My Hope Is In God

For those of you who remember, my last blog post mentioned that at the end of October I would be heading to the Mayo clinic in Minnesota for a neurology assessment. Well the date came, my mother and I took off work for a month and drove to Rochester, thinking that the #1 neurology institute in the United States would be able to offer us some answers or at least different options than what we were getting here in Winnipeg.

I can't really be to mad at the outcome of the appointment because going into this I wasn't praying for a miracle, I wasn't praying for healing. I was praying for some answers, whatever those answers might be. Thanks be to God for answering my prayer.

When we met with the neurologist at the Mayo clinic he told us after looking at my medical records and previous test results that had been sent from Winnipeg that "Frontal lobe epilepsy is very tricky and hard to treat" and that he wasn't surprised that my first surgery was not successful. He put it very bluntly (which is what I needed to hear) that I will never be seizure free. The only thing that we can try to do now is reduce the amount of seizures I have.

His suggestions for "reducing" the amount of seizures were either trying more drugs out, ones which I haven't tried yet (which is what my neurologist here in Winnipeg suggested) and possibly surgery again (which is also what my neurologist here is Winnipeg has suggested). I don't get it, #1 ranked neurological institute in the United States and the type of technology they use for surgery and the tests leading up to surgery are the EXACT same that we use here is Winnipeg. Only difference is that here in Winnipeg surgery won't cost me $150,000.

I'm a little boned as to why when I sent them my medical records, they looked at them and replied to me saying that I should come for a visit because they think they could help me. Could they not have just told me that it was evident that my doctors in Winnipeg were doing everything they could and that they wouldn't do anything different at the Mayo. I feel like this was sort of a money grab or something.

Either way whats done is done. I needed to find out whether there was something more "advanced" out there that could help me and there isn't. I needed answers and I got them.

And so continues the story of my life. "Tom here is a new drug that we are going to put you on." Alright sweet, this new medication is the answer, this is how God is going to heal me, I'm going to hope in this drug.

OK so that drug nor the five others we tried didn't work. So surgery it is, that is the answer. YES! Surgery that is how God is going to heal me, I'm going to hope in surgery.

Surgery was a waste of time, lets try a shot in the dark. Lets go to the Mayo clinic and see if they have any ideas or solutions to your epilepsy. Yeah the Mayo clinic, this is totally how God is going to heal me, this is it. I'm going to hope in the Mayo clinic. BULLSHIT!

I'm done with hoping in things. There is no point, because they just crumble underneath you just when you have placed both your feet on them. My hope is in God, and nothing else. God is my hope and my salvation, and he will not crumble when I lean on him.

Why do I feel as if I need to be "healed", was that a promise God made? Did he promise that our life on this Earth would be comfortable and abundant? I think that reward comes in Heaven, and that is what I will place my hope in.

Your brother in Christ,

Tom "always struggling, always growing" Bietz

Reaching Again: Thanksgiving in Mexico!

Hello My beautiful family!!

I have some news I thought good to share! Please take a look?

Reaching Again: Thanksgiving in Mexico!: Hello Beautiful people! I am afraid I have been terrible at keeping you up to date on what is happening these days. For those who do not...

Also, I owe an update....hopefully to come soon.

Viel liebe alle!!

OH HAPPY DAY!

Another Grochowski gets baptised! Prasie Jesus!!

"a little bit of faith is what i want, its what i need" -whistleblower

Hey guys.

While I am waiting for my chocolate cake to finish baking (not just for me DON’T worry lol)…I jumped on the comp.. turned on some arkells tunes…and looked up our awesome kaleo site.

Anyways I just thought I would say a short hi and a little update.

First off, my cake is gonna be yummy I wish you guys could come eat some!

Besides for that I am super busy. I have just being doing school 24/7 to just try and be able to breath under all my work.

This term is much harder because most of my work needs to be done in the shop or in the computer labs, which results in late nights at the school with coffee and gym sessions in between. I can’t complain…(well more like I have) but being busy has grown on me there is no time for self pity…which has stupidly become some sort of theme in my life atm.

By December ill put a picture up of the hall bench I’m making for my shop.

Besides school I have some family news. My aunt got cancer. I know this probably brings up a few deep wounds for maybe some of you and especially jo jo. I just wanted to let you all know. So you can pray. She is my number one role model. I have never met a cooler 47 year old!!!:) I love her immensely and am just praying for Gods guidance through the whole thing.

She has surgery in the first week of November. SO just pray that God leads and heals and protects. My mum is here TOMORROW (to help her sister out), but I cant see her till next weekend due to this weekend being spent in school at the labs :S

Besides that, nothing really else new. I love you guys. Prayers appreciated.

Deborah

WOW!!!!!

WOW!!!!! Just WOW!!!!!!! God is so amazing!!!!! He uses every possible way to speak to you and it just amazes me. I was at bible study tonight and we are doing a series in a book with a DVD leading us. The past few weeks each and every talk has hit me and just made me really think and such. Its really been encouraging, but tonight was different. I was listening to the talk and such and I didnt really feel like I could relate to it so I just figured it wasnt a talk for me really. Which is fine.

Later on nicki parker was going around and repeating everyones prayer requests from the week before and was checking up on everyone to see how they were....they got to me and I tend to get really nervous and dont really like talking too much. But she asked me how I was doing and I mentioned that things were getting better and I hadnt ended up in the psych ward again. That is a whole different story that I dont want to get in to.....dont worry....it was all a mistake anyways. Im not psyco! Anyways, so I dont even know how but somehow the girls were giving me responces and encouragement and it turned to a poing where one of the girls was talking about how sometimes we take the lies of the world and believe them instead of believing the truth and I barely remember what she said but I just stopped and had this huge grin on my face......

ok rewind to january quickly. for my newyears resolution I made a canvas that had every word that I had been called by people the year before. (ex: poor, fat, stupid, demanding, immature, lazy) In the middle of the canvas in big letters was the word FAILURE! My resolution was to erase all those names by the following year and then I wouldnt be a failure anymore. Ok Fastforward to tonight.....

I was grinning because the canvas instantly came to my mind...I saw it thismorning as I got out of the shower and was thinking about it this morning. God took that thought and told me the truth through bev's words!!! And I told the girls about this canvas and they all told me that we were going to burn it because it was all lies!!! I just cant believe how God puts his words in wherever possible and really speaks loud and clear when he speaks to you!

Im just amazed at how, even though these 3 weeks have been extremely tough, he's pulled me through every single time! I just....I find it funny. and I just cant believe I ever doubted him and Im amazed and in awe and just.....WOW!!! God is amazing!!!!! And I LOVE being able to say this again!!!!

Up to my ears in textbooks...

My beloved brothers and sisters,

How I miss each one of you! It still hits me every day, and I trust that our Lord and Saviour is keeping you well.

I’m a married woman now! Nathan and I were wed in July, and the day was a close to perfect as could be. We went to Saltspring for a “honeymoon”, and then both jumped back into working full time upon our arrival home. Married life is lovely! I feel privileged to be married to my best friend, and he most definitely looks after me well! The past couple months haven’t been stress/struggle free though, I must admit. A lot of adjustments to living together (especially when you like things as clean as I do… Liv & Erin can attest to that!), but we’re doing very well.

Since the wedding, I’ve started school! I am attending Camosun College, and have just begun the first of four years. The plan is to get my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, and possibly continue on to a Masters in Counselling… But I am trying to take it one day at a time. It feels wonderful to be back in a learning environment, and pouring all of my energy into retaining all of this new information! Haha. It’s very refreshing to be working towards a goal again.

Other than that… Life keeps rushing by. I’m taking an art class, and am in a choir… Nathan’s finishing up the fourth year as a carpenter’s apprentice, and he’s thinking about going back to school for Engineering. Yeah. That’s about it!

Here are some pictures from the wedding :)

During the reception.

Married!

A little break between ceremony and reception.

Limo golf cart!

Pictures before the ceremony.

"First Look"... or one of them.

Jono – CONGRATS, MY FRIEND! I remember you mentioning Emma to me back in Kaleo, so stoked to see what the Lord has done in your lives. She’s a BABE! I’ll be praying for the best for you both.

Please blog, friends! I miss each of you so much! I’m tempted to write out all of your names… But I won’t.

Much love!

A.

P.s. We have a comfy futon, if anyone wants to come to BC… You’re welcome to stay with us! Just give me some notice :)

28 weeks :D

just thought i'd show you some pictures of baby #2 and Abigail. She is now 19 months (tomorrow) and a little stinker. When she's tired she's gotten into the habit of saying "don't touch me" and "NO!" lol. And we also had a first tonight while taking a bath, POOP! i usually take one with her but I didn't tonight and boy I am soooo thankful for that one! lol.

Love and miss y'all!