August 2003  |  September 2003 October 2003  |  Nov - Dec 2003 January 2004

Monday, September 1, 2003 2:39 AM CDT

Hello everyone. It is Sunday evening and I trust you are all enjoying the long weekend, our final goodbye to summer. Oh wait, most of you live in California, so that doesn't apply!

Mark had a terrific weekend. Saturday he was visited by Joel Vander Ploeg of Boston, MA. Joel used to sing in the choir at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church. Mark was delighted to catch up with an old friend. They ate at a place called, "Jackie's Too" in Perkins Cove. Marilyn Fontana once visited the Ogunquit area and suggested this restaurant to Mark. It was ideal with a table right on the water's edge and the cheeseburger not undercooked, the fries just right and the Coca-Cola Classic nice and icy! Mark said that fish can take a rest for now. They walked around the area afterwards enjoying the ocean air and consuming nature's manna: chocolate ice cream!

On his way out of town, Joel dropped Mark off at the beach where he met up with some friends for a short time before heading to Gary's for a much needed nap. Then, he headed over to the health club for some time on the treadmill. Chef Gary prepared that evening's dinner for his family and Mark: Filet Mignon. I'm sure Gary pulled his classic trick of preparing Mark's meat less than well done, but dimming the lights so he wouldn't notice! Mark even had a taste of lobster, something he rarely consumes. "Just one bite for now," he says. In the evening he curled up to the comfort of reading some more chapters from "Trusting God."

On Sunday, Mark worshipped at the Ogunquit Baptist Church. Over the last couple years he has made quite a few friends in the congregation. Much time was spent after the service talking with people. The afternoon was spent eating another non-fish cheeseburger at the beach, where he began reading a book given to him by Anne Marie Johnson, the organist from Ogunquit Baptist.

As we mentioned yesterday, he is able to shower completely unassisted now. However, it is still not without a great deal of effort. Each day does get easier, though. Mark is very appreciative for your prayers for even the smallest tasks. He is also very grateful for your unwavering concern and care expressed to him in so many different ways. Please remember to still pray for pain management, for more energy, for less need of medication, and for peace and contentment as he prepares for the next chapter of his new life. We should also remember to pray for Gary. His efforts need to be supported by all of us. While Mark is becoming more and more independent each day, he still requires aid for many things such as driving to physical therapy, going to the post office, changing some of his clothes, making the bed, and preparing food. As cherished and helpful as visitors are, it is Gary who is still there when they must leave. It is his home that Mark is living in. Please pray for his peace of mind and ease of all the tasks that he must attend to at this time. Please also remember to give a word of Thanks to God for our friend Alicia Steinhaus, who handles most of the technical side of this website. It is relatively easy work for her, however it takes a little time, each time. The site only allows for 3 pictures at a time on the picture page, so she has creatively taken several pictures and arranged them into one so we can see them. Please look for some new pictures very soon. And last, but NOT least, we should thank God for our fearless friend Jeremy McElroy without whose tireless efforts in calling, flying, and writing, would leave us all out of touch with Mark. What a treasure of friends the Lord has graciously given to Mark just as He has so graciously shared with us one of His prize creations - Mark!

Friday, September 5, 2003 9:30 PM CDT

Hello everyone. Today is Friday, September 5 and I have much good news about Mark to bring to you! Recall that we have prayed so earnestly for Mark's pain management and that he could wean himself off some of his medications. Well, I am happy to tell you that Mark no longer takes any narcotic pain medication for his shoulder! His energy is up, he is more comfortable, and thankfully, he is less loopy! Our specific prayer needs have been met. Also, the dosage of anti-depressant medication that he must take has been halved. Another significant milestone has been reached. He does, however, still stuffer from phantom pain and takes the appropriate pills. These are not narcotic, though, and have virtually no side effects whatsoever.

While this is a major improvement, Mark still gets tired during the day. Not as much as before, but often still. He says that this is the primary reason he has chosen not to fly home until hopefully the end of next week. While not yet set in stone, Mark is fairly confident that he will return to CA on September 10 or 12. Please pray for that journey. It will take so much out of him. The drive to Boston from Ogunquit is near an hour and a half. The airport hassles add another hour and a half. Then, the flight. 6+ hours in an airplane. Then the hassles in LAX followed by the ride home to Pasadena. He will need lots of prayer that day. We will be sure to let you know precisely when that is.

This evening he has his final Physical Therapy appointment in York, Maine. He is looking forward to one final week of rest and relaxation in Ogunquit, where it is starting to become not so hot. Next week it is forecasted to drop into the mid-40's for the evening low. I wonder if Mark has ever been in such frigid weather before? He is also excited to devise a way to get all the cards, gifts, and monkeys home!! That will be an achievement, I assure you.

Now that this chapter of Mark's new life is nearing its end, I think it would be a terrific way to express our love to Mark by thanking and expressing our love to Gary. Since Mark will be leaving soon, it would be best to not send any mail to him in Maine after next Monday, September 8. However, we should still keep sending! Instead of "Get Well" or "Happy Birthday," let's change our cards to, "Thank You!" Gary has done so much not just for Mark but for all of us. We need to pray for him when we pray for Mark and thank God for their friendship and the resources Gary has been able to utilize for Mark's healing and recovery. I know this would mean so much to both of them.

That's all for now. Stay tuned for more Mark Musings this weekend.

Tuesday, September 9, 2003 0:19 AM CDT

Hello friends and happy day to each of you,

We have lots to cover so we'll get right to it! This was a terrific weekend for Mark. On Sunday morning they worshipped at Trinity Church in Boston. His description of the experience was, "Absolutely Fabulous!" One of the moving experiences in the service was when the choir sang an anthem based on I Peter 1. Gary's son Phil looked over at Mark and smiled since they had just read the passage in their devotions a few nights prior. Also, check out Mark's note in the guestbook for Sept 1. This is the very passage of scripture to which he was referring. Isn't it great that when God wants to communicate something really important to you, He makes it very clear? Of course, like so many of us, we have to hear it 3 times to really get it to sink in!

Another one of the blessings Mark receives in corporate worship is that his phantom left hand is very calm. The same is true when he is listening to music or even being at the beach. Other times it can really go nuts on him, doing random things, with a shooting pain every so often. He still takes medication for this and will for some time. However, I once heard a wonderful phrase: "God gave us music that we might pray without words." It sure seems that music is a very powerful tool for healing prayer in Mark's life. This is one key area that Mark and the rest of us will keep in our prayers for a while.

In the last update we told you about a terrific answer to our prayers: Mark no longer needs narcotic pain medication for his shoulder. However, there are a couple interesting changes to his body that we need to pray for. First, in the last few days of being narcotic free, Mark has discovered that he has difficulty sleeping. He either could not fall asleep for hours or once he did fall asleep, he would awaken in the middle of the night and not be able to get back to sleep. He spends a lot of time praying in those moments. Not just to get back to sleep, but for each of you and how grateful he is for the prayer blanket that you have wrapped him in. He hopes that you receive the same wonderful blessings that he is. Last night he already experienced an improvement by having slept from 11:30 until 9:30 in the morning. It was his first full night of sleep since being off the medication. He hopes and prays that this trend will continue. Please pray for his sleep tonight as you end your day.

The second key area for prayer now is his new body temperature. Not only does he need to be wrapped in prayer blankets from you, he also now needs to be wrapped in wool ones. Even when it is 69 ° in the room, he still gets very cold. He also sweats in his sleep. This is very common for someone who has undergone a major trauma. The doctors tell him that it is normal, but as you can imagine, it not only chills him, it is uncomfortable and somewhat irritating. Please pray that his body will run its course of adjusting to its new form with relative ease.

Now, I am sure most of you are very eager to know when Mark is coming home. Well, so is he! He has yet to determine when that is. While he thought that the end of this week would work, he is thinking he needs one more Sunday in Boston. He wants to visit Park Street Congregational Church, a sister congregation to Lake Avenue Church. While he is eager to get home and start the next chapter, he wants to be sure his body is ready for the journey. Please pray for this decision.

That's all for now.

Jeremy

Monday, September 15, 2003 2:49 PM CDT

He was in and out like a flash flood, only it was more than that - he was washing us with the presence of his return.

Mark passed through Pasadena on Saturday on his way to a family reunion in Stockton, Sunday through Wednesday. He slept well on his own bed for the first time in many months and had the opportunity to be in his own home. It was a loving and warm experience. Because it was such a short time he could not contact everyone, although he knows So MANY want to welcome him home. However he will be back Wednesday and the flood of friends can begin.

In preparation for his return Paul Bandy made sure all his mail was ready as well as picked Mark up from the airport. Amy Tan was gracious enough to stock the refrigerator and the cabinets with food as well as take Mark to the airport on Sunday for his flight to Sacramento.

Bruce Rhodes had a chicken salad ready for lunch and Paul Bandy fixed one of Mark's favorite dinners - pot roast. Dessert was....well, it's easy - chocolate ice creams. Donna and Ben Kazas just happened to call that day on their way from Modesto to Costa Mesa and stopped by with homemade chocolate chip cookies.

Diane, Tony and Eva picked Mark up at the airport and took him to Stockton to see his mom and brother Wayne; quite an emotional reunion as you can imagine. Then off to a dinner at Dodie's to see North Dakota relatives Jayne and Lorraine. Today [Monday] he has a meeting with Nadine Brenneman and cousin Diane to work on details for the memorial celebration reception and Tuesday night he'll have dinner with some Stockton friends. Then Wednesday it's back to Pasadena for him and Thursday he gives his first lesson!! This will be the start of his new life which will include more doctors appointments, more therapy and eventually a new arm!

One last antidote. At dinner with Paul, Mark told a story of his experience when he accidentally was over medicated with morphine. He could see himself drifting away in that renowned tunnel of light, on his "way to Heaven". But there were voices that kept yelling at him. "Mark, you are in a hospital", "Mark this is Dr. so and so"; "Mark, keep breathing". He eventually came back to his hospital room to the faces of Gary and the hospital staff. Mark commented how twice he has almost died, and twice the angels brought him back. He KNOWS with an eagerness of voice and without a shadow of doubt that God has something for him to do. All of us are part of that!

Welcome Home, you good and faithful servant. We await our new journey with you!

John West

Friday, September 19, 2003 12:47 AM CDT

Hello friends,

Here is the latest musings of Mark for you to peruse and enjoy:

After returning to California last week, Mark traveled to Stockton for a very special reuniting with his friends and family, most notably his mom and brother. Be sure to check out the picture of her and the flowers from Mark and Wayne commemorating the 65th wedding anniversary of mom and dad Thallander.

Mark's time in Stockton was very meaningful. He was able to connect with over 60 people in just 3 days. Many activities filled up his time: Simple errands with his mother; selecting pictures with his brother for his father's second memorial service, scheduled for November; the simple enjoyment of sharing meals together; the profound enjoyment of concluding them with chocolate ice cream, which of course was already stocked up in anticipation of Mark's arrival! He also rehearsed an organ duet that can be done with only 3 hands instead of 4, with friend Inez Pope. They will be playing together for the memorial service. At the end of the 3 days, cousins Diane and Tony returned Mark to Sacramento for his flight home.

Mark was picked up by his chauffeur and friend, Paul Bandy, who is becoming well versed at toting Mark around. They do live in the same building, after all, so it can be fairly convenient. Their lunch that day was at Hamburger Hamlet on Lake Avenue where they were spotted by Clarita Gustafson and her husband Darrel, a choir member, from Lake Ave. Church. Also included in the spotting were Mr. and Mrs. Roland Hines. A very nice reunion indeed, according to Mark.

Thursday was also a very good day for Mark. He taught for the first time since the accident, a lesson to his organ student. Lest we think that Paul gets to have all the fun driving Mark around, alas, there are other options for Mark's transportation needs: himself! Yes, Mark ventured out onto the road in his red chariot, sans chauffeur (Ford Taurus!) and drove himself to Glendale Presbyterian Church. He hadn't driven in the crazy southern California area since June 5! There met the new senior pastor and also saw music friends David Pickett, Jan Bush, and Peggy Richmond. The new organist at GPC surprised Mark by taking him to lunch. That evening, he partook in his usual Thursday night ritual: dinner at Conrad's in Pasadena with fellow church musicians. This group of people have been meeting Thursdays after choir rehearsal for years, and Mark was just thrilled to be able to see them again and bask in the comfort of familiar faces and friends. Their support for each other is yet another blessing from God straight to Mark.

On Friday, Mark is looking forward to having lunch with Julian from Lake Ave. Church. Julian would like to meet all the monkeys he had sent to Mark in Ogunquit! The evening holds a concert by Chicago at the Greek Theatre with Tom Lenton and Alicia & Jeff Steinhaus. Remember that Alicia is the technical support behind our little corner of this wonderful website.

Of course, Mark is VERY happy to be home, to see his familiar friends, family, sleep in his own bed, and proceed full steam ahead down the road of his new life. He already missed his friends in Ogunquit, though. He feels like that is a phenomenal second home and is SO thankful to everyone from Portsmouth up to Portland for their love and support and SO much care given him.

Wednesday, September 24, 2003 12:44 AM CDT

And so the first week at home starts and the process of living with responsibilities begins again. But not before more fun!

Friday night the group Chicago was playing at the Greek Theater and Mark attended with friends Alicia & Jeff Steinhaus and Tom Lenton; friends from Lake Avenue Church (Alicia is the web master of this site). Old memories from old songs were reminisced and the concert was spectacular.

Saturday was spent all day at home. As you all can imagine three months of responsibilities had piled up and his friend Amy Tan came by to help sort through things. After Mark replied to the piles of mail Amy then took it to the Post Office. Mark also discovered his calendar which he thought he had lost or left in Maine. And as you all know, with his schedule this was like losing another limb! It was tucked away in one of the pockets of his suitcase.

In the mid afternoon Josh from Master's College came by to help fix faucets as well as take him on a scavenger trip to Pep Boys and other auto supply stores. Mark needs to find a steering wheel ball he can grip while maneuvering his car. These items seem to be geared towards a certain crowd and interest and all he could find was an 8 ball or Skeleton head. Not wanting to scare all of you when he drove up to church to visit, he passed on the skeleton head. [Mark, I know of a Jesus bobble-head doll you can adapt!)

Sunday was a powerful, blessed and healing filled day for Mark. Morning service was attended at Grace Community Church, and Mark said he felt the "service was designed just for me". The Choral Call To Worship, directed by long time friend Clayton Erb, was 'All People of God'. This had great meaning to Mark because it was written by Don Fontana who Mark was with when it was written for the opening of the Crystal Cathedral. One of the hymns was ÔI Sing The Mighty Power of God' and Mark really was moved by the 3rd verse which reads 'While all that borrow life from You is ever in Your care'. Scripture was Psalm 139, the Psalm of God's complete knowledge of his human creation. The sermon was on Mary and Martha and as Mark put it "I am now more of a Mary than a Martha". :-)

Afterwards lunch was with Les and Pam Barnhart — Les and Mark resided on the same floor at college. That evening he attended Evensong at the beautiful church in Hollywood, St. Thomas The Apostle Episcopal Anglican Church. Mark loves this organ as well as the congregation and the service was very moving. Here he ran into David Bell another long time friend. As if his day were not full enough Mark attended a concert with Robert Sage, Professor of Piano at Azusa Pacific University, and the Professor of Cello at Cal Lutheran, Thousand Oaks. They were performing new music with one of the composers there for the premiere.

Monday was a day of realization and joy. Upon talking to the California State Social Security office, he discovered that as long as he has assets of $2000 or more, there is no assistance available to him. They did say he could sell his piano to buy food and pay rent. Yeah...right! This was a disappointment, but in true style he did the logical thing: he went to the Beach. His friend Paul Floyd, Assistant Director of LA Opera was heading that way and so the two of them drove down to a lovely spot just below Dana Point and spent the day there. There they also ran into Sal, organist at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels; the new Catholic Cathedral in downtown Los Angeles. Sal's sister has had her leg amputated and has a prosthesis so Mark had many questions for him. Most importantly the water has a calming effect on Mark's phantom hand and phantom pain.

A quick overview of the next 2 days: Tuesday - lunch with Jan Bush, music secretary and Peggy Richmond, director of children's music at Glendale Presbyterian Church as well as teaching student, Grace, from Glendale College. That evening he attends a Bible Study led by dear friend Paul Bandy. On Wednesday Les Barnhart comes to tie all his ties and that evening the first Committee meeting of the Trust Fund will be held.

I talked to Mark on Saturday and after listening to his voice for a few minutes I stopped him and said "Boy, you are happy today. What happened?" He replied "nothing". God continues to bring Mark Peace and Joy - that peace which surpasses all understanding, comprehension and expectation. Everyday he teaches me more.

John West