Summer Vacation

Every year we take our summer vacation at Ocean City, Md. We always have lots of fun being together as a family. With me having ALS, it makes things a little bit harder for me but with some adjustments we get by. I love spending time with family and the closeness I feel when we are all together. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful and caring family surrounding me. They are there for me when I am having a hard time and their love and support really does make a difference.

I had a good time even though I couldn't go out on the beach. I listened to music and took cat naps while the others were out playing on the beach and getting sand over everything. Now be are back to our normal routines whatever that may be. God is good!

4th of July Week-end

Saturday evening we went to Chad's apartment for a cookout and had an enjoyable time with Chad and Noelle, Clint and Tanya, Mom and Dad, Noelle's parents Hans and Debbie, and Emy and myself. The food was good thanks to master chef, Chad and all the trimmings provided by the women.

We are grateful for the freedoms we share in this country. They should never be taken for granted and the sacrifices that were made by those who fought for those freedoms.

I thank God every day for the sacrifice Jesus made for my sin. May we never forget the debt that was paid so that we can be free.

Happy Independents Day!

Fathers Day

Sunday is fathers day. What does fathers day mean to me? As a child growing up, the things I remember most about my dad was that he worked very hard to provide for his family. We didn't have much but what we had meant alot to me. I worked with him repairing our vehicles which taught me about mechanics and how to fix things. With his help we rebuilt an engine for a 1956 Ford. He would tell me what to do before he went off to work and together we rebuilt the engine. He taught me the value of hard work. I will never forget the times we spent in the garage fixing our vehicles. Sometimes all I did was hold the flashlight so he could see what he was doing but I was learning something at the same time. I used those skills when I started working.

He was quiet man with a warm smile and a sense of humor. At age 50 he passed away but He gave me many fond memories that I still cherish to this day.

Now I'm a father and have two boys I am so proud of. I followed my fathers footsteps and worked hard to provide the best for them. As they grew up we did many things together and created many memories. We went camping, took day trips, traveled, went to the beach, mountains, and golfed together.

Being a father has helped me see our heavenly father in a whole new perspective. He wants us to experience the best for us as we do for our children. Sometimes we don't always obey him but he still loves and cares for us because we are still his children. I have failed him many times but he still loves me be cause I am his child. That is how I am with my boys. No matter what they do I love them because they are mine and I am there for them.

I am blessed with a beautiful family. I have a great wife and have ( am getting ) two wonderful daughters. I love them dearly and consider myself a blessed father. Even with ALS, God has blessed me above and beyond what I deserve. So this Sunday, fathers day, I'm honored to be called a father.

2009 Harrisburg Walk to Defeat ALS

June 6th we had uor annual walk to defeat ALS. It was a great day with perfect weather and all. our team Gordie's Groupies came in 3rd for fundraising and had about 115 walkers on our team. Thank you to all of you that supported me by donating or walking.

Things I learned since being diagnosed with ALS

No matter what happens God is in control
Learning to trust God is an on going process
Family and friends are precious
Every day is a gift
Live your life like today is your last
Tomorrow may never come
Only what's done for Christ will last
Material things don't really matter
Sometimes suffering is part of God's plan for your life
One day I will walk and run again
Accept help from others
People really do care
I've been blessed dispite my condition
Faith in God does not always garrantee physical healing
I know God is shaping my life in his image
There is power in prayer
Sometimes it feels like God is nowhere near even when he is
Even when things don't make sense, trust God anyway!

Learning to trust

I didn't write this but it expresses pretty much how I feel.

God is trying to help me to see that He is in control. The thing is, that I *know* He is, I just don't *feel* like He is all the time. I know, too, that we are not to go by our feelings, but sometimes that is much easier said than done. I know the right answers, I really do, but sometimes they just seem like nice words on a page. Where is my faith? Why do I doubt? I am not sure I am really doubting, I guess it is more just wondering and waiting. Learning to trust God can be easy at times, and the hardest thing I have to do at other times. Sometimes I "get it" and other times I feel desperate. I know the answer to my own problem here, too. When I feel desperate, it is time to truly intercede before the Lord. Honestly at times I just don't feel like it. I have unmet desires and longings. I do know and trust that God has a purpose for my life. I want those desires and His purpose to be in total harmony. The thing is that maybe my desires are not His desires for my life. Perhaps He is still trying to mold me and teach me things that He wants me to know. I am sure He is desiring me to grow. I am still learning to trust God . . . One Day at a Time, and some of those days are more like . . . one minute at a time.

ALS Clinic Visit

April 22nd I had a clinic visit where I see multiple specialists to evaluate my condition. I see a pastoral counselor, clinic nurse, MDA rep, nurse counselor, ALS neurologist, social worker, OT and PT, respiratory therapist, and a speech therapist. It ends up taking about 4 hours till everyone sees me.
Here are some of the recommendations that they made.

• Add more hours for attendant care as needed. Right now I am receiving 17 hrs/wk.
• Think about attending the support group which I'm not doing at this time. I have thought about going but I keep putting it off due to some reservations I have about going even though it would probably be beneficial to attend. Maybe this month I'll try to make it.
• Because of increased coughing while eating and drinking, I should stick to a soft diet and take small sips and bites. Decrease distractions when I'm eating or drinking and avoid mixed consistencies of food. As the muscles used to swallow and speak weaken, the risk of aspiration increases.
• The OT gave me braces to wear on my wrists to support them due to increased weakness and foam handles to put on eating utensils making them easier to hold.
• My respiratory was down considerably but I think it was because I couldn't form a tight seal with my lips. I don't feel like my breathing has changed all that much so I'm not too worried about it.

My doctor said I'm progressing rather slowly which is a good thing and something to be grateful for. I thank God every day for the time I have and for my wonderful family that support me and love me. I have been blessed with a lovely wife and two wonderful sons and daughter-in-laws. I'm blessed!

Chad and Noelle

I am happy to annouce that Chad and Noelle are engaged to be married. An October wedding is planned and I am so excited for them both. Noelle will be a wonderful addtion to our family. I feel like our family is now complete. I love my new daughters and I'm happy for Chad and Clint. I am incredibly blessed to have such a lovely family.

Easter Sunday

Easter was spent with family and we had agreat time together. After dinner we had an Easter basket hunt, something we did for the boys since they were little. Now we included Tanya and Noelle in the hunt for their baskets. It was a fun time. here are some pictures. Enjoy!!

Family Retreat

This week-end we spent time with family at a retreat north of Reinholds, Pa. We had so much fun fellow shipping with one another, watching the little ones play, and eating. It made me realize once again how important family is and bond we share with one another. I pray that we can pass on the legacy of how important family is to our children as they grow up and have families of their own. I rely on my families more than ever now that I have ALS. There are so many things we take for granted. Not that we intentually take things for granted, I just think that's how our human nature is. Every now and then God allows things to happen in our live to remind us of everything he has blessed us with. Even now as I deal with ALS, I see where I have been incredibly blessed. I would like to say thanks to all of my family Moms and Dads, my wife, sons, daughter-in-law, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, and in-laws for their support and prayers on my behalf. Family certainly is one thing I hope I'll never take for granted. I love you all!

Virginia

This past weekend we were in Virginia with our friends Aaron and Becky Stoltzfus. It rained most of the time but we had fun anyway playing games and hanging out on the farm. It does me good to get away from the daily routine of home.

There's not much new happening right now other than I am so ready for spring and warmer weather so I can get outside during the day. All in all I can say God is good.

I posted some pictures of Aaron's barn and his miniture horses that he is so proud of.

In Like a Lion

Well here it is March already and the snow is coming down hard and fast. Tonight the temperature will be a balmy 11 degrees. Brrr!
Today is my wife's birthday! I wish her the best and pray her day will be special for her. I am so blessed to have her for my wife and mother to my two awesome sons.
As I am sitting here watching the snow come down and covering the ground with a white blanket of snow, I can't help but think about the blood of Jesus that was shed to wash away our sins and make us white as snow. No matter what storms in life come our way, we can trust God to give us the grace and courage to whether the storm.
Living with ALS sometimes feels like I'm in a rowboat in the middle of a lake with no paddles and a huge storm looming on the horizon. But then I sense the presense of God and the peace I feel brings me comfort knowing he will be there for me through this particular storm.
I'm hoping March goes out like a lamb!!

Another Wedding

February 21st we had another wedding to attend. This time it was my nephew Conrad who was married to Vicky. It's just another reminder that i"m getting old with my son and nephews getting married. I pray that they will have a long and happy marriage. Sunday my father-in-law had his 80th birthday so we as a family celebrated his special day with him. Later we had some of their close friends drop in to surprise him. It was a busy week-end but it was fun. Here are some pictures of this week-ends events.