Last Post this Year

Thursday morning early we leave for Bolivia to spend Christmas with Daniel's family and to see the new home we have been building there. It will be a short trip, but I just realized that this may be the last blog of 2005.
This past weekend we celebrated Christmas with our children - perhaps for the last time at 1090 Curwood Road. It was a full house with our four children, two grandchildren, and two girl friends of the boys. We missed Saloumeh who could not come. This was the first Christmas in 20 years that we did not have my parents in our home to celebrate with us and we missed their pressence. We took lots of pictures and just generally enjoyed each other. I tend to get very nostalgic during and after the holidays and find myself deep in contemplation of events and happenings in our corner of the world.
How do I sum up 2005.? Major decisions being made - building a new home, leaving work due to disability, seeing our sons establish themselves in their work, writing, and even one buying his first home. There have been, of course, some troubling disappointments along the way but it's been comforting to know that there is family that we can count on to support, pray, and care, each in his/her own special way. For that I am truly grateful.
This new year will continue to have its challenges: trying to sell our home in a pretty saturated market and depressed economy, Daniel's decision of when to retire.
I have always clung to the following verses for direction. I know I have shared them countless times with all of my children, but here they are again:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." Prov. 3:5, 6.
Casting ALL your care upon Him for He cares for you." I Pet. 5:7
My challenge to you who read this blog: find a scripture verse or proverb that has special meaning in light of your life during 2005 or in light of your hopes and aspirations for 2006, and post it in a comment for me. Let's finish out the year reflexing on God's goodness and his promises as well as His standard for our lives in order that we may find joy in 2006

I drove the car!

People ask my how my therapy is going and I really not sure how to answer them. The goal of my sessions was to strengthen my left leg and learn how to manipulate in these new braces. Well, they gave up on the leg since it wasn't responding fearing that I might further damage it. The brace they decided just wasn't quite right and so I returned to Ann Arbor. So they started working on my back which has taken a turn for the worse again. The pain block has already worn off and/or getting used to the new stance in the braces is affecting my back. so I haven't been exactly a happy camper. But I finally drove the car this morning! Andy stood in the driveway to watch me go. I think he wondered why I didn't just take off but I couldn't tell if I was on the gas or not since I was driving on deep snow I can't say that it is something I will do often because I really can't push much on the gas pedal (Daniel will be glad of that!) and not quite smooth on the brake. I definitely think no one would want to drive with me (or behind me) at least for a while. But after several attempts in the driveway and neighborood I finally ventured out onto Gratiot for a short drive.
Walking in the braces is still awkward; to walk like I'm supposed to I have to take small, slow steps and think about what each leg is doing and I definitely need a cane out of the house with any incline or steps.
However, I must say the therapists have been very understanding and helpful. They seem to have such a keen sense of detail because with just two or three steps they can spot a problem immediately. You know, it takes all kinds of talents in this world and so many different types of gifts to help one another.

The Walkthrough

I'm excited for Andy. Today is his 'walk through" - meaning the final inspection of the place he is going to buy the day before final papers are signed. I know how nervous that can make one feel. You look over the property one final time, "Is this really what I wanted? "Is this really all that I expected?" "Is everything Okay?" I know the feeling and I know Andy. He has carefully planned and executed this major purchase, a step that will cause him to reorganize his finances and time in a new way. You are in my prayers today, Andy. Let's all hang in there for him in these next couple of days. He needs to flex his fingers well tonight becuase on Tuesday the somber paper signing will be unbelievable - so many signatures, one right after another, probably at a long oak conference table with only Andy and the bank's officer at opposide ends. I remember well the times Daniel and I have done this. I don't think I could have done it without him at my side.

Faith is...

Probably one of the most unpleasant things I do when I can no longer bear the guilt of putting it off is going to the dentist to have my teeth cleaned. Can't stand it!
However at my recent cleaning I read the following quote the Dr. had framed on the wall:
"Faith is not belief without evidence
But rather, trust without reservation"
This statement seems to me to take faith from the science/religion battlefront where all too often we ardently debate creation and evolution and other such 'hot topics' and, instead, nudges us to the heart of religion - a personal relationship. How much do we really trust God?