Sadly Terry passed away March 4th.
His postings and continuous postive attitude were an inspiration to me and others. He will be greatly missed.
Friday March 12th at 7pm Rosary Service St Luke Catholic Church.
Time to share stories.
Saturday March 13th at Noon Funeral Service. Reception will follow in the gym. St Luke Catholic Church.
322 N 175 St Shoreline, WA 98133
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Up Today...
This last week has been very trying. Not only physically but mentally as well. It has pushed us to the extremes, which has brought us closer together. Bringing out the beauty in all our lives...
So with all this going on, what a great excuse for a party so we played poker and had a blast. Not sure, what kind of cards were being shuffled underneath the big hats :).
We had many laughs and allows me, as well as others, to forget and be as normal as possible.
Peace Love T
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Your Choice...
Was talking to a friend and the question came up, what one piece of advice could I give him from this journey?
To answer the question with just one idea is very difficult but the one I choose is: We all have the ability to control how we react to any and everything...
It would be easy for me to be angry, to be bitter, to be jealous, and to be in despair. However, I choose to love, to laugh, to live, and to inspire...
Today, I am a total quadriplegic with virtually no movement (take that back...I can chew). The crazy thing is if I went to a doctor for him to evaluate my lungs and diaphragm he would say, "dude, how are you still here!" Well maybe they wouldn't have said dude but it's my words.
On a weekly basis my family basically keeps me breathing so that we can enjoy our love for each other in small peaceful moments.
Thinking about this, the next time you have a bad day remember me and understand how you react - is your choice...
Peace/Love
T
To answer the question with just one idea is very difficult but the one I choose is: We all have the ability to control how we react to any and everything...
It would be easy for me to be angry, to be bitter, to be jealous, and to be in despair. However, I choose to love, to laugh, to live, and to inspire...
Today, I am a total quadriplegic with virtually no movement (take that back...I can chew). The crazy thing is if I went to a doctor for him to evaluate my lungs and diaphragm he would say, "dude, how are you still here!" Well maybe they wouldn't have said dude but it's my words.
On a weekly basis my family basically keeps me breathing so that we can enjoy our love for each other in small peaceful moments.
Thinking about this, the next time you have a bad day remember me and understand how you react - is your choice...
Peace/Love
T
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Beauty...
In our world, we see tragedy...
In our world, we see evil...
In our world, there is beauty...
There is beauty, in the smile of a child...
There is beauty, as a butterfly flutters past...
There is beauty, in the bright white clouds floating in the sky...
There is beauty, on the lines of an old mans face...
There is beauty, from a silky smooth pedal of a flower...
In our world, with an open mind...
In our world, all around us we find - beauty...
Peace love T
In our world, we see evil...
In our world, there is beauty...
There is beauty, in the smile of a child...
There is beauty, as a butterfly flutters past...
There is beauty, in the bright white clouds floating in the sky...
There is beauty, on the lines of an old mans face...
There is beauty, from a silky smooth pedal of a flower...
In our world, with an open mind...
In our world, all around us we find - beauty...
Peace love T
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Forgive...
Forgiveness... A powerful word...
If we can forgive others as well as forgive ourselves, our lives will have greater meaning...
May we all find forgiveness in our hearts and souls...
Peace, Love, T
If we can forgive others as well as forgive ourselves, our lives will have greater meaning...
May we all find forgiveness in our hearts and souls...
Peace, Love, T
Friday, December 25, 2009
Free...
Next time you pass through the mountains you will feel their strength...
I am strong...
Next time you hear the wind rustling through the trees, you will listen...
I am speaking...
Next time you look into the sunset, you will see my eyes...
I am watching...
Be not afraid - celebrate - celebrate life, for...
I am free...
Peace Love T
I am strong...
Next time you hear the wind rustling through the trees, you will listen...
I am speaking...
Next time you look into the sunset, you will see my eyes...
I am watching...
Be not afraid - celebrate - celebrate life, for...
I am free...
Peace Love T
Merry Christmas
From our home to yours
May this day be filled with
Joy, Laughter, and Love
Peace Love T
May this day be filled with
Joy, Laughter, and Love
Peace Love T
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Glory Days...
Well football is a team sport and I have many great friends who played together, but hell this isn't about them it's all about me.
One of the best moments for me was the punting game when we played our arch rival Omak.
During the game all was going as planned and during the first punt we lined up in formation and as I scanned the field I noticed that the Omak receivers were very close. Not really thinking much of it, the center snapped the ball to me and I kicked the ball and just rocked it. The receivers had to run back to recover the ball.
As the game went on the score was still tight and we punted frequently. What was really entertaining in my mind was during my punts you could actually hear the crowd stop to watch. Because during this game those punts were spiral and cruising. On another punt the receivers backed up a bit and I still kicked it over their heads.
The last punt I remember we were about the 10 yard line as usual as the huddle broke I scanned the field to see where the kick was going but this time the receivers had to be all the way back to their own 10 yard line - I still laugh at this today.
Although this story was about my punting, the friendships we still have from us all on our football team is as close as it was then.
Peace, love
T
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Can We Talk...
It has been fantastic digging deeper into conversations with many. Reaching to the heart and soul of our existence. In these conversations, there has been many questions but today there are two that have come up.
1. How do we want to be remembered?
2. What is the one idea/concept I would like others to come away from my journey?
These are two profound questions that both could have a thesis written on them however they are both mutually exclusive topics.
How do we want to be remembered? The answer could be so complex and yet so simple. Just think if we all woke up and asked this question! Now, it would not change the world but just think how it would make everyday better.
For me, being remembered as a man who loved his family, was a good friend willing to lend a helping hand or listen. Always ready with a laugh and smile on his face. What you see is what you get. "Okanogan" Not perfect by no means. But loved life and lived it to it's fullest.
This is a wonderful exercise we all should do. It's a bit self serving but hey hopefully we won't call ourselves jerks. Answering this question, allows us to see where we have been, where we are today, and where we want to be tomorrow.
Peace, Love T
PS Question 2 to follow.
1. How do we want to be remembered?
2. What is the one idea/concept I would like others to come away from my journey?
These are two profound questions that both could have a thesis written on them however they are both mutually exclusive topics.
How do we want to be remembered? The answer could be so complex and yet so simple. Just think if we all woke up and asked this question! Now, it would not change the world but just think how it would make everyday better.
For me, being remembered as a man who loved his family, was a good friend willing to lend a helping hand or listen. Always ready with a laugh and smile on his face. What you see is what you get. "Okanogan" Not perfect by no means. But loved life and lived it to it's fullest.
This is a wonderful exercise we all should do. It's a bit self serving but hey hopefully we won't call ourselves jerks. Answering this question, allows us to see where we have been, where we are today, and where we want to be tomorrow.
Peace, Love T
PS Question 2 to follow.
Monday, December 7, 2009
A Crispy Day...
Cheeks rosy from a nip in the air...
Popsicle toes...
A perfect paw print in the morning frost...
Sky Sapphire blue clear and cold...
Leaves on the ground, fall is here...
Winter is around the corner waiting it's turn...
Blanket of snow, covers the ground...
A crispy day...
Peace Love T
Popsicle toes...
A perfect paw print in the morning frost...
Sky Sapphire blue clear and cold...
Leaves on the ground, fall is here...
Winter is around the corner waiting it's turn...
Blanket of snow, covers the ground...
A crispy day...
Peace Love T
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Thanksgiving Day...
Living and dealing with AlS has been extremely difficult but has opened up many opportunities for us to be thankful
One of the best lines inside the essay is "Terry will not let the disease (ALS) define his life," wow...what a powerful statement. How easy is it to ask the question "Why me?" If we do that then in fact the disease will win and that is not an option.
What we really need to do is be able to love ourselves, and once we do that, we will be able to move from the state of mind, "I and me," to "us and we." Doing this allows us to strip back the ugliness of this disease uncovering the beauty inside.
During this journey I have been blessed by probing deeper into conversation, touching lives, and sharing stories with so many different people, reaching a more intimate level with them then you can imagine.
Let's take these words and think about how blessed we all are, for everything big and small, let's tell those people we care about we love them and give them a hug. Always remember those moments and memories that make us smile - hoping you had a great Thanksgiving Day.
One of the best lines inside the essay is "Terry will not let the disease (ALS) define his life," wow...what a powerful statement. How easy is it to ask the question "Why me?" If we do that then in fact the disease will win and that is not an option.
What we really need to do is be able to love ourselves, and once we do that, we will be able to move from the state of mind, "I and me," to "us and we." Doing this allows us to strip back the ugliness of this disease uncovering the beauty inside.
During this journey I have been blessed by probing deeper into conversation, touching lives, and sharing stories with so many different people, reaching a more intimate level with them then you can imagine.
Let's take these words and think about how blessed we all are, for everything big and small, let's tell those people we care about we love them and give them a hug. Always remember those moments and memories that make us smile - hoping you had a great Thanksgiving Day.
Peace Love
T
Monday, November 23, 2009
There is meaning...
Essay written by a senior in high school Emily Ross
I am a member of a large, tightly knit community. This community has been my support system from the moment I was born and has created a sort of bubble around me, in essence protecting me from all the harsher realities of life. Because of this, in my world of ups and downs, the downs have been relatively few. This shield has unfortunately allowed me to take each day as something that I was entitled to, instead of the gift that it is. One day last year, my perfect bubble was burst when I found out that a father of 2 in our community, a close friend of our family, was diagnosed with ALS, better know as Lou Gehrig's Disease. In my mind, when you get sick, you go to the doctor, you get medicine, and you get better. With ALS, there is no 'getting better'. You deal with it, your body deteriorates, and you die. No amount of praying was going to make this better.
I did not know how to react when this happened, so I looked to Terry's family to see how they were handling it. Expecting to see sadness and despair, I was shocked to see that there was no pity there. This man had decided that ALS was not going to define him. ALS would not decide how he lived out his remaining days. So he set out to 'live like he was dying'. He began to do things that he had always wanted to do, like scuba diving in Mexico, and watching the sun set on top of the Olympic Mountains. And as his body began to fail, he pared down his to-do list to experiences that required nothing more than his presence. Every single day that he wakes up is a gift. He is only 51 years old, and he has done more living in the past 17 months than most people do in their entire lives.
Here is a person who was fully alive and healthy, and in one hour his life became finite - the average live expectancy after diagnosis of ALS is 12 months. His reaction and decision to do it on his terms has inspired me to not take every day for granted and to live my life to the fullest. He had planned on a long life with his family, but that's not any of ours to decide. Tomorrow is not guaranteed to anyone, so we have to live out today like it's our last because in all reality, it could be.
Terry has shown me that when life hands you adversity, you have a choice how to handle it. You can let the disease take over and decide how it's going to play out. You can give up and hide in your house and wait for the inevitable end. Or you can take it and run with it. He knows that he's dying, but he refuses to live the label. His eyes are earnest, intense, as if hanging on your every word to commit it to memory. He listens intently, asks pointed, serious questions, almost like he MUST know how you feel. Like he's always wondered, but now he needs answers. I honestly believe that when he is put in bed at night, he is exhausted emotionally as well, for there have been no insignificant interactions that day, only meaningful ones that are meant to help us heal when he is gone. He has given everything he has to make that day a special one. He cherishes the time, every single minute, because sadly his minutes are numbered.
This tragic illness has also benefited our community exponentially. We have learned what it is to truly give comfort to another human being and accept life's difficult times and move forward with them. We, as a community of faith, have rallied around this family, providing food, companionship, laughter, and much, much love. We have had the opportunity to experience it first hand along with him. We have learned compassion, patience, and how to deal with things out of our control with dignity and grace. It is an opportunity for us all to practice what we preach. And we are comforted to know that when his struggle is over, he will be in God's hands and free of this awful disease that has taken so much from him, yet given so much to us.
I consider myself fortunate to have had this man pass through my life. Just living life gets in the way and it's so easy to take your life for granted - your family, your friends, your time, every breath you take. I have been blessed to see first hand that it's not the amount of time you have, it's how you use that time. He has shown me to never waste a second or a chance to tell someone how much they meant to you, because well, you just never know.
To Emily,
Your words express wisdom beyond your years. In my journey there have been good days and bad days but to receive your letter allows me to solidfy my journey. In our lives we get to make decisions and if my journey can help in some small way, that allows me to understand - there is meaning...
Peace Love
T
I am a member of a large, tightly knit community. This community has been my support system from the moment I was born and has created a sort of bubble around me, in essence protecting me from all the harsher realities of life. Because of this, in my world of ups and downs, the downs have been relatively few. This shield has unfortunately allowed me to take each day as something that I was entitled to, instead of the gift that it is. One day last year, my perfect bubble was burst when I found out that a father of 2 in our community, a close friend of our family, was diagnosed with ALS, better know as Lou Gehrig's Disease. In my mind, when you get sick, you go to the doctor, you get medicine, and you get better. With ALS, there is no 'getting better'. You deal with it, your body deteriorates, and you die. No amount of praying was going to make this better.
I did not know how to react when this happened, so I looked to Terry's family to see how they were handling it. Expecting to see sadness and despair, I was shocked to see that there was no pity there. This man had decided that ALS was not going to define him. ALS would not decide how he lived out his remaining days. So he set out to 'live like he was dying'. He began to do things that he had always wanted to do, like scuba diving in Mexico, and watching the sun set on top of the Olympic Mountains. And as his body began to fail, he pared down his to-do list to experiences that required nothing more than his presence. Every single day that he wakes up is a gift. He is only 51 years old, and he has done more living in the past 17 months than most people do in their entire lives.
Here is a person who was fully alive and healthy, and in one hour his life became finite - the average live expectancy after diagnosis of ALS is 12 months. His reaction and decision to do it on his terms has inspired me to not take every day for granted and to live my life to the fullest. He had planned on a long life with his family, but that's not any of ours to decide. Tomorrow is not guaranteed to anyone, so we have to live out today like it's our last because in all reality, it could be.
Terry has shown me that when life hands you adversity, you have a choice how to handle it. You can let the disease take over and decide how it's going to play out. You can give up and hide in your house and wait for the inevitable end. Or you can take it and run with it. He knows that he's dying, but he refuses to live the label. His eyes are earnest, intense, as if hanging on your every word to commit it to memory. He listens intently, asks pointed, serious questions, almost like he MUST know how you feel. Like he's always wondered, but now he needs answers. I honestly believe that when he is put in bed at night, he is exhausted emotionally as well, for there have been no insignificant interactions that day, only meaningful ones that are meant to help us heal when he is gone. He has given everything he has to make that day a special one. He cherishes the time, every single minute, because sadly his minutes are numbered.
This tragic illness has also benefited our community exponentially. We have learned what it is to truly give comfort to another human being and accept life's difficult times and move forward with them. We, as a community of faith, have rallied around this family, providing food, companionship, laughter, and much, much love. We have had the opportunity to experience it first hand along with him. We have learned compassion, patience, and how to deal with things out of our control with dignity and grace. It is an opportunity for us all to practice what we preach. And we are comforted to know that when his struggle is over, he will be in God's hands and free of this awful disease that has taken so much from him, yet given so much to us.
I consider myself fortunate to have had this man pass through my life. Just living life gets in the way and it's so easy to take your life for granted - your family, your friends, your time, every breath you take. I have been blessed to see first hand that it's not the amount of time you have, it's how you use that time. He has shown me to never waste a second or a chance to tell someone how much they meant to you, because well, you just never know.
To Emily,
Your words express wisdom beyond your years. In my journey there have been good days and bad days but to receive your letter allows me to solidfy my journey. In our lives we get to make decisions and if my journey can help in some small way, that allows me to understand - there is meaning...
Peace Love
T
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Cookie Crumb Fairy...
It's raining outside, no it's pouring outside...The wind is blowing it's just a mess...
Clock says it's the afternoon...
The clouds say it's dark and gray...
But wait... can it be...
Oven door opens...
Fresh smell of cookies fill all the rooms...
Warm cookie, plays with the taste buds on the tongue...
A smile, a laugh...
The cookie crumb fairy has arrived...
On a tough day, looking for a diversion, Pam makes chocolate chip cookies mmmm...
Guess we all know who the "cookie crumb fairy" is...
Peace Love T
Friday, November 6, 2009
Time goes on...
The sun rises - the sun sets...
Raindrops puddle on the ground...
Wind dances with the trees...
Snow glistens on the mountain tops...
The flower peeks his head from the dark soil...
Singing birds break the silence of the morning dew...
Hot sand on your feet as you run to the fresh water...
Sweet smell of the honeysuckle permeates the air...
A picture, a moment, a memory...
Laughing, inspirational, tears...
Vibrant red, yellow, orange turn the leaves...
Time goes on...
Peace/Love
T
Raindrops puddle on the ground...
Wind dances with the trees...
Snow glistens on the mountain tops...
The flower peeks his head from the dark soil...
Singing birds break the silence of the morning dew...
Hot sand on your feet as you run to the fresh water...
Sweet smell of the honeysuckle permeates the air...
A picture, a moment, a memory...
Laughing, inspirational, tears...
Vibrant red, yellow, orange turn the leaves...
Time goes on...
Peace/Love
T
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Story Telling...
For the past few months there has been many of our family and friends stopping by telling many "lies" no really I mean stories. What happens though is everything gets bigger, faster, or messier just doesn't matter..."never let the truth get in the way of a good story."
Peace love T
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Courage...
As we travel down our path sometimes the path is smooth and straight, sometimes the path is bumpy full of curves. During these times of bumps and curves it takes courage to move forward and take on things that make us feel uncomfortable.
During visits from family and friends you can see the pain and sorrow in their eyes but you can not take away their courage for stepping out and making the sacrifice to support me during my journey.
Not only during my journey is courage necessary but in everyday life you need to make those tough decisions, do those things that we fear, and strength to make it through those uncertain days - this is being courageous...
Peace/Love
T
During visits from family and friends you can see the pain and sorrow in their eyes but you can not take away their courage for stepping out and making the sacrifice to support me during my journey.
Not only during my journey is courage necessary but in everyday life you need to make those tough decisions, do those things that we fear, and strength to make it through those uncertain days - this is being courageous...
Peace/Love
T
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Orange Juice...
Remember getting fresh, ripe, beautiful oranges in the smell was fragrant and sweet. You would take out this spherical pointed kitchen utility tool that you made orange juice with.
This really dates me, because today you just stick it in a blender and push a button.
Back to the story, when we made orange juice this way. We cut the oranges in half, grabbed them and twisted back and forth on this sphere, getting every drop of juice from this fruit.
In telling this story, it is not far from how my body is working. Everyday that we get up, I am extracting every drop of juice from this body. Some may look at this and say how poor your body has failed but for me my body has carried me much further then anyone else in the same situation.
So next time, you have a drink of O.J. just think it will be good to the last drop.
Peace Love T
This really dates me, because today you just stick it in a blender and push a button.
Back to the story, when we made orange juice this way. We cut the oranges in half, grabbed them and twisted back and forth on this sphere, getting every drop of juice from this fruit.
In telling this story, it is not far from how my body is working. Everyday that we get up, I am extracting every drop of juice from this body. Some may look at this and say how poor your body has failed but for me my body has carried me much further then anyone else in the same situation.
So next time, you have a drink of O.J. just think it will be good to the last drop.
Peace Love T
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Bet I...
You know when you are sitting around and just talking about stuff. Then out of the blue, you say something that you might regret...
Well last night we were sitting at the table watching the dog go in and out of her door and Jeff Ross said " Bet I can get through there"
Well, on that note, everyone jumped on and said no way! Wish I could say there were a lot of beverages but that was not the case. Guess just enough though.
At that point, with us all laughing hysterically, Jeff crawled over and through the dog door. Why who knows, but really just because he could. We had so much fun.
It is times like these that make the days better.
Peace Love T
Well last night we were sitting at the table watching the dog go in and out of her door and Jeff Ross said " Bet I can get through there"
Well, on that note, everyone jumped on and said no way! Wish I could say there were a lot of beverages but that was not the case. Guess just enough though.
At that point, with us all laughing hysterically, Jeff crawled over and through the dog door. Why who knows, but really just because he could. We had so much fun.
It is times like these that make the days better.
Peace Love T
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Something New...
Since coming home from my last event, there have been many changes for me and those who are around me. We are surround by many new "things" that help with every day living. Such as, a bi-pap, cough assist, sip and puff, all designed to help in that underrated "breathing thing". These items combined to make my days much better. It is hard however, to understand that these machines will be short term and at some point will end to be effective. Now, this is not doom and gloom, but an opportunity to reflect on many things and to communicate my most inner thoughts. Again, thanks to all those who have supported me and my family through this journey - we could not have made it without you.
Peace Love T
Peace Love T
Friday, October 9, 2009
Food For Thought...
Destiny is not a matter of chance,
it is a matter of choice.
it is not a thing to be waiting for,
but a thing to be achieved.
it is a matter of choice.
it is not a thing to be waiting for,
but a thing to be achieved.
William Jennings Bryan
...
Who are you to think that you can
Change the World!
...
The ulimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy...
MLK Jr
...
Live for today...
Plan for tomorrow...
Reflect on the past...
TB
...
"The love you take is equal to the love you make"
The Beatles
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