Tim's Blog

My Church Family

noreply@blogger.com (Tim) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 03:29:00 +0000

Today I want to take a look at a common phrase used in many churches. It's called "My Church Family". We hear it often to describe our fellow church goers.

After a recent event at our church I was moved to asked myself is this just a phrase I use?

Our Bishop and founding Pastor's son and granddaughter were in an accident and both were ejected from the vehicle. His son was airlifted to the hospital with multiply fractures and a severe laceration to the back of his head. He will remain in rehab for a while. His granddaughter was badly bruised but sent home the next day to recover. All of this on the heels of a stroke he had in January of this year. Are you starting to feel what I mean when I say "My Church Family".

When the news came last Tuesday my heart was broken for this family. I went to the hospital immediately after work and his wife took me back to see him. He was on a ventilator, neck brace, stitches in his head and heavily sedated. I wanted to find a place and ball my eyes out. I really took on the meaning of "My Church Family" and allowed the hurt and pain of this family to penetrate my soul.

Webster's Dictionary states the definition of Family as: kin, tribe, folks, group or relatives.

The Bible tells us to bear ye one anothers burdens. The next time you hear "My Church Family" remember that when one member hurts we should all hurt as Christ intended.

I have accepted the burden of this family on my heart and will not be satisfied until my brother and sister in Christ are completely whole.

Please keep them in your prayers

God bless
Tim

The Power of a Vision

noreply@blogger.com (Tim) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 02:51:00 +0000

I have a passion for photography! My first camera that I can remember owning was a Kodak 110. I don’t remember how old I was but I think I was around 13 or 14. In those days there were no digital cameras or for that matter not even a computer. I had the camera at Disney World in my shirt pocket. It was about an inch thick by about 4 inches long. I was jumping up and down on the rope bridge at Tom Sawyers Island and out came the camera just out of grasps reach and bubbled all the way to bottom of the pond. It may still be there some twenty five years later.

Cameras were a passion of my fathers. Some where from the early 1900’s and some were modern day. I am privileged now to have the collection since his passing. He even had a dark room at one point and developed some of his own pictures.

I find Photography fascinating and visually intriguing. You can never take two pictures just alike. Even of the same subject. You may have intended for one thing and something else shows up in the picture oblivious to you when you snapped the lens. It’s not always easy to explain or describe something you have seen. You may have seen a mountain with a beautiful white snow capped top and a small stream at the bottom and a deer standing in front of this magnificent scene. I gave you a visual description but there is no way I could ever do it justice like a picture could.

Jesus said without a vision my people parish. We must have God driven vision in our daily lives. We must continually be looking through the eyes of Christ.

As I become older my vision is not as good as it was in my teenage years. I now have glasses because of stigmatism. I don’t see as good at night as I did 20 years ago.

What God sees in people is exactly how photography works. The person or thing being photographed does not know what is being viewed from the lens. Only the photographer knows. Only God knows what he sees in us. You and I may see a person and say that would not make a good picture but God looks at the individual and snaps the lens of hope on that person. The next time you see a homeless person, a drunk, a drug addict or someone that doesn’t look like good subject matter remember God has the view through his lens.

Laceys Home

noreply@blogger.com (Tim) — Fri, 01 May 2009 00:52:00 +0000

Lacey and my family made it home safely on Tuesday night. She is doing good. Her incisions look good. She has rested up for the past couple of days and has enjoyed being back home.

I can't wait until the weekend. It's been a long week and I am ready to chill out and rest.

Take Care,

Tim

Lacey is Coming Home

noreply@blogger.com (Tim) — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 05:55:00 +0000

Lacey was released from the hosptial on Saturday afternoon. She is recovering at the hotel and they will be flying home tonight. She is feeling much better than the two days after surgery. Each surgery is always different as far as the recovery goes. As I said in the prior post it is amazing what the VEPTR has done for her.

I got home on Sunday and was very jet lagged. There is no place like home and sleeping in your own bed.

Thank you for all of your prayers!

Take Care,

Tim

Lacey's Surgery

noreply@blogger.com (Tim) — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 21:41:00 +0000

Well it's that time again and Lacey had surgery on her back this past Wed. in San Antonio, Tx.

The surgery went well. They had to do a little more than expected so her recovery has been slower than normal. Lacey has great doctors and nurses here that take very good care of her.

She has not been out of bed for the past two days. Usually after day two she is a lot better. We are hoping tomorrow is her turn around day and she gets out by Sunday.

I am amazed after 24 surgeries of what accomplishments have been made in her life. She is such a strong child but this time she was really emotional about it. I guess because she is almost 10 and it seems to her that it will never end. I would gladly take her place as almost any parent would do.

You would not believe how she is walking since surgery on her knees. She uses a walker but in a store or at home she is taking off walking without it. We would never have dreamed of the success on her knees. You have to remember this a girl who never walked until she was eight.

She told her mother and I Sunday that we were the two best parents in the world to take off work and be with her during her surgeries.

We are a blessed family!

Tim

It's been a while

noreply@blogger.com (Tim) — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 04:24:00 +0000

It's been well over a year since I posted anything on my blog.

I didn't run away and yes my Internet and computer were working. I will say it was a lack of commitment.

I have been thinking lately of two cousins that have been a big inspiration to me. I don't get to talk to them very often but this past weekend I left a voice mail for one of them to call me in hopes to meet up with him while he was in our state.

Today at lunch (now yesterday) my phone rang and it was him.
We talked a good 30 minutes about our kids, our jobs, church work and a host of other things.

I realized that if you and I are not careful we will let the busyness and lack of commitment rob us of a lot of great things and friendships in our lives.

For those of you who have checked my blog over and over to find nothing new. I commit to you something new.

PS

Lacey is doing amazing! Her surgery on her knees worked! She is walking with a walker and walking about 10 feet without it. There will more to come on her progress.

Thank you Dr. Kit Song and Seattle Children's Hospital. We will forever be grateful for what you did for her.

Until the next blog

Tim

Lacey's going back to Seattle

noreply@blogger.com (Tim) — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 02:05:00 +0000

Lacey, her mom, and her nanny(Tammy's mom) are headed back to Seattle tomorrow until Dec 16th. She will be getting her cast off, her braces put on, water and physical therapy everyday except Sundays while in Seattle. We are excited and they are going to try to get her to stand.

It is supposed to snow tomorrow and Sunday in Seattle. They are excited about that since it has not snowed here in our town since 1977.

Please keep them in your prayers so they have a safe flight.

Friendships

noreply@blogger.com (Tim) — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 03:28:00 +0000

This past weekend my wife and I ran into some friends at the mall who have been friends of ours for over 18 years. They have all moved away and we were shocked to run into them. They were in town for the Thanksgiving holidays to spend time with family. We were so thrilled to see them and their children and to see how they had grown. We reminisced about old times and talked about the latest news in all of our lives. It was such a wonderful time. I told my wife when we left how much I missed them after just spending a little bit of time there in the store with them.

That night I began to think about the friendships in my life and felt compelled to write the following about friendships from my prospective.

There are two types of friendships

Friendships for life

This is a friend that you will be connected to in some way all of your life. You may only see them or talk to them occasionally or everyday. They can be family members, a co-worker, a church friend, a high school friend or etc.

These types of friendships play an important role. They will always have some influence in our lives. When we see them it will be just as I described about seeing our friends over the weekend.

Friendships for a season

These are friends who been in your life at one time or another. It could have been a teacher, a coach, a peer, a person in a town you lived in and has since moved away.

Although you will probably never talk to them again or see them they played a valuable role as a friend at a certain time of your life. Their friendship meant a lot and when you think about not seeing them it makes you feel sad.

Both of these types of friendships have a place in your life.

What are the characteristics of friendships?

Memories : They contribute to a lot of memories. You have fun together. You cry together. You laugh together. You hurt together.

Honesty: You are honest with each other even if it hurts.

Confide: You can share your deepest secrets without the fear of it being told.

Unconditional: Friends give of their time and listen without expecting anything in return.

Disagreements: You can disagree in friendships and still have a relationship.

Forgiveness: There is forgiveness in friendships when things are done or said.

Others first: In friendships you will put your needs aside and your friends first.

Caring: Friends care about each other and are concerned about the welfare of them and their families.
Supportive: Friendships will be supportive and help you in difficult decisions.

Encouragement: Friendships will encourage you and help you in times of need.

As I was writing these thoughts I began to think of the many friendships in my life and to all THANK YOU for being a friend!

There have been so many that I could not list all of the people who have helped me in one of the 10 areas above.

I encourage each and every one of you to cultivate the friendships in your lives. As I reach the middle of my life I see even more the need for friendships.

Lacey's home

noreply@blogger.com (Tim) — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 00:29:00 +0000

Lacey and Tammy got home yesterday afternoon. They were really tired and have rested a little today. Lacey was very glad to be home. She said I really don't like the city of Seattle.

Thanks Again for all of your prayers

Laceys coming home!

noreply@blogger.com (Tim) — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 03:00:00 +0000

Just a quick note to let everyone know Lacey is coming home tomorrow. They leave tonight on the red eye and get home at noon.

She went to the doctor today and he is very pleased with her progress. We can't wait to see them. I will post more pictures when she gets home.

Update on Lacey Sunday 11-11

noreply@blogger.com (Tim) — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 12:41:00 +0000

Lacey give Tammy a little bit of a scare yesterday. Her right knee started popping Friday night and yesterday morning. At first they thought her plate may have come loose. They took her to the hospital yesterday. They checked her out and everything seems to be ok. Not sure what the popping is about. She will see the doctor on Tuesday for follow up. They are scheduled to fly home on Tuesday night so please keep her in your prayers.

Don't fall asleep on me

noreply@blogger.com (Tim) — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 03:33:00 +0000

I have done the night shift at the hospital for a while now when Lacey has her surgeries. Last year in the fall she had one of her rib expansions and did great. I was very tired and exhausted. The Christus Santa Rosa Hospital in S.A. Texas has day beds in the PICU units.

The night after this particular surgery I fell fast asleep. When I would hear the nurse or RT come in I would lay there and not get up as I usually do. When they would leave I would fall right back to sleep. The next morning she was talking and I called her PaPa to let her say hi. With her witty humor the first thing she told him was my dad didn't do anything last night but sleep. I started laughing. Needless to say I have never lived it down and now I make sure she sees me in the middle of the night.

That leads me to this story. The morning of this surgery in Seattle while Lacey was in the pre-op area waiting without prompting she looks at me and said hey Bud don't fall asleep on me this is a serious surgery so I asked her to repeat herself and videoed it. She's picked up the word bud and that made it even funnier.

I am so amazed at how she always tries to have a sense of humor even in times like these.

Update on Lacey Tues. 11-06 8:43 PM ET

noreply@blogger.com (Tim) — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 01:43:00 +0000

Lacey was discharged this afternoon from the hospital and back at RMH. Her mom said it was like turning on a light switch when she left. She was so happy to get out after just a day. We are counting down the days now for her arrival home.

Update on Lacey's Surgery Today 11-05 7:39ET

noreply@blogger.com (Tim) — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 00:38:00 +0000

Balloons from Special Friends!

Garden at Seattle Childrens Hospital!

Lacey had her cast removed today and her knees stretched some more and a new cast. She now has a bar at the feet and the knees. They also made molds for her legs for her braces. The doctor got another 5 to 7% correction on both knees. They both were 90% and now the left leg is around 13% and the right leg is around 23%. They will improve even more with therapy. Her vitals were a little rocky this afternoon but has improved. She will stay the night in PICU. As expected she is in a lot of pain again.

Thanks to all of you for your prayers.

Update on Lacey Sunday 11-04 10:40PM ET

noreply@blogger.com (Tim) — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 03:40:00 +0000

Lacey had a better day today and a better night last night. So far today she has not thrown up. She will go to the hospital in the morning at 7:15 PT for her new cast,stretching her legs some more and fitted for braces. She will have an overnight stay in the hospital.

I picked my oldest daughter up tonight from the airport. She was so sad to have to leave her mom. I feel really bad for her. There is nothing like a mothers love. Her aunt tried to comfort her and that helped a little.

She took a few pictures of Lacey and Seattle while she was there so we looked at them before she fell alsleep.

The pictures above are some that she took.

Take care and thanks for your prayers!

Update on Lacey 11-02 8:54PM Eastern Time

noreply@blogger.com (Tim) — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 00:53:00 +0000

Lacey has still been in a lot of pain for the past two nights. She was throwing up again last night. Her sister and aunt got there yesterday and that lifted her spirits a little.

She will be going into surgery again on Monday 11-05 at 7:15AM. They are going to remove this cast and stretch her legs some more and recast her. The doctor did not want to put too much stress on her knees, tendons and etc in the initial surgery. They will also fit her for her braces.

Please keep Tammy and her mom in your prayers they have gotten little sleep and still have a long way to go.

The picture is one of Lacey's happy moments the night before surgery.

Thanks again for all of your e-mails, calls, gifts and prayers!

Update on Lacey Wed 11:40PM Eastern Time

noreply@blogger.com (Tim) — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 03:40:00 +0000

Lacey had a restless night last night and threw up this morning but seems to be doing better tonight. They had a little party at the RMH and she felt like going down for it. Tammy said it helped get her mind off of the pain.

My oldest is flying out with her aunt in the morning to see her mom until Sunday. I will miss them all. She is very excited.

Take Care and thanks for the prayers.

Update on Lacey Tuesday 9:53PM Eastern Time

noreply@blogger.com (Tim) — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 01:52:00 +0000

Lacey is doing better. She is still in some pain. She was discharged today and is at the Ronald McDonald House where she will recoup until November 14th. She is making progress.

I made it home this morning and went to work today. It's 10:00 oclock and I think I have already taken about three naps since I have been home from work. That's the first time I have taken a red eye flight and I managed to sleep about three hours.

I was so glad to see my other daughter today!

It has been raining all night due to the tropical storm Noel. We have just been hanging out at the house tonight.

Thanks for your continued prayers!

Update on Lacey Monday 10-29 6:36PM Pacific Time

noreply@blogger.com (Tim) — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 01:28:00 +0000

It's not been a good day for Lacey today. She was throwing up again in the night last night and this morning. She had trouble using the bathroom and they finally got that resolved this afternoon.

Her hemoglobin is low and they talked about a transfusion but the doctor wants to wait. He will check her on Monday. Se will be put to sleep on Monday to change her cast and fit her for her braces. She will be in the hospital overnight.

I am flying home tonight leaving here at 11:15PM and getting to Orlando in the morning at 9:30 via Cincinnati. I am going to work around noon. I will try to post more pictures later on in the week.

Please continue to keep Lacey in your prayers and thanks for the phone calls and e-mails.

Update on Lacey Sunday 9:00PM Pacific Time

noreply@blogger.com (Tim) — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 04:11:00 +0000

Lacey is still very miserable today. When she woke up this morning it actually looked like today was the turn around day but she threw up twice and slept most of the afternoon and tonight. The casts are so uncomfortable and she cannot move by herself. I am hoping and praying before I leave she will get much better. It's not a pleasant thought to be across the country from your sick child. We are just going to trust that tomorrow is going to be a brighter day.

They came around earlier today with a pet Therapy Dog. That brought a little cheer to her.

This was the beautiful sunset tonight outside of Lacey's window.

Thanks for your continued prayers!

Update on Lacey Saturday 8:00PM Pacific Time

noreply@blogger.com (Tim) — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 02:52:00 +0000

Lacey has still been in a lot of pain. It is very hard for her to get comfortable with the cast and the bar inbetween it. She was restless all night last night and today. Everytime I would fall asleep she would call my name to try and adust her position in bed. They are weaning her off of iv meds and going to oral.

Tammy and I got out of the hospital for a little while this afternoon. It is so beautiful here right now. Pictures can't even do it justice.

I am back on the night shift again tonight and I am not looking forward to leaving to come home on monday. I am looking forward to seeing my other daughter. I miss her dearly.

I have shared this story with some about a vision I had when Lacey was about three. It was on a Sunday night and I was on the platform with my eyes closed praying. It was one of those awesome services where God's presence was so strong. I remember it so well that I can still see it in my head. I saw her STANDING by the baby grand piano and she was eight with long red hair and she had a mike in her hand singing a song.

Here is the cool part! She was scheduled for surgery on her knees two times in Orlando when she was five and six. Both times it did not work out so we decided we would wait for a while. We have always went on pray and our parenting gut feeling about what to do for Lacey's care.

In the summer of 2006 her Doctor in San Antonio, Tx that does her titanium ribs told us about Doctor Kit Song here in Seattle. My wife made an appointment in May and flew here with Lacey for clinic. Keep in mind Lacey was now seven. So after her surgery this past September on her rib expansion my wife contacted Seattle and we set up a date. I was praying and trying to get an answer as well as my wife about this surgery because our parenting gut feeling was not working this time. On Friday morning Oct 5th I was in a meeting and my vision hit me. I got chills and knew this was right.

Then this morning I was laying here thinking about her surgery and her standing by the piano. In that vision 5 years ago I did not see her healed just that she was standing. This was my thought this morning. Could it have been that her singing the song was actually Dr Kit SONG who would operate on her knees when she was EIGHT years old? We are convinced that the other two times did not work out for this reason. If God ever gives you a vision in due season it will come to pass.

Thanks Again for your continued prayers!

Update on Lacey 9:30PM Pacific Time

noreply@blogger.com (Tim) — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 04:33:00 +0000

Hi everyone! Lacey has been in a lot of pain today! They are keeping her pretty sedated.

Her nanny got here this afternoon.

The Doctor came in this morning and said he got the correction he was looking to get. Can you see the differnce in the picture?

I went back to the Ronald McDonald House this afternoon to get some rest and came back here at 7:30 to do the night shift. It's been a long two days and she will have a long way to go but we are so excited for her chance to walk.

There was a heavy frost this morning and it was 39 degrees.

Thanks again for your prayers and I will update tomorrow
(sat).

Tim

Lacey's in Surgery 11:30 Pacific Time

noreply@blogger.com (Tim) — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 19:06:00 +0000

Lacey has been in surgery for about an hour. We just got paged that everything is going good so far. She should be finished around 5 eastern time.

I can't tell you how much YOUR prayers have impacted us. Although we are nervous we feel a peace.

This is a wonderful hospital and everyone is so kind. Lacey was very upset so they let me suit up and take her back to the OR.

Lacey's Pre-op Day

noreply@blogger.com (Tim) — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 03:04:00 +0000

Hi! I just wanted everyone to know we had Lacey's pre-op today. It was very encouraging. The Doctor explained what he will do and they took x-rays. We feel a lot more at ease. Lacey was giving me the thumbs up during her x-rays. Surgery time should be around 12:30 eastern time and last about 3 1/2 hours. I will give you an update as soon as I can tomorrow.

It is rainy and in the 50's and cold. There are a lot of fall colors right now. It's a nice break from 90 degrees.

Take care and thanks for your continued prayers!

If this hammer head could speak!

noreply@blogger.com (Tim) — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 03:15:00 +0000

If this hammer head could speak it would tell you the first time I had an encounter with it I was around six or seven years old.

It would tell you that we were introduced by my father. He was a foreman at a truss plant at the Bartow Airbase and the year would have been around 1970. There was a building boom at the time and my dad was responsible for the trusses on many of the homes and businesses in this and surrounding counties.

It would tell you that my father made a mistake one day at the plant and did the ultimate no no! He was pulling up a metal truss plate off of a truss. He had the claws of the hammer under the plate and he struck the head of the hammer with the head of another hammer. A piece of the head of the hammer under the truss plate chipped off (see photo) and he felt a burning sensation in his left arm. He looked down and there was blood on his arm. The chip of metal had buried in his arm just missing an artery. He was taken to the emergency room where it was removed and he recovered. He learned his lesson that day and he taught me to never, never strike two hammer heads together for any reason.

This hammer head would tell you it was not finished after the mistake at the truss plant.

The next major project it would participate in would be the construction of a work shed that my dad would build at our house around 1972. It nailed the trusses together and built the walls and was used to nail the tin top and sides to the shed. Even with a chipped head it was still a workhorse.

Now as a boy my Dad’s tools was a totally cool thing to me. This was not a cheap hammer but an American made one. I dreamed of the day that it would be mine and I could build my own projects with it. I remember the words be careful, don’t smash your thumb, hammer the nails straight etc. as my dad would teach me to use it. He was a patient teacher. I will be forever grateful for those hot summer days spent helping my dad on all of the projects. It seemed that the hot summer months was the best time to do anything outside.

The next project for this hammer head would be around 1975. My dad’s shed was full of junk I mean stuff so it was time to build more room for more stuff. It would have been a crazy notion to just get rid of some of the stuff! So again the hammer went to work adding on a 6 x 8 addition to the shed. It worked hard once again nailing the walls, the top and the sides on.

So by now you would think this hammer would be ready for early retirement but not yet there was a lot more work to be done.

Now the next project for this hammer would be in1976. This was the big one and I can sum it up in two words (The Roof). This was the year of the USA’s 200 years of independence! This poor hammer was looking for its independence. I would have opted to have a year long independence celebration. The hammer would be used to nail on every asphalt shingle by hand four nails per shingle. I was 12 so I pounded quite a few of those nails. Now 30 years later and my back still Aches just thinking about it.

It would tell you it took a little rest for a couple years and was not used except for minor repairs and stuff. It was used to build a small garden fence during this time but after the roof, the hammer would have been glad to accept almost any job with gladness.

The year was around 1978 and this was the time of redwood patios and redwood patio furniture. You guessed it my dad pulled out his old trusty hammer and went to work again. Once again the hammer nailed the walls and nailed the top on the patio. This hammer had 8 years of experience that I knew about.

Surely it was time for the antique display case. The hammer had help make so many improvements to our home. It was like family. Then in 1980 my dad decided to buy a pallet business. The hammer was probably thinking I should have finished you off at the truss plant! It would work for ten more years hammering nails and repairing 1000’s of pallets.

Then the day came that my dad said son I want to give you this hammer. I was in my twenties and I was over whelmed with excitement. I had dreamed as I said earlier of some day owning this hammer. I didn’t put it in an antique display case nor did I replace the worn out handle. I did not build any of the projects I wanted a build as a boy with it but I put it in a box with some of my other keep sakes. My dad passed away four years ago and I the words you read today speaks to me through my memories of this hammer head. I still have it and I will never depart with it for any amount of money.

I will never forget the important things that my father taught me. He was my very own Superman. He could do anything he wanted to do. He was an achiever. He was a man who loved you for what you are. He was a funny man. If he had something he made sure you had one just like it. He gave to the poor. He helped his neighbors. If you were around him for a short time you would sense his warmth.

Had some people owned this hammer all it would have ever done was maybe tap a nail in the wall for a picture. Because of the dreams of my Father this hammer and I had a lot of adventures together. Thank you Dad!

You might be wondering why this story now. My company supported a Habitat for Humanity Home for a disabled lady last year. We volunteered time and built a house for her.
One of my coworkers brought in a hammer that he borrowed from another coworker for this project. When I saw the hammer this story and the memories began to brew in my mind and the thought came to me “If this hammer head could talk”.

To be honest with you I penned these words on September 13,2006 and put the story in edit mode. We are once again this year building another house for a family and I remembered that I never posted this story.