"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming...Wow! What a ride!'"

I read the above on the Red Hat Society bulletin and thought I would share.

It is hard to keep up my steam right now, but I am working on it. Bart had a better day in himself yesterday, though his situation is still not resolved and he is still not at the VA Hospital where he will be getting some real help. They are mostly good to him where he is but he is in limbo. Remember, Limbo? It doesn't exist in the afterlife but believe me it exists here on earth.

Today is the annual Deeley Wild Game Dinner. I must get my roast in at 9:00AM and will make the potato salad. It is good to be busy. I do best when I am busy.

Your prayers are so special and so appreciated.

Love

Mary

I spent yesterday with Bart. He is much calmer though he does have bouts of crankiness and agitation. He is sometimes speaking of future plans which is much more my Bart so I am encouraged. It was a long day and I am still exhausted after a full night's sleep. He is so fragile.

"Stop telling God how big your storm is. Instead, tell the storm how big your God is."

Keep praying - it is holding us together.

Love

Mary

Well, It has been a long long two days. Bart showed a little improvement yesterday. At least he ate dinner and stopped trying to get out of the hospital. I am hearing response to my prayer requests. So many people calling for help from God will surely bless my boy. I was reminded of John Lennon's song for his son Sean and I will quote a verse or two to illustrate how I feel about my boy.

BEAUTIFUL BOY

Close your eyes. Have no fear.
The monsters gone, he's on the run
and your daddy's here.

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful Boy.
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful Boy.

Before you cross the street,
Take my hand,
Life is just what happens to you while your busy making other plans.

Chorus:

Before you go to sleep
Say a little prayer,
Every day in every way, it's getting better and better.
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful beautiful Boy.

By John Lennon

I hope Bart will reach for hands and know that things will get better and that we are all there to help him come back to be what he is, an honest, loving, strong man. He has no idea how proud I am of him.

Love

Mary

It has been a long three days. For anyone who reads this that I haven't contacted. My son, Bart, is in the hospital. He was admitted to St. Luke in Milwaukee and transferred to the Mental Health Unit. He is suffering from severe acute depression and it has absolutely devastated him. This has been building up since he had the back surgery five years ago. He has struggled with constant pain and become a perscription opiate addict. Hopefully, now that the problem is recognized, he will get the help he needs. The doctors say it will be a long road, as they need to get him off the drugs he is on and reintroduce SOMETHING that will help control the pain and they need to treat the depression.

We need prayers. We need a LOT of prayers and I ask you humbly for them. I read my Cadfael Book of Days and again it is appropriate.

Feb. 8: "Reverses are sent to us so that we may overcome them, and no one can presume to escape such testings for ever. The loss can be borne."

Feb. 9: "Know that you are not alone."

I pity those who do not know the presence of Jesus. He is my strength. I think that Bart and Barb have had quite enough "reverses" now and need some good things to happen. They WILL bear the losses but really need some gains now.

Love

Mary