November 24th Update ~ Thanks for asking about Andrew!

I thought I would quickly update this, because so many of you have been so good to ask about Andrew.  And I am so much a whirlwind sometimes that even my close friends cannot keep up with my scattered messages!  So here is a quick update and a Thanksgiving message (from Reverend Thrasher and Susan).

Andrew had a seizure at work on campus a couple of weeks ago.  We did not have church because of fog, so we were at home and heard my phone.  Andrew called to tell me.  When I got to the student union, he was sitting at a table by himself.  I did not expect any emergency workers to stick around, but I wish someone had been there to tell me what happened.  I had pretty vague information to give to the doctor, but we were mostly thankful he was okay.  He had a bit of a warning and was able to get down on the floor and not fall.  He had patches all over him, so we knew the EMT's checked him over really well.  New dog tags are on the order list - to help someone call us faster if it happens again.

I emailed his doctor at Duke, and he increased his newest medication.  He takes it at night, but it made him dizzy for a while.  He seems to be tolerating the higher dose.

The whole thing was very discouraging as he was just a couple of weeks from driving.  He was frustrated, then resigned.  And it's hard to watch.  He is concerned about his spring internship, so we are trying to find out what driving is needed and how to cover that.  I told him it would be covered.  This is not his fault, so we will cover it or get him help to get wherever he needs to be.

The doctor also emailed and told us that all of his tests he has had so far all point in the direction of surgery still being an option.  Andrew will meet with a neurosurgeon sometime in the near future and look at a May surgery date.  The surgery would follow another stay in the hospital similar to what he did over Labor Day.  But it will be much worse.  The one good (?) thing we know is that sometimes they do surgery during the hospital stay.  I really cannot imagine how much recovery he will have to have with the preliminary surgeries and then a big surgery.  I am trying to be informed without getting too far ahead.  And again, I have offered to look into a seizure alert dog.

The recent seizure was the first he has had on all three medications.  My straightforward, practical friends will remind me that this could be God's way of preparing us for what we need to do.  And God knows I go into a lot of things with the brakes on.  I am not brave or adventurous.  I struggle to be obedient.

Andrew asked if I wanted to help at the Crowder concert last week.  I told him I would (and I would be there with him should he need me!).  I ended up selling merchandise most of the night.  I learned to use the small credit card machine and got to use all of my math skills in adding up totals and changing cash!  We went in with Coach Ward and Dawn for a few of the acoustic songs (my favorites that he sings).  Farthing was almost totally full, and it was like being in a big church service.  It was a boost for sure.  And a blessing.

So that is Andrew's latest update.  We cannot begin to thank you for your prayers and encouragement.  Toby helped me set up our new insurance policy, so we will be prepared to hopefully have broad coverage for Andrew and whatever he decides to do.

~~~~~~~

Pete has been gone this week for his last Holy Land trip for a while.  Sunday morning was quite eventful in that our visiting pastor collapsed in the pulpit.  And being new, I did not want to be bossy; but I was.  I yelled at people to call 911 and go meet the first responders.  I asked people to come up and pray for him.  And (Praise the Lord), he will be okay.  He had a combination of some things that made him not feel well, and we are so thankful this special man will be back in the pulpit and preaching God's word in the next little bit.  What a servant's heart.  He did not want to give up on preaching his message - Psalm 1.  It was not his usual Thanksgiving message, and it really spoke to me.  The deacon who filled in for him did not know his message was Psalm 1 and spoke from Joshua 1.  But he had Psalm 1 as a scripture right in the middle!!!!  Now that is God.  And I am thankful for ALL He did Sunday.

At the beginning of our Thanksgiving meal at Boulder Look Stone Company, Reverend Thrasher opened with a short message before praying over the food.  He asked if we would want to be "one of the nine" ~ and, at first, no one spoke up.  Then Mrs. Thrasher did.  I will cut and paste his daughter Susan's account:

Daddy opened our 35+ family gathering this afternoon with a question. Do you want to be among the 9? Mom was the first to say “I don’t” and Whitney Jessee Ball followed with “If Mrs. Thrasher says not me than I sure don’t want to be!” We all agreed. Here’s why:
From Luke 17
11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy[a] met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”

14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.

15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.

17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

Let’s us all be thankful for our many blessings today and every day!

~~~~~~

I was with Whitney - trusting Mrs. Thrasher's judgment.  And she was right.  We don't want to be like the nine lepers who did not even think to thank Jesus for healing.  And I knew I needed to be counting my blessings and getting ready for this next year already.  And what a great reminder.  God has already blessed me with so much.  He won't desert me.  He won't let me down.  Anything we face ~ He will be right there.  He always is.

This coming year looks tough and overwhelming.  We have Andrew's stuff (for lack of a better word) and something else that I don't have permission to share.  And others around us have big things going on - new things that are overwhelming  It all looks daunting and almost impossible for someone like me to navigate.  But I want to wade through the waters with my eyes on Him.  I want to prepare my heart to be depending on Him and not swayed by every little or big thing that comes along.

David Jeremiah said in his radio message last night that to know God's will, we need to give thanks in everything.  The rest will become clear if we are thankful first.

"In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."   1 Thessalonians 5:18

This makes sense to me when he puts it so simply. 

After eating and visiting, my boys headed home.  Whitney and I went to look for Pete a coat for church.  We saw some extended family while we were out.  It was great to run into people we never see!  Today, I think I have finished two "projects" and can wrap them up.  And I ordered Sam's favorite pj's that are usually on sale this day of the year.  I really wanted to go shop somewhere but just did not have it in me.  It turned out okay, because I think everything I needed was right near by or online!  I put my wreath Luke made on my front door, and we hope to get our tree tomorrow.  I cannot wait to breathe in that Christmas smell!  Whitney came and helped me clean and organize and get rid of things one day last week.  We hope to finish the upstairs tomorrow and make another trip to the dump.  I am still working on simplifying the "things" in my life.  Now if I can just get these boys together for a Christmas picture while it's still light out!  I may have to bribe them with a meal from Cookout or Cracker Barrel!

Thanks again for asking about Andrew.  Thanks mostly for praying.  We appreciate it more than you know.  One of my new favorite Christmas songs is "Noel" ~ Lauren Daigle.  Here are the words and the link.  "Come and see what God has done" gives me chills!  He gave us this great Gift on Christmas.  I want my main mission to be to share about Him while I am here - just like the pastor last Sunday who was determined to share what God placed on his heart.

"Noel"  Lauren Daigle (Chris Tomlin)

https://www.google.com/search?q=noel+chris+tomlin&oq=noel+chris+tomlin&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i61j0l4.6760j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Love incarnate, love divine
Star and angels gave the sign
Bow to babe on bended knee
The Savior of humanity
Unto us a Child is born
He shall reign forevermore

Noel, Noel
Come and see what God has done
Noel, Noel
The story of amazing love!
The light of the world, given for us
Noel

Son of God and Son of man
There before the world began
Born to suffer, born to save
Born to raise us from the grave
Christ the everlasting Lord
He shall reign forevermore

Noel, Noel
Come and see what God has done
Noel, Noel
The story of amazing love!
The light of the world, given for us
Noel

I will update again around Christmas with anything new.  Thanks for reading and praying!

Andrew's Duke Appointments ~ November 1

We took off for Duke again yesterday morning at about 5:40.  My dad went with us.  We stopped in Wilkesboro to grab a quick breakfast to go.  We got to Durham pretty early - which is better than a little bit late!  So we found the building on Morreene Road and returned about 30 minutes before Andrew's 10:00 appointment.  They took him back soon after we checked in.  A little bit later, they came to get me.  We were not sure what to expect, but it was not several hours worth of testing!

Andrew and I interviewed with Dr. Stuart.  We really liked her.  Our interview that usually lasts 45 minutes to 1 1/2 hours was about 30 minutes.  The questions were pretty straightforward and easy for us to answer.  It was all about getting a baseline for Andrew ~ and other things.  I left around 10:40 to go and do an errand and bring Andrew's lunch back to him, at their suggestion.  Dad and I went to Marshall's, TJ Maxx, and Walmart in record time.  I was looking for something specific, and he kept up pretty well.  We got Andrew (and us) lunch from Cook Out.  When I got back, I waited and went back and talked to him while he ate.  He only took about a 15 minute break and started back.  They knew we had to be at the hospital around 4:00 for his MRI.  He was done around 3:45!  That was a long day!  He did paper tests and all kinds of tests, but he did not seem tired.

While in the waiting room, I was on Facebook and saw a plea from a mom about her son who has Hunter's Syndrome.  The mom's hesitant post was shared by a Proverbs 31 woman that I liked on Facebook.  The name sounded familiar.  He is a Molly's Kid - Molly Grantham from WBTV - and also a boy one of my lifetime friends has mentioned on Facebook (good old facebook!).  The mom was asking people to go to BCBS on Facebook and leave a one star rating and request that her son get his medication.  I jumped all over that.  Her post was gracious, not mean or scathing or ugly, but it was a plea.  She had fought her battle for two months privately with many hours logged, and BCBS still could not get through their own system to get her three year old son his medication.  I admit my blood pressure also went up a little.  I was happy to help her and thankful she asked for help.  I hesitated to be public with Andrew's issues in 2015.  He did not get his immune system meds until AFTER Easter.  By the time I had people who had some strong pull offer their help, the issues were almost resolved.  And because he was an NCAA athlete, I could not use some of that help.  So I understood her hesitation, because complaining on Facebook has been especially bad in 2017.  But she had a valid concern and issue, and I am thankful she posted it in her gracious way.  I also prayed for the little boy Finn and his family.  So I felt like I did something useful during my time at the doctor's office waiting.  And, praise the Lord, this morning there was an update that the new CEO of BCBS called the parents last night and said they would make things right for Finn.  I was so thankful and happy for them.  These parents need to spend their time with their family and not on the phone with a company trying to help them do their job!

Then, on the news on TV in the waiting room, I saw a familiar face pop up!  It was Ms. Eva from our old church.  She is the 101 year old woman making dresses for OCC.  I loved watching her on television.  She has NO idea how many people have viewed the video Samaritan's Purse made of her waking up each morning to make dresses (over 9.5 million last time I looked!).  I saw her in Walmart not long ago, at a funeral, and at church when I visited.  Her story of serving the Lord until the end is so inspiring.  And to know some of the side stories is a joy and a treat!  God can use any of us ~ if we are willing.

We headed over to Duke for the functional MRI after talking to Dr. Stuart.  She said she will attend the next conference discussing Andrew for surgery.  Somehow, that made me feel better ~ knowing she would be there with her input.  She took the time to explain to me (and Andrew) more about his upcoming tests and what was involved and what they do sometimes.  Since we have not met with a neurosurgeon yet, it was helpful (but still daunting).  Andrew checked in a little after 4:00, and they took him on back.  He was back about an hour and came out with another doctor.  The doctor said he did well, and he said they got what they needed for that piece of the puzzle.  They took over 20,000 images!  They gave Andrew things to do in his head while he was having the MRI.  It was very interesting.  I still wish we did not have to be doing this though (just throwing that in).

Dad and I walked down the hall to the gift shop to get a candy bar after Andrew went back.  While I was looking through the tiny area, I heard the friendly women asking a man how he was doing.  He said he was doing great...now.  His wife had just (just) come through open heart surgery.  He looked like someone who had a building lifted off his shoulders.  What a blessing to see him relieved that his wife had done well with her serious surgery.  I thought that rarely in life will we feel such blessed relief.  I hope he is a believer in Jesus Christ.  I know Finn's parents are.  They have said, in what I have read, that they choose JOY, because they choose JESUS.  I don't know how people get through this life without Him.  I really honestly don't.

That joy that you can have in the saddest, most trying times is so real.  It's not what you find on vacation after working too hard at a successful job.  Those times can be great, but that is pitiful (as good as it seems) in relation to real joy.  That little girl on FB who is singing with her children's choir doing her own thing.  To me (and many others), it looks like her joy is bubbling up so much she cannot contain it!  Oh to live like that each day!  And on the very worst days to feel that joy bubbling,  even though it may not be breaking the surface.  We can still feel it.

We are still waiting on another MRI and another test.  Each step determines if Andrew will be a candidate for surgery with expectations of a good outcome, or that it ends up being too risky.  I pray they find what they need to know to make the best recommendation.

In the meantime, he has fought another battle with MRSA.  But he feels his brain is finally back to normal after his EMU visit.  He looks forward to driving again soon.  I count it a privilege to have extra time in the car with him, but I am sorry for the reason I do.  And I look forward to a break from that traffic circle at the library, where I have almost been run over several times from people who do not yield at the yield signs and one particularly aggressive Appalcart driver!  In England, they use the traffic circles so well - not so much here!

We appreciated that Peter took care of Sam yesterday ~ took  him to school and picked him up.  He had to get him a little early.  Sam had a stomach ache.  The night before, I gave him the wrong insulin.  I have only done that twice in eight years.  A mom told me when he was first diagnosed that I would do it at some point.  She had told me not to panic and to check his blood sugars and get as many carbs as I could in him to offset it all.  All of these years later, I remembered that and used it. But that is probably why his stomach hurt!  And Will called to check on Andrew and us while we were on our way home.

Pete started his new job at Rutherwood as the pastor yesterday.  He was called two weeks ago.  We have been there for one Sunday service, took a break for them to say goodbye to their interim, and will return this Sunday.  We are excited to be back in a church, and we have been blessed to visit South Fork, Perkinsville, Brushy Fork, Three Forks, and Providence (in Abingdon) during the past few months.  It gave me a reminder of how it feels to be the new person!  He did Wednesday night Bible study without me, since I was not back yet, and said it went well.  He is working part-time there and at Templeton  until the end of the year.  He has one more Israel trip the week of Thanksgiving.  We are excited about his (our) new opportunities to serve the Lord.  He has a real heart for sharing the gospel, which is what Jesus commanded us to do.  He knows how it feels to think, "This is it?" and wants to live like he has very little time to tell friends, family, and strangers the good news; because after his strokes, he knows he was given extra time and a reminder.  It's not just about loving each other - the gospel isn't ~ Jesus gave that in another commandment.  It's about telling them what Jesus did (the greatest love and sacrifice) and giving them the opportunity to accept the free gift of salvation.  If we didn't have sin that keeps us from God, there would be no need for a Savior.  So we need to make sure we share WHY we need a Savior  And we all do, not just ones who sin "certain" sins.  Now that is the BEST way to love everyone.  The effects are everlasting, eternal.

I have gone to Physical Therapy for two weeks for my dizziness and increasing loss of balance I have had since June.  Some of you know I have really struggled the past few months to get all of my stuff done.  It's been exhausting.  I did not not want to go to PT when the ENT suggested it.  But I went (with a bad attitude).  Kaylea came out to get me.  She did Pete's PT when he had his strokes two years ago, and I know God is using her to help me.  She has helped.  It's not all better, but I am on my way and not feeling like I will feel this terrible for forever!  I have jury duty on Monday for the first time ever (I mean, Will served last year at age 19, and Pete has served twice!) and hope my walking is better by then.  God is good.  He provides.

I know this is long.  I just felt a lot on my heart to share.  As we see the trees changing and looking so beautiful and see snow on the same day in October, it reminds me how fast things change and how fast time is flying by.  And it's important to share in case there isn't another chance.  This is my very favorite time of year, but it gets by me faster and faster each time it comes around.

I have been listening to Lauren Daigle a lot.  I had her CD in my van when we were at Duke over Labor Day (and boy did we need those words during that trying time!).  Pete listened to it as he and Sam drove back and forth to the hotel.  And Sam and I did too.  We love every single song.  The last two are especially my favorites right now.  The next to last talks about asking God to let me see His kingdom (opportunities to share), let my heart overflow with passion for His name, "let my life be a song revealing Who You are ~ You are Salt and Light."

Mrs. Thrasher has always told me to keep singing.  She doesn't mean my solos in church.  They can be a blessing if God touches what leaves my mouth before it reaches others' ears!  But she is talking about the song of my life and how God works.  You know my WHOLE testimony is that I cannot do it, but He can.  And you can watch me try to remember that and give it to Him and let Him work.  I don't want you to remember me as the smartest, most organized mom/woman in the world, because I am not ~ and that's not my goal.  I want you to see that God works in my life to help me get anything done that's right.  And my job is to seek Him and let Him and not get in the way.   I fail regularly, but I keep trying.  I think this song says what she has been telling me for many years.  If you need a new CD, I suggest this one.  It has been a blessing.  I will put the lyrics below.

Thanks for reading this.  Thanks for praying.  We feel the prayers.  Thank you for those who send messages in whatever way ~ of encouragement.  They are blessings.  We are walking through this time with our eyes on Him, knowing the enemy wants to steal our joy and take our focus away from Him.  I want to keep looking for Him in every thing.  I want Him to show me the way.  I want to give Him praise and glory and honor in everything.  He has already given me everything.  And I am entrusting every single one on my prayer list and on my heart to Him too ~ because these days, there are so very many.

Proverbs 3:5-6King James Version (KJV)

5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

"Salt & Light"  Lauren Daigle

Oh the beauty of the King
You make righteous those who seek
You have written and redeemed my story

Let my eyes see Your kingdom shine all around
Let my heart overflow with passion for Your name
Let my life be a song, revealing who You are
For You are salt and light

Oh the love that set me free
You bring hope to those in need
You have written and redeemed my story

Let my eyes see Your kingdom shine all around
Let my heart overflow with passion for Your name
Let my life be a song, revealing who You are

For You are salt and light
You are love's great height
You are deep and wide
A consuming fire

You are salt and light
You are love's great height
You are deep and wide
A consuming fire

Let my eyes see Your kingdom shine all around
Let my heart overflow with passion for Your name
Let my life be a song, revealing who You are
For You are salt and light
You are salt and light
For You are salt and light
For You are salt and light