I'm sorry for the late notice, but each of you who has been praying for Amy and Dea during this transplant time is invited to gather tonight (Thursday, Jan 19) in the Christ Community Church in Sioux Center for prayer and praise. We'll meet at 7:00 there.

Hope you can join us!

It is really easy to relax praying after things really go well, isn't it? We need to keep training ourselves in prayer and thanksgiving.

Last night a few of our families gathered to welcome Dea and Marty back home. We enjoyed a short time in a restaurant, and we prayed thanks for all that's been happening in our lives.

Dea and Amy are both fine! The hiccups have even subsided. The last night of Dea's hospital stay and the night in the motel on the way home both were restful for him. He'd been wakeful at nights for a long while, and we're hoping that ends now. (God gives his beloved sleep)

We are planning a praise time of prayer next Thursday night the 19th. Watch for details, and if you're local, please come and encourage Dea and Amy. Bring your questions too. We'll announce details in churches this weekend and post them on the First CRC website and on this site.

May our lives NEVER return to "normal". May what happens in each of our lives by God's grace continue to impress us and encourage us and grow our faith. May we continually be thankful and watchful for ways to pray and build up the body of our Risen Lord.

Milestones. Sometimes "success" is measured in curious ways. Today we visited Dea in Iowa City, and while we were there he excused himself to the bathroom. Now anyone who's ever been in an American hospital knows you never are dismissed unless all the plumbing works. And so we rejoice that this little milestone was reached too, and Dea's surely on the road to recovery.

Things are looking good for a Tue dismissal, and if it's early enough in the day, they'll make it home by dark--otherwise they'll find a motel and finish the trip on Wed. We were glad we could not visit Amy, sionce she and Dale were on their way home by the time we got to the hospital. Marty was ecstatic that Dea's creatinine level was down to 1.2! (For those of you unfamiliar with that measurement--when the levels rise, you are sick. Dea's levels were at 2 when he left in 2007; they were at 6 and rising a year ago when he went on dialysis. He's now in "normal" range) Dea shows an interest in learning a couple Dutch words, now that he's partly Dutch. He's working on "tot ziens", meaning "until we see you". That's how we bade him farewell today.

He reflected in the hospital with me today how thankful he is for all the visitors and friends who visited him, not only, but also the severe sacrifice that Amy made, with her family's blessing, to donate life to Dea. Though he is still irritated by hiccups that just won't subside totally, he is deeply aware of just how blessed he is, how the Lord has touched him with healing, and how desperate his situation was. He knows that if he'd have left us last year on the plane, there'd now be a grave to remember him by in his homeland. And so we all rejoice together. Marty stays, faithfully helping and waiting. His needs are met by the Addinks there in Ia City. What an ever-increasing circle of God's people surrounds this whole venture!

Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise him all creatures here below; Praise him above, ye heavenly hosts; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; AMEN!!!