Goodbye .... for now.

What a strange weekend. The kids had thursday and friday off so I took them off to. When I asked them what they wanted to do they said "lets go to Sonic!" I have an odd family. Ever since seeing the commercials for Sonic on cable we have always said we needed to take a road trip to eat there. So Friday we left about 10:30 am and headed to Fort Wayne to Sonic. We had lunch at the Essenhaus and drove through the rain to Fort Wayne,stopped at a very large mall to buy Ben a boomer, got directions from a Toys-R-Us clerk to Sonic, got lost, stopped at a gas station to buy a map and some coneydogs and a few fries later we had accomplished our quest. Fun and bizzare. Now to the good bye. We had to put our old friend Sabrina down saturday. It was one of the hardest things I have ever done. She had gotten so bad she could hardly walk. Her final hours were spent with us in the living room. At 1:20 I got up and warmed up the car try to compose myself and went inside. I picked up her now small frame and brought her outside. The family had already said their goodbyes. I sat in the car with her for about 5 minutes hating what I had to do. I remembered how my father had to bring my dog Tammy in because she was full of tumors and since I was out and about with friends I did'nt give it much thought and what my dad was going through. I was about to find out. The clerk at the vet could see I was having a hard time my vioce squeeking like a pre-teens. I filled out the paper work and carried her in. I was brought back to that pet rescue farm outside of Otsego where about fifty dogs ran freely around trying to get your attention. I remembered feeling a little nug on my leg and looked to see a small sheltie mix looking at me with eyes that said " I deserve better than this place..take me home. " and we did. We had Sabrina for almost 8 years she was about 13 or 14 we are not sure. She had a long life and and a good one. She deserved to leave this world in my arms peacefully. I was so glad the sun was out it made the day bareable.I remembered being in christian doctrine class at SouthChristian High when it was "ask Rev. Meyer" time. Some one asked if animals and or pets go to heaven and everyone laughed. He said no because they don't have souls. I rebutted. I said they may because they suffer under the curse of sin...mans sin not animals sin. He smiled . As I arrived home I sat in the garage alone smoking my cigarette wiping tears from my eyes trying to once again gain composure. I methodically threw away old blankets and dishes Sabrina used. I looked up at the deep blew sky and the wind skattered clouds and said out loud " are you up there Sabrina?" And it was then I let out a huge sneeze! I was right Rev Meyer, I was right. So good bye for now old friend.

Loving Life

Life has finally started to slow down - so where does all the extra time go? Randy let me have it last night about not blogging as often now that I'm feeling better - SORRY GUYS! Know that your prayers are working and I am feeling much, much better. I still have the tremors in my body - very visably in my hands and last week I lost two days due to migranes - but compared to a month ago - I look and feel great. No CANE!

This morning I was walking to work (still haven't started driving again) and the beauty around me was almost overwhelming. The sun was shining, leaves were all over (love that because I don't have to rake them) and that fall smell was there! I waved to a few people and had someone in a Semi-truck ask for directions (unfortunately I could help him).

Work is going okay - I feel like I have a handle on the office. I have been going home for a lunch break and that has also been good. Just to get away and sit on the couch or at the table for a few minutes helps with the afternoon.

Rachael is still playing Basketball - but marching and soccer are finished! This weekend we are going to do something special with the kids. They have off on Thursday and Friday. We will let you know what we do - there are a few options on the table right now.

Have a wonderful day - and thanks for stopping by to check on us!!!!!

awesomeness of prayer

hey everyone,
god has been really good to my family these past two weeks. first of all my mom has no trouble walking. she's still shaking alot, but theres no more pain for her. and second, i'm finally good with the fact that one of my awesome friends passed away. thats for all of you guys who have been praying for my family, and me.
Love, hugs,& kisses me (Rachael)

This was a post that Rachael did for her xanga site.

It's Friday Again

Good Morning Friends and Fam! Hope you enjoyed Randy's blog the other day. I feel so blessed to have him! Monday I turned 39 - we've been married 19 1/2 years which means that I have now been married 1/2 my life. WOW!

This week has been a very difficult week - but not because of another birthday! I have been fighting with migraines all week. Wednesday and Thursday they got the better of me. I will be calling the neurologist today - see what he has to say. I hate to go on another med to combat the headaches - but when you begin to stop functioning and the only time your are comfortable is in a dark, quiet space - it is time to do something!

I'm excited about tonight and am working out my day to hopefully be feeling good enough to go. Friends of our from Years and Years ago are coming to pick us up and we are going to the Grill House in Allegan. We have known Doug and Shelly for such a long time but haven't seen each other in years. It should be great. Shelly used to babysit Nate when I would visit the twins in the hospital in the weeks following their birth.

Today and for the weekend - please pray for strength and endurance - and if God's willing that the headahes will subside! The counter on the blog is overwhelming. The fact that God has placed so many people in our lives and that each of you are willing to check in on us and pray for our needs and concerns! Our family is really blessed and I love each of you for loving us.

The picture you see is Ben growling - a new face that Rachael and Nate have taught him! Enjoy your day!!!!!

I am officially getting older. My two high schoolers went to the homecoming dance last saturday. I don't know if they were imbaressed that I dropped them off in my full turkey camo in our piece of junk Sable when others were dropped off by chauffers in stretch Hummers. Such is life for children of a red-neck father.If you look close Rachael is chewing tobacco. Not really. She'll probably punch me while I sleep.Nate is finally done with soccer. They finnished with 2 losses 1 tie and like 18 wins. I'm glad it's over.All the running put a hugh strain on our pocket book. 2 more weeks for Rachael and it will be nice and quiet for the Smiths. Cheryl said no ghost stories so what do I blog about? Every morning I write a small devotion to my kids. I give them a small verse to read and then challenge them for their day. Even Benji. The other day I was listening to a christian speaker say that only 9% of christians believe that there is absolute truth and he closed his talk saying we have to decide if we really believe what we believe is real. This really hit me. I must admit most of the time I travel through life on auto-pilot and turn it off about saturday night and slip into church mode, unless the dog poops in the back shed then church mode usually goes out the window. So this past monday I had that phrase on my kids devotion " Do you believe what you believe is real?" If we don't then we can sleep in on sundays keep our offering and not worry about those around us because our fate is the same as the dog sleeping at my feet. But I dare say most of us do believe it's real we just get stuck on auto-pilot. One of my favorite movies is Scrooge the one with Albert Finney and one of the things he says when he is returned from his trips with the 3 spirits is " Was it a dream or was it real?" He decides it was real and goes about his life a changed man. He learned that he could begin again. I watch that movie when I relize I am turning into an old terd. I sometimes forget that what little I or my family can offer might be just what some one needs and whats funny is they are usually little things, little gestures, little kindnesses. For me I had to decide to live like it's real, all that I believe. So if you stop by the church office on Halloween and some of us are out passing out popcorn don't be suprised if I say " God bless us every one!"

T.G.I.F.!!!!!!!!

I don't know about everyone else - but Thank Goodness It's Friday! Nate had his last soccer game yesterday - they won by 1 point. Handing in his soccer uniform has never felt so good! This has been a very busy and long season with Soccer, Basketball and Marching Band. Tonight is Wayland homecoming so the kids will march in the parade and then at the game. I think that is the last marching they will do for the season. Rachael's games go on until November - but that should be good!

Nate came home from his game yesterday soaking wet and frozen to the bone. His hands were so red and cold that he couldn't get his shoes off. Ben and I chose not to go the the game - boy am I glad!

My health: Psalm 50:15 "Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me." There is so much truth in that verse for me! Your prayers have been answered! Thank you! I haven't had any painful spasms for almost two weeks and for the most part - haven't been using the cane! When I overdo - I have a little trouble with my balance and I'm exhaused at night but even in that I am sleeping through the night. I think my body has finally adjested to the medicine. Headaches are still there and sometimes get quite intense - Eventually I will talk to the doctor about that but first I want to see if our schedule lightens if that makes a difference.

Your prayers have ment everything to our family. The counter on the blog has overwhelmed me. We love all of you so much -

SNOW??!

I was not ready to wake up to snow this morning. October 12 is suppose to be cooler weather for jeans and a sweatshirt - someone got the weather wrong! I have only a minimal headache today - so hopefully it was related to the rainy weather and it will begin to clear up now. I just called Randy to see how I slept last night. I have sore shins - does that make any sense? No - it doesn't. Well he had no idea because he slept like a rock! - thanks for your prayers on his behalf. I'm so glad that he had a good night sleep.

I would like to ask you to lift up some wonderful people this morning. Yesterday one of our kids from the "Yes I Can League" passed away: Doug Mitchell. He has played summer t-ball with us for years - almost since our first game 9 years ago. Doug has a twin brother at Wayland High as well as older siblings, younger siblings, his mom and dad, and close extended family. The visitation is tonight and funeral tomorrow. I can't imagine having to let go of a child.

Morning, It's dark and rainy - anyone have a hard time waking up? My family did! But now they are all off. We made it through yesterday and ready to do it again. Really today is a much easier day so I'm good. Nate's soccer team won and the band received a Division I. I guess that is great so very proud of the kids. They worked hard in band. Ben did great to - for all the running (or fast walking) we had to do to get everywhere on time.

During the night Randy and I ended up chasing our dog around the house because she wouldn't come back inside and then we tried to catch the cat who sneaked out. Calling "Sabrina" and "Lester" in the wee-hours of the morning are not what I would call fun. The dog ended up staying outside because she wouldn't come to us. Afraid she is in her final days - - I'll keep you posted.

I would like to ask for prayers today in regards to my headaches. Yesterday it became almost unbearable. Not sure if it is the weather or the medication. Please pray for relief and for clarity in what is causing them.

Have a great day!

The Sycamore Street Detour

Good Morning - Sorry for the delay in communication to those of you checking our blog regularly! Just as the title says - I feel like we have been in a detour when it comes to getting through the day. We are running non-stop between the kids, sports, band, life . . . Example is today. The kids are off to school, Ben will get dropped off to the church office at 2:40, Rachael will get home about 3, I will work until 3:30, 4:15 Rachael needs to be back at the high school for a marching band competition, Nate has a home game at 5pm, Ran should be home and at the game by 5:45, immediately following the game (6:30ish) we need to RUN Nate to Grandville to the marching competition and find the band. We will then be in Grandville until Wayland plays. Then we will go home with Ben and get him to bed, Ran will then pick up Nate and Rachael at school at 10pm. Anyone else tired? - Me too!

We do want to say thanks for the prayers that I know you are sending up on our behalf. I am feeling wonderful compared to a few weeks ago. I'd say at about 90% and that is really good! I still have tremors all the time, but I'm starting to get use to it. I haven't had any painful episodes for about 10days and that is GREAT. My headaches are still there but we are managing them. And I'm not going home for a daily nap - Going to bed early, but I am making it through the days. God is So Good! I am officially on the new medication and we are doing okay with it.

Friday my mother-in-law took me to see a speaker who specializes in Parkinson and Movement disorders. He mostly spoke on Parkinson, but some of the stuff he said regarding medications and the information he had has spurred me to get more informed about Dystonia. Not sure how to do that other than the internet - but I know I need to move in that direction.

Again - a special thanks to Rachael for taking a picture with my camera and leaving it on for me to use and abuse!

The Tale Of The Keiser Ghost.

The full moon the last night has brought the story teller in me. When our kids were little we would camp and it was my job to tell the scarey stories and I was pretty good at it. So grab your coffee and turn of the lights for this story I tell is not pretend but is based on facts. You decide whether to believe. The article in the Penassee said "Hunter finds body at Shaw Lake and Keiser road." It said he crashed his motorcycle while at a high rate of speed."It was probably the Keiser ghost," I mumbled under my breath hoping not to attract the attention of said spirit. The woods surrounding Keiser road is all public domain and it is here that I hunt turkeys. People who grew up around there often spoke of vioces in the woods as they did some teenage partying. I heard these stories too but did'nt put much stock in them........until this past week. I got of work at 3:15 and raced home to grab my gear. I was all camoed up, had my gun, my call and too sluggs incase the cougars showed up.( there are cougar sightings in the woods where I hunt.) I walked in and came around the corner of the corn feild when to does burst out nearly on top of me. They put their tales down to hide and my woodsman knowledge said that the buck should be close," I'm not after you!" and upon hearing that the buck stood up with a snort and walked away. I nestled against an oak tree and waited. The woods were very dreary and the wind was pretty blustery, good for turkey hunting. The wind drives them out of the woods. I dozed off twice and by the second time it was getting dark I needed to leave. The quikest way out was around the point and down the two track. I hate that way, the last time I went that way the trees urrupted with buzzards.I hate those things. I think they are evil , messengers from an unearhtly realm. I'll keep my head down and they will leave me alone. As I came to the point I heard a moan. No lie, a real moan. I thought maybe it was a bow hunter in trouble so I searched. Nothing. Nothing but the dark forboding form of an old curcuit preacher walking down the trail. Sorry that last sentece I made up, just the moan was real. I left in a hurry. There were parts of gophers littering the two track and I sped up. I ran to my car and headed home in the dark. As I spoke of my tale to one of the guys at work he seemed to get pale and unusually quiet and it was then he sai " The Keiser Ghost." Sleep good, Ran

Chicken and Chilli

I missed lunch. The semi came as I was getting ready to grab a bite from Macs. I was the only one with my hi-lo license so it was up to me.By the time I was done lunch was almost done so I said bag it and worked through it and got out at 4:45. All the way home all I thought about was food. So I had Cheryl warm up the chilli Marilyn made us and I bought some chicken from Hardings, threw in a salad and we ate. Then all my kids got up and went to their rooms. We are at that age where our kids just do their own thing, even Ben. Cheryl went to bed at 8:00 with a headache. Its just me and a tall glass of Mountain Dew poppin a few MMs. Maybe I"ll eat some cookie dow and really give my heart a work out. I looked in the mirror this morning and debated whether or not to shave whats left of the hair on my head. I struggle all the time with who I am .A balding man or a bald man.I just ran upstairs because Ben threw his Tonka truck across the room. He is very uptight. I know he hates school but what do you do? He is 100% me. Even with the Downes our personalities shine through. Last week I threw to car tires across my yard. I get upset. Now days I cool down alot faster. I am trying to cope with the continued stress of a often absent spouse and the needs of my families commitments and a special needs son, a dog that is dying and knowing what is best for her. It is in these times it is tricky being a closet intravert. I enjoy being alone outside if my famiy can't be with me. Tommorrow I am plannig on turkey hunting fo an hour or two. That will be nice. Can you believe I typed all thgat with two fingers? Stay cool you crazy cats. Shout out to my old pal Remnar and alwyas remember " Anyting free iz wert savin up fer." Love Ran ( Reuben).

Broken World

This morning our world feels even more broken than other times. My heart and prayers go out to the Amish families and community in PA. As I send my children out the door - I just pray that they take the power and Love of Christ with them. It is so easy to slip into a state where I just want to take my family in my arms and shelter them from the world. From emails, not-so-good friends, the T.V., billboards, and the list goes on. Christ told us to live in the world, but not of it. Wow! Easier said then done!

Today I'm okay. Very shaky and Ran said that I was twitching a lot during the night, guess that's why I'm tired. Headache is still sitting on my shoulders but overall - doing okay.

Yesterday we got the date for Ben's upcoming surgery - Thursday, November 16 at 1:00pm. Randy is working on getting that day off - he shouldn't have a problem with that.

1 Peter 5:6-7 "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."

We Are Still Here

It has been a long and very busy weekend. Not the greatest for my health - but you do what you have to do! Nate & Rachael had to march for a home football game, my cousin Derek got married on Friday and a bunch of cousins came into town. It was awesome to see them again. Saturday we attended a 90th birthday party for my grandma while Nate & Rachael participated in a marching competition in Otsego. Saturday night we went to my sisters so that Nate & Rachael could see everyone before they headed home. Yesterday, Sunday, we attended church then I CRASHED!

Overall I am feeling pretty good. No pain and minimal spasms. My shaking is pretty bad - getting hard to write - and my head continues to yell at me, letting me know it is up there. Yesterday I was officially off the old medication but will continue to increase the new meds through Sunday and then will be on the full dose of the new stuff. I hope that the shaking feeling will be gone soon. I think I said it before, but it feels like I'd expect an addict to feel in withdraw.
Prayers for today are varied: Ben is off to school but terrified of lightning and thunder - pray for him to have peace and the teachers to be understanding, for my headache to subside and the shakes to begin to even out, and the the kids and Randy at school and work.

There is a special speaker coming into town on Friday talking about Parkinson and Movement Disorders that I'm going to go hear so I'm working today. Blessings on your day!!!