Lessons from the Journey

Jesse's Girls Are Running Again!

2010-06-01T20:57:00.003-06:00

We are gearing up for Betty's Run for ALS again this year on Sunday, June 13th (not the 14th like my errored email said...)

The Pathway Church has generously sponsored new t-shirts for the first 100 fundraisers to raise a minimum of $100! (Please email me at mikeandsteph@shaw.ca if you are planning on fundraising so we can set a shirt aside for you). If possible please report fundraising totals by June 11. I can update offline pledges so they will still count toward the team total!

Our goal is $25,000! If 100 people raise at least $100 each, we are almost halfway there. If 100 people raise $250... we will make it!

All those who donate a minimum of $30 can request a free copy of "I Want To Be - Our Song for Dad" played at the funeral. There were many requests following it's debut! (To request a copy, please email angelamorales@canoemail.com.)

To donate online, please click here. DONATE ONLINE
To print off a pledge form to collect offline pledges, please click here. PLEDGES
To register for the run, please click here. REGISTRATION
To create a fundraising website, please click here. JESSE'S GIRLS ONLINE

We hope to see you, Sunday June 14 at North Glenmore Park @ 8:30 AM for the Pathway Church Service and 10:00 for the race!

Thank you for your support!

Don't Forget!

2010-04-16T18:07:00.005-06:00

Today marked my last, "last day of class." This is the end of 14 "last day of classes" over the past 7 years and 14 semesters of college and university. My childhood best friend once asked if I was getting "a PhD or something" and the answer, unfortunately, was no. I told her I was spending 2 years at Bible college figuring out what to do with my life and then needed to next 5 years to get ready to do what I figured out!

This morning, I was was sipping my coffee and thinking that now that this long awaited moment had arrived, I needed commemorate it somehow! It seemed appropriate to take a few moments and thank God for all he has provided on this journey that is soon coming to a close. As I started to list a few obvious things that came to mind, God's faithfulness overwhelmed me like a flood. As I listed off one provision after another, I was reminded that He did provide every single thing that I needed over the past 7 years whether it was finances, relationships, comfort, strength, time, rest, endurance or for physical needs, just like He promised he would!

Next, my thoughts wandered to the beginning of this journey. It seemes natural, I guess, when you're near the end of something to think back to how it all started. The summer 2003 was when I was getting ready to head off to Bible school and it was also, ironically enough, (much like the last year) a rocky time for our family. At the end of the summer, we were told that he had been diagnosed with depression. The struggles he had been having for a number of months were finally beginning to make sense. I watched my invincible dad be broken and transparent and at that point in my life, it was the hardest thing I had seen. This morning I was looking through my journal from that time and early in the fall I had written:

"Thank you God that you are bringing my parents through this time... and for taking care of us. I think I'm taking this okay because I know that you are in control."

It seemed odd that I could say almost the exact same words now.

"Thank you God for bringing our family through this time and taking care of us. We will be okay because you are in control."

God showed himself faithful then, he continues to now, and since history tends to be a good indication of the future, I would be willing to bet- or better yet, I know- He will continue to be, whatever storm may come.

I'm such a forgetful person. If I don't make a to-do list, I forget all the things that must be done. If I don't take a list to the grocery store, I always forget at least one thing! If I don't take to remember all that He has done, I risk forgetting just how faithful and good He has been in my life, and that's not a risk I should be willing to take!

Time is a Funny Thing

2010-02-17T18:07:00.009-07:00

Today is February 17, 2010. It's been 6 months since my dad passed away. It's crazy to think about how much can change in such a short period of time. My tendency is to measure time by the proximity to life-changing events.

At this very time just three years ago, I was months away from my dad walking me down the aisle. Two years ago close to this time, he took Emily to a watch the Phoenix Suns game down in Seattle. He was healthy and probably feeling quite invincible. Only four months later, we were touching down in the Philippines, a trip that was a surprise blessing to our family because of the diagnosis. And just over a year from when we arrived back home from that same trip, my dad passed away. Crazy.

Time is a strange paradox. Though it does seems that so much can change in so little time, what is also interesting to me is how little things can change in a given period of time. My dad had a John Piper book that was always laying around the house. I've never read it but the title always caught my attention as if to challenge and remind me: "Don't Waste Your Life."

When I think back to how much has changed in the last three years, I can't help but also ponder how much or how little my life has changed since then. What have I done in the time God has given me?

Imagine if $1440 were deposited into a bank account at the beginning of each day for you to spend. It is up to your discretion how to spend it but it all must be spent in that day. Any remaining balances cannot be transferred and once it's gone, it's gone. There are no credits, advances or overdrafts. That would mean that in a week we would have $10,080 at our disposal and in one month, $43,200. It would seem as if that great amount of money would be more than enough to cover any kind of expense.

Time is a resource we've been given just like money. We have 1440 minutes in a day, 10,080 minutes in a week and 43,200 minutes in a month to spend at our discretion.

Ultimately, the way we spend our time ends up being the way we spend our life. If you're anything like me, there have been days or weeks that have slipped by at times when it feels as if you have nothing of eternal value to show for it. Time doesn't seem to show any signs of slowing down. On the contrary, it seems to only speed up as I've gotten older and the sense of urgency to spend wisely only seems to increase.

My hope is that as time continues to fly by that I can take opportunities to view these milestones as a time to pause and ponder how I'm spending my life. My dad's faith throughout his life, illness and up until his death had a resounding impact on my life. Now the question is, how much have I allowed God to change since then?

Love, Dad

2010-01-27T23:06:00.002-07:00

If you read the Teary Traditions post, you may remember the little blooper we shared as a family when we tearily went to watch my dad's very special surprise video message and realized that we in fact, had the wrong DVD.

Well, we finally got all our ducks in a row and since all of us girls were together this last weekend, we sat down to watch it. We were equipped and ready with a full box of kleenex and we situated ourselves where we could easily console one another as the floodgates opened.

Just as quickly as the tape started rolling, the tears started streaming. My dad videotaped this little segment last December 2nd, 2008. He speech was still understandable to the family, but barely audible to the general public. You could see how it was a struggle for him to make out the words but how at the same time, there was an urgency and sense of importance in what he had to say.

He started out talking to Emily- and to her future husband who (bless him whoever he is) will have many layers of brother-in-law to penetrate through one day and, the "dad talk" via DVD.

He had specific words of wisdom for all of his girls and son-in-laws, reminders of his love and appreciation for my mom, reminders of his love for his present and future grandchildren and the admonition for all of us to live out our faith, walk with God and teach our children to do the same. And of course... several reminders of just how much he loved watching us all play basketball and how Emily is going to be the one to go all the way! Surprised?

It was the perfect mix of dad. He filmed this video when he was still in the uncontrollable laughter phase of the disease. He'd be in the middle of a very heart-wrenching sentence and then break out into hysterical laughter. This of course, allowed the very emotional viewers a few brief intermissions from crying in exchange for laughter.

It truly was and will always be a treasure. I'm thankful that he took the time to do this. I cannot imagine how hard it would be to sit down and record a video that you know your loved ones will only watch once you have passed on.

The theme of his message was no surprise as it's the same thing he lived out and encouraged us to do when he was still with us. Now I feel as though he has joined the great cloud of witnesses found in Hebrews 11 and is saying, "Run with perseverance the race marked out for you." I'll be cheering you on.

Teary Traditions (Part 2)

2009-12-26T23:41:00.004-07:00

What makes December 25th truly unique in our family is that is also happens to mark 50% of our family's birthdays. My dad, Angela and Christina were all born on Christmas Day. In part 1, I mentioned one of the many traditions in our house. The morning of December 25th usually went down something like this:

6:00 AM or earlier- Angela wakes up and wakes up whoever she can, usually Emily and myself (and yes, in that order, and yes, this was up until last year... her 26th birthday...) We would wait until a more humane time to wake up the rest of the family that our mom had specified the night before. We'd all open stockings after of course fingering through all the little wrapped gifts in order to try and guess what they all were. Dad would never open a gift before trying to pre-determine what was inside! We'd open our "Santa" gifts and by this point our dad was often back asleep on the couch. He wasn't yet caffeinated.

After this, Christmas was totally put on pause. We'd move over to the table for birthday breakfast. All the birthday presents had to be wrapped in birthday paper. No one dared break this cardinal rule. We'd eat one of mom's breakfast casseroles, open presents and then move onto the cake. For this part, the twins would climb into my dad's lap no matter how big or small they were and we would sing Happy Birthday.

We'd take the famous picture of the three of them blowing our their birthday cake and of course one smiling for the album. My mom has an album full of just this picture from every year for the last 26 years! As they got older, dad became less and less visible in the picture but you could always see his famous smile poking out from between them!

This Christmas Eve, we had a pre-Christmas cry together and shared how this birthday moment was the one we were all dreading the most, especially the twins. It would be one of those times when his absence would feel like a meteor-sized crater.

The birthday breakfast this year hovered like a storm cloud in the room. No one seemed like they were in a hurry to get to the birthday and once we did, it really felt like, "let's just get this over with." We ate, sang and took the picture. It just wasn't the same. At this point my mom said through tear-filled eyes, "It just feels like someone is missing." Indeed it did.

However, it wouldn't truly be a "Jesse" moment without a little comic relief. Before we could all burst into tears, Mike who had stepped out of the room for a moment, yelled from the next room in a silly voice, "Don't worry guys, I'm right here!" Another moment recovered by humour...

The mixed feelings about Christmas this year may not change for the next while. The fact is, it is different and it really won't ever be the same without him. However, if we peel back the gift giving, birthdays and traditions, there is a greater unshakeable occasion that will never change.

The true reason we celebrate Christmas is because this is when God sent Jesus to earth. Our God is a relentless pursuer and he loved us too much to let us perish. He came to offer us the free and eternal gift of salvation. Because of this, we have a painless, sinless eternity in heaven to look forward to if we have accepted this free gift. Despite how tough moments may get now, they are temporary.

It seems as though the child-like excitement for Christmas tends to fade as we "grow up." I have asked God as I have gotten older, not to let me forget what Christmas is all about. Even though this was the toughest Christmas thus far, I have been reminded of what it is all about. Yes- family, gifts, and traditions are wonderful, but the Christmas spirit I think, stems from a spirit of thankfulness for what God has done which allows the hope, joy and peace that He provides flood our lives and into into the lives of those around us.

Teary Traditions (Part 1)

2009-12-25T13:42:00.006-07:00

The new normal has been very tough to adjust to but thankfully, some milestones have passed so far where we all sat back and said, that wasn't as hard as we thought it would be. We all silently worried about what Christmas would be like without dad while knowing full well that this would and will probably always be the hardest time of the year.

Tradition is something we Morales' take very seriously. We don't mess with traditions! They unfortunately also have the potential to create the most obvious voids.

One of many at this time of year is the pajama tradition. For as long as I can remember among my dad's gift to his girls was always a pair of pajamas. We would always open them Christmas Even and then wear them to sleep that night. Some years he did a bit better than others but he always picked them out himself and he was always proud of his findings. Even last year, mom wheeled him around the mall as he thoughtfully picked out the perfect pair for Em, Ethan and Maia by shaking his head or nodding.

One of the most memorable years for pajamas was when he came home with plus size night gowns for all of the older girls... I think 3x or 4x. I think his rationale was two-fold- they were probably on the clearnace rack so of course on sale, and I think he thought they woudl be SO comfortable because they weren't tight fitting? It didn't seem to occur to him that all four of us could have fit into ONE with room to spare. We captured them on film before my mom "encouraged" him to return them and try again. Not to worry though, He did improve in both taste, size and pajama-common-sense in the years to follow!

Unforuntaely for the older three of us, this tradition ceasedwhen we got married but Emily of course had still be a beneficiary of this. Mike and I were shopping last week when all of sudden he stopped and said, "Do you think I should buy Em some PJ's?" We split up in the store as he began the hunt. I found him 20 minutes later looking quite stressed out. I asked what was wrong and he said, "I just feel so much pressure! This is a very big deal. That can't just be any pair, they have to be ones that scream Emily." I smiled at his appreciation for the seriousness of the task at hand! We did find something eventually and I left the store with our purchase and a very apprehensive Mike.

When I wrapped the PJ's I wrote on the tag, "Some traditions must keep on living..." Emily got to unwrap her very own huge one-size fits all moo-moo night gown that reads, "Move to the Moo-sic." We didn't want to her to miss out on the early years...

When she opened it we all laughed, and then of course, we all cried. It was funny and nice for a moment before we all felt the void that we knew was there. We keep taking those moments in stride. We have cried when we feel it coming on and laughed a lot as well.

Ethan has been our little rock. (We're getting him adjusted to being a sensitive guy early.) He's having a tough time following our emotional roller coasters. One minute we are all laughing and the next, he's so confused, "Hey- why's everyone cryin'?" Someone explains to him that we're sad because we miss Papa . He gives a round of hugs and then goes back to playing, and so far, we're okay and enjoy some laughs while we wait for the next wave!

The Solution for Change

2009-11-17T23:49:00.002-07:00

I've been having one of those kinds of weeks... several in a row actually, where you get overtired, crusty, frantic and run down to pieces all because, if I'm being honest, first things just were not first. As I found myself in a familiar pattern of failing in self-reliant mode, it got me thinking about a lesson I've learned... make that learn-ing. I'm pretty sure God has had it on repeat for the last several years.

Our family was tremendously blessed last summer with an all-expense paid trip to the Philippines. All 11 of us jumped on the plane and endured the seemingly endless plane ride with excitement and anticipation. It was my first time out of North America and consequently my first time in a third world country. I was shell shocked to see some of the conditions that people live under and not only that- the conditions that people are contently living under. All my dad's instructions from childhood about turning off the lights and not wasting water or food suddenly seemed like very reasonable requests after seeing the scarcity he came from.

During the trip, my dad posed one of his thought provoking questions to me: "Step...how will your life be different because of this trip?" I felt slightly pressured to produce a 'right' answer...

"Well," I began, "It's made me appreciate what I have more." He was not content. "What else?" "Umm...I think I'll be less material when I get home..." He just smiled like he had a secret that I failed to uncover.

I felt very inspired to live a simpler lifestyle immediately after arriving back home until some time elapsed and I felt equally inspired to buy a pair of darling, red, pointy, high heels. The accumulation of these shoes posed a new problem for me. I, of course, had to have a matching bag. I couldn't help that I happened to be invited to a Purse Party on a night that I happened to be available, that happened to have a perfectly matching red purse for sale... can you see the stuff-disease spreading? Why did my inspiration to live simply fade so quickly?

I could go on with confessions of a shop-a-holic but the real issue I find myself battling on the inside no matter what mask it wears on the outside is, why don't I change? What will it take to make a long-lasting change?

We've all had that time we saw that inspiring thing, place or person, and thought, I will never be the same. The sad truth for me is my best effort hasn't been enough for the inside-out kind of change.

I want to be different because of my life experiences. I want to be more content because of poverty-stricken conditions I have seen and read about. I want to live my life totally sold out to the will of God because I have seen a very faithful example and a glimpse of the payoff. I've been inspired many times but unfortunately, I always seem to come up short. The world says, try harder. You can do it. I've tried harder but I always end up back at square one which seems to be synonomous with square-the-same

I do find a little U-2-ME-2 in Romans 7. I read about Paul and discover that even great evangelist may have shared some of my struggles. He says, "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do, but what I hate, I do...For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing...What a wretched [wo]man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?"

As I continue reading, I'm so relieved to find the real solution to change: "Thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord."

I cannot change on my own. In fact, I can do nothing on my own (John 15:5).

Many times, I have looked at my dad's life and thought, I want to be like him. He was a great example but rather than trying to mimic his outward characteristics, I think my chances of being like him improve if I start thinking instead, I want to know and experience God the same way he did. I want God to change me so drastically the way he did for him. I want to surrender myself to change the same way he did.

It's never been about me or my efforts. It's not about what I can or cannot do on my own but what Jesus Christ wants to do in me.

For permanent change, seek out the Life-Changer everyday and turn yourself over to Him once again.

The Celebration (August 24, 2009)

2009-11-08T21:00:00.004-07:00

I began an entry about the funeral the day after it was in August but never quite finished because I felt that my words didn't do the service justice! I know that some family and friends who wanted to be there were unable to be or if you were and are like me, might wish you could remember that really inspiring thing that someone said... Good news! Ang phoned me tonight and said, "I finally found the website the funeral is on!" The staff at Outreach Canada had the service videotaped and have had it available on their website!

There are times in life when you kind of hope that God will show up and then there are times when you just know and expect that He will. I expected God to move at the funeral and did He ever! Those who already know Christ were challenged to live the same kind of abundant life and those who have never accepted Jesus Christ into their life as their Saviour were challenged to receive the free gift of salvation.

A year ago last spring, we were driving home from a funeral and my dad said to me, "When I die, I don't want people to be sad. I want them to celebrate and talk about Jesus!" I teased him and said, "Of course you would. You'll still be witnessing to people even after you're gone!" And did he ever. As Brian said, "The message is not what is being spoken today but the life that has been lived before you."

I took a deep breath as I began to watch and knew there was no point in trying to keep the tears in. It's hard to believe it was less than three months ago. In addition to being reminded of how very, very, much I miss him, I was reminded of the many spiritual challenges that I received. The whole service is about 2 hours but it's nicely divided up on the toolbar on the right so you can pick and choose sections if you would like, but whatever section, grab some kleenex!

http://outreach.ca/now/jesse/

A Fresh Start

2009-10-21T22:47:00.006-06:00

Tonight was a cleaning party. Instead of having our usual Wednesday night study, we took on a little love in action. One lady in the Bible Study recently shared the gospel (the Biblical message of forgiveness of sin, a relationship with Jesus and eternal life) with an old friend whose life was in shambles. She phoned me after to tell me the good news and with a great idea. She said, "We need to give this woman a fresh start. I think we should go over there and clean her house." She explained how this single mother of three worked full time and felt overwhelmed by the growing task of keeping her house in order and how it was in dire need of a big clean up.

Eight of us ladies headed over there tonight fully prepared to get elbow deep in whatever we had to. We entered the house armed with cleaning supplies and stock for the cupboards. I felt tremendous joy as this woman wept and said, "I can't even believe that you're here doing this." I was thinking to myself, "We're just doing to your house what Christ has already done to your heart and ours."

I felt slightly overhwhelmed at the task that lay before us when I saw it. We decided to divide and conquer. Two tackled the bathroom, two tackled the kitchen, two tackled the bedrooms and my partner and I took on the laundry room which was conveniently also the place where the cats had taken over. Our new friend came in and frantically started to tidy with us saying, "No, I have to help you girls. I'm the one who made this mess." I assured her that we had it under control and ushered her back into the living room to spend some quality time with her precious children.

I thought to myself, isn't this what we try to do? We think we somehow need to be responsible and "help God" with the clean up because we feel so responsible and guilty about the mess we have made instead of just handing over the reigns. I think he says something similar, "Just give me permission to get rid of what needs to go and I'll take care of the rest."

It was an amazing sense of joy that we felt to know we were doing something physical that represented something that had taken place on the inside. I overheard her in the hallway telling a story I couldn't help but smile at. She said, "One of my friends said to me a couple days ago, 'I can't believe how much you've changed in only a week!' I told her that I gave my heart to God and she said, 'That's all I have to do?'" Isn't that what giving your heart to Jesus all about? Total transformation that makes people go, "What happened to you?" and "How did I get what you have?"

As we finished one room after another, she peered in and stood in amazement at the observable difference in the appearance. I wish we had taken before and after pictures. There are things that we all struggle with. The battle for holiness in this world rages on. I hope that I can look at areas of my own life with the same amazement and say, "I'm different because I let Jesus do a big cleaning job in my heart."

We left after a couple of hours feeling a bit like the crew of Extreme Makeover, Cleaning Edition. The precious kids were so thrilled to have clean rooms and tidy toy boxes. I know that they'll remember this night because of what happened but more importantly, I hope they'll remember who happened to their mom and the difference that He has made.

Birthday Memories

2009-10-19T21:16:00.004-06:00

Tomorrow I will be 24! How time flies...! I was sure I just turned 23- sometime last week? I've always loved birthdays and I came from a family that always made them very special day. I'm having kind of a sad moment- it just hit me that this is my first birthday without my dad. A few memories from past years came to mind.

One is my 18th birthday, in 2003. Bear in mind the year- before Apple had taken over the world and CD's hadn't been replaced by iTunes. It was my first year at college and consequently my first year playing basketall which meant many away games, road trips and long and potentially boring bus trips.

That year my dad was particularly excited about the gift he got me. I had no idea what it was and was quite surprised because normally he left gift-purchasing to my mom. The shape of the package was undetectable. He wanted me to guess but I had none. I opened it up and it was ... wait for it...a brand new.... Sony...discman! That's right-a discman. Remember those things that play CD's? It was cool at the time but very quickly became a product of the 90's.

He told me that I needed to have the best for all of our bus trips with basketball and that it was the top of the line! He never ceased to surprise me. Not only was it out of his usual price range, but it was incredibly thoughtful and practical!

My next birthday memory is a special phone call from last year. At this time last year, my dad was quickly losing his ability to speak. I have two messages still saved on my voicemail. The first is my dad, speaking very slowly giving me car advice and then ending with, "O...kay....Hap...py...Birt.....day."

The second is the Happy Birthday song from later that day. Mom sang the first line, Emily sang then second, back to Mom for the third, "Happy Birthday to..." and then the big finale- dad with "Ste.....pha......nie". I've probably listened to those messages 3 dozen times and will continue to save them for as long as my Shaw voicemail box will allow.

There are many more material things my dad gave me- cars, basketball shoes, gas money- that I am thankful for. But I am most thankful for the things that didn't come gift wrapped and will never go out of style.

I was just sitting here ready to temporarily crumble into tears thinking about all this when Mike handed me the phone. It was my wonderful father-in-law, singing Happy Birthday to me a day early. God is so faithful. He knows just what we need in the moment!

Finishing Well

2009-10-10T21:09:00.015-06:00

After successfully completing an 8km run earlier this year, my wonderful ambitious running partner had a brilliant idea of us signing up for a half marathon- 21.1km. It was a bit of a stretch but we had been diligently and faithfully training on a daily basis for the 8km and felt as though we had ample time to prepare. At the end of June, we signed ourselves up for the Canmore Rocky Mountain Half Marathon with every intention of being prepared. It wasn't long before the good intention quickly became classified as "seemed like a good idea at the time."

Good intentions didn't get me too far. Disciplined training didn't end up being the priority I hoped it would be as the summer came to a close. As September 13th approached we questioned each other- why did we think this was a good idea? What were we thinking? Were we even thinking? The faint bit of anticipation I felt was solely for the moment I hoped to cross the finish line and be done with it. We determined that no matter what happened, we would finish together, even if it meant a mutual dragging of our bodies across the finish line!

On the morning of we scouted out the much more prepared looking competition and determined that our untrained goal was to finish in 2 hours and 10 minutes. We waited with anticipation with the hundreds of other runners for the starting gun. We started off nice and slow. There were 1km markers throughout the race so we knew how we were doing and what was still ahead. The first 10km felt great. I was thinking to myself, "This isn't so bad. I can do this." Then I realized I was only halfway done.

The back half of the race was conveniently the hilly half. My legs seemed to get heavier and slower with each step. All I could think about was when it was going to be over. Around the 13km mark, I began to notice the familiar surroundings on the path we were on. Ironically enough, I realized that I was running on the very same path that my family had walked together right after my dad's diagnosis the previous year.

The memories of that day played through my mind like a film reel. I remembered he had said his legs felt great that day. The disease hadn't yet taken over his lower body and he walked over 10km without experiencing any weakness. At the time, we felt optimistic about combating the disease and the time we hoped to have left.

I started to think just about him. I thought about his last three weeks here. I pondered what it would feel like to be so fatigued all the time that you cannot even keep your eyes open for more than a few minutes and too weak to be able to hold yourself up. I thought about what it would be like to be in a race and not know how close you are to finishing. First he thought the last leg of his race was 2-3 years. Then it was 3-6 months. Then it was at most "a few days" for several days. There was no way of really knowing.

Cement legs all of a sudden didn't seem so bad.

My friend kept encouraging me to push for the last little bit but my legs refused to move any faster than the painfully slow pace I was barely maintaining. She kept saying, "Let your adrenaline kick in!" to which I responded, "I really don't have any!" I actually had nothing left in the tank. When we rounded the final corner I felt relief when I saw the good news..."FINISH LINE." We crossed and finished at 2:09, one minute under our goal!

Aside from never doing another half marathon without being ready, there were a few things I was reminded of that day as I pondered my dad and was made extremely aware of my many physical limitations!

Finishing well isn't easy. It's no wonder that the person who crosses the starting line first doesn't get anything. Everyone starts fairly well. That's not the hard part. It's not until you've endured the distance that you are rewarded.

Finishing well requires being ready. Results are not produced by well-intending osmosis. 1 Timothy 4:7 says, “Train yourself to be godly." The training from months earlier expired. The only way I could have been prepared for that race was by continuing to train daily. The only was I can be prepared for what life brings is by daily training myself in godliness. How do you train spiritually? Same was as physically: eat right and exercise! I need a steady and meaty diet of God’s word, a continual filling of the Spirit and regular exercise my faith by putting it to practice.

Finishing well requires people. If I'm being honest, I probably would been a no-show at the race if I weren't running it with someone. No one else would have missed me. And if I had shown up, it wouldn't have really mattered how I did. Because I had someone to go the distance with, I still went.

If you saw the slideshow from the funeral, you may remember this picture of my dad. He did a 10km run in Vancouver in the late 70's with his brother and niece. The way he told the story was something like this: "I finished second...[very long pause]... to last!" The guy who finished behind him was in a wheelchair. All of a sudden my results aren't seeming so bad! However, he did finish his race of life much stronger than his 10k!

I am so thankful for the great example I have of finishing life well. I know that it was hard for him- hard doesn't quite do the situation justice. He was trained and ready. I saw him feed his soul regularly and put his faith to work time and time again. I watched so many faithful friends surround and encourage him not only in the last leg of the race but during other legs where I'm sure he felt tired and discouraged.

He wasn't able to cheer me on at the finish line of this race but as I think about finishing this life well, I think of Hebrews 12:1: "Since we are surrounded my such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." When I get to the end, I hope he's standing there in the great cloud of those who have already finished cheering me in the same way he did at our first Betty's Run saying, "Go Steph, go!" I hope to be able to say, like I'm sure he did, "I have fought the fight. I have kept the faith. I have finished the race."

It's Been TOO Long...

2009-10-10T20:27:00.004-06:00

It's been far too long since I last blogged- almost a month! My formerly faithful readers have probably given up on checking for updates. This morning over a coffee conversation with my mom, she informed me that some people told her that they figured that the blog was now "finished" due to the new record I set of longest time between entries! Hopefully my neglected blog will forgive me and we can be like old friends- the kind where no matter how long it's been, you can just pick up wherever you left off!

I'm sad to say this is our first overnight visit back to Calgary since the funeral last month. I have dearly missed my family. I was very much looking forward to this visit and at the same time, wasn't sure what to expect. We all had to go our separate ways immediately after the funeral and all had to find our "new normal's." It's been almost two months since my dad passed away. This would be our first time to witness the new normal around the old homestead.

Last night we arrived at my parent's house to drop off our stuff before heading over to visit my in-laws. Emily was out at a friend's and my mom was quietly and contently watching a movie by herself. No dad seemed so strange. On weekend visits home, I'm used to opening the door and seeing dad from the front hallway at the kitchen table with his tea towel bib handing from his shirt. His face would light up as we would enter. We'd greet him and try to make him laugh. Sometimes I'd give his little bicep a squeeze and ask if he'd been working out. He's shake his head no and of course, smile.

It'll take some time to get used to. I couldn't help the few tears as we headed back out. Mike asked me what was wrong and all I could process was, "It's just seems so different without him."

This afternoon, Mike and Ethan were playing Guitar Hero. Ethan piped up and randomly said, "I'm playing this one for Papa. He can listen to me now because he has a new body." It was one of those should-we-laugh-or-cry moments. Maybe he assumed since the rest of Papa's body wasn't working, he had also become hearing impaired? (It's ironic and funny because he kind of was even before ALS!) Our hearts were so blessed that in his little mind is still filled with thoughts of Papa at times. It is apparent that even in his little 3-year-old heart, Papa left an imprint.

Extra-Strength Faith

2009-09-14T23:08:00.003-06:00

A couple of weeks ago, I had the privilege of going to the funeral the wife of a teacher at my new school. I didn't personally know this family but I had heard so much of their faith and just wanted to go. I got their early (I know, shocking) and watched as at least 800 people filled the seats of the E-Free church in Lethbridge to celebrate another faithful life and mourn the void left by this loss.

Something began to occur to me as I sat there and attempted to make sense of the events of the past few weeks. When does the world see Jesus?

My first experience with death (second hand experience obviously) was during my first semester at Bible College. I received the sudden and tragic news that my goddaughter Jani, a 9-month old baby girl from our church, had passed away suddenly of meningitis. I struggled to and failed to make sense of this tragedy. People always seem to say, “There’s a reason for everything…” but from personal experience, it unfortunately seems to offer little comfort in a grievous moment.

After some months had passed, I remember her mother standing in front of the church saying, “I’m here today to tell you that God is faithful.” I’m fairly confident that she hadn’t had a revelation answering the questions of why this had happened, but she didn’t seem to need to. I sat there and thought, if she can say that God is faithful, it really must be true.

The teacher at my school sent an email out to all the staff members at the school after his wife passed away, which eventually circulated in and out of educational and basketball circles throughout Canada. I don’t know how many thousands of people read his words, but they were truly a testimony of God's faithfulness. Only hours after his wife passed away he typed these words: “I am trusting that God will grant me the grace and wisdom to provide enough love to my kids to make up for the void that is now here. I have faith that He will see it through. That he wants me to trust him one step at a time.”

I was so encouraged and amazed by the strength granted through faith. This man has a 6-year old son, 4-year old daughter and newborn baby to raise now by himself, and seemed to be approaching it with a heavy dose of extra-strength faith. He concluded the funeral service by sharing his wife’s testimony of how she came to faith in Jesus Christ in University- carefully pausing to explain all Christian jargon to ensure that the message of hope was clear and the reason for her secured home in heaven. I sat there amazed at how many people- many who would probably not voluntarily be in a church otherwise- were there hearing about the faithfulness of God!

I cannot begin to understand nor am I trying to explain the why’s of so many tragic and early-seeming exits from this life but go with me just for a second here. During my dad’s journey with ALS, I had always assumed that a miraculous healing would have most definitely brought God the most glory. Until recently, I didn’t pause to consider that maybe, just maybe, my dad’s unwavering faith through one of the most disabling diseases out there could have glorified God, possibly more than a miracle healing? I don’t have the bird’s eye view of the mysterious ways of God but would it be possible that the faith of God’s people through the storms of life bring more glory to Him than a miracle?

I think the world sees Jesus when His people see Him. When a mother who has lost her baby girl can say, “God is faithful,” and when a widower and single-dad can say, “I have faith that He [God] will see me through,” and when a man suffering and dying from a horrible disease says, “Don’t let this discourage your faith in Christ. Following Jesus will leave no regrets,”- that is when the world takes notice and says, this Jesus must be real.

In the words of John Piper, God is the most glorified in us, when we are the most satisfied in him.

Kin-dom Pur-spuc-tve

2009-09-09T14:04:00.012-06:00

Ang called me a few days and asked me to email her the video of dad talking about the "Kingdom Perspective" for a devotional she was preparing. I sent it off and she received it and previewed it on her TV at home.

Ethan wandered into the room with BIG eyes and exclaimed, "Papa can talk?!" He proceeded to watch the video repeatedly- rewind-play-rewind-play- twenty or so times. After the first few he turned to Ang and said, "Mama what's pur-spuc-tve?" (Big word for a 3 year old!) She did her best to explain it to him. He turned back and watched a few more times and then turned to her again and inquired, "Mama- what's kin-dom?"

My mom told me that she had talked with Ethan on the phone and he was quoting some of Papa's lines from the video- word for word! I had to get a piece of the action so I phoned and asked for Ethan. He told me about the "Papa movie" he watched and how he talked about "Pur-spuc-tve" and "kin-dom."

I was challenged by this wonderful 3-year-old (who also happens to supply much of the material on this blog!) I too have watched that video and been touched by it. He watched that exhortation with intense curiosity, trying to decode the meaning in his little 3-year-old brain. I have a few questions to ask myself along the same lines- in slightly more adult terms of course: 1)What does it truly look like to live with the perspective that everyday could be your last and with the goal of impacting the Kingdom of God as an urgent high priority? and 2) What do I need to do to align my own life with this outlook? I know the answer to the first question... just like Dad! The second may take a bit more pondering...

I'll attempt to explore the "how are they" question. Mom and Em are doing okay. Life is very different but they're finding a way. I think my mom is on her fourth consecutive day of writing thank-you's to the many many people who have helped and supported our family especially over the last few weeks. She mentioned something about permanent hand cramping... They've experienced the most change in the day to day dealings of "normal" life. Please continue to pray for peace of heart and healthy, faithful, hopeful grieving... whatever that looks like!

Fences and Faith

2009-09-07T12:09:00.009-06:00

Last fall, I was having a conversation with a friend of mine about having a relationship with Jesus. When it concluded he said, “I just don’t need God. I know this sounds bad, but something really bad would probably have to happen before I would turn to God.” I tried yet I struggled to understand that perspective.

This summer we built a fence to enclose our yard. (By “we” I of course mean Mike with help from a few friends. I supervised!) Our fence is west-facing. Anyone who has been to Lethbridge is no stranger to the 100km/hr winds often blowing furiously from the west.

To combat this frequent force, we knew we'd have to build something solid. We put in 9-ft steel posts into 3-ft deep holes and secured them with concrete. The fence boards are securely screwed onto 3 horizontal beams on the top, middle and bottom of the posts and then sealed by 3 more horixontal beams. It is one solid fence. I think I could ram it with my car and it wouldn’t budge.

Today happens to be one of those terribly windy days. It's howling outside as I type. I fear that if I step outside it may carry me off to Saskatchewan. It came with little warning. On Saturday, it was summery and warm and today, the biting wind makes summer seem like a distant memory! I'm glad the majority of it is done as I am trying to imagine how very crazy it would be to be screwing in fence boards on a day like today. I'm also trying to imagine what our neighbor would have said if when she approached us about starting our fence in the summer we had said, "Actually, we're waiting until the wind is blowing 100km/hr. We won't really need the shelter until then." She probably would have put her house up for sale! It seems bit foolish to wait for a storm. No thank-you. I'd rather do it without battling increment weather!

I was reading in Matthew 7 not too long ago and was reminded of how we live on a solid foundation: "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.”

Many people, myself included, have been encouraged by the faith my dad had. It seems mysterious to some but I knew his secret. I saw it with my own eyes. Long before this particular storm came, he had been buildling a very strong house on the Rock. He got his bricks from the Bible and and found them to be true as he laid them out in his life. He didn't just read them but put them into practice. He didn't know the storm that would be coming but was ready for it because of the solid rock he knew he stood on.

I find this extremely challenging. I oftened wondered how I would respond if I were the one personally battling the disease. I want to be as prepared as he was and be found as faithful. I don't want to wait for my own personal storm to continue building a solid house. It's too risky! I want to be ready for whatever storms life may throw my way.

The fence didn’t go up in a day and solid faith is not built in a day. It takes many days. But it must start with one. Then another and another...

Count Your Blessings

2009-08-31T11:03:00.003-06:00

Yesterday, the speaker at our church said, “You don’t have to be that old to realize that life is hard.” I couldn’t agree more. With that said, God is faithful and good and He always provides what we need. There have been a few instances over the last year when I have been especially thankful for ALS. I know that it sounds odd, crazy and possibly estranged, but I have a great deal to be thankful for and here's why:

Last summer I was working at a golf course down here in Lethbridge. A little girl and boy came in with their dad for a late dinner. The dad stepped out for a moment so I asked the girl, probably about 6 years old, where her mom was. My heart broke as she looked up at me with sad eyes and replied, “It’s called cancer.” Her mother had passed away two years earlier. Though at any age it seems like it’s too soon to lose a loved one, I thought, “Thank-you Lord that I’m not 6.”

Last fall I met someone who would become a dear friend. Her dad had passed away months earlier from ALS and frontal lobe dementia- a tragic and rare combination. Not only did he lose all physical function just like my dad, but he also lost his memory and much of his mental function. At one point she said to me, “At least your dad remembers who you are.” At that point I thought, “Thank-you Lord that it’s just ALS.”

Today is my first official day as a teacher-intern at a high school in Lethbridge. (Yes, I'm blogging when I should be lesson planning!) This weekend, one of the teachers here, who thankfully is a believer, lost his wife suddenly due to complications from a massive blood clot in her lung suddenly leaving behind a 6-year old son, 4-year old daughter and 4-day old baby girl. I thought, “Thank-you Lord for the years we had and that I had a year and a half to say good-bye to my dad.”

At any point life there are a number of circumstances that could discourage hope and faith. There are a few Biblical exhortations that come to mind. The first is from 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17: “Be joyful always. Pray continually. Give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Our tough circumstances in life are not always God’s desire, but it is his will that we be thankful. Why? Simply put, we are his light on this earth. If we can praise God through the storms, what does that tell the world about the God that we serve?

Another that the Lord has reminded of is from James 1. “Consider it pure joy my brothers when you face trials of many kinds. For you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete not lacking anything.” We can be joyful in the storms of life because we know that they God is his soverieignty can still use them for a good purpose and we know that this life is only preparation for the next.

John MacArthur compared this life to the back of a Persian rug. From our perspective it looks like a big group of jumbled threads that seem to be woven together in a mess. It’s not until we flip it over, possibly not until eternity, that we see the intricate tapestry woven together to create something beautiful and our faith in Romans 8:28 become sight: “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God who are called according to His purpose.”

As I think of the old hymn, Count Your Blessings, I have many to name one by one. I had my dad for almost 24 years of my life. He set an incredible example in faith and pointed me to everything I need for life and godliness. My dad was my dad right until the end. He did not lose his faith, his family or his mind. Until his last breath, he encouraged us to not let this disease discourage our faith in Christ. Until the very end, he gave practical advice and cracked his famous smile. Lastly, I had the gift of a long good-bye. Nothing was left unsaid. So many of us got a chance to thank him and encourage him in the impact he made. I am thankful for other believers in the family of faith. Thought we don't all know each other personally, we can support each other in prayer and be encouraged by the faith and hope displayed in tough times.

I praise God for situations that He uses, whether good or bad by the world’s standards, to show himself faithful to the lost word. My dad’s words from last summer come to mind at this point: “If you were to live with the perspective that today was your last day on earth, what would you do to impact the Kingdom of God?” I tend to think that all those around and myself included are invincible. Every so often, I am reminded of the fragility of this life. Everyday is truly a gift and I need to ask God to continuously remind to make His kingdom work my priority.

Donating to the ALS Society...

2009-08-28T15:08:00.004-06:00

The online site is set up for the ALS Society of Alberta is up and running and ready to receive donations in memory of my dad. On the post on August 19, I mentioned the 3 ways "practical" ways to contribute in lieu of flowers if you were wishing to do so. Please visit the link below if you are wishing to donate or read the post "In Lieu of Flowers" for more information. Thank you!
http://www.als.ca/events/mysite.aspx?fid=3737

We are going to continue participating in Betty's Run for ALS every June. Store it somewhere in the catalog of your mind! Jesse's Girls was the second highest fundraising team this year! Whoo-hoo. Going for first next year...nothing wrong with a little competition for a good cause, right? :)

Hang or Cling

2009-08-27T21:32:00.011-06:00

A common word of encouragement I have often heard, not just now but for any tough time is: "hang in there." When I think of that phrase, I picture one of those scenes from a movie where the character is hanging over a giant canyon or a black hole barely holding on to either a thin branch or rope or piece of wood that is about to give out. It's terrifying because you never know when or if you will fall and it's tiring because gravity is constantly pulling you down. Hanging in there doesn't really appeal to me.

Fortunately, we sang a song on Sunday that reminded me of plan 'B': "To the Rock I cling..." That gives me quite a different picture. I see a human barnacle (if you will) just stuck to a giant boulder- clinging, grasping with everything. If I cling to the solid Rock, I will naturally go where He goes. We were challenged on Sunday with this: "Don't waste the suffering." I know that God is continuing to do great things amidst this storm in whoever is willing to cling to Him. I want to cling. I think it's necessary in order to wisely spend the suffering.

Please continue to pray for our family, especially Emily and my mom. Today Em had her first day of grade 9. She had a tough moment when she was handed a parent contact info sheet with both parents names still on it. Today was also my mom's first day by herself at home. Though the house has been quiet over the last few months, it hasn't ever been empty. Dad had been the constant there. There were also plentyof caregivers and other health practitioners coming and going. I cannot imagine how big and empty that house must feel now.

Pray for faith-filled, clinging, healthy grief at this time and God's presence to continue to be felt in their home.

(Mom and Em taking all the flowers to Dad's grave at

Eden Brook Memorial Garden on Wednesday)

Through a Child's Eyes

2009-08-26T16:40:00.003-06:00

Ethan has brought so much joy to all of us along this journey. I just wanted to take a minute to share some of his thought processes over the last few days. When my dad passed away, we asked Ethan where Papa went. He responded, without any hesitation, "He's wis (with) Jesus wis his new body and he can walk all by himself and talk all by himself AND, he can fix cars!" He knows that Papa is in heaven.

After he went down for a nap Saturday afternoon, Ang left to go to the viewing at the funeral home. When he woke up from his nap he asked Frankie where his mama was. When Frankie told him that she went to see Papa's body, he broke into a hysterical crying bout saying, "I don't want my mama to go to heaven yet! I want her to stay here!" It took about 10 minutes of Frankie assuring him that his mom had gone to see Papa's old body, not his new body in heaven, and that she would be back very soon before he would calm down. Poor little guy! I can only imagine the panic that would have overtaken his little mind as he thought his mama had gone to heaven to see Papa.

Ethan's shining moment though, was definitely at the cemetery. Gerry shared a few comforting words with our family and encouraged us to share the memories and the funny stories. He said, "Sometimes he (my dad) was just crazy!" of course meaning, sometimes he was hilarious, funny, had wild ideas... you get the picture. All of a sudden, Ethan very loudly whispered to Mike with the sincerest concern in his voice, "Was Papa crazy?!" And then said, "Crazy like this?" and proceeded to make a "crazy" face to Mike by blowing up his cheeks, pulling on his ears and wiggling his eye balls around.

We all had to bite our tongues. It seemed like an inappropriate time to laugh out loud yet an appropriate time to allow joy to overflow from his little heart to ours.

Dad's earthly resting place is 1903A4, Garden of Heritage, Eden Brook Memorial Garden. I know... kind of a strange address to post but a few people had asked about it!

Thank You Thank You Thank You

2009-08-23T00:24:00.005-06:00

What a weekend! It came and went so quickly, but not without many tears, smiles and laughs. Our beloved family from the Bridge did such an amazing job of organizing the viewing. The whole afternoon reflected who dad was exactly and the best part was, we didn't have to tell them anything! They just knew/know him so well. We had many friends and family members that travelled from out of town to be with us to celebrate my dad's life and mourn our loss together. There were countless friends who helps in many ways- cooking meals, organizing the funeral, videotaping, editing, scanning pictures, making programs, bookmarks and comment cards, sharing life changing messages, facilitating and helping transport stuff back to the church... I could go on and on. THANK YOU for helping to make the day a true reflection and celebration of his life. We are so grateful.

A New "Normal"

2009-08-21T22:17:00.010-06:00

Last night I was finalizing the program for Monday's funeral service with our neighbor friend and on my way out he said, "So, we'll see you tomorrow at the viewing?" I had to pause for a moment as I thought, already? At the beginning of the week, Saturday seemed so far away. It's been hectic. Plus, when you're busy, you don't have a lot of time to think about how you feel. I don't want it to be Saturday yet. Once it comes, it will just as soon be over. And once it's over, it'll be time to find a new normal. I don't know if we're ready for a normal that doesn't include my dad.

Dad's new normal is fabulous. The obvious truth is that he is much better off. He is now completely healed of ALS and probably loving eternal life in his brand new body. He is living the life he was created for. But the fact is, the rest of us- the ones still passing through this life- don't feel better off without him. We miss him. What do we do in the meantime?

God has really broadened my perspective of contentment during this journey. I used to think that it had to do with just money. Be happy with a little. Not so much. I have learned that contentment is "satisfaction in God's sufficient provision." Now more than ever, I realize that God's provisions extend beyond just finances. He promises to provide everything that I need. That means comfort, assurance, people, discernment, relationships, guidance, healing... you name it. If I need it, God has promised to provide it through Jesus (Philippians 4:19). The promises stand. Yet, on a few occasions, I have felt the overwhelming feeling of despair creep up on me, especially when I begin to worry about the future. In the meantime, God is always extending the invitation to trust in Him to meet all of my needs.

This is very challenging to me when I think about life without my dad. How many times have I gone to him for much needed dad stuff: godly wisdom, where in the Bible is... [insert verse here], a comforting word or help with an automotive disaster- all things I thought I really needed. What it keeps coming down to for me is, "Will I consciously choose to believe the promises of God?" I want with everything in me to trust God. I'm waiting to see how healthy grief and faith in God's promises weave together. Faith doesn't nullify grief and grief doesn't nullify faith. I will choose to trust God as I let him heal what needs to be healed in me and my family.

In the meantime, our new "normal" has the same foundation. The new structure, whatever it is, will look different but whatever is it, it will still be built on the solid rock.

MORALES, JESSE (1947-2009) Obituary

2009-08-21T10:34:00.012-06:00

If you read the Calgary Herald Obituary, you were redirected here. Thanks for coming!

To read the detailed obituary which will be printed in the Cochrane Eagle and available on their website on Wedesday, August 26, 2009, please click here.

The Almost Headline

2009-08-19T23:39:00.005-06:00

One more story I just have to share that came up around the table the other night. It was one of those priceless "Hey, remember when?" moments. My dad was a very funny man. But, he sometimes he thought he was just a bit funnier than he actually was. One day he came home to my mom and told her this "funny" story: "Today I decided to play a practical joke on the teller at the bank. When it was my turn at the counter I slipped her a note that said, "Give me some money." I held in my laughter while she turned white in the face and looked so scared. Then I burst out laughing and said, A-ha! Just kidding! Then I did my banking and left."

My mom was furious and in disbelief: "You did what?! Jesse, you CANNOT pretend to ROB banks. They have those automatic buttons behind their tills that they ring in an emergency situation. She could have called the police! You could have been arrested!"He still thought he was hilarious and assured her that would never happen. When she relayed the story, we were trying to imagine how we were going to explain to people the almost headline...
"Southern Baptist Pastor Arrested for Attempted Bank Robbery..."

Oh, dad...

Treasures in Heaven

2009-08-19T22:26:00.006-06:00

We've had our share of lighthearted moments in the midst of the heaviness of the last few days. Praise God for the joy that He brings! If you read the post "More Precious Moments" you may have caught a glimpse of my dad's practical nature. And guess what one of his last instructions to my mom was regarding the funeral? "Don't spend a lot of money!"

We went to the McInnis & Holloway on Tuesday to explore different funeral packages. The coffin included in the memorial society package, was, in the words of the funeral director, "the one we use for clients on welfare or with social services." We all laughed and said, well, that's probably what he would have wanted. It also just by chance happened to look like a giant metal tool box- a simple wood box covered in gray fabric with metal handles. Christina commented that we could just slap a giant 'CRAFTSMAN' sticker on the side of it and it would look the part. We thought it would suit his mechanic, frugle self, but we decided to upgrade him a small step anyway!

Today we went to the cemetery to make burial arrangements. When we went to leave, Mom said, "Too bad Dad's not with us. He probably could have gotten us a better deal!" We all burst again because bargaining was TOTALLY his thing. You might be thinking, who on earth would bargain at a cemetery or any other retail establishment for that matter? Dad would. It must have started in his market days in the Philippines but he brought it with him when he immigrated. I've seen him bargain at garage sales and with sellers from the Bargain Finder but the most memorable moment was when I was 13 years old. I watched him haggle with the poor Canadian Tire sales boy over the price of my new mountain bike. I was dismayed when we walked out with a $30 discount. Who bargains at Canadian Tire? I just LOVE it!

Earlier today we were collecting some memorabilia to display at the funeral to make it a little more "dad." I commented to mom that though it was sentimental value to us, none of it would seem valuable by the world's standards. Then she said we should put a sign up at the front of the church that says, 'His treasures are in heaven!'

I was reminded of Matthew 6:19-21 which says, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven where moth and rust do not destroy and thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." If you think about it, he did have it right. You can dress up all you want, but you can't take anything with you. I hope and pray that I will learn how to live with that same heavenly focus!

We are so thankful for the baskets, flowers, meals and edible arrangments that have been coming our way!! People have been so caring and wanting to know how we're doing. Here's my attempt to answer that... We're sad. He's gone. We just flat out wish he was here often. We're thankful. His battle with ALS is over and he is healed in his new body with his Savior. We're busy. Funeral planning is consuming which distracts from the grief for now. We're happy. He continues to make us laugh with his stories and memories. We're also trusting. God has promised to supply our every need and be our source and comfort. I must choose to keep believing that for the tough road that is ahead!

In Lieu of Flowers...

2009-08-19T13:38:00.009-06:00

We love flowers! They give the house life. My mom was saying as they started arriving yesterday, "I wish I could stagger them all three days apart so I could just always have fresh flowers!" Though we love flowers, and we do LOVE them and are thankful for them, there are some more practical ways I know my dad would want to pour into. Here are a few options:

Outreach Canada Corporate Chaplaincy Minstry: I was so thrilled for my dad when he became a corporate chaplain. He had a renewed passion for reaching people and He was able to make a living doing what he loved to do anyways- connect with people and share the love of Christ. This corporate opportunity gave him a springboard to share his life and faith with many who may have never walked through the church doors. When he worked, he was responsible for raising his own support and I know he would delight in helping out the ministry that reflected his heart. If you share his heart for seeing lives changed through corporate chaplaincy, visit: http://en.outreach.ca/ContactUs/Donate/Finances/tabid/398/Default.aspx

The Jesse Morales Evangelism Award: My dad attended the Canadian Southern Baptist Seminary from 1989-1994 where he built upon his passion for evangelism with formal ministry training. A scholarship has been set up in his honor and will be given out annually at the CSBS Graduation. Cheques payable to the Canadian Southern Baptist Seminary; Re: Jesse Morales Evangelism Award; 200 Seminary View, Cochrane, AB, T4C 2G1 CANADA

The ALS Society of Alberta: This "ugly" disease, as he often referred to it, is what ultimately ended his life here. Donate to this fund to help support the society who was an incredible support to us, raise awareness about an unfamiliar disease, and funds for research to find a cure. To donate online, please visit http://www.als.ca/events/mysite.aspx?fid=3737 or a cheque can be mailed to the ALS Society of Alberta, Suite 400, 320 23rd Ave SWCalgary, AB, T2S 0J2, Re: In Memory of Jesse Morales

Funeral Details

2009-08-18T18:39:00.003-06:00

The funeral will be Monday, August 24 at 10:00 AM at Foothills Alliance Church. The address is 333 Edgepark Blvd. NW (next to the Superstore at Country Hills and Sarcee Trail NW). A standing lunch reception will immediately follow.

There will be a public viewing this Saturday afternoon from 3-5 PM at McInnis and Holloway, 82 Crowfoot Circle NW.

We have been so encouraged by all the words, prayers, memories and flowers! Thank you!

It Is Finished

2009-08-17T16:35:00.003-06:00

My dad passed away peacefully this afternoon at 1:20 PM. He gave my mom a big smile, then looked up into the corner of the family room, gave her one more big smile and he was gone. We think the second smile was from a glimpse into eternity. Funeral details to come. I can imagine the celebration going on in heaven right now. He has been healed and he is with his Saviour.

Sorry I'm late!

2009-08-16T18:00:00.007-06:00

My mom said she received a few calls saying, "The blog! It hasn't been updated!" That was my cue to update the blog. It's been quite a week!

Three weeks ago today is when my dad spelled out on the letter board, "I feel like I am in the last stage of this disease." He had sensed that something had changed in his body. We are so glad for the "couple of days" that has turned into a few weeks. Family and friends have had opportunities to visit and encourage him in the last days. We've just had so much of the gift of time.

His health and strength continue to decline. He drinks when his muscles will allow him to swallow. He spends most of the day resting though muscle loss has made being comfortable very difficult. The disease has attacked the muscles of his body in full force. (Muscle atrophy is caused by death of the motor neurons in ALS.) Unfortunately, the nausea has returned. No one is sure of the cause but it makes things very difficult. He continues to, "Wait on the Lord," with great patience and thankfulness. Continue to pray for physical, emotional and spiritual peace during a turbulent time.

We were all very encouraged by the Word shared at church this morning. Gerry talked about the hope that we have in the face of death based on a few promises found in Philippians. We were reminded that God is in the business of doing a complete kind of work in us and using whatever He can to conform us to the likeness of His Son. We were reminded that this life is just the warm up to the main event. It's a drop in the ocean compared to eternity. And lastly, we were reminded of where our home is. As believers, our citizenship is in heaven. I so look forward to a painless, tearless and fearless heaven!

Please continue to pray. For my dad, pray especially for physical ease. For our family, pray that we would be reminded of who God is at this time and that we would be guarded against discouragement. We are so thankful for the support we have received during this time. So many of you have been the hands and feet of Jesus to our family. Thank you!

Feeling Better?

2009-08-12T16:48:00.002-06:00

Dad ceased to be sick the other night and was able to sleep somewhat. Last night, he had a fresh raspberry milkshake (flavor courtesy of Connie and Gerry's garden) and slept straight through the night. Everyone keeps asking, "How's your dad doing?" Now I just say, "I'm not really sure." He still seems to get weaker every day, he just has a deeper well than we thought!

Today I had to pay a shop mechanic to fix my car. You know, one of those jobs that dad would've done for a small fraction of the actual invoice. I'm sure some of you have had a moment like that sometime in the last year and a half considering the number of vehicles that have come through his garage over the last decade! He was a master mechanic and can still diagnose faulty car noises from his kitchen chair.

His vehicle motto used to be, "Why buy a new car when you can fix an old one?" I'd always say, Because then you wouldn't have to fix it!" He would smile and say, "There's no such thing as a maintenance free vehicle." Sadly, true. But he did LOVE to work on cars. Last week I said to him, "Hey, do you think they'll be maintenance-free vehicles in heaven?" He cracked a smile for that one!

Sick Day

2009-08-10T19:11:00.003-06:00

Just a quick update... Dad has not looked good all day. He had a shower today which was good because he hasn't had energy for one in a while. It was all downhill from there. He's been throwing up even though he hasn't been eating anything or had any appetite. Throwing up is very distressing when you don't have any muscles! He asked everyone to pray that God would take him soon and that he'd be in healed body in heaven.

Busy Weekend!

2009-08-09T06:04:00.008-06:00

The weekend has been busy and full of adventure. On Friday, we had the privilege of recording the song for dad. I'm just listening to the final mix now and it's awesome! (I'm told it's waiting for its debut!)

We've been blessed with help with the kids so Angela can spend some time with dad! And... we have a new addition to the family- Mom and Dad have a new grand-puppy.... Iggy (yes, named after Mike's favorite hockey player, Jarome Iginla).

I saw the smile today that I haven't seen for a while. My Aunt Remy was talking to him and at the end said, "It's okay Jesse- you're still good-looking!" His eyes lit up and his smile spread from ear to ear. I said to him, there's that famous smile that's been missing for a while!

Dad is doing okay. He does seem to get a bit weaker everyday but we don't know where the bottom is so for now, he's still here and we are cherishing the moments! We are so grateful for all the prayer support. It really does work! Thanks again, and I'll continue to keep you posted!

Transformation

2009-08-07T02:03:00.002-06:00

I have so much enjoyed reading some of the comments from far and wide. I wanted to share this one with you from a friend all the way in BC. I just had to giggle at what he wrote because it is exactly my dad's instructions for his own funeral- "Make sure they talk about Christ, not me!" Enjoy...

"Transformation. Two Greek words combined to create this word - metamorphosis - and it describes the transformation process of a larva becoming a caterpillar and ending into a beautiful butterfly.

I knew Jesse before he surrendered his life to Christ in Richmond, BC in the mid-1980s. Kathy prayed consistently, expectantly, patiently for his conversion for four years before he finally did. And what a joy it was to see the transformation the Spirit of God brought to him. From one who ignored Jesus into a man who fell in love with Him. Jesse just could not stop talking about Jesus.

Before his conversion, he and Kathy once attended the Bible study I led in Richmond, and, he slept through it. After his conversion, he immediately shared his faith, getting to work early Friday morning for Bible study at Downtown Toyota with whoever wanted to come and listen.No, it was not merely that Christ was in his life; no, it was not that Christ was part of his life; but yes, Christ was his Life!

Knowing Jesse, he would now probably want us to talk more about his Christ than about him. The Christ that Jesse loved and served is One whose arms are open to embrace the repentant sinner, with the words, 'Welcome home, dear one. I've been waiting for you. What took you so long?' These same loving arms will welcome Jesse with the commendation: 'Well done, good and faithful servant.' Having experienced it firsthand, Jesse always sought to connect people with the transforming power of Jesus Christ. This is Jesse's challenge to me- what about you?"

I have to ask because I know my dad would... :) Have you experienced the transforming power of Jesus Christ in your life?

The Latest

2009-08-06T14:03:00.003-06:00

Yesterday, I decided to head home to collect a few things in preparation for a more extended stay in Calgary. I got a call this afternoon from my mom saying that the nurse noticed a big change in dad. Today she found that his pulse is slower, his breathing is more shallow and his color is different. She said that we are getting closer to the end. Please keep praying that he will experience peace during this time, both spiritually and physically and that he will have a peaceful transition to eternity. Thank you for all the encouraging comments. We have been passing them onto him!

Tomorrow morning, we are going to record the song that Christina and Angela wrote for my dad so that in the likely event that we cannot sing it live at the funeral, it can be played! It is such a special song. My sisters are very talented! It's called, "I Want To Be Just Like You." They've been singing it for him everyday with hope of encouraging him. Here's a little sneak preview at the chorus:

I want to be wise, but not too proud to show my weakness
I want to be strong, but not ashamed to ever cry
I want to have faith, that never wavers in the storm
I want to be light in this dark world
And love with all I am
Dad, I want to be just like you.

The Energizer Bunny

2009-08-05T13:14:00.003-06:00

He just keeps going and going and we are so thankful! He's still getting progressively weaker but we still have no idea how much time we have. He is on a new drug now that makes him a little sleepy and more relaxed. As breathing gets more difficult, the sensation that comes with it is more distressing. This drug is supposed to help that.

Ethan is enjoying communciating with Papa. He runs up to him and places either hand on his legs. (Raising his right leg means yes and raising his left leg means no.) He'll ask, "Papa, do you love me?" or "Papa, want me to sing again?" Dad raises his right leg and Ethan shrieks with excitement, "He said YES!" Maia still wanders up to Papa, softly rubs his hands and says, "Of-oo!" (which of courses means "Love you!" in toddler). She also wanders around the house saying, "Ssh. Papa." She's learned that he needs quiet in order to rest!

Last week they started a new game where she she would show Papa her tummy and he would touch it with his toes causing her to shriek with excitement. He usually became physically tired of the game before she lost interest! Last night he was sleeping on the lazyboy. She lifted up her shirt and said, "Papa?" She then wandered over to his sleeping body and pressed her tummy against his foot and still shrieked with excitement. I guess it's still a fun game if only one person is playing!

Thank you for your prayers! I will keep you posted.
Thanks for your prayers!

Still Waiting...

2009-08-03T12:11:00.003-06:00

Thanks for all of your comments. I've been reading some of them to my dad when he is awake enough. Surprisingly, everyone who stops by mentions the blog to my dad and the other day he finally asked (by spelling on the letter board), "What are you writing on this blog?" I smiled and told him, I'm just keeping people up to date about you, what God is doing and whatever else comes to mind at the time.

Last night he said he was feeling weaker than ever before and it is becoming more apparent. He can hardly hold up his head and cannot carry much of his own weight when transferring between chairs. He's still been sleeping most of the days but unfortunately has been restless during the nights. He's woken up with difficulty breathing. Last week, the nurse suggested sedation when he approaches the very end. It does not speed anything up but will make him more comfortable.

Yesterday the old movie, "Heaven Can Wait" was on TV in the afternoon. Ang said to dad, "Is that what you're thinking Dad? That heaven can still wait?" He shook his head no and then I said, "You're probably thinking, heaven can come anytime now." He nodded. Keep praying for that peaceful transition into eternal life and I bet if you asked my dad, he would say sooner rather than later.

Still Hanging In There

2009-08-01T17:33:00.003-06:00

My dad's brother, sister-in-law and sister drove up from Washington yesterday to see my dad. What a blessing they have been! We saw him get a bit of a second wind last night as he came to life in the presence of his family. My Uncle Lope today helped Mike and Frankie get their start on fufilling some of dad's final words in the garage (ie. tried to increase their mechanical inclination!) Auntie Bebot and Auntie Fely have been busy cooking. I asked dad if he was feeling the same as yesterday but he said no. He has noticed another change in overall weakness and breathing.

We've had the blessing of a long goodbye. We have all said what we think we need to say yet I cannot escape the feeling that there is always just one more thing to tell him. I had a moment of sadness wash over me last night as I sat beside him and he slept. I thought to myself, I'm really going to miss him! When he opened his eyes, I leaned in, tried to choke back the tears and told him, "Dad, I'm really going to miss you." I know that God is faithful. He has promised to provide for our every need. God has worked through dad to impact many lives, mine included and that legacy of faith will carry on through generations. I will be forever thanking God for what He did in and through my dad's life. There is nothing more I could have asked for in a father. And for that reason, I'm just really going to miss him.

Preach Always, and if Necessary Use Words

2009-07-31T14:09:00.004-06:00

Well... God just refuses to stop working. Amen. If you've been following the blog, you may remember the story about the cleaning lady accepting the Lord in May. This was right after she overheard my mom sharing the story of dad sharing the gospel and a tract with his palliative care nurse. Well... the nurse has been back, several times and just moments ago, prayed to receive Jesus Christ as her Saviour. She told my mom that, "Jesse is the talk of the healthcare circle. There is something so different and peaceful about him." He had the biggest smile that I have seen today. There is something about spreading the good news that gives life! Praise God that when we are weak he is still strong!

Health-wise, today his pulse is slightly weaker, breathing is shallower and he's a bit more sleepy yet he seems very full of life!

I wanted to share these inspired words that a close friend left on this blog back in May. I was so encouraged when I read it:

"I am continuously sharing with many people about a man who is finishing well. As his race may be coming to an end soon, he is choosing to finish strong, the way Paul did. Your dad has amazing things awaiting him in heaven. I have never known anyone like him and I am so blessed that he has been part of my life for 20 years. He is an encouragement to so many and will leave a legacy behind that will stay in people's minds forever; a man who fought to the very end, never gave up, and despite his circumstances, continued to take part in the great commission. Your dad is one of the greatest people I have ever known and I can already see him and Paul sitting together in the kingdom talking about all the things that they saw happen on this earth and about God's goodness and love!"

Praise God for all He has done, is doing and will continue to do!

A Tribute to My Dad

2009-07-30T21:26:00.003-06:00

Just when you think you are out of time, you are blessed with another day. We are still praying for that peaceful transition to eternal life as he has been having some pretty scary coughing and choking spells. He has spent the majority of the last few days sleeping and has still been regularly notifying us of noticeable changes in his breathing and overall feeling.

Tonight, I pulled out the Birthday Book and read a few entries. Many people contributed favorite memories or stories of how he has impacted their life and I compiled them for his birthday. As we have spent a fair bit of time reminiscing, I thought I'd share what I wrote with you... mostly because I don't have permission from anyone else to publicly share their words!

My Normal Dad

I guess you could say my dad is pretty normal. He did the “dad” stuff. He drove me to school and picked me up from practices. He cheered me on and offered advice about sports, some he knew nothing about and every once in a while, an actual word of wisdom.

He picked me up in his work truck from elementary school and took me for a “special time” at lunch. He wrestled with us and taught us to play basketball in our backyard. He fixed my car and snuck me gas money whenever he could. He made sacrifices to help me pay my way through school. He campaigned for me when I needed to raise money for basketball. He drank too much coffee and could still fall asleep anywhere! When we were younger, he used to recline his seat at a red light and say, “wake me up when it’s green.” He was a bottomless pit and consumed enough food for an army each day yet managed to gain less than 10lbs in almost 30 years. Not bad at all!

Every once in a while he would try to lose weight and the obvious move was to cut back on rice. As a true Filipino, this could only ever last a few days at most. He gave in anytime I needed $5. He taught me to drive standard. He was awkward talking about “girl” subjects but always attempted none-the-less. He tried to intimidate boys that liked me and would try to send Mike home at 9:00 on a Friday night because, didn’t I have to get up early for school tomorrow? He would always help me load my car in going to and from college. He never got sick, he rarely cried and getting stung by a bee or burned didn’t seem to bother him. He sometimes resembled a superhero.

My Different Dad

In other ways, my dad is pretty different. Some would even say the things he does are strange! Every dad is human and loses his patience every once in a while. But my dad, always prompted by the Holy Spirit, was and continues to be humble enough to confess to his daughters and ask for my forgiveness whenever necessary.

My dad wasn’t the kind of guy who was into having his own stuff. Instead, he was concerned with putting the needs of our family above his own and taking care of the needs of those around him. The only things I remember him buying himself that wasn’t purely out of necessity like Ivory Soap or Tim Horton’s was a frying pan right before last Christmas and the occasional new pair of khaki pants. Yet, I always had new basketball shoes, rent money and an vehicle to drive, often not the same one as the day before.

He wasn’t scary to my friends as some dads can be. But was very friendly, approachable and conversational, even if they couldn’t understand what he was saying or if he repeated the same questions each time he saw a particular friend! He always tried to take time to get to know them.

Every morning when I would come down for breakfast I would see my dad at the dining room table with his Bible open getting his bread for the day. And I do mean everyday. In the mix of conversation with me and normal questions like, what are you learning in school, he would ask probing questions like, “What is God doing in your life?” Once, I made the mistake of thoughtlessly replying with, "nothing." His response was a mini-lesson on how God is always at work around you, you just have to be aware of it!

My dad was obsessed with cleanliness. He did the dishes and bathed the kids- not traditional man jobs. He was also obsessed with hygiene. When I got to the age where I could shower myself, he would always ask me if I washed my body. If I said yes, he would smell my arms to make sure, and if they weren’t clean enough, back I had to go for round two. When we did the dishes he would inspect the clean ones to make sure they were clean enough.

He didn’t care for spoiling us with trivial things we wanted, though you could twist his arm occasionally! Instead he gave us everything we needed for life and godliness. As I look back on our relationship I can see the spiritual imprints that he has left along the way. Through the example of his life I have seen what the life of a righteous and godly man looks like and you truly cannot put a price tag on the privilege of being his daughter.

More Precious Moments

2009-07-29T13:39:00.003-06:00

When? It seems to be the million dollar question around here. Time is a mystery. We keep asking dad, each other, nurses and health care workers, how much time do we have? But only God knows when my dad will transition from this life to the next. He has continued to ask us to pray that it would be peaceful and without a struggle. In the meantime, Psalm 27:14 calms my anxious heart: "Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."

In the meantime we've been on a rollercoaster. Sometimes we weep, sometimes we laugh, sing and talk. And sometimes we just bawl. Dad keeps passing onto us his words of wisdom. One thing that I will surely remember always is, "Don't let this disease discourage your faith in Christ." What words from a man who has suffered so much. The majority of his words have focused on pointing us to God with only a few exceptions. He threw a few practical ones in the mix as well that we couldn't help but chuckle at. "Tell Mike and Frankie to learn how to fix cars," and "If I die in the lazyboy chair, please still use it." Such a godly, practical man. Didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Our family has been extremely blessed by dad's caregivers. Last night, he thanked Sonia for all her help with him. Through tears she said, "No, thank-you. Because of you I have this new life." You never know how God is going to work. In December, God prompted Dad to share the gospel with Sonia and she accepted Christ into her heart. In February, Sonia shared the gospel with the newest caregiver Nella and she accepted Christ on her second day. When visiting Portugal last month, Nella shared the gospel with her sister who accepted Christ who then shared the gospel with her brother who accepted Christ. There's been a whole lot of God-calling, gospel-sharing and Christ-accepting and I am blessed by seeing how he is at work through these circumstances!

Family Moments

2009-07-27T12:51:00.006-06:00

Last night we had a wonderful time as a family. Dad requested that all his girls spend some time with him as he was sensing a lot of change in his body. He said that he felt different and that he might be in the last stage of the disease. He asked us to pray for a peaceful transition from this life to the next. He also also said he wanted to pray a prayer of blessing over his girls. We silently placed our hands under his as he prayed in his heart for us. It was very special.

We shared stories, laughed, cried and prayed together. All of had been working on some Father's Day songs that had not been finished. Ang and Christina's is radio-worthy and mine and Emily's is at best, laugh-worthy. We are so thankful for time. It truly is a gift. My mom saved a copy of a poem I started to write last summer and forgot about. Last night, I was able to finish it.
It's called, "You're Still My Dad."

You're still my dad
Though your speech has gotten slow,
You still have so much wisdom
That I need to help me grow.

You're still my dad
Though your feet don't move as fast,
Your faithful steps have guided many
In the present and the past.

You're still my dad
Though you no longer talk a lot
I can guess what you are thinking
When the twinkle in your eye lights up.

You're still my dad
You are not the burden that you feel,
I have prayed that in your heart
You would truly know that's real.

You will always be my dad
Even when you are no longer here,
The impact you will have
Will forever be so near.

You will always be my dad
When many years have come to pass
I only hope to be the faithful servant
That you were until your last.

Changing Times

2009-07-26T19:07:00.002-06:00

I feel as though I've blinked and time has passed. I was saying to my mom yesterday that I cannot even remember when all of this happened. The last year and a half has passed in a blur and it's hard to remember when certain milestones occurred. It's hard to believe that this time last year we were enjoying the Philippines as a family. Dad was walking and talking and sharing many of his experiences from growing up. In March, the doctors estimated that he had 3-6 months left. We passed the 3 month mark on July 8th. Now we cherish the present and wait.

We've continued to see many changes even between days only. He has become extremely fatigued and weak making the little aspects of daily life even more difficult such as swallowing and interacting. He still uses the letter board very minimally and now relies heavily on leg motions to communicate needs.

Life is just hard sometimes. Thank you for your continued prayers and keep them up! They do make a difference and are being felt especially now. The storms continue to approach and threaten but we are so thankful for the firm foundation in Christ that we are standing on.

And the 2rd place fundraising award goes to...

2009-07-26T18:26:00.005-06:00

Jesse's Girls! We were extremely happy with the $18,700 we raised as of the morning of the race day. It was truly an amazing day. The worship team from The Pathway led a well-attended pre-race service. Cesar preached a message of hope for the race of life. Many were challenged and a few more accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour! LTNS Accounting and Entrix Sports sponsored 100 of our t-shirts from last year. Between the returnees from last year and the new ones, we still ran out!

Over 140 friends and family joined our team. Five of my dad's family members came out from the west coast to participate in the walk and run. Aunt Beth and Uncle Tony finished the walk first! His brother Lope finished the race in under an hour with no training! Emily's Outwest Basketball team came with their families and one of them even had a bake sale and raised $400 for the team. Many church members from the Bridge and the Pathway were there as well. In addition, there were a few friends of myself and Angela's that came from out of town to participate. Frankie's parents came up from Oregon... I could go on and on with the overwhelming amount of support that we had!

I prayed for a strong June for dad and we got it. It was an eventful month. On June 12th, Emily turned 14 and Christina graduated from the Education Faculty at the U of C. Dad made it out to the ceremony despite the extreme fatigue involved with travelling. The most memorable moment of the ceremony was right after the graduating class was being introduced. The master of ceremonies asked the friends and family to stand in honor of the graduates and all of their hard work. Upon hearing this request, Dad managed to squeeze out the word, "up" to mom. She helped him out of his wheelchair onto his feet. Christina's gaze made its way up to where they were sitting and of course, she melted into tears when she saw this extremely special gesture. We celebrated a wonderful Father's Day. Emily got her learners permit and has chauffered dad a few times! His difficulty communicating didn't stop him from giving his input on her driving. He said she failed "his" standard of driving, in love of course! He has enjoyed riding around the neighborhood with Ethan, the bike with training wheels alongside the wheelchair. Cherished moments!

The summer is flying by and it seems like time is an enemy. It occurred to me that we will never be ready for him to go. There is no opportune time. It is such a comfort to know that God has it all under control. My dad is ready to go home and be healed. His eternal place has been prepared for him by his Lord and Saviour. We continue to be thankful for the past, faithful in the present and hopeful for the future.

Yes.... one more.

2009-05-26T19:01:00.005-06:00

Count it! One more for Jesus. The cleaning lady accepted the Lord a few weeks ago. She overheard a story my mom telling to Bruce about the latest gospel share by dad to the palliative nurse. She said to my mom from across the room, "Great story!" Mom said to her, "Have you been listening?" She replied through misty eyes, "I've been listening since the first day I came."

God's faithfulness never ceases to amaze me. My dad can no longer speak but not even being mute can stop him from sharing the faith that has made such a profound difference in his life.

This last Sunday, Pastor Cesar was sharing about Action 52. It's a movement to encourage Christians to share the gospel once a week for a year (at least!). He mentioned that he had been training the staff at Outreach Canada recently, the chaplaincy company my dad used to work for. They asked, "Is Jesse participating in this? " Cesar replied, no. There was a split second of confusion in my brain until he continued.... "Jesse has his own plan. It's called Action 365!" Amen! Who says you need audible words to speak the truth?

There have been lots of physical changes. He has been experiencing a lot more fatigue and having increased difficulty eating and swallowing. His instability has also increased when walking with assistance. He tires very easily but every once in a while you can still catch the twinkle in his eye and that mischevious smile!

My heart is sad because we can no longer have the same conversations we used to. But, if there is one conversation he will refuse to give up, I am glad it's the one about the most important message ever.

Keep praying that God would give him strength, patience and hope as the disease continues to take over his body!

If you would like to join in...

2009-04-19T14:24:00.003-06:00

Jesse's Girls are participating in Betty's Run for ALS on June 14th. If you'd like to join the team, we'd love to have you!

If you would like to run the 5mile (8km), you must register with the Running Room: https://www.events.runningroom.com/applications/?raceId=4358&eventId=14976&vrindex=3

If you would like to walk the 5k, registration is not necessary, but if you'd like a Betty's Run t-shirt and race package, you must register also with the Running Room: https://www.events.runningroom.com/applications/?raceId=4358&eventId=14975&vrindex=3

If you are running or walking, you can join our team Jesse's Girls online: http://www.als.ca/events/mysite.aspx?fid=2588

Hope to see you there!

Jesse's Girl

Because He Lives

2009-04-17T11:02:00.008-06:00

When we got the news last Wednesday, I was thinking to myself, how in the world am I going to make it through tomorrow? I am currently nearing the end of a student teaching practicum which means I am overtired and stretched thin. Only by God's grace am I still functional! I was very weepy Wednesday night and was not prepared to teach on Thursday. I spent some time in prayer with a good friend that evening, and somehow woke up refreshed and ready to face Thurday. It is so true, He always gives you what you need for today. It's a one-day-at-a-time kind of thing.

We serve a God that is very much alive! I was reminded this Easter weekend of why we have hope. It's easy to be filled with doubt when you focus on all that this life can be consumed by- disease, injustice, suffering and the giant problem of evil. However, this is not our home. Em and I found a great song by Jeremy Camp that has been an encouragement to us, "There Will be a Day." I just love the lyrics:

But I hold onto this hope, and the promise that He brings

That there will be a day with no more suffering

There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, and no more fears

There will be a day when the burdens of this place, will be no more, we'll see Jesus face to face But until that day, we'll hold on to you always

There have been many sweet moments in the midst of this trying time. Angela and Jordan were visiting for a couple weeks with Ethan and Maia who bring so much joy! Ethan deemed dad's neck brace his "bandaid." He's aware that Papa has some pretty big owies. He continues to pray, "Papa stay strong!"

During their visit, if dad was very calling for mom, Ethan would race to find her and say, "Grandma, Papa needs help NOW!" He was so sweet- don't you dare leave Papa waiting! Maia would find the letterboard and move her little hands around it saying, "Pa-pa, Pa-pa, Pa-pa..." Since they have been home, Angela reported that she has located every picture of him in the house and points to it, saying his name over and over again.

Right now we are praying for a few strong months. Emily turns 14 on June 12th which means... driver's permit! Mom is so badly hoping that she'll be able to go out for a spin with dad in the passenger seat! We have the ALS run on June 14th and of course, Father's Day. We would just love if God would grant us a strong June!

Your prayers are upholding us during this time! Thank you!

L to R: Em's cheering section at her basketball playoffs, March/09, Mom and Dad at home in October/08, Papa, Papa's Bandaid and Ethan in December/08

Not So Good News

2009-04-08T23:22:00.005-06:00

We had been anticipating dad's appointment at the ALS Clinic today for the last few weeks. It has been evident that as time passes, the disease progresses at an even more alarming rate than before. Angela and her family were visiting for the last two weeks and she noticed just over the course of her visit, many rapid changes.

Today at the clinic, they assessed his breathing and it is at 51% (down from 59% in January) . Gravely, the average lifespan from this point on is 3-6 months. The doctor's say that sometime can outlive this timeline, but it's hard to say for sure. The disease can change very quickly as we've learned in the recent past.

There are hardly words right now. Though I had anticpated something like this, there is still no way to prepare yourself for the news. There are many things to lift up in prayer right now- end of life decisions, how to spend our time and our family. I have a special burden for Emily as she tries to make sense of this situation. Pray for her- that God would protect her during this time like He can and continue to draw her close to Himself. Pray for my mom, Kathy. She needs a supernatural strength right now. She's is tired and weary but I'm sure, still finding rest in the Lord.

We don't know... but He does.

We are looking forward to Betty's Run on June 14th. Please visit the website as we prepare to raise money and run our hearts out!

Jesse's Girls Run for ALS Website it up!

2009-02-22T13:40:00.002-07:00

Please visit our fundraising website for Betty's Run for ALS! We have a GOD-sized goal of $30,000! For more info, visit our website!

http://www.als.ca/events/mysite.aspx?fid=2588

Gearing up for Betty's Run 2009

2009-02-19T21:33:00.004-07:00

SAVE THE DATE: SUNDAY, JUNE 14, 2009.

Betty's Run for ALS was started in 1996 by Betty Norman, an ALS patient. It has grown tremendouly in participants and funds raised in the last 13 years. We had the privilege of participating last year. When dad was diagnosed, there was a little over a month until the race. A week into the diagnosis, I was beginning to feel helpless and like, "isn't there something we can do for now?" There was indeed.

Last year in only 1 month, more than 60 people banded together for our team, raised over $13,000 and participated in the walk or run. Just a friendly reminder, I do recall a few individuals planning on performing better than their 40 year old uncles, no names (Dan Cay) and some people vowing to actually finish the race this year (Uncle Greg...)

This year with more time and a greater sense of urgency, we are hoping to raise $20,000! All of the funds raised go to the ALS Society. I had no idea the capacity of assistance the society would be providing for my dad. Allow me to give you a little glimpse...

When fine motor skills became more difficult they provided large handled cutlery, foam covers for pens and a button hook gadget. As communication became increasingly difficult, they provided a letter-board, a speech language pathologist and high-tech computers that verbalize typed words. As mobility became a greater concern, the society provided an automatic stair-lift, walkers, wheelchairs, a wheelchair lift for the garage and rails in the bathrooms. I could go on and on, but the bottom line is, without the assistance provided by the society, this already devastating disease would create even more difficulty for everyday living. This assistance has helped him to maintain independence for as long as possible and in whatever form possible.

Despite many physical changes, he still has the same twinkle in his eye, sense of humour, mischievous smile and strong faith. Last year, our motto was, "...so he can win one more for Jesus." Anyone who knows my dad knows that he has a fireproof passion for the Lord. He recently said, "this disease cannot take away what is most important to me- my relationship with God and my family." Many people come to visit and encourage him and leave feeling encouraged. What I most look forward to now when I visit home is sitting with dad at the kitchen table and soaking up his wisdom like a sponge and sharing with him what God is doing in my life. It's a mutually joyful experience!

His two consistent weekly outings are Emily's basketball games and church Sunday mornings. In the last nine months, he has lead 4 more people into a relationship with our Saviour! His walk with God continues to grow and inspire me and many others!

We would appreciate any fellow walkers or runners to come alongside us and any donations to help get us to our very large goal! We want to have everyone back who participated last year and many many more!

Maybe this year we'll have a sea of blue?

Check out http://bettysrun.ca/ for more info.

Kicking off the New Year

2009-02-19T21:05:00.007-07:00

It's been far too long since my past post! If I do have any regular readers... (do I have any regular readers?) I do apologize!

We, the original Morales clan + Maia, kicked off the New Year by hopping on a plane to Orlando, Florida. God blessed us with ANOTHER family vacation. He is so good! Travelling was a bit more difficult than it was last July, but dad did great nonetheless!

The trip began with a surprise visit from dad's good friend Brian Harrell and his family from Tennessee. He made dad laugh a lot and was a great encouragement to us all! Our cousin Chinet also visited from Florida for an afternoon. We took in Disney's Hollywood Studios (and the amazing High School Musical 3 parade) and an Orlando Magic NBA game.

We waited in line for about an hour at Disney to go on the Toy Story ride. When we got to the front we watched in horror as the individual carts whipped around in circles into the docking station. (FYI- when your neck muscles- and all muscles for that matter- weaken, whipping motions are BAD!) Dad looked terrified and said, "I don't want to go on it!" But the ride attendant assured as that it didn't get worse than this. I was thinking to myself, "Well... if it's only this bad for this brief moment in time..." But no... It was like that... the WHOLE time!

The ride whips around every minute or so between 3-D screens where the riders have to try and shoot the Toy Story targets. It's like being sling-shotted around a movie theatre with a dozen different screens. It was a fun concept but the whiplash part was no cake walk!

Everytime the animated voice counted down, "3,2,1..." I pinned my hands against dad- one on his forehead and one on his chest to avoid any more severe chornic conditions from developping. It shouldn't be funny... it really wasn't.

Mom and Ang were laughing hysterically in the cart behind (I think mostly out of horror) and probably because it was a sight for sore eyes... A man in a neck brace with 3-D glasses being pinned to the seat by his daughter, also in 3-D glasses, both holding on for dear life. There may have even been screaming...

Dad was a GREAT sport and even tried the shooting game when the ride came to the very temporary moments of peace! Just another example of his bravery, positive attitude and faith in his daughter's upper body strength!

A couple of week's later, we all had the honour of celebrating our friends, Pat and Susan Duggan's 40th Wedding Anniversary. Susan asked Christina, Em and I to prepare a song that would be special to mom and dad. We performed, "Can't Help Falling in Love" by Elvis (their wedding song) with a slight Caribbean twist and Christina's debut on the yukelele. It was a memorable moment, but not as memorable as when dad got out of his wheelchair to dance with mom when the DJ played their song!

So Many Birthday Blessings

2008-12-29T18:27:00.004-07:00

My dad turned 61 on Christmas Day. I wanted this year to be a true celebration of his life so I enlisted the help of many people whose lives have been impacted by him. I asked people to write about him in one of three ways; a favorite memory, funny story or how God has impacted their life through him. The responses ranged from his influence as a basketball coach, a shepherd, a mechanic, a raft captain, an evangelist, a father figure, a pastor and a man with a great sense of humor.

He recently told me that Kingdom work is about quality not quantity. The 40-some letters were evidence that he has influenced a great number of people but have also fulfilled the great commission in “making disciples.” I know that the book represents only a fraction of the lives he has touched simply by living life to the full, life filled with the Spirit. I entitled the book, "A Celebration of a Faithful Servant."

I continued to be amazed as the letters poured in. I simply cannot get over how many lives he has impacted. He has influenced men and women alike, family and friends and young and old. Almost all the letters echoed the same few points; he took the time to care and invest in the lives of others. If you visit him, perhaps you will have the privilege of reading part of it, hopefully to him as well. We only got through a few on his actual birthday!

Yesterday (Sunday), his old church that he planted in 1994, the Bridge, hosted "A Tribute to Pastor Jesse" for his birthday. One by one, individual people stood up and testified to God's goodness in their lives through my dad as well as many fun memories that they have shared together. I'll just share a few highlights...

Auntie Eileen Castillo shared about the 6 or 7 friends and members of her family that my dad lead to the Lord and baptized. Her husbands brother-in-law passed away from ALS in 1997. He performed the funeral. She wrapped up by saying, "though you can no longer say the words from your mouth, we can still hear the words coming from your heart" and "though your feet are weak, your faith is still strong."

David and Dan Cay shared about the many Sunday afternoons the youth group spent at the Morales house doing everything together and how Pastor Jesse always took time to invest in young people. Another highlight, was remembering the moonwalk that he did at Family Camp a few years ago when they announced the winner of "Jesse's Posse." David pointed out how he was instrumental in building a church that had very authentic family and a true feeling of belonging and fellowship.

Many others shared about how he picked them up for Bible Study or was there to walk with them through life storms. We mostly laughed, but also cried a little. I closed the time of sharing with the two verses that ring so true to me in his life.

The first is Acts 20:24, "However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace."

The last is such an example of how the word of God is living and active, found in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18: "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

Though these are tough times, he is continuing to fix his eyes on what is unseen and eternal. Thank you for all your prayers and also to those who contributed to the book! You have been an encouragement!

Can't Stop Him

2008-12-29T17:58:00.003-07:00

His mercies are indeed new every morning! After his downer day not too long ago, dad had a much better week despite the progression of the disease. Dad was invited to a Christmas lunch at Trijay Flooring where he used to chaplain. At first he was hesitant to go, concerned that he would be a damper on the party, but mom played her "mom" card and off he went. Bruce picked him up at 11 and agreed to only stay an hour. Needless to say, the 1 hour stretched into 3 and they didn't return until after 4:30. Apparently, dad was busy chaplaining! He was laughing with people, praying and ministering despite his inability to walk or talk clearly.

A few days later, his caregiver that he had been sharing the gospel with accepted the Lord and since then hasn't been able to stop telling people about her newfound faith! After her 3-hour break that she caregiver provides on weekdays, Mom often comes home to find them doing a half hour Bible Study. She has been attending their church, The Pathway, faithfully for the last month. On her way out the other day, she said to me, "Your daddy's my hero. Because of him, now I know who Jesus is!"

My dad's heart continues to speak louder than his words.

Downer Day

2008-12-09T21:20:00.003-07:00

Last weekend we had the wonderful privilege of visiting home again. My dad has his first boys night out with Mike and watched the pride of the Philippines, Manny Pacquiao defeat Oscar Dela Hoya in boxing. He was having the time of his life!

Not two hours later, I was helping him get ready for bed when I saw a new side of him. His eyes watered as he started to softly weep. "I just feel like I'm a burden to everyone." I choked back tears. My dad- my hero, a man made of steel with the softest heart was feeling absolutely helpless. He has devoted his whole life to service, whether it be fixing cars, sharing the gospel, doing the dishes or fixing things around the house. The man never stood still and now, it's all he can do.

I assured him that is was an honor for us to finally be able to serve him. It dawned on me that without all the acts of service he is used to performing, he may be tempted to feel like he has very little to offer the world now. Little does he know that though someone else can fix my car, share the gospel and do the dishes, no one else in the world who can be my dad. That by itself it enough.

On a lighter note (and with all that said) he shared the love of Jesus to his new caregiver last week! I just shook my head, smiled and said, "nothing can stop you, huh?" She requested to care for him 5 days a week because she was "so blessed by caring for him." This was a huge blessing as they were having a tough time finding someone who was a good fit and it enabled my mom to take a break!

There have been a lot of physical changes in the last month. He needs assistance with every day tasks and moves around quite slowly. Though two weeks ago, he said to Mike, "I want to run!" and clumsily proceeded to attempt to sprint to the door with his assistance. We all had a good laugh. We are trying to plan an "original" Morales family vacation sometime in the next month with dad and all his girls. There is a lot of family is coming up for Christmas. It's going to a be a great busy time! Will keep you posted!

Lots of Changes!

2008-11-03T12:47:00.004-07:00

It's been almost a month since I last posted a blog and a lot has changed since then. Dad is still in good spirits and has had many uplifting out of town visitors including his brother from Seattle, in-laws from Richmond, daughter and family from Worsley and sister-in-law and family from Salmon Arm. It's been a wonderfully busy couple of weeks. He's also had many local visitors including our wonderful family from the Bridge International Church, new 'massage therapists' Bruce, Abe and Dan on a weekly basis and many other friends and family. Dad loves having company and on many occasions it is the highlight of his day. I will encourage people to continue visiting even as verbal communication becomes increasingly difficult.

If you know my dad, you know that vehicles in his garage used to come and go quite regularly. Let me share with you the latest additions to his repertoire of transportation:

He can still walk with assistance and usually relies on a friendly shoulder or hand to travel from one area of the house to the next. For longer outings such as Em's basketball games, the wheelchair can be found stored away in the back of the minivan just in case his legs aren't cooperating! There has been talk about 'pimping his ride' but mostly for the purpose of making him laugh.

He has an automatic reclining chair in the living room that moves with a remote in a fairly slow manner. We've discussed putting a turbo charger in it so he can 'spring' out when necessary. The latest and greatest however is for sure the stair lift that was installed on Saturday. This eliminates having to spend extra energy to get up and down the stairs. It's quite a nifty little contraption and goes probably about 0.2km/hr. I think Ethan will enjoy discovering it on his next visit!

His speech has unfortunately declined with the loss of muscle movement in his mouth. There are certain letters that offer more difficulty than others such as the letters 'l' and 'p'. You really don't realize how much muscle movement is involved with simple, everyday, automatic tasks! We have still been able to communicate with patients, repetition and laughing our way through miscommunication.

Eating has become increasingly fatiguing. He has an appointment in the near future to get a feeding tube installed. This will help ensure that he gets the adequate nutrition required without the fatigue of eating all day. Though he has lost 12lbs since the diagnosis, he has gained 1.2lbs in the last week!

It's easy to forget that in the midst of all the physical changes, he hasn't changed on the inside. He's still the same person. He's still my stubborn, helpful, wise, caring and coaching dad. He still has Biblical advice for any problem, opinions on every basketball game and encouragment for people visiting him. I just had to smile to myself the other day. In the midst of his difficulty speaking, he was caught sharing the simple message of the gospel to a very special visitor. After wards I laughed and said, nothing can stop you huh?!

Give Thanks for My God

2008-10-14T23:17:00.007-06:00

Over this past weekend, there were many opportunities to express things that we are thankful for. During a wonderful dinner with my family, we took part in our usual family tradition of going around the table, placing our fall-like object (pinecone or corn kernel) in the basket and saying what we thankful for. It's amazing that though we are on this hard road, not a single person struggled to think of something to be thankful for! Amen.

I got to thinking... what new thing am I especially thankful for this year? This last summer, I heard a missionary say that unlike the people he ministers to, there isn't too much he knows about God that he hasn't read in a book. Isn't that so true? We live in a very independent and self-sufficient place where we are quite comfortable with what the world can provide for us. We know about how awesome God is because we read about it in the Bible or in another book or hear about someone else's experience half way across the world.

This year I am especially thankful for the new ways I have been able to know and experience God. I have read in the Bible that He is the God of all comfort who comforts us in times of trouble... but now I know that He is because He has comforted me. Now I know that He is my refuge, strength and ever-present help in trouble because I'm in trouble and He is ever-present!

"Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed." Psalm 57:1

The Joy of the Grandkids

2008-09-25T15:09:00.009-06:00

I can't believe I forgot to let you in on one of the main highlights of the last few weeks! One of the hardest parts about the loss of strength in my dad's hands and arms caused by the disease is that he has been unable to hold his grandkids- Ethan (2) and Maia (8 months).

A couple of week ago, my dad went up to visit my sister Angela for a few days. I hadn't talked for him since he'd been back so I decided to call home and chat. To my surprise, he answered the phone sounding more chipper and in better spirits than I'd heard in a long time. A few minutes into the conversation I knew exactly why.

He was so ecstatic to tell me about his visit to Worsley. "Steph... I found a way to hold Maia!" His excitement had already spread to me. "Angela put her in the Jolly Jumper and I sat on the floor and played with her and was able to hold her!" Praise the Lord for whoever invented the Jolly Jumper! Genius.

One of the things we've routinely begun to do as muscle atrophy has taken place is massage my dad's hands and arms to try and stimulate blood flow. Angela was putting Ethan to bed on the last night of his last visit and said to her, "Mama, 'nuggle Papa?" Ang proceeded to find my dad and invite him into Ethan's cozy bed. On the way to lying down, he bumped his head on the headboard. Ethan looked at him with concern filled eyes and said, "Okay Papa?" then proceeded to kiss him on the forehead and say, "All better Papa." If that weren't cute and special enough, once he was laying down, Ethan proceeded to softly run his little hands up and down Papa's arms just as he'd seen his mom doing all week. My dad said, "It was funny... I felt like Ethan was taking care of me!"

What a joy children are!

Gotta Give Him Praise!

2008-09-24T23:06:00.005-06:00

Upon returning from the Philippines, my dad decided not to go back to work due to his decrease in functional ability. This was a pretty devastating step but at the same time, we were thankful that he was able to know when it was time to stop. We had a bad "breathing" scare not too long after. The doctor assessed his breathing ability (which is the biggest indicator of lifespan) and it looked grim at first. He saw a Repirologist today who confirmed that he is at 73% of normal capacity and has not declined since August. Each new day is a gift, and every day that the symptoms don't worsen, we celebrate!

Since then, 4 of his siblings have been up to visit. The golden girls, Cleo, Fely and Rose made the long drive up for only a 1 day turn around a couple of weeks ago. Among the many highlights was my Aunt Cleo stir-frying dad's healthy breakfast cereal (concauted by Aunt Remie) thinking it was brown rice. She added the usual onions, soy sauce, etc. to OATMEAL and the best part was... she ate it! Bless her heart for not wanting to waste food! You have to find joy in the little things, right?

Last week Uncle Lope and his family were up and thank you to Les especially who has the wonderful gift of humor. I know he made him laugh hysterically on more than one occasion. Uncontrollable laughter is a symptom of ALS but we've unanimously decided it's our favorite symptom! Praise God for laughter.

This is a hard road that we're on. But as I was told by a very godly woman, you have to revel in those little moments of happiness that God brings your way. Otherwise, we're doomed to being a victim of circumstances.

Back from the Philippines!

2008-08-18T12:11:00.002-06:00

Thanks for your prayers over the last few months. We've had some blessings in the midst of this struggle the past few months. One of my dad's bosses from Corporate Chaplaincy sent our whole family on a vacation to the Philippines. We also had a generous donation from our church family at the Bridge to help pay for it. We went from July 18 - August 10. It was a lifelong dream of my dad's to show us where he grew up and it finally came true. He was very excited during our time there and looked very alive showing us down memory lane! (This is in front of the house he grew up in!)

Unfortunately the disease is progressing and faster than the doctors had intially thought. He went for his third assessment last Wednesday at the ALS Clinic. They initially thought his breathing had gone from 100% (last June) to 54% but after a re-assessment they figured that it was at 70%. The doctor said that once breathing drops to 50%, no one has ever lived more than 9-12 months. A "normal" rate of progression should have left him at 85% by now so that it how we know it's progressing faster. He's also lost almost all the strength and mobility in his arms and hands. He struggled with walking and balance a couple of times on the trip but now stairs and longer journeys are tough.

When we returned from the Philippines, he decided that he would not be returning to work. He has been struggling a lot with walking and talking and he does not feel that he can serve the people effectively anymore. Please pray for him. My dad has always been very active physically and busy serving people. It will be extremely hard for him to be at home and lose mobility. His love language is acts of service so he is used to doing things for everyone else!

Please pray that God continues to provide for my parents at this time. He has been so faithful in the past. My mom is still completely trusting in him for the future. Please also pray for my mom (Kathy) and Emily. The two of them will be their primary caregivers. Pray that God would give them strength and daily renewal.

Please pray for the rest of the family. It's hard being away, especially for Ang as she lives 12 hours north. It's hard being here for us too. I start school in a couple of weeks and all I want to do is be at home!

Thanks for your continued prayers, encouragement and understanding during this time!

Jesse's Girls Run for ALS

2008-06-11T10:43:00.017-06:00

As many of you know, Christina, Emily and I started the team "Jesse's Girls" to participate in Betty's Run for ALS. As the word spread, we had many people sign up to walk/run with us and to contribute to our fundraising goal of $10,000.

We ended up with over 60 people participating with us and raising over $13,000 as a team! Special thanks to the Three Sisters and the Beaulieu Family for your added fundraising efforts!

My dad was one of several people with ALS who participated in the walk. He was so strong and I was so proud of him! There was quite a cheer and a few tears when he came across the finish line. Around 50 other friends and family participated in the walk with him. I along with 10 others braved the 8km run and were encouraged and cheered on by our fellow walkers.

Our team, the sea of lime green, was easy to spot thanks to Don Taniguchi. His firm LTNS Accounting, sponsored team t-shirts for the events. You could spot anyone from a mile away!

It was a great day! We look forward to raising more money next year and having more people come out and participate with us!

THANK YOU to everyone who was a part of it!

Walk With Us

2008-06-11T09:43:00.002-06:00

Since my dad's diagnosis on May 5, 2008, our phone has been ringing off the hook with supportive and loving people wanting to know how he is doing. I thought an online blog to keep people updated on his status would be more efficient and a bit easier on my mom, dad and Emily!

For those of you just tuning in, my dad, Jesse Morales, was diagnosed with ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease. He first started noticing a loss of strength in his hands last January. After several visits to the family doctor, a neurologist and an ALS Specialist, we found the reason for it. We were told that the average lifespan after diagnosis is 3-5 years. Naturally, we were shocked and saddened by this news, but in the midst of this tragedy, God has still shown himself faithful.

When my dad first shared the news with me, he said, "Steph, get into the Word!" He shared with me a passage out of Luke 18, the Parable of the Persistent Widow. Here is an excerpt from it:

"Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up . . . . . . . And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly."

I find that we seem to seek God more desperately immediately following a crisis. As time passes, we tend to adjust and accept the reality of situations. I pray that this is not my attitude and that I will continue to ask for healing until the day I see it.

I hope that you will join my family in lifting my dad up to the Lord in prayer every time you think of him!