About a week ago a few families in our neighborhood organized a food collection for Central Florida Children’s Home.

It was a great pre-Thanksgiving way to share food before we feast!  And it was a great way for our kids to catch a vision for serving other kids with kindness and love.  Kindness and love can come in the form of a box of cereals and canned goods along with encouraging words.

Over 100 grocery bags full of items were collected from our neighborhood.  See above.

Kids in Costume Collect Food Items & Donations in our Neighborhood

What’s with the costumes? Was this a re-run of Halloween? No. Along with the food drive, the kids in our neighborhood had a costume contest.  The costumed superheroes and heroines went door to door collecting the donations.  Lots of fun!

It’s a flat out gorgeous Palm Sunday here in sunny Florida. Wanted to share two sets of photos with you.

In the first set, drum roll please, enjoy our most recent Hand family portraits! These come courtesy of our friend and talented photographer Kristina, taken shortly after Thanksgiving last year. Notice the slight hint of fall in these scenes – it’s as much fall as we get here in central Florida.

See the complete album (6 photos) here.

I’d hoped to share this second set of photos with you sooner, after I returned from my ministry trip to Thailand in March. These were captured at the Global Technology Leaders (you might notice the misspelled ‘GLT’ welcome banner created by the hotel) conference my team helped to facilitate. About 25 of our missionaries representing over 11 different countries gathered for worship, leadership development, technology training and problem solving sessions.

The three pictures at the top (clockwise from top left corner) show some remarkable leaders from around the world. It is truly a privilege to work with and serve these men:

~ Ephesians from East Africa. (Yes, his name is Ephesians and his life story is a true example of Ephesians 3:20)

~ Mishel from the Middle East / Russ from Canada / Me with Ephesians / Miheret from Ethiopia

How we wish you could meet each one of these talented people! The Lord has brought them into His service and is using them to accelerate the Great Commission. Thank Him with us for them.

Toby is one of about 3 Million Americans who have Type 1 Diabetes. Last week we took the whole family to a two day conference here in town sponsored by Children with Diabetes.  It was an excellent education event geared towards helping families learn about Diabetes together and grow in confidence in dealing with it.

Shannon and I left with our heads chock full of new information.  The kids seemed to thoroughly enjoy it.  I think they all learned a lot just by being around other diabetic kids – watching them stop periodically to do their own blood sugar checks.  A couple days after the conference Toby, without fanfare, just started doing his own blood checks – it’s done via a finger prick and electronic meter device.  He does it like a pro now.

Even though we heard very good medical descriptions of what Diabetes is and how to manage it, this video below is by far the best explanation we’ve come across yet for Type 1.   Several common misconceptions are dispelled.  This is a very cute six year old girl explaining Diabetes in plain English!
Would you take 2 minutes to watch this?  It’ll make you smile and you’ll know a little more of how to pray for Toby:

Here’s the direct link to the video on YouTube.

We’ve got an appointment with Toby’s pediatric endocrinologist this morning.  It’s been four days since he came home from the hospital and actually he’s doing fantastic.  The shots are still … well, shots but Toby seems to be tolerating them like a man at this point.

Please pray that the doctor keeps him on the same schedule for shots and that his glucose levels have been acceptable.  Pray too that we can learn as much as possible about how to care for Toby.

Photo:   Our new world of syringes, glucose monitoring, log book, and meal planning. We’re learning about stuff that we couldn’t even spell last week! God’s good though. Nice that we don’t have to learn it all in one day.

Well, even though school’s out for summer we still got quite an education this week:  After an emergency visit to the hospital on Tuesday, we found out that Toby (just turned 6 last month) has Type 1 Diabetes. Wow is right.

Although there are no surprises for the Lord, this pretty much came out of nowhere for all of us.  Toby has always been very healthy.  A good eater too – he actually loves his vegetables.

A couple weeks ago we started noticing Toby was drinking water like a fish.  He was thirsty all the time. Earlier this week, he became extremely lethargic too.  Not complaining too much but he was not a normal 6yr old running around everywhere. He would get up in the morning, eat breakfast and then was totally zapped – just would lay down on the floor and not want to move.

Finally we decided to call his pediatrician and she suggested we bring him in for a look that same afternoon.  By this time, Toby really wasn’t feeling well at all and he even looked chalky white – kinda like the boy Elliot in the movie E.T. when E.T. got sick and was on life support.  Later in the ER, Toby was wearing one of those pulse-O2 meters on his finger – it glows with red light. Then he really looked like E.T. and Elliot together!

Oh, so how did we get to the ER? In the ambulance! Toby actually enjoyed seeing the fire truck and ambulance both show up at his pediatrician’s office. After she did a quick couple of tests, Toby’s doctor realized that there was a strong possibility that he was having a serious diabetic induced condition or possibly something worse. His blood sugar levels at the ped’s office were more than 7X what a normal kid should have. “I’ve never seen a kid with it that high,” she said. “I don’t feel comfortable letting you drive him to the hospital so let me call the ambulance and not waste any time.”

The ER doctors at Arnold Palmer Children’s Hospital confirmed what our pediatrician had said:  His body was basically shutting down because of absolutely no insulin in his system.

Insulin: We’re learning lots about that!

Insulin Fact One:   Your pancreas manufactures it to help your cells unlock sugar energy from the food you eat. Without it, you will eventually die.

Insulin Fact Two:   People with Type 1 Diabetes (including Toby) do not produce insulin.

Insulin Fact Three:  A large majority of diabetes cases (about 90%) are Type 2. In this case their bodies do still produce some insulin.

Insulin Fact Four:   Daily injections of insulin are needed. Yep, Toby gets to have 3 or 5 shots a day. For the rest of his life. I write this almost fesiciously because it really hasn’t sunk in yet. I mean what 6yr old (or 60yr old for that matter) enjoys getting needle stuck every day forever?

Insulin Fact Five: If he takes his shots as prescribed, Toby will lead a quite normal life. Some dietary rules will need to be watched very closely but he can eat all the same foods, play sports, bother his sisters, etc. The ER doc reminded me NFL quarterback Jay Cutler is type1 diabetic.  So Toby’s future NFL career is not in jeopardy.

Toby actually spent the night in the ICU.  But the doctors there were able to stabilize him soon with IV insulin. So many of you have been praying for him and definitely the Lord has been carrying all of us.  We’ve felt a lot of peace and Toby started looking better after a few hours.  Praise the Lord, he’s definitely going to be OK!

After what seemed like weeks to Toby, they allowed him to eat again. Even hospital pizza brought a big smile to his face:

Prayer Requests:

^  Thank the Lord for extending Toby’s life. Thank Him for insulin, the peace He’s brought us, Toby’s great attitude, and for all of this to happen during the summer – when we’re not in as rushed of a schedule.  Also, thank you God that this did not happen during one of our long road trips.

^  Pray for “the shots.” Toby doesn’t look forward to them. Neither do his parents, who’ll be giving them to him 3 or 5 times a day.  The Lord may not make this enjoyable for us.  At this point we look forward to a day when we “get used to it” but it may never be enjoyed.  But DO pray for us to be very aware of the grace God gives us.  Ask the Lord to open even more avenues of grace and peace to us.

^  Pray against discouragement and against the train of thought that leads down the “I can’t” or “what if” dark, doubtful path.

^  Ask the Lord to help me and Shannon learn more about all the tons of details of caring for a diabetic child:  Diet, preparing meals correctly, giving the shots, testing his blood sugar, preparing the insulin, keeping a good routine, etc.

See more photos here:  http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=37987342&l=bc2982acab&id=12809211

The kids are not usually early risers.  But believe it or not, they all rolled out of bed immediately at 6am earlier this week to hurry down the street to our favorite viewing location for the Shuttle Launch. Cool video. Clearly visible for entire 8 minute burn of main engines. Lights up the whole early morning sky:

Trouble viewing video above?  If you’re recieved this post as an email, and you are reading it in an email program, you might try this link instead:  http://www.facebook.com/v/667284135209

Wow, good morning to you to!! Wouldn’t you like to be greeted at the entrance like this everyday?

Hard to believe, but Addison just turned eight.  For her party, she got to invite 7 other girls to come over for a Saturday night sleep over.   Ahem, let’s not take “sleep” or “slumber” too literally in the description.

A grand time was had by all.  Addison got carried away.

Cake by Shannon. Eight girls in eight sleeping bags. The sleeping bags are twinkies. Marshmellows are pillows. Oh yeah, sugar high!

View the photo album from the birthday party:
Facebook | My Photos – Addison’s Super Eight Birthday (Non) Slumber Party

And even a short VIDEO of the cake cermonies:

These days have been another clear example that we need a partnership team – caring, praying friends like you – just so we can continue on in ministry and in life.  Not long ago I was talking with Campus Crusade Vice President Roger Bruehl, who has been on staff for over 35 years.  Roger told me something I’ll never forget:

“If someone offered me a 6 digit salary to continue doing exactly what I am doing in ministry right now in lieu of having to maintain my own financial and prayer support team, it would be a no brainer:  I would choose my partnership team over any salary or incentives – sheerly because of the cherished relationships and prayer support.”

Your relationships with us are cherished. We NEED you in times like these and in ordinary days as well.  Would you take 5 minutes and pray for a few of the requests we have listed below?  We’re so grateful for you.

In some ways, the last 12 months have been tough for our family.  In other ways, we’ve experienced the goodness of God in a new level that we would have not even seen otherwise.  So we can in no way claim that God is anything but full time good, loving, awesome, and in control.

Just to recap the last 12 months:
October 2008:  Shannon’s mom passed away.
December 2008:  Shannon’s grandmother – her dad’s mother – died.
Early 2009:  It became obvious my dad’s dementia was worsening and he had some small strokes.
August 2009:  We began a new year and another adventure in home school – teaching 3 at home this year.  No major hardship here, it just takes a boatload of coordination and daily energy to do it.  Do I hear an “amen” from any home school moms out there?
August 2009:  My dad’s health slid further downhill and I began traveling back and forth to Georgia, helping my mom.
Sept 27th, 2009:  My dad passed away.
October 2009:  Continued to help my mom, and then traveled to Virginia to visit Shannon’s dad.

Considering that it is a 24 hour round trip driving to Virginia (Shannon’s family) and a 10 hour round trip to Georgia (my family), in the last 12 months we’ve spent a cumulative 10 1/2 DAYS – approx 13,000 miles – of pure driving time. This doesn’t include this summer’s ministry training event in Colorado – we flew.  So, yes we’ve done every possible road trip game possible in the van – sometimes we feel like we’re driving in our sleep.  It’s possible we could drive one of the round trips in our sleep.  I’ll bet our van could.

So, how are we doing?  Emotionally tired! Shannon and I are still in the grieving process – there are lots of emotions, memories and conversations to process.

But, bottom line, we have seen the goodness of God. We feel His comfort and love. Our parents are with the Lord, we feel so much peace knowing that we will see them again.

Here are some prayer requests for our family:

• Pray for the Lord to walk us through the grieving process
• Pray that we will know how to appropriately spend time talking and processing memories
• Ask Him to continue to lift us with His love, giving us emotional strength
• Lift up my mother as she is at home in Georgia now; she’d been married to my dad 50 years
• Pray for me as I continue to help my mom tie up several loose ends, make decisions, etc.
• Lift up our kids – Avery, Addison, and Toby – as they go through home school every day, that they would learn experientially to trust God with their attitude and decisions
• Pray that we won’t feel overwhelmed by the many things we’ve fallen behind in
• Ask God to continue to bless our relationships with our teammates
• Pray for our marriage to be strengthened and flourish as we receive God’s grace
• Pray for the holidays for us

Thank you!  God bless you.

Today would have been my Dad’s 75th birthday. He went to be with the Lord on September 27th. Shannon and I haven’t had time until now to write down the events of the past few months related to his illness.  Here’s the quick recap:

As mentioned previously, my Dad’s health had been declining as a result of an Alzheimers-related condition.  He started showing some signs of it at age 69.  Because of this disease, in recent months he had had several minor strokes and they were happening quite often.  Mom had to take him to the hospital a few times but he would pretty much “bounce back” from his stroke after just a day or two.  Even so, his condition was worsening.

In late August he was admitted to the hospital again and I went to be with he and Mom for a few days. From late August till mid October I spent almost as many nights in Pelham as at home with my family in Orlando. Dad became just too much for my Mom to handle at home – even with home health care assistance four days a week – and he continued to have mild strokes which kept temporarily taking away his ability to walk. During this time he was also incredibly confused and at times agitated, not always in an angry way, but it made it challenging to understand if he was in pain or not and to care for his basic needs.  We made arrangements for him to be admitted to the local nursing home and were waiting for a space to open up there.

September 15 Mom took Dad to the hospital again and I returned to help her. This time my father did not recover and never left the hospital.  I was privileged to be at his side when he entered God’s wonderful presence.

His condition had been critical for at least two days, yet I was surprised he passed away so quickly.  I had always thought that Dad had a strong heart – and he did – yet pneumonia took over his lungs and shut them down.  His vital signs had remained fairly in the normal range even up until an hour before his death.  God just took him home and he stopped breathing.

Shannon and the kids drove up for the funeral in Pelham, which was held on September 29th. Afterwords, we all stayed with my Mom for a week and then she returned with us to Florida and stayed for a week.  I returned her to Pelham and stayed with her again several days, helping start the process of all the legal/financial steps of settling Dad’s accounts and making sure Mom is taken care of.

Mom and Dad had been married 50 years. She is taking it day by day, but has been doing well.  For several years, she single handedly cared for my Dad with his dementia.  The vows “to have and to hold in sickness and health” definitely applied to her and she fulfilled them beautifully.  It was a tough job towards the end, very time consuming, yet the Lord gave her such joy in doing it.  I’m so proud of her.  Mom’s at home alone in Pelham now, staying active and relying on God’s grace. She wanted me to tell you all how much she has felt your prayers and appreciates you so much.

At the funeral service, my brother spoke.  He basically shared with everyone what he had wanted to tell Dad on the day he passed away.  It was an amazing tribute and I encourage you to read it here. Even if you didn’t know my Dad, I think you’ll enjoy some of the stories told.  We laughed and cried and praised God for Dad’s life.  We’ll miss him a ton, but he’s been transferred, by grace, into the Kingdom of God’s Beloved Son.

P.S. You can also read the obituary here.