I am involved in an experiment that you might want to join. It is about the power of “gratitude.” Our family have certainly experienced it’s power in the last couple of months.

Joe will be at Brecenridge tomorrow, the 12th from 2:00PM - around 7:00PM to have the arch bars removed. Thank you all for your continued prayers for Joe’s protection and healing. Please join me in being grateful for the wisdom, skill and healing intentions of Joe’s Doctors and Therapist…and to each other for being a part of Joe’s wonderful and loving…world-wide family of friends.

Thank you,

Chris Self

Just go to: http://youtube.com/watch?v=FJ0D-94PXAw

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Happy Easter Everyone! Thanks to his new interest in some cooking show on TV…for Easter dinner, Joe and Courtney prepared Stuffed Cornish Hens for Chelsea, Courtney, her beloved and our’s; Scott and his delightful parents. We all helped! Even pureed for Joe, it still looked good. The entire meal was a blessed feast. We all made sure to save room for the special dessert. MMMMMmMMM Good!!! This “Apple Pie” was absolutely intoxicating!

Joe is anxiously awaiting the removal of his arch bars this Thursday the 12th at Breckenridge. He’s not looking forward to having to return to the hospital…at all. It won’t be a long procedure, but will involve going under general anesthesia again…so please keep him in your prayers. We will be starting on his restorative dentistry as soon as we can, following this procedure. He is very anxious to have his beautiful smile again. He has received a few choices of Bubba Teeth…but they can’t beat what he has right now. So…see him smilin’!!! and laughin’ and livin’ and lovin’ with strength, comfort and ease.

He really enjoys hearing from you all…and if you haven’t received a call from him…know that he is working his way through his long list of loving supporters. I assure you…Joe is extremely grateful to each and every one of you. I am, too!!!

He has a pretty heavy rehab and appointment schedule during the week…and even when he doesn’t have appointments, he is usually pretty worn out by about 3:00…which is one of the times he will make calls from the bed until he can’t stay awake. If he makes arrangements to have you come over…please try to let me know. He is always excited to see ya’ll. But…He still tends to forget to tell me…or remember that he might not be home…or who he has invited - when. I know you all have his best interest at heart, so please remember that he is easily over stimulated; especially when he is tired and he becomes very anxious. Which in turns makes me anxious. Sorry, but I take protecting Joe very seriously. I love him. I know ya’ll do, too.

Joe sends his love along with mine.

Eternally Grateful - Chris Self

Joe would like for everyone to know how very grateful he is to each and every one of you. He is making amazing progress…
Every day - In Every Way -
He’s getting better, better & better!

Joe was released to my care on Friday morning. He was soooo excited to be back out in the world. We brought him home and we both…at long last…cried tears of gratitude and joy.

He is happiest and I am most anxious when he’s on the move. His endurance has increased from being able to walk with my assistance - to the neighbors house…to walking all the way UP to the end of our street and into a new friend’s garage for some conversation. Him not responding when I call his name…even if he’s just in the next room…makes me nauseous.

I’ve been struggling to put my feelings into words…but their range has been too much for me to articulate. I hope that the words of this poem I wrote for Joe…and for you all…will explain the absence of my comments on this amazing site.

Please accept our heartfelt love and gratitude for everything your love has provided for our family.

Thank you all! Ya’ll are amazing.

Chris Self
3/18/07
_____________

He Cries

When the sunlight warms
His broken face
When he walks alone
though slow his pace
Without the history of his case
You might think my man is sad

A second chance to be the man
Decide He will! - not - if he can
Become the Husband to his Wife
She’s waited on for all her life

Profound exchanges by a fire
cold winters heated by desire
moderation learned at last
no drunken stories of his past

The love for me he says is real
With all My Heart and Soul I feel
I’m counting on the Power of Love
to heal when life comes push to shove

So grateful for the love and prayers
that touched him while on heavens stairs
So grateful for this chance to see
How Much our Friends
Love Him - and Me
Chris Self - 2007

Let me start off by saying, the JoeSelfHelp Benefit KICKED ASS and took some names. It totally rocked. Thank you to EVERYONE who was ANY part of it. The bands were great, the auction and raffle were a huge success and the food was fenominal. I willl be selling Go For JOe shirts on line soon, more to come on that. Second of all, if you are anywhere close to Austin, PLEASE go visit my dad. He is really wanting his friends and family to see him, he misses everyone so much. BIG NEWS… JOE IS OUT OF THE HOSPITAL He is at Texas Neuro Rehab at 1106 Ditmar, Austin, Texas 78745. He is currently in room 203. He also has his phone with him now if you would like to give him a call. His voice might sound a little different(six front teeth missing) and he may become emotional but believe me he wants to hear your voice as much as you do his. All of your love and encouragement will really warm his heart and give him the strength he needs for his recovery. SO many stories and words of wisdom have been shared with me throughout this past month and I want to say thank you again to everyone for that. Take time in your day today as you read this to close your eyes and feel the peace of being alive, know that it is ok to cry when you feel the need and that you are not alone in this world. Who you are is all you have to be. You all rock. Please still pray for my dad every day.
Just close your eyes for a moment and breathe, YOU ARE ALIVE Joe’s daughter,
Courtney Self

Hello everyone. Sorry it has been a while. Working 40 hours a week and helping to plan a benefit in 3 weeks consumes a lot of time. The benefit is tomorrow as you all know. It is going to rock. Thank you so much to everyone who is making it happen. I am so glad update everyone to let yall know what an amazing day dad had. Intense, open hearted emotions flow freely as every person calls or visits. His sincere thankfulness for a second chance to be an even better man than he was before is expressed in his every breath and tear. We took 8 small walks today, did breathing exercised, ate pretty good (mostly drank his Boost drinks), laughed, cried, and shared real connected life together. I am so thankful he is here, really really here. To everyone who reads this please tell everyone you love that you love them, be the father or mother, sister, brother, grandparent, aunt, uncle, cousin, friend or just human being you always wanted to be or always wanted someone else to be. Life is so, so precious and it can be taken away from you at any given moment. Live in love, not in fear. Be the beautiful, important, unperfect, awesome person that we all are. I love you all for loveing my dad. Please keep praying for him.
Joe’s daughter, Courtney Self