Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Fun at the Fair


So...what did I do this fall? Pictured above is a volunteer presenting the gospel to one of the children at the Kansas State Fair. http://www.cefofkansas.blogspot.com/
Allyn, I and Tim coordinated the Gospel Handpainting Tent for CEF of KS. There were around 1,660 + kids that came through the tent and heard the Word. We are so grateful to the over 140 volunteers that gave of their time and energy.
While it was so fun to coordinate...I was also happy to get the mound of handpainting supplies out of our bedroom. I'm ready to get into a Fall routine.
Did I ever mention to any of you that I love fall?!?! The weather. The colors. The holiday of Thanksgiving. Ah. So refreshing.

Pray for Rachel ...

http://www.healrachel.com/

So, Sept. 6th ended on alot different note than anticipated. I was down in Hutchinson, KS that evening preparing for the final CEF Handpainting Training. Tim and I had set up the State Fair booth. Last I had talked to mom, everything was laid out and ready to be packed for the rehearsal dinner the next day....

The training went great. It wasn't till afterwards that Allyn told me that my sister-in-law to be had been....life flighted. (gulp)

The next morning we learned specific details of what happened. Rachel suffered an injury at the chiropracter that lacerated the verteberal artery (it's a major artery located in the spinal column). She was life-flighted into the University of Iowa Hospital. After 2 strokes and a seizure, she underwent an emergency operation to remove the VERY LARGE clot in her brain stem.

The first few hours after the surgery were very intense. The news that day was sobering. We wept. We prayed. The last 4 hours of our trip to Iowa City were some of the longest in our life. Immediate family and close friends arrived to the hospital throughout that day (mainly those who would have arrived for rehearsal). Dad had visibly the hardest time. His eyes were always moist.

Rachel began to stablize over that weekend. She has overcome alot of hurdles. She is not out of ICU yet. There are some big mountains ahead. PLEASE continue to pray! Be specific and be bold. http://www.healrachel.com/ will give you current information and prayer requests for Rachel. Ryan has faithfully stayed by her. He's going to make a great husband.

Two Brother's Engaged!