Nan walks, Timothy visits, We hear a sermon from Loma Linda

Dear Family and Friends,

As I write this evening and sip my mocha the world series is being played but this year our real challenge is much closer. Nan took a literal huge step forward this morning. During the night she accidentally spilled some ice chips on her gown and cried out in surprise. In a few minutes we had a dry gown on, the wet sheet gone and went back to sleep. That was the only time Nan was awake all night. At 7 this morning her back hurt so badly that she needed to get up so we got ready to help her make her way down. Marilyn and I rolled the walker with wheels up to the bed where Nan was sitting expecting her to stand, pivot and sit on the walker, she said it was too hard to sit and stood up, grabbed the handles of the walker and walked her 25 steps to the stair chair, no knees buckling, no hesitation. We were shocked and so proud of her accomplishment. She rode down and then stepped into the wheel chair on her own. We helped her settle into the recliner and for a bit the suction worked well drawing out contents of her stomach and GI tract. She took some Adavan and rested for quite some time before waking to ask if we could watch a church service on the Christian channel. We tuned in just in time for the Loma Linda Service which was full of good music, good preaching (about sex no less) and then more good music. Dana was busy making a wonderful lunch. Keanna had spent the night and she was such a wonderful addition to the mix. She had breakfast that Dana prepared and then Nikki came to whisk her away for a day at the Oakland Zoo with her mommy and daddy. After Keanna left it grew quiet and we all took naps.

Mid day we got a call from Jason saying they would be here in a couple hours. We could hardly wait. Timothy had just woken up and was in a good, cute mood. He and his grammy exchanged smiles and giggles, the fed him, they posed him for photos and we all took turns holding him. With Dana, Marilyn, Jason, Jo, Nan and me to enjoy him he was the center of attention. I have included photos of the visit but unfortunately I missed Nan when she was smiling and laughing.

I do not mean to suggest that these are easy days for Nan. She is weak, troubled by the tube not pumping correctly, has some pain at times and still does not feel really great. On the positive side her voice is stronger, she is resting better at night and she really showed her new stuff with that walking this morning!

Nikki was with us last night when she brought Keanna and then more this morning. She is such a positive force and interacts with both Dana and Marilyn perfectly. How we thank God for our children. I never intend to suggest that somehow our kids are more precious than yours, I just know how precious they are to us and how much their faithful and positive support means to us.

A little while ago Pam appeared with pies even including an apple pie for me with no sugar but it sure was good. Thanks Pam for your willingness to drive all the way over here in the dark to be with Nan.

This Sabbath has meant REST, real shut your eyes style rest for all of us. The days of going to bed at 9:30 and climbing out at 6 with uninterrupted rest are not with us at this time. But we have the honor of caring for a grand lady, a lady who does not know how to quit or stop living life to the fullest.

We are deeply grateful this evening to each of you who have had a part in this wonderful saga, a story of courage and inspiration, of quiet faith and iron will, of tender love and quiet acceptance of a wrong so awful that in lessor persons might cause bitterness. Nan does not deserve what she endures but does not complain about it either.

We thank you for your prayers and we ask that you pray for the quick delivery of the new drug, for the suction to begin working better and for Nan's strength and comfort level to increase.

We send our love and deepest appreciation for your help in all ways.

tim and nan and marilyn and dana and pam