Sunday, August 13, 2006

home again, home again, jiggity jog

Well, it's been a roller coaster. Not a kiddie roller coaster. One with its fair share of sharp turns and the sudden drops that make your stomach flip. Dad is home now, and relatively comfortable, but we've had quite a few challenges getting him to that point. I'll share a few of high points, and ask you to pray for the low ones (and that we'd know how best to manage them), and leave it at that.

High Point #1: King Crab! Friday night I ran over to Red Lobster and picked up an order of king crab. We mowed into it and enjoyed ourselves quite ridiculously. The nurses smiled and were tolerant of our childlike excitement.

High Point #2: Getting him home. Beth (Amy's mom) was there Friday night to receive all the home care equipment (hospital beds and whatnot) and to get instructions on how to use it. Augusta (Amy's daughter) and Chris (Augusta's husband) arrived Saturday and have been helping out with all sorts of things. Saturday evening the four of us took off for a visit to the mouth of the Brule River. Here's a picture of what we saw on our return. :)

Your comments, e-mails, and prayers continue to be greatly appreciated. We're quite overwhelmed, so appreciate sensitivity about calling and visiting. Each day brings its own set of new challenges and adjustments so it's hard to know how things will be even 24 hours from now. Blessings to you all.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Dale & Amy. I just love the pictures. You two are still the newlyweds I remember and love. I'm heart sick for what you are facing right now but I know that the day will come when we will all be in heaven together and what a wonderful day that will be.

Dale, I can only imagine seeing all the beauty of heaven and seeing the Lord Jesus in person. What a joy that will be for you. That is about the only thing that brings comfort at a time like this. Amy, hang on to that.

When I was struggling at Wood Lake and so homesick I thought I would die a friend of mine (who was dying of cancer and leaving four school aged children) wrote me with the words of a song that has been my motto. "When you can't see His hand and you don't understand, trust His heart."

We pray for you every day. All of you. May God be with you now and throughout this whole ordeal. We love you both so much. Bill & Carol Strever

Anonymous said...

Pastor Dale and Amy:
We send our love and want you to know that we are praying for you. Dale (and Amy) you were a real bright spot in Mom and Dad's life, when you were in Mondovi. Thank-you for all the trips to the hospital to see Mom. Someday she will greet you with a Big smile. Thank-you for baptizing Mom, Dad, Me and my son Alex.
We will continue to hold you, Amy and family in our prayers.
In Christ's Love,
Debbie and Scott Anderson and family.

Anonymous said...

Hi Dale Amy and Angie. Just wanted to say that we are thinking and praying for you.Thanks for the pictures and the updates in this difficult time. Take care Love Barry Joanie Kayla and Molly Kiminski

Anonymous said...

Dale,Amy & Angie, Thanks to Angie for creating this site to be able to understand what you are going through. We so enjoyed seeing you all at the picnic. You are in our thoughts & prayers each day. Love Kevin & Terri Johnson

Anonymous said...

Dear Dale and Amy,
Like everyone else we are really appreciating the blog (thank you Angie) and even catching up with those we know who write you. thought you might like a report on the Natwick's 50th yesterday in Menomonie. WE MISSED YOU OF COURSE! It was so good to see many old friends that came to wish Roger and Joanne well. the program part was almost an hour and a half, but no one seemed to mind. There was some solos , couple of skits(one was from some retired gals at the clinic/hospital), video from Joel's kids in Alaska (4 of the his 5 kids couldn't be there), some "planted" people to share and an open mike where quite a few shared how the Natwicks discipled them, led them to the Lord, fed them and put up with them in their teenage years (Les Benedict Klein shared about that one!) and all those things you know so well about them too. I won't begin to list all the people who you would know from years back, I'd miss some for sure but it was special to see Flo and Bert Bulkley. What an amazing couple to come with their own health problems. We know how special you are to them and them to you. Becky F. did a great job organizing it and we were very tired at the end of the day but it was a delightful time.

I'll quit here but just wanted you to know about it. The pictures are wonderful Angie, so much fun to see you again and what a dear daughter you have been through this. We love you all and are on our hearts continually. Debbie Cowles

Anonymous said...

Just a note to let you know that you are in our thoughts and prayers. Thank you Angie for taking the time to make this blog; wish this was not something you had to go through. Wilma and Darryl

Anonymous said...

Hi Dale, Amy, and Angela,

Loved the picture of Uncle Dale eating King Crab in the hospital. So glad to know he is home now. Thank you so much for the updates Angie.

Looked through pictures of Dale growing up at the farm today with my mom. Many stories of how much he is loved by his siblings. He's always had such a glow about him -- we love him very much. Please hug him for us.

Love & prayers,
Shellee, Kayla, & Kristen Lake

Anonymous said...

Hi Dale, Amy, and Angela:

Great website! Thanks Angela. Tell Dale that I still "think too much" when I attempt to do carpentry work. Thanks Dale for bailing me out of my carpentry attempts. Can't help but think about our times in Canada. Angela, I have some digital pics from Canada that I bet I could find a nice one if you would like to post. E-mail: rkeys@cvtc.edu

Praying for you guys always.

Ron Keys

Anonymous said...

We send our love and concern! Please know we continually pray for both of you as you go thru this journey together, and your family, as well. We treasure our friendship with you. Even now we know the Lord is using you mightily.

Anonymous said...

Hi Dale Amy and Angie,
Thank you Angie for writing the blog. It was great to see pictures of you Angie. You look very similar to how I remember you--but now a beautiful woman. I used to babysit you when you were in Menomonie. That was a very long time ago.

Dale, thank you for your love, time, and leadership working with all of the youth in Menomonie. It hasn't gone unnoticed. Thank you for your ministry to us. Thank you for choosing to follow Christ and then living it out for us all to see. It was never a high and mighty faith that displayed itself but a humlbe, gentle, fun-loving faith that pointed us to the cross.

My family and I will continue to pray for you, Amy and Angie. Again, Angie, thank you for doing the blog. It gives all of us who want to get in touch with you a way of doing that without taking time away from you, Amy and your dad.

Love to you all

Leslie (Benedict) Klein

Anonymous said...

Dear Uncle Dale, Amy & Angela,
So glad to here you all are home !!
We want you all to take time out to relax and somewhat ease your minds from everything that is going on in your lifes today. Please know that we love you all very much !!
Our prayers to you!!
Love,
Sherrie, Kevin & Courtney McFarland

Anonymous said...

Dearest Dale and Amy:
Wish we could be nearer to you during this time, but we are with you in prayer. And of course we are only a phone call away if you need us.
Amy, believe it or not, words fail me now. I just want you and Dale to know that not a day goes by without our thoughts and our prayers. You both have touched so many lives in so many ways.

Dale I can barely look out a window here at The HOMEPLACE without seeing something of your handywork. Dale, the song "I Can Only Immagine" comes to mind as I prayed for you. You continue to teach, even now as I have shared with people here, you are the perfect example of the scripture found in Job 13:15 "though He slay me, yet will I trust Him."
Your brother and sister in Christ,
Kathy and Ron Stelzleni

Anonymous said...

What an awesome website. We have had so many thoughts of you both in my heart for the last couple months. You both have been there for the happiest times of our lives and for the worse day we have ever had. Today, I choose to remember the happiest times with a big smile on my face as I am typing this...I will never forget when you and Amy were out at our house, Don put on a fake rubber butt and even though you knew what he was doing, you didn't let Amy know. Then Don walked by her and she let out a scream that was probably heard in Mondovi. Oh we all laughed so hard. The day that Don and I got married and couldn't get the Unity candle lit. You came to our rescue with your humor and a smile and helped us to get it going. I remember Amy asking Don one time if we got a lot of humming birds out at our house. Don said” a few, but it takes so many of them to make a meal." The look on her face was just hilarious. Don and I still talk about that when we are watching the hummingbirds. You two, have probably been the only two people who never judged us because we didn't go to church every Sunday. You knew we believed in God with all of our hearts and I thank you for that. I remember the saddest night of our lives, you Pastor Dale were the first one out to see us. I believe it was the night right after that, you and Amy both came out and listened to us, talked with us and cried with us. You were not only a Pastor that night, you were our friend and that means a lot to both of us. These are the special memories I choose to remember. There are so many more...Do you remember Jesse and Bernie offering you money to hold my head under the water longer if I chose to let you baptize me? I wonder if you would have taken them up on their offer:) Or, how about the time Don and I were doing the pre-marital counseling with you and he wanted to wear those stupid teeth for the ceremony. You told him it probably wouldn't be the proper thing to do because I wouldn't be happy about it. Only for me to look down the receiving line after the ceremony to see, Don, his father, his brother and Dustin all with them in. You tried...at least it wasn't during the ceremony. Okay, enough of that!

We have been so blessed to have these memories of you to cherish forever and we know we are not the only ones. You have touched so many lives with your boisterous laughter, gentle voice, soft heart and genuine love for everyone you meet. No matter how out of place a person would feel, you always took the time to make them comfortable. Look at how many people you have shown the way to a better life through Jesus Christ. You could never imagine how you have helped us. You have helped us to become better people. Thank you just isn't enough. Please know that you and Amy are in our thoughts and prayers daily. Love to you both....

Don & Deb

Anonymous said...

Dale years later your positive infulence contiues in everyone your life has touched, including mine. I have been praying for you as often you have been on my mind.

Love Cheryl "Shannon" Peters
Green Bay

Anonymous said...

Dear Dale,Amy and Angie:

Dale I remember the fun time we had up at your father's farm fishing and camping out, as youngsters in Menomonie. Do you remember the race that you had us undertake...going around the lake, carrying one of our team mates? Good times! I know you won't forget the pepper incident while we were up at the cabin, during deer season. I don't think your laughing helped the situation! : ) I think there should be a warning that comes with the pepper shakers...don't you think?

Dale...just wanted to let you know that you are loved...you are a dear person. The thing that sticks out in my memory is your smile and laugh...You were always in a good mood...

Amy and Angie...Dale is fortunate to have your love and support..and I am sure that is greatly appreciated...

I had the opportunity to help my father during his illness ...So, even though there were hard times and struggles,it was also a time where we laughed,worked together, and a time where I was able to grow to love him more...

If there is anyway I can be of support or if you need someone to talk to...please let me know...

We have that assurance that we will see each other again Dale...Be strong...and hold onto those dear to you.

A big hug to y'all.

Love Tom Channer