Makayla Update

Makayla  has had a set back yesterday, please keep her and her family in your prayers. Thank You! http://www.facebook.com/Miracles4Makayla

Touching Hearts ~ A Share From Facebook

As she stood in front of her 5th grade class on the very first day of school, she told the children an untruth. Like most teachers, she looke d at her students and said that she loved them all the same. However, that was impossible, because there in the front row, slumped in his seat, was a little boy named Teddy Stoddard.

Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed that he did not play well with the other children, that his clothes were messy and that he constantly needed a bath. In addition, Teddy could be unpleasant.

It got to the point where Mrs. Thompson would actually take delight in marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold X's and then putting a big "F" at the top of his papers.

At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught, she was required to review each child's past records and she put Teddy's off until last. However, when she reviewed his file, she was in for a surprise.

Teddy's first grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is a bright child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners... he is a joy to be around.."

His second grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is an excellent student, well liked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has a terminal illness and life at home must be a struggle."

His third grade teacher wrote, "His mother's death has been hard on him. He tries to do his best, but his father doesn't show much interest and his home life will soon affect him if some steps aren't taken."

Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school. He doesn't have many friends and he sometimes sleeps in class."

By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem and she was ashamed of herself. She felt even worse when her students brought her Christmas presents, wrapped in beautiful ribbons and bright paper, except for Teddy's. His present was clumsily wrapped in the heavy, brown paper That he got from a grocery bag Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents. Some of the children started to laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing, and a bottle that was one-quarter full of perfume.. But she stifled the children's laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was, putting it on, and dabbing some of the perfume on her wrist. Teddy Stoddard stayed after school that day just long enough to say, "Mrs. Thompson, today you smelled just like my Mom used to." After the children left, she cried for at least an hour.

On that very day, she quit teaching reading, writing and arithmetic. Instead, she began to teach children. Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy. As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive. The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded. By the end of the year, Teddy had become one of the smartest children in the class and, despite her lie that she would love all the children the same, Teddy became one of her "teacher's pets.."

A year later, she found a note under her door, from Teddy, telling* her that she was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life.

Six years went by before she got another note from Teddy. He then wrote that he had finished high school, third in his class, and she was still the best teacher he ever had in life.

Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that while things had been tough at times, he'd stayed in school, had stuck with it, and would soon graduate from college with the highest of honors. He assured Mrs. Thompson that she was still the best and favorite teacher he had ever had in his whole life.

Then four more years passed and yet another letter came. This time he explained that after he got his bachelor's degree, he decided to go a little further. The letter explained that she was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had. But now his name was a little longer.... The letter was signed, Theodore F. Stoddard, MD.

The story does not end there. You see, there was yet another letter that spring. Teddy said he had met this girl and was going to be married. He explained that his father had died a couple of years ago and he was wondering if Mrs. Thompson might agree to sit at the wedding in the place that was usually reserved for the mother of the groom.

Of course, Mrs. Thompson did. And guess what? She wore that bracelet, the one with several rhinestones missing. Moreover, she made sure she was wearing the perfume that Teddy remembered his mother wearing on their last Christmas together.

They hugged each other, and Dr. Stoddard whispered in Mrs. Thompson's ear, "Thank you Mrs. Thompson for* believing in me. Thank you so much for making me feel important and showing me that I could make a difference."

Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back. She said, "Teddy, you have it all wrong. You were the one who taught me that I could make a difference. I didn't know how to teach until I met you."

(For you that don't know, Teddy Stoddard is the Dr. at Iowa Methodist Hospital in Des Moines that has the Stoddard Cancer Wing.)

Warm someone's heart today. . . pass this along. I love this story so very much, I cry every time I read it. Just try to make a difference in someone's life today? tomorrow? Just "do it".

Random acts of kindness, I think they call it?

"Believe in Angels, then return the favor."

A Family Raised In Faith

Psalm 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.



Convert with Freecorder

A Dream ~ Poem Written By My Granddaughter

Click on the pic to enlarge it

Abby is ten years old.  I love the way she realizes that just because one dream hasn't come true, to not give up on other dreams!

A Day In January At Kearcher Creek Lake

A lovely afternoon with family at the local Kaercher Creek Lake just three miles from our home.

Memories Of A Birthday Surprise ~ 2009

Memories of a birthday surprise from 2009!

My youngest daughter and her husband surprised all three of their children with an over night stay at the Steamboat Inn in Lancaster, PA.  The whole family love the place and it was the eldest child's 7th Birthday.  I love to look at the joy on their faces when they realize where they are going.  I find it too precious for words so here are the photos: 

Makayla Update:

Makayla Update from her Daddy:

After a week break from rehab, Makayla got to meet all of her therapists here in Great Falls. She has had a good week home, and is adjusting quite well. The first few days, she had quite a bit of confusion about where she was. Our house is still new to her (and Jeannette and I). We moved in the day before her accident, so she hasn't spent but a couple of nights here before. So she didn't really know this house. Jeannette and I are adjusting as well...I think. LOL We call it the new normal! 

And it is a new normal for us. We have to take complete care of Makayla; she can help with a lot of things, but she cannot take care of herself. She does walk with one of us helping and holding her. She can mostly dress herself, but there are still some things we have to help with, like starting her socks for her. She is eating, but not enough to sustain her, so we have to give her 4 cans of Pediasure through her feeding tube every night. We have to move her wherever she needs to go. We love every bit of it, but it is a lot of work. But we are not complaining; she is so much better than any doctor ever thought she would be. The Lord has been so good to heal her as much as He has, and He is not done yet!

As I stated earlier, she had her first rehab appointments here in Great Falls today. We just got to meet her therapists and they did a lot of evaluation of Makayla. We like them and feel pretty comfortable after our first impressions. They were all quite surprised at how well she is doing! She seems to have improved, even without any rehab since January 4th. 

It is so nice to be home! While it has been a ton of work getting our house ready, making adjustments, and learning about all we need to do for Makayla now that we are home, there is nothing so nice as having our family all together! We have been able to go to church since we are home and it has been such a blessing to be with our church family once again! We do miss our friends at Northwest Baptist Church in Marysville, WA, and especially Pastor Alex Munoz and his wife Stephanie; but it is wonderful to be home! What a blessing it has been for our church family to get to see Makayla for the first time since the accident. There has been such joy to see a living miracle and answer to prayer! 

Makayla will start school again, but not until February. She will have to go to a new public school, since her old school does not have the therapists and programs necessary to help her. That is not something we are real excited about, to be honest, but we have to do what is best for her. But we are told that there are wonderful teachers, staff, and programs that will help her quite a bit. She will likely start off easy, going a couple days a week for a couple hours until she can endure full days. 

It is amazing to see how well she is doing and how far she has come! It is very evident that she has a brain injury. But her personality is showing itself more and more. She gets to laughing and joking around like the old KK. But she gets confused very easily and does have some short term memory issues. We rejoice to see how well she is doing! It literally brings tears to my eyes to see that old glimmer in her eyes and to have her give me those "monkey hugs"! Just tonight, I was tucking her in, and she just wraps her arms around me and says, "I love you so much!" 

I will try and do a better job of updating, but life is so busy. I also have to get up at least once in the night to check on her, so I don't get the best or most sleep. Thank you for praying for us and all that everyone has done to show your love and support! We still need and covet your prayers! We have many needs that Jeannette has posted on her wall and I may share in a later post. But the Lord will no doubt take care of all our needs, as He has all along the way! "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19) 

Just as He provided and took complete care of the Israelites in the wilderness, He will take care of us as well. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills and everything in this earth is His. There are no needs He cannot meet! Philippians 4:6-7 says, "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." It is amazing how the peace of God has consumed us through all of this journey! I thank the Lord that He certainly will never leave us nor forsake us!

Disney On Ice ~ 100 Years Of Magic

Sovereign Center, Reading PA ~ Saturday Evening 01/12/2013


Here is a link to a great story about a boy from Hershey who became a Disney On Ice skater: http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=442688

Carrots, Eggs, or Coffee

Passing this along from: http://www.facebook.com/JunkATiques

A young woman went to her grandmother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved a new one arose.

Her grandmother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water. In the first, she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs and the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil without saying a word.

In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her granddaughter, she asked, "Tell me what do you see?"

"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied.

She brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they got soft.She then asked her to take an egg and break it.

After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg.

Finally, she asked her to sip the coffee. The granddaughter smiled, as she tasted its rich aroma. The granddaughter then asked. "What's the point,grandmother?"

Her grandmother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity--boiling water--but each reacted differently.

The carrot went in strong, hard and unrelenting. However after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior. But, after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened.

The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water they had changed the water.

"Which are you?" she asked her granddaughter.

"When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?"

Think of this: Which am I?

Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity, do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff?

Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and a hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you.

When the hours are the darkest and trials are their greatest do you elevate to another level?


For when I am weak, then am I strong. 
 2 Corinthians 12:10

Once Upon A Time With My Little Hams

Let's Make 2013 The Year Of Safety For Kids

Click on the photo to enlarge

What are the recommended four stages of child passenger safety?




1. Rear-Facing Seat: Infants stay rear-facing as long as possible – to the upper weight limits of the harness – but never forward-facing before their first birthday and 20-22 pounds.

2. Forward-Facing Seat: Toddlers go forward-facing in a five-point harness until the upper limits of the harness, usually 40-65 pounds.

3. Booster Seat: Children from about age four up to 4’9” tall.

4. Adult Safety Belt: From 4’9” and taller.

LET'S GO VIRAL

PLEASE HELP!!! CHILDHOOD CANCER KILLS MORE CHILDREN THAN GUNS! You all know how I feel about guns. Well then you should realize how IMPORTANT it is that you watch this video ALL THE WAY through and take the steps at the end to PETITION & make our LEGISLATORS fund CHILDHOOD CANCER RESEARCH...AND this needs to be done NOW ! We need to pass this video around and make it VIRAL! Celebrities, PLEASE use your influence and re-post this, Tweet this...do whatever you can to HELP ~ NOW! Thank you!

http://www.thetruth365.org/

Our Christmas 2012 In Photos