Dear friends of Crystal,

Here is a letter that was given out at church on Sunday, but it is not just for our church. We want you to read it too!

When we came home a month ago, we were so burdened to see Crystal afflicted with this mysterious condition. Our hearts grieve for her. We wish we could do something for her, but what? In talking with friends from church, we heard the same cry echoed.

After talking it over, we thought of it that there IS something really powerful that we can do for Crystal! We can band together as a church, stand shoulder to shoulder before the throne of grace, and there bring boldly our request for Crystal’s healing.

We would like to set aside 3 days to pray for Crystal’s healing, and invite all our dear brothers and sisters to join us in seeking God’s face. If anyone would care to fast for some or all of those days, that would be appropriate as well. The dates we are proposing are this weekend, July 30, 31, and Aug. 1, Friday through Sunday.

We know that people have individually been praying for Crystal, and that God has already brought healing. We rejoice in that, but believe there is also strength and power in a unified prayer effort.

During these 3 days, suggestions include: personal reflection to make sure our hearts are right before God, getting together with someone else to pray together for Crystal, going to Crystal’s house to pray with her.

We asked Crystal how we should pray, so here is a list.

Here are a few things to specifically pray about

1. most of all that God would receive all the honor and glory
2. that I would be able to go to school when it starts (Aug. 24)
3. that I could keep my spirits up and that I could be patient
4. that I would be able to put my hair up better
5. that I would accept whatever God has in mind for my life
6. that we would make wise decisions as to which route we should take

Also would like to add a few things to be thankful for.... =)

1. there has def been improvement
2. I have very little pain
3. that my movements have improved
4. that I have sooo many people who really care

We don’t want to short-circuit God’s redemptive work in our hearts and lives, and we want to be accepting of whatever method he chooses to use, but we would like to add one request to Crystal’s list…for healing!

We want to invite Crystal’s friends and aunts and uncles and cousins to join us these three days in fasting and prayer. We knew they would want to be a part of it if they knew about it!

Thank you,

Friends from church

Thanks to everyone who was praying....I had an AWESOME time hangin out with dad's family!!!! :) Singing, watching ball and volley ball, laughing till my stomache hurt......many great memories made!!!:) I just realized again what a blessing it is to have a Godly heritage!!!!

I am sooooo thankful for the healing God has brought, it has been so much fun getting out more lately. This week was the first that I was up and around people for two and a half days and, yes I am tired but it's not like I feel sick and sore!!!! :) I was taken care of quite well and got lots of encouragement!!!! :) Just what I needed. Thanks everyone!!!!

Nowwww looking forward to seeing my sister again tomorrow! It's going to be so much
fun to see her pictures and hear her stories!! (She went to Perry NY to teach VBS)

"We have this moment to hold in our hands and to touch as it slips through our fingers like sand, yesterdays gone and tomorrow may never come but we have this moment today."

Please Pray!!!!! I was at my muscle therapist yesterday and she really worked on my neck, leg, and arm muscles. I felt good about the treatment and it seemed like we got somewhere especially with my neck. I came home and was up and around some last evening and thot about it some that my neck and arm movements seemed a little worse. I just felt kind of out of control (esp. when I walk)!!! I tried not to worry and thot hopefully if I rest well it will be ok.=) I slept well last night and got up this morning sore, which is nothing unusual. Again, it just seems when I am up and around it feels like my arms and neck esp. just seem 'out of control'. I don't know is it because my body is just reacting to the treatment, is it because I am tightning up because I'm going away for a couple days (dad's family is getting together, I don't really feel nervous or anything, in fact I am looking forward to it, but it could be my muscles are reacting)?

~OOOpppppsss just now mom discovered I skipped my evening meds last night. Wow sure didn't realize it helped THAT much!!!! Well, u can still pray =), pray that I could enjoy the next few days of vacation!!!!

Thanks, and May God bless you all with a great week

Came across this saying recently....
~Three reasons not to worry.....
#1 God is in control
#2 God is in control
#3 God is in control

=) So glad God IS in control... I can't imagine what it would be like not being able to go to Him with all my worries, doubts, and fears!!!!
I am so thankful for the improvments I have seen. I can actually comb my own hair, I've actually been at school a couple times, I can actually walk a little better, I can actually go to church.... We serve an awesome God!!!!

A chorus from a song i heard recently.... really like it=)
*For the sun is always shining, tho the clouds may hide its veiw, you may not see a silver lining, but any day now, some way an somehow the light from Heaven will come breaking thru....

I especially want to thank-you for your prayers, they mean a lot!!! I would like to add a special prayer request for my friend, Andrea Wagler, who is fighting lymes. She has been an encouragment to me and even if our cases are a bit different it is nice to have someone who knows what its like to have to lay around and just watch the world go by day after day. Currently her condition is not so encouraging as mine so please pray for her and her family.

Wow!!! ok so I know i really should have updated way before now!!! But, believe it or not I have been pretty busy!!!! My walking seems to be getting better, and even if it is taking a while I am still happy because its PROGRESS!!!!!! =)

Last Friday morning we (dad, mom and I) left for NYC around 8:45. We got to the hospital about right on 2:00!!! We weren't there very long till they came and said the dr was running a bit late. =( It was about 10 till 3 when they finally took me back. And then same story questions, questions, and more questions!!! Sigh.... so glad its behind me!=) They did take some blood to send to their lab. They 'think' they know wat kind of dystonia I have but the blood work results should tell!=) I didn't really feel like they had much of anything new to tell me.:( Right now were just trying to decide where to go with it all or what we should do next. They said it could be a month or two before we get the blood results back! Needless to say I was VERY ready to get out of there when we finally left at 6:30.

*I don't know about 2morrow I just live from day to day, I don't borrow from it's sunshine for it's skies may turn to gray, I don't worry ore the future for I know what Jesus said, and today I'll walk beside Him, for He knows what lies ahead! (chorus) Many things about 2morrow I don't seem to understand, but I know who holds the future, and I know He holds my hand!!!!*

Thanks 2 my dear friend Mel I was able to go out to school today and collect my stuff and do a few things for this coming term!!! (Thanks so much Mel!) Yes, I do have plans to be at school this year again, but instead of teaching classes I hope to do more of the secretary work along with helping out some in the high-school room! I am really looking forward to it.

So, no I do not know what all lies ahead but my Heavenly Father does and I know that He will always be right beside me!!!!=)

Just a quick post=)

We're goin to NYC for my appointment with my dystonia specialist tomorrow. My appointment is at 2:00.

Please pray.....
~ that we could get a diagnose
~ that we would know where to go from here
~ that God would keep us safe as we travel

Thanks!

Even the desert blooms in God's perfect time!!!! =)

Yes sometimes this journey does (did) feel like a desert. But I am sooo thankful for all the wonderful friends and family God has given me to go thru it with me! Sometimes it feels so overwhelming when I think of all people have done for me, I feel so unworthy! I just want to say a BIG HUGE thank-you!!!! My prayer is that God would richly bless everyone!!!!!=) Most of all I want to especially thank-you for your prayers! God has been so good to me and even tho I still don't fully understand why, I know God has a reason for this, and one of those is (was) to draw me closer to Him!!! I want HIM to recieve ALL the honor and glory! I also want to thank my friends, youth group, and most of all my family for accepting me just the way I am! I feel so blessed the way people treat me just the same as they did before I got sick! I realize it must be hard sometimes but I think that is the biggest healer for me right now!!! It's exactly what I need!!!!=)

Health-wise..... WOW!!!!! When I look over the past few months I am soooooo thankful for God's grace! I am definatly doing MUCH better! =) My walking has improved quite a bit an with a little help from mom I am able to put my hair up!!!! My movements have also gotten a LOT better! All I can say is.....prayer!!! I have my appointment in NYC this Friday. Please pray that they would be able to give me a specific diagnoses. Also pray for wisdom and direction for us, that we would be able to know the best route to take as far as treaments and such!!!!

Please don't stop praying and may God bless you all with a superb week!!!=)