And now a word from our sponsor...

Well, not exactly our sponsor, but Gretchen wanted to add a few words since it has been a while since I posted.  A lot has happened in the interim and perhaps I will post again soon, but for now Gretchen has the floor:

To all of you who have cared and prayed for me during this time:

I thought it was time I updated this blog of Brian’s with my own sincere thank you and general update.  My family all tell me I have come a long way in the last half year.  I have to believe them, since they can see the whole picture far better than I.  It is a bit scary for me to realize that a half year has passed, since I was told that the majority of my recovery would be in the first year.  That means I have 6 months to complete this recovery!  Yikes!  I was alarmed and amazed about a week ago, when I walked across the street to see my neighbor, and, on the way home, I got lost.  I somehow thought we lived up the road, but couldn't find a house that looked right.  Finally, I decided I had better look around a bit more, and finally located our house, and knew that was it.  How could this be?  I don’t know, but I have to just keep on trucking.  Since that time I have been on quite a few treks around the neighborhood with Peter, and even a couple without, to try to rebuild that inner map.  I know that it will just take time, and walking around, practicing my navigation skills.  At least I live in a safe neighborhood.

It continues to be my prayer that I will trust God completely for my recovery, and that I will be content with His recovery and His timing for that recovery.  I have anxiety about my homeschooling abilities at this time, but Brian is working closely with me so that I might be able to handle it.  Also, I pray that he will have the strength, etc., to keep up with all the extra things he has to handle, as a result of my current inability to handle many of the things I normally would.  I am hoping very much to get help from one doctor in particular, but it would be a favor for him to help me out.  So we’ll see.  I am also hoping to get some help with my insomnia, as this has left me rather exhausted.  There are a couple of things contributing to this insomnia, and I can’t do anything about either one of them.

There have been some great blessings which have come as a direct result of the stroke, so I am thankful for these things, and have to say that, although I would not have chosen to have the stroke, being the weak human that I am, it was worth it for what has been gained.

Thanks again for everything,