Well, only a few days and it will be one year since my accident. When you are in my position, you have a lot of time to think. And I have spent a lot of time thinking about that day and the last steps that I took. That morning I remember leaving the bathroom and walking down the hallway to the kitchen. Jean was standing at the counter waiting for me which was unusual since normally she was asleep when I went to work. But that morning, she wanted us to pray. She was going to wake me during the night but decided to wait until I was up. She urgently felt the need for us to pray about how our family should glorify Christ over Christmas. She felt so stirred during the night and the feeling would not go away. So we stood together and prayed that Christ would be glorified through our family at Christmas. She didn't know why but she just felt very strongly about it. Little did we know that this very blog would be the answer to that prayer. Little did we know how many people would be touched by my daughter's words. I am still overwhelmed and brought to tears whenever I read your comments and hear of your prayers for me. I am especially humbled by those of you that I don't know that tell me your faith has been strengthened or renewed. God certainly works in mysterious ways. He even uses the Internet to accomplish his purpose.
So off I went to work. It was Friday and the previous Saturday I had towed Santa Claus in the Christmas parade in the sleigh that I had made for the chamber of commerce. The sleigh had been in my driveway all week and I was taking it back to work to store it away until next year. I was always in great spirits when towing the sleigh. How could you not be in the Christmas spirit when you're towing Santa's sleigh? I arrived at work, parked the sleigh and began my day.
I have spent so much time thinking about the next steps that I took that I began to fear the coming of this anniversary. I would get a lump in my stomach when I thought about walking up to the machine that did me in. But now I feel better about that day. I don't get a lump in my stomach and I don't get that fearful feeling anymore. I think talking about it has been therapeutic. God has helped heal my mind and my attitude. It is taking time and will take more time, but He is working. Thanks for listening. You don't know how much you have helped me. Thank you.
Pat
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18 comments:
When I opened the blog to read again, what a wonderful surprise to see a new post!!! You all are truly a blessing and inspiration to me. Thanks for your faithfulness to our Lord and to all of us who are your friends. Love ya, Marie N.
Dear Pat,
Your dear words are a balmy breeze in this cold, wintry mix of snow and cold we have here today. Lord, YOU comfort those who seek YOUR goodness. So, I pray HIS faithful assurance will continue to guide your path and guard your heart. Also, strengthen Jean and her ministry to you and keep the entire Bohrman family under YOUR hedge of protection. We thank you, Pat for your continued testimony of an awesome GOD who came to seek and to save.
Love & Blessings<><
Fells
Dear Pat,
Each time I read this blog I'm moved to tears. We serve such a great God. I want you to know that I'll be thinking and praying for you and your family this week. I understand how this anniversary can bring back a lot of scary and unpleasant memories. Though I must say, if you talk to the town officials, and hook up some power boosters to your chair, there's no reason why you can't pull Santa's sleigh again this year. :o)
Merry Christmas Bohrman's!
~Kristin D.
Pat, Just wanted to thank you for sharing your blog. I cried while reading this entry. You don't know me but I've been reading your blog and praying for your family this past year...just thought I'd say hi. I'm good friends with Kersta's brother Conor's wife, Susannah. I will continue to lift you up in prayer.
-Kristie
Hi Bohrmans,
Pat, I went to your blog - just making sure I still had the address in my head. I'm going to share this site with many people as I have reason to start a blog myself. My mom, who just turned 66, was diagnosed with brain cancer in mid-October. As I've just started sending e-mail updates to people, all the entries made by Amy and all the responses of God's faithful followers on your site come to my mind's eye. I was one of the people whose faith was strengthened by this site, and believe me, it's been a great help and comfort to me now as we endure the glioblastoma diagnosis. Pat and family, I'll always remember what December 8th means to you. For me, it's my oldest son's birthday and a reminder of what happened to you in 2007. May God continue to use you in a mighty way.
Love,
Jane Zenner
Hi Pat:
It had been a while since I checked your blog. The months after your accident I checked every single day, would tear up as I read, and always prayed for you. So many people prayed for you. Friends of ours that never met you were impacted by your story, your family, & your faith. I think of you guys so often. We miss you. We have such fond memories. I thought of you & Jean this year as we were sitting down at the water ar CFS. Those memories we have of the first years there are the best! Please know that we will continue to lift you up in prayer. Would love to see you again. BIG hugs to you & Jean. Love, Mimi
I check the blog several times a week and blessed to see another update! Yes, your strength has renewed our faith! Yes, I have been commenting and sharing my prayers for you with family as far away as Florida! We think about you and your family all the time, and as we think--we pray. Dave used to work for you in 1997. Just in case you needed a memory sparker for the mystery commentator! Thank you for keeping us updated. It may be therapy for you, but it also works the same for those of us reading your blog. Still praying for the Bohrmans.
Schramms
You 2 are amazing. Thank you for sharing. Special blessings. Extra prayers for you as you approach the one year day. Jesus is with you both "all the way" in this journey.
linda lentz
Dear Patrick,
I have no doubt that you will pull the sleigh again! Nothing can stop you from the things that you love! I also think that it is amazing how God has worked in your life. How Jean just knew to pray that morning? How GOD has taken ordinary men and made extrordinary accomplishments? If you think this blog has been helpful to you, well let me tell you, every one of us reading this has something in their life that seems overwhelmingly difficult. I don't know how to put this into words graciously, but I'm hoping that you can read between the lines and feel my heart and my love.......we had been out of a job for a year and a half, we lost a father to bone cancer and a dear aunt who had a massive stoke in our bathroom on Thanksgiving all within 20 days of eachother and we thought it was stressful! My husband is exactly your age. At times we felt overwhelmed and then we would read your blog. Here is our friend Patrick in a state that none of us would choose for ourselves and yet your attitude and honesty have been truly inspiring.
We did get a job starting over at 56,and parents do die and life does go on. It's all in how we choose to live it.
I have borrowed your motto "choose joy".
From the bottom of our hearts we wish you and Jean a glorious Christmas and a wonderful New Year. We ask God to fill your heart and home with bountiful blessings. We thank you for everything!
bohr, if you consider how you might have reacted a year ago if amy would have suggested you get a puppy, you can see how far you have come!!! welcome little lulu!!!
post a picture of your new pup, if you can. she's a sure sign of joy, hope, independence, and love, an awesome furry miracle. xxxxx
Bohr family you are in our thoughts and prayers. You are an inspiration to us all on how a family can overcome obstacles and move mountains. Thank you for sharing your story! My grandparetns always said, "The family that prays and plays together, stays together." So true and you are proof!
The Hunters back in the Winter Wonderland Formerly called WI!
AMAZING GRACE, HOW SWEET THE SOUND.
Merry Christmas and a very Joyful Anniversary my friend.
Patti Knutsen
You guys are amazing. It is snowing out again as I write, it is really beautiful, just think of what you are missing!!! (The work of getting through it!!!) Anyway, your strength is such a testimony, it reminds me of our God who never leaves us, it is me who hides or doesn't look in the right places. Thanks for your encouragement. Love you so much. God bless you. Love, Cathy Andrus
Dear Pat,
I can't believe it has been a year since I found out about you and this blog. In a way you and your family prepared me for what was to come in my family, and how to stay focused on Him. It's funny how God has things planned out, and how our little minds can't comprehend it all. He had Kathy email your blog, He had me keep the blog address, and He had me read it. Because of this, I have been able to pass on information to others about my mother's recooperation, and to always show them the love of the Lord even through rough times. The Lord's work is never done until He says. I thank you for continuing His work and passing that inspiration on to others. Thank you for opening up to strangers, through you and your family, you have opened the hearts of many to the Lord.
In Christ...Jill K.
Merry Christmas Bohrman Family and a Happy New Year. May the Lord richly encourage all of you and shower down a load of blessings to each and every one. You have been an amazing example to us all and we have learned so much from all of you about our God. Peace comfort and joy as you celebrate the birth of Jesus.
linda lentz and family
Haven't read your blog for a few weeks, so it was great reading this on Christmas Eve. I never read anything about your wife wanting to pray that morning and it really touched me. I am one of those persons you don't know but I'm a 52 year old grand pap and your testimony has given me that lump in the throat feeling. Thanks for sharing and making me think deeper this Christmas eve.
God be with you!
Merry Christmas, Pat, Jean and family!
We continue to lift you up in prayer and thank you for your powerful testimony of God's love and faithfulness. It's a good thing we don't know what tomorrow brings because we may fret over how we would deal with it. God gives us the strength to handle the challenges of each day and I praise him for that. Little did you know how the accident of a year ago would change the lives of many that you don't even know. The Lord is continuing to work miracles through your lives! Thank you for continuing to keep us posted on what he is doing. Have a very Merry Christmas and blessed New Year.
The Lentschers
Lord, you came into the world to overthrow the powers of darkness. Even though we see suffering and evil, we acknowledge that one day YOU will wipe away our tears and bring about a new world. Victory is YOURS, O Lord. May all creation praise Your might and justice.
Lifting the Bohrman family in YOUR precious love and mercy today and into the new year of 2008.
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