Getting around...

Mom is getting really good at getting around at the grocery store, Wal-Mart, etc. thanks to their motorized scooters. She's a really good driver and does a great job.

Mom and Dad have also been "getting around". They went to Boggstown last week with friends and had a ball.

This week, I'm in Florida so I'm "getting around", too! So, you all keep in touch with my mom and dad and make sure they're doing okay - okay? More later...

Audi

Trip to Corydon

Sunday June 8th --

Audi, Mom and Dad travelled all the way down to Corydon, Indiana for the Memorial Service of our long-time friend (Macon A. Ray). This was the first long trip La Donna had taken.

A former parishioner at the Corydon Old Capital United Methodist Church, Macon and his wife Linda have been life-long friends since their first acquaintance.

Macon was one of the driving forces of the highly successful Stephen Foster Story Show at Bardstown, Kentucky. Later he portrayed Abraham Lincoln at the Lincoln State Park in Southern Indiana. He was widely known as a Lincoln impersonator because of his depth of knowledge of Abe and his personal appearance to so resembled Lincoln himself.

People of the Corydon community were delighted to see La Donna in her wheel chair looking so pretty and doing so well. Nelson was one of the featured speakers in the Celebration of Life for Macon Ray and was well received as well.

Audi drove her parents home and they arrived at 30 minutes after midnight ... but the long day was survived well by La Donna. Her strength and courage and determination is a vital factor in her continual remarkable recovery. We are all grateful for her progress.

Peace through the Storm

We've had some mighty storms in the last few days and if you knew our dog, Bear, you would feel sorry for him regardless of your like or dislike for dogs. He trembles with fear and sometimes even cries at the hint of thunder or lightning. This week, we had non-stop storms with 4 1/2 inches of rain in one day. Needless to say, Bear got no rest and there was no peace in the storm for him.

We tried to console him. "It's okay, Bear!" We hugged him. Loved on him. I even held this 45 pound dog on my lap. Still, no peace in the storm. His greatest relief was to go into a closet in the middle of the house and hide.

"What's wrong with him?" I wondered. He doesn't know Jesus! It's as simple as that. If he knew Jesus, he probably wouldn't be so rattled. Maybe a little up tight, but he would know the final outcome would be okay whether he lived through the storm or not.

It's hard to find Jesus if you're a dog, no doubt, but even if you're a person it's hard to find Jesus in the midst of a storm if you never knew him before. That's why the Bible tells us the way to life - to God - is vigorous and requires your total attention! In order to have life, especially in the midst of a storm, you have to have God.

Imagine being in the middle of any chaotic, frightful situation and looking for someone that you don't know. You may actually find him but how easy would it be to trust him if you didn't know them very well?

If there were anyway I could help Bear to understand what it's like to be under God's umbrella of protection, he wouldn't be so frightened in the storm. He may never know that peace but I hope you do.

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.

James 4:8

No News is Good News?

Hi Friends...

Well, it seems like my blog entries get further apart as time goes on. Perhaps that is an indication of the busy-ness of my life AND the fact that we are no longer in crisis! Both good things - and proof once again that God provides and handles things for us.

Mom continues to be like the tortoise in the Tortoise and the Hare story. Her therapists say she keeps plodding along - not at record speed but with good steadiness and consistency. We'll take that even though Mom would like a more swift results.

We're thankful that Mom says she enjoys life. Her biggest worries are about Dad and his shoulder pain. He's had a massage therapist out to the house which gave a little bit of relief. We'll hope for more.

This summer looks like it's going to be good. Mom and Dad enjoy time in their screened in porch and going to lunch with their friends. We'll have more time to hang out, hopefully, since I'm off for 8 weeks in the summer (YEA!)

Thanks for all the thoughts/prayers/cards and visits. And don't let me forget -- the meals! People have not forgotten Mom/Dad even though it has been 4 months since her stroke. You are good people and we love you all.

More later...

Audi