California Mindset vs. Arizona Mindset

The best humor is when there is some truth in it...

"The Governor is jogging with his/her dog along a nature trail. A coyote jumps out and attacks dog.

California :

#1. Governor starts to intervene, reflects upon the movie 'Bambi' and then realizes he should stop; the coyote is only doing what is natural.

#2. He calls animal control. Animal control captures coyote and spends $200 testing it for diseases and $500 upon relocating it.

#3. He calls veterinarian. Vet collects dead dog and spends $200 testing it for diseases.

#4. Governor goes to hospital and spends $3,500 getting checked for diseases from the coyote and on getting bite wound bandaged.

#5. Running trail gets shut down for 6 months while wildlife services conduct a $100,000 survey to make sure the area is clear of dangerous animals.

#6. Governor spends $50,000 of state funds implementing a 'coyote awareness' program for residents of the area.

#7. State legislature spends $2 million investigating how to better handle rabies and how to possibly eradicate the disease.

#8. Governor's security agent is fired for not stopping the attack and for letting the Governor intervene.

#9. Cost: $75,000 to train new security agent.

#10. PETA protests the coyote relocation and files suit against the state.

Arizona :

#1. Governor shoots coyote and keeps jogging. Governor has spent $0.50 on a .45 ACP hollow point cartridge. Buzzards eat dead coyote. Governor's dog eventually elected to Congress.

Charlie - Prayerfully, we wait

(Charlie and Lucy)

Friday May 28

The surgeon was pessimistic and concerned about my dad’s condition last night (Thurs).  

This morning (Fri), my dad was doing better.  After today’s procedure, the surgeon was pleased.  They never did actually ‘close up’ my dad.  He has what is called a wound VAC. The wound VAC is a device that uses negative pressure to promote healing in the open area. It is used by forming an airtight seal over the area and "sucking" all the drainage out and pulling new tissue to the top.  

Today they changed the wound vac, and observed tissue and organs.  

At the moment, things are not worse.  We do pray his liver will begin to function better. 

My dad is on so much medication, and going in and out of surgery, that he is not able to communicate with us regularly.  He has moments when his eyes are tracking – moments when he can communicate a need or request – but mostly, he is out of it.  

In spite of that, we have someone with him always.  We either have one of our own nurses and/or a family member.  This has been very challenging.  While insurance helps to cover some nursing expenses when my dad is home, they cover none when he is in the hospital.  Also, with sicknesses that have been going around, and summer traveling, lots of our personal nursing shifts are going uncovered – which means that either my mom, or Keith, or Kale have to cover shifts.  As they all have full time jobs, this has been a bit of a scramble.

Our dear friend, Lisa, was there when the surgeon, Dr. S, spoke to my mom about his concerns.  Lisa shared with me how my mom ministered to the doctor about the hope and promise we have in Christ, and how when my dad does leave us - he will... be... free!

We are reading to my dad...singing over him...and praying over him.  There have been awesome, heavy duty prayer sessions experienced at the hospital.  

We rejoice as the Lord has shown that a host of angels are surrounding my dad.  

Every moment that my dad is still with us, is a moment that the Lord is still using him on this earth.  We see it.  And we know that God is moving in ways we can’t imagine, and using my dad’s (and my mom’s) story to affect others in ways we may never know this side of heaven.  

And that is true for every believer who lays down their life.....to take up the cross.

__________________________________________

This is a note Lisa wrote (this past Tuesday) to my mom in the book that contains all the nursing/med notes for my dad.

5/25/10

Dear Lucy,
I can't believe your husband, Lazarus!  He is, "eyes open, tracking to my voice, bossing (nurse) Jeanie around, talking with his face."  I was reading out of Philippians Ch 1-4; a place where the apostle Paul says, "to live is Christ to die is gain..."  Paul said that the people still had need of him, so he would choose to stay, that Christ still had need of him to bring glory to His name...
  
Some people have a death wish.  Charlie, Lazarus, has a life wish.

The Lord has need of him.
 XOXO
Lisa Bennett
Life wish Inc. 

_________________________________________

  

Did I mention that we are still packing up our house?  Pathetic, really, that it is taking us this long.  

Months ago, Keith and I planned to move about 30 minutes away from the area that my family lives in.  We have a vision for our family that involves a little different lifestyle than we live now.  

We’d like to have a little land and some chickens, etc.  We’d like to teach the children skills that would enable them to be more self-sufficient. We want to give the boys some ‘real chores’  - and space to build, create, and grow.  

(Kainoa holding the door for Uncle Kale and her dad) 

Ultimately, as my dad’s condition became more of a concern, we decided that now was not the time to move away.  While our house is being prepared to go on the market, we have temporarily moved in with my parents, which has been a blessing in so many ways.  

But each moment we have to spare, I am dashing over to our house – which is a construction zone – and trying to pack up our remaining things.  

(The triage room - 2 'wounded' and icing their 'owies.')

It has been slow going because a) we have too many things, b) we have too many things, and c) we have too many things. 

I usually get a one or two hour window to go over to our house and work on the packing up.  Often, I need to bring the troops with me, which can be a bit distracting, as one can imagine.
 

Charlie - Surgery tomorrow

(Charlie, Lucy, Carri, & baby Kale)

Thursday May 27

Thank you for all of the prayers and encouraging emails.  We are so grateful for each one.  My dad has a procedure tomorrow morning.  Right now they are still focusing on balancing all those vital levels (blood pressure, blood sugars, etc.)

The plan is to continue keeping everyone updated on my dad's condition through our blog here. My mom is receiving an overwhelming amount of inquiries about my dad. Our hope is to alleviate my mom's burden of having to respond to everyone individually.

Please do continue with your prayers and encouraging words – these have been an incredible blessing to my mom and to us all. She loves hearing from you, and is so blessed - and truly 'upheld' - by the prayer support.  Mahalo nui loa

____________________________________________________

Our family has been studying the shorter catechism in our nightly family devotions.  Part of last night’s reading was out of the book of Isaiah, as we look at how Christ was humiliated for our sake.  

What an encouraging reminder of the greatness, and glory of our God.  

It helps to re-set my perspective.  It's so easy to get so focused on a situation in your life.  We can become obsessed with it - wanting to fix it, conquer it, kill it, schedule it, use it as an excuse, or even run away from it.  

As if we are doing the orchestrating...  As if we have the final say...

Do we really think we are in charge?

 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand
   and marked off the heavens with a span,
enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure
   and weighed the mountains in scales
   and the hills in a balance?

 Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket,
   and are accounted as the dust on the scales;
   behold, he takes up the coastlands like fine dust.

All the nations are as nothing before him,
   they are accounted by him as less than nothing and emptiness.

To whom then will you liken God,
   or what likeness compare with him?

Isaiah 40:12-18  

________________________________________________

I hope this doesn't seem inappropriate.  This is so typical of the kinds of things that are going on at our house...

This is Miss Kili (3).  I found her in the bathroom working on her 'latest project.'  Yes, she has on her brother's socks... and her brother's tie.

The kicker for me was what she has 'stuck' all over her legs.....

A glad heart makes a cheerful face....Proverbs 15:13

Charlie - Surgery went well

I'm sorry I am not getting this posted sooner.  It has been challenging to be at the hospital and also run our household.  Keith is home with the kids so I can leave, but he is also trying to work and cover appointments for my mom.  

I think the kids are getting a little lost in the shuffle. Kawika (15m) is just starting to really walk.  The littles (Kapena 4, Kili 3) are good at both entertaining themselves and getting into trouble (or chocolate.)  The middles (Kainoa 9, Koa 7) are very capable, but not self disciplined enough yet (apparently.)  Kaleo (15)  is graciously carrying the load of helping with clean up and dishes and cooking and little ones. 

Today, when I got to the hospital my dad was out of surgery and I had just missed the surgeon’s ‘play by play’ to my mom.  Thankfully Lisa and nurse Jeanie were there with my mom, and helped her reiterate to me all the surgeon said...

• ...we are in “unchartered territory...”
  

• My dad looks more favorable today than he did a week ago...

• These surgeries could have been setbacks – but my dad is actually better (oxygen saturation better, lungs look better, blood pressure stabilizing) 

• The small intestine looked good on the outside – not sure about the inside.  

• They did do the Jejunostomy (A surgical operation to create an opening of the jejunum (a part of the small intestine) to a hole (stoma) in the abdomen.)

My dad is mostly out of it because of all of the meds.  But he does occasionally open his eyes and communicate. We have seen the doctors shake their heads in wonder.  We have seen them perplexed, and amazed. 

So now, they - and we - will be taking everything on a day by day basis. 

What is God’s purpose in all of this?  We don’t know.  

We do know that not a day, not a moment, and not a breath is worthless – or pointless – when each is lived for, committed to, and offered up as a sacrifice for the glory of God.  

Paul reminded the new believers on his missionary journeys, “through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). And he told the believers in Rome that their sufferings were a necessary part of the path to eternal inheritance.

 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (Romans 8:16-18)

  By: John Piper desiringgod.org/Blog/Author/2_john_piper/>  

What is my dad’s primary purpose?  Same as ours – to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.  I believe he is glorifying God, even as he lays in the hospital.  God’s word talks about the destiny of His children...

John 3:2. "Beloved, we are God's children now; it does not yet appear what we shall be."

Right now those of us in this room who have been born again, evidenced by a growing Christlikeness—right now we are children of God. Right now we have an intimate relationship with the creator of the universe, right now we have the assurance that God is our Father and is for us, right now we possess eternal life which consists in knowing the Father and the Son.

The list of benefits of being a child of God in this present world could go on and on. But John's point here is to say that as good as it is to be a child of God right now in this life, it's only the tip of the iceberg of what is in store for us in the future...

We are sure that we will continue to be God's children throughout eternity. There is nothing greater that we can become than being God's children.   

"Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, neither has it entered into the heart of man all that God has prepared for them that love him" (1 Corinthians 2:9).

We Shall Be Like Jesus 
Verse 2 continues with the most staggering statement and promise imaginable. Yes, "now we are children of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he appears we shall be like him." We shall be like him. That's our destiny! We shall be like Jesus. No more awesome promise can be imagined; especially when we look at ourselves right now. When we look at ourselves, we see a little bit of the character of Christ. But when it comes right down to it, even the most mature Christlike person in this room still is wracked with sin. There are huge gaps in each of our lives that Christ has only begun to fill and to heal...But the glorious promise of this verse is that it will indeed happen. Not totally in this life. But a day is coming when we shall be changed, when we shall be like him! What a tremendous hope! What a deep comfort!

Of course, to be like him does not mean that we will become him. We will always be merely human; he will forever be the incarnate God. He together with the Father will forever be the object of worship; we will forever be the praisers of his glory. He together with his Father will forever be the source of life and light. We will forever be reflectors and sponges and beneficiaries. But we will be like him.

There is nothing left to be desired. There are no greener pastures anywhere. This is the end of our search.

Our hearts are made for God and we are restless until we find our rest in God.

excerpt: John Piper  

http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByTopic/18/483_We_Shall_Be_Like_Him/ 

Amen.

Surgery this morning

8 am

We just got the word that they are taking my dad into surgery in 15 minutes.  My mom is racing down to the hospital.
If the small intestine looks good, they will do their procedure.  If it does not look good, there is nothing else they can do.

Yesterday the surgeon said that he cannot believe that my dad has continued to live these last few days.  He said that survival from all of this is unprecedented...

He said ‘obviously, Mr. Wedemeyer is an unprecedented man.’

Yes, and my dad has committed his life to - and is a child of - an unprecedented God.


Psalm 34: 1-7
Taste and See That the LORD Is Good

I will bless the LORD at all times;
   his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul makes its boast in the LORD;
   let the humble hear and be glad.
 magnify the LORD with me,
   and let us exalt his name together!

 I sought the LORD, and he answered me
   and delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to him are radiant,
   and their faces shall never be ashamed.
 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him
   and saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the LORD encamps
   around those who fear him, and delivers them.
 

Charlie - no surgery today

Tuesday May 25, 2010


There will be no surgery today as initially planned.  The goal at present is to get my dad’s levels in balance. In particular his:

• blood pressure
• bone marrow
• blood sugars
• and oxygen saturation
  

My dad looks better today, according to the report from Lisa this morning.  He is also able to communicate and let us know that he needs his trache suctioned.  He is not sedated, as originally planned.  When he is sedated, his blood pressure drops.  Then they can’t do dialysis.  Today they did 6 hours of dialysis.  Of course, when they do dialysis, they can’t give him pain medication.


Our specific prayer requests are:

• that his pain would be relieved
• whatever intestines are left – that they stay healthy
• that the liver would be able to function
• that circulation would improve – his feet are swollen and almost purple
• that he would be filled with peace and not anxiety
• that my dad would be able to sleep
  

Thank you for your prayers.



Today’s word of the Lord is from our dear friend, Suzanne. This psalm is so powerful...and amazing... and reassuring.  It is healing balm to a weary soul.

Psalm 139:  1-18

Search Me, O God, and Know My Heart
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

 O LORD, you have searched me and known me!
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
   you discern my thoughts from afar.
 You search out my path and my lying down
   and are acquainted with all my ways.
 Even before a word is on my tongue,
   behold, O LORD, you know it altogether.
 You hem me in, behind and before,
   and lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
   it is high; I cannot attain it.


Where shall I go from your Spirit?
   Or where shall I flee from your presence?
If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
If I take the wings of the morning
   and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
even there your hand shall lead me,
   and your right hand shall hold me.
If I say,"Surely the darkness shall cover me,
   and the light about me be night,"
even the darkness is not dark to you;
   the night is bright as the day,
   for darkness is as light with you.


For you formed my inward parts;
   you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
   my soul knows it very well.
 My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
   intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
   the days that were formed for me,
   when as yet there was none of them.


How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
   How vast is the sum of them!
 If I would count them, they are more than the sand.
   I awake, and I am still with you.

Happy 15 Kauikaleoaloha!

 May 24, 2010

Today is our oldest daughter’s 15th birthday.  This is the 3rd year in a row that Grampa has been in the hospital on Kaleo’s birthday.


Two years ago (May 2008)

When Kaleo turned 13, we had her b-day in Grampa’s hospital room.  Nani (my mom) literally transported the party there.  We had balloons, décor, presents, and delicious chocolate cake!

 

Auntie A (Antoinette), Kale, my mom, and dad




Last year (May 2009)

On Kaleo’s 14th birthday we headed over the hill to a Civil War re-enactment.  Most of the kids had a great time.  The cannons were a bit loud for the babies! 

 

Dad was in the ICU and the youngest children were too young to visit Grampa.  
  
Our dear friend, Sara, came to visit dad, and cut his hair.

Dr. Selivanov (left) who is operating on dad now, also operated on him last year.

Later we celebrated Kaleo’s b-day with a BBQ at our house, complete with a pineapple upside down cake and roasted marshmallows!

 'Happy Birthday to you, Happy birthday dear Kaleo......'

Cecilia and Malia with the birthday girl

Kapena (3)

I think Kili (2) had the most marshmallows... 

 This year (May 2010)

We woke the kids at the crack of dawn for an early b-day breakfast at our favorite breakfast place.


Kaleo and Kainoa

Kaleo and Kawika (15m)

Kapena (4) and his hot chocolate - good to the last drop!

Later, Kaleo and I had a wonderful lunch with our dear friend, Lisa, and her girls, Cecilia and Malia. 

  




















While we were out, Kainoa (9) was hard at work preparing for her sister’s b-day.  Kainoa baked a lovely pound cake and muffins.  She also cleaned up, set the table, and did all the decorations.  Kaleo made her own b-day dinner – yummy taco casserole!  And the new most requested b-day ‘cake’ - rootbeer floats!  

Kaleo, Kawika, Nani, and Koa

On every birthday we end the evening with a time of prayer.  We gather around the child whose b-day it is, lay hands on them, and mom and dad pray a special blessing over them.  This year we added the older children to also pray a blessing over their sibling.

Kaleo is growing into such a wonderful young lady.  At home with the little ones she is my right hand.  It is awesome to watch Kaleo as she is studying and building her own biblical worldview.  In addition to her other studies this year, she took a Starting Points class.  This David Quine cirriculum is a Christian worldview class.  It has been wonderfully challenging and thought provoking for her.  It has also provided solid re-enforcement of our own family devotional studies.  

 



















Kaleo looks forward to becoming a keeper of her own home one day, as a wife and mother. She is contemplating becoming a nurse as these are skills that she could use to earn a living if need be, she could take them out on the mission field, and she can use them to care for her own children and family one day. We are so blessed to have her in our family!

A portion of the blessing prayed over her:

The living God called you by name before the foundation of the world. You have been pre-destined to be ‘lovely (Kaui)’ and a ‘voice of love (Kaleoaloha)’ for the glory of God – and He has chosen this family for you to grow in – to be taught in – to be trained up in – to be nurtured in  - to be loved in...

Our children are a blessing, a heritage from the Lord            Psalm 127:3

And all thy children shall be taught of the lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children                                                                                                             Isaiah 54:13

Our children too shall serve him, for they shall hear from us about the wonders of the lord
                                                                                                           Isaiah 54:13
 

Charlie - After 'Observation'

Sunday May 23, 2010

My mom is feeling much better, but still hasn’t gotten much sleep, and still can’t hear very well.  She has decorated my dad’s ICU room – the wall he faces is covered in blown-up family photos.  She is spending a lot of time at the hospital and we are so grateful for the precious precious friends that have been there by her side.  

 The doctors are quite perplexed and amazed about my dad.  We spoke to the surgeon on Sunday after he did the ‘observation.’  He was not optimistic.  Ultimately my dad’s body is beginning to fail.  I know that seems strange to say as he has had ALS for over 30 years, but these complications are new on the horizon.  And they are not necessarily due to the ALS – they are due to the diabetes. The surgeon said it is getting grim, and that my dad may not make it through the night.  All we can do is wait...and pray.  

My dad has been in and out of the hospital these past few years.  Every time he goes in, we make sure he is never alone – either one of our nurses are with him or a family member.  On Sunday, my mom, Kale, and I were all there at the same time.  It was difficult to see my dad after he came out of surgery.  He was very bloated and didn’t look like himself.  They got him started on dialysis, which is good for him, but he can’t have his pain medication when he is on it, and that takes hours.  I couldn’t stand the thought that he had just come out of a difficult surgery and couldn’t have pain meds.  I can’t bear to see him in pain.  It was comforting to have my brother there.  He brings a calming element to the situation.  He checked out my dad, watched the monitors, knows what to look for, and what is a concern and what is not.

I left at about 8pm to be home with the kids so that Keith could go out to an appt.  He is covering as much of the real estate work load as he can so my mom doesn’t even have to think about it.  While it is a bit crazy and chaotic, we are grateful to be living with my parents at the moment.  This way I can make sure my mom is eating and resting.  She and Keith can readily communicate about work.  And when my mom comes home late each night from the hospital, she is not coming home to a dark empty house.  Dear friends have been bringing food, and just showing up to pray and just ‘be there.’  We are so grateful.

My cousin, Yuki, sent this scripture, and it is perfect because it is in Him we put our hope.

But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him,
       on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,
to deliver them from death
       and keep them alive in famine.

We wait in hope for the LORD;
       he is our help and our shield.
In him our hearts rejoice,
       for we trust in his holy name.
May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD,
       even as we put our hope in you.

Psalm 33: 18-22
 

As followers of Christ, we don’t ‘fear’ physical death.  The death that Christ has delivered us from is spiritual death.  In Him we live – either here, or in glory.

By grace alone...through faith alone...
because of Christ alone

Out of surgery

May 21, 2010

Dearest friends and family,

Thank you so much for your prayers.  My dad made it out of surgery less than an hour ago.  They will go in again on Sunday to ‘observe’ what they did.  On Tuesday they will ‘connect’  everything and close him up.  He will be sedated until the final close on Tuesday.

The surgeon told my mom that my dad has a 50-50 chance of surviving all of this.  My mom told him those were the best odds he’s ever been given!  My mom has been amazing – as upbeat as ever.  She is recovering from a double ear infection and can’t hear very well.

Last night, Kainoa (9) had a scripture she wanted to share with her Grampa.  She read him Psalm 13.  It is a psalm of lament – a cry to the Lord for help.  Towards the end, there is a turning point where the tone changes abruptly from despair to hope.  David recalls his commitment to trust God completely.  The term ‘mercy’ describes God’s loyal love – His faithfulness to His commitment to take care of His people.

No matter what happens, my family has a great peace that truly does go beyond all natural understanding.  Please keep my dad in prayer.

So grateful to have you standing in the gap with us -
May the living God be glorified
love,
Carri

Charlie's surgery II

 May 20, 2010

Greetings to all family friends,

I thought this was worth sending out to those who pray to and know the goodness of our holy God.

Charlie has been in the hospital with a serious infection (which is now under control) and an intestinal blockage which has doctors perplexed and very concerned.  Surgery is the last resort and, we have arrived at the last resort.  Lucy (and I) had a consultation with the surgeon yesterday - the surgery is scheduled for Friday morning.

This is going to put Charlie's body to the test, and that is what has the doctor most concerned.  Basically the doctor told us if he doesn't reverse the blockage Charlie will die - and the surgery itself could have a grim outcome.  Out of everything Charlie has gone through since I have known him, I have never seen him be in so much pain and discomfort.

Please pray for God's divine comfort for Charlie (and the entire Wedemeyer family) along with wisdom for doctors.  As usual Lucy is upbeat and she wants God to glorified in whatever happens, but the last 24 hours have been very emotional for Carri and Lucy (and Charlie and Kale).

As we pray with the kids everynight, we remind them that God has Grandpa in the palm of His hand.

In His Grace,
Keith

Charlie's surgery

May 20, 2010

Dearest friends & family,

I am asking for prayer for my dad – that he would be filled with God’s peace, and relieved from his pain.
 
I took the 5 oldest children to the hospital tonight.  We sang and prayed over Grampa, and worshipped
the Lord.

May he feel the presence of the Lord tonight and throughout this surgery.

thank you – your prayers are precious to us
love, Carri