I drove in this morning on very messy roads. The temperature was the same at 6:30 this morning as it was at 9 last night.
Once again, Mike did not sleep well. Tonight they are going to give him Benedryl to see if that helps. He is coughing less, which is a good thing.
The occupational therapist was not very with it today. She got here about 10 minutes late and did not have everything ready to go. All she got accomplished was the shower, which is not much for an hour. I think we’re going to talk to the rehab doctor about it, as Mike thought it was worthless.
Three weeks ago from this very minute, Mike was waiting for the AVM resection surgery to start. Two weeks ago he was laying on a cooling blanket in neuro ICU with a temperature of 105 that was caused by a blood infection. One week ago Mike was headed for open heart surgery to remove that huge blood clot from his heart and bunches of clots from his lungs. Today is better already!
Yesterday I went to the mall for awhile to walk around and pick up a couple more things Mike needed for rehab. I’ve been to restaurants, but apart from that, I am pretty much at the hospital. I was surprised at how bothered I was by everyone going on with their lives while mine is on hold. As hard as it is in the hospital, it is less emotionally challenging here. Everyone around us in the hospital is also in the midst of dealing with a health problem.
So what am I going to do to deal with this? Well, one thing is to remind myself of the people here who are in more difficult situations than we are. One such person is the lady on the cardiac floor who had a heart/double lung transplant. She has been in the hospital since October and not seen her kids since Christmas. She is a single mom who now has to stay in Rochester for the next year. She also has a very kind brother who has been with her the entire time. They like Rochester so much that he has found a job and is moving her children and mother here to live permanently. That’s commitment!
I am also going to take the advice of our friend, Randy, and take one day at a time. It is overwhelmingly stressful to think past today. Randy quoted the verse that says, “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” So I’ll just deal with today’s trouble, which so far is the easiest Thurday trouble yet!
Mike Evans' blog 
Thanks, Karla for the updates – they are a blessing to us. Those words “one day at a time” came to me the other day and realized I hadn’t heard them from you yet – guess it wasn’t the right timing. I really appreciate the love and care you’ve given to Mike during this time – you are truly a help-meet and God certainly brought you two together. Thank you for loving him so much and being a true Godly example of sacrifice. Maybe one day these difficult days weeks, and months will just be a blip on the radar screen!
We love you and will keep praying!
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Remeber Karla,
God has prepared this path for you beforehand. Purposeful, creative, prescribed… for you and for Him.
Eph. 2:10
And, now, when you are walking in it, He is walking with you… and is living in you.
All this for your great benefit… somehow.
Rom. 8:28
This is all true for Mike as well.
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Mike and Karla,
The Lord will never give you more than you can handle each day. His mercies are new every morning. There will be “good” days and “bad” days. There will be long days, days you wish you knew the outcome ahead of time, and days of victories. One day, you will be able to look back on those days as a whole and stand amazed at the awesome work of our Almighty Father – in your lives, your children’s lives, your family and friends’ lives. God teaches us much along the way…He reveals more of His holiness….He displays His majesty….He delights in our complete dependence upon Him….and so much more. This is His way of perfecting our faith, shaping us into who He wants us to be. The road isn’t easy, but the destination is worth it all. I know this from experience. May you have joy in the Lord during the journey. We continue to pray with a compassionate heart for you and all involved.
From John 9:1-3:
“…..This happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.”
With love and prayers,
Peggy
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Karla, it is hard. It is especially hard because you and God have done a good job keeping your family healthy. I know for me…it is overwhelming to think of the rest of my life going on like the last seven years. How I long for the days when I was able to serve as deaconess, direct SS with Betty, lead/go Bible studies, work, and be a wife and mother, God has chosen this path for me. If I live it one day at a time, I am able to see His hand in each day. Otherwise, I begin to feel sorry for myself and get depressed. I’m so glad that you can see it now-treasure each day and look for divine appointments with women who have no hope yet are walk thru times like you and Mike. For me, every day I must choose to step into the day following God or sink into darkness. Most days it is a non-issue. Yet there are days a battle rages within me. God wins, but I ask for pray from close friends if the battle lasts longer that usual. I will be praying for you, your kids, and Mike, trusting that this is a short season in your lives. Love, Donna Haxton
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“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord (Isaiah 55:8)
Not one of us would choose a lengthy hospitalization, medical trials, being separated from friends, family, church… But God in His sovereignty plans our present moments and our futures in ways we don’t often understand nor choose.
When spending time within those hospital walls, I often find my deepest, closest moments with God, yet understand the pull, the yearn, as well to be home with loved ones and to once again fellowship amongst other believers in the church body.
Our family continues to pray for you both, for strength, peace and trust in God’s plan, perseverence, and lots of drive to succeed for Mike (keep pressing, never give up-some days are better than others; you may find days that are more sleep-deprived or ill are days you can’t accomplish as much or possibly even seem weaker/worse abilities-but REMEMBER tomorrow is a new/fresh day and the strength may be better as well).
“And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of HIS WILL in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be STRENGTHENED with all power, according to his glorious might, for all ENDURANCE and PATIENCE with JOY, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light… (Col. 1:9-12)
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Karla,
I so wish I could be there witih you. I am glad that there have been people coming to you be with you during these many weeks. I saw this hymn, and wanted to send it your way. I love you and have been thinking of you and praying for you daily.
Be not dismayed whate’er be-tide, God will take care of you. Beneath His wings of love abide, God will take care of you. Through days of toil when heart doth fall, God will take care of you. When dangers fierce your path assail, God will take care of you. All you may need, He will provide, God will take care of you. Nothing you ask will be denied, God will take care of you. No matter what may be the test, God will take care of you. Lean, weary one, upon his breast, God will take care of you. God will take care of you (Karla) through every day, o’er all the way, He will take care of you. God will take care of you. Love and hugs to you. Kathy
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Karla,
If you need anything while you are up there call the PD and ask for Robert Miller. He and I went to college together and I am sure he would help you in any way he could.
Things are looking better! What a difference a week or two makes! Tell Mike to be patient and stay focused on getting better.
Love to you both,
Mark
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Someone once told me “You can’t have a testimony without a test”, easy for them to say when they are not the ones being tested, but I have found it true. After this time in the wilderness is over, you both will be able to “go and strengthen the brethren” as Jesus said to Peter. And you will have understanding of their suffering and you will be able to encourage them to trust in the Lord because you have come to know His character in new ways–that He is “Faithful and True” as Revelation tells us His name is. I am reminded of Deut 1: 30,31 “The Lord your God which goeth before you, He shall fight for you, according to all that He did for you in Egypt, before your eyes, and in the wilderness where thou hast seen how that the Lord thy God bare thee, as a man doth bear his son, in all the way ye went, until ye came into this place.”
When we remember that He carries us lovingly as a father carries his son…wow…
To know Him is to trust Him!!! and to be able to enter into His rest, knowing that He is good and His mercy is new every morning.
Prayers for you all! Mary and Chance
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