101 things I am thankful for (originally posted to Facebook on 10/2/2009)

1. A caring, compassionate, loving, committed, organized, employed wife.
2. Still being able to get myself out of bed in the morning
3. Still being able to hunt and peck with my right hand
4. Still being able to read
5. Still being able to shave my own face without help
6. Still being able to take stand-up showers
7. Praying friends
8. Encouragement partners on Facebook !
9. The Word (Hebrews 4:16, II Cor. 12:9 make a huge 1-2 Punch)
10. A bountiful garden harvest this year
11. Rain the last few days to fill my water reclamation tanks.
12. Helpful neighbors who mowed my lawn and helped out in other ways
13. A super-good disability benefit at work (60%of my last salary for life)
14. Pastor Moore and his wife who have been so self-sacrificially helpful and encouraging
15. My faithful computer, with which I spend so much time
16. My13-year-old puppy who loves me unconditionally
17. My Apple trees which bore such wonderful fruit this year, and that I can still eat an apple by myself.
18. That I can cut my own meat with my Knork.
19. That I can get out of the house on my own two feet
20. That I have a nice recumbent trike so I can get away from the house on my own
21. A wonderful, cool summer
22. Doctors who care
23. Medicines that work and are FDA approved just in the nick of time!
24. Successful operations (it was truly “Brain surgery”!)
25. Chocolate mint coffee
26. Yogurt & fresh fruit snacks in the morning
27. Guilt-free naps, morning and afternoon
28. Nice comfy clothing I can get on by myself
29. Fun computer games
30. A good report on my last MRI
31. Safety traveling to Madison many, many times for treatments and consultations
32. Excellent medical insurance and excellent help from Mark Stevens to guide us through the maze
33. Professional support from John Brock, allowing me to do some consulting for Maranatha to help out and earn a few bucks
34. That I am still 12 months past a Grand Mal seizure that was completely unexpected, and a serious glioblastoma Grade 4 brain tumor diagnosis that usually proves fatal in a matter of months.
35. That the brain tumor they found was operable.
36. The Farrell’s CD called “Amazing Grace:Eternal Life” has also been a special comfort.
37. That even though the surgeon thought he might have had to damage some left arm function, it appears that almost everything is working in my left arm, fingers, elbow, shoulder, thumb, though thumb is a little reluctant, it works. needing therapy to restore full function, and very, very weak.
38. That even though my balance has been poor for a year, I have not had any falls,
39. That even though my left arm is weak, there’s enough function there, particularly grip, for me to get along, like squeezing the toothpaste or shampoo.
40. That even though my left side is weak, I have not had any major accidents with knives or spills, except for knocking over my coffee once and ruining my ergonomic keyboard, oh, well.
41. That I have still been able to earn enough water and veggie/fruit and sleep and exercise and step points for the PHIT program at work to win more than $50 toward Chamber of Commerce gift certificates which I will use to buy Christmas gifts for my honey.
42. That I have learned that His Grace is sufficient , even in a trial like this.
43. That I have a bazillion praying friends all over the world!
44. For RSS readers that dig up really interesting stuff like this:http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/09/24/world/A-EU-Britain-Anglo-Saxon-Gold.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss
45. For comforting songs like, God Hath not promised”
46. Too many scripture passages to list here.
47. That I have stopped drooling due to my left side face weakness.
48. That I have stopped biting my tongue accidentally when eating.
49. That I have enough energy to help Cindy around the house
50. That I am blessed with loving brothers and sister who have made numerous trips to WI to help us out in various ways.
51. That my right arm and leg are still strong.
52. That my singing voice is slowly returning.
53. That my violin is patiently waiting for me
54. Velcro straps on sneakers & sandals
55. Elastic shoe strings so sneakers can be pulled on without tying!
56. Phone calls from friends and relatives I don’t hear from often
57. Warm oatmeal with raisins and brown sugar for breakfast
58. Doctors who can be reached by phone.
59. Neighbors who will drop what they’re doing to come over to help in an emergency.
60. That I can still navigate the basement stairs safely to get to my workshop & tool & household hardware supplies and exercise room.
61. Enjoying a good laugh over stupid stuff now and then with my honey.
62. The delicious Broccoli soup my wife makes.
63. For a really nice 10”LCD picture frame my honey bought me for my birthday where we run pics of our 25th anniversary Alaska trip. And flower pics, too.
64. For a really nice 24”HDTV and fine digital antenna reception.
65. The Mike Herbster Trio CD called “Always Giving Glory” has been a particular blessing.
66. That the occasional partial seizures that keep breaking out are not any worse than they are, and that Cindy has been around for all of them, and that I have been in relatively safe places for all of them.
67. For my niece Bethany who made me a really nice sign for my party asking people to take the camera and take a picture.
68. Also the Anchormen Quartet have produced some wonderfully comforting music, and the Calvary Quartet
69. For yellow cake cupcakes with chocolate
70. Enough hair to make a decent part (even if it’s curly!!)
71. Digital pictures that you can see immediately
72. Good friends who showed up to help me celebrate my 1-year seizure anniversary.
73. Pumpkin Pie spice coffee, yes Josh, it was really tasty. I still like Chocolate mint better, though—“no accounting for taste”
74. Digital memory cards, they’re just really handy.
75. Fall colors, which are just coming on.
76. People who are patient with the new me.
77. A book of Puritan prayers given to me by Pastor Moore.
78. Lots (too many!) of Physical Therapy ideas.
79. That I have lived long enough to see another Fall
80. That Cindy decided to send me to Madison rather than Milwaukee a year ago when I had my seizure. We really love our doctors.
81. That in July of 2010 our house will be paid off. I want to live that long to celebrate with Cindy.
82. That God gave us 30 years of trouble-free marriage, only Cindy’s allergies, a problem for which we eventually found a solution.
83. That “We Have good Things To Eat at Our House” (my tribute to Cindy’s cooking skills). Tonite on the menu—zucchini omelet, fresh cooked yellow roma beans with butter, fresh made concord grape juice, baked fresh apple cored/stuffed with homemade mincemeat. Yummy!!!
84. That “What time I am afraid, I can trust in Him.”
85. That we still have enough money to buy a Wii and Wii Fit and to save for a new car and to save for a Grand Canyon trip.
86. That the disease progression is stable for now and that the doctors say I am doing well(Sept.09)
87. For warm oat meal and banana bread.
88. Mrs. Sturgill’s chocolate chip zucchini bread!!!!
89. Interesting stuff to learn—Once we stop learning, we are dead.
90. Lunch with my sweetheart every day.
91. Surprises like Culver’s gift cards from anonymous friends
92. Information sources like ABTA
93. Songs with good, scriptural lyrics that comfort and uplift.
94. It is well with my soul.
95. The hem of His garment that I may “touch” at will.
96. Anti-seizure medication.
97. The promise of strength to the weak.
98. That over the past couple of years we have updated most of our appliances for Cindy.
99. For inexpensive term life insurance that we bought years ago and is still in force.
100. Herbals for regularity(these meds can do a number on you in that regard).
101. A nice collection of disney videos at home.