Return to Normality

Friends,
You have supported us beautifully this past year. Thank you for your love expressed in prayers, phone calls, letters, and visits. You have been Jesus to us in countless ways during this first year of our marriage. This is priceless.

Christopher’s Health
My March 2nd blood work returned indicating a raised CK level of 2600, which is five times that of a healthy 23 year old active male. To combat this backward slide, I dropped a class at school to allow my healing muscles more time to rest. On March 30th, my blood work showed a small improvement in CK to 2225. This caused Dr. Brown to hold off on treating me with the cancer treatments that are usually used at this point to treat my disease, as there could be genetic affects on my children someday. I seem to be gaining some strength since increasing the prednisone back to 30mg/day in the beginning of February. Currently, Dr. Brown has sent me to a nutritionist to help me loose the 40 lbs which was gained during this past year on prednisone. This new diet includes 6 small organic meals a day. Now two months later, I’ve lost 17 lbs. Rebecca has encouraged me in this endeavor by joining me in the diet. We are both enjoying increased energy levels and an environment-friendly lifestyle.

From Crisis to Normality
Relationships are often overlooked in crisis. Since the first year of our marriage was filled with struggle, Rebecca and I are both discovering that, in the return to normality, there is a residue of issues in our relationship. During my illness, my mind was foggy from being so physically immobile. Much of our communication was limited simply because my energy had to be reserved for basic life functions. In turn, Rebecca is still recovering from months of sensing that all the weight of my illness and our financial concerns, were on her shoulders alone. There never was communication between us that would have assured her of things being taken care of in other ways.
In crisis mode, we both resorted to survival methods of communication which have not proved helpful in the long run. In an effort to sort through our emotions and because mis-communication has become an unhealthy norm, we have been seeing a local Christian counselor, thanks to the financial help of our church. Pray for us as our expectations are redefined and that the Lord would purify our hearts by giving to us contentment where He has us now. We ask that you pray for our marriage, friends.

Another Factor
Rebecca has struggled with what she believed to be depression for years now. She had learned to cope with her highs and lows. However, this past year she has experienced these highs and lows in extremes that she cannot control. We are seeing a local doctor, an expert in medications, who believes there is a chemical imbalance involved and has started her on a new medication. Please keep us in your prayers during this long time of testing medication and waiting to see results.

Transitions
Rebecca and I have found the inconsistency of a server’s income to be a stress we can avoid. We want to report a blessing! Recently, Rebecca applied with a nanny agency and immediately took a temporary two week job with a precious six week old boy. She finished that job on March 16th and starts another temporary position April 3rd with a two month old boy, which lasts through July. We praise God for the opportunity to finally be able to pay our own rent by May! Dad Knaebel has been kindly paying our rent during this difficult time. Thanks Dad! Pray for Rebecca’s long commute these next three months and as she continues interviewing for a permanent nanny position in the fall.
Last week, the Lord marvelously gave us another car for Chris from a friend at church! Praise the Lord with us for His provision!

In Christ’s Love,
Christopher and Rebecca