Giving Thanks

Just a sample of the wonderful things...

Dogwood berries (background)

MomB Rolls (Granny)

Pumkin Pies (Granny)

Smoked Turkey (Autreys)

Sweet Potatoes (Rachel)

Spinach Medline (Convilles)

Cornbread Dressing (Glovers via Sheila & Lisa)

Corn Casserole (Andersons)

Cranberries (Granny)

Greenbean Casserole (Artie Clark)

Pecan Pie (Ms. Clark)

Strawberry Pie (Sonja Cardwell)

Shrimp Dip (Autreys)

Peanut Butter cup cookies (Sonja Cardwell)

Ham (James Fuller)

Water (Wesley)

and Doctor wrote this morning...

"Thanksgiving Day,

I am thankful for the Lord God giving us another day.

We often sit around and wish for more and we fail to appreciate the good we already have."

From David

Dad was somewhat inspired today and was typing on his Tobii.

Of late he has either lost interest or it has become too much of an effort and his communication has dropped off to a minimal. He was so lucid and aware and it was nice to have a little bit of him back with us.

Granny went for a sewing class and I brought over my work (computer) and stayed with him all day.

Anyway, he worked for a long time without talking to any of us and then just out of the blue, he "spoke" the following:

"God forgive me! I would like to be in your presence and sing your praises!
Oh lord God i have but a few days left to sing your praises! I am not
worthy! Yet i yearn to see you!"

The Cleanup

There are no other words but Thank You!!!!

Pictures from Gustav

Oops!.....I forgot to attach the pictures to the post. Rachel

A Visit from Gustav

Gustav made his visit here known. A huge oak tree blew over taking with it a few other trees and part of the fence. Yes, it made a loud sound but at least it fell on the driveway and across the street. We discovered that the guys living across the street had decided to throw a "Hurricane Party" and thought the tree falling down was "pretty cool".

Thankfully a generator had been purchased to keep all of Dr. Dale's machines going if the
electricity were to go out. Yes, the loss of electricity happened and it lasted for about 26 hours or so. Dr. Dale's "world" was perfectly intact except for the brief interruption of unplugging the machines from the wall and replugging them in to the cords going to the generator.

We made several calls to the City reminding them that Dr. Dale was on the priority list. The guys worked all they could to get us up and running. They had explained they had to start from the beginning of the "chain" and work their way here. We stood outside watching the guys going up in the bucket trucks, coming down giving us a false sense of hope, and then going back up to check the power lines.

Finally we achieved success! Electricity!!!!!!!

We thank the many of you who called checking in on us. Thanks for many offers of gas to keep us up and running. Thanks for the many prayers. We survived and are thankful for that.
We are again blessed to have family and friends who are dear and caring and thinking of us at all times.

Rachel

Another thought from Barbara
Do you remember that epiphany you had in your late teens or early twenties? The one in which you realized that your mother actually did know what she was talking about and had experienced life and was a source that you could trust and that she was a lot smarter than you thought she was. Well, I had that and again I have had a similar experience in my forties.

I have always known that my mom was a nurse and that she knew a lot about medicine, but I only saw it practiced as any mom practices nursing her children. I have been to places where she has worked and her fellow employees have raved about her nursing abilities and care beyond the call of duty that she demonstrated for her patients.

But, it has not been until this year that I have been able to see first hand her knowledge and abilities and care. She demonstrates her love for Dad every day in how she cares for him. Her hands are full of service and love. She is meticulous in his physical care. She is so detailed and demanding of herself. I would let things go that she will do and do and do until they are perfect. She knows how to do everything to care for Dad. She is so confident in what is to be done and how to do it properly that she makes me feel competent when I am copying her. She never stops and works tirelessly way beyond what I would be able to do. She has a broken foot and yet spends 12 to 14 hours standing by Dad's bedside without complaint. I could not do that.

I say all of this to quote Proverbs 31 that her children will rise up and call her blessed. I stand now to call my mom blessed and a blessing to Dad and to all of us. I know that this blog is about my dad, but he would not be the man he is if he had not had the woman I call Mom.

Please pray for her. Pray for God's strength when she has no more strength. Pray for health and unceasing grace to flow into and from her. She is in a precarious position - emotionally, physically, and spiritually. But God is able to do far more than she could ever ask or imagine for her.

With humility,
Barbara

Hello everyone,
I am posting for Dad today. This is Barbara and I have been visiting Mom and Dad for the past week. Joanna has also been here and left yesterday. Hopefully, we have helped Mom this week in her vigilant care for Dad. Also, we have tried to do all that David and Rachel do every day to help Mom and Dad.
Dad remains very happy and positive while being paralyzed by ALS. I would think that he would get discouraged or angry or upset at his condition or limitations, but he continues to be joyful and thankful and to see the greatness in everything in his very small world. He wrote the prayer just a few days ago and has sent me and others encouraging emails that express his joy in life.
His memory fades about some facts and events that have occurred in his life. This is sad for Mom and for all of us. It is sad for him, too, because thinking about yesterday, today, and the future is all that he can do. It is absolutely wonderful that he has this computer Tobi communication tool. I can still converse with him and "hear" what he is thinking. This would be almost impossible without this amazing technology because reading his lips becomes increasingly difficult. We need to figure out a way for him to blog using his Tobi computer. Right now, that is not possible and I am not enough of a computer person to even try to figure out how that could be accomplished.
I know that not everyone has had a wonderful father, but I have. To me, Dad is the earthly representative of God the Father here on earth. His unconditional love, his complete forgiveness, his servanthood, his humility, his endurance, his patience have always been the example of Jesus in a man here on earth. I have lived an unbelievably privileged life following in the footsteps of my earthly father. He has never led me anywhere except to the foot of my Heavenly Father. What a wonderful place to be!
In the footsteps of my father,
Barbara Boersma Keller

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Happy Birthday to you.
Happy Birthday to you.
Happy Birthday Dear Daddy.
Happy Birthday to You.

Today is Dad's 76th birthday. Barbara and I are here enjoying time with Mom and Dad. I am sure that David and Rachel and the boys will be over at some point and we will have a little celebration. We do miss Mark but his duties in Africa make it hard for him to be here right now.
We are so thankful that we have another year to celebrate with Dad. We treasure each and every moment with him.

Prayer

Dear Lord God Jehovah,  we humbly praise your name. Lord, everywhere we
look we are reminded of you. Stately trees suggest your magesty. The fields
of grass or crops remind us of your providing for us. Air enables us breath
by breath to be envigorated and carries sweet odors. We are awed when we
look at the moon and stars at night to realize how tiny we are compared
with you, and yet you have made provision for each of us individually. The
hugeness of your power and strength is unfolded to us bit by bit as we rely
first on muscle power, then steam power, then atomic power, we know not
what will be in the future. Yet, God, in spite of your immeasurable
strength and power and wisdom you have considered each of us individually
and made eternal provision for anyone who expresses love to you. Such a God
brings joy with tears whenever i stop to consider. Thank you Lord.

Contest

Today i am thinking of a contest.  We could call it the A LS sweepstakes.
Here is how it works.

See if you can remain totally motionless for six hours straight.

Sounds easy?  It may not be!

To begin stuff some cotton in your ears.

Then pick a comfortable single bed with a TV in the room.

You will need an accomplice also.

For instance if you fall asleep someone needs to record if you make any movement.

You see, that is the whole idea of the contest.
Remain motionless For SIX hours!

So you are in this comfortable bed.
You have a pillow under your head and another under your knees.

You will lay there for six hours without moving.. During that time there can be no
eating or drinking.

You are allowed to use a urinal once of course the actual movement of such

a device is wholly up to your accomplice.

The only thing that you can move is your eyes and lips.

You cannot speak but someone may be able to read lips.

Try this as often as you like next weeks.

Please report to failures as well as successes.

HOME AGAIN

Hello to all,

Sorry for not posting anything but birthday greetings these past few weeks. Things are quite busy around the Boersma household. Also, for those of you who have not heard, Dad was admitted into the hospital in the ICU with pneumonia on the 7th of May and after 10 days of IV antibiotics finally was able to come home yesterday, May the 16th. I was not around when he went into the hospital, but am told that he was quite weak and pale. He looks much better now.

So, we are home now. He and Mom are again getting back into the routine. Please pray that he will be able to rest well at night. I will be here until this coming Tuesday when I head back to Jackson before I fly out to Indiana for Mary Julia's high school graduation. David and Rachel continue to be a huge help and support for Mom and Dad, for which all of us other siblings are eternally grateful. I do plan on visiting Ruston often this summer, due to the fact that I am out of school until August.

Many thanks for all the prayers for all of us during this time and for the countless number of people who have been bringing meals and who stop by to pray, rub Dad's feet and legs, read, or just to visit. How beautiful is the body of Christ!

We love you all!

Joanna and the rest of the family

P.S. Dad is enjoying getting used to his new computer that speaks and writes for him just by eye contact. It is amazing how far technology has advanced even in my lifetime. He is looking forward to posting on this blog himself.

Happy Birthday Mary Julia

Happy Birthday Donnie

David's birthday

Barbara's Birthday

Happy Anniversary

Today is March 26th.
48 years ago, Helen and Dale were united in marriage in Kingsport, TN.

Maybe later today we can post a photo of then and now.

Doctor arranged with Rachel and I to get 48 roses for Granny.
Of course, He also wanted a rose bush for Granny (one to grow on)

Happy 48th Anniversary from all of your kids...

Thoughts from Joanna

The Lord has blessed me with time off for Spring Break, this whole week and Monday, to come and spend time with Mom and Dad. I have never been medically inclined, as each of my siblings will attest to after seeing me come close to fainting on more than one occasion dealing with something medical. So, I must admit that I was quite apprehensive about what I might have to do here this week. However, the Lord has been gracious to me. I have surprised myself at what I have been able to do this week with Daddy. I have always heard that you can do anything for the ones you love; and I now know that is true.

Besides helping take care of Dad’s needs, I have had the joy of reading to him as he did to me for many years. The book that we are reading was brought to him by a member in Mom and Dad’s church and is entitled A Change in Flight Plan. In this book, Paul Lanier, an anesthesiologist who was diagnosed with ALS at the age of 37 chronicles his journey of living with ALS. Lanier clearly wants to show others how he daily strives to use his “change in flight plan” (i.e. the Lord’s change in the plan for his future) to bring glory to God by revealing Jesus Christ to others through his suffering. What a challenge for us all when we are faced with that inevitable “change in flight plan” for our lives. The author is keenly aware of the fact that his suffering here on earth is temporary and strives to make the “temporary affect the permanent” by leaving a legacy here on earth. He wants others to see what it clearly means to live a life for Christ, no matter what your struggles are. I am talking so much about this book because in reading this book, I can see my daddy in this man. I know that it is quite miserable for Dad at this moment, but I have no doubt that the Lord is “letting the temporary affect the permanent” right now in Dad’s life. What a blessing it has been to read the countless number of cards, emails, and blog comments that constantly remind me of the person that Dad is in Christ and the legacy of a follower of Christ that Daddy daily leaves. I have no doubt that the Lord is using Dad’s illness in mighty ways, just as he is doing in the life of the author of the book I mentioned. What a blessing that is for me to see!

In closing, Mom has told me about the countless number of meals, visits, e-mails, and phone calls that she and Daddy have received. When I come here to visit, I am overwhelmed by the Body of Christ that has come together to minister to my parents at this time. Thank you all. Knowing that there are so many here that care for Mom and Dad makes it easier for me when I can’t be here.

Games

It has been a while since we have written about Dr. Dale. Things seem to be progressing daily. Each day is filled with a routine to meet all of Dr's needs. We have devised a chart, with Dr. Dale's help, to keep us on track with this daily routine. It can be quite confusing at times, but I think Granny has it mastered.

It is nice to have people coming by to read, to talk, to pray, to laugh. It is nice to see smiles.
Thanks for that!

We have asked Dr. Dale about the back scratching contest and who may be the winner. He just smiles. I guess that contest is not over yet. So we asked about the foot rub contest. He just smiles and says Patty. Patty is the lady who sits with him at night. Granny just laughs. We all laugh. Doctor just smiles.

One day Granny was sitting in the recliner across the room from Dr. Dale. Dr. mouthed something and Granny thought he called her Betty. Wesley was watching the Flintstones and immediately thought Dr. Dale was referring to Betty Rubble. Granny then called Dr. Dale "Fred". A couple of days later, Granny looked at Dr. Dale and asked him if he knew who she was. Dr. Dale's response was "Betty". We laughed and laughed.

Keeping this in mind, Wesley walked up to Dr. Dale's bed yesterday. He looked Dr. Dale in the eyes and said "Do you know who I am?" You could only laugh. Dr. Dale even smiled.

In case you are interested, we are contemplating a new contest....arm wrestling. It seems Dr. Dale is able to do that motion with his right hand. Anyone interested?

Thanks again for all your love, support and prayers. It is truly treasured!
Rachel

The Doctor at Work

Believe on the.

Lord.

Our.
God.

It amazes me the help I get. Of course Helen gives me her all. She feeds me thru a stomach tube three times a day. She changes my dressings. She gives me a bed bath. She takes care of the needs of nature. She puts drops in my eyes. She scratches my back and rubs my feet. And add a dozen or more chores to that. What a wonderful woman.

Another marvelous person is Rachel. She has volunteered herself to be here every day to give Helen backup. I marvel that she is so very unselfish and giving. I cannot imagine anyone being so unselfish.

David comes every evening and also spends the night Saturday and Sunday to provide backup for Helen. The other five nights we have a lady hired.

I eat nothing but cans of tube feeding, but there has been a steady influx of food from all kinds of people. The fridge is laden with casseroles etc all the time David and Rachel and Wesley and Aaron eat here most every night.

We have a steady flow of company. Some come to read. Today our preacher, Dicky, brought a book and read a mythical version of history where the pharoah smoked cigars and spit on the floor. Between six and ten others have read from a variety of books including the Bible. And Jim, our neighbor has come twice and played on the piano a medley of familiar hymns.

Do you wonder when I saw the Lord is good.

Dale

To our oldest grand-daughter

Today is Lauren's birthday...23rd birthday. This is a simple message to Lauren from Loren....sent with a kiss!

Hope you have had a wonderful birthday Lauren!

a bit of video

this is doctor saying hello everybody

and then spelling out "I Love You"

Thoughts

It was Thursday, February 28, 2008. I was awakened this morning at 3:30 a.m. and decided to go down to the playroom to join Dale. I fell asleep on the sofa while Patty, a dear woman who stays with us at night, took care of Dale. When I awoke, Patty had slipped out and I saw Dale just waking with a smile on his face.

Our routine is to let the dog out, feed him, put on the pot of coffee, give Dale his 2 cans of Pulmocare, letting him relax a little while I have cheerios and bananas and a big cup of coffee of course. After our stomachs are satisfied, we start our routine of meds, nebulizer treatment and cleaning the trach. Rest again. Dale is extremely weak and doesn't take much to tired him, so our pauses come frequently. He is such a sweet man and love's being read to, so I try to do so as much as I can.

We had a few visitors today. Lora came by to "check on us" before they (Bobby and Lora) go on an adventure to the far cold, snowy, north. David and Rachel have been so faithful in being here helping out in every way. We have a few laughs and a few scary moments in helping Dale do the simple things in life. You see, he has trouble moving his head, legs and arms. Great effort goes into his typing on the blog. So I thought I would help him today.

Our last thing to do before bed time is reading a chapter from a book. Tonight the book was "When I Lay My Isaac Down" by Carol Kent. I was struck by a paragragh on community. I feel compelled to share it with you all. This is during a difficult trial in her, Carol Kent's, family's life:
"I never understood what the power of community could do. It's people in the body of Christ working like a family to sit and cry with you. Holding you, caring for your needs. Carrying your burden for a day. Creatively solving problems. Gathering resources. Opening doors of hope. Writing notes of encouragement. Fighting a cause on your behalf. Finding a way when there is no way. Listening. Waiting with you as long as it takes. It's people being "Jesus" to you."

What a great understanding of community. Dale and I have experienced that community here in Ruston, LA and throughout the world....prayers, cards, food, visits and just being there to fill those needs, as Carol Kent says "being 'Jesus'" to us. How humbled we are for the outpouring of love and concern.
These are those we will spend eternity with. This life is the practice field for eternity. "WOW" as Dale says, "Heaven looks good."

Thank you dear dear people who are helping share this burden with us. It brings sunshine into the darkness to know we are not alone on this journey.

Helen

Believe

Believe.

Lovingly.
On.
God..

As I lay here I have lots of time to think. Of course I am aware of things going on around me. The tv is on. Wesley is watching a program about the Presidents. Aaron is on the computer. Rachel, bless her, has spent her days here helping with everything. David is working. And Helen is masterminding the whole.

For those who are interested, I’ll try to describe my status. I have a tracheostomy and am connected to a breathing machine. Without that I would not be here. I also have a tube in my stomach thru which I get feedings three times a day plus occasional Tylenol. I’m in a hospital bed and Helen can raise and lower my head and feet. I am not able to turn my head, or turn in the bed. I use my fingers to move my arms. I can move my left leg none, and only minimal with my right.

This is different from when Judy and Dick were here a few weeks ago. Then Dick could lift me out of bed and into a wheelchair . I could do without oxygen for five or ten minutes - long enough for him to wheel me downstairs and be transferred into a recliner in the family room. I could eat. I had control over my body functions.`

You wonder why I’m so graphic about my status. I thought it would help you to know . It gives me ample time to look forward to meeting God.. Happy day. Moses will reach down and grab one hand while Abraham takes the other. As they raise me up I see the face of God. No matter which way I turn, He is right in front of me. My body glows, and so do all the others around me. I easily recognize many; Dad, Mom, Rev Teed, etc. Wow, what a place. And each day the fun is just as great and maybe greater. My singing voice is great. Wow. Hope to see you there one day.

Dale

Doctor Dale Posting His Own Words

Believe..
Letters.
Over.
Gossip.

Valentine’s has come and gone. It surprised me the flowers that showed up. Some yellow, some white,, some pink. People are very generous.

David helped me and got a box of chocolates for Helen. She shared them widely.

I wish you could see my setup. I am in a hospital bed in our playroom.. On the bed is a table on which is a keyboard.. I have a 10 inch stick held by both hands with which I punch the keys. I have lost the ability to move my arms away from my body so there is an elastic band from each wrist to assist in reaching the keys.

Helen is taking superb care of me. She has help from 11 to 7 five days a week . But even then she’s overworked. Rachel has been here everyday, and so is David when he’s not working.

Write often.

Dale

As the day so is our strength.

It has been several days since we have let everyone know what is happening here at 903
Dogwood. God is faithful each day to get us thru with everything being taken care of at the end of the day. Dale is resting well today. As always he is never one to compalin just thankful. Loves all the visitors and especially those who will read to him. I know he gets tired of Fox Newsand the weather station. We had some bad weather predicted today so we prepared to be without electricity for a period of time. Well thankfully we did not experience said prediction.
As I commented before I am watching the Church at work takeing care of us with such gentle and caring hands. what would we do without them. My heart is overwhelmed with the love everyone is covering us with. Dale as you know can not talk now and has a board that he spells out letter by letter what he wants to say. I keep having him to repeat spelling cause I am a sow reader.

Boersma Like Online Gab

Just had a bath and the weather is beauutiful. David has rigged this so I can hit the keys with a dowel.. I thought I’d given you a status report .

This thing is called a.l.s.. It stands for amyotropic lateral sclerosis.. Sclerosis of course is hardening lateral refers to the side of the brain. So I’m getting hard headed . The other word has to be broken down. Trophic is medical jargon for change. Myo refers to muscle. The ‘a’ means not. So this is not a muscle disease primarily, but the result of changes in the sides of the brain. Now you know as much as I do.

I began a year ago mowing the lawn . I could make a couple of passes and have to stop . I checked my pulse and it was 150. . Five minutes of rest and I could mow some more. I thought I was getting old. By June I was having trouble stretching up to do eye exams in the office. One day Helen came to the office and saw my problem. ‘You are coming home’ she said. I have not been back.. At present I am bed confined . Cant turn over. . I had a feeding tube put in three weeks ago and helen is doing a great job keeping me well fed. I also had a tracheostomy hooked to a machine which breathes for me..

In 50 years as a medical practicer I never cared for anyone with this. Pretty rare. I have heard of persons going on for years, so feel free to write or come by anytime.

Prayer is the only treatment so talk to the Lord.
Frankly, medical science has no answers. I’d be glad to talk with you anytime about heaven.

Keep in touch,

Dale

Contest

Dad asked that I post on his behalf.
Short post but important.

He would like to hold a contest for all those within driving distance.

The contest will be judged by Doctor alone.

The Skill: Back Scratching

Thus far, I have been told that I am in the lead.
Style points may be awarded.

He is just a-tapping now

Hey there!

We are not sure what has happened with this blog so we'll give it another go and try again.

Dr. Dale is settling in to his daily routine of trach care, meals, breathing treatments, etc. I think we all are. We are becoming more comfortable every day.

Dr. Dale is getting quite good at the pointing of letters, the spelling of words. We are getting good at reading lips but sometimes we just don't quite it. David asked Doctor what was the one thing if he could do, what did he want to do. Dr. Dale said "type of my computer". The challenge was on!

The first attempt to make the laptop accessible for Dr. Dale did not work out too well. We soon figured out we needed a wireless keyboard. Off to purchase the keyboard we went. We got the keyboard hooked up and the lap top within eye sight. We put Dr's glasses on and off we went....lot of adjusting, pillow propping, pencil, pointers, dowl rods, grips....well we finally achieved success. Dr. was able to type on his computer.

Dr. has been compiling stories for his grandchildren. He was obviously in the middle of composing one of these. David found that story and off to tapping Dr. Dale went. It was quite challenging for him to do this but after a couple of hours, he was exhausted. He did ask David to proof read it for him once he was finished. Dr. Dale was smiling.

So he is just a tapping away now.

Rachel

My sweet smiler

Dale no longer comes thru the door whistling but he has a big smile with dancing eyes. Always a big thank you on his lips. Our world has become the room we spent time in the evenings-our play room in former years. David and Rachel are here a lot to help with his care- I do not know what we would do with out them. All of our kids have been very supportative. Barbara came for two weeks this month and Joanna came for a week. Mark and Britt 's family came to be here for Christmas with new grandbaby Kate. Our support group is many friends in Ruston. Our church family at Christ Community is truely " the church before the watching world". They have loved us with such a sacrifical love.
Our day is spent with proceedures to keep Dale comfortable. My nursing skills have kicked in and I have more confidence with this new equipment.
Dale is resting well most of the time- days and nights seem to run together for him. In the hospital he was not sure which side of the clock we were on because the blinds on the windows were closed.
We are still praying for a miracle and ask for you to do the same. Also for grace to walk the way that would please the Lord.I am reading a book (by Max Lucado-3:16. ) to Dale in the evenings. Recomended reading. Keep praying for his healing

Our First Day Home

Dr. Dale arrived home yesterday via ambulance. He is such a courageous man! We got him settled in his new bed. When I say we, I mean the "team" of nurses, sitters, respiratory therapist and of course family. I must admit, it was nice to have him home. I know my mother in law is glad he is home.

For those of you who need more updating, I guess I ought to back up just a bit. A week ago yesterday, Dr. Dale had a tracheostomy and a PEG tube put in place. The tracheostomy is to help with his breathing. The PEG is to supplement his feeding. He was in ICU for a week. We have been learning how to take care of his "new attached instruments". These new attachments were done to help Dr. Dale with his breathing and his eating.

Which brings us to arriving home yesterday and today being our first full day home. Yes, nothing is better than being home.

Although my mother in law, being the nurse, wife and "mom" that she is, wants to take care of Dr. Dale all by herself. She has agreed to a sitter helping to stay at night. There is a nurse coming twice a week for now but we can get her more as the need arises. David and I are here. I have never been the "nurse" but I am certainly learning.

If you were to ask about needs, honestly prayer is the biggest need....prayer for endurance, patience, rest and the miracle Dr. Dale has been praying for (He says we need to pray for a miracle that proves God has provided it. The miracle being grass growing on his arm or to grow another leg.--Doctor's humor)). We will try to post daily with updates. It will be neat especially if we can take turns posting giving you different perspectives about Dr. Dale.

Dr. Dale is a wise man to be admired! He is known by his sweetness and of course, his whistling every time he walks through a door.

Thanks for all you do for us and my inlaws. We love them tremendously!
Rachel