August 11,2012

Dear Family and Friends,

It has been 19 months since Miriam's catastrophic stroke event. Updating her blog site is becoming very difficult since she continues to make very little progress and still no functional recovery.  Please also pray that the nurses and CNAs will be very careful in their daily care of Miriam. She is unable to speak or request for help. I am her only advocate and I cannot be with her 24 x 7. 

Our family continues to wait for God's healing and waiting is painfully hard. It would be less then truthful if I didn't say that I continue to struggle emotionally, physically and spiritually. Free falling in a bottomless pit has not stopped. I have been told that this free falling will never stop. It just slows down.  It continues to be an emotional roller coaster ride. I frequently feel so numbed and paralyzed. 

Thanks to mom and Doris, I am here in Annapolis, MD for the USNA Parent's Weekend event. What a joy to see Howie and Warren and be together again as a family. Miriam would be so proud to see Howie with his navy white uniform. Howie looks so handsome. Is it obvious that I am a very proud dad?  I am most of all touched by his continued spiritual growth. He knows that this is where God wants him to be and he loves it here. The US Naval Academy is now his "second home" for the next four years. I took many pictures  so mom Miriam can see what has transpired over this USNA Parents Weekend event.  As Howie puts it, we are deeply grateful to God for being our family's GPS. We would be lost without Him.

We do have mixed emotions because Miriam  is not here to attend  this wonderful occasion.  We always enjoyed being together as a family. This new norm is very difficult to overcome. It is only by God's grace that we are able to survive as a family. 

Everyone, thank you so much for your love and prayers. Please do not give up praying for Miriam and our family.

In His Time,

Dad/Alex

Psalm 18:1-2 "I love You, O Lord, my strength." The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Isaiah 43:1-3. " .....Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine!  When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you. For I am the Lord your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior..."     

 I  claimed these promises for Miriam and I on February 12, 1982 as we go through troubled waters in life.