Joanne Heim: Speaking of Strokes...(Toben)

Yesterday I had the opportunity to speak at the National Day of Prayer luncheon in Colorado Springs. Joanne's Dad and my folks were there and the real treat is that Joanne was able to come too. It was so great to see her there at the head table while I was on the stage! She looked beautiful and it was such a big deal that she was able to make it--not easy on her body to ride int he car and sit for long periods of time.

Anyhow, I had about 20 minutes to speak, I prepared my notes, I ran through it in my head a bunch of times and then I got on stage and realized that I had about 10 times too much content!!! I just about froze up. After all, it is hard to encapsulate the last 15 months in any amount of time, let alone what the Lord has been teaching me through this new reality. But I made it through. I left thinking that I had totally bombed! But the event organizer sent me the most gracious email. Just what I needed!

Pretty funny that the last group I talked to were middle school students! The NDP crowd was definitely on the older side. Funny thing: I have been asked to be the 8th grade graduation speaker! The kids got to vote and they asked me to come back. I am totally blown away by that! I am going to work very hard to come up with something they will enjoy on their official last day of middle school. I want to make them laugh but give them a little to think about along the way. So if anyone has the key to eigth grade humor, feel free to fill me in.

Audrey is in South Dakota with her class. I am thankful to God for many things, and one of them is that I am not an adult chaperon on that trip! Actually that's not entirely true. I would love to be with those kids, but I would come home and have to sleep for a week! Audrey brought so much candy with her (I probably let her overdo it) that those kids will be sugar-fueled to the max. I hope they are having a fun time. There is a no technology policy for the trip so the kids don't have their precious phones or laptops. I think that's great! They should enjoy each other's company with only 15 school days left in the year.

I guess that's about it. My parents will be with us overnight wile their floors get refinished and it will be a treat to have them around. Massage therapy for Joanne tomorrow and some special one-on-one time with Emma.

Prayer requests:

1. Should hear in the next week or so about the girl's tuition assistance for Denver Christian next year. We are definitely praying for God's provision so that we can keep the kids in such an amazing school!

2. Praise! Joanne is sleeping so much better. She had some of her meds adjusted and a new medication added and it really seems to be working. A good night's sleep makes a great deal of difference in quality of life. So thanks be to God for 8 solid hours a night (and sometimes more).

3. I am truly thankful today for our family therapist. He is a relatively young guy but has a lot of wisdom. We are slowly healing as a family as a result of our time with him. Still a long way to go, but I see progress like little green shoots peeking up through the soil!

Toben

Comments

You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.

I am sure you did wonderful. So thankful Joanne got to go along and that she is sleeping better...oh sleep is so important. continues prayers for you family...blessings~

Posted by: r.elliott | May 04, 2012 at 08:21 AM