Can you believe that 2008 is just around the corner? Needless to say, it's been a year of many different happenings in our family. In January 2007, all our kids and grand kids were able to spend a couple weeks in Georgia and Florida. This was our Christmas gift to our kids. What a blast! Then we found out in January (while in Florida) that Nick and Amanda were going to have another baby (grandchild #3). Cory and his new wife Shannon (married in August of 2006 were there with us. A couple months later we found out that we were going to be grandparents again (grandchild #4). Cool, huh? On September 8, 2007 our first grand daughter Arianna Jane Church was born to Nick & Amanda. Then one month and 3 days later, October 11, 2007, Cory and Shannon had their first son Cian Andrew Church. I wish we could be grandparents every month. :)God has blessed us with 4 beautiful grand children. Bryson Church just turned 5 years old, December 27th, 2007. Ezekiel Church turned 3 years old last July. Nick and his family live in Rincon, Georgia where he is a youth pastor and Cory and his family live in Spearfish, South Dakota where he is a manager of a car dealership that his father-in-law owns. Cristal lives home and is working at JCPenney at the Midland Mall.
On May 16, 2007, I had major surgery here in Midland. I had what they call DBS surgery. Deep Brain Stimulation. I had tremors for 6 years (which they were doctoring me for Parkinson's) I do not have the disease and tried telling them that as for 6 years I was taking medicine after medicine that never worked. I finally was told that this brain surgery would be my answer which I can joyfully say it worked. I am typing this letter which was impossible to do for the last couple of years. At this point, I am doing great with operating the stimulator (which I turn on and off at night with a powerful magnet). I praise the Lord over and over for his healing power and for all the many people all over the country that prayed for me and my family during this very difficult time. Now I just have to deal with the other arm coming down with a frozen shoulder due to having to adjust to the stimulator being in the way but I have been getting use to its limitations but because of this my muscles have become frozen so getting a cortisone shot soon will relieve that hurt. It will always be an adjustment I have to live with but it has given me back much of my quality of life.
Now we are working on getting Kevin healthy again. For over a year now he has had terrible back pain. Now he has gone through many different tests and as of today he had what they call a discogram (very painful) but it will tell the doctors what the next step will be which we will find out next Friday, January 4th, 2008. All in all, it's been a year of many praises and a year full of ups and downs but GOD has always been with us through each one of them. We praise the Lord for our wonderful children that are serving the Lord and for the awesome grandchildren they have blessed us with. Having Cristal here during my recovery was a blessing because she was able to do many things for me that I was not able to. I didn't have to have anyone come in (outside of my family) to help me.
Mostly, I need to give many thanks to my wonderful husband for standing by me through all these years of going to doctors and other appointments. I love you forever.
I will be there for you throughout this new year with you facing uncertainties with your back.
What would we do without family and friends and mostly what would we do without GOD?
May you have a HAPPY NEW YEAR.
