365. Days.

Today, almost to the hour, I gratefully celebrate 365 days of an extended life since last September 8. I remember and relive what I remember of a morning when I lost consciousness while working on a ladder, and crashed onto a concrete floor. I landed on my back, my head taking the worst of the impact.

Fortunately, I wasn’t alone. My working partner, Kevin Miller, says that in hearing the impact and seeing the blood, he was just imagining how he would tell Rita that I was dead. Thanks for calling for medical help, Kevin. Parla Sonifrank was next door, and helped alert Rita and bring her to the scene. Kevin’s wife, Linda, drove Rita the 2.5 hour trek to Dryden where the ambulance was delivering me to the nearest CAT scan facility.

Today, 365 days later, I celebrate a pain-free body. I celebrate a brain that functions quite well. I celebrate mobility, energy, and balance. I appreciate senses of smell, sight and hearing.

I celebrate life with Rita, who selflessly cared for me during those recovery days. She gave of herself in every way, serving and caring and helping with every need I had. Thank you again! I am a most fortunate man to share life with you.

I celebrate my family. My daughters, their husbands, and their children have loved me so very much during this year of extended life. I think about it almost every time I interact with them again, and often remember that I nearly didn’t get to experience more time with them.

I celebrate the friendships and deep relationships with people in this community. When I have deep, and meaningful conversations, when I get to help someone with a leadership situation, or get to teach something I’ve experienced I remember and celebrate that I can still do that.

I celebrate my extended earthly life with God, in Jesus Christ. My experiences and knowledge of what it means to know him and live life with him has increased as more days go by.

I didn’t do anything to earn this 365-day experience of healing and recovery. I didn’t pray rightly enough, live rightly enough, or think rightly enough to make it happen. I just accept it as a mysterious gift from Almighty God, and promise to do my best to make the most of it–out of my gratefulness.