I watched Born Without a Face last night. Like other TLC stories, this one touched my emotions. I felt love for Juliana through her parents. It was like she was Ella and I was hugging and kissing her before a surgery. I think there is something sacramental about putting yourself in the place of another. Perhaps that is why I like acting. After watching the show I had to give the kids an ardent good night kiss and hug them, though they were asleep already.
I also felt I had to pray. The emotions and images wouldn’t leave me alone. I got on universalis and prayed compline. Ray Orth sent me an email asking me how the hours were going, and I had to admit since my Lent book ran out, I haven’t tried much. This Sunday night, last night and now twice today universalis has been a joy and succor to my soul. I’ve missed praying the psalms.
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
Consecration
 | The Christian's Secret of a Happy Life, Nelson Royal Classics By Hannah Whitall Smith |
Often I have held on to the "Not-yet" part of my salavation. It reminds me that there is still a world of discipleship yet to be experienced. Reading this book focuses me on the already of salvation - that I have consecrated myself, given myself as an offering to him. What is given to him is recieved and made holy because he who recieves it is holy. Resting in this fact means not questioning the truth of my consecration even when I fail. Does my sin mean that I am not God's? No. Only that I stand in need of Grace yet, and rest in the knowlege and belief that God gives grace.
It is refreshing to think of sanctification in terms, not of doing, but of resting and trusting. Thank you my Father and King for recieving my offering of my body.
Sunday, August 14, 2005
Mourning the loss of a friend
this is not a drill: "there is no rhyme or reason to it. i feel so lost. so useless. there is nothing that can be done to change what happened. nothing that will ever console the hearts of my friends."
Naseem came into the coffee shop Saturday morning. I thougth she looked like she had lost her best friend. It was her best friend's little brother. As she told me how he had been hit by a car while riding his bike, what his life had meant to her and how hopless it all seemed, I suffered along with her. I had the privlage experience the best in being a pastor and a barista... being a listener. God, be with Naseem and those who suffer at Captian's death.
Naseem came into the coffee shop Saturday morning. I thougth she looked like she had lost her best friend. It was her best friend's little brother. As she told me how he had been hit by a car while riding his bike, what his life had meant to her and how hopless it all seemed, I suffered along with her. I had the privlage experience the best in being a pastor and a barista... being a listener. God, be with Naseem and those who suffer at Captian's death.
Saturday, August 13, 2005
On the loss of a friend
Here I stand mourning the death of Don Quixote of la Mancha. His madness in committing himself to his profession gave me strength to commit myself to mine. Now I bid farewell to Alonso Quixano the sane. Thank you for the joy and sweetness your delightful madness has brought me. May my own peculiar madness be as sweet to me, and sanity find me praising God!
Friday, August 12, 2005
Friday, July 01, 2005
This is what it looks like on the inside. I used a spring to connect the outside parts of the coaxile, to give it some flexability. The inside connection is a wire pushed into the center. It alows for some torque with out shorting. This with the locking mechanism will hopefully eliminate the troublesome charging problems common to laptops. Now I need to replace my shot battery.
Thursday, June 30, 2005
Katelyn Reithel becoming USA Elementary Celebrity
From the Newsweekly Jan 21, 2004
By Christopher C. Hooton Contributing Writer
Katelyn Reithel, a fourth grader at USA elementary school, lives every day carefully. She has a genetic skin disorder called Epidermolysis Bullosa.
EB affects the body's ability to produce collagen a protein that connects the two layers of skin, the thin epidermis to the dermis, it can also affect tissue on the inside of the body, like the esophagus. With EB, slight friction or pressure can cause blisters to form where the two layers separate and break down.
"Those little fibrels don't hold the skin layers together like they should, so any form of injury, rubbing, even itching a blood blister forms, or she'll peel the whole layer of skin off," Katy's mom and ER nurse, Amy Reithel said.
EB is extremely rare, a doctor can work their whole lives and never run into it. The Reithels have faced many difficulties because doctors are unfamiliar with the disorder only one in a million children are born with.
As a baby the normal injuries, scrapes, and bruises were scary challenges for the new parents. For the first few years of her life, when she was learning to crawl and walk Katy wore kneepads under her clothes.
"We were constantly having boo-boo parties," Reithel said.
The hospital is a familiar place to the family. Katy treks to Children's Hospital in Detroit and Henry Ford.
"By the end of February . . .we will have about 1500 miles on our vehicle just for medical travel alone starting January 1st already' Reithel said. "All the nurses know her by heart."
One of Katy's least favorite aspects of the EB is when her esophagus constricts. She is careful not to eat hard or sharp foods. Her favorite chili cheese fries need to be a little mushy. When her esophagus does constrict she can't eat.
"When it feels like it's time to go and have a dilation, it hurts because sometimes I can barely get my own spit down," Katelyn said.
She said they give her medicine, and while she is under, they put a balloon down her throat to open the esophagus again. It can constrict down to between one and three millimeters. She has had nine dilations all in the last five years.
"They are always scary, every time," father, Kevin said.
"Even dental work has to be done under anesthesia. Just something as simple as a routine cleaning has to be done in an operating room, but this is our normal," Amy said.
The Reithel's main treatment for Katy is trying to minimize injuries and caring for the blisters that form. The blisters are similar to severe burns. Dressings for damaged skin can be expensive and their insurance company was reluctant to cover more effective burn dressings for Katy.
In the future, gene therapy may be a relief for people with EB. Researchers are working on ways to correct the gene mutation in patients' skin and reintroduce it to their bodies.
Katy wears more clothing and is very careful every day while still being a kid.
"For two years now, every spring and fall I've been playing soccer, and I love doing that," Katelyn said.
"Which the dermatologist absolutely hates. We were trying to keep it a secret and she was excited one time and I thought Tore's eyes were going to pop out of his head," Mom added.
She also likes to swim, and the chlorine helps heal the skin. During summer, she uses a pool in a building on their property. She enjoys playing games at her friend's house and listens to Avril and Hillary Duff. She is also putt-putt champion for two years running in Caro. Last year she got a hole in one.
"I got a hole once!" little sister, Meghan added. On Saturdays, she and Katelyn like to watch cartoons and play in the snow.
Katelyn also likes school. She does well there focusing some of the energy on learning that she can't spend in the rough and tumble of the playground. Her favorite subjects are math and reading.
"I like me," Katy said.
The Reithels said they are overwhelmed by the support they have received from the community the last few months.
November, the elementary school took on a project that raised over $13,000 for Thumb Area Epidermolysis Bollusa Foundation and the Reithels.
With that help they will be taking a trip to Stanford, where specialists can help them how to better care for Katy. They will bring back that knowledge as well as the latest research.
"Some of the kids at school are saying 'Oh my gosh you are becoming a huge celebrity.' I don't like that because I'm just still me, but I like how the community is trying to help," Katelyn said.
The Reithels are to be the recipients Sportsman's VFW benefit breakfast Sunday January 25th 8:00 am to 1:00p.m.
By Christopher C. Hooton Contributing Writer
Katelyn Reithel, a fourth grader at USA elementary school, lives every day carefully. She has a genetic skin disorder called Epidermolysis Bullosa.
EB affects the body's ability to produce collagen a protein that connects the two layers of skin, the thin epidermis to the dermis, it can also affect tissue on the inside of the body, like the esophagus. With EB, slight friction or pressure can cause blisters to form where the two layers separate and break down.
"Those little fibrels don't hold the skin layers together like they should, so any form of injury, rubbing, even itching a blood blister forms, or she'll peel the whole layer of skin off," Katy's mom and ER nurse, Amy Reithel said.
EB is extremely rare, a doctor can work their whole lives and never run into it. The Reithels have faced many difficulties because doctors are unfamiliar with the disorder only one in a million children are born with.
As a baby the normal injuries, scrapes, and bruises were scary challenges for the new parents. For the first few years of her life, when she was learning to crawl and walk Katy wore kneepads under her clothes.
"We were constantly having boo-boo parties," Reithel said.
The hospital is a familiar place to the family. Katy treks to Children's Hospital in Detroit and Henry Ford.
"By the end of February . . .we will have about 1500 miles on our vehicle just for medical travel alone starting January 1st already' Reithel said. "All the nurses know her by heart."
One of Katy's least favorite aspects of the EB is when her esophagus constricts. She is careful not to eat hard or sharp foods. Her favorite chili cheese fries need to be a little mushy. When her esophagus does constrict she can't eat.
"When it feels like it's time to go and have a dilation, it hurts because sometimes I can barely get my own spit down," Katelyn said.
She said they give her medicine, and while she is under, they put a balloon down her throat to open the esophagus again. It can constrict down to between one and three millimeters. She has had nine dilations all in the last five years.
"They are always scary, every time," father, Kevin said.
"Even dental work has to be done under anesthesia. Just something as simple as a routine cleaning has to be done in an operating room, but this is our normal," Amy said.
The Reithel's main treatment for Katy is trying to minimize injuries and caring for the blisters that form. The blisters are similar to severe burns. Dressings for damaged skin can be expensive and their insurance company was reluctant to cover more effective burn dressings for Katy.
In the future, gene therapy may be a relief for people with EB. Researchers are working on ways to correct the gene mutation in patients' skin and reintroduce it to their bodies.
Katy wears more clothing and is very careful every day while still being a kid.
"For two years now, every spring and fall I've been playing soccer, and I love doing that," Katelyn said.
"Which the dermatologist absolutely hates. We were trying to keep it a secret and she was excited one time and I thought Tore's eyes were going to pop out of his head," Mom added.
She also likes to swim, and the chlorine helps heal the skin. During summer, she uses a pool in a building on their property. She enjoys playing games at her friend's house and listens to Avril and Hillary Duff. She is also putt-putt champion for two years running in Caro. Last year she got a hole in one.
"I got a hole once!" little sister, Meghan added. On Saturdays, she and Katelyn like to watch cartoons and play in the snow.
Katelyn also likes school. She does well there focusing some of the energy on learning that she can't spend in the rough and tumble of the playground. Her favorite subjects are math and reading.
"I like me," Katy said.
The Reithels said they are overwhelmed by the support they have received from the community the last few months.
November, the elementary school took on a project that raised over $13,000 for Thumb Area Epidermolysis Bollusa Foundation and the Reithels.
With that help they will be taking a trip to Stanford, where specialists can help them how to better care for Katy. They will bring back that knowledge as well as the latest research.
"Some of the kids at school are saying 'Oh my gosh you are becoming a huge celebrity.' I don't like that because I'm just still me, but I like how the community is trying to help," Katelyn said.
The Reithels are to be the recipients Sportsman's VFW benefit breakfast Sunday January 25th 8:00 am to 1:00p.m.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)