Life moves fast......

I can't believe that my brother has been in the hospital for 4 months already! Just doesn't seem that long.

The good news is that they started him on a liquid diet today! This is huge progress as far as I am concerned and they are also in the process of completely weaning him off of his tracheostomy.

We have a busy week ahead and then we are leaving for the weekend (Chris and I only) and the kids are staying in Chattanooga. I need the break!

Hope all is doing well and love and blessings to all!

Melissa

Jeff

My brother is doing really well. I haven't seen him, but my sister-in-law and father have told me that they are weaning him off of his tracheostomy tube and that he is in a good mood. This is incredible news considering what we had originally been told about his prognosis. Please keep praying for him and for his long-term outcome.

Love,

Melissa

First Day on the New Job

Well, my first day at Trinity Episcopal went well. I got to meet a few new people and the job seems like it is going to be fun. I am going to be working there in the mornings and also typing from home in the evenings. I also went to see my brother on Saturday and he seems to be doing well. Taking it day by day as far as he goes. We still don't really know the long-term prognosis/outcome.

The kids are doing great. We are extremely busy during this season of life and I STILL haven't gotten the kids rooms painted. I have to get that done soon or we may have a mutiny on our hands! :)

Well, just wanted to touch base and let everyone know how things are going. Wish us luck financially with my job change.....

Love,

Melissa

IT'S FRIDAY!!!!

Wow what a week! I know I say that every week, but really it seems like this week has been very busy with activities. The good thing is that even though I have been busy, I have also been very introspective. My Walk to Emmaus opened my eyes to lots of baggage I have been carrying around from my childhood and also from some past experiences in my life. The good thing is that I have dumped a lot of it off at the cross this week. :)

My brother is really doing well and Chris and I are going down Sunday to see him. He is actually having a lot more gross motor movement this week and all of the swelling is really down.

Oh - be prepared! I am running the fruit sale for my son's middle school band this Fall (i.e. had a momentary loss of consciousness at a Band Booster meeting) . Just know that Jacob is going to be calling you begging for you to buy fruit. The sale is to raise money for his band to go to DisneyWorld in the Spring and compete in a National level band competition. Their school has never done this before so it is a really big deal. Be thinking of who you might give fruit to as a gift for Christmas!

Love to everyone and have a wonderful restful weekend!

Melissa

SOMETHING LIGHT........

Well "they" told me that the days right after Emmaus would be kind of strange and hard because of all the emotions you have experienced and all the truths that are revealed to you during your time alone with God. Well, that is the daggum truth! Anyways, I needed to post something lighthearted today and this is my friend Kay's nephew's video of his dog..........ENJOY!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=cgW2IwekkIs

This picture of me completely describes how I feel today. Completely out of control and sliding into new unchartered waters of my life spiritually, emotionally and mentally! The funny thing is I love it!

i.e. Man in front of me is my talented nephew-in-law and Abby or Emma is beside me - I can't even tell......This was the greatest place I have ever been on earth. A natural water slide in Arizona that I could have played on with the kids all day. Heaven on earth for me!

My Walk

Wow - I am back and I don't even know where to begin. This was definitely one of those experiences that you tell people "you have have to experience it yourself". But, basically the entire weekend is about God's love and grace.

There were no cell phones, no phones at all. There were no clocks and no watches. You were completely taken out of the "world" and given the opportunity to focus on God and his love for you. It was also an opportunity to recognize and get rid of some baggage that you might be carrying around (whether or not you "thought" you had any or not). We all do, trust me. If we think we don't, we are lying to ourselves.

Anways, I have never laughed so hard in my life. I cried, I laughed, I cried some more, and laughed again. There were so many neat little surprises during the weekend and I made SO many new friends. Friendships that are forever bound together in this experience. I would hightly recommend praying about going on a Walk To Emmaus in your future. It was an incredible experience!

And guess what? My house was cleaned from top to bottom when I got home. Now that is testament to a changed life in Chris :)

I know that my life is forever changed! Thanks to all who wrote me notes and cards - you will never know how much they meant to me - really, you will never know!

Update On Jeff

Chris went to see my brother yesterday afternoon and he is making really good progress. He was moving both arms a LOT, gripping his hands, moving his neck from side to side and was in very good spirits. Best visit so far...........

Be praying for me. I leave for my Walk to Emmaus tomorrow afternoon. Actually, be praying for Chris - he has NEVER had the kids by himself this long and also had this many things to do have to do (i.e. homework, soccer practices, spend-the-nights, soccer games, AND housework). This should be great! (evil laugh............).

Love,

Melissa

Democracy?

Very scary when you can't ask a question anymore in our country.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=iqAVvlyVbag

What do you think?????

FINALLY - FROM CHRIS

What an amazing time I had this past weekend! I have never been part of anything like this before. Going into the weekend, I did not know what to expect and I will say I was a little apprehensive about the whole thing. The three days I shared with these men will be forever etched in my mind. I have never seen the Holy Spirit work in so many different lives in one place in all my life. It was a spiritual journey shrouded in God's grace. I can't wait for Melissa to take her walk so that we can begin this journey together.

Thank you all for the agape letters that I received on Sunday!

Chris