It’s been a great week being "back home" after our long ordeal in Denver. We are so thankful for the way in which God led us to NJMC and results of our going – finding out what is really wrong with me and getting on a course of treatment. We are also grateful to God for His provision and help through the entire time. As we returned home, we have just been flooded with gratitude for the way God provided.

We returned to a great welcome of friends, reminders of love while we were gone (the inside of our house was painted, our yard & flower gardens were maintained, our fallen mailbox restored, my church responsibilities were carried on, Jan’s work at the seminary went on, her Total Sculpt classes did not stop, and a million other things…) It was a great community effort of love that carried on and went beyond in our absence for which we are grateful.

It was great to return to Winter Park Church on Sunday. It was strange to try to preach while tethered to an oxygen tank and forced to sit while preaching. However, the day was so special with so many friends present who had prayed for us and followed the accounts on this website. It was a great day for us. As I completed my message, however, I tried to get up but failed to realize that my foot had gone numb while sitting on the bar stool through the sermon. I immediately fell to the ground and hit my head on the stage. I felt like such a dope but then again, after experiencing what I had been through the past five weeks, there was not much humiliation left so we laughed it off, thankful that I did not hurt myself. People were kind to come to my rescue as we again felt so much love and support from the church and all present, it was still a "God-moment" for which we are thankful.

God continued to provide during the week as my recovery progresses. I checked in with Dr. Feibleman on Tuesday, enjoyed a great time with the children of the Child Development Center in the chapel service on Wednesday. They wanted explanations of what happened and what the oxygen was about. Marguerite McNeill said when their parents came to pick them up they said, "Pastor Bob is back and he has breath." (The words of a child say it best!)

It’s been good to see progress as I am forcing myself to take it easy. By Friday, I felt it was time to get back on my bike. It took a while to set things up in the garage but I was able to crank up my oxygen input enough to ride 15 minutes on my bike trainer in the garage. How great it felt!

Bob on his old "SPAM" Trek bike on the trainer in the garage. 

This is the first week back and has been packed with blessing and encouragement. We are so grateful for the calls, the letters, cards, emails, meals, and support that has been given to us. It’s amazing what God has, is, and will be doing through our trip through this valley. He is truly amazing in the way He has provided hope and help. I am extremely grateful for a faithful wife who has never given up on me and encourages me daily – even as she has adjusted her schedule and comfort level to administer my daily IV infusions and make sure I do what I have to do to return to normal.

Psalm 31:19 (NLT) Your goodness is so great! You have stored up great blessings for those who honor you. You have done so much for those who come to you for protection, blessing them before the watching world.

God is so good. Thank you for continuing to pray and for following these updates. I hope to be updating on a weekly basis.