GOD STILL COMES by Max Lucado

After a long summer filled with waiting I would like to share a short devotional with you. One thing I know you may have been waiting for is for me to write on this blog with news of Dave!!!

I apologize.

As I have said before when there is lagging updates you are not missing out on the good stuff. Sometimes life does not translate well to words. And if it did I am not sure they are meant to be heard by all.... hmmmm

Dave has had to make some transitions that he has found brutally difficult. His mobility has declined to the point where his first wheelchair was no longer meeting his needs. Another chair had to be ordered, fitted to his needs. In many ways this was a good thing, but time consuming and slow. Then to wait for approval and arrival Dave went through a time of almost complete loss of mobility right in the time we had imagined being outside walking etc.

This was a serious time of discouragement for Dave as his new limitations are almost as big as the fist ones.

People worked so hard to get him out and about and the Occupational Therapist cared deeply about getting Dave mobile again. Thank you to all the friends, family, care and support staff at"Village at Millcreek" who go above and beyond the call of duty every single day.
Dave now has his new chair he controls it with his head. It also has controls at the back for 3rd person. it is a huge learning curve, as it is longer and wider. But much more comfortable!!!!

During this time of waiting I went through a series of migraines lasting almost a month. It has been a long time since I have had one this severe and long lasting. They take an enormous tole on the whole family. We have amazing Doctors. A husband / wife team. With their compassionate care we were finally able to break the cycle. The last ten days I took a very strong med and did not leave the house. It was that or the hospital for I.V. treatment which involves 8-10 hr days in the E.R and no guaranteed success.

The Lord is close to the broken hearted,
and he saves those whose spirits have been crushed. Psalm 34:18

"Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us," Paul penned "The scriptures give us patience and encouragement so that we can have hope" Romans 15:4

These are not just Sunday school stories. Not romantic fables...They
are real historical moments in which a real God met real pain so we could answer the question
Where is God when I hurt?
How does God react to dashed hopes? Read the story of Jarius.
How does the Father feel about those who are ill?
Stand with him at the pool of Bethseda.
Do you long for him to speak to your lonely heart?
Then listen as he speaks to the Emmaus-bound disciples....

He's doing it just for them. He's doing it for me. He's doing it for you...

The God who spoke still speaks... The god who came still comes. H comes into our world. He comes into your world. He comes to do what you can't.

Max Lucado

How is Dave?

....ummmm... errrrrr...ahhhhhhh, I'm going to try this again!!!! Last time I had this post written I lost the whole darn thing to cyberspace...I've been gone a few days trying to find it...but no luck!

Dave is doing so well in some area's, if you are not careful you will miss it. Today his heart was feeling Psalm 13...I sooooo understood, as anyone would, who has been seeking God's face for a long time without an answer. After a long lament the Psalm ends with these two verses;


5 But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
6 I will sing to the LORD,
for he has been good to me.

Dave is experiencing decreased mobility in his arms/hands. He is finding it difficult to maneuver his wheelchair. This of course, is very frustrating for Dave. It also limits his mobility in a huge way. He does not feel confident to be around crowds and maneuvering into the van has become a very difficult task. The solution is a new wheelchair. The ALS people are working on it, but the wheels turn slowly. Please pray with us...Dave's speech is still good, it takes a little more effort on his part and better listening on our part, but we are so thankful for his voice.

Dave now has a laptop. He would love to hear from you. His answers will be short, but his appreciation deep!

Can I Ask For Help...One more Time ?

This is a little hard to do...we are settling in, but we have lost our momentum. Somewhere between the memories of our past life together as a family and the realization that Dave is not going to walk through the front door at 5:30 for supper we are stuck.

We are so thankful for what God has done in our lives. It's just now and then our hearts are heavier than than the boxes we have to lift...

If anyone could give us a hour or two, to help with some lifting, closet organizing, or hanging pictures. We would so much appreciate it. We can't find any of Dave's tools so we are kind of stuck.

We dream of having a BBQ here this summer to celebrate God's greatness and the goodness of all his people... we just have a few more steps to the finish line...Would you help?

Contact info: Home #250-980-3247 Shani's cell #250-859-9014

We Moved !!!

Our new address is on the profile at the front of the blog. This move was very difficult. I am proud of Joshua and Ashlea and their friends, under the direction of Stacey Crandle and a few good men! The move started at 12pm and ended at 12am. The storage unit, stuff from Toronto, filled a 2 ton truck. The things from the condo just kept coming and coming! Ashlea's friends did this, they were great. Mom was with me all day, thanks mom! Our furniture from the property filled the truck twice! Thanks Nick, Jamie, Matt and Toby. Joshua you are awesome! Ashlea kept going from 12 to 12. WoW!


We had a few angels show up Carmen and Jeff. They both live near the storage unit, saw a huge need and filled it! I never got a chance to meet them...


We still have a lot of heavy lifting to do. I have sorted through a garage fulllllll of memories...now they need to be stored in a storage place downstairs. It would be nice to park the cars in the garage. We especially do not want Joshua's van to be "van" dilised in the driveway! That would be tragic...???

Life is Hard...God is Good !

This week I saw a friend that I had not seen in way too long she had been such a blessing in our lives, but we had lost contact through moves, changed cell numbers etc. She commented on how she missed the blog and wondered what was happening in our lives...in a nut shell...life is hard...God is good. I am going to focus on the God is good part! This blog is going to be in point form and for some reason more personal, life is personal and we are thankful for all of you who have blessed us with your lives. I have realized lately that everyone has a story, everyone has pain, life, at times is hard for everyone. Yet people took time out of their lives to give so completely to ours...
April 5th I shared my story to a church full of people, the amazing part is after 30 min they were
still with me!

Dave sat in the front row with his parents, along with Josh and Ashlea and my sister and her family. What a privilege to have a family, people who know all about you and still love you !

Also present on that special day were the brave prayer warriors who fought hard to gain that ground in healing for me, and have continued to fight as a battle goes on for my health and peace of mind.

Dave, my greatest bravest warrior, who prays continually for his family. Has already read through the Bible once. In 15 days has read through a quarter again!...soon he will have it memorized!


Dave has been treated to 7 Kelowna Rocket games this season! by our very good friend and dedicated hockey fan Crystal, oh, and her husband Noel! thanks guys!!!

We found a perfect home to rent in Quail Ridge! Thank you God! We move in on the 22end, and between the 25th-28th. The house is level entry with master on main and a walkout with two bedrooms/bath/T.V room on lower level. Also separate entrance so Josh can maintain his Independence.


The greatest thing is the move is being handled by Josh and Ashlea directed by Stacy Crandle! Stacy's wife Christie needs our prayers. Her mother is battling cancer, another family in pain...
thanks for giving when life is hard guys...


Ashlea is in "puppy love". His name is Oliver, he weighs 4.4lbs his breed is malti-poo. He has captured her heart and I have to say he's much deserving of it.

We have been blessed with two families who bring Sunday supper to "The Village". It has become a lovely tradition! Blessings to Ralph & Monique and Noel & Crystal. Friends that have never let go through the years...and purpose to continue to support the Johnson family, we love you guys...

Where would our life be without Cam? For a while in our household "call Cam" was a very common phrase! He was our rescuer, our driver, our financial planner, our family counselor and the guy who brought over ice-cream when things got really bad!!! Not to exclude an amazing fundraiser! Our lives would not be what they are today without Cam and the team of people he brought into our lives...I can not wait to see the crown you will throw at Jesus' feet... and a million thanks to your lovely wife who graciously lives without you while you are blessings others.

For 6mths my mom & dad took us into their home and cared for, well, both of us! There was not a thing they would not do! Some of these need not be mentioned!!! Between kids, dogs, company, relatives, workers, and work schedules supper was always on the table and coffee was ready every morning! Thanks mom & dad you are truly amazing!

Dave's family has been very present and supportive. We have enjoyed seeing more of Pam, Trevor and family, as well as Craig and Sheri and family. Pam has helped us enormously with the reams of paper work that this crisis seems to take! Ellen worked hours on the never ending paper trail. Family are a wonderful gift when life is over whelming. Harry has/is doing research and keeping up to date on all things ALS. Trevor thanks for being "hip" enough to text my kids, they love it!!!Lots of Love you guys!!!

Great News !

Hi, Everyone! We have so much to tell you I hope i can be quick and concise, fit every thing in without dimishing God's GREAT goodness!

Yes through the trials God's faithfulness has shone through in a mighty way.

What do we exspect when God's people pray? Honestly, upuntil recently I really did not know!

Things like this...are you ready?

January 25, alone in my own home God Himself delivered me from years of woundedness, pain and anger. For the first time in my life I felt loved by God, a feeling so foreign I had to ask God what it was!

I am to be baptized on April 5, Palm Sunday, to celebrate this rebirth in Christ my Lord. As radical changes occur in my life, as I get exited as I read my bible, listen to teaching, I am challenged everyday to to live in HIS joy and strength! wow! I am presently involved in two studies, "He Is" by Beth Moore and "Breaking Free" also by Beth Moore The warfare is brutal, my mistakes our colossal, please pray!

Dave as some of you know, (especially those who have read "Safely Home" by Randy Alcorn) is in "seminary" right now. He is whipping through ministry CD'S and DVDS like crazy! His last couple have been Beth Moore "He Is" (Hebrews) and he is part way through Daniel. Dave would like specific prayer for his voice, we believe, along with others that this is possible. It is intensely frustrating for Dave not to be able to speak more clearly. Also his right hand that controls his wheelchair is becoming harder to move, please pray he continues to have mobility in this hand.

Dave is in a beautiful new care facility, Village at Mill Creek. It was only a temporary bed, as it is a private facility. We got confirmation this week that through the work of two very dedicated women, Dave has been granted the privilege to stay!!!! at no extra cost to us. I will try to include photos on next blog

Our two awesome kids continue to amaze us at their ability to function and grow under such adverse circumstances. To say life has been stressful would be a gross understatement...I am so proud of Josh that he continues to work full-time, live on his own and start a new business that has given him hope...Our darling daughter is so brave, her tenacity astounds me. She got her licence recently. Ashlea went on a 12hr "ride along" with our local Paramedics. It was a difficult day in many ways, but she loved it and may be considering it as a career.

Our pray request for our family is that we could find a place to rent where we could all be under one roof. Lately we have come to realize it is just too early for the kids and I to be so fragmented. In truth we need each other. We hope to find a place where Josh can still have some Independence, but be close by when there is a hot meal on the table! our lease here at the condo is until May 30.

Over My Head

The title to this post comes from a song by Brian Littrell. I am unable to download it as I'm using a computer Ashlea has on loan from her school.

We have been living in our new home a little over 2 wks. We have not managed to get our desk top to follow us...soon I hope!

Ashlea and I are living in a condo back in Quail Ridge. It is so quiet and peaceful. The view out our windows is beautiful evergreens, then mountains...We are very close to the University...so we never no what may come...

Joshua is living on his own, with his two dogs! He's working one full time job and a part-time job. I miss him terribly. Last week he came by to make sure we were alright. My precious son knew we did not have groceries so he gave me money, I cried but could not take it...I assured him it was God's job, he said he worked for God...

Our children are precious to us. In spite of their pain, they manage to bless us...a gift, a ray of sunshine, a huge knot at the end of our last rope...We are so grateful for Joshua and Ashlea. I have told them since they were little that " I would love them always, no matter what" and though I have been tested...it is still true today...in this journey...through the pain...always, no matter what!