September 2010
My multiple sclerosis has continued to progress and I am now living in an assisted living facility and spend most of my time in a wheelchair. I can walk a little. but not very fast or very far and only with a hemiwalker. I also have lost the functional use of my left arm, so now everything is done one=handed - such as typing, which is so slow and laborious it drives me crazy. At least I have an excuse now. I still continue to participate in as many activities of life as I possibly can. It's amazing how many things can be adapted to fit into one's current condition if you use creativity and perseverance.
I retired from teaching and coaching at Evangel University in 2000 when I felt like I could no longer give over 100%. It had been 35 years and I figured that was long enough. As some of you may know, I then wondered how I ever had time to work when I continued to be busy all the time. My sisters' children continue to provide wonderful children for Aunt Sandra to spoil like grandchildren. My sister Arlene ( Kodai class of '64) and her husband, Earl Stubbs, have served as missionaries in Hyderabad, India, for going on 40 years, I think. Two years ago he suffered an unexpcted heart attack in Hyderabad and passed away. That was a really tough situation for all the family. Arlene returned to Hyderabad and is now the senior pastor for their 5 - 6000-member church. She is doing a fantastic job there. My youngest sister, Kay (Kodai class of '69) and her husband Richard Oliver continue to pastor a church in Michigan. We were all together (a very rare occasion) this summer for a week. Actually, the task was to move Sandra out of her house. With my accumulation of stuff from school and forty-some years of living, that was a gigantic task. My house is now empty and on the market after a 2-day garage sale and giving many things away. How tramatic to see all my "STUFF" leaving. I could never have managed without my family and friends, especially my coolie sister Arlene, who I appreciated so much.
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