It’s been exactly two weeks since my last blog entry. When I stopped and nobody really said anything, I figured that meant that it was time. Yesterday, however, I was told time and time again by members of my Prospect, KY church - St. John UMC - that it was missed and still of use. So here I am again writing about my life, for whatever it’s worth!
The last two weeks have been fairly hectic. I’m staying extremely busy with work trying to get the business where it needs to be. On top of that therapy and training to walk again take up much of my time. I devote whatever energy I have left for the other passions in my life and hanging with Rebecca and/or friends. I’m really happy with where work is heading, but that’s not that interesting to most of you. I will just say it took me too long to realize how extremely important it is to have the right people in the right places.
A few huge things have happened lately that left a huge impression on me. To start, I believe I mentioned before how Stephen and Leah - Rebecca’s brother and sister-in-law - are about to venture off to Kyrgyzstan to start a business focused on chickens and more specifically, eggs. Yeah, that’s right. Also Leah is hoping to score a gig as a nurse out there. Anyway, I had very interesting conversations with them and others about their approach. It is a very interesting model of how to approach business internationally from a triple bottom line perspective.
Here’s a pic of a few of us out to brunch discussing exactly that -
That’s Tweet. I love that place.
What else?…
In therapy, I’ve very much been focusing on walking with crutches and going up stairs. I’m up to 40 stairs in the RIC stairwell. I can also walk down forward, which is harder than it sounds. Ralph (my right leg) is the one doing most of the work on the stairs.
Through a mixup at SideStix, they sent me a brand new pair of crutches to my specifications. I’m really excited about them as they just arrived. I’m hoping to only use the walker when I absolutely need it. Anyway for insurance I asked for a quote for SideStix and they thought it was a “paid for” order so went ahead and sent them to me! Sweet, right? So I talked them into a 30 day trial at which point hopefully insurance will have paid for most or all of them.
Here’s me walking around with RIC’s trial pair in training:
Yeah that’s right - I’m walking so fast that Louie (left leg) is a blur.
Here’s me on the stairs -
The big event, though, was heading home to Kentucky these past several days. My dad, Rebecca and I headed down on Wednesday and just got back about an hour ago. My brother Marc had flown in from Dallas to be there. It was really awesome to just relax and hang out with the family for a few days. I saw my cousins Ellee and Beth, Beth’s kids Saylor and CJ, Aunt Cha, Uncle Lee, Ellee’s “beau”, Kurt, and TONS of friends of the family. I was staying upstairs but used the bathroom downstairs since it was more accessible. Every day I walked up and down the stairs. Easy way to get a workout in.
Saturday we had a get-together during the day for everyone that ever emailed me or wrote me a card in the Louisville area. It was a LOT of people. I felt very much loved and supported. It’s been close to 5 months since my accident, but these people still genuinely care about what me and my family have and are going through with this ordeal. It was touching and overwhelming. They are the reason I write this blog. When I hear about kids getting interested in what I write and asking their mom’s to read them the blog as their bedtime story, I am truly touched. I also have to remember to try and keep it PG!
Without naming names, several people there are going through their own challenges, or have family members with challenges. Honestly, everyone has SOMETHING they are dealing with. It’s not always obvious physical issues like paralysis or cancer. So I’d like to think this helps everyone out there in some way gain perspective. Anyway, it was great to connect with everyone, regardless of what they were going through.
Here is a pic of me with Rob Partin, who I’ve mentioned before. Rob has a large brain tumor and just completed radiation treatment, going into chemo. I though he looked great and seemed very much himself.
Just a couple guys with their life-altering changes! Oh, and my dad.
At church they “recognized” me during the service, which felt very humbling and fairly awkward. I’m used to people staring at me when I sing or give a presentation, not for being in an accident! Still getting used to that.
In hopes of not making this all about my recovery, I’d like to talk about a cool topic that seems to keep popping up. Does God still speak to people? That’s the question. Pastor Dan mentioned it in his sermon today, my parents and I talked about it, and also I read about it in the book called Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas. I’m more than halfway through and it’s incredible. He’s incredible and the book gives an amazing insight into those Germans during Hitler’s reign that vehemently disagreed with everything he stood for.
Bonhoeffer said that while he never experienced God actually “speaking” to him in an audible way, such as often happens in the Bible. However, he also said that he felt that is why God gave us the Bible - to speak to us. If we ever want God to speak to us, we need only to read the Bible. Pastor Dan said something along the same lines today in church. I completely agree with them. I am not one to say whether or not God audibly speaks to people. It seems to me that since we are filled with the Holy Spirit, that the Holy Spirit influences our thoughts and decisions by “speaking” to us from the inside. For me, God is always there in that way. Whether it is my own conscience or actually the Holy Spirit/God becomes much easier to decipher when I am in the word more often. The less I read the Bible, the quieter that voice is inside me. Perhaps you are different or similar. But that’s the way it is for me.
Okay that’s enough for today :)
I’ll leave you with this pic. It’s much more pleasant holding on to a gorgeous girl than a walker in able to stand. By the way, I’m up to a minute standing completely unassisted!
That was on the way back from Louisville. I had to stretch my legs because they get so cramped and tight. Sucks, but as you can see it has it’s perks.
Dear Lord, bless all the folks at St. John that made me feel loved this weekend. Thanks for all the things in my life that I DO have. Thank You for the progress and allowing me to climb steps. Thanks for great family and friends. Please be with all those that I talked with this weekend that are having their own struggles. Give them strength and fill them with the Holy Spirit so that they can fully enjoy their lives. Give me rest and healing, God. Please let my progress and recovery continue. In Jesus’ name, amen.
G’night,
Chip
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