Anniversary

It is a cold day out on the prairie this 20th day of December. There is ice and snow on the ground and the temperature began in single digits and it is 11 degrees now. The temperature in Salinas, CA is 50 - I'm not sure what it was 34 years ago on our wedding day, but I know it was not cold and there sure was not ice and snow on the ground.

Everyone looks so young in the wedding pictures! We pulled the wedding album out of the nightstand drawer today - first time they had seen the light of day in years. I think we will leave the pictures out so the kids can have a good laugh when they are home for Christmas.

Christmas is probably not a good time to get married, but we sure didn't want to wait until college summer break, so Christmas time it was. The bridal party came in on O Holy Night and left on The Twelve Days of Christmas. I wonder what the guests thought about that? Didn't care then and it matters not now. Our colors were more traditional - the ladies in red, the guys in forest green tuxes; and don't forget about those ruffled shirts!

It was a beautiful wedding. Genelle was gorgeous, and she has become more beautiful every year! I am the most fortunate man on the planet - sorry guys, but it is true. She excels all others! For 34 years Genelle has ravished my heart.

God has graced us with His favor. Two lives have become one. A holy mystery. I am forever grateful that God brought Genelle to me in an Eden called Seattle; He was truly at work behind the scenes - a California chick and a Kansas hick brought together in Bible College. Oh the unsearchable greatness of God!

And so, if I had it all over to do again, I would without hesitation say, "Genelle, would you marry me?" But hopefully, this time, while on the bluff overlooking Shilshole Bay, I would not be so nervous and ask, while putting on the engagement ring, "Genelle, would you be my husband?!"

Happy thirty-fourth anniversary, Beautiful. I love you more...

Jamie

Experience at Mayo Clinic

We spent most of this week at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN seeing doctors and having tests to get a second opinion concerning the previous ALS diagnosis I had received. I do not have the words to be able to express how impressed Genelle and I are with Mayo's. If I were to attempt to describe Mayo's in one word it would be "excellence." They do everything with such excellence.

If we were to do church in the same manner they do medicine, the Kingdom of God would explode.

From the moment we walked into the Mayo Clinic we knew this was a different place. The atmosphere was different from any medical facility I had ever been in. It was more than the beautiful marble or the grand pianos that anyone was welcome to play or gather around and sing. It was the people: the volunteers who greeted us and answered questions; the staff who were courteous, friendly, knowledgeable and competent; and the physicians who work in teams and consult with each other.

Teamwork, excellence, finding solutions, helping, caring, offering hope and compassion, everyone taking ownership, healing people - sounds like what the Church is supposed to be like - but it was Mayo Clinic.

For those wondering what they had to say about me? They did not confirm ALS. They are leaning towards ALS, but did not diagnose me as such. We go back in six months and we are believing that there will not be any further progression or deterioration of the muscles any where in my body and that there will be total restoration of the muscles that have been damaged. We ask that you believe with us.

PrairieParson