You have probably noticed that the posts are getting less frequent. There is a lot more to do, now that we are home!
Overall, it has been a good week. We like the therapists, which was a big concern of mine. They all seem to be on top of things. We wish Mike was not scheduled three days in a row, but that’s what was available. At least we were able to get speech first each day, which is what we wanted.
We had a fun day with the kids today. Mike needed blood drawn and I needed a haircut, so we all went in and went out for lunch. Pizza Hut buffet is a favorite of everyone!
Did you know that your hair can get stressed out? I knew that my hair was not in good shape as it was not curling well. It has been kind of stiff. The lady that does my hair said that my hair was like that of someone who had been swimming all summer or treating it with a lot of chemicals. I am still a natural blond! So, my hair is much shorter than I wanted, and will hopefully come back more healthy.
Today I found out that the 8-year-old daughter of a friend of mine has cancer. I am extremely bothered by such things now. It’s not that I didn’t care before, but I had not had the extreme sense of losing control, emotional ups and downs, helplessness, … Hopefully this increase in compassion in me will lead to encouragement for others. I’m terrible at remembering where verses are, but there is a Bible verse that says one of the purposes of our trials is to be able to comfort others as we were comforted. I have spent a lot of time really thinking about those things that comforted me, and that’s what I plan to do for others.
Mike Evans' blog 
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” (2 Cor. 1:3-4)
There is nothing like living through the fire and finding the blessings that lie within. To understand in so much of a deeper way the MANY emotions and stresses that are faced…
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Hi Mike, Karla & Kids,
I am SO glad to hear that you are finally back home. What good news. I’m sure that your children are completely ecstatic to be able to see you and spend some quality time with you and Mike.
Take as many pictures as you can and video some of those special times together. Someday, you’ll be glad you did.
Please know that everyone in my family is thinking about all of you and praying for all of you.
Take Care & God bless
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I can so relate Karla! Isn’t it wonderful that nothing in our lives is wasted? Our awesome God uses it all! He always has eternity in mind. Tell Mike and kids hello for us. We miss you guys ! Love, Wendy
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Karla,
We keep Mike and his recovery and you all in our prayers, but I’m especially praying for you with all that you have to manage with home and family. I’ll be praying for both you and your hair to de-stress and to be able to rest and rejuvenate! May the Lord give you strength and all you need for each day. Greet your whole clan from us.
Love,
Lisa
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Dear Mike and Karla,
I usually don’t read other people’s mail to you but for whatever reason as I scrolled down to post this I cause the lines from your friend Wendy and found them profound. ‘Nothing in our lives is wasted….God uses it all.’ I know this. I believe this, but I don’t see it as clearly as I should and I certainly don’t live it out with anything like consistency, but if I did how much calmer I would be.
‘Nothing in our lives is wasted…God uses it all.’ Even, or maybe especially, the things that break our hearts and lay us low.
Karla, I hope your hair quits stressing out — and I pray that Mike will be therapy champion in all three categories of his therapy — we are settling for nothing less than the trifecta — only for your trifecta we are not predicting ‘first, second, and thrid, but first, first and first — really the therapy triple crown. May the Lord soon have you preaching, piano playing back packing with big John in the Big Horn mountains.
Love you both,
Randy
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Hi Mike and Karla,
You are both still in our prayers as you continue to heal and bring a routine back into your lives and that of your children.
Praise God for what he has done for you and continues to do.
Love to you,
Bill and Barbara
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Hey Mike & Karla,
We think of you often. It is great to be able to hear how things are going via the blog. I miss stopping in to see Mike, though I am sure he is quite thankful to be out of St. Mary’s. You are in our prayers.
Steve
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Interesting thoughts from your hairdresser on your hair. I found that I had/have delayed stress as anniversaries come around, comments are said, and even, this is weird, as Chloe’s hair comes back in. I know this is healthy and normal and I want her to to be more than a cancer survivor,but I also don’t want to lose the preciousness and fragility of life that the bald head represents. Let me know if your friend has a caringbridge site and I will keep up with the family.
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Yes, 2 Cor. 1:3-4. I know what you mean about our compassion being increased when we ourselves have suffered. I was recently diagnosed with cancer and I am ashamed when I look back and see my lack of compassion for those who are ill. The Lord has used my illness to cause me to be more compassionate towards others. Humbling.
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