Jonathon's Journey

In All Things

2011-11-24T16:05:00.010-05:00

"The Pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts. No Americans have been more impoverished than these who, nevertheless, set aside a day of thanksgiving." ~H. U. Westermayer

I have no clue who H. U. Westermayer is. I tried “Googling” the name and consistently came up with this single quote and only this—no biographical notes, no commentary, nothing. I don’t know Westermayer’s gender, ethnicity, or religious affiliation, but I know this: Of all the quotes I’ve read on Thanksgiving, this one stands out the most to me. Why? I think it’s because it forces me to face the fact that life isn’t always easy, but that whatever our circumstances, we have much for which to be thankful. I think the apostle, Paul, said it best in his letter to the Philippians when he declared, “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” (Phil 4: 11-13)

After researching and reviewing the travails of our pilgrim forefathers, I am ashamed of some of the things about which I have ever uttered even the tiniest complaint! Unless you’re a history buff, my guess is that you, too, have forgotten much of what these early settlers encountered:

It took three attempts to finally set sail from England due to issues with a second ship, the Speedwell, which was originally intended to sail to America along with the Mayflower.

Of the 102 passengers who were on the Mayflower, only two did not survive the voyage; however, after their first winter (spent on the ship off the coast of Massachusetts) only 53 of the original passengers survived.

The Mayflower veered off-course during its more than two months at sea and landed some 600 miles from the ship’s original destination. It was supposed to hit landfall somewhere near the Hudson River in an area of northern Virginia, but instead arrived off the rocky coast of Massachusetts after winter had already moved into the area, a harsh New England winter at that.

Their arrival was documented by William Bradford, a prominent member of the pilgrim expedition who was thereafter elected Governor of the new Plymouth Colony, “Being thus arrived in a good harbor and brought safe to land, they fell upon their knees and blessed the God of heaven, who had brought them over the vast and furious ocean, and delivered them from all the perils and miseries thereof”.

Okay, so maybe you didn’t need a refresher course on the history of the pilgrims, but the point is, THEY GAVE THANKS! They “blessed the God of heaven” for delivering them! They had already endured SO many difficulties (and would face many, many more), but THEY GAVE THANKS! And that is what we, too, are charged to do—to thank Him in ALL things!

In the thirty-five plus years that David and I have been married, we have shared much joy as well as much heartache. We’ve rejoiced in the births of our children (and grandchild) and wept unashamedly as our parents, grandparents, and other oh-so-loved ones departed this life. We’ve watched our children grow into beautiful, responsible, loving adults and known first-hand the fear of losing one of them. We’ve had job-related successes as well as disappointments. We’ve enjoyed fun-filled times with friends and family members and grieved over not-so-fun-filled times. We’ve laughed—we’ve cried. And through it all, did we always give thanks? The honest—I’m not proud of—answer is, “No!” Did we thank Him at each and every opportunity we could? For the happy times, probably (I can’t even say definitely), but the hard times? I can’t say that we always have! We truly know what it’s like to have plenty and what it’s like to be in need, and yet I cannot say that we have always been thankful for the times of need. What I CAN say is that as the years go by, we are learning. We are learning to be thankful for the trials as well as the triumphs. We are learning through the trials that God is always in control and that ONLY by placing our trust in Him can we begin to grasp His overwhelming love for us. We are learning, too, that when we suffer, He cares. He really, really cares. We are learning that no matter how difficult the situation, He is always there for us to give us strength and that no matter how dark things may seem, He is always there to guide us into the light. We are learning above all that God is always FOR us, that He shares our joy as well as our heartache. For that alone, I can be thankful.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, Y'ALL,
FROM OUR BLESSINGS TO YOURS!

Course Update

2011-10-24T18:49:00.005-04:00

Quick update: Jonathon got a "B" in the online course he completed a few weeks ago! Woohoo! We are so proud of and excited for him! He worked hard, and it paid off in the end!

He has already signed up for another course and actually began the first lesson today. Please join us in prayer for success in this course as well. I ask, too, for patience as we seek God's plan for Jon.

Is the Tide Gonna Reach My Chair?

2011-10-16T11:54:00.073-04:00

We just returned from a wonderful, relaxing (or should I say wonderfully relaxing?), nine day vacation on Okaloosa Island in Ft. Walton Beach. As Jon reminded me, this was the first family vacation we've taken since 2004. Sadly, though, after trying to find a time when everyone would be able to be there, our daughter was still unable to join us as she had just started a new job and didn't feel comfortable taking vacation time so soon. But...our boys were all there! Jon was with us the entire time, Jeff and Sarah were there for the first half of the trip, and Taylor, Portia, and Carson joined us for the second half. We actually had one night that overlapped! It was such fun for David and me to have them all there.

For those who have never taken a fall trip to the Gulf coast, I highly recommend it! The weather was perfect--mid 80's every day with a fabulous breeze. The Gulf was a bit cool but not so much so that you couldn't go out a bit in it (David, I admit, is a little more adventurous than me in that area). We enjoyed sunny days both on the beach and poolside. I started and completed two books, "Heaven is for Real" by Todd Burpo and "Mount Vernon Love Story" by Mary Higgins Clark, and I enjoyed both very much. "Heaven is for Real" is the true story of a little boy's visit to heaven while undergoing life-saving surgery. The book is written by his father and tells of the experiences his son shares with him in the weeks and months following his heavenly visit. It's a quick read with a lasting impact. "Mount Vernon Love Story" is Mary Higgins Clark first novel and is based on information she gathered while doing research on our country's forefathers. It, too, is a quick read and highly enjoyable, providing a wonderful glimpse at the heart and character of the man who served as our nation's first president. I also resumed reading "Plan B" by Pete Wilson. I began reading this book last spring, but put it down and just never found the time to get back to it. It is written in a simple to understand manner and speaks directly to those situations which we cannot control. It is a reminder that there are sometimes situations and events in our lives for which there is no easy explanation and over which we have no control. It is a further reminder that just because WE aren't in control doesn't mean that HE isn't! The book is even sub-titled "What do you do when God doesn't show up the way you thought he would?" I am still working my way through this one but I can already say that is is making some strong statements to me about the Plan Bs I've been forced to face in my life (sometimes I think I've moved past the Plan Bs to the Cs, Ds, and beyond). Or maybe I'm just too bull-headed to embrace the Plan B God is trying to reveal to me?

I asked Jon what his favorite part of the vacation was, and without hesitation, he said "Getting to play golf with each of my brothers and my dad". Isn't that amazing? This young man whose prognosis was beyond bleak and who couldn't even walk for an entire year six years ago was on the golf course twice during our vacation! He played once with Jeff and David and once with Taylor and David. Even though his left peripheral vision is still really poor, he gave it his best shot (no pun intended) every time he stepped up to the tee. We are incredibly blessed and so very proud of his progress. (Of course, we don't have a single picture of either of the golf outings--I'll blame David for that oversight! Haha!)I guess it doesn't matter as long as they have snapshots in their memories.

One of my favorite parts of the trip (aside from the obvious--having most of our family around us) was getting to spend time with our sweet Carson, watching him explore his surroundings and experience so many new and exciting things! One of the most fun parts for him was the little spray park that the complex had. Check out the fun here! He clearly has no fear of the water which is both a blessing and a curse; we had to watch him like a hawk! He also loved playing with the hose and would readily wash the feet of anyone coming up from the beach, whether family or stranger! He is learning to talk, and daily asked to go to the "poo" (the pool) and to play with the "i, peas" (ice, please--in the cooler). We've only been home a couple of days and I already miss that sweet voice and the pitter patter of those not-so-little feet every morning! It is so true what they say, "Grandchildren are God's way of compensating us for growing old." (Although we're not THAT old! I have to admit, though, that after chasing him around for a couple of hours, I've also realized that we're not THAT young anymore either!) :)

All in all, I think we all agree that the vacation was everything we hoped it would be and more. We enjoyed the sunshine, each other, great food, and RELAXED! And even though our girl wasn't able to join us this year, we managed to Skype a couple of times to at least share a few moments with her. Everyone has agreed that next year, we'll make the "whole family" thing happen, whatever it takes! I can't wait!

Jonathon - chillaxin by the pool
Carson LOVES the beach!
The infamous Spray Park
Jeff and Sarah's last night with us :(
Taylor, Portia, and Carson - Love this little family!
Me with my favorite Jonathon
DC and Jonathon
Okaloosa Island sunset - God's Masterpiece!
Can't wait until next year!

Negligence

2011-09-24T18:38:00.044-04:00

"Negligence is the rust of the soul that corrodes through all her best resolves." ~Owen Felltham (British author)

I've been negligent. I know it, I own it, and I hate myself for it. When this blog began in 2005, I was eager to share Jon's progress with anyone and everyone who wanted to know. During those early months, I chronicled his every accomplishment no matter how big (or small) as well as his setbacks, again no matter how big or small. My focus was purely to celebrate Jon's life and to praise God for the miracle He granted us in his survival and recovery. Why, then, have I been negligent? Have I become complacent? Have I allowed the day-to-day happenings in my life to overshadow the blessings? Am I just plain lazy??? Unfortunately, I think that laziness is part of the culprit, and even more unfortunately, I'm afraid that in some ways I HAVE become complacent which sickens me. I mean, God performed a miracle in Jon's life! Let me say that again, GOD PERFORMED A MIRACLE IN JON'S LIFE! I see this miracle every single day, and yet sometimes I act as if having him around is so NORMAL. There are other times, however, when I am overwhelmed at the magnitude of God's mercy and grace. I look at Jon and can almost physically see the fingerprints of God on him. Yesterday was one of those days. As I drove him to Athens to take the final for the online class he's been taking (a miracle in itself), I shared with him a story that my dear friend, Shelly, shared with me. She told me that her Bible Study has been studying Ephesians 3:20, "Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us," and that the message is basically that we are to pray "Beyond the Beyond". She said that the leader asked if anyone in the class had ever witnessed a miracle, and when no one responded, she shared Jon's story. I was reminded again of the impact his miracle has had on so many. As I shared the story with him, he reached out to me and held my hand as I wept...I told him that no matter how many times I know I drive him crazy or how often he wants me to just leave him alone, I want him to know that I NEVER forget the miracle that he is. Sometimes I need a swift kick in the rear, but at the heart of the matter, I truly do KNOW how gracious God has been. So...at the end of the day, whether Jon does well on his final or not (I'm betting he did just fine), it doesn't really matter. We've got a perfect GPA (a.k.a. GOD'S PROVISION ABOUNDS) living under our roof!

I love this picture of "story time" with Jonathon and our sweet Carson.

(Now please, Lord, help me be better at sharing and celebrating Your goodness...Beyond the Beyond!) And PS - Thanks, too, to Rhonda S. for your reminder about faith and positive thinking!

Another Trip Around the Sun

2011-07-26T18:45:00.004-04:00

Okay, it's almost the end of July and I'm just now posting a picture of my June birthday boys, but hey, it's been a busy, busy, crazy, crazy summer! By the grace of God, these two got to celebrate their 27th birthday on June 18th TOGETHER! Thanks be to God for His amazing grace and unending love! (Pretty sure that if you didn't know they were twins, you'd never guess it either!--Probably because they're dressed differently; Haha!)

Unexpected (But Always Welcome) Visitors

2011-06-01T11:51:00.017-04:00

An unexpected visitor the day before Memorial Day(somewhat of a blast from the past) reminded me that I haven't posted anything since April 30, which totally blew me away since I didn't think anyone besides a few family members and friends ever read this anyway! She even told me she has it bookmarked in her favorites to remind her to check periodically for updates. Apparently, however, my updates are less frequent than her checking for them! Ah well, such is my life...(By the way, it was great to see you Sue and Terry!)

So let's see--I'd say that one of the highlights of the past month was our trip to Grady to visit with the families whose loved ones were in ICU. We (David, Jon, and I) typically make that trip on Easter Sunday, but since we were in NYC at that time, we decided to make the trip on Mother's Day (clearly another highlight). Our usual visits involve taking bags of "supplies" (i.e.-snacks, small toiletries, notepads, and the like), but this year I called ahead of time to make sure we would be able to visit the waiting area and was told that we would have to get special permission to bring anything to the families and that food was prohibited. Really? I was both shocked and disappointed. When Jon was a patient there, we always had food on hand so that we didn't have to leave the floor unless we chose. After many phone calls, I was able to speak with someone in Guest Services who told me that she would see what she could do to waive the "no food" rule for us (I think it was just about the time I started crying). I assured her that everything would be pre-packaged for the families to enjoy, but unfortunately, we were denied our request. Soooooo...knowing how helpful it was to have emergency toiletries on hand, we put together bags with toothbrushes, toothpaste, tissues, notepads and pens, and to adhere to the "no food" policy, we bought McDonald's gift cards to put in them. (There is a McDonald's right next to Grady, so although not the healthiest of choices, we wanted to offer something that was convenient for the families.) In each of the bags we also included a set of notecards with scriptures of encouragement that were especially meaningful to us during our darkest hours with Jon. I've written about our Grady trips before so to those who have read those posts, this is nothing new but I can honestly say that each and every time we go, we are met with grateful hearts for the simplest of kindnesses. We get so busy with our day to day lives that we too easily forget that there are hundreds (if not thousands) of people sitting in waiting rooms all over the world on any given day praying for a miracle. From our own Grady experience, I learned that EVERYBODY has a story and just want it to be heard. We spoke with families who shared their loved one's story--from auto accidents to motorcycle accidents to heart attacks to strokes--and the common thread among each of them was HOPE. Hope for a miracle and gratitude for prayers. Isn't that something we all need? Please remember those who are dealing with a trauma in their lives and join me in asking God's protection and healing for whatever their circumstance.

Hopefully, more soon--it took me over a week to finish this one!

Helloooooo

2011-04-30T17:38:00.032-04:00

Oh wow! I can't believe that it's April 30, and I haven't posted one single time since February 23. Trust me, it's not because nothing's been happening; I just have a tendency to let time slip away...definitely NOT a good trait to have. Soooo, let's see--first of all, I've been having an amazing time with Carson, the new love of my life! We spend every Thursday and most Fridays together, times that I treasure more than I can truly express. He is almost 11 months old now and is just on the verge of walking. He lets go of things and stands alone, but has yet to take any steps without firmly holding on to something. While most babies triple their birth weight by their first birthday, he has already more than quadrupled his! He is very well proportioned, though, topping the growth chart in height as well. I keep reminding Taylor and Portia that Taylor was wearing a size 3T at a year old, so his growth really doesn't seem unusual at all to me! He's just a big boy! He's already cut eight teeth and judging by all the drooling he does, I'd bet he's working on more. Needless to say, I am beyond proud of this little one! He is such a little ray of sunshine and a joy to each of us!

In other news, Jonathon is doing extremely well with his online class. The course is called "Oral Decision Making", and so far, he has completed two of the assignments and received grades of 98 and 100--not too shabby, right? We are so proud of him. He has been taking his time with each assignment and asking me to proof his work upon completion. I remember after the first grade came in, David asked me how much of the grade I felt I helped him receive. Without hesitation, I told him that MAYBE two of the points were from errors I found, and those errors were typographical, not content. Jonathon has a great capacity to learn and amazing writing skills; the biggest issues he struggles with are reading (due to his visual limitations)and procrastination. He has always been somewhat inclined to put things off (I can't say much--look at how long I wait to post!), thinking he has plenty of time to do whatever it is he knows he needs to do. That propensity worked fairly well before his aneurysm, but since then, I think he's still realizing that tasks that were fairly easy to complete quickly pre-aneurysm take him longer now. He just doesn't have the stamina he once had and trying to "cram" doesn't work. This has been a learning process for all of us, but having him home and realizing these things together has deepened both his and our understanding of his learning style and needs. I do ask that you continue to join us in prayer for his success with this course and any he may choose to take after this one. I think that the time in Athens was valuable for many reasons, but I also think that Jonathon now has to figure out whether academia is the right course (no pun intended) or whether he needs to focus on a job/career path that doesn't require a college degree. Seeing his success in this course as well as many he took in Athens indicates (to me, at least) that he is capable of doing the work; he just needs to to figure out if he WANTS to continue taking college courses AND if he is willing to do all that is required to be successful in every one he takes. I am confident that the Lord will guide him through these next months in reaching a decision. After all, He hasn't forsaken Jonathon thus far; I have no reason to think he would now! Jonathon and I had a discussion today that as he approaches his 27th birthday (June 18), he needs to be sensitive to hearing God's plan for his life is and that hopefully, by the time his next birthday comes around, he will be confident in that plan. If we've learned anything at all through this journey, it is that God is faithful and that He can be trusted. He truly DOES know the plans He has for each of us--we just need to willing to LISTEN and heed those plans!!!

Finally, David and I had the opportunity to visit Blair in NYC for a long weekend over Easter. We flew up on Thursday and returned on Tuesday, one of David's longest visits to date. The "plan" was for us to try to help her rearrange the furniture in her teeny apartment and come up wih some storage solutions for her. Unfortunately, after moving things around, we quickly realized that "it is what it is" and that the furniture was already arranged in the best possible way it could be for the living space she has. We WERE able, at least, to add new bedding and window treatment to her bedroom, a new rug to her living room, and make some minor repairs (a lamp that needed a new plug, a new smoke alarm--a daddy "must", batteries replaced in the carbon monoxide detector, and a wall hanging moved from the bedroom to the living area). As you can see, the apartment is tiny but charming...at least in her mama and daddy's opinion! :)
She plans to add some sort of wall decor above the bed; we moved the wrought iron piece that was hanging above it to the area above the table in the pic below.

Ah, the joys of paying the price of an Atlanta mortgage to live in a shoe box in Manhattan! And yes, the wine on the counter is compliments of Mom and Dad....a must-have in the city! Haha!

And I would be terribly remiss without adding the exciting news that another of our "babies" is engaged! That's right! In early March, Jeff asked his girlfriend, Sarah, to join our family by becoming his wife. We are so happy for the two of them and look forward to making more family memories with them. The wedding date is set for June 9, 2012, and already plans are in motion. The reception hall has been booked, the dress has been ordered, the photographer has been hired, and the Best Man has been selected and asked to do the honor. (I think the other attendants have been chosen, although I don't think they've been asked yet.) We are so touched that Jeff asked Jon to be his Best Man! When Jeff told us that he planned to ask Jon, he said, "I was born with a best man; of course, I want it to be Jon!" Jon is truly honored to have been asked and is already making plans for Jeff's bachelor party...whoa! Now THAT should be interesting! Gotta admit, I'm pretty proud of our Jeff! Sarah, you're a very lucky girl!

Can't promise anything, but INTEND to be better at posting....that's about as good as it gets! Love, love, love mi familia........ :D

How Great is Our God

2011-02-23T08:14:00.002-05:00

AMAZING - my one word description of Jon's Walk to Emmaus weekend. God revealed Himself in such a beautiful way; Jon returned refreshed, renewed, and reaffirmed in the knowledge that God has a very special purpose and plan for his life. We are so blessed that he had this wonderful opportunity. Thank you to those who encouraged us, and to the Lord for working out all the details. You alone are God!

Timing is Everything

2011-02-18T08:09:00.007-05:00

When the stars line up
And you catch a break
People think you're lucky
But you know its grace

It can happen so fast
Or a little bit late
Timing is everything

You know I've had close calls
When it could've been me
I was young when I learned just how fragile life can be
I lost friends of mine
I guess it wasn't my time
Timing is everything

And I could've been the child that God took home,
And I would've been one more unfinished song

~from "Timing is Everything" written by Natalie Hemby and
Troy Jones (Country Strong soundtrack)

The past few years of Jonathon's life seem to have been so much about timing--the last-minute timing of his decision to serve as a young adult chaperone at our church's Sharp Top youth retreat, the perfect timing of "Dr. Don" to also serve on that trip and ultimately make a critical assessment of Jonathon's situation, the quick timing of the Lifeflight helicopter in getting him to Grady, the precise timing of the surgeons in finding and clipping the aneurysm to hinder even further damage--all of which were part of the miracle we've realized in God's always flawless timing.

This weekend we are experiencing yet another example of God's amazing timing as Jonathon participates in Walk to Emmaus, something that we hadn't even considered until a couple of weeks ago, although David and I had attended similar walks several years ago. The opportunity presented itself through casual conversation with another church member who, knowing Jon's story, suggested that we think about sending him on this spiritual retreat as a way of affirming God's wondrous love for him and reminding him that God has a very special plan for his life. As many already know, Jon has returned home after a difficult semester at UGA and is struggling with the direction to follow in fulfilling his purpose. Although he will likely not return to UGA, he is not sure if it is time to give up on the college path, or if God is simply calling him to re-direct his focus. On one level, he knows that God spared him for a very real purpose but on another level, he is anxious to learn what that purpose is. I think we can all relate to that, can't we? We want so desperately to answer God's call, but we fear that we won't hear it.

We presented the idea to Jon and asked him to pray about whether attending the retreat was something he wanted to do, and the very next day he told us that he very much wanted to go and was excited about the opportunity. At first we worried that we had waited too long to get him in to this particular weekend and that perhaps he would be asked to wait until the next one, but something inside me (a Divine whisper?) kept telling me that this was the weekend God was calling him to attend. Although the quota for our church had already been filled, there was still room at the retreat for a few more participants. By the grace of God and after much prayer, we received confirmation for his attendance to this weekend's retreat. We drove him to the retreat center last night and from the moment we arrived, I can honestly say that I felt such peace and assurance that God had indeed called Jonathon to be there at THIS precise time. Within a very short time of our arrival, several of the individuals we met shared with us that they, too, had been at Sharp Top when Jon collapsed and had watched the miracle of his recovery unfold. Even though it has now been almost six years since this part of our life journey began--the "after the aneurysm" part, I am still so grateful to hear from those who were actually with him on that day. My heart still aches at not being there with him, but I am overwhelmed with gratitude toward those who were there to comfort and care for him. We were even approached by people who had simply heard Jon's story and were excited to have him on the Walk. As we drove home, I reflected a bit on Queen Esther's role in delivering the Jewish nation as Mordecai prophesied in saying, "Who knows but that you have been called...for such a time as this?" I also recalled something I shared in a much earlier post about a quote Jon uses which is, "God's timing isn't always our timing, but it's always perfect timing." I'm not saying that I think that Jonathon has a royal calling other than to the Kingdom of Heaven, but knowing that he is surrounded this weekend by those who know him and his story, who love him, and more importantly who love the Lord, gives me such peace and such confidence that his journey until now has led him to "such a time as this", and that Jonathon will return to us renewed in the spirit and eager to embrace all that God has planned for his life. Praise be to God, the Master timekeeper.

Welcome to Holland

2011-01-15T13:12:00.004-05:00

If you've never read this, I urge you to take the time to read it. If you have read it, I encourage you to read it again and often. It's a wonderful reminder to each of us that even when our journey takes us to places we never imagined, we can be grateful for the trip. Thank you to my friend, Fran, for sharing this beautiful essay with me and for truly "getting it". I needed our chat today.

Welcome to Holland by Emily Perl Kingsley

"Yeah, life throws you curves, but you learn to swerve." ~ Rascal Flatts

REFLECTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS

2010-12-31T13:53:00.018-05:00

Christmas Day has come and gone. We survived. We knew that with the joy of the celebration would also come pain--joy at the addition of our precious Carson to the family, but pain at the loss of our sweet cousin and nephew, Ross, this past year. Through it all, though, we still know that we've been blessed. God has never forsaken us. He has taken our hearts and our hands and gently walked us through the darkness and into the promise of brighter days.

Today we reflect on the past year and look forward to the one that will arrive in just a few hours. Because we have experienced much, we will face the future with a renewed understanding. With God's help, we will learn from our experiences and use them to face the challenges that this year will surely bring. Although we know that the resolutions we make will not be easy to keep, we'll make them anyway because, after all, our intentions are good and our desire is great.

So without further ado, I make the following resolutions:

to be grateful no matter what my circumstances, trusting that God is in control and that only He knows the plans He has for me
to let past hurts remain just that
to embrace my experiences and try to make each of them "learning" experiences
to forgive and to know that forgiving doesn't have to mean forgetting, but that it DOES mean letting go
to accept my shortcomings and not be afraid to ask for help
to seek an opportunity each day to help another individual, no matter how big or small the deed
to let those I love know how very much they are loved and how grateful I am to have them in my life
to remember that each day is a gift and that the choices I make each of those days will be the legacy I leave.

"I think in terms of the day's resolutions, not the year's" - Henry Moore

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
MAY YOU BE BLESSED IN ITS COMING AS WELL AS ITS STAY.

Merry Christmas Eve!

2010-12-24T08:51:00.017-05:00

The stockings are hung......The gifts are wrapped......I just love pretty presents! It doesn't matter the contents of the package; I just love for them to be pretty! I try my best to have all the gifts wrapped and under the tree no later than the day before Christmas because I so enjoy just "looking" at them. That may sound crazy, but isn't a tree surrounded by gifts purchased with love a beautiful sight? Every gift under the tree (or in our case around the tree) has been carefully selected for its recipient with much love and care. Of course, these days everything gets wrapped, no matter how big or small, and this year, it appears that the biggest presents are for the smallest member of the family--ha, no surprise there! No more unwrapped gifts from Santa around the family tree, although Santa did tell me that there are still a few to be added, today... ;)

There's no question that everyone's very favorite gift this year arrived on June 10 in a tiny package named Carson James Clark. He didn't arrive with a bow on his head or a "TO: / FROM:" card attached, but he was--and is--indeed a gift! He is the child we prayed for and the assurance of God's faithfulness. It's hard to believe that he's already six months old and getting his two front teeth for Christmas--that is, his two TOP teeth; he cut the two bottom ones at four months! He is such a joy to each and every one of us; how very blessed we are!

MERRY CHRISTMAS, Y'ALL!

Giving Thanks

2010-11-11T18:45:00.014-05:00

Thanksgiving has arrived--a time to reflect and give thanks for the blessings this past year has brought to our family. Of course, the most obvious one is pictured above...our precious little Carson. Our lives have all been brightened by this little ray of sunshine! He has melted our hearts and given each of us pause to remember God's grace and faithfulness in a sometimes dreary world.

While I would certainly put Carson at the top of my "2010 Blessings" list, I would also add:

My wonderful husband, David, who has shared my life, loved me unconditionally, and tolerated my moods for the past 35+ years
My children Taylor, Blair, Jon, and Jeff who have given me more joy than I could possibly ever describe and who are endless sources of pride for me
My beautiful daughter-in-love, Portia, who is EXACTLY who we prayed for our son to find (we just didn't know her name!)
My sweet, Cathleen, who came into our family when the Lord called her precious mother home
My brothers and their wives who have loved me simply because we're family and sometimes when I wasn't particularly lovable
David's sisters and my brother-in-law who have become my best friends and who love me without reservation
Countless friends and relatives who have supported me and encouraged me when the road of life has taken unexpected turns
Jonathon's return to UGA, his beautiful spirit, and his continued recovery.

With the blessings, of course, has come heartache. It saddens me during the holidays that neither my parents nor David's are here with us. Although they are all celebrating with our heavenly Father, I still miss them terribly. This past year, however, brought a grief to this family unlike any we have ever experienced: Our precious nephew, Ross, left us to live on higher ground. His departure from this earth came suddenly and left us all with a hole in our heart that is slowly healing, although like most deep wounds will leave a scar forever. He was a beautiful spirit, a loving young man and a devoted friend, and is dearly missed by those who knew him and loved him. Saying goodbye to a loved one is never easy, but when that loved one has not yet reached the prime of life, I think the parting is that much harder......we are just never ready. We are a resilient bunch, though; we have learned through hard times to lean on each other and to trust in our God. Through His love and sovereign grace, we are strengthened and given the courage to face all that challenges us, knowing that He will never forsake us and that when our life's journey threatens to overwhelm us, he will gently guide us through the darkness.

Our Father who is in Heaven
We lift our hearts to you
In praise and adoration for
All we are in You

Our paths have not been easy
We’ve faced our share of grief
We’ve said goodbye to loved ones
Whose journey here was brief

For those who’ve gone before us
We ask you, Lord, today
To let them know that ‘though they’re missed
The love we have inside our hearts will never go away

And ‘though we do not understand
We trust in Your full grace
That one day when we leave this earth
We’ll see them face to face

But until then, we pledge this day
To live and laugh and love
And not forget the blessings
We’ve received from You above.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-24-2010

Monday Morning Moment

2010-11-08T07:05:00.003-05:00

No big update at the moment; just couldn't resist sharing this precious little bundle of cuteness! This little monkey puts a smile on my face just thinking about him! What a blessing he is to our family. We thank God every day for this sweet boy and for the joy he brings to each of us. GOD IS GOOD.

Happy Monday....will try to bring things up to speed soon! We've been busy, busy, busy!

A House Divided Still Equals Family

2010-10-11T08:19:00.011-04:00

"Grandchildren are the dots that connect the lines from
generation to generation." ~Lois Wyse

Three Generations of Clarks

Carson attended his first tailgate party in Athens on Saturday, and judging from the outcome of the game, I'd say he was a good luck charm! (Of course, we think he's full of charm anyway!) His Aunt Blair, our Tennessee Volunteer, flew in from New York for the weekend, and although the game didn't have the outcome she would have liked, I think that she'd still give the visit a big "W" in her family visits album. She does love that little Bulldog! The highlight of the day for David and me was that we got to babysit for the little man during the game! We all attended the tailgate and then David and I drove Carson back to his house to watch the game. He's obviously a serious fan already.The highlight of the weekend, however, was to have all my children together. What mother doesn't love that??? At this point in the day, Carson had had just about all the fun he could take for one tailgate party!Aren't they a good-looking group? This was obviously pre-game, but the wonderful thing about them is that no matter who got bragging rights after the game, they are first and foremost Family........something always worth bragging about! Children are truly a gift from the Lord. I love you all so much and thank Him daily for the gift that you are!

"Other things may change us, but
we start and end with family." ~ Anthony Brandt

Jeremiah 1: 5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart;"

Where Were You?

2010-09-11T19:28:00.011-04:00

"Where were you when the world stopped turning that September day?" ~ Alan Jackson

I would be horribly remiss to not pause for a moment and pay tribute to the significance of this date in history, for on this particular date, my life and the lives of every American changed. We lost a bit of our "innocence" I believe. I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing when I heard the news of the terrorist attacks. I was teaching a high school computer class in a classroom that had no television reception, so I really had no idea what had occurred until class ended and my co-workers greeted me with the news: "Two planes have just hit the twin towers in New York City!" I, like so many others, couldn't even grasp the enormity of the situation.........what????

Of course, I had to "carry on" for the sake of my students when all I wanted to do was gather my family close to me and not let go. Our oldest son had just started his first post-college job; our daughter had just begun her freshman year of college; and our twin sons had just begun their junior year in high school. My boys were at least in the area (and living with us), but our only girl was almost 200 miles away! As soon as possible, I contacted each of them to make sure they were okay, but was frantic that we couldn't all be together. Our daughter called her dad and asked, "Daddy, are we going to war?" (and like a good dad, he reassured her that everything would be okay). Later, however, she wanted to hop in the car in the middle of the night and drive home, and as hard as it was to say it, we had to tell her to stay put--that she was probably safer where she was than driving home in the middle of the night. Ah, what a scary time!!!!

And here we are..........nine years later. Our lives have changed enormously, though we still remember. We will never forget. As Alan Jackson's song also says,

"but I know Jesus and I talk to God
and I remember this from when I was young
Faith, Hope and Love are some good things He gave us
and the greatest is Love."

Nine years later.........Taylor, our oldest, is married to his "true companion" and they are raising our first grandchild; Blair, our daughter, is following her dreams and her heart in New York City--and surprisingly, we sleep well at night; Jeff, one of our twins, has completed college and is living on his own and enjoying the life he is making for himself; and Jon, our other twin, is alive (a blessing we remember every day) and continuing on the road set before him over five years ago. In some ways, I admit, the journey that began for this family on March 12, 2005, has taken a stronger hold in our personal lives than the one that began for our nation on September 11, 2001. We still reflect on our own "Where were you?" on that fateful Saturday in our lives, and we live with the constant reminder of God's faithfulness and love in seeing Jon continue to seek God's will in his life. We KNOW we are blessed.

We recognize that the world in which we live has changed. We understand through our faith that what man intended for evil on 9/11, God has used for good. Yes, there is still evil in the world; yes, there are still families suffering from the tremendous losses of that horrific September day (and for those families, I'm sure we all share a piece of their heartache); and yes, there is a new sense of awareness that what happened then could happen again. BUT, I pray that for each of us, we have learned that no matter where our life's journey has taken us since that horrible day in September, 2001, we are stronger than we ever thought possible. We are called to encourage each other and to support each other at all times. My family has travelled a road that at times felt very lonely, but at no time were we alone. Even in our darkest hours, we never doubted that the God we serve would provide us with just what we needed WHEN we needed it. We firmly believe that because of Him, we have been surrounded by family and friends (and even strangers) who love us but who, more importantly, love the Lord and seek daily to do His will. Should another 9/11/01 threaten this nation, or another 3/12/05 threaten this family, we will be secure in knowing that our Lord will see us through whatever this life brings.

"But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." ~ Joshua 24:15

Persistence

2010-08-20T07:17:00.003-04:00

Just a little reminder today--

"Persistence -Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan 'Press On' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race. No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave." ~Calvin D. Coolidge

We are so proud of you, Jonathon.

He's BAAAAAACK!

2010-08-15T19:18:00.010-04:00

Yesterday, Jonathon returned to UGA for the fall semester. Although to most, this might seem to be a rather insignificant feat--to us, it's monumental.

For a variety of reasons, I chose to not share all that transpired last fall when he returned to campus, but suffice it to say that the fall of 2009 was fraught with frustrations, disappointments, and surrender. Jonathon began classes in his major in the fall of 2009 and quickly became overwhelmed with the demands of the curriculum. As he shared with the Dean of Student Services, he simply "shutdown" as opposed to having a "meltdown". As a result, he ultimately came home in late October and remained at home during this past spring semester. After seeking advice from his therapist and getting an order from his doctor, as well as gaining approval from his vocational/rehabilitation counselor (and upon Jonathon's intense desire to return to class), we determined that the best (and most sensible) course of action would be for him to return ONLY if he limited his enrollment to two classes. Therefore, he is enrolled in two classes this fall--one meeting on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and the other meeting on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We are hopeful that this schedule will afford him the best possible outcome.

As he begins this fall semester, we have several specific prayer requests:
1. that his funding be enough to cover his expenses
2. that he utilize any and all resources and support services available to him
3. that he is confident of his abilities
4. that he achieves success in his classes
5. that, above all else, God shows him the way to achieve his goals and that Jonathon remains diligent in his faith.

Please join us in asking the Lord for a successful return to campus for Jonathon! And..........GO DAWGS!!!!

The Real Thing

2010-07-27T23:26:00.003-04:00

Couldn't resist posting this one from Carson's first formal photo shoot. Since my dad was a Coca-Cola retiree, this picture immediately became a favorite of mine. I'm betting Carson's great-grandfather would have loved it, too!

July 4, 2010

2010-07-05T09:27:00.003-04:00

Two of my favorite guys in the whole world celebrating the 4th of July--decked out in their red, white, and blue! (Okay, one's in red and white; the other's in blue and white. It works.) God Bless America. God Bless us!

One CJC and I'm a GrandMary!

2010-06-15T06:41:00.029-04:00

"Grandchildren are the crown of the aged" ~ Proverbs 17:6

On Thursday, June 10, 2010, at 3:37 p.m., our lives again changed forever. With the birth of our first grandchild, Carson James Clark, we immediately began a new chapter in our lives, and witnessed the beginning of the next generation of Clarks. Wow! That's a pretty big statement about such a tiny person!

Carson arrived a bit early (at 36 weeks) but still weighed in at a healthy 7 lbs. 10 oz. He was 20 1/2 inches long and, of course, is the most beautiful baby ever! (Don't all grandparents think that?--I am actually right, however! Haha!) See for yourself! Any arguments? I didn't think so!

Of course, the arrival of Carson also made Taylor and Portia parents, Blair an aunt, and Jeff and Jon uncles (or as Blair teasingly quipped, "Juncles"!) Realizing how close we came to not having Jonathon here to share in this miracle makes me appreciate anew the grace and mercy of our God. The expression on Jonathon's face says more than I could ever say here........THIS is a picture that I will never forget! How blessed we are!

Sweet Carson--"Through you, I see the future. Through me, you'll see the past."

Our New Yard Man

2010-05-07T20:33:00.003-04:00

No, you're not seeing things...that really is Jonathon on the lawnmower. Who'd have thought? He might not be able (YET as he says) to drive; there's nothing keeping him from pitching in a little with the yard work! I think that deserves a big thumbs-up!

The Proof is in the Resurrection

2010-04-04T18:25:00.005-04:00

For most of us, Sunday represents the beginning of a week but the conclusion of a weekend. For Christians, Easter Sunday represents the very foundation of our faith. The birth of our Savior on Christmas marks the beginning of a life prophesied in scripture which would conclude not in death but in resurrection, also prophesied. Without the fulfillment of that prophecy, there would be no Christianity. Easter IS Christianity! As our pastor puts it, "Christmas is the promise; Easter is the proof!"

In concluding our weekend/starting our week, we attended church service and shared lunch with the family. After lunch, I asked the group to pack what we have come to call our "Grady Bags", the care bags that we deliver to the ICU waiting areas at Grady and that we have now made into an Easter tradition. Each bag was filled with cookies, crackers, trail mix, Easter candy, a card game, a notepad and pen, gum, hand sanitizer, bottled water, and a toothbrush and toothpaste. We topped each bag off with a note letting the recipients know a little about Jonathon's story and telling them that they will be in our prayers. It's funny really; I never know exactly how many bags to take, so it's a bit of a guessing game to determine. I remember the first year we took them (2006), we carefully planned and decided that eight bags would be enough (based on the number of family groups we typically encountered in the ICU waiting room when Jon was there). The eight bags were enough, but we left wishing we had taken a few more to share with some of the larger groups. Each year we have increased the number that we take, and each year we leave thinking that we could have easily shared even more. We always seem to have enough (thank God) but it is such a joy to share them, we find ourselves wanting to do more. This year we took 18 bags, and for the first time ever, we were left with one bag after giving them to each family group and giving more than one to larger families. As we left the hospital, we stopped at the Information Desk and shared the final bag with the worker there. Her smile and appreciation made the decision so right! I'm not sure if she was a volunteer or a paid employee, but the fact remains that she was not with her family on Easter Sunday--something that I hope I never have to experience. The families that we met were also so sweet and appreciative; each of them sharing their story and genuinely touched to be remembered. What they couldn't know was that the greatest appreciation was ours. We are so grateful to the medical staff and to our family, friends, and even strangers for the support that they gave us during those darkest days as well as the days that followed, this is simply our way of saying, "Thank You".

One of the other highlights of my day (and by far not the least) was the pure joy I experienced as my sweet daughter-in-law let me feel our little grandson move. As we ate lunch, she said that he was moving and asked if I'd like to feel him (ha, yes!). I gently placed my hand on her expanding tummy and felt the sweetest little nudge. It was almost as if he were saying, "Hi GrandMary! Guess what? I'll be there soon!" PURE, UNMEASURABLE JOY! I'm wiping away tears just writing about it! It was simply amazing......God is so good!

As I prepare to begin another week, I am counting the blessings that we've already seen and anticipating the miracles yet to come! I am so ready!!!

A Word from Jon......

2010-03-12T15:04:00.006-05:00

After sharing with me the significance for him of today, Jon wrote the following:

Well, after five years I figured it was about time I actually posted something to the site!

I have so much to be thankful for. I do not remember much of anything that had happened in the month of March 2005; my first memories after my aneurysm weren’t until a month later at the Shepherd Center. Initially, I wasn’t confused about being paralyzed on my left side and needing a wheelchair in order to get around. Somehow I felt that’s how my life was, but didn’t know how long it had been that way. My family visited me daily, so I somehow felt like they were living there too, but in different rooms. In my bedroom, there was a large yellow banner across the wall that read, “www.prayersforjon.com” on it. I didn’t know why people needed to be praying for me, other than my release from Shepherd in order to go home.

I didn’t begin to question why I was at Shepherd until frustrations began to build on why I had to go through daily rounds of therapy. When someone on staff told me the reason I was at Shepherd was from a stroke, my mind refused to believe it. After coming home from Shepherd, , I began to accept the possibility of that reason through the extraordinary difficulties I experienced in the simplest tasks, such as dressing myself and getting into a car. When I finally came to terms with the truth of what had happened, God has done amazing things in my life! Almost eight months after my aneurysm, He “woke” my left leg up by allowing me to move it while being dressed in the hospital bed that was in the temporary bedroom of my home. And three months later, God gave me the ability to surprise my dad with a “thumbs up” from my left hand.

How amazing the first steps I took with a walker were, and how emotional was I when I saw my physical therapist say to my mom, “Jon’s gonna walk again!” I thank our Lord every day for the strength he continues to give me and for the independence I continue to gain from all the physical assistance I used to require from both my parents and medical personnel. I am also very excited to see myself typing this post at my personal computer with both hands, which is a skill I am certain will be very helpful in allowing me to play guitar and write songs for the first time in over five years.

Thank you all for your continued prayers over my family and me, and may God bless and keep you.

Philippians 1:3 “I thank my God every time I remember you.”

In His Precious Love,
Jon

Has It Really Been FIVE Years?

2010-03-12T08:27:00.016-05:00

It's 8:25 in the morning and I am sitting exactly where I was five years ago at about this time when the phone rang. The news we heard in that one phone call changed our lives forever. We were told that Jon had collapsed at a retreat where he was chaperoning a group of students from our church, and that 911 had been called. As we quickly and frighteningly shared Jon's medical history (which was virtually non-existent since he had always been so healthy) with the doctor on the retreat as well as the EMTs, we scrambled to figure out what to do. As soon as we learned that the decision had been made to LifeFlight Jon to Grady, the nearest Level 1 trauma center, we drove there to meet him. We spent the next four weeks at Grady, practically living in the ICU waiting area. For those who have followed Jon's story, I won't go into the details as you have all so compassionately shared your hearts and support with us over these past five years. For those who don't know the history, it is recorded in the Forums section at http://www.prayersforjon.com/, a site created within just a few days after Jon's collapse. As Jon's journey began, we posted news of his progress and setbacks for our faithful friends, family, and often strangers to keep them informed of his status.

A year after the aneurysm, we celebrated in a big way with a cake and guests to commemorate the One-Year mark. That particular post is here. It is both humbling and amazing to realize just how far Jon has come! I remember when the doctors told us that recovery from such devastating neurological damage could take YEARS and thinking, "Years? What does that even mean??" Months, I understood........but YEARS? I just didn't get it, but here we are........years later (five to be exact) and the recovery continues. Jon is walking with minimal assistance and no longer uses his wheelchair at all; he is able to totally care for himself; he has been able to return to college; he is--for he most part--totally independent in his personal life. Are there things he CAN'T do? Yes, there are. He can't drive, but he will quickly add a "yet" when talking about his inability to drive. He has very limited left-side peripheral vision, but he can see! What he cannot do or has not recovered, he more than makes up for with what he CAN do and HAS recovered! God has been so faithful to His promises! He has given Jon hope AND a future!

I often reflect on the scripture in Lamentations that Jeff brought to us and that we claimed during the early days of Jon's journey: "I called on your name, O Lord, from the depths of the pit. You heard my plea: 'Do not close your ears to my cry for relief.' You came near when I called you, and you said, "Do not fear." God indeed has come near and when the fear threatens, He speaks to me, reminding me of all that He has already done and of His promise to each of us--that He will never leave us or forsake us, and that in Him ALL things are possible!

Happy Anniversary, Jonathon; you've come a long way, baby! God has been gracious.

LATE APRIL 2005

NOVEMBER 2009

Packing and Planning

2010-02-09T21:41:00.006-05:00

We've been busy packing tonight for a little NYC weekend getaway and let me just say it now, we are beyond excited! We began making plans before Christmas and when we both realized that we had next Monday off for President's Day, this seemed like the perfect time to go. Of course, the decision was made easier with the fact that tomorrow is our daughter's birthday--something we wouldn't have been able to celebrate with her without making a trip to the Big Apple. We aren't exactly thrilled at the forecast of 12-18 inches of snow in NYC tomorrow, but hopefully by Thursday when we leave Atlanta, we will be able to arrive there safely. We have tickets to see "Wicked" on Friday night so needlesss to say, we are pumped about that. We also have plans to visit the Empire State Building (amazing that we haven't ever done that) as well as the Metropolitan Museum of Art. On Saturday night, we will meet some of our daughter's friends at a little birthday soiree in the East Village. It's so wonderful that our children are now old enough to view us as suitable guests at their parties! (To think of all the fun we've missed over the years! Or maybe it's all the fun THEY'VE missed?) At any rate, we're excited. Sunday, of course, is Valentine's Day, and the plan is for our two favorite guys to prepare dinner for my daughter and me. Who knows? Maybe the next top chef will be right in the East Village of New York!

Coupled with the excitement of our trip is that next Monday we should learn the gender of our grandbaby! It's crazy to me that halfway through the pregnancy you can learn whether to "think pink" or "do blue". I know this--no matter what the sex of the baby is, it will be one well-loved baby! Of course, determining the gender depends largely on how cooperative the little munchkin is during the sonogram. Guess we'll have to wait and see......Stay tuned on that one!

Now for a little random enjoyment: http://tinyurl.com/ygn8akb . Get ready for Wednesday! Happy Birthday, B!

An Attitude of Gratitude

2010-01-21T05:58:00.004-05:00

I recently began a Bible study called, "Lord, Change My Attitude", a study that I'm thinking could teach us all something. I mean, how many times a day do we complain about things.......and I'm talking about little things as well as big ones. We complain about the weather; we complain about our bodies; we complain about our hair; we complain about our jobs; we complain about our busyness; we complain about having nothing to do; we complain about our ________; you get the idea. We seem to be complainers by nature, but what if we all started turning our complaints into gratitude? What if we took the time to turn our thoughts to thankfulness everytime we opened our mouths to complain about something? So instead of complaining about the weather, we would be thankful for God's provision; instead of complaining that we're too busy, we would be thankful that we have our health and the ability to BE busy! We could all be such happier people if we made a concerted effort to turn our negative thoughts into opportunities to praise God. (I admit, it's not easy.....I've struggled since we started the study a couple of weeks ago, but I'm prayerful that God will continue to touch my heart in such a way that I will learn to turn my complaints into praises.)

One of our recent assignments was to write a poem, verse, or prayer thanking God for all of the little things we often overlook in our daily lives. Since I like to write rhyming verses, I wrote the following:

1/18/2010

For the dawning of a new day
And for the setting sun
I lift my voice in praise to you
For Lord, you are the one

Who showers me with blessings
Though I don’t always see
How all of my life’s journey
Was created just for me

I thank you for my family
Those near and far-away
And for the friends I’ve made through You
To make it through each day

For things I often overlook—
My home, my health, my all
I thank you for your patience;
Help me always hear your call

I thank you even for the strife,
Because of it I’ve grown
And learned that even in the dark
You always find your own.

Yes, perhaps of all the lessons I've learned in the past few years, it's that even when we feel overcome by the darkness, God is always there waiting to bring us into the light. Oh Lord, please always give me an attitude of gratitude!

You Say It's Your Birthday? It's My Birthday, Too!

2010-01-15T22:12:00.003-05:00

So today's my birthday......double nickels, as my brother called it. I was born in 1955, and today I turned 55--seems like there should be some sort of special name for a birthday like that. Whatever it may be called, it's amazing to me how grateful I am to get to celebrate another one. I AM, after all, growing older and definitely showing signs of it, but I am so blessed to just GET to grow older. More about that in another post perhaps.........I have much to say on the subject.

My day started out like most of my birthdays from recent years--I got a beautiful card from my wonderful hubby, the kind that is so unbelievably sweet that it brings tears to my eyes. How blessed I am to be married to that man. At work, I arrived to a gift bag on my desk with a bottle of chardonnay tucked inside and a card about "not being old if you can still bend over and touch your toes". Surprise! I actually CAN still do that, although I don't think that excludes me from the "growing old" club. I just happen to still be pretty flexible...for an old broad, that is. Throughout the day, my friends and family called, brought me cards, and popped in to my office for a chat. The highlight of my workday, however, was being serenaded by no fewer than eight different groups, from co-workers to students, the students all being under the age of six and more precious than I can begin to describe. One by one, several of the kindergarten classes came into my office and proudly sang "Happy Birthday" to me--there is absolutely nothing sweeter than the sound of little voices joined in song. One class even came bearing gifts: each student in the class proudly gave me a paper clip upon entering my office--too cute! This class, in particular, then sang to me, ending each "Happy Birthday to you" with a resounding "cha cha cha" complete with a little booty shaking! I wanted to squeeze each one of them. So adorable.

I came home to a fabulous home-cooked meal, prepared by our favorite girl from Savannah--the one I call my "daughter from another mother". What a lovely surprise! She even baked a red velvet cake from scratch! I didn't know people even did that anymore! Isn't that what Betty Crocker is for? Nevertheless, it was all delish! I felt so pampered watching someone else do the cooking! And now it's after 10:00 and everyone has gone to bed except me. Man, and I thought I was the old one! Haha! Guess I'm not so old after all......although at double nickels, I sometimes don't feel worth a dime! (Ha!)

2010-01-01T00:59:00.000-05:00

Cheers to a New Year

and another chance

to get it right.

Christmas Reflections

2009-12-27T08:49:00.000-05:00

Another Christmas has come and gone. With great anticipation, the day arrived and all too quickly became history. I love Christmas.......the sights, the sounds, the smells, the last-minute preparations (I seem to ALWAYS have too many last-minutes), the celebrations, and most of all the time spent with family. From the time we were first married, David and I have spent every Christmas day with his family at one home or another--some years at our home, some at his parents', and some at other family members' homes. We begin the day at our home with our immediate family and then travel to the "host" home for lunch and fun. This year we travelled to the home of David's cousin and spent the day with a group of 26 (and that's our count with one family of four missing!) What a glorious blessing it is to celebrate the birthday of Jesus surrounded by our loved ones.

Another of our blessings of the season was having our beautiful daughter, Blair, come into town from New York and stay with us for a whole week. After spending almost a week with us at Thanksgiving, this was such a bonus! I remember when she first arrived, thinking how great it was that we had SO MUCH time to spend together, and now the day has come for her to go back.......and I'm just not ready. I admit; I'm never ready for her to leave. I always have more on my "to do" list that we didn't do, more that we didn't say, more that we just "didn't". I am filled with such a mix of emotions each time she leaves, but the most profound of them all is always a blend of pride and joy--pride in the woman that she has become and joy in knowing that she is living a life she loves and returning to a city she loves and people she loves. So as we leave her at the airport later today, I will cry just as I am now, but I have learned that my tears are just my way of saying, "Goodbye, my sweet girl; I'll be counting the days until we see you again." (And in the meantime, just keep on living your dream!--Oh, and remember who you are!)

Of course, this blog began almost five years ago as a way to celebrate and share Jonathon's recovery with friends and family so I would be remiss not to mention the blessings of his life and the joys we've experienced in watching his progress. He is truly a miracle, and we thank God every day for letting us keep him here with us and using his life as a testimony to others of God's grace and faithfulness. This past semester brought new challenges to Jonathon and forced us to make some painful decisions, but through it all we tried to remain focused on the blessings rather than the difficulties. We decided mid-semester that it was in Jonathon's best interest to withdraw and regroup, so with heavy hearts we moved him back home in October. We are in the process of working out arrangements for another type of therapy, called Cognitive Reorganizational Therapy, to teach him new ways to process and recall what he learns. We are hopeful that this new therapy will help him become more pro-active in identifying and expressing his educational needs to prevent feeling so overwhelmed with the workload. Additionally, we are working with his Vocational Rehabilitation counselor to gain approval for a reduced course load. If and when that all falls into place, Jonathon should be able to return to classes next fall. Please join us in praying for yet another hurdle to be jumped.

This is beginning to look and sound like a "Christmas" update letter so to continue along that path......Jeff moved out about two weeks after Jonathon moved home. As happy as I was (and am) for him to find his own place, I admit that it would be nice for him to be around for Jon's sake. I know that Jonathon gets lonely (and probably bored) being here with David and me most of the time. On the positive side, though, Jeff is really great about taking him over to his place to hang out. Just last week, he bought a new couch and announced that now Jon would have a place to sleep if he wanted to stay over! I'm confident that Jon will take him up on that offer. Jeff is a gem and extremely committed to Jonathon and to seeing him become all that God desires him to be. He clearly loves his twin brother and wants the very best for him. Jeff is a truly unique young man and a blessing to each of us every day.

And finally, in other Clark news.....we have been given the "green light" to share our newest (and smallest at the moment) blessing: Drumroll, please.......We will be welcoming another little Clark into the world next July! Taylor and Portia shared this most wonderful news with us at the beginning of November but asked us to wait to announce it for a few more weeks. For two excited and proud grandparents-to-be, that was a huge request, but we somehow managed to restrain ourselves and wait for the go-ahead. I waited for them to make their announcement at our Christmas family gathering before posting it here, but now I can no longer contain myself--I'M GOING TO BE A GRANDMARY! SO EXCITED! God has once again blessed our family. Please join me in lifting Taylor, Portia, and their precious little gift in prayer during this new season of anticipation. Christmas Blessings to you and yours ~ Mary

Christmas Day 2009

(and baby makes eight!)

Thanksgiving '09

2009-11-26T18:58:00.000-05:00

It's almost 7:00 p.m., and our Thanksgiving Day is pretty much over. We're already in our "hanging out" clothes (a.k.a. pajamas) and feeling too full (STILL), somewhat sleepy, and ever so blessed. We had the joy of celebrating Thanksgiving with each of our four amazing children and our beautiful daughter-in-law. In addition, David's two sisters, brother-in-law, nephew, and cousin were here as well as one of my brothers, his wife, and son. All in all, we had a group of 16......a small group compared to some of our other family gatherings!

As I reflect on the day, I realize how very much I have to be thankful for......things that I so often take for granted in the chaos of every day life. Of course, I will be forever grateful to my Lord for sparing our sweet Jonathon and giving him a future. I am thankful to have a God who loves me in spite of myself. I think, though, that too often as I recognize the miracle of Jonathon, I sometimes overlook many of the other blessngs of my life. Things like:
1. My amazing husband of over 33 years and the love that has grown stronger through each of our joys, sorrows, and trials.

2. The beauty of living in the same home for over 30 years--a home where we raised our four beautiful children.
3. Our son, Taylor, who is married to his "true companion"--a blessing beyond words--who has grown into a man of honor and integrity and who continues to be a source of immense pride.

4. Our daughter, Blair, who has grown into a beautiful, strong, amazing young woman--someone who makes me incredibly proud to call her my daughter, as well as my friend.

5. Our son, Jonathon, who is alive today purely by the grace of God and who knows that God has a very special purpose for his life.

6. Our son, Jeff, whose strength never ceases to amaze me--whose loyalty to Jonathon and concern for his future is beyond measure, the kind of loyalty that is based on a bond that has only grown stronger over the years.

7. My brothers, David's sisters, and their families--through the years we have become each other's support systems. Through the laughter and the tears, we've "been there" for each other, and I am eternally grateful.

8. My wonderful friends and co-workers who tolerate me and embrace me in spite of my shortcomings.

9. A church family that has grown more precious to us with the passing of time, a group that rallied around us in our greatest time of need and made sure that our needs were met.

10. Parents who left a legacy of love and the importance of family. The lessons they taught and the memories they left impact our lives every day and will, hopefully, carry through to the next generation.

My list seems pitifully short in comparison to the mulitude of blessings in my life. I pray that I never forget to be thankful.

Is Anybody Going Where I'm Driving?

2009-10-17T15:11:00.000-04:00

They say the road to Hell is paved with good intentions. GREAT........At this rate, I'm on a fast track straight to the not-so-divine down under. Why is it that I can't seem to at least occasionally eek enough time out of a day to keep this blog updated? When I first started it well over four years ago, my days were no longer than they are now, and yet I still found time to update almost daily! Maybe I need to stop saying I'm going to update and do like Nike says and, "Just Do It!"

So here goes another attempt at bringing my life up to speed, although I might change lanes and shift gears occasionally.....

Jonathon and I had a wonderful trip to Savannah a few weekends ago. To those who covered us with prayer, we thank you. I picked Jonathon up on Friday morning and we drove from Athens to Savannah, something I'd never done. If you, too, have never made that trip, let me just say that it is a lovely drive! With our trusty GPS programmed for our destination, we took off into the wild blue yonder, and "yonder" is a perfect word for some of the small towns we travelled through. We drove over half the trip on back roads to get to I-16, but like many back roads, we were often the only car on the road for miles, something that is a bit of a rarity around metro Atlanta. We arrived in time Friday afternoon to get settled at my daughter from another mother's apartment and meet her for dinner. On Saturday, the three of us went to the wedding which was held in one of Savannah's historic squares, and then Jonathon celebrated with friend's at the reception while my daughter and I relaxed at a venue overlooking the Savannah River. When the reception ended, Jonathon met us for dinner and the three of us wandered along River Street, enjoying the sights, sounds, and delicious smells of OctoberFest in Savannah.
Jonathon's return to school brought several changes to our lives. He is now living in an apartment style dorm which offers him a greater level of independence and quieter study environment. It is on campus so he still has access to campus transportation, but it is also so close to the building where all of his classes are held that he often walks to class. He didn't know his roommate prior to move-in, but has been very fortunate in being assigned one with whom he gets along really well. His roommate has been really helpful in including Jonathon on trips to the grocery store and inviting him along for workout sessions and trips to the dining hall. Without prompting from us, Jonathon has begun some strength exercises to build up his arm and shoulder strength, particularly on the left side. His roommate has been really supportive and encouraging; we feel really blessed.
As he has transitioned to his new intended major, Jonathon has been faced with several challenges, many stemming from the fact that the Recreation and Leisure Studies program involves a great deal of physical activity in the form of games and exercises. Initially, he was a little hesitant to participate, creating a bit of a gap between the other students and him. One day he seemed to turn the corner when he called me and said, "Mom, I've got some exciting news! I broke into a sprint today in class!" It seems that the class was doing some activities that involved running into and out of a jumprope, and he actually did it! He said he just challenged himself to see if he could do it and was pretty pumped that he actually could! I think the secret with Jonathon is in believing that he can succeed. When he convinces himself that he can't do something, he's almost always right but when he truly believes that he can, he experiences at least some level of success. Isn't that true about each of us, though?
Since Jonathon's return to school, I have begun working full-time again. The transition from part-time to full-time has been an adjustment for each of us. It seems strange to me to be on a regular schedule again after more than four years of flexibility. I've spent so much of the past few years working my schedule around Jonathon's that it is hard to believe that I no longer need to do that. Of course, when I accepted my position, I wanted it understood that my family would always come first. Each of my children and my husband are so precious to me that no job in the world is worth sacrificing one moment of time with any of them.

So I guess that's enough catching up for now. I'm sure I've omitted things, but the most important thing for me to remember is that no matter how often I slip up or how many times I disappoint myself, God is always there to pick me up when I slip up and love me in spite of my disappointments.

"Yes, the Lord longs to be gracious to you;
he rises to show you compassion,
For the Lord is a God of justice.
Blessed are all who wait for him."
Isaiah 30:18

Travel Mercies

2009-10-02T08:56:00.000-04:00

Jonathon and I are traveling to Savannah this weekend to attend the wedding of a college friend of his, so this is just a short request to ask for prayer for safe travel. I am picking him up in Athens later this morning, and we'll drive from there. You know he must really like this girl to be missing a Georgia game!

I have much to update (I've been a real slacker!) since he's returned to school, so I'll plan to do that when we return. Go Dawgs!

Scares, Prayers, and Miracles

2009-08-16T15:29:00.000-04:00

We took Jonathon back to his beloved Athens yesterday to get him settled for another school year, a trip that I'm sure he has been eagerly awaiting since the moment he moved home for the summer. WE, however, are always filled with feelings of excitement as well as anxiety when we make the "move-in day" pilgrimage, and this year, the feelings of anxiety were even greater after having spent nearly ten hours in the Emory ER with him on Wednesday night/Thursday morning.

On Wednesday morning Jonathon and I made a back-to-school shopping trip in preparation for the big move, and while we were out he complained that the right side of his head felt sore or bruised, attributing it to wearing a baseball cap for prolonged periods. I honestly didn't think too much about it, nor did he, and when we returned from shopping, I went in to work for a while. David arrived home before I did and called me with an urgent request that I come home as quickly as possible, stating that Jonathon's head was noticeably swollen on the right side. I drove home as fast as I legally could and when I saw Jonathon, I was quite unnerved. His head was as swollen as it had been just a couple of days after his plastic surgery last summer! In fact, it was so puffy that his glasses were creating an obvious groove in his skin. As I drove home, I called David and asked him to pack an overnight bag for Jonathon, fearing that he would have to undergo some sort of procedure during the night. Our first fear was that the shunt that had been inserted in April of 2005 was malfunctioning causing cerebral fluid to back up in his head. This is something we have known could happen and have been on the lookout for ever since he had it inserted. Needless to say, we didn't want to unduly alarm Jonathon but we wasted no time in getting him to Emory. (Ever the loyal brother, Jeff was right there with us!)

After his initial triage where we gave the nurse his medical history, we found ourselves playing the waiting game--one that lasted HOURS. Jonathon was exibiting no signs of distress or any neurological decline, so I guess that's why they didn't seem to be overly concerned. After about an hour or so, he was finally taken to x-ray and for a CT scan. He then was returned to the waiting room where we waited at least another hour before they came to draw blood to check for any infection. After ANOTHER couple of hours, during which no one was called from the waiting room, I approached the charge nurse to inquire if his tests had even been read. He said he'd "check on it" and that they would get to Jonathon as quickly as possible--yeah, right! Anyway, I guess the squeaky wheel really does get the grease (or the pushy mom gets action) because within the next thirty to forty minutes, we finally were taken to an examination room. The ER doctor came in for an initial exam, basically to tell us that the neurosurgical team was in surgery and would be in to check on Jon as soon as they were able. (Please know that I NEVER complain about a doctor being tied up in surgery. My son, after all, was one of those emergency cases!) At that point, we just got Jonathon comfortable and waited some more! Finally at almost 3 in the morning, the neurosurgeon came to tell us that they had reviewed his tests and could find NOTHING wrong! He said the shunt was functioning properly (Hallelujah for that!) and there was no evidence of any type of trauma to the brain itself that could cause such swelling, nor was there any reason to hospitalize Jon. He said that the problem was most likely related to the implant either "shifting" or leaking and that we should contact his plastic surgeon--not exactly what we wanted to hear, but definitely a relief that there was nothing neurologically wrong. We waited another hour or more for him to be discharged and finally arrived home at about 5:15 on Thursday morning.

Of course, I was awake by 8:00 to start calling his plastic surgeon to try to get him seen, and as luck would have it, his doctor was out of town for several days and there was no way for them to get him in that day. We were able, though, to get him an appointment for Friday morning. He remained swollen throughout the day on Thursday, and that evening I sent out an urgent prayer request to my Bible Study friends and faithful prayer warriors. (I learned later that many of those friends forwarded my email to others who, in turn, forwarded to still more!) In my request, I asked specifically for the following:

1. we find answers
2. the swelling to be significantly reduced
3. the option(s) to correct the problem not have a major impact on his return to school
4. whatever recuperative period that might be required would be well tolerated
5. God’s hand would guide and protect each of us during this frightening time

Well, let me tell you, God heard our prayers! When Jonathon awoke on Friday morning, the swelling had been greatly reduced--I'd estimate at least by 90%. It was so minimal by comparison to the previous day that I was almost embarrassed when we saw the plastic surgeon! She read the CT scan and checked the implant carefully for any signs that it had moved and assured us that it was exactly where it was supposed to be. In addition, she said that the implant is made of a type silicone that cannot leak. Bottom line, she said that she had no explanation for what had happened. She could only speculate that he had either had a blow to the head that he didn't remember or that he had experienced some sort of allergic reaction or that he had been bitten by something. Whatever had happened, she said, there was no reason for us to worry any more. I then told her that she should have seen the list of people who were praying for him, and she basically said, "That's your anwer!" She said she could tell from reading his chart that prayers on his behalf had been answered on more than one occasion. I told her that we had been particularly anxious about getting him in to see someone at their office because he was supposed to be returning to school on Saturday. She asked where he went to school and said, "Pack your bags, Jon!" Of course, upon hearing that, Jon said, "How 'bout them Dawgs!"

God IS so good; I know I say that often, but when I think of the many times and ways that He has shown His faithfulness to Jonathon and to our belief that His plans for Jonathon's future have yet to be revealed, I can't help but proclaim His goodness! To those who have continued on this journey with us, we are humbled at your support and encouragement. God is indeed good! How blessed we are!

In closing I want to share something that one of my dear friends sent me in response to my request for prayer: "Just remember how far God has brought Jon… and while the journey was long, the blessings were many. We won’t allow the enemy to creep in . Cling to this promise…

Ephesians 6:16: “take up the shield of faith, with which I can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one”

Yes, the journey has been long, but with God's help and the encouragement of such amazing friends and family, we will continue to travel it as long as God sets it before us. We are grateful to be able to live the life we lead, and as my friend said, the blessings, most definitely, have been many.

Family Fun

2009-08-10T19:51:00.000-04:00

The Shaw Clan

(Minus Morgan, Gordon, Jr., Melissa, Janna and Julia)

The Clark Clan

(Minus Ross)

The David Clark Clan The BEAUTIFUL Clark Children ;)Jon enjoying a little pool time!

It's been since Taylor's wedding in 2007 that ALL of the Clark/Shaw Family got together..........sad, I know! BUT..........on Saturday, we were able to get all but two nephews, one spouse, one niece and two adorable little girls together. Getting a family of our size together is never easy, but always worth the effort!! From the pictures above, you can see the fun had by all!

The initial reason for the gathering was for a book my sister-in-law is writing on the lives of my mother and grandmother. She wanted to get together with as many family members as possible in order to interview everyone for stories, memories, etc., of these two women who influenced our lives. We are all so excited that she is taking on this project and are extremely proud of her for being awarded a grant from Duke University to write it. My mother was raised by her mother and grandmother after the death of her father when she was only 11 years old, and the letters, scrapbooks, diaries she kept weave a most interesting tale of growing up as a true southern belle. In addition, the letters and postcards that my grandmother kept over a five year period from my grandfather in the early 1900's reveal a love story filled with issues that parallel many modern-day romances--advertisity, jealousy, doubt, insecurity, distance, ultimatums, and at least one break-up in which each had other romantic flings, but underneath it all a love too strong to be denied and a reconciliation and marriage. AHH! Good stuff! I can't wait to see the finished product!!! We are truly blessed to have her tackle this project and have their story come together.

I guess it takes growing older to really appreciate family, or maybe it just takes maturity. Either way, I know that without the love and support I have received over the years from my parents, siblings, spouse, children, and all of our extended family, I would not have grown to be the woman I am today. I thank God every day for blessing me with such an amazing group of people that I am so proud to call MINE.

July Shenanigans

2009-07-24T18:11:00.000-04:00

Jon and Jeff enjoying a little tubing at Lake Murray in SC

Can you believe this is the same guy the doctors told us would likely exist in a vegetative state IF he survived? Ha! To witness the miracle of his very existence each and every day is a blessing beyond words.

Jonathon's summer has been filled with activity and excitement. He's gone tubing (as evidenced above), gone to Six Flags (riding the ONE thing his dad asked him not to--roller coasters, yes plural), chaperoned middle schoolers on a week-long retreat at Lake Burton in north Georgia, served the Lord as a "mingler" at a homeless shelter, attended a fraternity brother's wedding with a group of Fijis at Chateau Elan, worked Sunday mornings as a Sunday School assistant and daily as an intern in the youth department at our church, and will be going to Stone Mountain with a church group in a couple of days. I'd say he's had a pretty fulfilling summer, wouldn't you? He has one more week of his internship and then we'll be preparing for him to return to school. I can't believe how quickly this summer has flown! When I reflect on previous summers, this has been by far the most active, independent one Jonathon has enjoyed since 2004. What pure joy it has been for each of us.

We continue to pray for his healing and I ask that you include another young man, Justin Bellmor, who is struggling to recover from a bleed similar to Jon's. We know that God has special plans for each of these young men. As He teaches us, He has plans for their future! Let's remember, also, to pray for each other.

Lessons

2009-07-01T20:11:00.000-04:00

While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about.~Angela Schwindt

Happily Ever After

2009-06-28T18:25:00.000-04:00

A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person. ~Mignon McLaughlin

Okay, so after NOT blogging for almost two weeks, today I decided to write two blogs! I thought about combining them into one entry but the nature of each made it easier for me to just write two separate ones. Anyway........I am writing to share that David and I celebrated our 33rd anniversary this weekend and what an amazing 33 years it has been! We met in the spring of my freshman year in college (he was a hotshot senior), but didn't really begin our "courtship" until early in my sophomore year. After that, we were pretty much inseparable.......sickening, I know. We got engaged at the beginning of my junior year and married the summer before my senior year. There have, of course, been times when each of us have questioned the sanity in marrying so young (and so broke), but I honestly believe that if we had the chance to do it all over again, we would have done the exact same thing! I remember our wedding day so clearly, especially the moment when his mother took me by the hands and said, "I hope that you will be as happy being Mrs. Clark as I have been." Isn't that the most beautiful sentiment? When our oldest son married two years ago, I shared the same wish with his bride, and I'm sure that I will share it with each of the other sons' brides on their respective wedding days. I can honestly say that although the road to 33 years hasn't been without its share of bumps, detours, and a few potholes, I can't imagine traveling it with any other man than David.

Then.....

Now.....

Yep, I'll take it! Bumps, detours, potholes, and all! I love this man....for better or for worse!

All In

2009-06-27T16:09:00.000-04:00

Today's sermon was based on Isaiah 6:8--Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" The message was that each of us is to live our lives more like Isaiah and seek ways in which we can be agents of and for God in sharing the good news of His atonement for our sins..ways in which we can be ALL IN for Christ. Our minister even used the analogy of a antibiotic to treat an infection. When the doctor tells us to take all of the prescription, it is because all of the infection is to be treated, not just part of it. When God asks us to be His witnesses, He wants us to live our lives in such a way that ALL the time we evidence His love for us, not just part of the time. He wants us to be ALL IN--to be more like Isaiah and live each day as if God has sent each of us personally to be His agents for Christ. For me, that is a pretty straightforward request........not necessarily easy, but certainly straightforward. We can't be true Christians unless and until we are ready to "Walk the walk, and talk the talk" on a daily basis. Are we up to the challenge? I am praying that when I hear God calling me--whatever the task--I will proudly open my heart and lift my voice and say, "Here I am. Send me!"

Ponderings

2009-06-16T23:45:00.000-04:00

"Throughout our lives, there have been numerous times when God's hand reached down at just the right moment. More often than not, we didn't know it was the right moment until we saw it in the rearview mirror." ~ from I Am Potential by Patrick Henry Hughes

Green Thumbs

2009-06-01T08:17:00.000-04:00

This past weekend David and I devoted ourselves to one of our favorite summer projects--landscaping the yard. We had already planted roses and a few begonias (a staple) before Memorial Day, but Saturday and Sunday we tackled our backyard haven full on! On Saturday morning, we made our first of three weekend trips to Pikes to fill up two carts with lovelies for the yard. We spent the afternoon (well, I took a break for a much needed hair appointment) gettng the morning's purchases in the ground. On Sunday, we took Jonathon to the church to go on a week-long retreat chaperoning middle schoolers (please say a little prayer for him and for the rest of the group), and then made not ONE but TWO trips to Pikes to purchase even more plants/flowers. We worked the remainder of the day pretending to be landscapers. Actually, for a couple of non-professionals, we do a pretty good job! I'll try to post some pictures soon of the results of our efforts. We still have a small area to finish, but in a couple of weeks, it should look like our own little piece of paradise! Now if I can get the pool furniture cleaned and ready, we'll be ready to actually enjoy it!

Memorial Day

2009-05-25T22:46:00.000-04:00

I am a slacker.........no other way to say it. I have great intentions when it comes to updating this blog, but something invariably seems to prevent me from following through. Maybe I should start sending myself Twitter nudges!

So anyway....David and I had the opportunity to take a weekend trip to Savannah to visit our "adopted" daughter (a.k.a - "daughter from another mother") this past weekend. We left after David got home from work on Friday night and drove back this morning. Although we had hoped to spend a couple of days on the beach at Tybee Island, we settled for an hour there yesterday afternoon! Ah well, it is what it is! Since it rained on Saturday, we spend the day shopping (yeah, it was rough) and then went to The Lady and Sons for dinner. Talk about overeating! By the time we left the restaurant, I thought I was going to pop! I was absolutely miserable--I guess the second piece of fried chicken was a bad idea after all! On Sunday we made our token trip to the beach where we hauled our beach bags, chairs, and cooler to the shore only to haul it all back about an hour later. Oh well, at least we got to put our toes in the sand, and David was brave enough to put his in the water! We then had a low-country boil where we once again gourged ourselves on too much of everything! I guess tomorrow I'll have to go back on the dreaded D-I-E-T. It was certainly fun while it lasted, though!

Jonathon has begun his internship at the church and seems to be enjoying it very much. He is working with middle school youth and will be travelling with them on a couple of weeklong trips. He is very excited and most grateful for this opportunity. God is so good!

Fading fast after a busy weekend........ciao!

Now What?

2009-05-07T19:41:00.000-04:00

I started this blog as a means of sharing the amazing progress of my son, Jon, and I admit that there have been times that I struggled because I thought, "If it's not about Jon, I shouldn't be sharing it; after all, the site IS called Jonathon's Journey!" Right? Well, I must admit that over the course of the past few weeks, I've come to the conclusion that this site is really an extension of MY feelings........no matter what is on my heart! So please forgive (and indulge) me if some of my posts do not directly relate to Jon but to the state in which I find myself. Most of my friends create blogs to share their feelings, so I'm thinking that's what I need to do as well.

Anyway, to focus FIRST on Jon, let me say that he is amazing! He is completing his second year back at UGA (and he assures me that he will do well enough to go back for his third year), so I couldn't BE any more proud of him. How 'bout them Dawgs! :)

Now as to what's really weighing on my heart........as I mentioned in my previous post, I (we) have a daughter living in New York City. She is our only daughter (for which we are extremely grateful--love her to death, but still grateful that there was only one girl in this brood......my hat's off to those who raise more than one girl!) "Things" haven't been great for her lately, I must admit. She recently found herself at a juncture in life that she definitely DID NOT anticipate....nor did we. It reminds me of the Rascal Flatt's song, " These Days". You know, the line that says, "Yeah, life throws you curves, but you learn to swerve". It sometimes feels like her whole life has been one big swerve! I admit that I felt that way with Jon, but I never anticipated that I would have to "walk that walk" (or swerve that swerve) with another of my children! She is such an amazing young woman, and I know she'll be fine, but it doesn't make the journey any easier for either of us!

Please join me in praying for strength and wisdom for her as she seeks God's guidance in her life.

Outlooks

2009-04-22T10:51:00.000-04:00

I haven't posted in over a week (and my ONE friend-haha-hasn't been on my case about it), so I figured it was time to at least write SOMETHING! I've actually been quite busy since Easter making plans for our New Yorker daughter to come for a visit--a long overdue one. If you had told me five years ago that I would only see her a few times a year, I'd have thought you were crazy! But here we are.........with her living in Manhattan for almost two years now and only seeing her every two or three months (if we're lucky). Wow! Time flies when you're having fun, and trust me, she's definitely having fun! We are very proud of her and happy, of course, that she is so happy with her life. (We still miss her terribly, though! I'm not sure Jonathon has quite forgiven her YET for packing up and moving to the Big Apple!)

Jonathon is winding down his classes for the semester, getting ready for finals in a couple of weeks. I can hardly believe that he has been back on campus for two years now; it is a blessing that we don't allow ourselves to forget. In the book of Jeremiah, God promised to give him hope and a future, and He has certainly continued to fulfill that promise. Just last week, in fact, Jonathon learned that he has been blessed with the opportunity to serve the Lord through a summer internship at our church, something that we encouraged him to seek and are so grateful that it will become a reality for him. Although he may not have the same physical abilities as the other interns, I am confident that he will give all that he can to this wonderful chance to share his testimony and grow God's Kingdom. My prayer is that those with whom he serves as well as those he serves will be able to look past his DIS-abilities and focus on his CAP-abilities. He has such an amazing love for the Lord and knows full well the grace he has been given. As he wrote in an essay upon returning to UGA in 2007, "Through my disability, I want most of all to let people know that while some of my abilities may have changed, I am basically still the same person I was two years ago. While my vision may have changed, my outlook is still the same."

Thank you, sweet Jesus, for the lessons You continue to gently teach us and the messages we so desperately need to hear.

"Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;" ~ Psalm 37: 4-7

Happy Easter!

2009-04-12T21:22:00.000-04:00

Today we celebrated Easter by attending church and praising God for the fulfillment of His promise to us. As our minister said, can you imagine the conversation between the Marys as they approached the tomb to annoint Jesus' body? Don't you know that they were wondering how on earth they were going to move the enormous stone from the entrance? Yet, when they arrived, it was gone! Surprise! Jesus wasn't there! The promise that was made through the birth of our Savior was fulfilled in His resurrection--Hallelujah!

In keeping with our new Easter tradition, David, Jon, Jeff, and I traveled to Grady after brunch to deliver care bags to the families in the ICU waiting areas. This year we had enough bags to visit on three different floors, a blessing beyond our expectations. As we learned from our own experiences there, every family has a story and no matter what that story is, they feel alone and frightened. We just wanted each of them to know that we understand and are praying for them. It's a blessing, too, to see the reactions from the families upon receiving these tokens of our concern. One gentleman in particular asked for two bags and then opened them and began distributing items in the bags to others around him--some who had already received their own bags. He even sought us out on another floor to ask for another bag because more people had come into the waiting area where he was, and he wanted to share more--what a beautiful testiment to God's love! This gentleman clearly had a heart for God. Please join us in praying for each of the families at Grady and elsewhere with critical medical needs.

"When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, 'Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?' " ~ Matthew 16: 1-3

Wee (Wii?) Update

2009-04-05T18:15:00.000-04:00

I'm on spring break, and starting tomorrow I'm on a cruise to the Bahamas! Woohoo! Before I could leave, however, I had to challenge my Wii once more to see if I was REALLY in no better shape than the little devil tried to tell me a few days ago. Determined to pay close attention to my "skills" tests this time, I am happy to report that I now have a Wii Fit age of 45 (considerably better than the 70 I was previously told!!!) Hmmmmmmm........I think I'll take that! (And NO, I didn't cheat! I just actually paid attention this time!) In fact, today I even got a little praise as in, "You're in pretty good shape for your age!" It's a heck of a lot better than the sympathy I got the other day! :(

In other (much more important) news, Jonathon, Jeff, David, and I participated in a service project yesterday at a center for youth with emotional, mental, and/or psychological problems. According to the staff member who worked with us, the young people at their facility usually end up there as a "last resort"--often at the point of either coming to them or going to jail. Well, let me just say that it was one of the most rewarding things I think any of us had done in a long time. While David and the other team members painted a small building which is to be converted to a recreation/play center, Jon, Jeff, and I worked on planting some new shrubs and flowers. Jeff dug the holes, I prepared them for the new plants, and Jon got each plant ready for me to pop into the ground. Afterwards, I asked Jon to help me spread pinestraw around each one, and although it was a bit challenging for him to work on the slope where we planted, he did a great job helping. (After helping Jon and me, poor Jeff had to help with the painting, too!) Jon and I also potted a crepe myrtle and two large pots with begonias. Some of the young men who are residents at the center also helped us with painting and a couple of them helped with putting some plants into the window boxes on the building. It was so great to get to meet some of these young men, but I have to admit that it was also a little heart-breaking. We were told that most of the young people there are wards of the state, so when they are deemed ready to return to society, they are placed in foster homes--that is, if homes can be found that will take them. One of the young men in particular was clearly starved for attention, as he wanted to help with any and every task we could find for him. He was quite the chatterbox, too! Very intelligent, very helpful, and very sweet--definitely made you wonder how on earth he ended up there. As David said when we left, it made you want to know his "story", because we all know that everyone has a story....

We thank you, Lord, for opportunities that allow us to open our eyes to the needs of others and ask that you guide us in reaching out to them with your grace and wisdom. We pray for happy endings to each of the stories of these young people.

WiiFit? Wii NOT Fit!

2009-04-02T23:05:00.000-04:00

Okay, so yesterday I decided to set up my Wii Fit profile--BAD idea! After entering my height, the Wii weighed me and calculated my BMI (oh, and my "Mama" character that I created got noticeably larger--not funny). I then did the "balance" test, shifting my weight from one side to the other. The only problem is that I failed to notice when it was time to shift to the other side, so apparently I have a real problem with balance! The Wii then proceeded to calculate my "real" age based on my height, weight, and balance........and according to the figure it revealed, I should now how grown grandchildren! What a way to start the day! To say that I'm a "Wii" bit stressed is an understatement!

Maybe tomorrow I'll actually try some of the fitness programs! (I'm thinking that's how to get my Mii to shrink?) For now, I'll stick with bowling and baseball!

Wheeeeeeee!

2009-03-29T15:03:00.000-04:00

Telling ourselves that it would be great exercise, we broke down and bought a Wii........that's right, WE now own a Wii! What we didn't tell ourselves was how utterly ridiculous we would feel trying to play the darn thing! I mean, I can't even coordinate swinging my arm and releasing a button at the same time, and my sweet hubby isn't much better! Admittedly, the only game he and I have even attempted was bowling but so far, things aren't looking so good! We are definitely challenged in the eye-hand coordination area where the Wii is concerned. Do you think our age could possibly have anything to do with it?

Can't wait 'til we try out the Wii Fit, but the image in my head sure isn't pretty! I want to tackle the Yoga; however, I suspect that the yoga will tackle me! Truthfully, we are hopeful that it will not only be a fun way for us to get some exercise, it will be therapeutic for Jon as well. I truly believe that the movement, coordination, and stimulation he can get will be an overall benefit and won't feel so much like a therapy session. What I think I want most of all is for the family to have fun doing it together!

Weekend Update

2009-03-25T21:49:00.000-04:00

Not exactly the SNL version, but here's a little update of last weekend with Jon:

We drove to Athens on Saturday afternoon to attend his fraternity's parent's weekend.

The three of us (David, Jon, and myself) had a FABULOUS dinner at a local Japanese restaurant--one of Jon's favorites. Coincidentally (I think not!) I sat next to a physical therapist from a neighboring town who was amazed at Jonathon's progress after hearing his story.

After dinner, we were THE FIRST arrivals at the band party. (Oh yay!) After chatting with the band members (which included taking promotional pictures of them) AND the bartenders AND the venue security AND the representative from the local police force (who, by the way, also does specialty cakes and photographs special events), the second set of parents arrived with their son followed soon (thankfully) by the rest of the fraternity! Seriously, we waited at least half an hour for the rest of the crowd to show up and get the party started!

We had a ball dancing the (rest of the) night away. For those of you who might wonder, let me just say that Jonny-Boy's still got it! He loves to dance, and can truly hold his own on the dance floor, even managing a few dips and twirls! (Perhaps I shouldn't mention the part where I took his cane and used it in my own solo-dance.........nah, I'll skip that part! Haha!)

On Sunday, we joined the rest of the fraternity for lunch at the Fiji house. It was a beautiful day with wonderful food and delightful company! Although this will likely be the last time we attend a parent's weekend, it will certainly not be soon forgotten. The young men in his fraternity are a wonderful group of men, and I am proud that Jon has been associated with them.

As always, it was difficult to leave. Jon has made so much progress and come so far, I still have a hard time stepping back and letting time march on. Perhaps it's just because I'm finally in a place where I can truly appreciate what "time" really means. Time is such a gift, and the older I get the more I recognize that.

"Yesterday is history; tomorrow's a mystery. Today is a gift; that's why they call it the 'present'."

PS--This one's for you, Kelly! Thanks for reminding me that I need to make the time to record our history.....

David with Jon

Me with Jon

Sort of like being on vacation where you take turns
taking each other's picture!

Wednesday Woes...or Should I say Wows?

2009-03-18T22:14:00.000-04:00

Today was a rarity..........rare in that I didn't talk to Jonathon even ONCE all day! To most moms with college-age children, that's probably more "the norm", but for me it's pretty unusual for a day to pass without even a text! Even more amazing is that it didn't really hit me until just a little while ago that I hadn't heard from him--does that make me sad? Maybe a litte........but in a bigger way, it makes me truly happy. Happy because I believe that it means he has had a good day. I worry sometimes (okay a lot) that he is lonely at school, but not hearing from him makes me think that he is just too busy to bother with me! And isn't that how most college students deal with their parents?

Remember when David made a sign for Jon's room that read N-O-R-M-A-L? That was the goal all along.......for some degree of normalcy to return to his life. So now, instead of worrying that I don't hear from him for a day, I'll celebrate NORMAL, knowing that there are plenty of other moms with kids away at school who didn't hear from theirs today (or yesterday for that matter). Yay, for normalcy! (Now, Jonathon, if you're reading this, "CALL YOUR MOTHER!" )

"He shielded him and cared for him; he guarded him as the apple of his eye, like an eagle that stirs up its nest and hovers over its young..." ~ Deuteronomy 32: 10-11

Monday Morning Mumblings

2009-03-16T10:08:00.000-04:00

It's now a little after 10:00 in the morning, and I'm embarrassed to admit that I have been out of bed for exactly 39 minutes! That is just crazy to me! Could it be the rain outside, the allergies that are making my throat feel like sandpaper, or the fact that I'm just lazy??? I'd rather go with the rain theory.......somehow labeling oneself as lazy just doesn't have that "feel good" effect--hmmmm. (Or, could it possibly be that I just needed the rest?--Actually, I'd rather go with that idea!) Anyway, it IS the beginning of another work-week for most of the Clarks, another school week for Jonathon, and another week of gratitude for life in general. It is a VERY dreary day outside, but hey, haven't we all learned that you gotta have a little rain before the sun shines through? Thank you, Lord, for sunshine AND rain! (Now, could we have a little more sunshine, please?)

Four Years? FOUR YEARS!

2009-03-12T20:52:00.000-04:00

Today marked the fourth year since Jonathon's aneurysm--that's right, FOUR years! I guess to some it might seem a bit macabre to continue to mark each year, but to us, it merely marks another year of gratitude to our faithful and merciful God. To us, it is reason to celebrate all the blessings we have shared as a family. We have witnessed miracles, and we are forever grateful.

As a spring break treat, we took Jonathon to New York City for a few days. We left Atlanta on Saturday morning and returned on Tuesday evening and packed about as much of the "city that never sleeps" in between. We had been pondering the trip for a while and finally decided that he was strong enough to tackle it. Any of the fears or concerns that we had leading up to the trip dissipated pretty quickly upon arrival. As I said, we flew up on Saturday morning, and because the weather was so beautiful, we decided to spend the afternoon in Central Park. We must have walked for at least four or five miles, taking short breaks only when needed, and we only covered the east side of the park! What's so amazing is that Jonathon took every step we did! He was such a trooper; I couldn't have been more proud of him. Yes, he was exhausted at night, but so were we!!

The next two days were more of the same--walking, walking, walking (with even a few rides on New York's infamous subway system) as we visited the Museum of Natural History, Times Square, Rockefeller Center, Grand Central Terminal, Radio City Music Hall, Ground Zero, and Battery Park (and everything in between!) When I stop to think of how strong Jonathon has become, I am truly amazed. God has been so faithful to give him a future--He has never forsaken His promise.

The day after we returned from New York, Jonathon visited Pathways, the outpatient facility where he received his therapies. We had lunch with the mother of a current patient there so that Jonathon could offer her encouragement in her son's recovery. He shared with her some of his highs and lows, and at one point she paused and looked at Jonathon to ask, "Are you happy?" Without missing a beat, he said, "Oh yes, ma'am, I really am." To know that my son is happy is worth all that the past four years brought. For him to be able to encourage another walking a similar path to his is such a gift. And THAT, my friends, is why we continue to celebrate! God IS good........ALL the time!

Check out my guys checking out Grand Central!
Aren't they good-looking?

And a trip to New York City wouldn't be complete

without a visit to Radio City Music Hall!

Godspots and Legacies

2009-02-11T15:46:00.000-05:00

David and I attended an event a few nights ago entitled, "Leaving a Legacy", expecting to gain useful information in planning for our children and their children--things we had perhaps overlooked on our estate planning "To Do" list. I have to admit that the presentation fell short of our expectations, BUT the knowledge we gained was invaluable! Oh, I don't mean ANY of the information that the speaker shared; I mean the information we gathered from another couple sitting at our table. As we chatted before dinner, one of the couples shared with us that they, too, had a son attending UGA. We talked a little about the campus and about the plans our sons had for next year. I mentioned that limited mobility is an issue for Jonathon, but at no time did I say anything about WHY mobility was an issue. As we talked, another couple at our table (who knew of Jonathon's experiences) asked me how he was doing. Although they didn't say more about his situation, it was almost like a "lightbulb moment" for the other couple. At that time, the husband looked at my nametag and said, "You're Jon Clark's parents: I didn't make the connection!" He then told us that he and his wife had actually been at Sharp Top when Jonathon collapsed. He went on to tell us that he, in fact, had gone to the First Aid station to get the back board to put Jon on. While we are always interested in hearing from individuals who were at the retreat, it was what they told us next that really hit home. When the husband told us that he had retrieved the back board, his wife said, "Remember you wore your tennis shoes that day." (Normally I wouldn't think one thing about that, but she seemed to think it was important to share.) She continued by saying that he typically wouldn't wear his tennis shoes, but that when she questioned him about it, he replied that he just felt like he should wear his tennis shoes that day. WHY he felt compelled to wear tennis shoes wasn't revealed until he became the volunteer who RAN to the First Aid station (which, by the way, was uphill from the dining hall) to get the back board. Do you think that was coincidence? I certainly don't! I think it was another Godspot! I believe with all my heart that God told him to wear THOSE shoes on THAT day because he was going to need to RUN!!!

Earlier in the evening, I spoke with the doctor who had accompanied the group to Sharp Top-- remember, this was the first time a doctor had been on this particular retreat--because I wanted to tell him that he had been the subject of a speech Jonathon gave last week for one of his classes. I wanted him to know that the nature of the speech, called an epideictic extemporaneous, was to praise (or blame) a person or thing. In presenting an epideictic (yeah, I can hardly even say it!) speech, the attitude of the audience should be taken into account, particularly if the topic is of an emotional nature which Jonathon's surely was. Jonathon chose to praise Dr. Don not only for electing to go on the retreat but also for his accurate assessment of the situation on the morning Jonathon collapsed because that assessment and the decision to lifeflight him to Grady was key in saving his life. I also wanted him to know that Jonathon received 9 out of 10 points for his speech, with very favorable comments from his instructor. (Jonathon also told me that the instructor said he rarely gave 10 out of 10 points, so he was pretty pumped about his grade!) As I told the doctor all this he added that one of the things HE found to be so important in the events of that morning was that Bob, the youth director, had my cell phone number programmed into his phone. Well, what Dr. Don didn't know was that it wasn't MY cell phone number that was in Bob's phone--it was Jeff's! When Bob called Jeff, he never expected him to be home for the weekend; he assumed that Jeff would be at school and that he would get my number from him. To add to the awesomeness of God's hand in the experience is that Jeff was standing about three feet away from me when the call came in from Bob. Those few moments saved by not having to make a second call to reach me surely were key. Being able to speak with Dr. Don so quickly and give him Jonathon's medical history were critical in his assessment and in the chain of events that next occurred.

Oh, and one more thing I learned--the "tennis shoes" guy told me that one thing he found pretty cool was that when the EMTs arrived to take Jon to the hospital (although soon making the decision to have him airlifted), he noted that the driver of the ambulance was wearing a NASCAR jacket! How great is that? Maybe in that one moment in his life, that driver envisioned himself in one of the most important races of his life! And to me........he was!

So here we are, almost four years later and I am still in awe of God's total control over the events in our lives. Yes, He is God who sees the big picture, but He is also God who scripts every single detail! He tells us when to wear tennis shoes, when to come home for the weekend, when to keep cell numbers stored, when to chaperone youth group trips, and even when being a NASCAR fan might hold the key to saving another person's life. He holds each piece of the puzzle and in His time, he places each one into its very special place in our lives. Whew! Now THAT's the God I want in control of my life!

Maybe attending that program on leaving a legacy wasn't all that I had expected it to be...but just maybe it was more than I could have ever hoped for! Maybe the more I see God at work in my life and in the lives of those around me, the more equipped I am to share His love, grace, and mercy with others..........and maybe, just maybe, that's what leaving a legacy is all about!

"I want to leave a legacy. How will they remember me?
Did I choose to love; did I point to You enough?" ~Nicole Nordeman

"Those who know your name will trust in you,for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you." ~ Psalm 9:10

Buckhead Boys

2009-02-03T22:18:00.000-05:00

So Jonathon got to experience another "first" this past weekend........he went to Buckhead, which--for those of you who don't know--is a popular night spot for the "older than college, but not read to settle down" crowd in Atlanta. His twin brother, Jeff, was meeting some friends from work and asked Jon if he'd like to join them. It never occurred to me that Jonathon hadn't ever had the opportunity to just go hang out there, although I have no idea when I thought he might have! Although I must admit that I was a nervous wreck knowing he was out (yeah, I know--he's a big boy), I must also admit that I was really happy that he had the chance to just go out and be young for a change! Of course, my happiness was somewhat dimmed by the fact that they didn't get home until almost time for the paper to arrive on Saturday morning!!!! (Yeah, I didn't get much sleep that night; THEY, however, got lots of sleep on Saturday!) All in all, it was a great experience for Jonathon. He got to hang out with people his age and BE YOUNG! He's missed out on so much these past few years that I guess a night of youthful debauchery every once in a while is okay.........I'm just glad they don't do it often--I'd NEVER get any rest! Ha!

Bible Study "Ah-Ha" Moments

2009-01-28T22:02:00.000-05:00

I haven't been posting a lot because I "decided" that nobody really cared about what I had to say anyway, so why bother? Tonight, I had one of those "ah-ha"--hit me over the head--moments when I realized that it didn't really matter WHAT anyone else thought! What really mattered is that when I felt compelled to share my thoughts, it didn't matter one iota whether a single person read my posts or not! Sometimes you just gotta talk.......or write! So here goes...........

I realized tonight as I listened to some of my Bible Study friends that I had so much on my heart that I wanted to share, and it didn't really matter to me whether a single soul besides myself read it anyway! I want to continue to remind myself that God has been SO gracious to me.........to us! When I first returned to Bible Study in the fall of 2005 (after Jon's aneurysym), we did Beth Moore's study on John, the Beloved Disciple. In that first week, she addressed the meaning of the name, John, which is "God has been gracious." I remember how profoundly that affected me! GOD HAS BEEN GRACIOUS!!! Jonathon is alive, and he is thriving! How many aneurysm patients can claim that? Especially, how many BRAIN aneurysm patients--especially those with the degree of damage the statistics said Jonathon would have--can claim that? With the prognosis we were initially given for Jonathon, how can I possibly question God's infinite wisdom and plans for my son? I have to remind myself that this is THE God who gave His own Son to pay for my iniquities! One word............WOW!

Jonathon has returned to college; he is living independently on-campus. He is enrolled as a FULL-TIME student; what more could I ask for at this point in his life? Sure........it's a struggle at times, but isn't life a struggle? I have to constantly remind myself that God hasn't brought Jonathon to this point in his life to now abandon him.............He wants Jonathon to enjoy a future and to prosper! Does Jonathon's future look the same as his brother's and his sister's does? NOT REALLY.............but does Jonathon HAVE a future? ABSOLUTELY!!! And who am I to question what his future really holds? Jonathon indeed has a future, and THAT is what I need to continue to remind myself! God promised each of us hope AND a future!

Praise HIM!
"Take the shackles off my feet so I can dance!
I just want to praise him; I just want to praise him!"

We Live

2009-01-10T20:18:00.000-05:00

I woke up this morning and couldn't get the lyrics to "We Live" by Superchick out of my head. I kept singing:
"There's a cross on the side of the road
Where a mother lost her son
How could she know that the morning he left
Would be the last time she'd trade with him for a little more time
(so she could say she loved him one last time)"
I then continued to sing the chorus:
"We live, we love, we forgive and never give up
Cuz the days we are given are gifts from above
And today we remember to live and to love
We live, we love, we forgive and never give up
Cuz the days we are given are gifts from above
And today we remember to live and to love"

So the first part of the lyrics is pretty depressing, right? Anyway, WHY I couldn't get that song out of my head didn't connect until later today when Jeff and David delivered our old, but still usable, washer and dryer to a needy family in our area. Last weekend, in an effort to clean out our storage unit, we decided to swap our washer and dryer for ones we had in storage from when our daughter, Blair, moved away. We then asked a friend of ours who works in an area of the county that is made up largely of single-parent, low-income families if she knew of a family who might be in need of our old but still functional washer/dryer. To our delight, she said, "Yes, I do!" Hence, the delivery today......

What we had no idea prior to today was the background of the family to which they would be delivering the washer/dryer. David and Jeff met our friend in the parking lot of the school where she works and proceeded to the family's home. They dropped off the appliances and as they walked back to our truck, our friend told David that the mother to whom he had just delivered the washer/dryer lost her 20-year-old daughter between Thanksgiving and Christmas of last year to a brain aneurysm. I didn't accompany David and Jeff for the delivery, but let me tell you that when David told me what had happened, I nearly fell to my knees! How awesome is our God that He would so beautifully orchestrate our lives that we could help another family who was in need and who had experienced a similar tragedy, although without the same results?

Even more affirming of His power was the fact that when I got in my car today (after David told me what happened), the song that was playing on the radio was "We Live" by Superchick! What struck me most upon hearing it was the following line:
"And tragedy's a reminder to take off the blinders
and wake up (to live the life)
We're supposed to take up (moving forward)
With all our heads up
Cuz life is worth living"

Yes, tragedy IS a reminder to "take off the blinders"! I am eternally grateful to our Father who taught me through tragedy to view the world and to see His love differently. Would I change the course of events so that my son never experienced what he did? Of course! Would I want my own life to remain the way that it was prior to this journey? NO WAY! I truly see how God used "all things" to work for the good of those who have been called according to His purpose!

Music to Our Ears

2008-12-27T18:48:00.000-05:00

I'm not very good at keeping secrets, although I admit I've been keeping one for about a month now. To catch a glimpse of what I've been "hiding", check out the video below:

In case you couldn't quite figure out the tune, Jonathon is playing "Little Brown Jug", the VERY first thing he learned to play on the guitar, compliments of his grandfather, Big Hal (my dad). That song was the beginning of Jonathon's interest in learning to play, so it seems fitting that it would be one of the first he would re-learn. He played this along with a few other "teasers" on Christmas night for us and promises that he will continue to work on regaining this very special gift he has. I am amazed that even though it's been almost four years, God is STILL answering our prayers forJonathon. It makes me think of Hebrews 11:18 where we learn that "By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going."

We have no idea where God is leading any of us, but by faith we desire to go where He wants us to be! With the progress Jonathon has made, how could any of us doubt God's plans and desires for us?

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

2008-12-26T10:15:00.000-05:00

For as long as I can remember since having children, we've waited until Christmas morning to place baby Jesus in our Nativity. I wanted my children to fully appreciate that we were celebrating the birth of our Savior and to be excited about that moment when He arrived. I didn't want the placing of the Nativity to simply be another decoration we hauled out every year, only to pack away and forget about until the next Christmas season arrived. I wanted it to MEAN something to them. This year--without fanfare--as the rest of the family still slept, I quietly placed our baby Jesus into His "spot" in the stable and felt an overwhelming sense of calm as well as a bit of sadness that we hadn't made a production out of placing Him in the stable. I reflected for a moment and then realized that's exactly how He DID arrive........quietly, while much of the world was still sleeping, in a tiny stable in a tiny town. Whew! Talk about that crazy feeling you get inside when something more powerful than you've ever felt takes over your body! I could almost feel my heart racing! I stared for a moment at that tiny porcelain baby staring back at me from His tiny porcelain manger, and for a brief moment I even thought, "His eyes should be closed; He's supposed to be sleeping in the manger." And the next moment, I realized that His eyes had always been on me, on us! What a beautiful, beautiful Birthday Boy! I closed my eyes and thanked our God for the Son He so generously gave so that we might be saved from ourselves and find shelter from all our storms. I thanked Him again for the beautiful family He has blessed me with and for the miracle He gave us nearly four years ago in sparing our Jonathon. Happy Birthday, Jesus! Merry Christmas, Everyone! I hope that your Christmas has been as blessed as ours.......

Still grateful for your prayers,
Mary

Oh, Christmas Tree: Or around here...Glory, Glory to Old Georgia!

2008-12-15T08:18:00.000-05:00

I'm posting a picture of the tree in Jonathon's room, one that was first decorated in 2005, the year he moved into his "new" room. At that time, we decided that a Georgia (as in UGA) tree would be appropriate since the theme of the entire room was red, black, and definitely Bulldog! As I put the tree up this year, I couldn't help but be amazed that this is the FOURTH year that I've been able to do this! I continue to be amazed at just how far we've all traveled in Jonathon's recovery--Jonathon, of course, most of all. His endurance, determination, and spirit are a constant source of wonder for me. I often ask myself if I had been faced with the same challenges as he has whether I would have risen to them as he so consistently has. I'd like to think I would, but I often think that I wouldn't have had the strength. (I AM old, after all! Haha!) I try hard not to dwell on the past, and for the most part I think I do a pretty good job, but I know without a doubt that the past few years have totally shaped our present. Although our lives have returned to a degree of normalcy, none of us will ever view "normal" in the same way again. Just last night, in fact, David anwered the phone, and when I heard him respond to the caller with "Yes, we're Jonathon Clark's parents", I literally felt myself struggling to breathe. Jonathon didn't come home this past weekend, so I feared that this was some sort of notification call. Crazy, isn't it? David was doing his best to give me signals to let me know everything was okay, but by the time the call ended I was crying like a baby! Talk about coming unglued! (And the truth is........it was merely someone soliciting funds for UGA!) Ah well, I guess that as tough as we try to be, a mama's heart is a fragile thing.

On a lighter note, I'm including some other photos of Jonathon's UGA room. Is it any wonder that when he's home, we have to pry him out of his "Dawg" house? Yeah, he really has it rough.........or should that be "ruff"?

Complete with the "G" And.......UGA
And a place for some Dawg talk....
As well as some Dawg food.....

(yes, those are signed photos of Vince Dooley and

Mark Richt on the wall as well as one of the team!)

And definitely a place for a Dawg to rest!

Great is Thy faithfulness,Great is Thy faithfulness,

Morning by morning new mercies I see:

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided

Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!

THE ART OF "THANKSLIVING"

2008-11-29T19:29:00.000-05:00

Isn't this awesome? I received this from a dear friend; I think it's great!

THE ART OF "THANKSLIVING"

It is gratitude in action.
It is applying Albert Schweitzer's philosophy....
"The greatest thing is to give thanks for everything..
He who has learned this, knows what it means to live"
It is thanking God for the gift of life...
by living it triumphantly.
It is thanking God for all that men and women have done for you...
by doing things for others.
It is thanking God for opportunities...
by accepting them as a challenge to achievement.
It is by thanking God for happiness....
by striving to make others happy.
It is thanking God for beauty....
by helping to make the world more beautiful.
It is thanking God for inspiration....
by trying to be an inspiration to others.
It is thanking God for health and strength....,
by the care and reverence you show your body.
It is thanking God for each new day....
by living it to the fullest.
It is thanking God by giving hands, arms, legs and voice....
to your thankful hearts.
It is adding to your prayers of thanksgiving....
acts of "THANKSLIVING"!

Giving Thanks

2008-11-27T23:40:00.000-05:00

My 2008 list of "thankful fors":

a God who knows my name and loves me unconditionally
my husband of more than 32 years who loves me because of who I am (and often in spite of it)
my three amazing sons who honor me and bring me joy every day
my three beautiful daughters who each bless me in her own unique way--one I was blessed to have given birth to and of whom I am immensely proud, one who blessed us by loving our son and becoming his wife, and one who became family to us after the Lord called her mother home this year
my brothers and their families as well as David's sisters, brother-in-law, and nephews who have stood by us through our highs and our lows and have given us so many beautiful memories
my friends who keep me grounded in my faith and who are always there to lend a hand, a shoulder, or simply an ear
Jonathon's continued progress and constant gratitude for the miracles God has granted him
the song in my heart and the hope I carry within me.

As I review my list, I am struck by how short it seems, but I realize, too, that there is really no way for me to adequately express my gratitude for all that I am and all that I have in this life. By the grace of God, we have celebrated another Thanksgiving, and by His grace alone will we do it all again next year. Thank you, Lord, for the joys AND the sorrows. We are grateful for the journey.

Happy Thanksgiving!

How blessed we are.

The Clark side of my gratitude list

Hope

2008-11-15T20:41:00.000-05:00

Jonathon and I just returned from a trip to the Shepherd Center to visit with (and finally meet) a young man for whom we have prayed the last couple of months. His name is Ryan but it could just as easily be Tom, or Bob, or Matt or yes, of course, Jon. Every patient there, in fact, has the same name whether they are male or female, black or white, Christian or not.......they each bear the name "Hope", and even though the patient may not be aware of his or her new name, it is ever-present in the eyes of family members and friends. To have survived whatever medical situation brought them to Shepherd is probably the first hope fulfilled for each patient and family there. As they each begin the therapy phase of recovery, a renewed hope is born. It becomes palpable. It becomes contagious. It becomes consuming, and to be honest, it can sometimes become tiring......not the hope itself, but the daily challenges that must be faced in order to continue to have that hope. I fear that I am rambling a bit, but if you have ever shared in the journey of a friend or loved one who is traveling the road to recovery, you will "get it".

After meeting for a short time with Ryan and his beautiful wife and a dear friend of hers, Jon and I took a trip down Memory Lane, touring the newly renovated Aquired Brain Injury wing. I can honestly say Memory Lane because even I was surprised at the number of faces and names Jonathon recognized and remembered. There were about five different nurses and techs that he called by name! I think that THEY were even more surprised than me! One, in fact, told me that while they are always excited to have patients return, it is rare for a patient to even remember them. He said that they understand this because of the way a brain injury affects the patient, but that it is so rewarding for them to have a patient actually remember their name or anything about them! He said it is far more common for a patient to return and for them to "carry on" about how well the patient is doing, only to have the patient look at them with a blank stare as if to say, "WHO are you?" I guess having Jonathon recognize so many of them was indeed a blessing.....

We also found Jonathon's old room in the "quad" and had the opportunity to speak with the wife of the patient who now occupies his old space in that area. Her husband had survived a near-fatal accident that left him comatose for six weeks, but who was slowly making his way back. She was gracious enough to let us go into the room and chat, and at the end of our visit actually thanked us for bringing them a renewed hope for her husband's future. They had travelled to Shepherd from Tupelo, Mississippi, looking for a miracle. As we left the room, the wife hugged and thanked us for stopping by and especially Jonathon for the inspiration he was for them. How awesome that God allowed Jonathon to do that for this family!

This post, then, is for all of those patients at Shepherd and everywhere who are struggling to return to their former lives....whose families hold daily vigils for them as they struggle to return to what will be the new "normal" for them. To each of those families, I lift my cup and say, "Blessings to each of you; may God be with you. You are exactly where God wants you to be, and HE who has brought you this far knows the plans He has for you!" Trust Him.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." ~ Jeremiah 29:11

Holy Water

2008-10-26T17:32:00.000-04:00

A friend just sent me an email that I've received and read before, but today it took on a whole new meaning for me. It's the one about the little boy who wets his pants in school and is terrified of the ridicule he is sure to receive, but who is "rescued" at the last minute by a little girl in his class who "trips" as she carries the goldfish bowl and spills water from it into the little boy's lap. At the end of the day, the little boy asks her if she did it on purpose and she tells him that she, too, wet her pants once in school. The final message is to remind us to seize every opportunity to do good.

Well, last weekend we saw several examples of people who seized the opportunity to "do good". Jonathon and I traveled to Columbia, South Carolina, to visit my brother and attend the South Carolina/LSU game.......yes, Jonathon cheered for a team OTHER than the Bulldogs (remember, he's a family man FIRST). Prior to the game, we tailgated with my nephew's fraternity, and I was definitely impressed with the reception Jonathon got from the group. They chatted with him and welcomed him in a true southern manner. My nephew had arranged for one of their associates (a.k.a. pledge) to drive us to the stadium before the game which minimized the amount of walking Jonathon would have to do. We were then allowed to ride the elevator with him to the upper deck where our seats were located (yeah, I think my brother was impressed!) When we decided to leave in the 3rd quarter, we planned to walk back to my brother's truck, but a guardian angel offered his services (in a "stretch" golf cart) and drove us right to my brother's truck! At first he said he'd get us as close as he could, but in the end drove us within a few feet of where we needed to be! Talk about seizing the opportunity!

We have been blessed so many times by those who have seized the opportunity to do good. Every time I see someone offer their assistance to Jonathon (when not doing so would have been so much easier), I am reminded of the story of the little girl who purposefully spills water in her classmate's lap. We each have opportunities every day to make another feel less conspicuous........do we always take advantage of those opportunities? I doubt it. In Columbia, South Carolina, however, we were honored to be part of a small group of individuals who determined that spilling a little water in his lap might just make him feel that much more accepted. Bulldogs? Gamecocks? Does it really matter? Not when we choose to do good......Thank God for those who seize the opportunity!

Cracking the Books

2008-10-01T23:48:00.000-04:00

Jonathon is off to a great start this fall! He is taking a full class load (12 hours) for the first time since returning to school and is doing really well. I admit that we' ve been very worried about how he would manage, but so far he's doing great. He has taken tests in three of his classes and made "B"s on each. He has also written a paper for one class and received a score of 23 out of 25 possible points. Not bad for the kid that the doctors said would "likely be in a vegetative state" if he survived his first surgery three years ago! We have been unbelievably blessed in Jonathon's recovery.

He is again living in the fraternity house, perhaps not the most ideal living arrangement for him, but one that works considering that it is necessary for him to live on campus for his transportation needs. Like last year, transportation services picks him up at the house for each of his classes and drops him back there after each class (or wherever on campus he needs to go such as the dining hall or other campus building). It is really a wonderful service. Surprisingly (to me anyway), I no longer worry each day if he is "where he's supposed to be" or whether he's done his homework. I have learned that I have to back off and trust that he is capable of returning to college and making it on his own there. After all, God brought him this far; why would I doubt now that He would simply abandon Jonathon? As Jonathon himself reminds us, he is quite able to do for himself and no longer needs our constant "hovering". (That is definitely easier said than done!) Will I ever stop worrying? "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." ~ Philippians 4:6

So along with classes goes the REAL reason Jonathon loves being back on campus.......his beloved Bulldogs! Although this past Saturday was a bit of a disappointment (that's definitely an understatement), there is nowhere else besides Athens, Georgia, he'd rather be on a Saturday in the fall. He even made it out to the quad to catch a picture with Jeff in front of the College GameDay bus last weekend! Obviously, this was taken BEFORE the game.......note the smiles on their faces! Ah well, the Dawgs will get a break this weekend, and Jonathon can come home for some much needed rest. The following weekend the Vols roll into town, and THAT, my friends, is another story!