The Leprechauns’ Late Visit

by Troy Foster

Every year, the leprechauns make an appearance at the Foster house.  Of course, they are so sneaky that no one ever sees them.  And they are quite mischievous.  But there can be no mistaking that they have been there, as they leave quite a mess.

This year was no different.  Well, with one exception.  They made their trek, and turbulent tracks behind, three days after St. Patrick’s Day.  And the kids were frustrated.  With each day that passed and there was no sign of the little ones, it became more unnerving.  All of them believed that they had to wear green at night – so they wouldn’t get pinched.  As they ran low on pajamas with green in them, the tardiness was taking its toll on them. 

Then, they got it.  “These leprechauns are so naughty that they will come when we least expect it,” our oldest said with a glimmer in his eye.  His face exuded confidence, hope, excitement, and anticipation.  And he explained, rather convincingly, his theory to the other kids.  They were all in agreement; the fun had not passed them by – nothing would deprive them of their St. Patrick’s Day magic.

Truth be told, Kristen and I had a long week.  In and out of the hospital, back and forth to Cincinnati, working being busier than normal – all left little time for us to prepare our house for the leprechauns’ arrival.  And, as the day came and went, I found myself justifying how it wouldn’t be so bad if the little crazy green guys just came next year and didn’t bother with us this time around. 

The justifying ended when we saw that sparkle in the kids’ eyes.  We were not going to let the business of life delay a magical moment, a memory that would be lost forever.

This morning, the kids came running into our room.  “They came, they came.  And they were crazy,” our two oldest exclaimed.  Boy, were they right.  As I walked out of our bedroom, each of the steps leading to their rooms had gold (plastic) coins on them.  They shined about as magnificently as the kids’ smiles.  As I turned to look toward the living room, it was everywhere.  The most voluminous amounts of the tiniest confetti that I’d ever seen.  There were miniature pots of gold, shamrocks, silver stars, gold coins.  It covered the floor, and made a pathway to the kitchen – where giant shamrocks hung from all of the cupboards.  And, where we later discovered, the leprechauns had placed stickers in the refrigerator.

But we were soon to discover the biggest trick of their 2012 visit.  The kids noticed – almost at the same time as I did.  My once full beard was gone – well, at least on half of my face.  On the other half, it remained.  “They shaved part of your beard, Daddy,” Luke squealed, laughing and jumping up and down.  All of the kids laughed so hard and so long, I thought we were going to need to get out the breathing machine and inhalers.  The fun continued until they left for school, but I imagine we’ll talk about it more tonight.

And probably for years to come.  Even though I know that we’ll be vacuuming up that confetti for a solid year (it is super tiny), it was well worth it.  We have another memory – another fond moment where we laughed together.  I’m so glad that the leprechauns decided to come after all!

We hope that you seize your leprechauns and other memory-creating moments every chance you get.

For other heartwarming stories and lessons from Henry’s Hope, please get Three Candles.  It’s a great read, and proceeds will help sick children.  www.threecandlesbook.com or on Amazon!  (19/20 Five Star Reviews!  And 1 4-Star.)   

Good Times - Really!

by Troy Foster

I’m not even joking.  You’ll think I’m crazy or pulling your leg after you hear about our last few days, but I mean it with all sincerity.

Today and The Day Before

I almost forgot the constant whirring noises of the machines, the bright lights, the doors constantly opening and shutting, and the parade of people coming in and out – just when things get quiet.  But, as I sit here, the familiar sounds of the IVs, heart monitors, and sites of the blinding lights and nurses and doctors asking the same questions as those before them – harken me back to when Kristen and I regularly lived in hospitals.  Today, it’s not Henry, but our little Eli that is sick.  He’s dehydrated, has some stomach things, and is in for observation, tests, and fluids.  Poor little man is sick, but he’s going to be fine soon; I just know it.

We also had a little scare with Eli's Crankaw yesterday.  He was in a car accident that could have been so much worse than it was.  The car wishes that it looks as good as Crankaw.

Last Weekend

Every single member of our family, save me, has been sick with a stomach flu off and on for the last week.  Poor Kristen was hit hard.  So there has been some form of clean up underway at our house at a near constant pace.  Oh, and just in time for our new carpet – that we got a few weeks ago.

Our poor dog, Atticus, has a seizure disorder and that flared up too.  So we have him drugged up pretty good on Valium and Phenobarbital.

The Boys’ Check Ups

Henry and Luke have recently been to the cardiologist and neurologist.  Not terrific news.  Henry’s muscle weakness has gotten more pronounced, and they think that Luke might have an arrhythmia.  Neither of those are critical, but just steps in a direction that we’d rather not take.

So What’s Good?

Now, I’m not going to say that any of this was exciting or something that I hoped would happen.  And, I would probably forgive myself (and that’s saying a lot) for being a bit down, if I was.  But, I’m not.

Maybe I’m crazy, and if that’s what it is, I’ll take it.  However, I like to think that I was open to seeing, and enjoying, the good:

·               Henry, Luke, and I made adventures out of our trips to Cincinnati.  There were secret spies, special lunches, sing-a-longs, and a detour home for a book signing.  The doctors visits happened, and the news is not lost on us.  But, what we all remember is how much fun we had.

·               We’re getting ready for Henry’s Wish trip to DisneyWorld – in between the cleaning.  And when Henry and I went to go get our haircut yesterday, Wendy (a good friend and owner of the shop) said “Keep your money for DisneyWorld.  Let me treat you to something.”  Henry said what I was thinking: “Wow, thank you!”  That was so unexpected, unnecessary, and kind.

·               The way he runs around, you would have no idea that Atticus is having health issues.  He’s enjoying life even though he has some hurdles right now.

·               Even now, as little Eli rests with the medicine and fluid doing its work, I sit here thinking about him, what a hoot he is, what fun he’ll have in DisneyWorld, and even the future.  He’s been cuddly because he’s sick, and extra sweet.  Not things that I would have experienced if things went as I planned today.

·               A good friend of ours is picking up our kids at school, their kids will have fun with ours, and help us out a bit.  People are great.  And it just made me think that we need to get those kids together more often when there isn’t a need.  They are close and no reason not to nurture that.

       My father-in-law, who means the world to so many - is back to doing his paperwork today.  I was so happy to hear that this morning.

 

So, good things are all around.  Sometimes, it seems, we just have to be mindful of them and search a bit harder than other times.  It reminds me of a verse from the Bible that I just read coincidentally – that discussed how we have the choice each day to “choose life” and enjoy it for what it is – that day.  Without worry about the future, dwelling on the past – but enjoyment of today.  Deuteronomy 30:19.

So today – a hard day in a string of challenging ones – I choose life.  And I choose to look at the good, and enjoy what I have today.  I hope that I have the strength to keep making that choice each day.  And remember to do it on the good days too!  If I just take a cue from this kid (pictured below), who could easily choose to be mad, sad, or angry.  But he just keeps on enjoying the good times.

Henry's Hope to Help Henryville Victims

Henry is awesome.  He thinks that Henry's Hope, our non-profit inspired by him, helps everyone in need.  This morning, he asked if Henry's Hope was going to help those in Henryville after the devastating tornadoes there this last weekend.  When I told him that we were helping sick kids, before the explanation got out of my mouth, the look on his face told me.  We are helping those folks too.  He's right; kids and their families have been victimized and we can help alleviate some of the trauma.

So this week, part of the proceeds of Three Candles (inspired by and about Henry) will go to those victims.  If you want to make additional donations on top of the book price, every penny will go directly to that effort!

Check out his little video on this today!  Henry is so awesome.

http://youtu.be/2OiWxeghZVE

Thanks for your help!

Recipe for Grace: One CPAP Machine, 70 Loving Guys, One Great Banquet Community, Marinade for 72 Hours with a Whole Bunch of Jesus

By Troy Foster

I almost didn’t go.  A good friend of mine asked if I’d attend a Great Banquet a few weeks ago.  He and his wife know me about as well as anyone; they know our family; and the kids adore them.  He knew that I wanted to be more involved with our church, service in the community, and most importantly, he knows my story.  When he asked, I was honored but filled with dread.  I didn’t want to go somewhere – anywhere really – for 72 hours without contact with my wife and kids.  While I wanted to give, grow, and hopefully help our kids know God, this seemed to be a bit much.  On top of it, one of my first thoughts was that I have a CPAP machine for sleep apnea, and was either going to lug that around (embarrassing) or snore beyond anyone’s imagination (embarrassing and disruptive).  That was almost the nail in the coffin.

But, Henry had told me that he had seen God.  In fact, he told me about the angel’s tower in Heaven, how it looked and sparkled.  And he asked “Don’t you want to see it?”  So, I thought about that.  Thought about how my friends, with hearts of pure gold, have never asked me to do anything.  So, I was in.

And petrified.  Though I’m paid to speak in front of groups and am an advocate, on the personal side, I’m terribly shy and socially awkward.  Uncomfortable could not begin to describe my feelings at the outset.

Then it got hard.  Someone shared a story that unlocked my feelings.  Fear, sadness, drained, loneliness, joy, and happiness.  All at once.  Feelings that I thought that I handled rather well, given that we have two sons with degenerative illnesses with no cure.  In fact, I thought my purpose in being there was to learn and help guide them on their journey – so that they could love and know God.  But, I soon learned how wrong I was.

I rarely cry.  Or haven’t in the last few years.  It is a valve that I think is too dangerous to turn – and there was just too much.  This past weekend, I let that guard down, and cried more than not.  Shed more tears, hugged more guys, and filled more Kleenex with snot than probably in my lifetime.  I learned that I was there for me. 

I was there, as Henry wisely intimated, to develop my relationship with God.  The warmth, serenity, peace, love, and happiness that I felt, and continue to feel, is inexplicable.

Crazy Talk

Most of what I heard, felt, and have described – I would have labeled “crazy talk” if someone had told me.  I’ve always believed in and felt the presence of God, but not so intimately – ever.  And two experiences since I’ve gotten home have solidified how “real” the experience was for me.

First, Henry and Luke.  When I got home, Henry wanted to know if I learned about Jesus.  And then before he fell asleep, he asked, with his eyes blinking slowly and his words soft from the sleep right around the corner, “Daddy, did you see him?”  He grasped my hand as he spoke.  I hugged him and whispered in his ear “yes, I did buddy.”  And he fell asleep.

Then, after sharing some of my experience with Luke, he went to get his children’s Bible.  And he read a passage to us.  He’s a reader; so we got another passage for breakfast and dinner yesterday.  He loves God.

Second, and even funnier “crazy talk,” has to do with my CPAP machine.  I had it on last night, much to my wife’s delight.  But in the middle of the night, I woke up with a song in my head.  It was a song that we had sung over the weekend “God is a Friend of Mine,” and I started humming it.  And I smiled when I finally listened to the words – not just the tune. 

When I got back into bed, I put my face mask to the machine back on.  As I did one of clips on the face mask fell on the floor.  It’s happened before.  So, in the dark, still humming “God is a Friend of Mine,” I felt around with my foot.  Didn’t feel it.  So, I got on my knees and felt nothing within my reach.  It started to become a bit comical to me.  So then, I was on my knees, laughing at myself, humming – actually singing at this point “God is a Friend of Mine,” and then lay flat on the ground.  In that position, the clip to the mask was just within reach.  I grabbed it, laid there for a minute, and appreciated that a message had been sent loud and clear in something that I would do everyday and not hear if I wasn’t listening.  Well, I was listening.

And plan to keep that intentional listening central to my life.  Who knew that you would find Grace in a recipe like this?  I guess Henry did.  Since it's everywhere, if we're open to it, I shouldn't be surprised.


If you would like to read Henry's story, please let me know.  Three Candles is a book that shares his wisdom.  I'd be happy to get you a copy.