For Better, for Worse

I am still settling in with our newest addition, and haven’t made any progress in getting organized or in getting much of anything done.  Thank you for all the love, prayers, and food!! We are so grateful!!

The following was sent to me by a dear friend.  It is a daily devotional sent out by Dennis and Barbara Rainey.  Our family appeared on the Family Life Today radio show with Dennis and Bob Lepine, years ago. This particular devotional features my parents’ story.

Charlie & Lucy in Hawaii  2006

March 14, 2012

For Better, for Worse

Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.  Philippians 2:4

I've been doing daily radio since 1992, and I can recall only one time when I was weeping so hard I couldn't speak. It was the day I interviewed Charlie and Lucy Wedemeyer.

At the age of 30, Charlie began experiencing the early symptoms of ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease. A successful high-school football coach, he was given one to three years to live.

Even now as I reflect on our time with them in the studio -- with Lucy reading his lips and speaking for him -- the emotion is profound. They recalled a day when Charlie, his care becoming more and more demanding on his wife and children, whispered to Lucy, "Maybe it would be better if I just died."

Lucy took a deep breath, asked the Lord for just the right words, and said to Charlie, "We'd rather have you like this than not at all."

Having him "like this" has meant more than two decades of continual life support. It takes Lucy three hours to get him ready each day!

Lucy is a model of what we promised to each other in our wedding vows. In sickness and in health. For better or for worse. Keeping our covenant means more than avoiding divorce -- it means we'll be there, living out our love, no matter what.

Don't wait until you get in a dramatic situation where you're facing something like Lucy and Charlie before you cement your promise to care for one another through any circumstance. If you don't prepare for it today by submitting to the Lordship of Jesus Christ over your life and clinging to God's blueprints, you'll be unprepared when -- not if -- your crisis comes.

Discuss
Look each other in the eye right now and recommit yourself to a "for better or for worse" promise. Answer this question: "If what happened to Charlie happened to me, can I count on you?"

Pray
Thank God for giving you a lifelong marriage partner. Ask Him to help you see each other for the blessing you are -- even on days when it's hard.

  

---

Excerpted from Moments With You by Dennis and Barbara Rainey. Copyright ® 2011 Dennis and Barbara Rainey. All Rights Reserved. Published by Regal Books, Ventura, CA 93003. 

You are receiving this enewsletter because you are subscribed to Moments with You (a daily devotional for couples).
 

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father’s Day!

In remembrance of my dad

Coach Charlie Wedemeyer

Although it has been a year since my dad went to be with the Lord, these past few weeks have been particularly difficult for my mom.  Thank you for your continued love and prayers.

"I can do all things through Christ

who strengthens me."

Phil 4:13

Scoreboard Dedication

Last Friday night we attended the first home game of the season for the Wildcats.  It wasn't a very eventful game - ended in a tie.  During halftime they held a special dedication of the new scoreboard - in honor of my dad.  It was so perfect to have our dear friend Shelby (who is the new AD this year) say a few words about my parents, and introduce my mom.

This was my mom's first time back to the field without my dad.  Earlier in the day we joked about driving my dad's high top van to the game, and parking on the field...behind the endzone....where my dad always was!  Shelby had placed a long team bench behind the endzone for us to hang out on.  It was perfect.

The dedication was simple and sweet.  The band was behind us, and the team was gathered right in front of us.  My mom put a lot of thought into what she wanted to say, as she always does.  I asked her if she was going to talk about all the memories we have had on that football field.  She smiled and shook her head, "That would be too hard!"

When we got home, my mom asked me what I thought about what she'd said.  I didn't really 'hear 'what she had said.  My mind was thinking about all those memories.......Being little and coming to the games with my mom and my brother - we'd sit in the stands and mom brought hot cocoa in an airpot.  We'd go to the Cattolicos' after every game and I'd listen to the coaches re-hash every play.  When I was older, I brought friends to the games (usually Karen) and we'd stand on the sidelines thinking we were so cool because we had 'field passes.'

All those years...my dad went from assistant coach, to head coach, to a wheelchair, to my mom needing to be with my dad on the field, to a golf cart on the field, to helping coach junior varsity, to being relegated to watching/coaching in his chair from his van (on the extended lift.)

And there I stood on the field.....with my mom.......and my husband..... and my kids....and all those memories.....

.....but without my dad.

It is hard for me.  I can't begin to imagine how incredibly hard it is for my mom.

My mom is amazing.  As was my dad.

This link will take you to some photos that were taken that night.

http://www.lghssports.com/concealed/wedemeyer/13921213_R7YBH#1021905964_oZRfM. 


Go Wildcats!

San Jose Memorial Service - Arrival

It was hard to fathom having my dad’s memorial service at HP Pavilion... aka the San Jose Arena... aka the Shark Tank.  The thought of it was overwhelming for me in so many ways.  Since I was putting this event together, I had to look at it from a production stand point...and I was totally overwhelmed.  

We planned to have the service at church.  How would we make the huge Shark Tank intimate?  How could we create an atmosphere that was warm and personal?  And how could we do it in a week!?!?!?

Jumbo tron outside the HP Pavilion

I was so afraid the Pavilion staff would say to me, “Okay, we will unlock the doors for you, and then you’re on your own.  Good luck.”  

Well, thank the Lord, that scenario couldn’t have been further from what happened.  Mr. Jamison, Mr. Hamnett, and the HP Pavilion staff blew us away.  I cried through our first meeting. They made their team available to us and provided us with everything we could’ve hoped for.  

Then, I called on my ‘A team.’  Boy, I have the most amazing friends....

Saturday June 19, 2010  11:00am

Our friend, Craig, had an awesome idea to include former and current football players in the service.  

The HP Pavilion has two entrances, and Craig lined up the players outside the doors – flanking both entrances.  

  

When we arrived we drove by both entrances and it was really special to see all the players lined up.  

 

People begin to enter the Pavilion

On arriving, we gathered in the green room to worship and pray before the service.

 

Mom with Brent, Coach Cattolico, and Judy

With my brother, Kale, and my niece, Noe

Coach Mariucci greets Craig

The amazing vocalists and musicians who came to help me

Tim Abbott, Annabel Blanchard, Karyn Harline, Diane & Bill Allison,
Jeanie Nuia, Mark Kenoly

Amy is the director of Family & Kids/ Early Childhood at our church.  She contacted me early on with specific ways that they could help our family.  We were deeply grateful for this gesture.  The support from our church was invaluable.   They didn't say 'call us if you need anything.'  They said, 'Here are some specific areas we can help with.'  One of those areas was with our kiddos.  On this day, Amy showed up early to the house to help with the little ones.

Our dear friend, Suzanne, flew in from Hawaii. 

Kale and Noe (18m)

Mom with Kili (3)

Ti leaf leis made by the lovely ladies from New Hope Church in Hawaii
who flew in  to dance at the service

Michael Nouri

Pastor Mike Kiley leads us in prayer

Kale and Coach Mariucci

The Andrys

As you go through these photos you will see the dark circles under my eyes.  I hadn't slept in 2 weeks.  Every moment was spent pulling all the details together for this service.  I didn't have time to think about other things, like what we were all going to wear.  Friends just showed up to help...and they were an incredible help.

Thank you to Auntie Judy who provided all of the wonderful matching Hawaiian outfits for our children (among many many other clothes, gifts and goodies she brought.)  And thank you to Nadine who provided shoes for all of our children!  This is an example of how friends appeared and helped us in so many ways we couldn't have imagined.

I'll do a separate post just on all the ways people were there for us.  It may help you in figuring out how to be there for others when they are in a similar situation.  I know it will help us to be able to be a blessing to others in the future.

Many have contacted us asking for a copy of the Memorial service.  We don’t know what we are going to do about that yet.  I don’t know if we will make physical copies available, or if we will just post it  online.  Will keep you posted...

We could just...be

It has now been more than two months since my dad went to be with the Lord.

That morning , everything seemed to stop for a moment.  Nothing else was important, or needed to be attended to.

We could just...be.

Be quiet.

Be sad.

Be reflective.

Be tired.

I am so grateful for our nurses that were there with my mom, my brother, and I that morning.  I call them ‘nurses’ here, because that is how they initially came into our lives.  They knew my dad pretty well, as they were his caregivers.  These ladies are not just ‘nurses’ to our family.  They are friends... sisters in Christ... ‘Aunties’ to my children.  They are part of our family.

On my dad’s last day with us, a few of our nurses got the word (or the ‘text’ I should say), and came in at the wee hours of the morning. For those early morning hours at his bedside in the hospital we prayed... we wept... we sang... and we laughed as we shared memories and stories my dad so would’ve enjoyed.

Finally, we slowly started to gather my dad’s things...

took down all the pictures we had plastered all over the walls...

tucked away the bible and books my mom had read to him...

packed up all the supplies we brought...

and slowly rolled out his empty wheelchair...

Quote of the day

Kapena (4) was chatting with my mom.
"Nani, is Grampa in heaven.......with Jesus?'
My mom assures Kapena that Grampa is in heaven.
pause.......pause........"When does he get out?"

Count it all JOY

 We are fervently packing up some final things and getting them out of our house.  This is all in preparation to get our house on the market.  We haven't had the time to fully settle in at my parents' house, so we are living out of boxes, which are everywhere.  We are also packing our bags to head over to Hawaii.  The memorial service there is scheduled for this Sunday – 2pm at Punahou in the chapel.


Philippians 4:4-7
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice...And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
 
This morning’s study in my daily devotional was very timely, as things with the Lord usually are.  Here is a small excerpt:

Every day we are told both explicitly and implicitly that real joy cannot exist apart from success in all our relationships and happiness with our standard of living.

...joy is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23), and it must be evident at some level in the life of every believer.  Joy need not be tied inescapably to our circumstances, for we have the Holy Spirit, and we can decide to rejoice always (Phil 4:4).

Of course, Christian joy does not deny the existence of pain or the legitimacy of grief.  Being made in God’s image, we are complex creatures who can be both sad and joyful at the same time...

We can grieve the death of loved ones because we no longer have personal communion with them.  At the same time, we can have a deep, abiding joy, knowing that death for the Christian is only temporary.  Christ’s death and resurrection have crushed this enemy, and now we wait for God to finally and fully defeat death when the new heaven and earth dawn (1 Cor 15:20-28; 2 Tim 1:10)

TABLETALK from Ligonier Ministries and Dr. R.C. Sproul

I think this describes well what my family is going through.  

There are tears, and we are very sad....the void, is so big... it is deafening.

But there is no despair here.  There is no hopelessness here.

We do rejoice in the Lord.  He is our rock...our strength...and all of our hope.

Warming up, rehearsing, and worshipping the Lord before the service. 


 I sang ‘Amazing Grace’ at the San Jose memorial service last Saturday.  When looking at the verses, I was interested to learn that there are more than 16 verses – some not part of the original version.  In addition to the first verse, I chose two that seemed the most fitting.

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.

The Lord has promised good to me,
His Word my hope secures;
He will my Shield and Portion be,
As long as life endures.

            My chains are gone
            I’ve been set free
            My God My Savior
            Has ransomed me

            And like a flood
            His mercy reigns
            Unending love
            Amazing grace

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

This is our blessed assurance...it is available only through Christ....  

Celebrating Charlie's Legacy

As you can imagine, the last 5 days have been a whirlwind for the Wedemeyer family. Even with Charlie being terminal ill for the past 34 years, we truly never planned that this day would come... and how it would impact us.  

We are resting on the promises of God, but our finite minds still wrestle with saying good bye to our husband, dad, and grandpa.

We have had an amazing outpouring of prayer, support, emails, and cards.  Again, as mentioned in prior emails, we wish we could respond to each of the hundreds responses, but Lucy and Carri are truly overwhelmed at this time.  

We are in the throes of planning Charlie's memorial service and have finally confirmed date/time/place.  This will be opened to the public.

Celebrating Charlie's Legacy  
HP Pavilion (The Shark Tank)
Saturday   June 19th
11am

A reception will follow at Calvary Church in Los Gatos - 4pm


Carri and an abundance of her friends will be working together over the next 10 days to pull together what may be the celebration of a lifetime.
 
In His Grace,
Keith Andry 

 ______________________________________________

  **** HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYERS  ****

The Wedemeyer Family would like to invite all high school football players (past and present) to wear their jerseys to the memorial service.  This includes all CCS teams.  

Please contact Craig Williams for more detail: ckkmwilliams@sbcglobal.net 

Charlie's Memorial Service TBD

Dearest Friends and Family,

First, I want to personally say thank you on behalf of the Wedemeyer family for all of your emails and phone messages.  In as much as I know they would like to personally respond to each and every one, you can imagine things are are hectic in the Wedemeyer household.

Second, many of you have asked about the memorial service.  A date and time time have not been confirmed for the service.  June 19th has been mentioned, but we are still working through the particulars. We should have a confirmation this weekend. Carri will try to email and post an update on the blog no later than Monday.

Again, we do thank you for all of you heart felt prayers.  Our hope is that all of you can rejoice with Charlie and his family, for we serve a Mighty King.

I have posted another videoclip from Don Mapes' amazing documentary "Courage to Live; The Charlie and Lucy Wedemeyer story".

In His Grace,
Keith

Charlie & Lucy Wedemeyer - Testify to Love

Angels are rejoicing

Charlie Wedemeyer:  February 19, 1946- June 3, 2010

Greetings to all of our family and friends,

It comes with both great sadness and much rejoicing that Charlie has been called home to meet his Heavenly Father.

Charlie courageously battled through multiple surgeries and infections. He finally succumbed to pneumonia.

At 3:30 in the morning we were awakened by Kale coming to the house. He told Carri and Lucy that his dad wasn’t doing well and it was time to go say goodbye.  Charlie was heavily sedated so there was no suffering in the end.  Lucy, Carri, Kale, and nurses close to the family spent 5 hours praying and singing hymns and songs of worship.   I know it was a precious time for everyone there.

It is surreal to think this man who has suffered immeasurably is now gone from this world and is now in a place where there is no sin, no pain, no sickness, nor anymore death.  

Praise God for the hope we have in Jesus Christ!   Thank God for choosing Charlie to be one of his own.

It has been said for those of us who know the Redeemer Jesus Christ, this is NOT, nor will it be, our best life now;  

Our best life is yet to come- Hallelujah, Amen!

Services are tentatively scheduled for Saturday, June 19th in Los Gatos.

Carri will be posting updates in the coming days. Again, we do thank you for your prayers. 

May God be glorified in all our circumstances.

In His Grace,
Keith

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.                        Romans 5:1-5

Urgent Prayer

Keith here...
It is 3:30am and we were just woken by Kale.  Hospital called and asked for family to come to hospital.  It is very serious.  Carri and Lucy are heading to hospital in the next few minutes.  Please pray for the Lord's continued strength and comfort for the Wedemeyer family.

Charlie - Pneumonia

Wednesday June 2

Today my dad took a downward turn.

His blood pressure dropped and was not coming up.  We got a concerned call from our nurse saying that we needed to come.

My mom, Kale, and I made our way to the hospital.  They took a chest x-ray and finally realized that my dad has pneumonia.  That explained some of the immediate problems he was having.  Kale said it is inevitable to get pneumonia when you are in the hospital this long.

They have my dad on a strong anti-biotic.  They cannot give a breathing treatment (which would help his lungs) because it would be too much for his heart.

He is sedated with pain medication.

So we wait...and pray.


Prayer requests:

• blood pressure comes up
• he is able to kick this pneumonia
• that his liver functions better
• that he remains pain free
• that he tangibly senses the presence of the Lord

By His grace...
with much thanks and love,
Carri



________________________________________________

While this has been a difficult time for my family, this has also been a difficult time for our nurses.  We have some pretty incredible women who not only provide nursing care for my dad, but have also truly become part of our family.  This has been very emotional for all of us.

Lisa - who I mentioned often - used to be a nurse for my dad.  She is now a full-time Marriage and Family Therapist.  She has been at the hospital with my dad almost non-stop.  I don't know how she does it, or what we would do without her.  She has led some incredible prayer times in my dad's ICU room, in the ICU conference room, in the OR waiting room.  

I was disappointed to learn that I missed her today.  She came to see my dad, and pray over him - and she brought in some of her students (yes, she also teaches...) to see my dad.

I asked her to recount some of what has gone on this past week...

This first surgery saved his life. Lucy and I, and a few dear others waited for 4 hours. 

How we waited...We at first waited worried... 

That got old, and tiresome...so, quickly, we waited in prayer, reading scripture, laying hands on each other, and because we had a worship leader for Charlie's private nurse, she sang accapella and we all rejoiced. 

Then we got out the cameras, because, where there is Lucy Wedemeyer there is a camera, so we exchanged snapping our minds for snapping photos! 

Some would call this mini-church, or waiting room worship, but Lucy calls it GOOD GRIEF! 

During this last week there were 4 surgeries, in varying degree of criticallity, each time before and after we would convene, and pray, read scripture, lay hand, prophesy, cry, worship and lay hold of God's faithfulness. 

During these periods of GOOD GRIEF, the Lord manifested - in Lucy's words - it was the weighty presence of God's Glory, it is Shekainah Glory.

We could barley stand, just holding on to Charlie and the bed rail; we were in Awe. 

During one session, the Lord revealed a bastion of angles, all wearing crowns, and one angel, carrying a crown, a king's crown, distinctly more elaborate then the crown the angles wore... 

In this moment, Lucy prayed a psalm, in part, psalm 103...Praise the Lord oh my soul, all my inmost being, praise his holy name, praise the Lord oh my soul and forget not all his benefits...who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your life with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagles. 

 
Before and after each surgery we sought the Lord, and again the weighty presence would manifest.  At one point, while we were praying for Charlie, Lucy was healed from a headache that has pestered her for days. 

I sensed Lucy was to be the focus of prayer. We held her hands up and prayed ardently - strength, favor, protection, and even immunity.  Immunity form the enemy! 

We have experienced well meaning people, who do not understand, or just plain old don't know what to say, or who have an erroneous opinion, they at times have misspoke loudly. 

The Lord has covered Charlie, Lucy, and the children. 

Please continue to pray for Lucy to do what the Lord asks her, without hindrance or onslaught. 

Pray for her protection.
 
--
Lisa Bennett, Ph.D., L.M.F.T

Charlie - Status quo

Today we are status quo.

Dr. S will be taking my dad back into the OR today to change the wound vac and observe the state of the tissue and organs.  We’ll know more after that.

The shocker for me, personally, has been mention (by the doctors) of my dad coming home!  This was not something we thought would be a reality.  

Maybe they think they are sending him home to die.  

We are trying to be ready for anything.  The thought of having my dad come home is a bit overwhelming as his care is so much more complicated now.

Everyday, my dad is a little bit better.  Very, very small increments.  But better – not worse.

His pain is still controlled by strong medication.  This medication adds to his being ‘out of it’ most of the time. 

Last night when I went to visit my dad, I brought my mom some dinner.  She was telling my dad that I brought her some delicious homemade lasagna, and he ‘gave her the eyebrows.’  Many of you know that my dad is famous for his ‘eyebrows.’  

I got to tell him about the fun the kiddos had playing in the water today.  I had his attention for about a minute.  It was a wonderful moment....it gives the heart hope...and also makes it sad.

My mom wants me to convey how grateful we are for all of your prayers.  She expressed how we can’t even begin to explain how palpable the presence of the Lord is in my dad’s hospital room.

Rejoice always,

pray without ceasing,

give thanks in all circumstances;

for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.    Do not quench the Spirit.  Do not despise prophecies,  test everything;  hold fast what is good.       

1 Thessalonians 5:16 - 21

 

Many of you have shared that you have included my dad/family in various prayer requests with different groups and churches.  We are so appreciative.

Below is a link to a clip of the Courage to Live video  - an incredible film that Don Mapes made.  It may be helpful for those who aren’t familiar with my parents’ story.

Courage to Live - opening segment
 

__________________________________________________

Every summer I plan to give the kids swimming lessons, yet – it never happens.  Kaleo can swim, and the next older 2 can kind of swim, but I would never feel safe having them all at a pool by myself.  I avoid that situation at all costs - won’t be around a pool unless Keith is with us.

The kids do love the water though.  So this is my current compromise.  Nothing like a nice dip in the pool, right in Nani and Grampa’s backyard!  

If you fill it, they will come!

Kawika (15m)

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.