The Outlaws are coming!! The Outlaws are coming!!

Does that sound a little like Paul Revere shouting "The British are coming, the British are coming!"? It's true...the outlaws officially arrived in Freelandville late last night. Even though the movers were at there house in Indy at 8 am, it was late before they finally made it here. Everything that could go wrong did, and I think it was a very frustrating day.

I've called them the outlaws forever and it's truly a term of endearment. I think it's just funny to those who know Bob and Helen to hear them called "outlaws". It made someone laugh, and it just stuck. :) We are so thankful to have them here. Of course, Bob has been here part-time for months running the nursing home and communting to Indy every weekend. Helen does have to work a couple more weeks, then will be retired and down for good. I think them being officially out of their house makes it seem more official, though.

Anyhow, you can leave a comment here to welcome them, if you'd like. They read the blog, and yes, they know I call them the outlaws. :)

BEAUTIFUL CHRISTIAN SISTER
By Maya Angelou

'A woman's heart should be so hidden in Christ
That a man should have to seek Him first to find her.'
When I say ... 'I am a Christian' I'm not shouting 'I'm clean livin''
I'm whispering 'I was lost, Now I'm found and forgiven.'
When I say ... 'I am a Christian' I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide.
When I say ... 'I am a Christian' I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak and need His strength to carry on.
When I say.. 'I am a Christian' I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess.
When I say ... 'I am a Christian' I'm not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are far too visible but, God believes I am worth it.
When I say ... 'I am a Christian' I still feel the sting of pain..
I have my share of heartaches, so I call upon His name.
When I say ... 'I am a Christian' I'm not holier than thou,
I'm just a simple sinner Who received God's good grace, somehow!
Pretty is as Pretty does ... But beautiful is just plain beautiful!

9-27-97

" Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Today is our 11th wedding anniversary! My sweet husband had to go into work for a few hours early this morning. After that, he made a trip to Vincennes and was back by 7 am. He came upstairs with flowers and breakfast in bed! It was so sweet!

It takes real commitment to make a marriage work. The strain of Andrew's illness has been tough and quite demanding of us in so many ways. We are fine, of course, but it helped me see how some couples grow apart in times like this. We've had to acknowledge that we are vunerable and make extra effort to stay connected as a couple. It has helped us realize that no matter how busy life gets, we must still set time aside for "us" occassionally. To take time out and not feel guilty about it - the guilt is what always gets me!

Thank you, LORD, for my wonderful husband!

National Mitochondrial Disease Awareness Week

Sept. 21-27 has been named National Mitochondrial Disease Awareness week. As parents, it is our hope that one day there will be a cure for this disease. Visit the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation website for more info. If you click on the map, you can see the proclimation for Indiana (wouldn't let me copy/paste it here).

About Mitochondrial Disease:

Mitochondrial diseases result from failures of the mitochondria, specialized compartments present in every cell of the body except red blood cells. Mitochondria are responsible for creating more than 90% of the energy needed by the body to sustain life and support growth. When they fail, less and less energy is generated within the cell. Cell injury and even cell death follow. If this process is repeated throughout the body, whole systems begin to fail, and the life of the person in whom this is happening is severely compromised. The disease primarily affects children, but adult onset is becoming more and more common.

Diseases of the mitochondria appear to cause the most damage to cells of the brain, heart, liver, skeletal muscles, kidney and the endocrine and respiratory systems.

Depending on which cells are affected, symptoms may include loss of motor control, muscle weakness and pain, gastro-intestinal disorders and swallowing difficulties, poor growth, cardiac disease, liver disease, diabetes, respiratory complications, seizures, visual/hearing problems, lactic acidosis, developmental delays and susceptibility to infection.

"Walk By Faith"

We are home again and the last few days have been a struggle, to say the least. Just like every other struggle put before him, Andrew handled it like a real trooper. He even cracked a smile now and then...mostly in his "happy time" with pain meds. :) The bright spot to his hospitalization had to be when the Child Life Specialist came and asked him to join her as the guest Bingo host. Clarian hospitals have a closed circuit tv station located right in Riley. So, upstairs he went to host bingo. He never even thought a thing about being in a hospital gown and wheelchair! It was hilarious!! They would show a musical picture on the screen, then Andrew and the host would talk about it. He said some really funny stuff! I'd never given it much thought, but the music at church has really impacted Andrew. Several times, he'd say "At my church..." and go on to tell a story. It was funny, because even in pain, he managed to pull it together and host a tv show. They even gave us a VHS copy to keep. We tried watching it last night, but the laughing was really hurting his stomach. So, if anyone wants to see it, wait a few days and then we'd be happy to pop some popcorn and show you his latest tv adventure. :) I asked Child Life if he talked their heads off, but they were pleased that he talked as much as he did. They said it's harder if the guest host doesn't talk. Nothing to worry about there!

Speaking of music, this song is one that really touched me last fall when we were learning exactly what was going on with Andrew. And if anyone is walking by faith, it's surely my baby boy.

Walk By Faith by Jeremy Camp

Will I believe you when you say
Your hand will guide my every way
Will I receive the words You say
Every moment of every day

Well I will walk by faith
Even when I cannot see
because this broken road
Prepares Your will for me

Help me to RID my endless fears
You've been so faithful for all my years
With the one breath You make me new
Your grace covers all I do

yeah, yeah , yeah, yeah, ya

well i will walk by faith
even when i cannot see
because this broken road
prepares your will for me

Well I'm broken- but I still see Your face
Well You've spoken- pouring Your words of grace

Well I will walk by faith
Even when I cannot see
Well because this broken road
Prepares Your will for me
(Repeat)
Well I will walk by faith
Even when I cannot see
Well because this broken road
Prepares Your will for me

Hallelujah, hallelu


I will walk by faith, I will walk by faith,
I will walk by faith
I will walk by faith, I will walk by faith,
I will walk by faith
I will walk by faith, I will walk by faith,
I will walk by faith
I will walk by faith
I will walk,I will walk
Faith
I will walk, I will walk by faith

Wanted!

I need some good book recommendations. If you've read something really good lately, leave a comment and let me know about it. With Andrew's upcoming surgery and hospitalization, I really need something to help pass the time. C'mon...don't be shy!

The Get Well Card

Andrew wanted to send a card to his favorite Colts player, Jeff Saturday. He is out with a knee injury right now. Here's what he wrote:

Dear, Jeff Saturday,

I heard about your knee surgery. I hope you get well soon. If your legs hurt I know what it's like. My legs hurt a lot from my disease. I'll be praying for you. I went to the school nurse today because my legs and stomach hurt real bad. You are my favorite Colts player.
Love,
Andrew

GO COLTS!!

I just thought it was sweet... I'll drop it in the mail today. Who knows, maybe he'll even write back?

"Where will I find her?"

My sister is getting married next month. We were signing a birthday card for her fiance and Isaac was asking all kinds of questions about his new Uncle Troy. Then, in all seriousness, he looks at me and says, "Where will I find her?" "Who, honey?" He says, "My wife and a mom for my kids. Where will I find her?" Anyone who knows Isaac knows he's a little worry-wart, but this whole conversation was funny, even for him! I tried to explain that when it was time, God would put someone in his life. He says, "So, where did Dad find you?" I told him about how we met in college 13 years ago this month. Then, he tops it all off with, "I hope when I meet the mom, she doesn't already have a dad with her!!!"

Nursery Rhymes

Today is a big day in Isaac's little life. This is the day he gets to turn in his nursery rhyme sheet at school. The kindergarteners have to memorize 12 nursery rhymes, then bring their paper in to share with the class. Once he does this, he'll become an official member of the "Nursery Rhyme Club." In case you don't realize, that's a pretty big deal when you're in kindergarten. :)

News Promo

Here's a video I took of Andrew and the WTWO team doing a news promo. Hope his head doesn't get too big...he became the star of the show. :) He got to do all sorts of things above and beyond the star board. He was pretty wiped out by the end, which is when this was shot.

MDA Telethon

Andrew taping a news promo with Jesse Walker, Elyse Evans, Jason Pensky, and Patrick Fazio.
Court answering phones (back right)
The star board with Dana Winklepleck
Bringing out the 40th anniversary cake
Me answering phones and talking with Jason Pensky. The final tally!

New Glasses

This shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone who knows Isaac, but he had to visit the eye Dr. on Sunday night as his glasses snapped in two. Somehow he got hit in the face with a door and came to us with us (once again) v-shaped glasses. Court tried to bend them, and of course they snapped. Thankfully, we were able to make a few calls and get someone to meet us there and help us out. These frames are a slightly different color, but they at least feel good and sturdy. Dr. D may need to reconsider the one year gurantee after he counts his losses on Isaac this summer! :)