youth center, aunt linda, thougths...

youth center

friday night was the grand re-opening / open house of the newly remodeled fbc youth center. we had over 100 people in attendance, including youth, parents, and senior adults. we shaved off mr. kirby's beard and generally rocked the house until almost midnight. thank you to all who helped cook, cleanup, and help in general.

aunt linda

i talked to my mom last night and go the latest update on my aunt. she's now talking in a raspy whisper. she can see well enough to recognize people as they enter her hospital room. she's begun rehabilitation and can walk with help from her rehab nurse. she's moving her body really well; she only lacks movement in her right arm. according to my mom, she's smiling, laughing and making everybody around her smile. her brain is still recovering from the stroke, and mom says she still has trouble making some connections, but she can recognize voices over the phone, and i'm looking forward to talking to her this afternoon.

thanks to everyone who has been praying, and we continue to covet your prayers.

thoughts

last week, i had the opportunity to hear the story of the ceraks and van ryns, two families united by tragedy. if you'd like to know more about the story, check out nbc.com and search "twist of fate" or go here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23849928/ i bring this up because, last week as i lay in bed i heard on the radio parts of interviews with the two families. in both interviews, the question was asked: "why do you think God lets bad things like this happen?" the response amazed me.

don van ryn, father of the girl who died, said that he believes we live in a broken, fallen world where bad things happen to good people and good things happen to bad people. he said he had faith in God that God was sovereign and that His plans don't always make sense to us.

in a world where people constantly blame God for bad things or ask how a loving God can let those things happen, it's refreshing to know that there are people who "get it" and are not ashamed of their faith, and then share their beliefs with the world.

as i write about my aunt and her recovery, i think about her - her personality, her faith, and her outlook on life. i think she would say the exact things that mr. van ryn said to matt lauer on "today."

my aunt

21 days ago my aunt, Linda Watford, went to the medical university of south carolina to have a heart valve replaced. the surgery was successful, with no complications, and my family waited patiently for her to wake up. somewhere between that wednesday, march 5 and the following sunday, march 9 my aunt Linda suffered a stroke which went undetected until doctors ran a ct scan.

currently my aunt is awake and is making progress. very slowly. as of last wednesday she can move her head, her left arm, left leg, and can smile if the right joke is cracked. the last i heard on sunday was that she is now supporting her head on her own, somewhat. that's a big deal.

we don't know how much motion or cognizance she will recover, or how quickly. it's a waiting game to a large degree.

i am writing all this, and will continue to give updates, so that anyone who reads it will see the needs of my family and will pray for my aunt Linda, her husband Don, their son Brian and his family, their daughter Heather and her family, and all of our extended family.

in support for my aunt, i have decided to grow out my beard until she is safely home. this may seem silly or nonsensical, but i don't care. i love my aunt, and i ask for your prayerful support for my family during this time.

blessings,

rando