A Memorial/Birthday Celebration of Life for Dan

In honor of Daniels 14th birthday, Sunday the 27th we will have a memorial/birthday celebration of his life. It will be held at the Henningsen building at 6:30. We hope to sing and have anyone who feels led, share a story or memory of Dan's life. We will have cookies afterwards and if you can please bring some to share. We know this day will be really rough on the Robinson family and we hope that by sharing it together in celebration of a precious life we may ease their pain and leave them with a bittersweet memory instead of just sadness. We have learned now more than ever, that God places us in families (and not just blood relatives) to help us through so many of life's trials. Many of you have become family as you have carried us through this time and we hope you can come spend the evening with us remembering Daniel.
In His Service,
Katrina

Grandpa Bob's Fall

Hi All,

Sunday morning while getting his weekly bath, the chain on my dad's lift broke and he fell into the bathtub, breaking his upper leg. This is the second leg he has broken. The last time was when he tried to put on his own socks! Ouch! He was taken by ambulance to Carle and had surgery to insert a rod on Monday morning. He will hopefully come home tomorrow.
He was really bubbly last Saturday night as he told us about his experience at Rural King that day where he met a man in line and they struck up a conversation about the Lord. The man told Dad that he didn't have any reservations about dying because he has a "reservation"!. Of course he was referring to eternal life. Dad said that he felt like hugging the man; they were so united in spirit. Mom feels that it was God's preparation for what was to come the next day for Dad. The Lord seems to give us strength and courage when we really need it.
On the Binion front, Sam had a CT scan on his neck today and the radiologist said he could barely see where there had been a break. It has healed so well. He was also able to take off his neck brace. Praise God for His healing hand!

Love, Cristal

Thursday, July 17

Dear Friends,

I am sorry that I haven't kept you updated concerning Sam's surgery last week. It went well but he did have to stay over-night as his pain was pretty intense. He is home recouperating now and it's been a little rough for not only Sam but also Schuyler as they fight urinary tract infections and other complications having to do with their bladder injuries. Schuyler did get his catheter removed and his jaw unwired. He promptly had Karin drive him straight to Arby's and he ordered two "Big Montanas", some mozzarella sticks, and a large order of fries and a Dr. Pepper! Of course he hadn't taken into account that his stomach had shrunk over the past month. But he sure enjoyed what he could.
I called Karin a little while ago and she was chuckling while on the phone with me because Seth had suggested that he, Schuyler and Tom, who was over for a visit, all go for an evening WALK!!??? Picture with me three young men, Schuyler in his wheelchair, Tom on crutches, and Seth using the boys' walker all strolling down the country road in front of the Binion home.
Karin freaked just a little when Schuyler got a cell phone call, lost control of his wheelchair and rolled into a ditch!
It 's a blessing to have some light moments like this when things are usually so heavy.
Some ladies from our fellowship got together this week and made up meals for both the Binions and the Robinsons. It was fun!. Thank you Melissa for a great idea and all your hard work and expertise!
There is a song we've sung together called "The Servant Song". It goes like this:

Brother, Sister let me serve you
Let me be as Christ to you
Pray that I may have the grace to
Let you be my servant too.

We are pilgrims on a journey
We're together on this road
We are here to help each other
Walk the mile and bear the load.

I will hold the Christ-light for you
In the nighttime of your fear
I will hold my hand out to you
Speak the peace you long to hear.

I will weep when you are weeping
When you laugh I'll laugh with you
I will share your joy and sorrow
Til we've seen this journey thro'

When we sing to God in heaven
We shall find such harmony
Born of all we've known together
Of Christ's love and agony.

Love in Christ Jesus,

Cristal and Deanna

Update on the Knapp Family

Thank you for all your prayers for the Knapp family. We have a praise report! He is going to be fine. He pulled through the night and they sent him home a couple days later. Praise God!

Jami

Urgent Prayer Request

John Knapp’s stepfather has suffered liver failure. From what I understand, the doctors are not encouraging, the situation is grave. I will post more as word comes in. Please pray fervently for this family. Pray also for Alysia, first losing Dan, and then her grandfather would be a lot of pain for a 12-year old to carry. Pray that John will hear the voice of Christ, and know His peace through this frightening storm. Pray for Syndee that she may know how to nurture and minister to her husband, daughter and extended family through this crisis, that God will give her strength and wisdom beyond her years.

Rhonda

July 4, 2008

Dear Friends,

I'm just writing to let you know that Sam Binion will be having surgery Monday morning to re-do the ureter repair that he had before. Hopefully this will be the last surgery needed. There is a possibility that Schuyler will get his catheter out and have his jaw unwired this week! Every little hurdle crossed brings some relief to their entire family. Tom seems to be getting along better with his knee now that he's had the surgery. He will get to be on crutches in about a week. With the determination that these boys have exhibited, they may all surprise us with a much quicker recovery than was expected.

On an unrelated matter, many of you brought food to the Robinsons, Binions and to our building. If you had a dish that needs to be returned, please let us know what it is so that we can try to get it back to you. Thank you so much for all that you have done to help. I'm reminded tonight of this scripture from Exodus 17.

" The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. Moses said to Joshua, "Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands." So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. When Moses' hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up--one on one side, one on the other--so that his hands remained steady till sunset. So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.... Moses built an altar and called it 'The Lord is my Banner.' For hands were lifted up to the throne of the Lord."

You all have helped to lift up weary hands during a very critical battle for these two families. May the Lord bless you all!

In Him,
Cristal and Deanna

Open the Eyes of My Heart

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. Ephesians 1:17-19

As another Sunday has come to our fellowship, we met with a unified theme that God laid on our hearts: Open the eyes of my heart Lord. We sang that worship song and all the testimonies centered around God showing us opportunties to see Him and to show others His love. This message has never seemed more clear than now. He has shown himself so mightily to us lately that it seems He is a neon sign blinking incessantly in the darkness. I almost feel foolish like I must have had my eyes shut for a very long time. Scott shared a message that ties right in but in a different way. He reminded us of all God did for the Israelites after they cried out to Him while in bondage to the Egyptians. Then just shortly thereafter they began to doubt Him and expressed the desire to go back to Egypt. Scott explained how we are in darkness and we cry out to God in our sin and He opens the eyes of our heart. But we need to seek for a heart like Caleb and Joshua to keep us from falling back out of fear or from beginning to desire the things we left behind in the world. This message was such a conformation to me, as this week I have been grieved over that temptation I see in many Christians(including myself) to forget what He has rescued us out of and like a dog, return to our vomit! So I pray and ask you to pray also that we all continue to be very intune to the Holy Spirit and always asking Him to open the eyes of our heart so we never desire to "go back'.

One beautiful thing we all got to see this morning was our brand new "wheelchair section". Tom, Schuyler and Sam all got to be here this morning and Grandpa proudly raised his wheelchair as high as it goes and sat behind his new wheelchair basketball team! We rejoice that we have them all home but covet your prayers for their continued recovery. They are all struggling with pain control and Karin, in particular, fights fear and panic when problems and setbacks arise with the boys and she's home alone with them with no doctors or nurses around. The prayers for them were precious and very encouraging as we agreed in prayer that God would raise them all up as great men for His cause.

In Christ, Katrina

Tom is home and doing well

Tom is home. He had surgery on his knee Friday. The good news is that it (the meniscus) was repaired rather than removed. The bad news is that for the next twelve weeks he will not be able to walk on it. While his shoulder is healing, he will not be able to use crutches or a walker. So for at least the next month or so he will be wheelchair bound.

Tom is hoping Bob will coach the new wheelchair basketball team.

Rhonda

Thursday, June 26

Dear Friends,

I just wanted to let you know a few things concerning the Robinsons and Binions. Tom is having surgery on his knee tomorrow.
They believe he has a torn meniscus. They are not sure whether it will be outpatient or not. Today is Mike and Rhonda's anniversary and I know it has been a really hard day for them. Please pray for them all!
The Binion boys came home today. They are glad to be home and everyone is thrilled, especially Asa now that he will get his mama back! Karin and Gaylin would like to have an open house from 7-9 Friday evening for anyone wanting to stop by and see the boys.

Love, Cristal

Philippians 4:4 "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again; Rejoice! Let you gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Continued prayer for healing

Last night Tom came home from the game unable to straighten out his knee. He couldn’t walk and he ranked his pain at an 8. He has complained about his knee ever since the accident. I had him into the doctor last week, but they only did x-rays…we need an MRI.

He gets his stitches out today, and I will get in touch with the doctors that treated him at the hospital.

Continued prayer for healing; physically, emotionally and spiritually for all the boys is critical right now.

Rhonda

Back Again

Great is the Lord, and highly to be praised, And His greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall praise Your works to another, And shall declare Your mighty acts. Psalm 145:3-4

Hello everyone, we are back from our trip to Tennessee to my nephew Aaron's wedding. Exhausted but ready to face the next leg of this journey. Gaylin was able to even get Karin to go to the wedding just overnight. And while I know she wanted to be there, her heart was at home with the boys. We are anticipating their homecoming Thursday evening if all continues to go well! They are very happy and excited about this. A few preparations have to be made at their home: beds moved, ramps built, etc.. Karin would like to open up their home Thursday and/or Friday at certain times as an openhouse/homecoming. She is not sure of the time yet but I will post that tomorrow. We are trying to pull together some meals from them as Karin is spending all her time now being taught how to care for them, etc. If you want to help let me know.

The scripture I started this post with seemed to be fitting as the boys have both been told of the loss of Dan. Of course, they are grieving and even asking God why. We have all had some time to go through some of these thoughts and feelings and I pray that God will help us to effectively share with them what He has shown us through all of this, so their faith can be strengthened and their hearts comforted as ours are.

We enjoyed being able to be with most of the Robinson family in Tennessee and I believe God ministered to them as they continued to face each new day without one of their precious children. If you haven't done so already please read Rhonda's blog from last Wed. or Thurs.?- it is amazing, how God gave her that beautiful illustration of their grief and how to keep close to the Father.

Thank you all for continuing to pray and support all of us.
Katrina

Thursday, June 19

Dear Friends,

I don't have much more to add about the Binion boys today since you've probably read Sarah's post. However, I talked to Karin this morning and she asked me to ask for prayer from you all concerning their emotions. Being teenage boys, they are used to a lot of activity and it is especially hard for them to deal with their limitations and the fact that, in a sense, the whole world is going on without them. I know I want to help in some tangible way and probably so do you all; but this one is probably something only God can effectively do for them. So again, the family covets your prayers.

God bless you all for everything you've done thus far!

Cristal

Romans 12:12 "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."

Tom's surgery

Tom made it through his surgery without any problems. He has about a two inch incision on his neck, but we expect it to heal without any lasting issues. He is having trouble with his knee, so we had x-rays taken. Please continue to pray for both Tom and Chris as they mourn the loss of their little brother. There are difficult days to come.

Rhonda

Monday, June 16

Dear Friends,

Things are going well with the Binion boys. Schuyler was able to be up in a wheelchair for a short time but he's very weak. They are talking about moving him to the rehab floor soon, maybe tomorrow. He has also been cleared to eat soft foods and they want him to be on a 3000 calorie per day diet. That sounds like a lot of mashed potatoes and applesauce to me! Ha!
Sam is also doing better. He's a little behind Schuyler in the rehab because of some pain in his hip. Karin told me a funny story about Sam today. He had to see an occupational therapist and she evaluated him by asking him different questions; many of which were math story problems and some analogies and familiar sayings. One she asked him to answer was "Roses are red, violets are _________." Sam answered, "Blue". Then she asked, "Roses are red, violets are blue, sugar is __________." Sam answered, "$1.39 a pound!" Karin said she and the therapist could hardly contain their laughter at that. Laughter will be good therapy in the days ahead.

I read in Ecclesiastes something I had never really noticed before. Eccl. 7:1-5 says:

"A good name is better than fine perfume,
and the day of death better than the day of birth.
It is better to go to a house of mourning
than to go to a house of feasting,
for death is the destiny of every man;
the living should take this to heart.
Sorrow is better than laughter,
because a sad face is good for the heart.
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,
but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure."

Might this be in keeping with Matthew 5:4

"Blessed are they that mourn; for they shall be comforted."

"Take away my capacity for pain and you rob me of the possibility for joy." Ross W. Marrs

I'll close with the words to a favorite hymn.

"The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures,
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures."

In Him, Cristal