First of all thank you to everyone for your thoughts and prayers over the last year. We have decided to create a blog to have an outlet for anyone who is interested in updates on Lances condition a place to come and be informed. The title of the blog "A future and a hope" comes from Jeremiah 29:11, which is a verse that has given our family alot of comfort through these challenging times. Because as my Dad has said, no matter what happens we have already won! I would encourage you to pass on the location of this site to anyone that you may believe would be interested in updates. -Justin



Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Latest news from the Halls

HI!!

Remember us!! We were just talking when we wrote the last blog that maybe people are tired of hearing updates on us... it is hard to know when to stop... But then I sat here this morning and realized that Lance has had a few steps forward since we wrote so I thought we'd share them.

Lance got two colds over the last couple months and some weird swelling in his arm, hand and then leg which might sound like a bad thing but the good was that he got over one cold before he got the next one and getting over them on his own is great!! The swelling wasn't a blood clot so that was a praise! He was so excited to be able to go home to Minnesota for the first time in three years!!! He has been getting out more now which is so nice, but sometimes a little scary with his immune system. And now the big news.......Lance started trying to work 5 day a week after the first of the year!!! It has been over a year and this is huge step forward for him! He is tired but so happy to be able to do this. His work has been awesome we are so thankful..... can't express that enough!!

He has also had a little set back.... He had to go back on steroids again for GVH that started to hit his joints and tendons. After two ultra sounds looking for blood clots and not much sleep from pain, I think he was relieved to know what the problem is and ready to feel better. Praying he can get off soon but it was needed for now as they didn't want any permanent damage. Although steroids lower his immune system even more so we pray he will not have to be on them long.....BUT...they do give him more energy!

I don't think even though the doctors tried to explain it to us that we comprehended what a long haul this would all be. But really God is so good because we realize now that sometimes you can only handle so much information at one time. Looking around at what is going on or what is ahead is not always a good thing.... I read the coolest devotional recently as God has been reminding me to keep my eyes, my focus on Him and not on the circumstances around me. It was so good for me to hear.... because as we have gone for many extra doctor appointments the last couple months and when I hear blood clot I tend to think the worse..... I needed to be reminded where to keep my focus...... Well, Here is part of it if you want to read it:

When Noah was commanded to build his strange-looking craft, he was instructed by God to make only one window in the entire ship. The window was to be in the roof (Genesis 6:16). There was just one way for Noah to look out of his craft, and that was up. The opening was actually a skylight toward heaven.

The secret.....is not to spend our time foolishly fretting about the storms which surround our ship, but, having taken note of those storms, to commit our ship to the great Captain of the seas. It is not the severity of the storm that is important, but the capability of the Captain.
---From: Early In The Morning --by Woodrow M. Kroll

I find that to just be the greatest thought! My God...."My Captain" is TOTALLY CAPABLE!! God is asking me...Where is your focus?.... Let it be on Him... Thanks for your continued prayers! ---- Penny