Here Comes the Sun! (Toben)

Is it really possible that Spring is here and that summer is on the way? I know, just by writing these words that I have jinxed it and we will have snow by the end of the week. But I am so excited by the nice weather. Things are turning green. Our trees are leafing out and some of our bulbs are blooming. With the warm weather we get to add two activity to our list of daily activities: Walking outside and sitting on the deck. Both of these are things that we enjoy a lot. Fresh air and sunshine can cure all sorts of issues! We even got the fountain/pond working so we have the nice sound of trickling water in the background.

We have started ordering Joanne's meds directly from the central Kaiser pharmacy. they send us 3 months supplies of meds that we had previously been getting a month at a time. One corner of our kitchen looks like a full blown pharmacy. I had no idea prescription bottles came in such large sizes! We literally have a dozen massive bottles of various medications. Anyhow, it saves us from running to the pharmacy every couple of days so that's a good thing. Joanne is still on about 10 medications ranging from anti-seizure meds to children's aspirin and everything in between.

The girls are in their last push to the end of the school year. Audrey has a trip to South Dakota in a couple of weeks with her class that she is very excited about. They are going to have a blast but I tell you , you couldn't pay me enough to be a chaperon on that trip. I LOVE these kids and have known many of them for years, but you put 4 boys in a hotel room 500 miles away from home and get them hopped up on sugar and you have a problem on your hands! Hopefully they will be able to wear kids out during the day so that they actually get a little sleep at night. God bless those chaperons. You will be in my prayers.

Before Audrey goes, we need to get her a root canal and a crown. When they told me what it was going to cost I literally lost my breath! Still not sure how we are going to scrounge the money together but I am praying for a solution. I really feel like God has provided a way to make it through these tough times and that he's not going to let us down this time. It is a real test of faith but an honest and good test (as much as I would love to avoid this test).

In a couple of weeks I get to tell our story at a National Day of Prayer event. I think I have about 20 minutes to talk about what our family has gone through in the last year plus. How do you take a year's worth of spiritual/practical lessons and pack it into 25 minutes? Fortunately my mom has helped me process a years worth of lessons into some cogent form. I will post a blog with the four points I plan to make in a future post. Hopefully I don't bomb! My only other presentation about this stuff was two a bunch of middle school students who were more excited about what Joanne's scar looked like then what I was learning in my prayer life!

Speaking of which: I have been asked to be the graduation speaker at the 8th grade graduation next month! It was student selected and that makes me feel like a million bucks! But I have to think of something genuine yet motivational to say. I'm not sure that my, "Life if hard, get used to it" talk is really appropriate. Again, this is another source of great prayer for me. I want to bless the socks off these kids as they move to high school.

So I guess that's about it. Joanne is hanging in there but we are struggling with "what comes next."We are sort of transition out of a season completely focused on therapy and moving toward a more laid back approach to life. Complicate to figure that one out and to strike a balance.

Prayer requests:

1. We will find out about the girl's financial aid pack in the next weeks. We are desperate for a good package so we can keep the girls in the Denver Christian system. Pray for favor as they review our applications.

2. Pray that God would provide a blessing that will help us pay for Audrey's dental work. We are talking thousands that we will be investing into her little mouth.

3. Gran is headed to England for a few weeks. Pray for a fun and safe trip for her!

We covet your prayers and appreciate your care and friendship.

Love,

Toben

 

Comments

[susan]

Continuing to pray for all of you. Always love.the specific prayer requests to concentrate on. He has been so Faithful to y'all. Hugs.

[Kim Feth]

Honored to cover your prayer requests.
Peace,
Kim Feth
Apex, NC

[Kimberly]

Is that the National Day of Prayer Event in Denver? I think my SIL is the event manager for that. Mariah Smith...if so she is wonderful and just so sweet. Your story will be amazing. This is the Kimberly Smith who is the SIL of Dan Smith...got hook up with you all a couple years back when my husband was sick.

[brenda corsi]

Toben, you are both in our thoughts and prayers daily! Miss you all so much. Give lots of love to those Heim girls for

[Jennifer White]

Joining you in prayer and celebrating the coming answers!

[Linda Hughes]

Toben,
What an honor to be asked to speak, twice! God has equipped you for such a time as this. I remember a kindergarten teacher saying once (as the kids were complaining about the color of blocks they were given and different color was what they wanted. She told them "you get what you get and you don't complain". Isn't that how life is, we want what we don't have... I also heard a single mom raising three boys once say, life is hard and then you die :). I lost my right arm 13 years ago to cancer. It took a while to learn how to get along with one arm, but I remembered what Elisabeth Elliott used to say, "in acceptance lies peace".
You are going to do a great job Toben!
Col 3:23
God Bless,
Linda

[Child of God]

Hi Toben,
Paying!! :)

Not knowing what is next is always tough but it seems to me this is the way God likes to work, last minute. :s One thing I do know is God's way is always right and always turns out for the best. Keep trusting in Him to provide for He will do so.

Praying and praying,
<><

[Patty]

Asking God to help you manage to pay for Audrey's mouth. That's an expensive one (even with God on our side!!). Praying that Gran has a safe trip to and from England and asking that God Blesses her life during this time. Also,praying God is with Audrey's class as they go on their trip. And praying for you Toben as you try and decide what to say at an 8th grade graduation. Praying your family finds a comfort zone with getting back to "norm" (whatever that might be for your fam). Just remember God is good all the time!!!

[SJ]

On a more pragmatic note - Have you checked with the University of Colorado Dental school? It really is good care and much more affordable for the big stuff. Best of luck with all of your upcoming events! We have never met, but we live not far from you and I keep your family in my prayers.

[S.H.]

The dental work costs sound way out of line... I had a root canal done a number of years ago and it wasn't cheap, about $900 and even with inflation and a crown, that still sounds off. Will be praying your prayers will be answered!
~Shari

[Michal]

Another lady quoted "Life is hard. Then you die." I've heard that saying many times but in fact, I believe "Life is hard...and then you DON'T die." You're LIVING proof of the on-going work of stayin' alive, stayin' alive, becoming "more than conquerors" in spite of the pressures of "the world, the flesh and the devil."

Thank you posting your prayers and praises. Glad some of the dental work is behind you and hoping the bills will soon be a thing of the past as well!

Here's a favorite verse, very appropriate for springtime.

"But for you who fear My name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in His wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture."

Malachi 4:2

[Diane]

I completely concur with what SJ suggested. I had my wisdom teeth removed and some other extensive work done at the Baylor University Dental school. It was extremely affordable and I never had a bit of trouble. The students are closely supervised by their instuctors so no worries!

At the very least, get a 2nd and 3rd opinion, especially about the cost and the timing. A few years ago, I had a root canal and then didn't get my crown until quite awhile later. Just spreading out the cost can make it feel more affordable.

[Sandi in MN]

Joanne and Toben,
I read Lisa Terkeurst's blog today and it really impacted me. She talked about emergency ear surgery she had last week, that did not correct her hearing. In it she talked about the word "impossible" and how she's been seeing it different lately. When you add an apostrophe in the front it becomes "I'm possible" and God is I AM so with him all is possible. Maybe you've heard that before, maybe not, I was so excited about it I shared it with my family at dinner tonight, my kids thought it was pretty cool too. BTW, one of them is a soon to be seventh grader, maybe something like that would work for the 8th grade graduation speech.....nothing is impossible with God...nothing.