Living in Oakley

Living in Oakley is about the most wonderful thing in the world. I say that with all honesty. Those who have lived here know what I'm talking about. Serenity, peace, quiet, beauty and love abounds within these log walls.

However, since May 5th, our lives up here have been a little different. Dale's 4-wheelin' accident has caused some changes in our daily routine. A year ago, Dale was volunteering at the elemtary school and the National Abilities Center (4 days a week). Today he is trying to recover from the T-3-4-5 Back Fusion that took place in Idaho Falls, Idaho following his accident at the St. Anthony Sand Dunes. Actually he was doing better two months ago (note picture taken at the end of May, 2007).

For some reason he has continued with more extensive pain in that upper back. Doctors don't know how to explain it exactly, but say we must be patient. Fusions take 9-12 months to fuse. So we are taking it a day at a time. We pray for good nights (which Dale usually gets), and then pray during the day that the medication will last the 4 hours it is prescribed for. We have an appointment on Thursday with a neurosurgeon to look at the low back (right leg numbness and drop foot) which is an old problem (December 2002), but has reared its ugly head.

In the meantime, we are learning lessons of faith, endurance, love for one another, love for neighbors and friends, increased love for family, compassion, patience and tolerance. It is in the few moments a day when there is tolerable pain that we count the blessings. We enjoy the moments together in the hot tub at night. We enjoy the moments of beauty when the rain is falling lightly outside, or times like this morning when the ground is lightly covered with a skiff of snow. We take advantage of the moments of lunch and dinner together. The meals are simple and so is conversation. But we both have confidence and faith that 'this too shall pass." There are many who struggle in this life and are tested far beyond what we have been tested. For us, this test is big and real. We are doing the best we can and hopefully can look back and say "we did it." JD, Jen, Clive, Luke and Logan are who we talk about on a daily basis. We are grateful for them. We are proud of them and choices they are making. This life is challenging but also can be rewarding. We must rely on each other for strength to get through it. We must never give up hope. We must enjoy the journey. We will do it with a smile on our face.

9/24/07