Merry Xmas?

In the St Louis area there is a cool place, Mosaic Christian Church, pastored by a super neat guy named Shane Adkisson. Recently, he wrote something that I felt was so good, I wanted to pass it on. Enjoy [and thanks Shane]:

Alright, let me start by saying, I'm probably with you. I mean I don't appreciate seeing "Xmas" plastered around by retailers.

Why? Because Christmas is about Jesus.

But, let me give you something to think about.

Did you know that "X" is the symbol that biblical scholars have used for years for the abbreviation for Christ. Basically it evolved to be the abbreviation because in greek it's the first letter in the word "Christ."

Many years ago, most people didn't read. People came to understand that the symbol "X" stood for Christ. Old buildings where the church (God's people) would gather were often marked with an "X" so the common people, who didn't read, would know that's where the church meets.

I'm not suggesting we be happy about "taking Christ out of Christmas", but I am hoping to give you some slight encouragement when you see it.

For a long time, it's struck me as funny and tragic that many people celebrate Christmas with no idea of what they're celebrating. As unfortunate as that is, I think it's actually quite remarkable at the same time. Whether people know it or not, the world pauses to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

So, when I see the sign declaring the latest "Xmas Sale", I'll consider it unfortunate that they miss the significance of the party; however, I'll choose to be more than offended and I'll marvel in the ability that God has to be proclaimed even when the intentions of men might be otherwise.

The Latest

It's Wednesday afternoon and I'm ready to give everyone 'the latest' update on my lovely wife, Kelli.

She IS feeling better today. She can be up for 2-3 hours, and then has to lay down for a while. This routine seems to be working real well for her. Her back is, obviously, very sore and extremely bruised from all the needle punctures she's had recently. This is uncomfortable, but manageable. Her headache is almost back to where it was before any of the 'lumbar puncture' stuff began, which is still not good, but so much better than the spinal headache she was dealing with... that she isn't complaining.

She's been able to do some home-school stuff with Caleb and Michaela and even help out Conor and Kolten in their studies [they are currently in the dreaded 'finals week' at Maple Weeds College]. Merci is currently out of town with the Petersen family, living large in San Antonio, Texas. I came back to work today and that's been good.

I just phoned Kelli and she described how there are two ladies from the church deep cleaning our entire home. That frightens me a little bit, but only because there is some scary things hidden in the deep crevices of Craft-Manor. Truthfully, the love that is being shown towards us by way of food, cards, gift-certificates for pizza for the kids, and even house-cleaning... is just awesome. Kelli and I are blown away by the love and support we have.

Please continue to pray for Kelli and know that we are eternally grateful for your faithfulness and kindness shown to us in so many ways. Merry Christmas!

Another Update

It's 4:15pm on Monday. Kelli's 'blood patch' procedure apparently went according to plan. She is doing much better. She just finished her first meal since Friday evening, and inhaled it like... she hadn't eaten in a few days! She's laughing and back to her old ways, which includes hitting me and basically just being all-around ornery.

We expect to have a visit from the doctor before 5pm. All the nurses feel that Kelli has made such an improvement that I should probably start getting stuff together to head home. I suppose they could keep us, but if I were a bettin' man I'd wager we'll be sleeping in our bed tonight. That means, Kelli will be schoolin' me at Jeopardy and the smell of Bio-Freeze will fill the air at the Craft home very soon.

I know we still have a long way to go, but this was a yucky hurdle that I'm grateful to have leaped. All of your cards, comments on the blog, meals for the kids, and mostly your prayers have been hugely appreciated. How blessed we are! God has remained faithful once again!

If anything changes, I'll let you know.

The message from the weekend can now be heard here: Michael's Message

Update on Kelli

I so appreciate all the prayers for my wife, Kelli. I know that everyone wants an update, so I'll give one. I felt this might be the best way to do so. I don't have much time, so this will be quick.

Eight years ago, Kelli had a surgery for something called, Chiari Malformation.

That surgery helped... minimally. At times she has dealt with severe headaches that, I'm told, make migraines seem like stubbing your toe. Since that surgery, she has traveled to the Mayo Clinic twice to seek wisdom and instruction and seen her doctor regularly, as well as naturalist doctors.

Over the past six months, her headaches have become increasingly severe. She has missed work, church, and spent entire days [even a week at a time] mostly in bed. She's had to cease exercise, see a multitude of doctors [both natural in nature and the normal kind], tried multitudes of 'diets' and a plethora of medicines. She's had good days, and horrible days.

After some informal training, I learned how to give pretty good massages, and during this past month, each night while Kelli and I watch an hour of DVR'd "Jeopardy", she receives a semi-world-class massage from yours-truly. Our entire room, and most of the rest of our home, smells like either Bio-Freeze or Icy-Hot... something we've all gotten used to. [Kolten's room is directly above ours and he gets it the worst, as far as smells go. Poor kid.]

All of this has helped... a bit. On a pain scale of 1-10, Kelli has been between a 4-6 at all times, with an occasional 7.

In October, Kelli had a headache she rated at a 14, and was rushed to the hospital. They injected her with something and after a few hours sent us home with instructions to go back to our doctor and have him refer us to a neurologist. We did this and were put on a waiting list to get an appointment with the best neurologist our massive amounts of research could find within the Kansas City Metro area.

We finally were able to see Dr. Malik this past week. He scheduled Kelli for a 'lumbar puncture' this past Friday, which was as soon as he could do it. We went in at 11:45am on Friday, the procedure went well and Kelli went home to recoup. We were warned that 10% of those receiving this invasive surgery suffer what is called a 'spinal headache'.

Friday night her head progressively got worse and on Saturday she had to be rushed to the emergency room. They admitted her Saturday evening and we're still here now.

As I type this at 8:30am Monday, Kelli is [finally] receiving what is called a 'blood patch'. This could have been done Saturday evening, however, the doctors felt and advised that we should try a less traumatic approach. Apparently, 1 out of 10 folks that have a lumbar puncture experience a spinal leak. That fluid causes an un-godly amount of pain, which is the 'spinal headache'. That leak stops itself up in about 4 days and the pain will eventually go away. If you can handle that much pain, its a fine way to go. However, the quicker way to get rid of the pain, involves the doctors removing blood from your arm and quickly injecting it into your spine, where the blood acts like a 'patch' and literally clots the leak up. They say pain can be almost instantaneously lessened when a 'blood patch' is performed. It is, however, a more dangerous way to go... thus making us wait the past two days.

On a side note: If you are planning on being sick, in any way, in the near future. Plan your sickness AROUND the weekend. Hospitals all but shut down on the weekends, with nary a doctor in sight. However, Monday mornings hospitals awaken as though they're the doors of WalMart on Black Friday.

I sound as though I'm upset. Truly, I'm just really tired. Kelli hasn't been able to sleep. She cannot move her head. She cannot get up to use the restroom. She cries... a lot. I just wish they had done what they are doing now... last Saturday. But, praise the Lord, she's receiving treatment now. When she comes out, our hope is that she'll be on the way to feeling better... from the lumbar puncture anyways.

As far as the regular headaches she's been dealing with for the past eight years, we are excited about our new neurologist, Dr. Malik, and hope for his practice of medicine to be guided and directed by our great and wise Doctor in the heavens.

Again... that's a 'quick' update. I hope it answers your questions. Please keep praying, and I'll do my best to keep everyone updated when possible. God bless you all, and Lord... please help my wife.

- Michael