Deanna has asked us to post additional information concerning the funeral service for tomorrow as well as Elizabeth's education trust fund.

To view the celebration of Mike's life, please click on the link below. You may wish to give yourself a few extra moments prior to the start just in case there are any technical difficulties:

http://fbcmckinney.com . Click and then on the right sidebar click

Finally, if you feel lead to donate to Elizabeth's trust fund you may do so directly to Edward Jones. Your check should be made payable to: Edward Jones, FBO: Elizabeth Phillips and sent to the following address:

Edward Jones
FBO: Elizabeth Phillips
P.O. Box 851
Allen TX 75013

More Details

We are slowly pulling all the details together, but here is the information about memorial gifts. This is Mike's wishes. Flowers tend to fade, but gifts to these organizations really speak to Mike's heart and will have an incredible impact for Jesus, who Mike served fervently. Scott will establish the Trust Fund for Elizabeth on Monday. We will post details about that.

Here are the other organizations:


JAARS ( Jungle Aviation and Radio Service). This organization provides technical support and services to Wycliffe Bible translators and SIL international, for Bible Translation around the world. You can donate online at www.JAARS.org or send to JAARS, Inc PO BOX 248 Waxhaw, NC 28173. This organization was very near and dear to Mike. It was his dream to retire from the Air Force and fly missionaries, supplies, and needs for Jesus.

Feed The Children. Again, you can donate online at www.feedthechildren.org. Most people don't know, but Mike has a passion and love for children and making sure they are fed. He loved to donate to food banks around the US and especially to the Tennessee, West Virginia area, where his family roots are.

Please know that we are working hard on finalizing all details and making calls. Thank you to everyone that is helping us put Mike's Celebration together.

I am off to bed. Thank you, thank you, thank you...

Plans to Celebrate Mike's Life

This is a quick notification for everyone.

Visitation will be at Turrentine Jackson and Morrow in McKinney Monday Night from 5:00 - 7:00 pm

Services will be at First Baptist Church of McKinney Tuesday at 2:30 pm with graveside to follow at Pecan Grove Historic Cemetery. A reception will be held at Scott and Kathy's house following the burial.

A few quick notes:

Thank you....
Services are come as you are and whatever makes you comfortable
Finally, please no flowers or plants. We are establishing a fund for Elizabeth and then also asking for memorial donations to either JARS or Feed the Children. I will post more information about that. Right now, Elizabeth and I are off to spend time together. So many have already helped us in the journey and that was a life giving memorial to Mike and Elizabeth and I. Thank you.

Finally, I think we will be able to stream the services online through our church for our dear friends and family all over the world that want to be here, but can't.

Mike's Healing has come....

Mike is with Jesus. Jesus came at 11:35 this morning. I love Mike and I am so proud of his fight. Jesus will cradle him and I know Mike has gotten a well done. Please continue to pray for Elizabeth and I as we walk this new road without Mike but forever In His Hands....

Deanna

Spiritual vs. Physical Reality

Mike has had some steps back in the past 24 hours. His right lung continues to be an issue with fluid now and still pneumonia. His oxygen went down so much yesterday that we put him on on Bipap machine. It is basically like a sleep apnea machine. When he takes a breath in forces oxygen in. He did well for awhile, but has had periods of low oxygen that are concerning. I don't know how to blog what I see. Dr. Bo continues to come every day and adjust Mike in the hospital. Again, he has been one of those consist people in our journey that I don't blog about and one of the many things that we do outside of conventional medicine that makes a difference. Anyway, Dr. Bo always talks about the physical world and the spiritual truth. So that is the way I will try to explain things.... physical world it appears that Mike is truly struggling. Last night was another time when Mike almost went home to Jesus. But again he turned and fought. Spiritual truth is God is SO near and in control. God still has room to work here. God CAN still work here. That is the TRUTH and a fact. That is where we are.

I went to the doctor and she relented and put me on antibiotics. 24 hours later, I finally feel better. But this bump in the road for me had lead to another learning lesson and praise. I am going to praise all friends and family that have allowed me to be at home. So much coordination and people just loving on Mike. It is amazing. Then, we also discover a company that my Dad and Giact has graciously hired for Mike. We have two wonderful women that are Certified Nursing Assistants that are sitting around the clock with Mike - day and night. They are documenting everything, helping care for Mike, and just making sure everything within our humanly power is done to help Mike. It is comforting and reassuring. Mike is being loved on in so many ways. Prayer over by so many people. Cared for by so many people. What a treasure he is and he is such an incredible fighter and a witness to so many people.

Prayer:
Mike - everything...
Deanna - rest and strength and that God will physically carry me and give me wisdom for Mike's care and Elizabeth's heart
Elizabeth - strength and peace that can only come from God at this point. She is struggling
Wendy - we have been basically functioning as one person. She is staying up late at night with Mike and sleeping during the day. I am sleeping at night and now can come up here during the day. It is making this journey bearable for Elizabeth and allowing her to sleep with me and night and just be held and comforted all night. But I don't want to wear Wendy out so pray for her as well please.

Praise:
Friends, family and Giact for all measures taken to wrap Mike is total care and see to every need
Prayers
The ability to witness to nurses and tell our story and about Mike's Faith
Wendy befriending another patient here - I will blog his name later

Schedule together.. Thank you

Just a quick update, Mike continues to be the same. No big strides forward, but more importantly no big strides back.

Thank you to everyone for your support and I know that so many of you would be here if you could to help out. My family has gotten a schedule together for the next day or so. It is my understanding that they have it covered as they have always done. I think sometimes I tend to blog about people coming in and out to help because it is amazing that dear friends will take time, money, and effort for us. But my family has been constant during this entire walk. So I don't want to give the impression that they are not here, because they are. Sometimes I purposely send them back to their lives when I have friends that are here helping. I do that to protect them and give them rest. So to my family, I want to publicly blog thank you for everything. For the money, for the house, for the cleaning, for the laundry, for the food, for the research, for taking care of Elizabeth, for taking care of bell, for the hospital visits, for the coordination, for the rescue, for the calls, for the honey do's, for everything...

So to everyone who is constantly protecting us, building us up, strengthening us, praying for us, loving us even when we don't deserve it, thank you. This journey does not have the words to describe the pain, frustration, joy, life, love, grace and mercy. I can tell you truthfully that without my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, I couldn't stand. He is my strength and my shield.

Please continue to pray for Mike, Elizabeth and I. My praise today is for family and friends that have come to my rescue in my hour of need.

Help

Mike had his PICC line removed and had a mid line put in. Wendy said he had a relatively peaceful night. Pat is up with Mike right now while Wendy is sleeping.

I am asking if anyone locally can help out by taking a day shift to sit with Mike. I am out for at least another 24 hours. I went to the doctor and they are claiming virus. I am flushing my system with all kinds of stuff, but don't feel like I can go back up there until I am not running a fever. I miss him so much and hate this. Wendy has agreed to do all the night shifts from about 5:30 - 8:00 am or so. So if we can break up the day between people it would be a blessing. Someone needs to be there to speak for Mike, because he can't. And to make sure no one does anything that might make the situation worse.

Please shoot me an email or call if you can help out today and tomorrow... maybe even Wednesday....

Thanks
Deanna