The Joy of Company!

The past few weeks have brought many exciting guests to Burke Manor.  Roughly two weeks ago we had the honor of hosting Dowker, Mildred (aka Prudence Rose), Elliott & Beth for a nice dinner and a movie.  Good times were had.  Then last weekend we had a blast with the whole Marks' clan.  It was quite a house full, but we were overjoyed by the wonderful conversation and the "grilled salad" that Patty prepared.  With having two very busy weekends the past two weeks it was nice to have a little break this weekend.  Friday was very low key with Josh and I enjoying a night of dueling in Wii Mario Kart.  Saturday morning I awoke and prepared for my dream day of the Anne of Green Gables Marathon.  For those who have never had the wonderful opportunity to watch this series of movies you are definitely missing out.  I had the joy of watching them with the Hinton clan and it was lots of fun.  The picture I attached is from the best part of the movies!  Saturday evening I experienced another favorite Dutch Blitz with the fam.  Today started off with SBC fellowship then off to Jonathan's for Josh's dad's 65th Bday and then ended with Dowker, Josh and myself dueling on Mario Kart.  It was very cool we actually got to duel with friends over the Internet who were in NC.  These friends host an annual college reunion weekend and Josh and I could not attend this year, so this was a fun way to still connect with them.  I am not sure what Monday will have in store, but I hope it is restful whatever it is.  

Living in the moment!

The alarm sounds at 5am, way too early for me! However, I had no choice today was my long awaited appointment at John Hopkins Medical Center. Josh and I proceeded to get ready and make the 2.5 hour trip up good ole I-95. Josh was a blessing and offered to drive, so I would not be more stressed than I already was. We realized that we got wrong directions after missing the exit for 495 and having to take 395 through DC. I am telling you one thing, there are some areas in DC you do not want to get turned around in. We finally arrived at 8:30am in Baltimore and made are way to JHMC. We parked, walked in, checked in etc etc. My appointment was at 10am and we actually did not get seen until 11:30am, but no big deal. The doctor I was given seemed to take his time with us, ran several tests and attempted to look at my MRI scans I had brought with me. However, once again dooped by Mary Washington Hospital. I hate that place by the way. MWH sends me with a disc of my MRI scans that the doctor can not open nor view. Basically long story short the doctor shares that he feels that I definitely have MS, but he can not give me his 100% opinion/diagnosis until he sees my other three brain scans. He talks with Josh and I about his concerns about me not being on medicine, then in the next breath says that the medicine is only 40% effective. The doctor shares that he wishes he could tell us more, but research has only discovered so much and that was it. Needless to say I was disappointed due to several things. Disappointed that the brain scans did not work, disappointed that he told me at any moment I could get a lesion on my spinal column and be paralyzed, disappointed that he was not willing to entertain any of my holistic treatment and new nothing about holistic treatment, overall disappointed. The only thing beneficial that came from meeting him is that he is pretty certain that I have lapsing remitting MS which overall is good news. This is a form of MS that somewhat "heals" its self, unlike the progressive forms that just get worse over time.

After all that as Josh and I walk back to the car I began thinking. I have another brain scan in December and that will help determine a lot as far as direction for this disease. However, I thought, you know I could start taking the main stream meds and have severe side effects come from them and wish I would have never taken them. Or I could continue doing what I am doing and something not good happen and wish I would have started taking the meds. Either way I am possibly going to have "bad" results. So my end thought was to continue the holistic approach until I get more direction in December. In the mean time I am going to live life to the fullest and in the moment. I am going to enjoy each moment that God gives me to laugh, cry, breath, walk etc. etc. Don't get me wrong, when I say in the moment I don't mean recklessly. What I mean is that I am not going to take anything for granted and I am not going to turn down opportunities to make memories..

So yesterday that is what Josh and I did. We spent the rest of the day in downtown Baltimore, visiting shops, seeing museums and just enjoying the day together. I had the best time with no planning involved. I had an amazingly fun day in a fun city with my very best friend in the whole world.

A night for a few "lasts"

Last night like every other Monday night "Burke" Bible study was had.  It was good to see everyone, since Josh and I have been MIA the past two weeks at church we had missed alot of faces.  The first of the "lasts" was that August 25, 2008 marked the last night of "Burke" Bible study as we know it.  God has been challenging Josh for some time now to take Bible study in a new direction and that talk happened last night.  From this point forward Bible study will still consist of 60 min or so of studying doctrine/Bible.  However, 60 min worth of prayer requests will cease and small accountability groups will commence.  The groups will focus on prayer, encouragement and heart felt confession.  Josh focused on I John 1:9 and James 5, sharing with everyone what God has been teaching and challenging him with.  The new groups will launch in about two weeks, hopefully giving everyone plenty of time for self reflection and prayer of how groups should be divided.  

Then lastly of the "lasts"!  It was the last Bible study for a while for Kristen, Michelle and J Lo...  Yes, there is a tear!  We will miss these guys greatly, but know that they are off to a different portion of their life's journey.  We wish them well, they are in our prayers and we love each of them dearly.

JKB

My Heart Sank

Now time for a thought from Josh Burke!

For those that have known me for the past two years, know that my favorite dog in the whole world is one Huebert.  It has been a long road with him thus far with his bought with potty training and not listening too well.  All in all he is still my favorite dog.  There is something about him that makes my heart smile when I come home from work and see him waggin his tail and happy as can be to see me.  Seriously the dog freakin rocks!  Tonight I went out around 10:30pm to bring him in for the night much later than usual.  To find an empty collar hanging from the crape myrtle in my back yard.  I immediately fell to my knees and asked God, "oh why have you done this to me?".  I called out, "Huebert" and heard no response, not a bark, rustle of leaves nothing.  I proceeded to bring Angel in grab another leash and flash light and sought out to find my lost pup.  As I walked out onto the deck, Jadey opened the basement door and asked if everything was ok.  I looking back at her with tear soaked eyes said, "No, Huebert is gone".  I felt it was hopeless, it was late, dark and I had already called for him to no avail.  He was lost, without a collar and identification.  I thought if I was lucky he might show up the next morning around food time.  Then to my joy I heard Jadey say, "Josh he is right there".  I turned around and stooped down and starting calling my little bups.  He came right to me as he always does, I stopped to reflect on how freakin awesome this dog is.  To shed a little light on the situation Jadey stated, "did you really think he was going to leave a place where he gets fed two times daily?".  

Update...

I have been posting here and there, but nothing that has really been giving a life update!  This summer has been rather busy and has mostly consisted of a lot of birthday's and visiting friends and family.  I visited my grandparents who I haven't seen in a long while (mom's parents).  That was a good time and Josh got to play my grandfathers 1960 something Martin guitar he was lovin it.  Then we celebrated Lion-o's 1st birthday.  Yes, I celebrated the cats birthday.  I got him a new toy for his present.  Then we celebrated my brother's  birthday the annual trip to China Jade my bro's favorite place to eat.  This same evening Josh played a gig at Camile's good times were had.  Throughout the summer we have been frequenting Busch Garden's since we got season passes.  About two weeks ago we met our neighbors down their and they invited us to stay with them at their families house in Glouster.  It was absolutely gorgeous.  Then today we head out to Josh's great aunt Edna's 100th birthday, yes I said 100th!  It should be fun...

Moments of Cheer

Yesterday was a rather stress filled day for me. I was very swamped at work and on top of that it was MONDAY!!! However, I would much rather be swamped at work that doing nothing at all. The whole day was so overwhelming that I almost forgot about my scheduled massage appointment at 3pm. Once I remembered it was like a weight was lifted off and I was like "yessss". However then my brain starts to turn and I realize, oohh after my massage I must go home and do chores. So I just continued to focus on the positive and headed out to my massage from work around 2:50pm. Upon arriving at the massage place I get out of my car and start heading toward the building. As I am walking and turning the ringer off on my phone I hear, "that is Jadey, Jadeeyy". I look over only to see the whole Garman family eating at Camille's. I was so over joyed to see them, I thought Sunday was it for a long while. I proceeded over and talked to them and gave as many hugs as I could. Also it wouldn't be a meeting with the Garman's if Hailey did not make some sort of close observation followed by an inquisitive question. I notice Hailey was starring at my feet, she then looks up and asks, "Ms. Jadey why are you wearing my dad's shoes"? Colby and I start laughing, because he, Mila and myself all have the same brown flip flops. I then explain this to Hailey as Darcy runs over and in her little gibberish restates that I have her dad's shoes on! This meeting with the Garman's really put the icing or cheer should I say in the remainder of my day. This was followed with Bible study which always makes me "cheerful" and it was a sweet time of praise and worship and praying for the Indonesia team. All in all the day was sweet and the little moments of cheer that were sprinkled throughout it made it even sweeter.