The Results of Today at the Cardiologist in Huntsville

Dake and I returned after a long day at the doctor.  Dake says,"they have waiting rooms to be able to go to another waiting room.".  That about sums it up.
        We went through the test required and waited for the doctor to enter the room.  Dr. Laney came in and said ," Dake, you are holding own and we could possibly say you are alittle better........" Thank you God.WOO HOO! YAY!
   As soon as the doctor left the room Dake said, 'Well, I think I am going to live forever!"
It has been a GOOD day!
 Next hurdle is in January at Johns Hopkins with more intensive and aggressive testing....(Dake is really dreading it.)  Please keep praying.

Returning to the Cardiologist in Huntsville

     Today Dake has his appointment with Dr. Laney (cardiologist) for his regular yearly check up. Last year is when we found had a strong decline in his heart function.  This conclusion kinda caught us off guard because we had no idea the decline wash going on.  Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy will progress and  the heart and the lungs are the last muscles to deteriorate before death. So, as Dake told me as we came out of the cardiologist's office after receiving the discouraging news.."It is, what it is!
    As we enter this day with a prayer and attitude of "It is, what it is!" I hope for a sign the experiment drug is working in our favor.

All This Talk About Prayer

There has been an abundance amount of talk about prayer lately. . Most of what has been said I agree with but I feel a vital important part has been overlooked or ignored.

   Just because a prayer is not answered the way one wishes doesn’t mean a prayer has not been answered. We need to always pray God’s Will- not our own. The best example of this is from Jesus in Matthew 26:39…

..Going a little farther, He fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." (NIV)

Jesus fell to the ground and cried to God.  Jesus cried and plead to His Father, If there was any other way for God’s will to be done then take this pain away. God said, “No” to Jesus - but He still answered Jesus’ prayer.

God sometimes says, “no” and sometimes He says, “wait.” This in no way means God hasn’t answered  their prayers.  I believe those who have been told,  “no” by God or “to wait” by God and have managed to keep their faith actually have a different perspective of God  that perhaps is not known among those haven’t been there.

 Maybe that is what meant in

 James 1:2; Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds (NIV) and in

James 1:12; Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. (NIV)

  I don’t even pretend to have prayer all figured out. But I do know those who have had God say, “no” or “wait” can be discouraged when prayer is discussed and this important vita l side of prayer is left out. Many times those who have had such an answer are weary and tired and need encouragement. Many times the ‘evils’ of doubt can set in as impatience surfaces. Or the “why God” begins to echo in their heads. Hope could be absent.  Prayer and encouragement is needed.

Matthew 17:20; He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

I don’t think anyone who has been discussing the subject of prayer meant discouragement upon anyone but please consider this side of prayer. 

I rejoice with those who have had their “yes” or the answer they had hoped for in His name.  I praise His name! I rejoice in their happiness.  Never would I want to take away this wonderful joy and hopefulness.

Isaiah 40:31… but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. NIV

Good bye Mr. Hobbs!

      Today my mother, Lyndsey and I attend the funeral for Wayne Hobbs. Wayne was a coach to David in high school football. My high school principal and later became my boss. He was Dake and Lyndsey's high school principal. He was very good to us when Gracey came along and help me make accommodations for her to help me continue working.  He was extremely good to Dake and saw he got what he needed while in school.  He went to bat for me when theschool  superintent and I were butting heads.
      Dake and Lyndsey's senior prom was at the Opryland Hotel.  The kids rode to the prom on charter buses. The buses were not handicap accessible.  So I was going to drive and take Dake and his date in our van. But this meant they were excluded from their friends. Mr. Hobbs arranged for Dake to have a limo and to take him and a few of his friends to follow behind the buses.  It was an awesome memory and  we appreciate all he did for him. 
    At graduation Dake had always work toward walking to get his diploma. But when Dake wasn't able to walk and rolled in to get his diploma Mr. Hobbs hugged him and the crowd gave them a standing ovation that still brings me to tears to think about 8 years later. It was one of those priceless moments.
Our hearts are with his family during this difficult time and pray God wraps his loving arms around them. RIP

Thanksgiving pictures

Thanksgiving has come and gone....2011

Our Thanksgiving came and  wonderful family came with it. Most of the family was able to come except for few who were missed dearly.
 . My daughters and nieces and I strategically conquered "Black Friday"! We started at midnight and went on though till late morning on Friday.. We watched the sunrise from' Michaels' parking lot..( awesome) I loved spending mad crazy time with all the girls. Fun!  You must only tackle Black Friday with a team....
Dake's little cousins enjoyed riding around on his foot pedal of his chair. Gracey use to ride all the time but seems to have outgrown it. Dake enjoyed Adelaide and Vivienne bringing back the fun. We played the old favorite games like 'Scrabble' and 'Apples to Apples'.  These are a traditional ritual with our family. We added a new game (at least for us)...'Buzzword' mix. With the movies, conversations, games and eating, Dake held up fairly well with our family of night owls.  After having a few breathing incidents that happened a few days before I was concern he would wear out faster.
      Dake had back to back breathing treatments just days before Thanksgiving. The Tuesday
    before the Thanksgiving Dake had a moment before bedtime he could not catch his breath.   
    We gave him a breathing treatment with his nebulizer and he seemed to be relieved. He wanted   
    to immediately go to bed because he had worked so had to breath well he had tired himself. He
    went on to bed and around 1:00 a.m. David came and got me and said Dake could not breathe. 
    I could not get the medicine in the machine fast enough. Dake's eyes still haunt me. Thank God
    the treatment eased him and he was able to breath. He was ready to go back to bed as soon as   
    he felt better. I must say going back to sleep was harder for David and me,
 
.

Crud

It  has been awhile since my last post. Life has been busy and been doing some soul searching. (Jury is still out on that one.)

      Today I toured where Lyndsey will be teaching at Drake State Tech. College.  She will be in downtown Huntsville in the old Huntsville Times building. Huntsville is redoing several older buildings and restoring them.  Very Urban Chic.  Would love to have a studio down there. I am excited for her.  She is going to do so awesome and her students are in for a treat. (I am a little bias of course). She starts Nov. 7th.  She is so excited.
       I took Lyndsey and Dake out eat at Sam's and Greg's for lunch. We needed to celebrate Lyndsey's new start.  Dake had started to cough a little.  I thought I would get him a Coke to calm it down. He continued to cough and cough.  Once our order came I ordered to go containers so we could get him home and get a breathing treatment going.
      After the treatment he seems better but tired from all the coughing. Hoping this is a short lived incident and not the start of something worse.