Hola` hermanos y hermanas. How you doing? You know the title, really, says it all. I am in a super mood, but, I feel like UHHHHHHHHHHHHHH, not the best. I am much like my "mistress" (Saylorville lake, for those of you who are unable to visit regularly) am full to overflowing with water. My lungs, and chest are full to capacity, and I am hoping and praying the dam will break soon. Needless to say, the heavy breathing, is from me.

     It is residual symptoms from the VT incident, Tuesday. Since you are reading this on your computer, I will explain the process in "computerese" My system crashed, and had to be completely recovered. Just like Windows Vista, I don't have much to say in the matter. (do not get me started on Vista! It Stinks!!!) You start with the accelerated heart rate. Then your heart has, literally, to be stopped, then re-started,  either by natural processes, Chemicals, or Cardioversion (shock). At this time, the system "re-boots" and you lose all your work! D'OH! I think swear words were created in preparation for computers. I have heard several Christians turned into raving lunatics with a single keystroke. This leaves me feeling empty and rejected, sucking my thumb and singing show tunes from Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music! Okay! you got me, I sang those before my heart went to junk. Don't tell my wife, I just got her convinced I am straight! That is a wasted 14 years.  

     Come on, admit it, you are smiling right now. As previously stated, despite all of the physical stuff, I am in a good mood. Maybe because my mother-in-law cooked me some soup beans and a ham bone. That would explain the noises, and my family's bad mood. It is actually a relief, because I thought a duck with halitosis had been following me around. That would also explain why the rangers make me work outside! So if you have been paying attention, this is all my mother-in-law's fault. No, that can't be right, I just used female logic! (No wonder it  makes no sense!) Sorry ladies, I love you all, but, I can't understand a single one of you. If I still have any friends, let's move on.

     Hey! This Facebook thing is really cool. I have met and re-connected with several people I went to school with. I was a total spazz in school, so most were reluctant to talk to me, but I won 'em over with my winning smile, and my irresistible wit. Wow! I just lost several of you kids with that whole "Spazz" reference, didn't I? Don't ask. If you remember who Spazz is, you are OLD! It is okay, I am in that group also. Come on in, the water is fine.

     Hey, I have a serious question for you.

     Saturday, I took Jordan fishing. The little stink-pot out fished me, but that is not where I am going. My question is this. Are you able to draw strength from other Christians? Can I tell you about my experience?

     We were fishing at Big Creek State Park, Saturday, and it was hot. We were getting ready to leave, when we saw an elderly couple coming in on their pontoon boat. I don't know why, but I waited there until they got to the boat dock. The wife was first off the boat, and her job was to hold the boat in place, while he went up the hill to get the trailer. I happened to notice her wearing a small cross on a necklace, and thought, maybe I should witness to her. She had noticed my LVAD controller, (It's not like you can miss it.) and was trying to politely not stare. I began telling her about it, and what it does, and about the fact that I am waiting for a transplant.  Then it occurred to me, that this was an opportunity to witness. Would I have done so if I hadn't noticed that cross? Many people wear crosses. Earrings, necklaces, even tattoos. That doesn't necessarily mean that they are Christian, or even believe in God, for that matter. But when I began to witness all of God's miracles in my life, her eyes began to radiate a warmth, and tenderness, of a mother, grandmother, and wife. She is a Christian, and probably has been her whole life, I don't know. But the surge of power was amazing. Her eagerness to hear what I had to say, and say what I had to hear, fueled my desire to share all the more. She was a Christian! Awesome.

     I felt a strength, and encouragement to continue. She wasn't being polite. She was drawing strength from ME! What an awesome God we have. She and her husband had been taking their boat for a test run, in preparation for a visit from their son, and grandchildren. When our conversation turned to children, I was looking at my daughter, and beaming with pride. She has a moral compass, that sees no gray areas. There is right, and there is wrong, with her, and you are either one or the other. She doesn't judge, she just seems to know. Her drawback, if you want to call it that, is that she is very shy. I thought this a perfect opportunity, to teach her how to witness, with the boldness that God gives us when speaking of him, to him, or with him. With a quick glance to ensure that she was paying attention, I dropped a "G-bomb". That is right, I stood there in public talking about GOD! That little girl, and that complete stranger, gave my sick heart, and damaged sprit a boost. God did the rest, and I left the conversation feeling like I had been witnessed to. In fact I had. Those two females used their gifts of silence, and strength to lift me up to The Lord. My heart is still junk, but my soul is restored. Please, use your gifts. You have been given them for a reason. I am ready and willing to be called home. I want to stay here, and tell my story to people all over, but only if that is what God wants. I will fight for every breath, that is meant to be mine, but my last breath, will be God's. I know that not all of you understand that, but hang around me long enough, and you will. I don't want to be me, without him.

     God bless you all, and, I have a request. Tell me your story. Take the time, and tell me. I will not share it. I will not judge you. I just want to know you a little better. Any story of a person's life is a good story. You know I love you all, and always will. Please keep Mary and the girls in your prayers. Being sick is easy, theirs is the hardest road to travel.

                                                                                                                     Mark

     Hey friends, how are ya? I am still holding my head above water. (and my LVAD too for that matter) I haven't posted for awhile, because, I have been living in my camper. Yes, by choice. For those of you who have been absent for a couple of posts, we have some intense flooding out here in Iowa. Our water levels reached almost record levels here in Des Moines, and exceeded previous levels in Iowa City. (Home of the University of Iowa, the Hawkeyes)  Did I mention that I am a West Virginia Mountaineers fan???

     Well, I am sure the title has you scratching your heads saying "Mark has friends??? So, here it is. After a month and a half of relative healthiness, I went into VTach again. I had been doing well, and feeling pretty decent. Then out of the blue, BAM! So we all know the routine by now... Call Mayo, head to the ER, call Iowa Heart, and let the cardiologist know, that I am coming in with VT, and I will probably have to be cardioverted. It is so surreal, because normal people (I assume by now, you all have figured out that I am NOT normal. Not inferior, just not normal.) would be in full panic mode, and calling 911. We gather up my stuff, pack the batteries, pack a "go" bag with clothes and basic necessities and head to Methodist Hospital, here in Des Moines. They look at me as if I am nuts when I walk in and tell them "I am in Vtach". They try to take my pulse, no pulse, puzzled look, try to get a blood pressure, some goofy number that is completely irrelevant, scratch their heads, and last but not least, after all avenues of modern medicine have been exhausted, and still my heart rate is around 160, they ask Mary and me, "what do we do?" "Well doc, first things first, lets start with 150 of lidocaine, then we wait for a little bit, and see if the vt "converts". If it doesn't, we next call Mayo and let the docs speak with the world's greatest PA and find out just where to put the paddles to shock me. It is at this point that they give me a generous dose of "sleepy medicine" and I dance in the flowers with the wood fairies....I mean, I go fishing with Bill Dance, and Kevin Van Dam while Roland Martin, and Jimmy Houston, wait patiently for me to finish schooling the "rookies" so we can load up our gear, and terrorize the largemouth bass. Where were we?

     ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP!!! Again, I am sleeping like a baby for all of this part, but I was awake for the first one, and I do NOT want a repeat performance.  Here is where the good news kicks in. My chubby heart decided it was time to quit playing games, and give the old man a break. Vtach is over. Huh? It couldn't happen BEFORE we traveled 10 miles out of our way to avoid the flooding? I mean, praise God, he answered my prayer, and made the arrhythmia stop, don't get me wrong, I prayed my gratitude immediately, but have you seen the gas prices??? We were about 3-5 minutes from the ER when it simply stopped. Okay, while I am complaining, let me interject, into my own whining, to say this... I had to call Minnesota twice, and Iowa Heart twice, as well. On my cellie! during peak hours! while in VT! I can't catch a break. Long story short, I am okay. I am back in my camper,  writing this little ditty,  for my favorite people in the whole wide world. I am incredibly tired. VT wears you out! But again, I praise God during the good times, and the bad. He has healed me once again.

     Many of you, have been praying for a new heart for me. I have too, for that matter, but a new heart might not mean that I get a new pump to move blood. My body really needs a new pump, but it is well with my soul. I trust God. His wisdom is infinite. He loves us all, and will never let us down. For every day I wait, my donor gets one more chance to come to God. One more chance to say "mom, dad, I love you" If I have to wait a year, for my donor to come to Jesus, isn't that worth it? If I am supposed to receive a transplant, and return to health, it will happen. In the meantime, keep talking to God, I imagine he loves hearing from you.

     Now I lay me down to sleep. I pray the lord, my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray the lord, my soul to take.

     God bless each and every one of you. I love you all.

                                                                               Mark

     Hey kiddo's how are you? I have not been ignoring my writing, I have been quite busy. The rain last night (Wednesday) has slowed things down, a bit. So, I said to myself... "self, what should we do today?" I didn't like the answers I was getting, so I decided to write instead. Most people, when they run out of things to say, talk about the weather. When can any of you remember me not having something to say??? The weather out here is pretty bad. To date, 12 lives have been lost to tornadoes. 8 people in the Parkersburg, Iowa tragedy. Last evening, 4 brave young lives were lost in a tornado in western Iowa. The heroism displayed by all of these young people in the face of this terrifying weather phenomenon, is simply amazing. Some of the older, of these boys used their own bodies to protect the younger.

     Meanwhile, back in central Iowa...We are having floods. (hence, the clever title for this posting)  Some of the flooding has been said to be a once in 500 years event.  Lets stop and think about that. The last time it flooded like this, our ancestors were (unless they are native American) still in Europe, talking funny, and complaining about the king... People walked every where with their heads down. (you had to have your eyes on the ground to avoid stepping on "horse exhaust") I can see it now, some fat guy with a bad heart sitting on his wooden couch, with his quill pen, writing his latest blog. When he finally got around to posting the blog, the floods were gone, and it would be another season or two before his friends got their copy. It would take another couple of seasons before someone could respond and suggest that he take it down to the local school teacher and have him run it through a spell checker for proofreading. AHHHHHHHH! the good ole' days. The rest of our ancestors were laying on the savannah in Africa with a lion munching contentedly on one of his thighs, and thinking, "wow, I sure hope Mark writes something soon," and "wow, having a lion munching on one of my legs kind of stings a little." The lion was probably thinking, " my wife took all the salt out of my diet, but she doesn't know about the salt shaker I keep hidden in my mane."   

      My volunteering is going well. I am quite limited in what I can do, but praise God, I can do something! I am sure Mary appreciates me not being here all day, as much as I appreciate not being here. You might tell yourself that retirement would be great, or taking a year off would be cool, but, trust me, when your day is spent without something to do, getting into trouble is inevitable.  Mary got us a Wii to burn off some of the energy, this summer, but there is not, nor will there ever be, a substitute for getting off your behind, and going out into the sun. (unless there are lions around)

     I want to mention a special lady in my life. Jordan, the youngest, turned 10 yesterday. She was given the choice of what she wanted to do for her birthday, and her answers amazed, and touched my heart. She wanted to go fishing. She wanted to go bowling. She wanted to go to HuHot for dinner. and She wanted to go to church. Other than that, she didn't want much. She has a set of morals that make Mary and me very proud. She is by the book (the bible) with her choices and every day life. She won't even say words as filthy as "crap" or "sex".  She makes me proud and honored to not only know her, but to be her daddy, as well.

     Spiritually, I am doing well. I was able to share my testimony with a group of men last night. One of the things I shared, was the comfort and beauty of "dying" during my heart attack. It all came flooding back to me, and it was beautiful. When things seem dark, God always gives me an opportunity like this, to remind me how much he loves me, and, how much I need him. When I think, speak, or pray about, or to, God, I feel such a power and peace of God flowing through me. Do you suppose this is what the disciples felt like? Many of the 12 died horrible deaths because they were associated with Jesus, and his ministry. They knew (because he told them) that they would suffer greatly for their association with him, and yet they continued to spread the good news. John is the only one believed to have died of "natural causes" as a old man. That is the God I work for. He inspires men (and women) to stare death in the eye, and proclaim his greatness. I am prepared to lay my life down for him, because I have had a glimpse of what lays beyond my life. That is why I am a believer. Fear of death, is a human emotion. People say "life is precious", but that is because we are made to think that life here on earth is all there is. I don't want to die, but I know that death is only a beginning. If you don't believe like I do, or consider me pathetic, that is fine. Write your own blog. I won't love you any less. I won't look down on you. I won't say "I'll pray for you," and use it as a judgement on how you are living. I will simply pray that God will show you what he has shown me. If seeing is believing, I believe!

   I want to leave you with that final thought. As always, I love you guys. Thank you for the prayers and well wishes. My prayers will be with you.

                                                             Mark  

          Hello young-uns. (and not so young-uns, you know who you are...) How are things? How have you folks been? What is shaking? (don't answer that last one) I am in an ornery mood, so look out.

      The first business I want to cover, is a pot-shot at a friend in Georgia. He once told me that they measure fish between the eyes down there because they are so big. I mistakenly assumed that he was referring to the fish, not his head... The fact is, they are so small down there that they have to hold them up between their eyes so they look bigger! I heard that North Georgia is the only fishery in the United States where the bait actually has a fighting chance. Sadly enough, ya'all fillet and cook what we of the "barren northwest" (his words, not mine) fondly refer to as "bait"

     I am writing this today, because I have to travel to Mayo tomorrow. I am going to ask them, if next time I can just mail them a half-gallon of blood, a picture of me without a shirt, and Save the Psychologist the time by declaring myself "NUTS!" I could even get letters of reference from most, if not all, of you! (It is at this point where you all should be disagreeing with me.)

     I make no bones about shamelessly plugging my employer, Old Dominion Freight Line. I just want to share WHY I love them. I am a part of a family. My company puts out a quarterly, company news magazine. This quarter's magazine arrived in the mail, and when I opened it, I began reading an article on myself. What an honor. Better yet, what an opportunity.  I often share my views of God and Godliness with you guys. OD has a network of prayer warriors. A simple email, puts people and prayer into motion. People who stop what they are doing, bow their heads and petition God for the safety and healing of someone whom, they have possibly never met. Anyone can mail one in, but my brothers and sisters mean it. It is so liberating to not only be allowed to share prayer, but to be encouraged to do so.

     I can feel when we all pray as one. It is a power that just makes you shake and quiver all over. Why do you think you get cold chills sometimes in church, during a prayer, or a hymn? That is the spirit of God touching you, his child, as he fills your heart. Have you ever started crying for no reason? Have you ever had the thought of a loved one, or a friend just "pop" into your head at an odd time, and you feel like praying? Do you still think God is a hands off God? Do you still think he has left us here to suffer and die? NO! He takes 99.9% of the suffering, meant for us, on himself. I am not a preacher, but you don't have to be a preacher to be a witness of God's power, and love. I hear all the time about the battles between Christians, and non-believers. Don't you think he would want all of us to come home?

     As for why I am in such a good mood, I have a mistress! She has a flowing body, awesome power due to her sheer mass, and she accepts the fact that I am married and have two awesome daughters. I like to spend time with her when my wife is at work. Some of you are praying for me right now, some of you are wearing a tentative expression wondering "where is he going with this?" I will draw out the suspense even one step further. Her last name is Lake! Yes, it is true, I have returned to the lake I love so much. Saylorville Lake, in the Des Moines area. I have begun taking baby steps by volunteering again. I am constantly sick, and/or in pain, but at least I am outdoors, and fighting this illness on my feet! (Actually I spend most of my time on my butt, but you know what I mean) Someone, in his youthful, but wise beyond his years, judgement, has allowed me to drive up and down the bike trail around the lake, looking for renegade sticks and leaves that have the potential to threaten the joggers, and bikers who use the trail. I take my position very seriously, because I earn camping as compensation for my "work". I might need that if Mary reads this and finds out she ain't the only lady in my life. She has been known to occasionally join us. Get your mind out of the gutter! Mary volunteers at the lake also. She is a sucker for men in uniform. Me, I just like nurses!

     Just kidding, Ya'all, I have had a good time. Take it easy, and let's do this again soon. As always, I love you, God bless, and let's keep praying for each other.

      Mark.