Friday, February 17, 2012

Eye Update!

So, many of you have been asking me via email and private message (yes I do check that still...when I remember...*cough* *cough*) how my eyes are doing, since it has been several years since I last posted or recorded about it. Well, I am excited to report, that I DO have an update - a HUGE praise in fact. For the story, keep reading!

For those who don't remember, in 2007, I was diagnosed with a pituitary lesion/tumor, and they think that may have been what caused my peripheral vision loss. Lots of people prayed for me, and I am so thankful for each and every one of you. God heard your prayers! Here is how I know:

Since then, I have met only two other people who have had a pituitary tumor and lost their peripheral vision. The difference? Both of these people lost ALL of their vision save for a tiny sliver in the middle of their eyes. The first person I met was a young lady named Sarah Harris back in 2008 in Colorado Springs, CO (at the 20th Birthday Bash). She was very nearly blind from it, but was so joyful even in that suffering. The second person I heard about yesterday in the ER.

I went to the ER yesterday (November 8) for the worst migraine I've ever had (first time having to go to the ER for a migraine), and my doctor thought the tumor might be bleeding so he sent me to the ER for a CT scan (came back clean btw). While there, getting treated for the migraine, my nurse was asking me to describe my symptoms, which I did. When I got to the part about the Pituitary tumor, he interrupted me and asked if I had peripheral vision loss because of it. I was slightly surprised he would ask that, but answered that yes, I have lost some. When I asked him why, he told me that his 7 year old son had the exact same thing as me, except he lost all but a pinprick of his vision. I explained that I had only list the side periphery and that I was still able to see front periphery and forward. I then asked if I could pray for his son, and he told me I could. I prayed for him on and off the rest of the day in the ER.

The point of this story is this: GOD ANSWERED OUR PRAYERS FOR MY VISION!!!!!!!!! I don't know how common this tumor is, or the peripheral vision loss with it, but the only other people I have ever met with this problem lost nearly everything. For some unknown reason, I did not. I only lost about a quarter of it, and then it stopped progressing. I am so thankful right now. It could be a rare thing for people to lose all of it, I don't know, and at the moment, I don't care. I didn't lose it all, and I firmly believe it was by the grace of God and through the prayers of all of you. So Thank You!

I love this! I love that for all this time, I thought that God had not really answered my prayers because my vision never came back and I lost vision to begin with. All this time, I was seeing things the wrong way (pun intended). Instead of worrying about what I didn't have, I needed to focus on the fact that God allowed me to keep the majority of my eyesight. That he stopped it from progressing. That He DID answer my/our prayers! How Great is Our God?!

Thank you Father, for knowing the truth even when we are too blind to see it! Thank you for showing me this nugget of truth, and helping me to realize that you do love me and are looking out for me! Amen

Love you all, and thank you again for your prayers!

Sarah

Hello again!

Wow, so it has been FOREVER since I last posted. I apologize everyone! My life has gotten insane! I have tons of news to share with you!

AIO NEWS:

~ Album 54 has aired, and we are anxiously waiting for the release of Album 55 (The Deep End). This album has at least a three part-er that wraps up the story with Jason and Mr. Grote from The Green Ring Conspiracy. It should be available for download in March and should air on the radio sometime after that.

~ There will be another AIO live show this summer! YAY! This year it will be June 16 in Dallas, Texas. We know for sure that Townshed Coleman, Katie Leigh, Jess Harnell, Will Ryan, Andre Stojka, Zach Callison, Kimmy Robertson, and Chris Anthony will be there. This show will not be recorded so your only chance to hear it is in June 16! For more information see
  http://whitsendblog.org/birthday-bash-faq/

For those who are curious, I am not sure if I am going at this time, or not. I'd like too, but financially it is looking iffy for me. I'll try to keep you posted though!

~ You can now listen to AIO 24 hours a day, 7 days a week online! check out http://den-a.plr.liquidcompass.net/player/flash/audio_player.php?id=AIOIR&uid=622 and give it a listen!

~ Finally, have you ever wanted to act on AIO? Well if you are between the ages of 6-15, now is your chance! AIO is running a contest called "Get in the Show" and three lucky people will be chosen to fly to Colorado Springs to audition for a part in Album 58! For more info, check out http://whitsendblog.org/getintheshow/ and see if you too can GET IN THE SHOW!!!!


Ok, moving on to other things

LIFE!

So for those who don't know, I have some really awesome news about Chris, our lovely former co-host and editor extraordinaire! This past fall, he got engaged!!!! He and his fiancee are currently serving in Asia as missionaries still (she joined him there in January of this year), and are planning to get married sometime next year. They met on the ToO and in person for real in Colorado for the 20th Birthday Bash. Can I just say I saw this coming before THEY did? Yup, it is true! Needless to say, I am SUPER excited for them both, and I am sure they would both covet your prayers as they are trying to get time together and serve as missionaries at the same time.

The last bit of news I have is from me, but I think I will put it in a separate post as this one is getting too long. Stay tuned!

Sarah 

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Welcome to Summer!

Hi Everyone, Sarah here. I apologize that it has been so long since I updated last. Life has been crazy! Seminary is very intense and is taking up more time than I thought it would. I haven't forgotten all of you, I just have not had time to do much here. I hope you all are well, and while I will try to blog every now and then, I think the podcast itself may be dead for the foreseeable future. :(

A few AIO updates though.

  • The Green Ring Conspiracy aired this past spring, and it was AMAZING! We saw the return of several old characters and even a few actors from the past playing new roles! You can find this album online or at your local Christian bookstore.
  • Album 54 will be coming out this fall. It will be based on 1 Corinthians 13 I'm told and will have more slice of life type episodes again, as well as wrapping up some hanging ends from album 53.  It will be called "Clanging Symbols and the Meaning of God's Love" 
  • The Blackgaard Chronicles are slated for release September 2011, and will contain all of the Blackgaard episodes - 30 in all on 10 CD's plus a secret bonus dvd that contains asumably wesome features that are being kept under lock and key. ;)
  • Finally, next summer is the 25th Anniversary of AIO! They are planning something big for it, but what will it be? I have heard rumors of another live show in Colorado, a cruise with the actors, or even a traveling show, where they preform it in various cities across the country. I wonder what they will end up picking! Whatever it is, I'm going to do my best to be there! (assuming my husband and I can afford it of course)

I hope you are all well and you found this little update fun!

God bless,

Sarah

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Update!

Hi everyone I have a couple updates for you tonight!

1. Chris leaves for Asia to be a missionary tomorrow! Please keep him in your prayers, and if you or your family wish to support him, please let me know!

2. The first three episodes of Album 52 have already aired and the next episode, Stage Fright, airs this Saturday.

3. Focus on the family is running a Christmas contest again to go to the premier of Voyage of the Dawn Treader in London! Check it out at http://www.focusonchristmas.com

4. There is a new AIO Christmas compilation available for download at cbd.com, as well as many AIO episodes! Check it out!

5. I am hoping to come out with a new UAIOP podcast in the very near future. Seminary is eating my life right now, so I am a little behind, but rest assured, a new podcast is in the works!

6. Finally, while you are waiting to hear back from the UAIOP, there is another blog you can check out that is not AIO related, but does have some references to it. It is something I just started tonight and hope to grow in the future. Basically it is a blog (soon to be its own website) of ideas, lessons, and answers to questions asked of me pertaining to Christianity, Apologetics, other religions, morality, and all kinds of stuff like that. (for those who are concerned - I am NOT a Pastor and nothing there is intended to be that way) At the moment, there is a message uploaded that I recorded this morning. God laid it on my heart, and people in my life felt it needed to be shared, so it is. In the future, I plan on adding the other things I mentioned earlier. I want it to be a place where anyone can come and ask questions - not to argue or pick fights - but to be a safe place where people can ask questions that they want answers to but feel they cannot ask in church. I don't want to post too much here as this is the AIO blog, but if you want to know more, head over to my other blog and check it out.

Love ya,

Sarah

Monday, September 27, 2010

Album 52!

Hey everyone! Just a reminder that Album 52 begins airing on Saturday! YAY! Check it out on your local radio station or on www.whitsend.org!

Monday, July 26, 2010

Hi!

Hello everyone! This is Sarah! Don't take us off your favorites yet! I'm still here and I hope to try to keep you updated with some of the latest news, AND come fall when the new episodes air, I just *might* be back with a co-host! I'm seriously considering doing a rotating co-host until I find one who is a good fit. Tell me what you think!

Also, there has been lots of news about the upcoming albums. Jacob Isom over at www.odysseyscoop.com has posted the potential new covers for Album 52 Cause and Effect as well as the Lost Episodes. Check them out! Album 53 is in the process of being recorded as well. The cast and crew were in California last week recording the episodes for the 12 parter written and at least partly directed by Paul McCusker. The title has already been released and is The Green Ring Conspiracy. It sounds great, and I've heard whispering about some surprises in store in the album - YAY!

Monday, July 19, 2010

Unofficial Podcast Ep. 61

07.19.10. The end has arrived... the time has come. All good things must come to an end. It's been an incredible three years and we've enjoyed every minute of it. In this, our final podcast and longest together, we discuss Album 51 and talk about what future lies in store for us.

Right-click and save here to download.

Running Time: 1 hr, 19 min



Sunday, July 18, 2010

The Search is Nearly Over!



Those of you who have been following the Ceiling Fan podcast will be familiar with Ethan and Phil's recent search for Odyssey. After eight long weeks of driving all over America, their search will finally come to an end. Check it out! Then come back on Monday to hear our latest episode!



Monday, July 12, 2010

New Podcast Soon!



We're finally back! After our six month hiatus, we return to give our thoughts on Album 51: Take It From the Top. Plus, a major announcement regarding the future of this podcast!

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Album 52 Cover!

Quick update my friends! I am now married and moved back to Virginia - YAY! On the way back here, m husband and I road tripped across the country and stopped in at Focus. I got to see our good friends from AIO while there including Nathan Hoobler, Brock Eastman! Yay! It was exciting! After I got back, i heard from Chris, and he is doing great! Hopefully he will be back soon! I also have several AIO related things to update you about very quickly.

1. For those who love Whit, check out this youtube clip that has all three voices mixed together! It is amazing!

2. Check out the new Official AIO fan page on Facebook!

3. Finally, check out the new cover art for Album 52! (I would have it directly here, but it's too big and I can't seem to shrink it)

Love you all - Sarah!