...no big D

we didn't get to go to the Reunion because of the ice covering the exact bath of our drive. Very sad...So we soothed ourselves with First Walk. I also wanted to let everyone know that Regan hasn't had a seizure in two days! She did however redevelop the sore on her back. So, that is really disappointing.

I feel like a woman

The lights are low, the dryer is running and all feels right with the world. Regan is asleep on the sofa. She has a little snore...oh so sweet. Moby is of course asleep at my feet under the desk....he breathes so funny when he sleeps. I went to have the oil changed today and wanted to have the drivers side brake light replaced because it is burned out but they oil place couldn't do it. So, I did it myself! I got out the instruction book. Found out what type of light it needed and Regan and I went to O'Riley's and bought it. We came home and changed it ourselves. I had Shania Twain's song "Man I feel Like a Woman" running through my head.
Today makes me thankful for my mom. She is really independent. She could DO anything. I asked her last night on the phone if she ever went to bed with stuff undone. She couldn't really think of a time. WHAT? She had four kids and work fulltime. She works harder than anyone I know and she never complains about it. She taught me to shut up and get it done...in Jesus Name of course. (And people wonder why I am so independent!) More and more I want to be like her... mostly because she is like Jesus....God shines through her brightly.

We are leaving today for Brian's college reunion in Dallas. We are glad for the trip to the land of plenty. Please pray for our safety because of the weather. We love the car. We love traveling around...we don't visit exotic place ...but we visit awesome places because we visit people, people we love.

and he came to testify to the light

We put up our Christmas Tree yesterday. That is such a huge project. It is funny how already there are "man" jobs and "girl" jobs. Brian and Ryder put the lights on while Rylee and I got supper ready. Rylee made her powerful brownies...yummy! One big issue surrounding our tree each year is who's year it is to put on the star. We have an every other year rotation. They have to get the scrapbook out to see who did it last year. This year is Rylee's year. She wasn't really interested in any other part of decorating except that. There must be something about the lights and the star that have a deep place in our hearts.
John the baptist came to testify to the light....the LIGHT...Jesus. Our prayer for this Christmas is that we would testify to his light. We ask God to direct conversations about light to open up opportunity to testify to His Light. The Light of the World. If you have time today take time to read John 1 and then let all the lights of this season shine in and through you. As we put up our ornaments we thought of many of you who have given them to us through the years or have been a part of ministries that these ornaments represent. They testify to His light in you.
Regan's seizures are horrible right now. They are extremely convulsive. It is painful for her and for us as well. Please pray for her. Also, we are traveling this week to Dallas for Brian's 10 year college reunion. We are very excited to catch up with some great friends the Stephenson's. What a blessing it is to Brian to have Clint in his life all these years.
We look forward to hearing from you.

Thanksgiving Joy!

I continue to enjoyreading the Divine Hours as part of my prayer and meditation each day. I am consistently amazed at how it speaks to me right where I am since it was written and formated so so long ago. The refrain for today is "Those who sowed with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping , carrying the seed, will come again with joy, shouldering their sheaves. (Ps 126:6-7) Boy, is that a great image that reveals truth to us as we read. Holidays are a tricky time for many people, and I would include myself in this category. With the season comes hope because of what Christ has and is doing for us. It also bring remembering and pondering what is to come. Many of you will remember some of the not so great Thanksgiving and Christmas season Regan has been through. Especially 2003 when we thought we were loosing her because of liver failure. Then last year at Thanksgiving when she was so ill and recovering form hip removal surgery. We also know that when Regan is made new with Christ will also carry saddness for for those of us left here in this veiled reality. So, it reminds us that every moment counts.
So, I am thankful that we have this verse to be an anchor. I think of the image of a woman on her knees literally sowing seeds of God's word into the ground as she weeps...then reaping joy. Only God makes something like that happen. Only the seed of Christ can use tears to bring nutrients for sheaves of joy! Now that is something to be thankful for!
We thank God for you....for his faithfulness made tangible by your love and prayer.....now that is better than "punkin" pie.

the weekends go so fast........

Thank you all so much for praying for the radio interview. It went great as far as we are concerned. We were able to really tell Regan's story and how God has used St Johns to bless our family. The woman in charge to the telethon said she would send us a CD so we will load it on the blog so you can all hear it. We were actually interviewed by another lady while we were there. She would like to feature our family in the St Johns quarterly magazine. We agreed. I have been saying for years that when I talk about the hospital I sound like a stupid commercial but it is just truth.
I had to go the the prompt care on Saturday morning because I woke up feeling horrible. I have strep again. This is the second time this month. But when I got in the car to make the drive to Springfield they were replaying our interview. So, I called Brian and he and the kids listened to it.
So, since I was sick with strep I did not get to go with Brian and the kids to Indy for the National Missionary Convention. Brian did his workshop and it went great. He thought everybody was clicking with him. The kids had fun, Rylee even ran his power point for him! On Saturday night they while they were in Indy they went to Chili's to eat and spent two hours bowling. They had a great time and I am glad they got to have fun even though Regan and I had to stay home.
Please pray for me as I get over this strep we are sure that Brian has it again and suspicious about Rylee so he is calling the doctor in the morning. Please pray that we can get rid of it this time.
Also, please pray for Regan's brace. She developed a small sore on her back. It is almost all better but it has taken a week for it to get there. We need to be using the brace so please pray that when we start back she will be able to tolerate it.
Lastly, please pray for our friends the Maupin's they are moving to Lincoln after serving the Lord in Mexico City for the past five years. They have two children that are the ages of Ryder and Regan. Pray for them as they transition back to life in the United States...okay actually rural IL...Mexico City and Lincoln share very few similarities. Thanks!
I appreciate all of you who post comments, so keep it up! It comforts me to know you are checking in on us and I love hearing about you.

Resting in Christ

I was thinking yesterday how much my relationship for Brian teaches me about my relationship with Christ. MOST of the time I am at rest with Brian because he just loves me. I don't have to work for it, worry about it going away, be afraid of what this level of vulnerability might bring...I can rest in it...I can enjoy the peace that it bring. I was just praising God for giving me this relationship with Brian when I thought do I rest this way in Christ? Do I feel I am working to earn his love, am I afraid it might go away, am I worried about what this level of vulnerability brings? I am sad to admit that sometimes I am not at rest. Yet, Christ has called all of us to a rest in Him. He brought the Israelites into that rest in the Promise Land. They ate food they didn't plant, they lived in houses they didn't build, they one battles that the Lord fought.....rest. I pray you have rest in Christ today.
Friday Brian, Regan and I are are going to be be interviewed by a secular station about why we love our hospital. They are raising support for the Children's Miracle Network which funds many programs and clinics at St John's. Please pray that our testimony will be strong ...that people will see how God has blessed us through St Johns. Praise to God not to Children's Miracle Network. Please pray people will hear HIS rest in our story.

Toby-Mac Rocks!

Well the concert was great! Ryder loved seeing Toby-Mac in concert. Brian videoed Ryder singing or rather "rocking" along is so weird. When you can't understand the words but your kid knows each one you know he is really growing up. Just the other day he told me to turn to radio station because the song was to mature for Rylee and he didn't want to hear it. Come to find out it was "Get your sexy on" by Justin Timberlake. What happened to sweet NSync and "I want you back."
Ryder also made a 100% on his math homework on Friday after making an A on his Math test on Thursday. He said, "The incentive on losing all my books was appropriate motivation." Ryder is a straight A student except for math. So, I told him if he brought home another F or D on a paper he would have to hand over his books until we had a full week of A's and B's in math. It is good to see he and Brian having such a great time.

Wednesday, November 8, 2006

Thanks to all your responses both on the blog and via email. Regan has a doctor appointment on Friday. We will be doing xrays with her in her new brace. She is up to sleeping in it eight hours each night. She seems to be handing it great! We credit this to the grace of God so thanks for your prayers regarding this transition. Please pray for this appointment to go well. They will place sensors between her the brace and then take the xray. These sensors will measure the pressure from the sensors. We really want God to use this brace to help Regan's spine. Her curve is very severe and it on the brink of causing other problems if we can not stop it from continuing. I have added a link (if it works) to this email that you can go on to see her brace. She has the "Providence Systems" model. Regan's is purple, of course.

Rylee is going to Cheer Clinic over the next few days. She is loving that. Ryder and Brian are looking forward to seeing Toby-Mac in concert on Friday and an IL Football game on Saturday. It should be a great weekend.

Chantell's Welcome November 6

Thanks for taking the time to keep up with us. Time is a value to me so I will try to keep it short. We named our blogg "Route 5" because we want to remind ourselves and you in the process that we are on a journey.
I looked up "route" and found these meanings. When route is used as a noun it is "a course, way, a road for passage or travel." The New Testament Christians refereed to themselves as people of "the way." The five of us are people have chosen Christ as the road or course to travel. We too identify ourselves as people of "the Way." After all Jesus is The Way, The Truth and The Light.
When "route" is used as a verb it is "to send or forward by a particular route." So, this is the way that we want to send or forward what is going on with the five of us. After all we are not simply five on this route but God has but you on the route with us. Often many of you email me about how Regan has been on your mind and in your prayers and you wonder what is going on. Hopefully this will be an easy way for us to update you. Please fill free to respond to the updates. It encourages us to hear what God is doing with you.
The last few weeks have been difficult for Regan. She was having many long (15min or longer) and strong seizures. We went on a new med to help them. It did! But then she had an allergic reaction to it and developed a severe rash. So, now we are off the meds and getting over the rash. The doctors think this could take up to two weeks. Please pray for the seizures to NOT come back.
Rylee, Brian and I have all had strep throat. Ryder was also sick for several days. Could you also pray for our strength.
We thank you for praying.....we thank you for hanging in there with us we know this route is unpredictable and often has twists and bends that you don't expect.

Welcome!

Welcome to our Blog! This will be much easier for us to keep updated than our family website. Please check in as often as you think to!