Summer 2007 Recap

Today is September 1st, and I am left to only shake my head in wonder about where the last six months since the last post have gone.

At the end of the last post I mentioned the opportunity we had to speak as a family at a Southern Illinois High School during their prom - traffic saftey empahsis week. The spring months brought other opportunites for me to speak individually too. I spoke at a local high school also during their prom week; the state PTA conference as part of a workshop; a trauma/emergency symposium at the hospital where Steve was treated during the first month following the crash; and a church in central Illinois during their 2 worship services on Mother's Day.

There is no way to express the multitude of emotions we as a family, and I individually, process through each time a speaking engagement occurs. Pain that seems to be well below the 'everyday' surface comes searing through to the top during preparation and rememberances. Yet, with the accute pain also comes a fresh realization of hope that truly sustains and strengthens in those hard times. It also encourages Randy, Steve & I when we realize that lives can be touched and even changed by our willingness to share our story yet one more time.

Another big change that I personally experienced since the last post is a new full time position I accepted at our church, Gibson City Bible (see link at the right). The church was very gracious in allowing me to honor the commitments I had to speak and travel to conferences and meetings.

July 3o was the date of the 5th Annual Greg Arends Memorial Golf Tournament which raises funds to send high school students to FCA Camp. Greg attended FCA Leadership Camp the summer of 2001 and was impacted by the week in a profound way. We have been able to send over 20 students to FCA camps over these past 4 summers since Greg's death. The Golf Outing day, too, is mixed with many memories of Greg and his love of golfing, as well as a deep joy from knowing that good can result in the midst of the most difficult and perplexing situations we experience. (And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:28 NLT)

The Summer ended with our annual trip to Maranatha! The sunset at the beginning of this post was taken on the beach of Lake Michigan. Our Bible teacher, Dr. Don Denyes of South Church, Lansing MI, spoke on Biographies of the Bible. We were challenged anew by the familiar stories from scripture that become more relevant to us as time goes by. Each of us were also touched by the wonderful fellowship and friendship that we are so blessed to experience among the 'Week 7" group at Maranatha!

Now, it is time to prepare for the harvest ahead as the corn and beans are reaching maturity and drying down in the late summer sun and wind of the past couple weeks. We rejoice that Steve is able to work along side Randy in the shed (preparing machinery), in the office (bookkeeping/marketing) and in the field (tractor/combine). We are also anticipating the arrival of Steve's new herd of beef cattle within the next few weeks. I'll do my best to post when the cattle arrive!

Most of all, we clearly have seen the Lord's faithfulness to us these past 6 months. Steve remains on medication from Dr. Hammesfahr as well as twice weekly BioFeedback treatments in Champaign at Midwest Neurofitness. All treatments combined brings improvements to Steve physically and emotionally. We continue to learn that Traumatic Brain Injury is not an easy disability to navigate or plan out, as we experience both joys and sorrows as each day unfolds. But, God is faithful and He is doing a work in us all on this Journey of Hope.