February Greetings

Please accept my apologies for being out of touch for the last four weeks. I really do have more than one good  reason. Truly, they are all terrible, but I believe they are acceptable. My husband was in the VA hospital for two weeks and discharged the same day I was admitted for lumbar decompression and fusion surgery. I am wearing a back brace and I am told a long recovery period is in store. I have to rest for a couple of days after Sunday a.m. church and p.m. Bible study. I have a tendency to overdo when I should rest more. Please pray that I'll internalize these lessons sooner, rather than later.

Then that buggar that searches the earth to seek, kill and destroy tried to kick us even harder and more while we were down. Thank God, I have a Godly man for a husband and we have many fine Christian friends who have enveloped us in their loving care. We are on the mend and I am back on line again. Thank you for your continued friendship, love and support. I have missed our communications.

Please see today's devotional.

Cancer Survivorship Continued

Thursday, August 21, 2009, was the date of my surgery. I had settled things enough in my mind to be very clear that this was going to be okay. The Lord would carry me and walk me through the whole experience. We would make it to the other side. Rick and I arrived at the surgery waiting room early. I was amazed to watch as many of our friends and family showed up. My mom and dad from Hot Springs were driven to the hospital by friends from their church. Rick's mom and sister were there, as well as a sweet neighbor and friend. Two dear Christian friends from our small Bible study groups were there, also. I know there were more, but my mind remains fuzzy on a lot of things even two years later. Finally, they called me back so they could prep me. I knew some powerful praying was going on among that group of supporters and was extremely grateful for their caring.

Gratefully, I do not remember anything about the surgery, but I remember waking up in a hospital room and moaning with pain, real serious pain. A morphine pump was set up so that I could medicate myself as needed. That is a whole other story in itself. The morphine made me feel and behave a little strangely. I would wake myself up with my hands tediously arranging invisible items in mid-air. I was not seeing or hearing anything weird. I just had the urge to do this over and over again for some reason. I was embarrassed when I did this one time and realized a friend was sitting with me for a while to give Rick a break. She never laughed at me or said a negative word. She just sat quietly while I slept off and on.

Eventually, I noticed there were people at different times seated along the wall to the right of my bed and in front of me at the foot of the bed. Some of the same folks I had seen earlier and even more. Two dear girlfriends visited me from another church we had previously attended. All of these folks were Spirit-power-filled people whom I dearly love. I remember being told of another Bible study friend from our church who was being treated for cancer at the same time elsewhere in the same hospital. Another elderly lady who belonged to the grandmothers' prayer group of our church was in the room across the hall from me. Her husband dropped in to visit me at some time. I was grateful for them all. The pastor from my parents' church in Hot Springs came to visit me and I was so impressed. I have always loved him and just loved him more for driving so far to check on me and wish me well. One of the hospital chaplains visited. He had known my brother when he worked in pastoral care at the hospital many years before.

Eventually, I learned that a very large incision had been made across my tummy, and I did have a colostomy, which I have to admit now was pretty overwhelming to me.  But that was not immediately apparent, since nurses took care of cleaning up everything and I was in and out of sleep. The gynecological oncologist who  also performed the surgery, introduced us to a doctor whom he recommended for chemotherapy. It would need to begin within weeks of my release from the hospital. I had no particular concerns or feelings about any of this. I just accepted it. What else was there for me to do?

Poetry Page

The Secret Place

There is a place I’ll share with you,

because you are so dear.

To know of it could see you through

your life’s greatest fears.

Only one path is the Way you see. 

Your heart’s the secret door.

Each step to God’s Truth is the key – 

I want to tell you more.

Your intellect can block your way, 

because you’re sure you know

all the right things to do and say, 

the right way you should go.

Forget what you’ve been taught is right

and each “Yes, but” you think.

Don’t limit faith to what’s in sight. 

child-like hope is the link

to all your inner self knows of Good 

treasures buried there.

Like life engraved on time-aged wood, 

a Master Artist’s dare,

as part and whole from all of time, 

each beginning to end.

from very basic to sublime, 

this Answer is my Friend,

pure, innocent and silent thought

as God’s love manifests

the Highest Good His Grace wrought, 

all motives laid to rest.

Where virtue knows no compromise, 

faith’s strength will demonstrate

our beauty in our Father’s eyes 

with wisdom that will wait

for us to image His own Son

in spirit, word and deed.

Reformed, our new life’s just begun 

through joy and peace conceived.

Like a caterpillar, my dear, 

a growing butterfly,

you’ll shed that cocoon of fear

so you can freely soar on high.

When you leave this secret place

transformed for all of time,

the radiant look upon your face

will envision the Great I Am.

Happy New Year Devotional

First. Alpha. One. Alef. Beginning. The Word.  

A New Year represents so many things for us: 

a fresh start, goals and resolutions, new outlook, renewed hope, good wishes for all. 

However, we bring our same old self into this new year. So, how can we hope to be any different? How can we believe something different will happen this year from what has happened in the past? The difference is not in us. It is in who He, our Savior, was, is and always will be. He said, "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life." In other words, our best intentions are fodder for self deprecation if we are not focused on surrendering ourselves to the will of our Lord. So, it is not my way, my truth or my life, but Him in my life.

Dear Father, Thank you for bringing me to this new year. Thank you for loving me enough to bring me to this time in my life and in all of history. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your creation. I surrender myself and my time here and all of my intentions to your will for this day and for this new year. I pray that I will become less and you will become more in my life, Immanuel. Please show me how to grow still, listen and obey. Please guide me in studying, understanding and living your Word. Adonai, please make me a willing instrument, a co-creator with you and for you to write the words and sing the songs that only my soul could write and sing. I praise you, Lord, and thank you for all that you are. In the name of Jesus of Nazareth, I pray, and by the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.

2011 Year in Review 

The Little Rock Wilhelms

      February through April Rick did taxes. Deb continued rehab & volunteering at church. We worked the polls twice this year.

      Rick began volunteering at Renewal Ranch in Conway during May. He helped men restoring their lives & needing to take the GED exam to prepare for math, science & history. Deb helped others there with language arts.

      In June, we visited Deb's dearest friend, Cindy, and her baby sis, Cheryl, in Ohio on the way to Vermont. 

The rest of the month was consumed with Amber's wedding.

      Deb's  big family's big reunion was in Kentucky in July.

      October in Stowe, Vermont was spent mostly with the Schaefflers until we drove to Boston for a cruise to Maine, 

Nova Scotia, & New Brunswick.

       Since Tom and Zack live in Austin, 

it was a joy to see them every three months on the return trips from MD Andersen in Houston for Deb’s cancer check-up.

Now, she will have check-ups twice yearly.

November was Deb's second CANCER-FREE YEAR!

      Thanksgiving at our home in Little Rock was with Rick's mom, Mary Louise Allen; Deb's mom & dad, Mary & Bob Sowell; & special friends, Angela Anderson & Nick Branch. A special ceremony was conducted here that day when Colonel Wilhelm granted an honorary promotion to Captain Branch with insignia.

       Deb was scheduled for a lower back fusion surgery in December, but due to sickness, it has been postponed to January 12. Pray that she will remain healthy. Please keep us both in your prayers during the upcoming recovery period. 

We thank you all for blessing our year and wish you a

Merry CHRISTmas – because our Savior, Immanuel, was born for us!


****

January 2011

Tom and Zack, son and grandson in Austin

January 2011
Tom and Zack, son and grandson

January took us to Vermont

to see Amber and Dan, her fiance’.

Although in-laws so often may daunt,

the Schaefflers just weren't that way.

In San Antonio  Rick saw many a friend,

and in Austin, he saw Tom and Zack.

Meanwhile, Deb, was still on the mend

rehabbing her poor, aching back,

while also helping in the church office.

Rick returned to train with IRS

to prepare for ye olde taxes

for all the folks he loves to help best -

seniors, strangers, friends and anyone who asks.








*****

February 2011

Uncommon Courage

Our pastor preached one Sunday and asked for anyone interested to come and pray, ask for prayer, and share praises. The service lasted four blessing-filled hours!  We began meeting nightly and people all over the world heard and all over the country came to see what was happening here.

One day at rehab, a lady  from Atlanta  was in the shower area and asked for towels. She said she had been sleeping in the ICU waiting room since her mother's multiple by-pass surgery. I invited her to sleep in a real bed, have a relaxing, leisurely shower and a good meal.  She was not sure about that, but I gave her my card and told her about our revival. She had heard about it already from a nurse also named Deborah.

I was not surprised when she called asking if she could take me up on my offer. "Absolutely," I said, "when can I pick you up?"  “Later,” she said. I told her it would have to be before church, because there was no telling how long we would be praying. She wanted to go to church with me. She ended up giving a

testimony, in addition to singing acapella in front of total strangers!

When returning from rehab a few days later I was at an intersection where a young man stood on the corner. I motioned for him to come to my car and gave him some bottled water and power bars. The light changed and I knew immediately I was supposed to turn around and talk with him.

He had walked further down the road and I pulled up to wait for him. I asked why he was there. He looked down and mumbled "I dunno." I asked him if he knew our Lord. He said he did. I asked if he was living for our Lord and he said he was not, things had just been tough. He admitted he was angry with God.  I asked and he told me his name, where he was living. I told him about our church revival and that I would pray for him.

A man pulled up and asked if everything was all right here. I guessed we did not look like we belonged together in the eyes of a passing stranger. I laughed and looked at Robert and the man in the truck and told him we were doing just fine, thanks. He pulled away as Robert and I laughed and hugged and parted ways.

*****

June 17, 2011 Mr. & Ms. Dan Schaeffler

    Before Amber and Dan met through mutual friends. Sarah and Travis -- Amber and Sarah were friends through the deaf community, and Travis and Dan had worked together for some years. And, so it seemed inevitable that Amber and Dan would meet. It is difficult to say who is the luckiest of the two, because they are wonderful individuals and as a couple.

    They were blessed to have Bonner, Amber's mom, as their wedding coordinator extraordinaire. They had a wedding rehearsal and dinner, wedding and reception dinner cruise of a life time with many friends and family from near and far in attendance.

    They live on Lake Champlain, along with our grand dog, Miss Dolly. All three enjoy discovering old and new things together.

    While Amber and Dolly knew they enjoyed winter snow sports, it was Dan who introduced them to ice fishing. Dan assures everyone that he knew exactly what he was doing when he took Amber to find the supreme spot for a deer blind to be erected, although she thought they were just wandering around in circles.

We love our son in love, Dan, despite the fact that converted  Amber to being a Giants fan! 

*****

Deb creating on the road

deborahwilhelm.blogspot.com

   Deb began writing poetry in her elementary years. She is a member of ACFW, LRACW and ACFW-Arkansas. She has published in:

·         Houston Chronicle responding to readers about environmental health issues for the City of Houston Public Information Office

·         Various nonprofit publications, including church newsletters, HOPE (Houston Organization for Parent Education), the AIDS quilt volunteer handbook

·         Houston Community College and Texas Medical Center News

   She prepared news releases regarding critical Houston health issues, such as St. Louis Encephalitis and measles outbreaks, and assisted with speech writing for the President of a $8.5. billion, Fortune 500 company.

   Encouraged by a Christian friend & writer, Deb began writing her first Christian novel, The Heart of Her Husband., based on Proverbs 31:10-11.

A family plagued by secrets must overcome fractured relationships to grow closer to God and each other. When the three female protagonists face losing a husband, father and grandfather, what justifies deliverance – continuing to bury or reveal truth?

   At an international conference in St. Louis in September, a literary agent encouraged Deb to submit proposals for her manuscripts. In October she sent her proposal for STARS, a Biblically-based workbook for trauma survivors. Deb had written the book in 2004 and developed a twelve-week series of classes, which she taught at two churches in Arkansas and at a Christian rehab center in Texas. She also facilitated the classes for five years at a Christian crises home in Arkansas until she was diagnosed with cancer. She continues to work one-on-one at home with women in crises when requested by friends and her church.

   In December the agent responded that she thought STARS was worthy of publication, but they were not prepared to do that at this time. Deb continues working on the novel & will continue to seek the right agent for both books.

Devotional

He Walked the Walk

Jesus Christ walked the walk and died on the cross. The cross is a symbol of the divine Savior who overcame the limitations of our humanness. Christ overcame our paganism, burden and pain through His resurrection. 

I relate to overcoming suffering on a daily basis, because of significant health issues like surviving cancer, multiple major surgeries and human imperfections, including those of which I am and am not aware. This brings forgiveness, repentance, love, joy, peace and gratitude. The great missionary Paul wrote:

Romans 8:37: But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us (NASB).

The significance of His death was the fulfillment of prophesy that He would die to bear the price and burden of our sins. He prayed for our forgiveness so that He could sit on the right hand of God on our behalf. He lived again beyond the pain for us, His people, and for His Father, God. Perhaps it was best stated again by Paul:

1 Corinthians 1:18: For the word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God (NASB). 

Although we are perishing, it is by God’s grace and our faith in Him that we are saved. 

Poetry Page: Broken Wings

Broken Wings

Love me softly, stroke me gently, don't control or lead me on.

Take my hand and safely hold me when the light's out and we're alone.

I won't live another nightmare; one more failure just won't do.

Now that I'm in your care, please make the risk worth trusting you.

Truthful loving heals me gently and I can love me alone.

My dream is you're with me and there's nothing to run away from.

When day breaks to move my heaven, please don't say life's all wrong.

Please tell me what I'm givin' along with yours will make us strong.

This light shining within me knows darkness can't block our sun. 

Brighter than dark clouds we see, we raise our hearts as one.

You can love me through the night and ground me in the light.

Because these broken wings won't share a broken song.