Merry Christmas

Hello All—

First of all, I want to wish all of you a Merry Christmas.  (I think the law states that I must start this message by saying “Merry Christmas.” There is so much good news to report since I last wrote two weeks ago.  First, thank you for all of the comments supporting us on the blog-25- it’s the most we’ve had in a while.  I think I was feeling the same about the blog as I was about the hospital—it’s amazing how a few bad people can really change the atmosphere of a place.  Over the last two weeks though, we’ve been able to focus on the people we normally work with and things we need to do to prepare to go home.  In our last meeting with our team, it was very encouraging to hear all the good things they had to say.  

I won’t go through all the details of what we’ve been doing for the past two weeks, but our major highlights include learning to use the bus system, going out to eat and going shopping, and taking a trip to the aquarium.  We have also learned a lot about airline and car transfers and how to travel home, and we both feel comfortable in making the trip.  It may not sound like much, but there were a few “adventures” in there.  On our trip to the aquarium, Kari had to drive over a mile through snow covered sidewalks and over a bridge on a major street over a river.  We also got stuck once at a restaurant because the route to the bus stop was covered in ice and snow.  The people at Craig had to call a van to come pick us up and we didn’t get home until about two hours after we finished eating.  Everything we do now is a new experience, and we’ve learned a lot just going out on our own.  We also bought an accessible van yesterday (even though it won’t be delivered until Tuesday).  The van that we were donated was having problems with the air suspension and it would have taken at least three weeks to get it fixed, so we decided that we really needed to buy one that we could trust.  Anyways, the dealer was able to bring the van out so Kari could get in it, and we both liked it a lot.  The one we are getting only has 9 miles on it, so we are exciting about getting our first new car!  Sarah is out here now visiting, and she will drive it back, and two other people from Brookside are coming out to drive my car home.  

We are flying home on Wednesday the 28th, and are frantically trying to get all the loose ends wrapped up before we leave.  Our apartment won’t be ready until at least the 5th of January though, so we’ll be staying with friends from Brookside until we can move in.  Even though we won’t be in our own place though, it’ll be great to be out of the hospital and back in California.  We’re going to be at church on New Year’s Day.  Even being only 3 days away, it is hard to think that we are actually going home.  We are excited about it, but a little scared for sure.  

Aaron.