[Epley Update] April 30, 2006

[Russ and Flossie Epley]

Today was a fine day. I took a small bag of objects to the hospital and 
had Russ hold each item one by one in his hand and try to figure out 
what it was. I would describe each article to refresh his memory of a 
variety of adjectives as well as nouns. Then he would practice saying 
the word. When he needed help I would explain how to use his lips, 
teeth, and tongue to make the sounds correctly. He said "pencil" and 
"dog" quite plainly. (Have no fear, it was a toy dog!) He also said 
"but" with his voice which helps a lot when he's answering a question 
that a "yes" or "no" answer could confuse the issue. When he says, 
"Yes, but, " I know the answer is technically affirmative but I'm going 
down a wrong track.

Russ is working hard to say "Flossie." Unfortunately that's a really 
hard word to say. I couldn't really understand his speech but he made a 
"F" in sign language and was obviously talking about something dear to 
his heart. It wasn't too hard to figure out he was trying to say my 
name. Sigh. What a sweetheart!

Though it took many questions to get there, the things Russ was able to 
communicate to me today were astounding.
• Please contact two people from work to make an announcement about an 
upcoming change. (He was able to be more specific than that, but this 
isn't the place for me to go into that.)
• Please put the CDs in the drawer.
• A doctor checked my swallowing capacity and I could do it! I have not 
had any food yet.  (Knowing how much he does not care for fish, I 
jokingly told him I was going to tell the nurses to bring him fish 
first. He flashed  "I love you" in sign language as his response to me! 
Now that's grace.)
• My head is bothering me, please have the nurse tilt the bed back. 
(His head had been slightly raised.)

His parting thoughts to me today were amazing. Though he was not able 
to say the words, through my asking "yes" and "no" questions he was 
able to tell me "I am praying that God will use this for His glory. I 
am using all my energy to glorify God." I was totally blown away. I 
have been praying that God would minister to Russ' body, soul, spirit, 
and mind. God is obviously answering that prayer.

Russ and I had special prayer together for our daughter Christie as she 
graduates today Summa Cum Laude from Bethel College in Mishawaka, 
Indiana. We praise God who does all things well for giving her this 
opportunity. Though Christie was born profoundly deaf she is graduating 
with a major in communications with an emphasis on print media. Isn't 
that just like God to enable her to communicate so well when 
communication is her biggest hurdle? Go God!

Though Russ and I are unable to be with Christie to celebrate her 
special day, Russ said with his voice "Hurrah!"  I'll bet he had been 
practicing that as he looked forward to this auspicious day. We will be 
represented by 15 relatives at the ceremony followed by a celebratory 
dinner at a restaurant. Russ and I will participate through a little 
gift we've sent to her (which I can't tell you about until she's 
received it!)

We are thankful for the various awards that Christie has been given:
Most dependable for the Beacon (student newspaper that Christie edited)
Most patient for Beacon
Finalist for Indiana Collegiate Press Association Best Journalist of 
the Year

And perhaps the most exciting award was that she was one of four 
recipients of one of Bethel's highest awards called the Servant 
Leadership Award. We're thankful that Christie has been able to develop 
her God-given leadership qualities, but what we're really excited about 
is the "servant" part. That's what we want for our kids. God calls each 
of us to be servants and gave us a real-life model in Jesus. More than 
anything we want our children to be like Jesus.

Christie is planning to go overseas for two months beginning in mid-May 
to work with deaf children in a third world country. Please pray with 
us for God's protection, that God will use this experience to draw her 
even closer to Jesus, and that she will be able to share Jesus with 
those who don't yet know Him.

Rejoicing in God's control,
Flossie Epley