Balancing Ministry N' Work

As we leave 2011 behind and begin 2012 it is a time of reflection, a time to be thankful, and a time to look to the future! 2011 was a year full of challenges but was also full of some amazing things. Medically I hit my 1 year anniversary from having my Acoustic Neuroma brain tumor removed and Alexis had reconstructive knee surgery. Through both of this things we have seen God working in our lives. My recovery, has been nothing short of miraculous and the timing for Alexis' surgery was perfect. While these have been challenges in our lives, we are forever thankful for all that God has done. While I still have balance issues, get tired easily, and of course am partially deaf it could have been much much worse. I am able to live a normal life, I can do pretty much everything I want to, God has been good! While we wish Alexis did not have to have surgery, she has recovered completely and was ahead of schedule with every step! In 2011 with all the challenges at work God still ope...

My breath was taken away! Normally we experience breath taking moements in life when we witness something beautiful. (picture taken by my Mother) Other times we might have a breath taking moment when we witness pure joy, like a kid getting the best present ever! (another picture taken by my Mother, of me as a child) While I see beutiful sunrises and sunsets every week over the lake by work, that was not what took by breath away. I do have three wonderful kids, but my breath was not taken away by their pure joy. No, my breath was taken away when I was cleaning out a folder and stumbled on this picture. It was one of those moments that seemed like time stood still. As I opened up the folded pages and revealed the picture of what my Acoustic Neuroma Brain Tumor looked like back in Feb 2010. I stopped what I was saying, what I was doing, and just froze. My breath was taken away! Here was a reminder of that life changing event. As I have reflected on that momemt, th...

Today is just shy of 16 months from my Acoustic Neuroma brain tumor removal surgery. Through the work of God and the medical teams at University of Michigan Hospital (Go Blue!) I have been given a new life. For over 18 months, having a brain tumor has defined who I am and much of my life. When a person goes through something life changing like this, it becomes a major part of who they are. Before my surgery I was a man with a brain tumor. This tumor was going to change my life and their was a chance my life could end. My life was filled with so much uncertainty, I had a hard time making plans for the future. My prayers were filled with asking God to allow me to return to a normal life, a life filled with Him, my wife, kids, and the rest of my friends and family. I prayed that He was not done with me and would bless me with being able to serve Him for many years. Even with these prayers, I was a man with a brain tumor. While in the hospital and the first couple of months home, I w...

A couple of weeks ago I mentioned that things were getting a little crazy around here, and it has only gotten more interesting. Juggling is quickly becoming a way of life around here. Work has been pretty crazy the last couple of weeks. Our plant has 6 major product lines and it seems we are having problems of one sort or another on 5 of them. Business has slowed on our main product line, casting suppliers throughout the country our running out of capacity and can't seem to deliver on time, and our new product lines are struggling to hit the projected growth rates. Any one of these issues would be just another day at the office, but all of them hitting at once can be mind numbing. My juggling skills have really been tested at work. I love the challenge and am looking forward to when we will get past these struggles and things settle down a bit, as well as my hours. Things at Ninth Street have been going great! We have a great group of believers who are coming along side of us a...

I have been real busy lately which probably explains why I have not posted since May. I know I am not alone in the busyness of life, but it is the only reason I can contribute to my lack of writing. Although it might have to do with reaching the end of my 1 year journey of AN recovery. Probably a mixture of both. So what has been going on. 1. In May the family went to California for vacation. We hung out with family, went to Disneyland, had a great barbecue, and got a little sun burned. 2. In June Alexis had ACL reconstruction on her right knee. She is doing great now and has completed her physical therapy. She wont be running a marathon anytime soon but should be able to walk around the county fair in September. 3. We have finally moved into a real house! In July we moved into a nice 4 bedroom, 1 office, 2.5 bath home. We spent a couple of weeks packing and can safely say we are about 85% complete with our unpacking. It feels real nice being able to settle down and know we are...

Today after church we were talking with some people and a comment was made about how amazing it is to see all that God has done in our lives over the last 12 months. I guess for me it was just my life, so I do not always realize how amazing it is. I know that God has His hand on my life, and I know that He was in charge of it all. I know that He healed me and has used everything that has happened to touch others. With all that I still get surprised when I hear someone say something about it. When you live through something, you remember what God does, but it also begins to seem normal. Like it is nothing major. So here I am about to celebrate my first year post op and I have to stop and remember how far I have come. A year ago I was preparing to have brain surgery and not sure how many side effects I would have. Not sure if I would be dealing with major headaches, facial paralysis, vertigo, and much much more. Today as I look back if I was to say that God has restored me to where I was...

Here is a picture taken shortly after my surgery. Notice the angry red scar. Below is one taken this weekend, the only sign left from a few feet away is within the hair line. It is where no hair grows, besides that when the hair grows out it looks normal. Hard to believe it has almost been 1 year. God is Great! Robert