12/6/06 1:45 pm
December 6, 2006 at 2:47 pm 6 comments
Life is so blessed. God is so good. mike is doing really well. he is back up in his wheelchair occasionally in a day. he is attempting speech again–sometimes intelligibly, sometimes not. he is physically healthy and his foot sores etc. are healing slowly. he is still unlikely to convey much enthusiasm or feeling but we are enjoying hanging out with mike. the kids are all over him and the soundtrack of their play is inescapable whether mike is appreciating it or not. he is still gradually “looking” more awake and alert day by day but he is awake much more often than he looks it.
our polar bear weekend with high school kids was such joy–i was able to hang out with and talk with a great group of girls as we searched for what it means to walk with Christ every day. i even got to make snow angels!! the Z parents and Rafael held down the fort with mike with flying colors. i was glad they didn’t get to meet our friendly paramedics and Michael minded his manners for them. So many many many thanks for the prayer coverage that covered us from state to state.
as for visits… mike is home all the time so someone is here at all times. it is hard to know what is going on in the house at any given time. we get visits almost daily from an assortment of nurses, therapists, deliveries, etc. and if i am able to catch a nap with the kids we will sneak away for that treasure. but if you want to try to stop by and see if someone answers the door, then feel free. if you want to call first to check that out, feel free. it is hard to provide specific visiting hours since so much changes day to day. if i am seeing any problems i will bring up more specific advice for visits.
thanks and love, michelle
Entry filed under: updates.
1.
Ashley Loan | December 6, 2006 at 8:49 pm
Encouraging to hear that Mike is doing well and that you all are getting time to spend with him. Remembering you all continually in my prayers.
2.
Steve Fisher | December 7, 2006 at 11:37 am
Dear Michael and Michelle:
I am so glad to hear about Michael’s progress and that he is home ! I’m also happy to hear about how well the weekend camp with high school girls went, Michelle . You are an amazing woman and I know that you have had such an impact on the girls you were with because you can only be real .
My most recent thought during my quiet time was about Mike: when I read about his progress , which you update us with such enthusiasm, Michelle, but for many of us the progress seems really slow . Then it hit me . Mike is being born again. Leave it to Mike to want to do what Nicodemus could not get his head around.
The good news is that Michael’s recovery should be faster than the development of new baby . His body is being healed and, though it seems to take longer than we think it should , we can see the progress slowly but surely . I can’t wait to hear what thoughts Mike has been experiencing in this rebirth . We know that God is Lord of the mind , soul and Spirit, in addition to the body . They are being reborn as well .
It seems like winter and it will be officially soon (December 22 ) but it also means that spring is coming . Rebirth . Born again . A baby is born in Bethlehem and there’s promise that things will be different , better , brighter . Rest in those promises .
Love , Steve
3.
Gail and Phil Ebersole | December 9, 2006 at 1:07 pm
Dear Mike and Michelle and kids, I have this wonderful picture of Mike with Eli and Mikela climbing all over him. He might not know it right now, but he is supplying that much needed “stability” of a dad in a most unusual way. As Christ has been and continues to be the Rock in you all’s lives, so is Mike’s presence to these little ones. I am also convinced that this medicine will help the healing process more than anything…Blessings during this Advent time. May you experience “God with us” in amazing ways. Much love, Gail and Phil
4.
Cata Ingalls | December 10, 2006 at 6:08 pm
Hey Mike and Michelle,
I was thinking of you guys today as we worshipped in church. In part because it was a Bebo Norman song and that always makes me think of you Michelle. Years ago you shared a Bebo Norman CD with Warren when you guys did the Youth Group together. Yoday, I thought the lyrics of “Nothing Without You” so pertinent to you and Mike, to us all. All we really have have to offer God is all of ourselves no matter where we are or how we are in that moment. Sometimes, we have to ask him to help us do that. As I sang the words, it was my prayer for Mike, for you, and thiose who surround you. I continue to pray daily and thank you for keeping us close through your writing. Whether you realize it or not Michelle, your words encourage and strengthen me, my faith, and even change my whole perspective.
Rob and I will be in Naperville right after the New Year and we will most definitely stop by. God’s peace.
Much love,
Cata
Nothing Without You
Take these hands
And lift them up
For I have not the strength to praise You near enough
See, I have nothing
I have nothing without You
And take my voice and pour it out
Let it sing the songs of mercy I have found
For I have nothing
I have nothing without You
And all my soul needs is all Your love
To cover me, so all the world will see
That I have nothing without You
Take my body and build it up
May it be broken as an offering of love
For I have nothing
I have nothing without You
And all my soul needs is all Your love
To cover me so all the world will see
That I have nothing
That I love You, yeah
With all my heart
With all my soul
With all my mind
And all the strength I can find
Take my time here on this earth
And let it glorify all that You are worth
For I am nothing
I am nothing without You
5.
Emily | December 11, 2006 at 7:37 pm
Just a note to say I am thinking and praying for you as always….How you always manage to encourage ME….I know that He keeps giving you “just enough light for the step you are on”….you demonstrate that to ALL of us daily.
love,
Emily B.
6.
Lisa Haid | December 12, 2006 at 9:38 am
Even though I don’t always write, I check in on you guys every day and reading even the same update allows me to take time to pause and pray.
Every once in a while I have the sweetest dreams about you guys. I run into the two of you in the most common places – the grocery store, the laundry mat (why we would be at a laundry mat is beyond me), and last night we saw each other at the bowling alley…and bowling with you guys in my dream last night was awesome. Of course, Mike kicked our butts and we laughed the whole time.
So, thanks for the game! And know that you are on my mind more than I let you know! 🙂