It's been about a month since our last update, and there have been a number who have asked how it is going.   Reid did lab work on February 5th, and there was some apprehension going into that morning.  Over the next couple of days as the numbers came back the relief began to build and his attitude became more positive.  All the numbers were stable and they have scheduled him for labs in another month.  We are very thankful but at the same time realize that we shouldn't read too much into this.  This is still a journey and there are bound to be many more ups and downs as we continue along.  Thanks to all for praying and the encouragement that you have given to us. 

This past Friday evening at a church potluck the question was posed, "As you went through the past months and spent time in the hospital, could you just feel the presence of God?"  Jeanelle and I talked about this when we got home later in the evening.  We agree that at the moment we knew that God was with us and would occasionally get glimpses of His love, but didn't fully comprehend or even appreciate His presence.  Maybe we are different than most of you but it seemed that we were just surviving and not resting safely in the hands of God.

As life has slowly returned to normal it has given us time to look back and reflect on all that has happened.  There are so many passages in Scripture that speak to this.  Jeanelle is reading through the Old Testament currently and she placed a note in my Bible the other morning.  It was Exodus 36, where God told Moses to build the Tabernacle in the wilderness and the call went to Bezaleel and Aholiab to carry out the work.  At the same time, a call went out to the rest of the children of Israel to help and to bring offerings to fund the work.  As the chapter goes on to explain, the people brought more than enough, and Bezaleel and Aholiab were given the skill to build a beautiful and ornate place of worship and for God to dwell in their midst.

So much of this can be likened to the past year.  We started in January of 2023 with an email and a Caring Bridge post explaining Reid's decision and what this process would be like.  Multiple people responded to the donor call.  Dwight was chosen.  His family eventually gave their blessing.  Our local church and extended community donated time and funds for the unexpected costs.  A 24-hour prayer vigil was organized on the day of surgery and the list was filled in less than 2 hours. as many took time out of their day and night to carry Reid and Dwight before the throne.  Farm chores were taken care of.  Yards mowed.  Encouragement sent.  Phone calls made.  Visitors came and went.  We totaled up over 2.2 million in bills and only had a $30 argument with insurance.   I could go on with the list, but there was more than enough in every way.  As we came through the fall, Reid still hasn't had rejection, his cognitive senses have improved with a better diet, and he has been able to attend classes (remote and in-person) and stay on course.  He has been relatively healthy.  Dwight has recovered and Ada Miller (recipient of Reid's liver) is doing well.  

What does all of this mean?  It means that God was (and still is) with us every step of the way.  At the moment, He seemed distant but when we can step back and reflect overall what has happened we see evidence of His daily presence.  Can you imagine what Bazaleel and Aholiab must have thought when they were told to build the Tabernacle in the middle of a desert?  Are you kidding?  Where are we going to get the supplies?  This is an overwhelming task?

I have to be very careful with saying this to make sure that I am not misunderstood --- God is good.  He is always good.  You don't have to go very far over to a different Caring Bridge site and see that not every story works out perfectly.  There is pain, there is loss, there are questions, and there are raw emotions but God is there and He is good.  I would just encourage those of you who have the opportunity to reach out and help. those who are in need.  Moses, Bazaleel, and Aholiab couldn't build the Tabernacle alone.  Our families (Rokey, Plattner, and Miller) could not have walked this road alone.  The value of friends and family coming alongside and lifting the struggling up is just one of the ways that God is there in the moment.  

So to answer the Friday evening question . . "was God there?"  Yes, He certainly was  -- more present, more helpful, more merciful, more caring, and more loving than we deserved.  That care came directly from the Father through each of your actions.  Thanks for being there and trust that someday each of you will fully understand the impact that your lives have had on others.   Signing out - Brian & Jeanelle