I want to say a special thank you to those who comment on the blog because it is certainly an encouragement to me and to our family. I often wonder what to write on the blog and I also question whether people are really interested in those minor details with Mike’s progress. There is a part of me that wonders what makes us so special and do people really care about what we did on the weekend!?
I also want to thank you for your prayers, cards, financial support and especially the outpouring of love which has been so evident. We feel so blessed.
People have asked me if I tend to leave out the negative or difficult issues that Mike encounters but we truly do face each day with humor and optimism. Never a day goes by that Mike and I don’t laugh ourselves silly over something ridiculous. That is not to say that we don’t delve into the difficult issues and talk them through and there is no doubt that we are on a steep learning curve but we have many things in our favor: the strong bond we have as a family, our faith and our desire to see the cup as half full but most certainly, the love and support that we have from you, our friends both new and old.
Thank you.
Brenda
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16 comments:
My dear friend Brenda, You make me smile and you make me proud. Certainly you are strong, capable, and optimistic people; BUT the strength with which your family walks through all the struggles and the new things you face each day is a SIGN that God is empowering you; He is your strength. What a cool thing to be able to observe and the blog helps make it all real, it keeps us close.
Love you copious amounts
Noreen
Dear Brenda,
Please do not leave out anything that happens in your lives regarding Mike. Please realize that Mike is someone to up too and on this blog I go to it everyday and I am so proud of all of you.
Love Phylis Gauthier (LLB)
Mrs. Barker,
Thank you so much for your comments, and for keeping the blog updated. Yes, I think we all care about the weekend (they're the best, even in Michigan)!! Thanks especially for the house updates; after the one entry when you were house-hunting that listed all the obstacles in a normal house, I've been praying like crazy (and I still am). This blog "shrinks" the miles/kilometers between you all and Detroit.
Thanks a million!!
Britney
Chesterfield, Michigan
4:42pm
Brenda and Neil
I was fooling around with Google the other day. I didn't have an email address for you and wanted to share some good family news with you. You can imagine my shock when I stumbled onto this blog and began to read. First of all, our deepest condolences for the accident and what it has meant to Mike and your family. With a background in Occupational Therapy I can know a little of the uphill battles you all face in this difficult time. But I am overwhelmed by your faith and your simple daily trusting of God for His meeting the needs of each moment, and of each day. You are all a living testament of what it really means to be a Christian and of the breadth and depth of the love of God for each one of us whereever we are in life.
Keep trusting in God's power and provision. Keep your positive spirit. My mom is dealing with major cancer and tells my girls that we aren't responsible for worrying about the big picture but just to live life taking the next step one step at a time, being faithful to obey God with what is placed immediately in front of us each day. Then He is able to unfold the bigger picture.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Love from Donna (Don, Sara, and Emily too) White in Victoria.
PS: The happy news is that Sara recently got engaged to a lovely Christian fellow that we will be proud to call our son-in-law (in 2 years when she is finished her degree :)
Dear Brenda & family,
Once again we're so encouraged to see how much you are relying on the Lord! It's awesome to know that you are finding the joy of the Lord each day - the laughs and silly times! I've been reading a book lately that talks about how a thankful heart births a joyful heart! How thanks giving is important, but thanks-living is even more important! I'm seeing thanks-living in your lives and praise God for it!
May you continue to know His presence! Know that you are in our prayers and thoughts!
George & Linette
We check Mikes' blog everyday,we love the details and that your willing to share them.
Lorraine
ilybf
Hi Brenda and Mike!
Wanted to tell you that Anna (3 1/2) prays for you every night (as we all do). She always asks us to tell us what happened to Michael, and she's trying to figure it all out in her little mind. She asked if Michael goes really fast in his chair and yells "woo hoo", so Mike you'll have to squeeze that in just for her sometime! She has also asked twice if she could visit Michael, so maybe once you're settled in your new house in Sherwood Park, we can come check it out! I know Anna would love to meet the boy she prays for every night!
Love the Cadieux's in Fort Saskatchewan
Hello Brenda and family
I want to say thankyou for taking the time to keep Mike's blog updated.We look forward to hearing about Mike's progress.
Because of our handicapped son, Al, we can identify with some of the things that you are going through. I think it's so special that you can help others see the world of a handicapped person through your eyes. Humor sure has a way of seeing the positive as well.
We're so excited for your family that the rehab days are coming to an end and a "new normal" life is on the horizon.
Thinking of you often..
Margo
Hi! I am glad that things are moving along so well. It sure is great to hear that Micheal is doing better. Have a great weekend. Terry Hannan
Hey Mike,
Have an awesome weekend at home!!
Prayers in MI,
Britney
Brenda
I sure cannot speak for anyone else but Mike and all of your family are apart of our history and are in our affections.I appreciate your efforts in doing this blog business! We have been so absorbed in our lives I have not visited for a while. I am prone to pity parties as a novice empty nester so Mikes family accounts brings it into perspective. Thanks for the glimpses into your lives. And I think you are educating us all about being empathetic to those with challenges.We went up to Ft. Mac to work a fundraiser and Len pointed out what he understood to be the accident site. What a long highway!
Thanks for your efforts. Do not give up - I would miss you.
Brenda, Brenda, Brenda: We should be thanking you and your family for sharing this journey with us. Everytime I read your blog, I am enlightened by your strength and courage, but most of all by your familie's enormous faith and trust in God. With Him all things are possible and I see it happening daily when I read these updates. Thank you
Phyllis A LLB
Hi family!
I constantly check the blog to see what new adventures Mike has been up to. And yes, people do care what you've done over the weekend!! I hope this has been another relaxing one for you.
If I remember correctly, Mike, this is your last full week at the Glenrose! Keep trucking, you're almost home free.
Thank you again for welcoming me in. I don't have a family here anymore so it's nice to be with you guys.
Keep loving each other and NEVER STOP counting your blessings! God is good.
Terri-Lynn
I'm in New Brunswick now, and the school I'm at has filters that won't let me comment on blogs, though I still can read them. So I'm emailing this to my charming little big brother and I'll have him put it into the blog for me. But I really wanted to tell you that YES people are interested in the minor details
of Michael's progress, and yes, people do care about what you did on the weekend! Don't stop writing!
Glad to hear you're facing the days with optimism. Don't let go of that!
Flooring, doors, tables...wow, such little things to us, but such big things to him. And a driver's license again?? COOL! That'll be great for him. I didn't know such a thing as vehicles with hand controls existed. And 20 days till discharge...that must be a really great feeling, to count the days down!
Praying for you still, and thinking of you
~Lois
hey aunty brenda
i just wanted to reiterate what everybody is saying about cherishing the abilitiy to hear from YOU about what is going on in your daily lives and hear about the struggles and the moments of laughter. the hope is uplifting. Your honesty (in your writings) and genuine openness as well as welcome of the Holy Spirit to work in your lives is so beautiful and is an encouraging testimony.
i am SO glad that you and mike so often have wonderful laugh yourselves silly moments!
thomas
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