Extreme Makeover Home Edition and The Loft Benefit

Last year our brothers and sisters at Calvary Chapel School felt compelled to suggest Rachael's story to Extreme Home Makeover.  At the time we were half heatedly enthusiastic about the idea, mainly due to the incredible weight of Rachael's care and rehab at the time.  We also felt that it was striving for us to be involved in the application process.  All things prayerfully considered, we ended up letting the nearly completed application sit on the shelf under a mound of bills and statements.

Jenan Wood, Mary Kay Cosmetics Sales Director and proud mom, approached me about contacting EMHE last year as well.  She was very enthusiastic about it.  Once again, we steered away from the opportunity.

A few months ago Deb White and Mandy Yoder approached us about filling out an app for the show.   With a sense of unworthiness and hesitation towards putting it all together, we made a video with Mandy and Deb and I think we still have Deb's video camera here (Deb, we will bring it to church. )

Part of it may be reliving the whole accident, part of it is that the story is far from finished, part of it the investment of time for something that felt contrived.  A big part of the resistance was feeling that due to you guys with your blessings and prayer, there just seemed to be others in higher need.

Yet, Rachael's impact just seems to keep growing.  At least once or twice a week God is glorified through Rachael's story directly by Hanna, Daniel, Nancy or myself.  A score of others that we do not even know are impacted when they hear of the story.  I have met people that after a few minutes into a conversation exclaim:
"That is YOUR daughter that we have been praying for?" or they tell Rachael's story to me, not realizing that she is my step daughter.

It has so far been a devastating, thrilling, sorrowful, blessed, frustrating, joyous, raucous, peaceful, tragic, Christ centered, self focused season in our lives.  You got it, a strange ride.  All said and done, to the day, Nancy and I are in awe of what God has done through Rachael for everyone touched by her story, including us.

Now, we are starting to function in the context of what has been brought to us. Sustained as always by our Lord, we are getting the joy and peace.  We are getting into our new normal!

With that, another text from Christine Sullivan at Calvary Chapel School containing a forward of a text from Jenan Wood revisiting the idea of submitting us for the show and a green light from God, we decided to move ahead with the idea.

With only a day left for submission of entries, Christine entered our info on the website. What a grand opportunity to share Rachael's story!  We will be able to share how God's hand moves through so many lives and offer hope and knowledge for others with Brain Injury family members.  I am sure there are thousands of entries.  Yes our house needs help.  Yes it is way too tight for moving Rachael around.  Yes it is sore backs and arms and Ibuprofen BEFORE coffee for Nancy and I after tasks associated with Rachael's care.  Yes the walls are thin and Rachael can be heard, on occasion, outside by passers by and neighbors.  Rachael's wheel chair is just shy the width of the hallway.  It is comical to see my 210lb 5'9" frame caught by the belt loop on the bathroom door handle as I try to squeeze around the chair to fit her for the lift to bed.  Nancy, much thinner and more agile than myself meanders her way like the rubber guy super hero from Fantastic Four around, through or under to do the same.    Moving Rachael around the house is a constant bumping of her arms or legs and us doing our best not to hit a door frame, a wall, a corner of a table or chair or some other obstacle.  That is what happens with someone on complete dependent care.  Everything is an obstacle as it was designed for completely mobile people.

So we are going with it.  We need to shoot a video and do a few other things to prepare.  We are just one story in thousands but if we do get on the show one thing is very certain, God will be glorified.

Here is a link where you can join abc.com and post something about Rachael to their message center.  Please always end your messages with a link to http://www.lovetorachael.org.  The more chatter on their board the better.  Also if you know of anyone connected with the production, feel free to email them as well.  What a great thing it would be for others who are experiencing a life with a brain injured loved one to see this story of hope and healing.  Here is the abc.com link for Extreme Makeover Home Edition's message board:

http://abc.go.com/shows/extreme-makeover-home-edition/discuss?cat=27612

The Loft Benefit

Our friends Steve and Liz Rinehart own The Loft Ristobar in Sarasota.  They are having a Blues Benefit for Rachael late afternoon and early evening on November 27th.  Rachael's story and thus the testimony of our Lord is going to be shared with a group consisting of many non-believers.  This is a new direction for us on this journey and we will be providing you with more information as the time approaches.

There is another event that I have heard rumors of just today and if it happens we will have the info here.

We look at all these as opportunities to share Christ and the power of a living God with others.

1       Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! 2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, 3 who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,
ESV

So it seems that the Lord is moving us into new area's with our Medical Missionary, Rachael.   The mission continues and we praise our holy God for all he has done.