TO:  Phyl’s Friends and Family list….

Hi gang….  It is New Years Eve day and I’d like to ask you a favor.  Would you give Phyl a call sometime tomorrow to wish her a Happy New Year?  If you can…. please text in advance so she can let you know if she is able to talk and wait until after 10am (eastern time) as she often sleeps late.

I am asking because she is struggling a bit right now.  We were supposed to go to a friends house for New Years Eve dinner tonight but Phyl is not quite up to it.  Part of it is the weather and the difficulty getting into someone else’s house due to the steps.  But mostly it is her general health.  She is just getting over a stomach bug or something and then got her third urinary tract infection in 2 months.  This has affected her breathing and her overall strength.  And the cold weather really affects her.  We are looking forward to seeing our sons and grandkids again at the end of January to celebrate Jeremy’s 30^th birthday and then off to Florida for a month!  It won’t be easy but it will be great to be warm!   

In any case a short phone call (no long conversations) tomorrow would be great!   Or just send her a “thinking of you” email or text!  She is now wearing her respirator mask most of the day except to eat and for short conversations.  Talking is difficult but she is loving communicating on her new iPad! 

For me…. I’m feeling healthy and strong but tired as Phyl needs to have her legs moved for her a few times during the night to be comfortable, so there are no solid night’s sleep any longer.  Still, I feel grateful for all that we have (family and friends mostly).  I’m teaching my online classes which I can do while sitting on the couch next to her in her power chair (she is watching a video of our TWO granddaughters right now – the same video that Brian sent us this morning – over and over again)!  

A few of you have remarked that it seems difficult for me… but it’s really not.    I love taking care of her and when she smiles it lights up my day!  What is difficult and sad is watching her struggle.  I wrote an essay recently about the source of my own strength which if you have not yet seen it, here is is: https://changingthestory.net/2019/12/27/why-bother-with-god/.

In any case…. I’ll with you a Happy New Year and thank you for all of your support and love! 

Peace….

John

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