Hello friends. This is the day that the lord has made. We used to sing that a lot in the church that I attended. I love that song. The weekend has ended, and Monday morning has arrived. I cannot believe that on April 28th, we are not going to make it out of the 40's for a high temperature. Winter is not going down without a fight! Personally, though, I am rooting for spring.

     So, how are you? Did you have a good weekend? I hope so. I wrote last week about how good I have been feeling. It was great to be out camping and enjoying the outdoors after a long and difficult winter. I should have kept my mouth shut. Friday afternoon, I got that old familiar feeling. The VTac had returned. We went to the ER here in Des Moines, and got some sleepy drugs, and a big shock. The good news is that the recurrent VTac has put me back onto the 1a transplant status. After the shock, I was awakened, and sent home. Kind of like a drive-up ATM at the bank. Come in, get what you need, and go on with life. I made the mistake of believing that Friday was a one shot deal, and life would go back to normal. Not gonna happen.

     Saturday, was uneventful health wise, but otherwise action packed. Mary, the girls, and I went to Adventureland (a local theme park)with some friends. We walked around and watched the girls go on the roller coasters. They are growing up so fast. I can remember carrying Caitlyn out of the O.R. over 12 years ago after she was delivered by C-section. We stopped for lunch around noon, and Jordan devoured a funnel cake. She is the skinny one on the family, although, I don't know why. She would live on sugar and chocolate if we would let her. I was not hungry, so I skipped lunch and had a drink of water instead. It was cold and windy, and everyone there was in Carhartt coats and gloves. It struck me as funny, that no one thought it was odd. Welcome to the midwest! Here we all are, at a theme park, freezing our booties off, simply because it was opening weekend. Sometime around 1300hrs, I had had enough. I was tired, so Mary took me back to the camper and put me on the couch. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! It's good to be the king. She may or may not have kissed me (I won't tell) and she returned to the park, to start enjoying her day. They had a blast, and that makes me happy. I enjoy seeing my girls, able to forget about things for awhile and let their hair down. They have been patient throughout all of the road trips to whatever hospital the old man is in. I rested up. Well enough, that I was able to head outside, and enjoy the campfire for a couple of hours. Before surrendering to the sleepiness that was pulling me toward the bed. The flannel sheets and the feather mattress pad just hug you and make you feel like a baby. All warm and cozy.

     Sunday started well...We woke up, made coffee, and eased into the day. We packed up the camper, and hooked it up to the truck. Away we went. I wasn't in a hurry because I had plenty of time before the "Aarons 499 at Talledega Super Speedway" was to start. Glad I got home for that one. NOT!!! Good news is that Tony Stewart crashed before Jeff Gordon did. Anyhow, back to the story. I watched the race, and watched the girls play their video game. Around dinner time, (as a matter of fact, Mary had dinner in the oven at the time.) I had gotten up and walked back to the bedroom to get one of my Syringes of Heparin, it was time for an injection. Oh boy, here it comes!

     Yep, you guessed it. Vtac AGAIN! I couldn't believe it. I was in VT again. Are you kidding me? I got Mary's attention, and told her "I'm in it again..."  She was less than pleased, to be sure, but she gathered my things for the anticipated overnight stay or even the possible road trip to Mayo. Some of you are saying to yourself "wait a second, this guy is supposedly in VT and they are taking time to pack?" Yes. My pump keeps me awake, alert, and mobile while in VT. You don't have time to finish the movie you just started, and it does NOT feel even remotely pleasant. But, there is time to gather the LVAD batteries, and a couple of personal items. We have learned that traveling light doesn't work for us. So shoot me. Or shock me...I made a funny. Regardless, off to the hospital we went. As we were pulling into the hospital's driveway, the VT stopped. I made a couple of calls and had some medications prescribed, and we went home. Here is sit, all broken hearted...

     I am currently weighing my options as to the next step for me. There is no "magic pill" that will make me all better. It has been suggested that maybe I should enter the hospital,and wait for a heart, but I have an entire family to consider. I also have to do what is needed to get "well". Please pray that God will show what his will is for me and which path he wants me to take.Please pray for Mary and the girls that God will continue to watch over them and protect them. As always, I love you all. Mark

      Hi all, how you is? I am finer than frog hairs. If you have ever seen frog hair, that is pretty fine. Then again, if you claim to have seen frog hairs, you are full of it!!! I am getting better at this. I just managed to offend half of you, and I am only on the second line!  This is your last chance to speak and tell me about your week, because I am gonna let it rippppppp. Ya snooze, ya lose!  I warned you. I am feeling generous, so I will pause for 5 minutes, so you can potty and get some coffee... I have a lot of thoughts in my head, but only a few voices, so raise your hand if you fall behind.

     I am WELL!  I am still feeling great and moving around very well. I am doing so well, that Tuesday, at Mayo, my doctors ignored me and examined Mary! The bad news is that she needs a transplant. The doctors put her on the waiting list for a new husband. HA! I just can't tell you how lucky she is to have me. (She is the one rolling her eyes right now) :). In all seriousness, all my tests showed that my LVAD is working well. My heart hasn't gotten worse. My INR has gotten dangerously low, so I have to give myself Heparin injections until the increased dose of Coumadin raises my INR levels. All of my nurse friends have moved on and left some of you behind, so I will get you up to speed.

     Coumadin is a medication that helps thin the blood and prevent it from clotting. If I were to develop a clot, it could lodge any number of places and if I survived, I wouldn't be doing very well. You all know about strokes, so I won't go there. That is what the INR test shows,  how much my blood is clotting or coagulating. The heparin injections, are fast acting anticoagulants that will keep my blood thinner, until the INR comes back to between 2 and 3. (I am currently at 1.1) I get tested tomorrow (Friday) and I will most likely go off of the injections at that time.

     That is my genius... the nurses and docs took the time to read that to see if I know my facts. Now, you all are at the same place. I am having a great time writing this. I am in a good mood, and we are having a nice, gentle rain. I mowed our grass yesterday (actually my trained monkeys Caitlyn and Jordan (It is okay, they don't read this) did most of the mowing, but I ran the weedeater.) I guess it is official. Spring is here! That reminds me... A friend of mine suggested I get nicknames for Mary and the girls. He calls his wife, who must be a saint, "My Lovely Wife Godzilla" and his 3 beautiful daughters "Sasquatch, Yeti, and Bigfoot." I am not sure I could get by with calling Mary anything like that. She sorts my pills, changes my dressing, and helps me shower. Get your mind out of the gutter! She makes sure my controller for the LVAD doesn't fall into the toilet as I am in the shower...ALONE! I think she might have peeked once though, I heard some uncontrollable laughter on the other side of the curtain.

     I am camping!!! I am sitting in my camper right now as I write this. The camping has gone so well for me that we decided to stay. We made some new friends out here. Mary even has a stalker. A 72 year old single man (been married and divorced 3 times) comes to visit every time she is outside. I had to finally threaten him. " If you don't quit coming over here, I am gonna make you take her with you!"  I haven't seen him since. He ran so fast he actually left his camper and two vehicles here. I think I had him on the hook until I told him that where she goes, those kids go. Guess I showed him! We have been having a blast. Campfires, roasting hot dogs, burning marshmallows, and volunteering with the rangers. I actually have a TAN! Seriously. I gotta tell you, with my tan and my new teeth, I am looking Gooooooooooddd! Yes I am a goober. Mary thinks I am hot, and that is all that matters. (She just rolled her eyes again)

     I want to wrap this up with a message of what faith means. My friend Fred lives in Erie, Pa. Last night, he called me from his car. He had gotten his call, and was on his way to the hospital in Pittsburgh, PA, for transplant. Praise God for that. This morning, I got a text from him. It was not a good heart, so, no transplant. Praise God for that too!  It is so easy to praise God when things are going well, but we need to remember to praise him when all is not the best. Fred will someday get his heart, as will I. What we do with our faith in the meantime is what is important. If I cursed God every time I faced disappointment, I would have been hit by lightening many times by now. (Please, no pacemaker/defibrillator jokes)  God is good, and his faithfulness to us is unwavering. Even when we disappoint him, he remains faithful.

     Don't stop praying for Fred, but please, remember the person who died and became a donor. He/she is still not coming back. EVER! There is a family out there who made an agonizing decision to donate their child, or husband/wife, dad, or mom's body to save others. That took seeing beyond their own loss trying to help others. He/she donated more than just the heart, most organs are taken when the decision to donate is made. Several people got new organs last night and a new chance on life. Again, praise God! Please remember, pray for the weak and weary. Pray harder for the rich and healthy... God bless, and as always, I love you all.

                                                   Mark

      Hi boys and girls, how are you today? I realize I haven't written much, and I am sorry for that. I am aware that you have nothing else to do and you are ravenously waiting my next nugget of life changing prose with bated breath. (yes I spelled that right!) You hang on my every word, and I love you all the more for your patience. NOT! I do appreciate you visiting the page, and reading what I write. I enjoy writing this, and communicating back and forth with you all. Yes I was joking about you waiting around for my next installment. We all have lives that take us away from relaxing and reading things on the internet.  Some more than others. My life has gotten busy.

      I have volunteered my labor and leisure to the USACE, (US Army Corps of Engineers) some of whom read this, so watch what you say about them. These are the people who care for and maintain our national parks and campgrounds all across America. They work hard year round, patrolling campgrounds, clearing and building bike trails and hiking trails, dealing with problem animals and guests, and countless other menial tasks that nobody sees or realizes they are even being done. They have much more work than they have hands, so they take volunteers like me or even healthy ones to help. I have helped put out high water buoys, sort flowers for a butterfly garden, brush hogged a prairie, mowed a beach, and many many other fun jobs.

     I can honestly say they gave me my life back after I volunteered for them back in the '06 season. I came to work weak, pale, and sick. By the time I returned to my real job, I was buff, tanned, and skinny. Ok Ok, I was tanned, the other two, not so much. Thanks for pointing that out. They gave me a greater appreciation for our environment, and our natural resources. The best part is that in exchange for your labor, they give you free camping. How cool is that? I have missed working for them. You may have heard, I've been a little under the weather. Now I am able to work some, thanks to God's grace and your prayers,  but not healthy enough to go to a full time job. What a perfect opportunity to volunteer. We will learn together what I will be able to accomplish.

     I also am looking into going back to college. I qualify for some "retraining" benefits from the Social Security administration. I think I will look into getting a better education and see where it takes me. I don't know that I would go into ministry, but it doesn't require a college education to pray does it?

     Praying is something I have done a lot of these last few days. I have had a 5 - year old friend in the hospital, very sick, and in pain. I have had a friend be hospitalized after having a stroke. The guy I used to share a truck with got ran over and killed by a dump truck. He was not a Christian, and I never took the opportunity to witness to him the last time I saw him. I have been talking about sharing the good news, and this one passed right by me! What I have been saying is more real to me than ever. I also have been praying for me. Satan has been trying to get into my head and convince me to live for the day. We know that is not what God wants for us. I have human feelings and weaknesses, and sometimes I lose control. Sadly, though, I have two little girls who are learning how to live by watching me. Ultimately that is what got me back on the narrow path. It usually works to think about how other people will see you and what your actions tell them about how people live as Christians. You have seen countless bracelets, and other items displaying the letters WWJD. What would he do? I have let him down, and repented of my sins and actions. That is the beauty of  Christianity, I am forgiven. That is why he hung on that tree that day nearly 2000 years ago. Not so I can be weak and sin, but so that I can be saved and witness to others.

     I am winding down here, so I am trying to think of anything else I wanted to say. I want to wish JPM's friend well. I ask that we all take a minute to pray for them both. Since I pretty much have a captive audience, I also would like to say... HI MOM! Keep prayers coming and I continue to pray for you. The nascar boys have no races this weekend, so try to fight the withdraw symptoms, and get ready for Talledaga's upcoming snooze party. That race is quite boring after the Joe Gibbs Racing guys wreck and blow up. Wake me up when they go to Pocono!

      As always, I love you all. Behave yourself and wish me luck. I am going camping this weekend for the first time with my new "accessories". I hope all goes well. God Bless you guys.

                                                                                          Mark

     Hey friends, welcome to Iowa. Mary and I are watching our local news, and here is the scenario: We are currently having a tornado warning. Just to the west of us they are under a blizzard warning. May I remind you that it is April? I am pretty sure that April showers bring May flowers, I learned that as a kid, but they didn't say a thing about snow. So what does that bring? We are supposed to have a high (yes I said high) temperature Friday and Saturday of 40 degrees. Please re-read that last sentence, I'll wait. My brother lives in Florida, and he might wake up to find our camper in his driveway, and my daughters in his pool. Have you ever seen National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation? Picture me as Randy Quaid dumping the gray water into the storm sewer. (for those of you not familiar with RV terminology, gray water is dishwater and shower water. The other tank is referred to as Black water.) That would be a one-way trip. I would have to take out a loan to buy gas to get there.

     I really want to switch gears here, and ask all of you a special favor. I have a little 5-year old friend who desperately needs our prayers. He is very sick, and in the Blank Children's Hospital here in Des Moines. His family are friends of my family, and we have camped together. When you are that age, everything hurts more, and makes less sense. He is a very special little guy and I am proud to say I helped teach him the fine art of breaking wind. His dad is like my brother, and I call his grandmother "Ma". Please pray for him. I wont give out his name, because I didn't check to see if I could. The important thing here is that God knows who he is, and is his friend. He will most likely recover and be just fine, but he is scared and hurting right now, and we have all been there.

     I am still at home, and doing well. No indication of how long it will be for transplant, best guess is between summer and winter. Which year I'm not sure. I am still feeling well, although it is too cold, rainy, and windy to be outside walking. I went to the mall today, and did some walking indoors, but it gets to the point where I get tired of all the sympathetic looks. I know people mean well, but I came home to be normal. I realize having a power cord hanging out from under your shirt is not normal, but it is not the worst thing either. I am living a good life lately, and most people who know me say it shows. I have good color in my cheeks, and I walk upright at a brisk pace. I cannot thank God enough for the blessings he has bestowed upon me. I have a family I love. I have awakened every morning so far for the last 37 plus years. I have awesome friends. (that would be you guys.) Most importantly I love God and he loves me. I have said often, that I don't know that I could have gotten this far without God. I don't intend to find out.

     One other piece of news to pass on to you. I wrote a thank you letter to Tom Glavine (pitcher for the Atlanta Braves) for getting all those people to sign my picture at the Tom Glavine's Spring Training event. The event is a fundraiser benefit for the Georgia Transplant Foundation which provides assistance and resources to people needing transplants. They also mentor people like me who have not gotten transplants, but have many questions about the future. I would like to help get something like that started out here in this area. I want to ask you to sign yourself up to be organ and/or tissue donors. You can go online and register, or discuss your wishes with a loved one who would be making the decisions regarding your body. Putting that on your drivers license is not enough, because it is not legally binding. A family member, or spouse still gets the final decision. I still have a couple of good organs, so I am a registered donor. Besides, I will get a brand new body in heaven, the one I leave behind will be an empty shell. I won't be there. Donating organs is donating life.

     I will let you go for now, and will visit again soon. God bless you all, and I love you.

                                                                                           Mark

     Hello friends and family, how are you? I am well, thanks for asking. It is Monday morning and I have survived yet another weekend... barely.

     Friday night, we joined our friends and attended an Iowa Stars hockey game. We had a blast, and the home team won 5 - 2. They have a deal where if the Stars get 5 goals, everyone there gets a free medium fries at McDonald's.  Woo Hoo! We headed straight from Wells Fargo Arena to McDonald's and got some salt with fries under it. If my docs and/or nurses are reading this,  I specifically asked for Un-salted fries and was told that they were indeed salt free. My Foot! They seem to think that salt is one of the food groups. Seriously, when the salt is so overwhelming as to ruin the flavor, it is too much But I am getting off - track. We will go there in a minute... We returned home wide awake and feeling pretty good, so we decided to watch a movie. The weekend was off to a good start.

     Saturday dawned with the anticipation of beautiful weather, and a "picnic" at the lake with the same friends we attended the hockey game with. I used the word picnic with caution, because instead of whiney kids, sticky drinks, and ants, we chose to circumvent all that. Instead, we had whiney kids and Casey's pizza. I managed to walk a mile at a pretty vigorous pace, and continued to feel well. We invited Mary's mother over Saturday evening for lasagna and a movie. Are you starting to see a trend here? FOOD FOOD FOOD! We all have those moments, when we realize that we are going to pay a heavy toll for our food choices. I pretty much blew the weekend Friday night, so by this time, I was living in the moment. As I went to bed Saturday night, I was dreaming of the cinnamon rolls Mary was making for breakfast before church Sunday morning.

     I woke up Sunday morning bright and early and patiently watched fishing shows  until the cinnamon smells filled our house and I began salivating like one of Pavlov's dogs when they heard a ringing bell. (if you did not get the previous reference, go back to school. You learned this in 5th grade science.)  I enjoyed the taste of heaven and we headed off to church to see if we could work on getting the rest of me to catch up with my taste buds. I thouroughly enjoyed the morning with Mary and the girls. Actually it was an awesome weekend. I have been blessed with excellent health since leaving the hospital. It is hard to believe that it was only a week ago Monday, that I left the hospital. I feel God with me each and every step of my walk.

     My new friend Moh called me yesterday and just made my day. We shared some of our testimony and marveled at the ways God finds his way into our lives. When we share with one another, it gives us strength. When we share with unsaved people, It gives God's word strength. I can't describe what comes over me when I witness of God's miracles with others. It is intense peace, comfort, strength, love, sadness, jubilation, power, gratitude, and a feeling of bursting at the seams wanting to share more. The awesome part is those are only the most basic of feelings. Could you imagine the 120 in the upper room on the day of pentecost when the spirit of God descended upon them? Wow! I sit and think about things like that often. If you want something to occupy your mind, sit down and try to think what heaven will be like. Then tell yourself that you have not even scratched the surface of what it will be like. You want some motivation? Try imagining Hell, only to come to the same realization. The average human lifespan is around 75 years. Eternity is FOREVER!

     I can only imagine the look on your faces right now. It is very sobering. Have you shared God with someone today? I just did, but most of you are saved Christians. It is so easy to convince someone who believes the same way we do, that God is the answer. I compare that to riding a bicycle downhill. You don't have to pedal. Just sit back and coast for awhile and enjoy the ride. This is the time to think and plan how you are going to get up the hill ahead. We all know that gravity is not going to let us coast up the hill.

     If you are reading this blog, it is because I love you and care about you. The fact is, we form a small community. The more you share, the more our community grows. I am not writing this to become famous. I have a little talent and a lot of free time. I am not putting myself down. That is a simple fact. I also have a second chance. We don't all get that. So while I have found what I love to do, and my way of sharing my life, I urge you to do the same. Call or Email somebody and just say "hey, I was thinking of you and thought I would say hi." It is that easy, and so simple, but it could change someone's day for the better. Maybe they are feeling alone. Maybe they are saddened by a specific event, or life in general. This electronic age is great, we have communication avenues our parents never even dreamt of. All too often, though, we sit behind this keyboard and avoid contact. I got a hug yesterday, and realized something. Without touch, we cant properly feel. An E-hug can never replace a warm embrace. It is not even an exclusive Christian thing folks. It is a human thing. If you have "issues", start with a simple handshake. Let your nervous system bring you the blessings your body needs and wants.

     May God hold you and keep you until next time we meet. As always, I love you all, and thanks for reading this. I sincerely hope you were blessed by what you read.

      On a lighter note, Please pray for Jeff Gordon. He finished 43rd Sunday for only the second time in his career. As for those of you who root for Tony Stewart, I will say a special prayer for you. We can't all make great choices all the time. You Home Depot fans missed the bus...God still loves you however disappointed he may be. Just kidding. God Bless

                                               Mark