Road getting smoother

Thank you for praying. Today Pastor Randy, Karen and I went to visit The Madison House. Just before we arrived, I heard my phone ding, notifying me that I had a text message. When I looked at it, it was from Emily at District 19 telling me that the increased funding proposal had been approved! Thank you, Jesus!!

The Madison House has been in operation for 40 years and looks fairly good from the outside, but is an older building that needs updating and sprucing up inside. Some renovations and painting are being done, but it is going slowly as money is available, plus they have to work around 80-90 residents with varying mental or physical disabilities. Initially, my heart sank just from looking at the physical makeup of where Mike would be living. However, after talking with Ms. Webber and being given a tour by Ms. Ida, it became very apparent that even though this building lacks appeal to the eye, it has a very warm, stable, faith-based, family-friendly, & caring feel because the staff make it this way. This is their calling and passion and they view the residents as their family.

I don't remember how long Ms. Webber has been there, but she is there from 11am - 11pm Monday - Friday, very personable and available for questions. Ms. Ida, a small older woman, has been there 25 years and is the undisputed, "boss". Possibly lives there, because she said she was always there. (...unless that was a joke.) She also is very personable, but you can see that she runs a tight ship and keeps everyone in line. Rod, a younger man, is the 3rd floor (locked unit) supervisor and is there M-F during the day and every other weekend. I am so thankful for the longevity of the staff, and believe that will be a real benefit to Mike as well.

Mike will have a roommate. A gentleman who is a higher functioning dementia patient. Ms. Ida said the residents help look after each other and tell on each other too! The memory care unit has their meals on the 3rd floor. Many of the residents go to a day program M-F and we hope that Mike will be able to do that eventually also. I plan to go 2 times a week and spend several hours there. Ms. Ida said she never wanted set visiting hours. She wants people to feel free to come whenever they can. Ms. Webber said only about 15% of the residents have anyone come to visit them. I'm hoping that Mike and I can play games, read the Bible, sing, or in some way interact with some of the ones who are there during the day. Maybe Mike will be able to see this as a ministry to those who don't have outside family or friends.

Ms. Ida said when the weather is nice, they do take them outside or go to a park. There is really no yard. The drive way and parking lot makes a U around the building. I guess there was a grassy area right in the front by the street, but the ones who smoke or who were sitting outside were by the parking lot. The Presbyterian Seminary is 1 or 2 blocks away and a friend said that's a nice place to walk. I'll be comfortable going to The Madison House during the day, but would not want to be out there by myself at night.

We also met Fred who started a ministry there and has a worship service there every Friday night. He was funny - he said the 3rd floor residents are his greatest worshipers. He said if he pauses to take a breath, they take over! An Elvis impersonator is coming to sing for them next week. Ms. Ida said "James Brown" lives on the 3rd floor and don't bother trying to tell him anything different! Although Ms. Ida runs a tight ship, she knows that sometimes you just have to let the residents "be" (i.e. sit in the bathroom, be "James Brown", don't be too rigid or demanding)

All in all, I came away much encouraged. I am so thankful that God is included in this house and the staff make it feel like a home. I believe this will be a good fit for Mike and he needs to move.

Mike was rather "off" at CSH this afternoon. The nurse had come and told me that she was trying to get him to come see me, but that he was reading. He eventually did come, but was having a hard time breaking out of the "no, no, no", seemed worried and became teary-eyed several times. I'm not sure if he was just a bit upset that I interrupted him or frustrated that he was stuck, or what. I told him that everything had been approved for him to move to The Madison House and hoped that would get him unstuck, but then he just remained slightly upset and started saying "I'll stay at the Madison hou, I'll stay at the Madison hou..." I asked that his supper be brought to us so that I could stay with him longer. I cuddled up next to him, rubbed his arm and started reading the Bible to him and he began to relax. His food came and he ate well. He had brought his book with him so after he ate, he wanted to read, so it was time for me to go. At least he was not worried and teary-eyed anymore and he was enjoying the book.

New request:  Please pray for our son, Caleb, he was rear-ended yesterday, has a concussion, headache and is sore and hurting today in his neck and shoulders. He did go to the ER last night and is going to another doctor tomorrow to be checked out more thoroughly. Thankfully the woman who hit him has insurance. His was an older car and will probably be deemed "totalled", so he'll be looking for another car also. Thank you.

So many of you have been such faithful prayer warriors and I am very grateful. How can I pray for you? Feel free to email me at mcjrrice@gmail.com. It is wonderful to be in the family of God and a privilege to be able to pray. Go with God and be blessed today by His abiding joy.