June 18 - The End Is Near

Once again I find myself feeling all apologetic-y over the long dry spell with no blog entries. I am quite certain, though, that your life went on anyway.

As Barbara continues to make slow progress every week, we near another milestone. The end has almost come for the days in the nursing home that Medidontcare allows. She will for sure and certain be returning home to stay on July 10. The future is still a dark glass, though. The wheels grind slowly for Medicaid approval, and we're not all that certain that Barbara's case manager is moving things along at anything more than the pace of a, well, uh, I guess the slow pace of your standard government employee. If you are a government employee, I am quite certain the preceding statement does not apply to you, though.

Last week was the Wabash Annual Conference meeting for Free Methodist Churches in my region. I am happy to report that Barbara and I have been reassigned to GFM for the 5th year. It was so good to feel the overwhelming prayer support of my friends and family in God... even those who barely know us have been lifting us up. There were a couple of occasions when I found myself in tears as I sensed the reality of these prayers descending like a spiritual hurricane. Another wonderful truth solidified itself in my mind at this time. It pertains to the fact that so many of you have asked what you could do for us, and I've told you to pray. Commonly, the response back is that you want to do more than just pray. It occurs to me the way we undervalue prayer! Prayer is the BIGGEST thing you can do for anyone. Prayer supersedes a million dollar check, and new Extreme Makeover home, a new car with a lifetime free gas card, or any other great item that you couldn't give anyway. If you want to give someone the greatest gift of all, don't just say you'll pray, but do so! There's one other fact that attaches itself to this. I am trying to quit asking people how they're doing, or how a loved one who has been facing difficult times is doing. While the outpouring of love in this way is certainly appreciated, it gets quite tiring after a while to respond to these questions ad nauseum. Don't be offended if you yourself have asked this question - that is quite OK with me - its just that for me, I see the need to find a new way of touching the life of someone who is hurting. I'll get back to you on this one when the revelation becomes clearer.

Well, back to the reason why you tune in to this blog. I am gloriously happy to report that Barbara has taken her first step!!!!! She underplays it, saying it was just a small little movement, but I see it as a significant step (one small step for Barbara, one giant step for... oh, never mind). Also, she has been able to stay standing without anyone supporting her. I must also add that as she grows stronger, she is becoming increasingly easier for me to transfer. She's also becoming more and more capable at adjusting herself once in our vehicle.

Among the many things she has been able to do of late, she has now attended church with me each Sunday since the wedding, we've eaten out together on several occasions, she joined me in attending a funeral showing, and I even took her to Michael's craft store last week. She was elated, and said she could spend all day there. In that we've had to postpone the home assessment twice now, tomorrow is the day we anticipate this happening. I will bring her home for the day, and a couple of therapists will visit to assess our home situation.

I have much home cleaning to accomplish since I'm staying home, so I will wrap this up. Please continue to pray that this will be the week that Barbara walks, and that she will be able to master many self-care procedures in the weeks before returning home.