Enjoying our time with Dave and Darlene

[Update: July 28th, part 2 has been posted.]

[July 28th, part 3 has been posted!]

NoPo came over early this morning with a valve for the fresh water fixture on the Q.  He and Don got the valve replaced in about tens.  Really tickled that it was so easy to fix.

About 11:30, we headed back to Jackson.  Even Clifford was happy to see Dave and Darlene again.

We had lunch at a quaint little local grille.Inside the grille.

After a very nice lunch and back at the Sutton’s, we admired the work bench Dave and Darlene built.

Bumper sticker on their truck.  Thanks, Dave, for your service to our country!

The front door to the condo they are renting.  It is really roomy with two bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, living room, dining room, kitchen, breakfast area and sun room The basement is not finished out, but is enclosed and provides space for their exercise equipment and tons of storage space.  And the view out the back is a golf course and very pretty.

None of us know the name of this tree.The flower wilts and falls away and the very hard green berry turns red and softens.

We were in the middle of playing cards when I looked up to see this huge tom turkey!!

There were three toms!  Look how big they are.

His beard is dragging the grass.

That’s two good-looking turkey legs!

Even though we haven’t seen Dave and Darlene since the spring of 2008, it feels like we just saw them yesterday.  Oh, wait a minute…. we did see them yesterday.  Oh, you know what I mean.

We taught them the “stupid game” aka Zilch and played one game of Spades which the Ladies handedly won and then it was time for us to go.  It’s difficult to part once again, but we are confident we will see them again.

Taking pictures of each other as we drive off.  It’s been fun!!!

The solar tsunami is scheduled to hit the earth’s atmosphere early tomorrow morning.  It’s been reported that it will be visible in Michigan looking toward the northern sky.  I may just try to get caught up on the blog until the wee hours and check out the northern lights!!

Brian Tracy said..."Eighty percent of life's satisfaction comes from meaningful relationships." Think about it...when you look back at the end of your life, what will really matter? I'm betting the top of your list will include the quality of your relationships.
So here's the question: If your relationships are one of the most important parts of your life, what are you doing to make them all they can be?

Here's a brief excerpt from The 100/0 Principle. Enjoy!

An Excerpt from The 100/0 Principle by Al Ritter

What is the most effective way to create and sustain great relationships with others? It's The 100/0 Principle: You take full responsibility (the 100) for the relationship, expecting nothing (the 0) in return.
Implementing The 100/0 Principle is not natural for most of us. It takes real commitment to the relationship and a good dose of self-discipline to think, act and give 100 percent.
The 100/0 Principle applies to those people in your life where the relationships are too important to react automatically or judgmentally. Each of us must determine the relationships to which this principle should apply. For most of us, it applies to work associates, customers, suppliers, family and friends.
STEP 1 - Determine what you can do to make the relationship work...then do it. Demonstrate respect and kindness to the other person, whether he/she deserves it or not.
STEP 2 - Do not expect anything in return. Zero, zip, nada.
STEP 3 - Do not allow anything the other person says or does (no matter how annoying!) to affect you. In other words, don't take the bait.
STEP 4 - Be persistent with your graciousness and kindness. Often we give up too soon, especially when others don't respond in kind. Remember to expect nothing in return.
At times (usually few), the relationship can remain challenging, even toxic, despite your 100 percent commitment and self-discipline. When this occurs, you need to avoid being the "Knower" and shift to being the "Learner." Avoid Knower statements/ thoughts like "That won't work," "I'm right, you are wrong," "I know it and you don't," "I'll teach you," "That's just the way it is," "I need to tell you what I know," etc.
Instead use Learner statements/thoughts like "Let me find out what is going on and try to understand the situation," "I could be wrong," "I wonder if there is anything of value here," "I wonder if..." etc. In other words, as a Learner, be curious!
Principle Paradox
This may strike you as strange, but here's the paradox: When you take authentic responsibility for a relationship, more often than not the other person quickly chooses to take responsibility as well. Consequently, the 100/0 relationship quickly transforms into something approaching 100/100. When that occurs, true breakthroughs happen for the individuals involved, their teams, their organizations and their families.

8/2/2010 -Not since April 2008

[update: July 28th, part 1 has been posted.]

We have not seen Dave and Darlene Sutton since we left Quail Run in the spring of 2008, so we are very excited to get to see them today.  On our way to their place in Jackson, this little fawn crossed the street in front of us.We turn the corner and there they were waiting for us!

We visited and got caught up on our lives a little and then they prepared grilled chicken and fresh Michigan corn on the cob for us.  We learned how to butter corn on the cob today.  Dave has slathered butter on a piece of bread and then rolled his ear of corn in the butter.  It works and doesn’t get your hand all messy.  Works great!!  And oh, the corn was soooooo good.

What a guy!! Dave helps clear the table and put the dishes in the dishwasher.

After lunch, we visited more and I found a new pet.

We made plans for Dave and Darlene to come out to the Q this evening and then dinner and the Cascades.

As we were leaving their condo, this doe was grazing on the side of the street.

Dave and Darlene wanted to see the Q, so they can out and then drove us to dinner.  We tried a new place. This station wagon was parked in front of the restaurant.

The food and service was good and we were delighted to notice that Christian music was being played… not so loud you couldn’t carry on a conversation, but loud enough that you could hear it.  We just had the best time re-connecting with this wonderful couple who lived across the street from us our first winter in the RV ministry.  We did a lot of sight-seeing together and spent many evenings playing games.

Our treat for tonight was The Cascades in Jackson, Michigan.  It was Senior Night, so we got in for $2/each.  Darlene and I took off and climbed the walk around to top and back down.  When we arrived, it was already dark, so you are just going to have to visit Jackson and The Cascades to see it in the daylight.

Here’s a series of the light changes.  Because of the HUGE mosquitoes attacking us, we did not stay for the light show set to music.  Word to the wise:  cover yourself with OFF before going.

Dave drove through downtown, telling us about the history and changes that have taken place over the years.

Thanks, Dave and Darlene, for a fun time with you and we’ll see you tomorrow!

This is the day, the Lord has made….

At Norm and Lori’s church, NoPo takes care of the sound system.

I apologize for the blurry picture of LoPo as she is a member of the worship team at her church, The Community Fellowship, a Church of God. Trying to be discreet, my camera strap was around my neck and I would try to hold it steady as I took the pictures without looking at my camera and without a flash.

I got several pictures, but this was the best I could do.

Pastor Andy is 34 and we were thrilled to see someone this young in the pastorate here.We thoroughly enjoyed his sermon and our worship experience this morning.  We loved the idea of the children of the church collecting change in big plastic jugs to purchase back-to-school backpacks and supplies for area children.

Back to LoPo and NoPo’s for lunch.  While Lori was preparing the meal, I thought her hair looked so cute this morning in church, I couldn’t resist taking a few pictures from different angles to show off her ‘do.’  Love you bunches, LoPo.

Meanwhile, NoPo and Don are on the patio grilling steaks and corn on the cob.

Well, Norm is grilling, Don is watching and visiting. I took this through the patio door.  Don can’t see me real good, but he’s pretty sure I’m taking pictures.

Have you ever heard of or seen purple green beans?  We hadn’t until Elaine Gingrich gave these to us before we left LeRoy, Michigan.  They are purple when raw, but turn green when cooked.  In case you’re wondering, they were delicious.

At 2:00 PM Lori and Norm took us out to their friend’s, Jim and Paula Stormont, at Big Wolf Lake.  This is their back yard taken from the deck.

These are Paula’s petunias.

This is their house.

This is their Springer Spaniel, Bailey.

Their gazebo.

Their pontoon with Jim, our host, at the wheel.  NoPo and Don enjoying the peace of the water.

This is LoPo, chatting with us.

This is Paula, our hostess.

This is a house on Big Wolf Lake.  I think it’s safe to say it is the largest house on the lake.  Would you believe that one single man lives here?  True.

This a side view of said large house.

“Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine!” (from ????)

Mr. Crooked Neck.

After a wonderful tour of the lake, Jim docked the pontoon and…

we all sat in the gazebo by the lake and drank Michigan’s own, Vernor’s ginger ale.

While visiting, we watched this sea aqua-plane landed and it’s occupants enjoyed a dip in the lake.

We stayed until the plane took off.  We wondered if they were lake hopping.

Paula’s Rose of Sharon.

The day has been warm, but beautiful and we have enjoyed every minute of it, including meeting Norm and Lori’s friends, Jim and Paul.  Thanks for your wonderful hospitality to take us out on Big Wolf Lake in your pontoon.

Back at Hideaway RV Park, Don stopped so I could take a picture of an unusual mushroom (morrel) he found yesterday morning while walking.

Even though God knows our needs, He still wants us to share our hearts with Him. He stands ready to hear our prayer and to repair our brokenness by His grace. —Bill Crowder

Although God knows our every need,
His work He wants to share;
He takes us into partnership
By calling us to prayer. —D. De Haan

Prayer is the voice of faith, trusting that God knows and cares.

….Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Kris’s latest update

[I am slowly getting caught up after our road trip to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, but I wanted to post this immediately.  So as you check back, you will need to scroll past this update to see postings.  Thanks for reading and thanks for being patient; and thank you so much for your prayers for Kris and her family.]

Dear friends and loved ones!

We're a few days late getting this update out, but we can now share some of Kris's happenings with a bit more confidence and correctness.  Let me start.

A week ago this past Thursday, I went with Kris in the facility wheelchair van down to Brook Army Medical Center (BAMC) in San Antonio, a trip that takes almost an hour and a half.  You will remember that BAMC is where Kris was airlifted after her accident on April 21 this year, and also where the neurosurgeon, Dr. Richard Teff, literally saved her life when he decided to operate on her head that night.  This time, the trip down to BAMC was so that Kris could have a CT scan of her head.  From those images, a company will formulate a series of images showing the shape and dimension of her head and the cranial area that is missing.  Those images are placed on a video and a team of specialized implant designers will fabricate the implant made from a plastic material that will eventually be inserted in her head where all the bone fragments were removed.  Since there were too many fractured pieces of bone, the surgical team that performed that miraculous surgery back in April were not able to save enough to put back into her head.  But, thanks to our fantastic sciences and technological discoveries, Kris will now have a prosthetic implant, and it will be the exact shape and size to compliment the other side of her head.  They will use the same incisions that were used back in April, and her beautiful hair will grow out again.  And, once the surgery is completed and she recovers there at BAMC, she'll return to the Texas Neuro Rehab Center here in Austin to continue her wonderful progress: learning to walk, speak, eat, use her hands and, generally, learn how to do everything all over again.  The little important steps that she has been making are indications all this will come in time, with prayer and lots of hard work!!! 

That's the plan.  The day after the CT scan at BAMC, we were told that she has an evaluation appointment with Dr. Teff, the neurosurgeon, on Wednesday, September 8th.  We don't have a date for the surgery as yet, but we are praying so very much that Dr. Teff will be so overwhelmed with all that Kris has been able to accomplish, he will simply say... "Let's admit her and do the operation right away!"  That's what we are hoping he'll say!!!  Truth is... Kris's little girl, Andrea, hasn't seen her since the accident.  Some of you already know she is autistic and it was felt it would be too traumatic for her to see Kris and not be able to have her mommy hold her and talk to her.  I do believe Andrea understands that Mommy has been "sick" and is getting better, so she's okay with all of that, but I believe Kris would love to see her daughter.  She sees her son, Joshua, which is wonderful for both of them.  I do believe Kris is reaching a point, however, when she will likely not continue to progress because of her fear of hurting the right side of her head.  She is extremely protective of the injured area and she is conscious of how delicate it is.

I forgot to mention that her former commanding officer, Col Payne, along with his replacement and some other co-workers and friends were waiting for Kris when we arrived at BAMC last week.  Of course, Russell and Joshua were there, too.  She was again overwhelmed with emotion at seeing everyone there for her, and our emotions overflowed as well.  She is just so aware of everything and everyone.  One week ago today, Russell's sister and her husband came to see Kris.  They hadn't seen her since right after the accident.  They are really sweet people and Kris's face lit up with such obvious joy and emotion.  She didn't have to say a word, really; it was all there in her eyes and her expression.  Thank God in Heaven above that she has her memory in tact to know her family and friends!!  What a miracle that is in itself!

Just a quick overview of this past week:  She is still working very hard at all of the therapies and has tried very hard to use her left hand now.  She grasped a tennis ball enough to hold it yesterday, and played kickball with George and me yesterday afternoon.  She does that while sitting in her wheelchair.  I remove the foot pads and she can swing those legs and feet pretty spiffy, let me tell you!!!  She kept us hopping. 

This past Thursday, she raised her upper body up from a side position resting on her right elbow to a full upright sitting position on a low workout table.  She now holds my hand with a really firm grip with her left hand and her right hand is coming along, too.  It feels so good when I ask her something and have her respond with a hand squeeze.  She means business now!!!  In fact, the on-duty nurse said that Kris nodded her head yes when she asked her a question before we got there today.  There are so many little nuances and other wonderful, tiny steps: the smiles, the emotion, the light in her eyes.  There are down moments, too, I must honestly say that, but Kris is ever the hard worker and strong-willed little lady.  I've said before that the road is going to be very long, but she knows that.  I know she does!

One more side note for our United Methodist Church friends both in Sebring, FL and up in Pennsylvania:  We found a church to visit at last while we're here.  Manchaca United Methodist Church.  Kris is now on their prayer chain and both the pastor and associate pastor want to be updated on how she's doing.  It's a beautiful church with an 11:15 service that gives me time to go and help Kris get washed up and started for the day.  It's just what we needed, too.  Today was Communion Sunday and Pastor Laura had a very sweet message.  Another answered prayer!!!

A final note about Florida: we are still hoping to return there by November, but I must say it may be later depending on how Kris's surgery goes and how she progresses after that.  While we realize the importance of honoring our commitments in Florida this winter, my heart is here and there is no doubt we are needed here.  Prayerfully, we ask for understanding and we will continue to keep everyone posted.  For those of you who knew we were to perform in Sun City, Arizona, I am so thankful we postponed that engagement.  It was to be September 8th, which turned out to be the day Kris goes to the neurosurgeon.  God is good... all the time!!!

Blessings and love,

Carol and George