Philippians 4:13

It's been quite an intense and tough week. April, Clint's fiance, has been in the hospital since last Thursday. She increased her medication with her Dr.s orders and ended up with a drug overdose. She couldn't move. We were very worried. They didn't know what it was for several days. The final conclusion was drug overdose, stomach flu that she didn't know she had and stress. She is home from the hospital and actually in her new home (ours =) which is already set up for her situation. They say her body needs time to rest and she should recover. Her family and ours want to give her that rest and have all pitched in taking care of the kids. Clint has been solid but both he and I cried (ok I cried but he wanted to but was being strong) when we saw April get up for the first time. It was like a stroke and it made me so sad to see someone so young going through struggling just to walk. I'll tell you this, she is tough and she will make it.

Now for what the Lord showed me. About 10 days ago I came to a point that I thought I couldn't make it. Life was getting so very hard and I was grieving for all the losses in my life. Satan had his hold on my mind and I was having trouble getting back to the guiding thoughts I needed for strength. Well, like so many of you know when you are at that point and continue asking for help from the Lord, he gives it.

The day I was so down, I was given a beautiful bracelet that said "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." I was such in a care giving mode and I could not get it on after several tries that  I put it in my purse and forgot about it until I saw my sister. She reminded me that the Lord is near and will help me and strengthen me. I said I don't even have the strength to put this bracelet on. She took it from me and fastened it. I can't described the feeling I had. It was like a warm embrace by the Holy Spirit. And as I have worn the bracelet since I kept repeating what was written on it and I again reminded that not by "my" strength but by "Christ's" strength can I do all things.

I feel great now,

No Hook =(

I was going to only give you a funny story about Keith trying to give everyone around him his " going to work" good shoes. Ok, I will.  So there he is asking all the guys in the family if they would like his shoes;  each trying so hard to be able to take them for Keith's sake. By the time he asked the 3rd one, I finally stepped in to tell Keith that most men do not wear a size 12 wide! We laughed at that. =)

But.......................................MSA awareness month is coming up and I am trying to make you and others aware of this disease. So I thought I would call a news station or two and ask them to write or tell a story about MSA. I called and when I told the news writer a little about our story, she said she was sorry but that the story had no "hook." She basically said it wasn't exciting enough or bad enough or enough people involved in a fund raiser to make it "newsworthy." I thanked her for her honesty and that I understood, but I really didn't. MSA has affected our lives so much. I wanted to shout, "Do you know how it is to live with MSA?"

Anyway, the following is a post by a friend who is part of the MSA network of friends. I thought I would just let her words speak for me. Basically it is asking everyone to vote for this short film talking and showing a woman's mother and the progression of MSA. A warning, however, I watched it and it was hard. I don't even want Keith or our kids to watch it. But if you can, I know it will raise awareness of what those who have it and the caregivers living with MSA deal with daily.

Thank you all. We love you

Pam Bower

You guys are awesome the MSA film is in FIRST PLACE today!!!! Keep up the momentum.. encourage everyone to vote and ask friends to ask their friends... and so on and so on. If anyone has trouble voting post a note on this event page and ask for help, someone will assist you. http://www.facebook.com/events/330160207029281/

VOTE for the MSA film in the Neuro Film Festival

n

I miss my husband

Maybe I should post later, but this is how I feel. Oh I know Keith  is here and I am grateful but I just want the old times back sometimes. I just want him to take out the garbage, drive the car, take charge of our lives, help with the move, be able to get his own water, napkins, pills, coat, etc and cook. He is a good cook. =) In other words, I'm whining!

I suppose I am tired with the move. Truth be told, on all the other moves I did all the packing anyway. But I could always call Keith to move boxes from here to there. You know what I mean. It's hard doing it alone. Thankfully so many friends have offered to help move on that Saturday. I just want to make it as easy for them as I can by having our things all boxed up.

On a happier not, Keith had a birthday that just wouldn't quit and it was fun. His "farkel party," was great with about 30 friends showing up to celebrate Keith. I am continually surprised, though I shouldn't be, by the wonderful comments I get about Keith. Often people tell me how he has impacted their lives in a positive way. You have shared your tears with me in compassion and I know you care and are so sad that Keith has this disease. Your thoughts and prayers are our treasure. We thank you for caring in tangible ways.

All I can say is, "You gotta love this guy."  And I do!