Daddy Daughter Dance

Eric and Maddie went to the dance on Friday night after a very full day of running to appointments right up to eating dinner and getting all dressed up and out the door. It was very special that Maddie asked her dad to take her to the Father Daughter dance at her school. Eric originally had said he wouldn't be able to go to this with her when I asked him when we received the first flyer on this from school. But when Maddie asked him this week, he just couldn't say no. Eric went and got her a wrist coursage and had it resting on his feet as she came out in her dress. They both looked great considering how quickly I got them ready to go. We were off and she was proud to escort her dad to her school with her. I did tag along to make sure Eric didn't have any problems while he was there and of course to take pictures. The theme was Candy Land so Maddie's mission became to get as much candy as she could and to run around with her friends from school. She did stay by Eric's side for much of the night and when the music slowed down, she would sit on Eric's lap and rest her head on his shoulder while they spun around the floor in his chair. Eric said how special the night was to him and how glad he was to be able to go with her. Our kids are growing up so fast and you have to treasure these times. Hope you like the pictures. It's been raining like crazy here this weekend after a beautiful 86 degree day on Friday. Zach played his first baseball game on Saturday and they mercied the other team in the 5th inning 11-1 and we were able to make it downtown for inner city missions before the rains came down. It's been a really good week and a great reminder of how blessed we are. In Him, Lori and Eric

An amazing night of worship

Last night we were blessed to receive tickets to see Micheal W Smith and Steven Curtis Chapman in concert together (this was their first tour together). We were supposed to go with my sister, Kristi and Brian courtesy of their friend Margorie (Thank you so very much!) Unfortunately, Kristi was not able to go after her chemo on Monday as she was very tired so we invited our friends Tom and Heather who were able to go with us. These two artists are two of our all time favorites! They have revolutionized the Christian music industry and are so inspirational to Eric and I with the songs they write and perform. They took us back with some songs and then sang some of our new favorites and then ended the night with some powerful praise music. Stephen Curtis talked about how some of his songs have took on a different meaning after the tragic death of his 5 year old daughter, Maria eleven months ago. His songs that night really spoke to Eric's and my heart. Particularly, Miracle of the Moment, a few words.... "there's only One who knows what's really out there waiting in all the moments yet to be and all we need to know is He's out there waiting. To him the future's history and He has given us a treasure called right now and this is the only moment we can do anything about. And if it brings you tears, then taste them as they fall. Let them soften your heart. And if it brings you laughter, then throw your head back and let it go. Listen to your heartbeat."
I have heard this song so many times, but never really listened to the words. Eric and I shed a lot of tears during this song and of course, the song, Cinderella as that touches the heart of any parent especially a daddy about his daughter. Madison invited her daddy to the father daughter dance on Friday and that is all we could think about. Maddie doesn't care that her dad is in a wheelchair, she just wants to get dressed up and dance with her daddy. The last verse he changed in the song to say I'll dance with her again. Not a dry eye in the church I imagine. That is so true, the life after this one is where we will dance and worship our Great God and see those we love again. He sang of how everything we have, even our children, our spouse, our money, it all belongs to God. How quickly we forget that He has so graciously given us all these things. He gives and Takes away, blessed be the Name of the Lord! What a night of reminders of how great our God is. We have been blessed beyond measure this week! To top off the night, Margorie found us after the concert and said she had one back stage pass left! She allowed me to go back with Eric too so we got to meet Stephen Curtis Chapman and Geoff Moore who is another amazing singer and song writer we had the pleasure of meeting and hearing perform at our church about 4 years ago. It was a late night, but an amazing night of worship!
I am coming to the end of a Bible study on the life of Moses and just went through most of Deuteronomy this week and these versed leaped off the page to me and I wanted to share them.
Deuteronomy 4:39-40
Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other. Keep his decrees and commands, which I am giving you today, so that it may go well with you and your children after you and that you may live long in the land the LORD your God has given you for all time."
And one more....
Deut 4:7
What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the LORD our God is near us whenever we pray to him?
Have a blessed week and give God praise this week if not for anything else, then for the sun coming up and the warmer weather on it's way.
Lori and Eric

God answers prayer!!

Wow! We have had quite a week. It's amazing how God's timing is not our timing, but he knows exactly what we need and is so faithful to provide what we need in his perfect timing. Thank you to all of our prayer warriors out there who have been asking God to provide our needs. Specifically, this week, our elevator grant was approvedand was ordered today. Along with that, Eric's Dynavox machine which is an environmental control unit as well as communication device was approved which will give Eric more independence in the home and allow him to continue to communicate with all of you. We also had a grant for a fire exit door in the bedroom approved and they already cut it and installed it today (WOW!) We got fitted for a manual chair for Eric on Friday and were told that it could take a while to get it and received a call that it will be delivered tomorrow!
Here is some really exciting news about IPLEX. For those of you who don't remember, Eric and Zach went to Washington DC in November to convince Insmed to release IPLEX for ALS patients for compassionate use as it has proven to aid in improving symptoms of the disease such as swallowing, speaking, chewing, muscle tone, etc. After a long drawn out battle with this, they have finally agreed to release it to 7 PALS (hoping soon to be all PALS for a trial) We just received word today that it will be to our pharmacy TOMORROW! Lori gets to inject this drug daily to Eric and we are praying that it will have positive results for Eric. Praise God for all that He has done for us! We are so blessed!!!!! Words cannot express how blessed we are.
On a lighter note, Maddie lost her first tooth this past weekend and stayed up til midnight waithing for the tooth fairy to bring her "lots of money". The kids are both in Baseball/Teeball and have great teams and coaches. Life is again busy in many ways but life is so good! Have a wonderful week. We really enjoyed the sunshine last weekend and are looking forward to warmer days this week.
Be blessed!
Eric and Lori

He is Risen!!!

We hope you all had a glorious Easter weekend! We had a wonderful weekend with family. We went to St Johns yesterday and had dinner with Eric's family. They got a ramp for their front porch and his Dad rigged it so that Eric could get his wheelchair in their house. This was the first time Eric had been in their house since Thanksgiving when Eric was still walking much more. It's nice to know that Eric can still go home and access the house. Eric's brother made Eric a puzzle that says "The Joy of the Lord is your strength" in a cross and he framed it with some pictures we had done the summer of 2007 with the siblings. It is very special to us. Thank you, Jary. We have been enjoying nicer weather compared to earlier this week. Today, we went to church and remembered all that Christ did for us on the cross and how He did not stay in the grave. He is Risen and sitting by God's right hand in heaven preparing a place for us in eternity with Him. We sang one of my favorite songs by Newsong called "Arise" Some of my favorite words are
"God looked down on his Son and said. Arise, my love. Arise, my love, the grave no longer has a hold on you! No more death's sting, no more suffering! Arise!!!!
Aren't we so thankful first of all for Christ's sacrifice by taking our sin on the cross and most of all that He is Risen. We, too have that promise of life after death if we are a child of his. We will have no more of death's sting and no more suffering in heaven. It's hard to think about that while we live here on earth, but I think of how people with ALS and cancer do suffer and it brings me comfort to know that those who have gone on to be with Christ no longer have to suffer.
I have a hard time explaining the meaning of Easter to my 6 year old daughter who loves to get Easter baskets and hunt for candy at Easter, but I keep trying knowing that someday she will understand fully. We did have two Easter egg hunts this weekend which were fun for the kids.
This Spring break has flown by. It started out kind of rough hearing of the suicidal death of a dear friend of Eric's parents. It was so sad seeing his wife and thinking of the loss that she feels from him being gone so suddenly. It made us think a lot of all the hurting people out there that think that death might be a better option than living. I know depression plays a big part in this and also that Satan would like nothing more than to tell you that you are right. Talking to people this week about this really surprised me how many people said they could relate to feeling this way at some point in their life. It sure makes me want to tell people how much I love them and how much more our Father, in heaven loves them! Suicide is so irreversible and can change so many lives in seconds. It was just heartbreaking. I know he will be greatly missed by so many. Zach got sick in the car on the way home from St Johns that night and it was snowing to start off our Spring break.
The rest of our week was very relaxing. We watched Michigan State win and then lose in the Final 4 with some friends here. We went to stay at a hotel in Lansing with the Stelma family on Tues night. It was fun hanging out with them by the pool, in the room and getting ALL the food from the concierge lounge. I am not looking forward to getting up early again tomorrow but I am very happy to be nearing the end of tax season!
Be blessed this Easter!
Love,
Lori

Thank you, Dad!

Just a quick update. My father-in-law uploaded the videos of our testimony on YouTube. The testimony was at our church at Wellspring on Sunday, March 8th. I included them on the video link to the right, part 1 thru part 6. We'll be sending another update soon. Thanks for your prayers.
Love,
Eric and Lori

Testimony to the Homeless

I wanted to touch base with all of you out there, those of you who have been praying for me and my family. Four weeks ago I started a new treatment at the Born Clinic. It's NASA technology using electro magnetic wavelengths through my body. It's helps the body's natural function to heal itself, particularly muscles, tissues and organs.

Last Monday I was having problems swallowing. When I went in on Tuesday for my treatment I requested something for helping me to swallow and speak. The doctor said they had a program which they then ran on me that very day. It helped right away. That night I was able to eat, swallow and speak more easily - I was even able to eat steak on Friday. (Thank you Klumpp family)

As many of you may or may not know, Lori and I have been volunteering our time to help the Hytinen's ministry, serving, speaking and showing the love of Christ to the homeless on Division Ave at the Inner City Church. I would encourage you to come down and check it out sometime. I guarantee you won't be disappointed. When you give 2 1/2 hours of your time, you will be amazed how God blesses you.

We've been going down there for the last three weeks. I'm overwhelmed at the amount of need that I have seen. So many people need to know Christ. There is a song we sing at Wellspring that makes me weep when I hear it, "God in the City." One of the verses talks about that there is lots left to do in the city for His kingdom. It makes me think about the people in Grand Rapids who live under the bridges who need to be clothed and fed.

It would be a pleasure to work side by side with you going to the inner city to clothe these people, rehabilitate them and show them that they don't need to live on the streets anymore because of the love and hope of Christ. I hope to see some of you out there soon. Call or email us if you want more info or want to ride with us.

Some of you may be wondering what is going on with our home in Jenison. It is still for sale and we have had about 3 showings a week recently. We are praying for God's direction with this home. Please pray with us.
I woke up the other night and God put Psalm 61 in my head and I'm not sure why but I thought I would share it with you.
Psalm 61
From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe. I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings. For you have heard my vows, O God; you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name. Increase the days of the king's life, his years for many generations. May he be enthroned in God's presence forever; appoint your love and faithfulness to protect him. Then will I ever sing praise to your name and fulfill my vows day after day.
I am continuing to trust the Great Physician for his healing. My faith and trust are in Him.

Thank you for your continued prayers and love,
Eric