start this spring has had for our family! In the past 5 days, we obtained a new dog (her name is Sadie, and she is a 10 month old Shih Tzu cross that we adopted from our local shelter), I got a new pair of glasses, and my son Jason proposed to his girlfriend Danielle (we call her Dani) and will be married this summer!!! So I will have a daughter-in-law!! We are so happy for them, and they are, too, obviously! I'll try to get some pictures of them in the next post.
So we are all in planning mode, and not thinking about the minor difficulties of everyday life. Sadie is good for me - I have to get out at least once a day to walk her! My goal is to be more disciplined and scheduled, and that is one of the reasons that we decided to go ahead with the adoption. I just didn't expect to get such a small dog! But she's a sweetheart, and has worked her way into our hearts quite quickly.
God has given us so much to be thankful and grateful for. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about how much I have to be thankful for. Sometimes I need to remind myself to do so, but I do! Sometimes the things to be thankful for are very clear, sometimes not so much. I am finding that the more inward focused that I am, the less thankful I tend to be. So it is good for me to now have so much to focus on outside of myself! We pray that as we prepare for the wedding that all will be done to give God glory, especially the day of the wedding. Not everyone in Dani's family know Jesus personally, and we pray that they will see God's love through the two of them as well as through our family.
I can't help but think of those two precious Bartel girls that were traveling to the wedding in Vanderhoof but never made it there. And with the reminder comes the urge to pray for the family again. We will continue to uphold them as often as God brings them to mind. Pray for them with us as you are reminded.
May your spring be full of all things new, both inside and out!!
Judy
And what a start this spring has had for our family! In the past 5 days, we obtained a new dog (her name is Sadie, and she is a 10 month old Shih Tzu cross that we adopted from our local shelter), I got a new pair of glasses, and my son Jason proposed to his girlfriend Danielle (we call her Dani) and will be married this summer!!! So I will have a daughter-in-law!! We are so happy for them, and they are, too, obviously! I'll try to get some pictures of them in the next post.
So we are all in planning mode, and not thinking about the minor difficulties of everyday life. Sadie is good for me - I have to get out at least once a day to walk her! My goal is to be more disciplined and scheduled, and that is one of the reasons that we decided to go ahead with the adoption. I just didn't expect to get such a small dog! But she's a sweetheart, and has worked her way into our hearts quite quickly.
God has given us so much to be thankful and grateful for. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about how much I have to be thankful for. Sometimes I need to remind myself to do so, but I do! Sometimes the things to be thankful for are very clear, sometimes not so much. I am finding that the more inward focused that I am, the less thankful I tend to be. So it is good for me to now have so much to focus on outside of myself! We pray that as we prepare for the wedding that all will be done to give God glory, especially the day of the wedding. Not everyone in Dani's family know Jesus personally, and we pray that they will see God's love through the two of them as well as through our family.
I can't help but think of those two precious Bartel girls that were traveling to the wedding in Vanderhoof but never made it there. And with the reminder comes the urge to pray for the family again. We will continue to uphold them as often as God brings them to mind. Pray for them with us as you are reminded.
May your spring be full of all things new, both inside and out!!
Judy
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