My Newsletter

I know that I have a few people who read this blog but don't get the newsletter. And some first timers from facebook that just saw the go see my blog status. (Welcome) And maybe some that said, "I didn't even know you had a blog or letter or internship. I am here on accident. (Again, welcome.)

Below is the text from a newsletter I sent out in conjunction with the internship through my church. I am no longer on staff with them and this talks about why. With some anecdotal notes on the family thrown in for flava. While I don't intend to send out the newsletter anymore you will still be able to keep tabs on me though the blog if you so choose.

Thanks


FINAL EDITION OCTOBER 1ST 2009
The AP Intern

As I sit in my home and think about what fall was going to bring this year I have to admit I had no idea.


Felicia started her first year of school. She is growing up so fast! I don’t remember giving her permission for that either. She is making new friends. She loves going. We live close enough to her school that either myself or Sherawn or both of us will walk her. The conversations we have are a time I know that none of us will forget. I have wanted to keep going at times and just soak it up while I have it. I know it won’t last. Not in the same way. Conversations will switch from show and tell over to how she should never ever kiss a boy because they are evil. At least that is one of the conversations I have with her in my head. But I know that she really is growing up faster than I thought she ever would. Makes a Dad proud. And terrified.

Sherawn has been busy. Her massage business has picked up. She has started to work for a dear friend and past boss at Cooley Chiropractic again. It is fun to hear about the people who call or come in with the "Sherawn, you’re back" as a way to welcome her. Also just recently she started taking a couple shifts with a Physical Therapist that she has had as a therapist and friend from church. I have never seen someone in my life who can get a job as easily as Sherawn. I swear they come to her! She doesn’t even have to try. I am glad that the rest of the world sees her as being as great as I do. If only I could convince her that she is that great.

The biggest change for us however is the reason that this is the last newsletter that I will be sending. As you all know from past notes I developed a neurological disorder about two weeks after I started the internship at the church. Dystonic Chorea Athetosis. This is in the Parkinson’s family of disorders but is not Parkinson’s. Although the symptoms often look the same. Over the last few months I have seen more needles pokes and prods than I certainly would have wanted. I even got a shot of Botox the other day. It hasn’t helped, but my shoulder looks 10 years younger. But with all the doctors I have seen I am no closer to figuring out what is wrong with me. People have been telling me for years that something in my head just wasn’t right. I didn’t know they were right. Unfortunately this time the crossed wires in my brain have resulted in my inability to continue on in the intern position. I have had to leave my pride in the closet and admit that at this stage of my life...I can’t do it. It hurts to type it but it is true. I just can’t. When you have to take anti-nausea pills because the movements in your own body give you motion sickness it is time to reassess what your path in life is. So now that after only a few short months of announcing the transition to vocational ministry, I find myself transitioning again.


For the time being I am a stay at home Dad. When can I return to work is a question that I don’t know if I will be able to ever answer. The medications I have been taking to treat this disorder can at times make me look totally normal and I feel somewhat ok. The key word in that line is "can". I don’t know from day to day or even minute by minute what my body will do. So I wait. I am trying to actively wait; I am pressing on. But I wait. Fearless and scared all at the same time. Doing my best to never utter "what if?"


So with this I /We say thank you! The support and prayers from family and friends has many times literally moved us to tears. We have seen over the last few months the church standing up and being The Church. The support we have had is so, so humbling. And we continue to covet your prayers while we try to get back up after having our world flipped upside down. You have meant more to us than you will ever know!!

God Bless.

Nate, Sherawn, and Felicia.