Our 100th Post

Yes, we're still here. We traveled to the tiny town of Falls City for Christmas this year. That's where I (Scot) grew up. It has fewer people in it now than when I lived there - population 474. It is still a wonderful place thought, full of relatives and memories on almost every corner. It was a white Christmas there three years ago, but not this year. It was actually quite hot.

After the four hour drive, which wasn't too bad, we had another gift-giving Christmas celebration with my parents and brother. It was a real treat. We attended the only church in town on Christmas morning, Holy Trinity Catholic Church, which was the church I attended growing up. We then spent the rest of the day at my grandfather's house, which was filled with aunts, uncles and cousins. That's what Christmas means to me - being with family at my grandfather's house. It was special having my family there too.

We made it back home last night after another four hour drive, this only a little more painful than the first. I'm not yet one of those dads that say "don't make me come back there..." or "I'll turn this thing around." Liza has not had physical therapy in over a week and is feeling the lack. She told me just a second ago that she feels like she's moving backward. She hasn't been able to rest well and she's been in constant discomfort. If we can get her resting better, that will be a huge step forward. Please pray for that. She will have five days of physical therapy this week.

School is done for the semester and it feels really good to have a break. I'm doing some clean-up study (a few things left over from the semester work load) and trying to find time to do some projects around the house. Blessings to you all and many thanks for continuing to check in here, read, and pray for my sweet wife. I also thought I'd share some more family Christmas photos.

The Christmas Splits

I haven't posted in a while because I have both finished my semester of school and subsequently crashed the plane, so to speak. I have been totally wiped the last few days. Otherwise, the Polloks are still here and doing rather well.

Liza actually DANCED on Saturday night! Well, she performed a solo at the beginning of a piece called "Agnus Dei" in which she basically "moves her arms around," in her own words. She did no jumping, turning or spinning for you that are worried. It was a big step, very encouraging for her, and made all the family very proud and worried. Our good God is bringing my wife back to her passionate ministry with a new fervor and drive. It really is a beautiful thing to watch.

Yesterday I drove Sonja to the airport headed to Australia to spend Christmas with her family and friends there. That means she'll be arriving about now, our time. It's a long way. We are headed to Falls City this morning to spend Christmas with my family there. It will be our first without my grandma and should be a special one. Jacob and Amy will also be heading to Australia in a couple weeks, after they and Steven spend Christmas with Amy's family. So we are all headed in different directions this Christmas, which I suppose is becoming more and more normal in our time.

Many warm blessings on your Christmas celebration this year. Please be full of our gratitude and thoughts as you and your friends and family gather around the warmth of the story of our Savior, humbled to be born in a feeding trough in the likeness of you and I. He was born on a mission to save us from our sins - the only thing by the way, that no other world religion offers a solution for. Christ was born to solve man's deepest problem - himself. I pray that you find yourself in that story this Christmas and perhaps for the first time, you truly celebrate Christ's birth. Blessings and Merry Christmas.

Christmas after a long year

This year the Pollok family experienced quite a bit. We will have gone through three surgeries, one funeral, and over two dozen rounds of antibiotics. But Christmas is our favorite time of year and we're extremely excited to be here again, whole, healthy and together. Liza is still making progress in baby steps. She's busy plugging away at therapy and is trying to keep the headaches to a minimum, but they're not really in her control. Please keep praying for her. Here are some of the cuter pictures from our new family Christmas album.

Long Weekend

We've had a great weekend, but it was full. We had one of our good friends come in and take some family Christmas photos at our house on Friday morning, AFTER Liza had yet another physical therapy appointment. They turned out extremely good and we'll post some soon. I worked about ten hours that evening and Liza went to the studio again. Saturday was unusual in that Liza and I got to sleep in a bit. Sonja took the kids for breakfast and we went back to bed. It was glorious. I worked again that evening and Liza and the kids went down to Spring for the third evangelistic Christmas show her school and company has been involved in. They froze their skinny little rears off. We again slighted this morning by taking the family just to one hour of church, our adult community. Then it was home for naps and football. We started to put up some outside Christmas lights tonight and just spent a lot of time lounging around the house, baking cookies, etc. Tomorrow it's back at it. Thanks for the continued prayers. Keep praying for Liza's recovery, especially in the area of neck pain and headaches.

The Daily Grind

It would seem that Liza's life is consumed with physical therapy at the moment. She went yesterday for an extended and fruitful time and will go again tomorrow morning. Her range of motion in the neck is steadily increasing through much hard work and pain. I'm very proud of her.

Both of the kids are fighting off illness; Andrew has it the worst. He has missed his preschool classes all week. Hopefully over the weekend, which is supposed to be cold, he will start to feel better. Poor little guy has been such a trooper. Liza and I have also been working quite a bit lately. I was at the restaurant 14 hours yesterday and will go again tomorrow - hopefully not as long. Liza has also been working longer hours at the studio. She actually jumped yesterday. She probably won't do it again for a while. Many blessings.

More Returns

Tonight, all of the Polloks officially returned to their small group at church for the first time. Liza has been several times, I've been a couple of times, but the four of us have not been together since before Liza's surgery. It was a big deal for us to get back to some of the best friends we have.

Yesterday we had a wonderful time as a family. I went and picked up a tree in the morning and we got all of the decorations down out of the attic. The kids loved going through the boxes and putting all of the ornaments on the tree. It was a ton of fun for them.

The best part for me was putting up the manger. We have been telling them the story of Jesus' birthday but it was fascinating to see them "take in" the manger scene. Izzy keeps going and stealing baby Jesus. Today she blew his nose because he had "boogers." We're trying to find new and creative ways to make Christmas about the Lord for our kids, about giving, about worship, about the story. It's quite the adventure being a parent.

Liza did more physical therapy today and has been in some pain ever since. She's definitely not getting an "enjoyable" massage when she goes to massage therapy, lest anyone misunderstand. Her therapist spent almost two hours today working on her neck with hot rocks and deep tissue massage. That is not a pleasant thing for a neck in Liza's condition. And she's got several more lined up for this week. We'll stay in touch.

Church Double Dip

Liza actually went to church twice today and fared rather well. This morning the whole family went to a bit of "big church" and then it was off to our community group - the most that Liza can handle at this time. She enjoyed catching up with the couples there and then it was off home. (Some pictures from the day - Izzy's wonderful disposition and Andrew hiding in the couch.)

After lunch, nap, bath time and a light dinner, we all headed back to church for our annual Christmas Cafe. Tonight was the last of four shows and it was absolutely fantastic. All four of us sat together down front and the kids loved it as much as we did. They clapped and sang and danced. It was really a nice time. Liza was blessed to have several people that have been praying for her and supporting us come up and visit. It was a wonderful night out as a family.

The only challenge was getting the kids settled and down off their sugar high - lots of candy available at the Cafe. Ah, it was worth it.

This week coming is filled with finalizing school for the semester, work for both of us, and lots of physical therapy. Andrew is fighting a cold and cough and Izzy is hopefully holding off on another ear infection until tubes come the week after. You can still pray for the muscles in Liza's neck to start cooperating with physical therapy - especially those on the front right and back left (sounds like we're changing her tires). Most of her pain comes from those two places and from all over when she does too much. But generally, I think she is still encouraged and progressing. Thanks for all your prayers, well wishes, and support. We are indebted to you all. Blessings.

A Word from Paul

A wise, godly, old Bible professor I know of was once asked a question. "What would you do differently if you could do it all over again?" His answer was simple and quickly given. "I would read the Bible more."

I think of that statement very often, especially when I find that I haven't sought the joy and intimacy of reading my Bible in a while. Yesterday was one of those days. I've been reading through the book of 2 Corinthians. This was among what I read:

For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death works in us, but life in you. But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I believed therefore I spoke," we also believe, therefore we also speak, knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God.
Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

I think that's all that need be said.

Catching Up

The last few days have been filled with activity. Preschool for the kids, work/school/sinus infection for me, and more physical therapy and even some teaching for Liza. Yes, that's right, she went to the studio tonight and taught a level 7 ballet class, after driving herself to a therapy appointment and the grocery store. She's doing quite well, but it's all taking a toll. She is in quite a bit of pain and is utterly exhausted. I'm trying to get her to slow down a little bit, but you can see how well that's working.

Today, the therapist could move Liza's head all the way to her left shoulder, but on the other side (stretching the left side of the neck) it didn't go nearly as far. She was with her for two hours today working on the muscles and her range of motion. She will go back to St. Luke's early tomorrow for another appointment there just to see if her experience gets any better. The more therapy the quicker the recovery...but she can't over do it.

Thanks again for all of your faithful reading. Many blessings and many thanks.

Mom...on her own again

I'm so very proud of my wife. She is working hard to get back to normal. She had another physical therapy appointment today but she wasn't impressed. It was at St. Luke's, but the therapist wasn't as good as the other she's been going to, and she did all of the same stuff. So it's back to our good friend Cindy from now on. She only went to St. Luke's because we wanted to see if the PT that the neurologist ordered was any different that what we've been receiving. Question asked and answered.

I worked a double again today, so Liza was actually mom by herself today. The kids went to preschool again so she had a little reprieve this morning, the afternoon made up for it. Little Izzy, who is tentatively scheduled to receive a second set of tubes December 20, stumbled and busted her tiny little lip. It was quite a dramatic scene from what I've heard. But otherwise, the children are as cute and good as they've always been (they're both getting really good at pushing each other with quite a bit of force).

Many blessings to you all.

First Solo Sortie

Believe it or not, Liza got in a car and went out on her own for the first time today. During the kids' nap time, she grabbed the keys (with my hesitant approval) and slowly headed down the road to do some very minor Christmas shopping, one of her favorite activities of the year. So please keep praying for her...and all the others on the road. (She probably won't do that again for a while, I was a nervous wreck.)

The Providence of God

Today was a restful day for Liza...at least in the beginning of it, that is. She rested relatively well during the night, then helped the kids and I get ready for church. We left for a little breakfast date of donuts and chocolate milk (not the most nutritious meal, but fun) and she went back to bed. The kids love church. They each made little crafts and talked about the Christmas story in their respective rooms. I finished teaching the book of Ruth in our Sunday School class. We got home a little after one and woke Liza up with immediate drama. She did get to lay back down for a nap after lunch. The evening was a beautifully simple Sunday evening, filled with playing and watching football. Liza needed a restful day after such a hectic day yesterday.

While we're on the subject, the book of Ruth has captured my attention. On reason is that I've been translating it from the Hebrew all semester and have had several exams on the subject. The other reason is that I've been teaching it and trying to internalize its wonderful message, which foundationally is about God's providential working in human affairs and the kindness and loyalty that we are asked to show as His children. The intricacies of the story prove the point very well. My favorite passage is in chapter 2, "and Ruth just happened to chance upon the field belonging to Boaz." I just love that because "if Ruth picks the wrong field, we can take down the Christmas lights," as one of my professors says. The narrator writes this account in such a way as to describe Ruth walking down the road trying to decide which field to glean in; for some reason she chooses Boaz's field. God providentially provided for the desperate situation of a widow and a Gentile in the most gentle guidance. Wow. I love it. That's what God does. He graciously provides for our needs in his wonderful plan. In the book of Ruth it turned out to be King David, and the bloodline of Jesus. In the life of the Polloks, sometimes its just a restful Sunday afternoon when we need it the most.

Busy Weekend

Liza actually had planned to go to the studio again yesterday but thankfully decided to try to rest. I'm not sure that she accomplished her goal though. The kids had the meltdown of all meltdowns late last night, as I was away at school of course. Liza and her mum had to try to handle two hysterical kids while they were both running on fumes.

This morning we both arose early, I back to a full day of school, and Liza to a local high school to prepare her girls for their involvement in a fundraiser. Then tonight, she will do the same for an evangelistic Christmas ministry in Spring (a town just south of us). Izzy and Andrew are excited to go and see the camels. Izzy wants to pet them. Yeah, we'll see about that. She talks a big talk. She LOVES animals...but from a distance. Tomorrow, another Sunday School teaching opportunity. We've been going through the book of Ruth. I'm loving it.

I've also been thinking about what I have discovered is one of the most prevalent emotions or dispositions of our age; one that I am intimately associated with. Exhaustion. I don't think there is a more popular answer in our home to the question "how are you?" I'm sure you relate - especially if you're an American, but probably just because you're a human. For some reason we are tempted to measure the quality of our day by the amount of things we get done. Exhaustion then becomes like an award at the end of a "good" day. The Bible would agree...sometimes. To be tired at the end of a hard day's work is a good thing. But busy-ness is not always good. Remember Jesus' words, "Martha, Martha..." And although I hate it, I feel extremely busy. Most of us do.

The beautiful side of busy-ness though, is the opportunity it affords us to depend and rely on God. In the midst of our running and panting and trying and hurrying and working, we MUST become intimately acquainted with the strength, peace, hope, and invigorating Spirit that only God provides. Liza and I have unexpectedly bumped up against this strength and peace. I pray and hope that we become addicted to it more than we become addicted to busy-ness. I love the way God enjoys displaying His strength in our weakness. His peace in our busy-ness. His calm in our storm.