Friends,   

I miss you!  I hope you’re doing the best you can during these challenging times.  I feel like a huge part of my life is missing since we haven’t been able to get together lately.  It is…you! 

We had a few people share how they’re doing with this pandemic this past week.  I love it when people share.  Please keep sharing đŸ˜Š.  I’m so happy to hear that so many are doing well.

Nancy Lovelace could use some prayers.  You’re in my prayers Nancy, I hope you continue to recover.  Here’s a message from Nancy, let’s keep her in our prayers. 

Hi, I just wanted to let you know I spent 4 days in the hospital at Waukesha. I got an infection and it played severe Havoc with my MS. I couldn’t stand, I had no strength in my legs, my vision was very blurry and I was in such extreme pain that I never felt before! They basically knocked me out the first night to alleviate the pain and other things. I had no muscle strength the next day. As they got the infection under control; I was able to regain strength in my legs. So, I’m on the mend I’m getting stronger each day. If you want you can share it with the group. Prayers are always welcomed! I had the most fantastic medical team including my neurologist. Thanks and take care! 

 Nancy Lovelace

Many people were asking how Katie is doing.  Susan must have heard us and sent me an e-mail that I was really happy to get.  She also sent a picture that made my day.  I thought I would share so it can brighten your day like it did mine.  Thanks Susan!  I’m so happy to see and hear that Katie is working so hard and doing well.

Hi Dan, We hope you, your family, and business are doing well through these challenging times. We sure miss everyone. All of Katie’s outpatient PT/OT is on hold. So, we have become very creative in our home therapy. Katie does about 2 hours a day. I think she will be glad to get back to outpatient (they let her take more breaks đŸ˜). This is a picture of her using the shower grab bars for chair pull-ups. Hugs to all.

Connie wrote a nice note from Florida as well.  Looking forward to seeing you when you get back, Connie!  Here’s a message from Connie:

I miss everyone very much! The FL sunshine does help! I am doing what I love in the gardens I put in at the place my friends are letting me stay. They are keeping me safe. I miss hugging the people in the neighborhood and my good friends who are keeping me safe. I am blessed to have Amy & Bill in my life & also all of you! I will be staying here till this hard time passes. Fatigue is my only complaint for now. Stay safe, healthy & happy!  -Connie-

Chrissy also wrote a nice message to share even though she’s giving me way too much credit.  This group is who it is because of everyone that’s part of it.  Here’s Chrissy’s message:

Dan and everyone else in our AWESOME gym filled with love.

        Dan I can’t thank you enough for building our gym. You are the man who built it we all showed up. Your gift of sharing warms my heart. We all need to live in the moment the Lord gave us. Smiling at someone, you must feel what it feels like when someone gives you that kindness, let’s pay it forward. Keep those kind thoughts about people.  We are not here to judge; we are here to give out the best of ourselves. Positive thinking brings out positive results. Myself, I am so grateful for all of you.  It warms my heart to know I have a special place and friends who know some much about our MS. We all share that together; this is why our gym is so important to us all. Let’s all stay safe; remember we will be back together again soon. Thank you, Lord, for our prayer group, just to talk and see you all. I love you ALL, to the moon down to the dirt. My faith carry’s me through any rough times. Knowing you are all there helps me a great deal, THANK YOU ALL. With all my love see you soon. Dan could you share this to everyone, I could not figure that out. Blessings to all and their family’s.  Joy, love, grace and peace to all my Gym friends.

Very nice Chrissy!  Thanks for sharing such beautiful words and feelings.

Our prayer group on Wednesday mornings are growing.  Even though we can’t get together physically, it’s so nice to see all that joins us virtually and learn how you’re doing and how this pandemic is affecting you.  I really like the good things coming out of this pandemic that are discussed…seeing God’s work as blessings.  It’s awesome seeing so many of you there laughing, listening, sharing and praying!   We have a lot to give thank for, don’t we?

We’re going to be doing it again tomorrow (Wednesday) @ 11:30am.  We’ll get together either via phone or computer (your choice) and share, talk, listen, give thanks, and pray in however God leads us.  It’s a way for all of us to get together virtually to catch up and be there for each other and with each other.  I hope you’ll join us!

Here’s a link to our Zoom Meeting that Ashley provided for us.  Thanks Ashley!  Just click or call @ 11:30am Wednesday and you’ll be connected.  I hope to “see” you there!  đŸ˜Š

Topic: MS-Just Keep Moving Prayer Group

Time: This is a recurring meeting

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/786859505

Meeting ID: 786 859 505

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Meeting ID: 786 859 505

Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/acej2eGAIM

I hope you’ll join us on Zoom!

Thanks to all who are making masks!  Mike sent me an e-mail today letting me know he’s running another 2.5 million kits this week and asked me to get the word out there that we need volunteers to keep making them.  If you’re interested in doing this, please let Laura know.

Also, if you’re making masks, please share pictures of you and your family making them and delivering them.  We want to put together a really nice thank you to Mike for donating all the materials for the kits. 

Judy 2.0 was able to donate a box to the Lisbon Fire Department.  They were in desperate need of them and very appreciative.

Thank you all so much for volunteering to help!  You’re awesome!  There are so many people in need of masks right now.

My heart goes out to all the people and families of the people that have been affected by COVID-19.  This is really getting serious and close to home.  Whether actually having it, being exposed to it, being affected by businesses being shut down, losing your job, working on the front line, etc.  These are tough times and we really need to take it seriously and do our part of practicing social distancing and all other recommendations.  I hope you and your family are safe.  Let’s keep everyone affected in our prayers and pray we all get through this as safely as we can.

As we all go through this pandemic together, I encourage you to share a smile with someone.  Perhaps you could give someone a call that you haven’t talked with for a while just to see how they’re doing.  This pandemic is tough in many ways.  We all could use a little extra love and encouragement during these times.

I hope we get to get out and ride together soon!  We’re going to have to wait until this pandemic settles down a bit before we get our big group together to ride on Friday mornings.  I would encourage you to get out there riding with one or two other people for now.

Let’s be thankful for all the doctors, nurses and everyone in the health care that are putting themselves at risk every day and every night as they serve those with the Coronavirus.  These are amazing, selfless, courageous people!  Let’s also give thanks to all the people in the world that are working diligently to develop testing equipment and ways to treat this Coronavirus.  Let’s also give thanks for all the people that are working diligently to produce protective gear, respirators, and any other medical equipment to help us get through this pandemic. 

We may be inconvenienced in many ways but others have it much worse.  Let’s be thankful we have each other.  I know I’m thankful for you! 

We will not be getting back together at the gym yet.  We’re going to get through this COVID-19 pandemic before we do.  I love you too much to put you at risk. 

I hope you’re doing your part to â€œkeep moving” and stay healthy during these unprecedented times we’re going through.  I’m hoping and praying that none of us get this virus and have to deal with it.

Let’s stay calm, focused, healthy, flexible, have faith and learn as much as we can about the challenges of each day and make good choices.  Hopefully we’ll be back at the gym together soon.

I love and miss you all!

Dan

P.S.  Please share how you’re doing and what you’re doing to keep moving…pictures and smiles please đŸ˜Š