|
Our Dear Matthew, who continues to be an inspiration
to all the Dreamers. Thank you for that Matthew.
A recent post from Joy, Matthews Mother:
In May of 2004, I told the message board folk that our 24-year old son, Matthew, had come home from the hospital with
hospice care. Since that time, so many of them have gone out of their way to encourage and support us as we walk along this
unwelcomed and dreary path.
Until the DH2005 sweepstakes date drew near and the board's attention was rightfully redirected
toward its intended purpose, the interactive and imaginative play regarding Matthew's supposed activities was a fine diversion
for us. Through the unstated forbearance of the HGTV Adminstration and the tremendously fine good humor of this board, Matthew
has had many (virtual) adventures. He has gone fishing, skiing and flying. He has run off with the group's chocolate, roamed
around with the Boggy Creek Monster, made marshmallow sticks for everyone, had a watermelon seed spitting contest, and hosted
a fish fry. When his disease process did not allow him to actively participate in the imaginative play, a few of the Dreamers
kept watch over him as he slept in a tent on the DH Camping Trip.
We expected him to die in June. The gift of these extra months is precious to us. And the outpouring of love and
concern from various board members through this time has been like a drink of cool water in a dry and desert land.
May
God bless you, one and all.
George and Joy
The Best Is Yet To Come.
CLICK HERE TO READ OF MATTHEW'S LATEST ADVENTURE
THOUGHTS OF HOPE AND PRAYER FOR MATTHEW
Friends,
I thought I would share a picture of Matthew with you all. Many of you have seen it
before. It was taken this past summer at a park near our home. The woman you see with Matthew is a member of Matthew's
Blind Club.
Matthew is very sleepy these days. But he remembers the Dream Home Camping Trip.
He remembers flying with Ol' Boggy. He remembers the treats Adele used to hide for them. He remembers how
he kept running away with all the chocolates. And he remembers, Dear Ones, how so many of you kept him company during
those days and nights when he was too tired to play.
Thank you, Dreamers, for including Matthew in your Dreaming.
George and Joy
"Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope. Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for
his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please meet Chris, a fellow Dreamer of The Dream Home Message
Board (Paintbyteeth). Chris and I became instant friends last year and keep in touch on a regular basis. In the year that
I knew Chris, I have never heard him complain about anything. He is such a positive person and is a source of inspiration
to me and hopefully to you also.
Christopher Kuster: Nature Lover, Car Enthusiast, Watercolor artist and Quadriplegic.
All these defining elements describe a very unique individual, and nowhere is that individuality more evident than in the
beautiful and evocative watercolor paintings of Florida that Chris creates using only his teeth. Whether he is capturing the
intent stare of a white egret, or the fury of a summer storm, Chris' paintings make you feel as if you are there with him,
witnessing the quiet and unexpected beauty that is Florida.
Of course, the most unique aspect of Chris' paintings is the way in which they are
done. You see, Chris is a quadriplegic. A tragic swimming accident in July of 1992 left Chris completely paralyzed from the
chest down. During the long months of recovery Chris searched for a focus for his new life. A long time resident of Florida,
Chris has spent much of his life enjoying the outdoor lifestyle of the Florida West Coast. Now from the new perspective of
a wheelchair, Chris realized that he wanted to capture that feeling of peace and tranquillity that was all around him. Learning
to paint, using only his teeth, was a slow and arduous task, but anyone who know Chris will tell you his is an indomitable
spirit, who has not let even the most devastating of circumstances stop him from accomplishing his goals.
That tenacity has paid off, you can almost hear the wind blowing through the sea grass
when looking at his paintings. When asked why he chose to master such a difficult skill, Chris responds "Painting gives me
a release from my physical bonds, I become so engrossed in the picture that I no longer feel as if I'm in a wheelchair, I
am free".
Chris hopes that people viewing his paintings will appreciate them for more than just
a handicapped success. He hopes that his paintings will transport his viewers to the places he has been, and capture that
serene essence that if Florida landscape.
A fun and extroverted person, Chris looks forward to the future with great enthusiasm.
His love of the Florida Gulf Coast and its wildlife, offer endless possibilities for his paintings. Chris has described his
accident as a life-altering experience, but he is learning to live his life in a new way, and he has found a way to share
that unique outlook with all of us.
CLICK TO VIEW CHRIS' ARTWORK
TO EMAIL CHRIS, CLICK HERE
"The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me
to go on the heights."
 KEEPER OF THE FIRE....
|
