October 24, 2009 up through January 29, 2011

• Saturday, January 29, 2011 8:38 PM, CST

  Hi there.   It has been a very exciting day.   I have an update on Gene and Margie that will make you smile.
  
  They needed a washer, an electric dryer, a couch and a full/double - but not queen- sized bed.
  
  I posted their need in a few locations.   Andy had a computer service call at a house near by.   When we arrived, Mrs. V. asked if I knew anyone that picked up furniture.   I was a little confused because I thought she meant moved furniture.   Then she clarified by asking if Salvation Army would come and get furniture because she had a couch and chair to get rid of.
  
  I felt like God just got my full attention.   I looked them over and the blue couch and chair were really nice.   I told her about Gene and Margie.   She thought it would be great to let them have the furniture.  :-)
  
  Next, Barb Facebooked me and said she had just gotten a new washer and wanted to get rid of her previous washer that worked fine.   :-)   She had read my request.   Great!
  
  Called Gene and asked if he could make arrangements for a pickup truck.   He and Margie were very excited.
  
  I was a little sad that I wasn't able to come up with a dryer, but then I got a message from Joann.   Sure enough she had an electric dryer to offer.   She had just purchased a new set.  This is so cool!
  
  Today Gene and his friend Marvin met us at Mrs. V.'s house and we were able to help pay for their gas.   The men got the furniture loaded in the truck and then Gene asked me, "How did you find all this stuff?"   I told him that we serve an awesome God and he listens when we make our needs known.
  
  Another fun thing was that Gene said that Margie really likes blue.   Remember, the couch and chair were blue.   Okay, is our God cool or what???
  
  Please continue to pray for Gene, Margie and their kids.   I hope that they realize that all the folks involved helped because they serve an awesome God, and we give Him all the glory.
  
  I know I'll see them again, because Andy is going to fix their computer.   :-)
  
  Hey, if you have a full/double bed that is in good shape, but not in use, let me know.   That was the last thing they needed.
  
  God is AWESOME - ALL THE TIME!

• Tuesday, January 25, 2011 1:38 PM, CST

  Good afternoon!   Hope your day is going well.
  
  Skipper had his surgery today and he's doing great.   I am looking forward to picking him up this afternoon.   He has been a really fine pet and every time I look at him I am reminded of the goodness of God.
  
  I saw Dr. Sinha today and got a good report.   I have been a little concerned about how to detect if the cancer returns.   I wondered if I was going to have more of those lovely scans.   As I understand, it should be easy to observe changes in the skin.  This is the first line of defense.   I was glad to hear that.  I don't have to return for four months.
  
  While I was there I visited with a fellow waiting on his wife.   I have been really praying about reaching out to others in need, and I think this was one of those moments.   The fellow and has wife appear to be in their early to mid forties.   They were obviously very poor, maybe I'd classify them as destitute.  
  
  As we talked I learned that she has breast cancer and epilepsy and they have two children.  One of the children has epilepsy and other disabilities.   The other child sounded okay.  
  
  They are greatly in need!   They live in a small town north of Lafayette and travel for the wife's treatments.   They have a real need for a couch, a full size bed (for the disabled son), a dresser, and a washer and electric dryer.   They told me how desperate they are for a washer because the son often has "accidents" and going to the laundry is very costly for them.
  
  Their clothes were very tattered, and they really looked legitimately needy.  I asked if they had a way to transport these items if I was able to find them.   They have a friend with a truck.  I have their contact information.
  
  So, please pray for Gene and Margie.   They are really going through a trial with cancer as well as a time of need.   If by chance, you have any of the items on their list of needs, please call me or email me or post to my guest-book.   I think this was another one of those mysterious divine appointments.
  
  I promise to keep you posted on the aforementioned family.
  
  Thanks for your support and prayers.  You have made the journey much more tolerable.
  
  GOD IS GOOD - ALL THE TIME.
  
  
  
  

• Tuesday, January 4, 2011 4:26 PM, CST

  Happy New Year!  I hope you enjoyed the holidays with friends and family and that you got a time of rest.
  
  I had a follow up appointment with Dr. Harb today and he is still thinking things look good.   I shared the book I mentioned in my last post with him.   He flipped through it quickly and asked if he could put it in his patient library.   I have really enjoyed the book and I hope it is an encouragement to the other patients.
  
  I see Dr. Hoversland (obgyn) on January 13 as a follow up recommended by Dr. Harb.  I'll see Dr. Harb again in three months.
  
  Skipper is continuing to mature.   He is sure loads of fun.   Today we discovered he had dug and escape route under the fence.   John filled it in with cement blocks.   The next time Skipper was out, he was very surprised that he couldn't sneak out under the fence anymore.   We're going to have to keep a close eye on the escape artist.   When he's inside, he likes to be right with me.   He likes to sit between my feet.  
  
  When I hear Chris Tomlin's song, I can't help thinking about Skipper.
  
  "Where you go, I'll go
  
  Where you stay, I'll stay
  
  When you move, I'll move
  
  I will follow you
  
  Who you love, I'll love
  
  How you serve I'll serve
  
  If this life I lose, I will follow you
  
  I will follow you "
  
  I hope that you have a great day.  Thanks for your prayers and support in so many ways.
  
  God is good, ALL THE TIME!  :-)
  
  

• Monday, December 13, 2010 8:01 AM, CST

  Howdy,
  It's been a while since I have posted.   I have really enjoyed keeping the journal updated and I think I  am going to migrate to another site and continue.   Writing is very therapeutic for me.   I have kept a handwritten journal for nearly twenty years.   I have been gradually converting it to a digital format.  Do you keep a blog?   Do you have any site recommendations?  
  
  I hope you are well and enjoying the Christmas season.   It is so easy to get caught up in the secular flow and forget the sacred.   I am keeping the decorating pretty low key.   I miss having the girls around this time of year.   Rebecca was really in to decorating and did a beautiful job.  Susan and Liz enjoyed baking.
  
  Susan, our college student, and I had a good time baking cookies.   I have several more batches of goodies to finish.
  
  If you have a friend, or family member facing cancer, I recommend this: "Confronting Cancer with Faith," by Karen O. Allen. http://www.confrontingcancerwithfaith.com/about_the_book.html.   I have finished reading most of the book and I wish I had found it earlier.  I think it is very helpful, positive and encouraging. 
  
  So many books about facing cancer are just really depressing.  I tossed a few in the recycle bin without finishing them.
  
  I have a follow up appointment with Dr. Harb on January 4, 2011.  So far, I think I am doing pretty well.   I have been doing physical therapy for my knee and it is better.   I hope to begin working on a stationary support for my bicycle, then progressing to Miracles Fitness.   My biggest struggle at this point is getting my muscles back in shape and loosing weight.  I guess you know what my new years resolution will involve. :-)
  
  Skipper is really growing.   He is now 18 pounds of love wrapped up in cuddly fur.   We are really enjoying him.  Right now he is loosing his puppy teeth, so he is always chewing.   Lots of puppy bones everywhere...
  
  Stay warm, and enjoy the season!
  
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME!

• Tuesday, October 12, 2010 3:45 PM, CDT

  Howdy!  Today was my appointment with Dr. Harb (oncologist).  My vitals were great.   He said I am doing well.   I asked if that meant I was doing as expected, or well.   He said everything looked fine. 
  
  I asked him what my long term forecast for re-occurrence is statistically.   He used a software tool and entered my case description and it gave a 33% chance of re-occurrence.   Looking at the possibilities, that is pretty good.   He said to keep in mind that 66% of the patients are never affected again and he'd like to keep me in the 66% category.  
  
  I need to be diligent in checking for any appearance of abnormalities.   They flushed my port and I see him again in January. 
  
  So, that's pretty much the scoop.   I am okay with that. 
  
  Thanks for your support!
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME.

• Monday, October 11, 2010 9:32 PM, CDT

  Isn't the fall weather wonderful!   Skipper and I have been spending lots of time out in the yard.  He has grown quite a bit.
  
  Tomorrow I have a follow up visit with Dr. Harb.   I really have no idea if I am doing really well or just as expected.   I kind of wonder if he will schedule another scan to "check up" on how things are going.   I am not looking forward to it.
  
  I know they will flush the port, but I am not sure if they will draw labs too.   I really feel pretty good, except my knee is still causing me grief.   I will post tomorrow when I get back.
  
  Hope you have a peaceful night and a good day tomorrow.
  
  God is good - all the time.

• Tuesday, September 28, 2010 8:49 AM, CDT

  Howdy!  Hope this entry finds you all well and enjoying the beginning of fall weather.   I am very excited today about getting our puppy!   Kim is going to bring him at 2 this afternoon.   It has been a very long year and I am looking forward to this little guy as a celebration of completing running the medical gauntlet. 
  
  Honestly, not to long ago I did not renew subscriptions because I didn't know if they would last longer than I would.  Then as I felt more assured, I ordered the Wall Street Journal.   I end my day reading the paper and celebrating another day as a gift from God.  It is my na-na-na-na-naaa-na moment celebrating another victory against the adversary.   We all are on a time schedule borrowed from God celebrate every moment.   
  
  Psalm 139:16  12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
         the night will shine like the day,
         for darkness is as light to you.
   13 For you created my inmost being;
         you knit me together in my mother's womb.
   14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
         your works are wonderful,
         I know that full well.
   15 My frame was not hidden from you
         when I was made in the secret place.
         When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
   16 your eyes saw my unformed body.
         All the days ordained for me
         were written in your book
         before one of them came to be.
  I am not looking forward to follow up scans.   Frankly, I hate the whole experience.   ...but I know there is a God in heaven and he holds my future.  Some folks live day to day with overwhelming fear and darkness of recurrence.  I choose not to concern myself with God's business.   Cancer is when life meets reality. 
  I pray that you are ready for adversity because it happens every day.  There are accidents, terrorists, diseases, and every kind of loss.  When you come to the realization that you have absolutely no control over events, but there is a God in heaven that controls your every breath - then faith has gone to the next level.
  I find that I have really had a lesson in patience and grace throughout this ordeal.  There aren't many things that really matter.   There are many people that matter.  I have tried to make a conscious effort to be an encourager and a listener.  Time is not really all that important to me anymore.   My watch broke, and I haven't replaced it.  I do try to be on time for appointments, but I try not to let time constrain ministry opportunities.
  I have wasted lots of time on things that really weren't important - how about  you?  In our culture it is hard to slow down and really enjoy life with other people.
  I think this dog is going to be lots of fun.  I look forward to meeting new people as we go for walks.  The guys will enjoy playing with him.  Puppies are challenging to train, but it's going to be an adventure.   We are still picking out names.   Kim and Jim have been calling him Skipper.   You have to think of Gilligan's Island.   They kept thinking of him as the Howell's dog - which led to Thirstan and Lovey - which led to The Skipper.   It is kind of cute and we just might keep the name.
  Over the weekend I visited with my Mom and neice.   My sister got to go visit my other neice that's in Detroit for her birthday.  The guys went camping with the Scouts at Dunes State Park.  I was glad to have an opportunity to visit Mom's church in Porter.   I really liked the service and the message.   The pastor is very nice and the congregation very friendly.  I think everyone enjoyed the weekend get-away.
  Well I hope you have a great week.   You can be sure to see puppy photos here and hear about puppy tales.  Thanks for all the prayers and support - we treasure your friendship.
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME!
  
  
  
  

• Wednesday, September 22, 2010 9:11 PM, CDT

  Howdy.   Just  a short update today.   I had a follow up visit with Dr. Gordon (radiation oncologist) today.   Everything is looking good.   Next appointment is 4 months out.   She is thinking that Dr. Harb will order a follow up scan to check for any bad cells.   I hate those scans, but it would be nice to know the results.
  
  I am still working on getting a clearance on the BRA-CA genetic test.  It's about 4K if insurance doesn't cover it.  
  
  Hope you all are enjoying the nice fall weather.
  
  God is good - all the time.

• Thursday, September 9, 2010 3:37 PM, CDT

  Hi there.   It's been a while since I've posted.   I hope you are enjoying the end of summer/beginning of fall.
  
  There's not a whole lot of news to report.   I am doing fairly well and struggling to shed some of the pounds I've added throughout treatment.   Heart wise, everything seems to be running okay.   I don't see the cardiologist till next week.  
  
  My left knee is making me crazy.   It feels like there is a knife stuck through the center of my knee.   I have no idea what caused it, but I wish it'd go away.   No swelling or heat, just lots of pain.  Since the X-rays Dr. Daluga did a while back didn't show anything bad, I guess I am just going to have to get used to it.   Paul had "a thorn in his flesh"  -  I guess I have a knife in my knee.  Losing more weight will surely help.
  
  All my complaints are really quite minor issues.   Everybody has a struggle.   Some seem worse than others, but they are all difficult to the person involved.   We just need to make ourselves available to support each other through prayers and actions when possible.   We have been praying for Andy B. who fell three stories and is recovering with paralysis of his lower body.   He's just a young fellow and this is a huge challenge.   He is facing it bravely and with a great sense of humor.  
  
  You just never know what strange bend you path will take.   Make sure you do not travel alone.
  
  I am really looking forward to getting our puppy.   Tonight we get to go and see him.    It will be a couple of weeks before he's ready to leave his mom.  I don't have a name picked out yet.   I've only seen his pictures and I want to experience his personality to help decide on a name.   I look forward to taking some walks, and playing in the backyard.   I could really stand to keep moving the activity level up, and the weight down.
  
  I am pretty determined to not purchase any clothes until I can loose more weight.   I am pretty much down to four pair of jeans and some T-shirts.   I just do not want to get comfortable with fat.
  
  I have started school with John this week.   We are looking forward to Physics, History, Algebra, Lego Robotics, and Piano.   We finally found a beginning Piano instructor.   I think John will be good at that.  We don't have a piano, but we have a really nice keyboard that he can practice on.
  
  Our family celebrated my mom's 90th birthday this last weekend.    My sister, Marianne, did an excellent job planning the party.   She even had a  guitarist.   All the tables were set with fancy cloths and china.   My niece, Debbi, made an amazing cake with all kinds of sewing items made of icing.  My niece, Leslie, decorated a huge bulletin board with photographs and booklets spanning 90 years.   Dawn, my nephew's wife, catered the entire meal with Mom's favorite dishes.   It was a wonderful event and I think Mom had a great time.
  
  We were so glad that Susan, Liz, and  their families - as well as Rebecca were able to join us at the party.   I miss the kiddos and enjoy every opportunity to see them.
  
  Thanks for all the prayers and encouragement!   It has been one wild year.  Please put Andy B. on your prayer list.  We are praying for healing for the surgical wound, strength, and good pain management.
  
  Hope you have a great weekend!
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME!

• Monday, August 23, 2010 7:22 AM, CDT

  Howdy.   Hope you have had a good week.   Are you ready for school?   Where did summer go?   Even if you don't have kids in school, you will have to adjust to driving with buses and college students.  I figure that staying off the Purdue campus for a few weeks is a good idea.   There will be lots of body shop business with all the foreign students and first time drivers.
  
  I have had a pretty good week -  it wasn't nearly as exciting.   I am trying to get used to the medicines.   I didn't realize how healthy I had been.   Now I am focused on dropping all the pounds I have picked up during treatment.   I had hoped I'd be one of those people who would loose lots of weight.   At least I am glad I didn't have stomach problems throughout.
  
  We worked on our yard this weekend.   It was looking like an abandoned property.   It is funny how fast weeds take over.   Entropy is everywhere!   Nelson got the Mantis fixed and edged the sidewalks.   This funky grass like stuff had taken over and covered the sidewalk on the South side.   John trimmed the forsythia bushes.   He likes to use the hedge trimmer.   Andy mowed the "pasture."   I weeded the flowerbeds.  We managed to fill all the trash cans we own with weeds and cuttings.  Normally I'd compost all the stuff here, but I didn't want any of it taking off on us.   The city picks it all up on Mondays and takes it to their compost area.   Another great service paid for with our killer tax rate.
  
  When I pull weeds I always think about the parable of the weeds in Matthew 13.   I sometimes yank out a good plant with the weeds.   They must have been more careful than I am. :-)
  
  It is sometimes rough to stay positive.   I really like to mow the grass.  Don't tell Andy and John this!   They have a huge discussion about who did it last and who "has to cut the grass" this time.   It is really hard to stay inside, or in the shade while they cut the grass.   I sat on my lawn chair in the backyard for the first time.   That's hard to do when you'd really like to be working.   I thought about the hours I spent mowing at the farm.   I guess I liked it because it was relaxing and a good time to think.   I found that I can enjoy just sitting in the chair, in the shade, enjoying the breeze, drinking lemonade, and watching the birds.   ...funny how life changes.
  
  I was greatly encouraged by a friend at church.   She stopped and told me about her battle with breast cancer 16 years ago.   It is nice to hear "16 years."   I told her that it is encouraging each time Dr. Harb had a plan that goes on for months, or currently - five years.   I really needed that conversation on Sunday.
  
  I also get a kick out of Scott F. telling me I "look marvelous" and roughing up my "crew cut" of a hair style.   He tells me that whenever we talk on the phone and I really just have to laugh.
  
  Thank you Jesus.  Friends are such and encouragement!
  
  The new soundboard was FANTASTIC!  We listened to the DVD from the service and the difference was just amazing.  That is going to be so nice for folks that listen to the CDs and DVDs.
  
  Our student, Susan M. has settled in and we have really been enjoying her company.   Today was her first day of classes.  
  
  I have a prayer request.   Our doctor's son, Andy, had a terrible fall.   I don't know all the details, but it was a long distance.  He doesn't have sensation in his legs.   The parents are with him in Chicago and he is going to have surgery.    Obviously it is quite serious.   Please pray for peace of mind for the parents and son, wisdom for the medical team, and success for the surgery.    I am not sure if the surgery is today or Tuesday.
  
  Thanks for your prayers and support.   We really appreciate you.
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME!
  

• Wednesday, August 18, 2010 3:24 PM, CDT

  Hi there.   Hope you are enjoying the last of summer.   I guess it seems like fall because lots of kids are back in school.   We are going to wait and start after the holiday.   It seems wrong to start school this early.
  
  I saw Dr. Bridge today.   He did and EKG and it was fine.   He reviewed the stuff they did at the hospital and that seemed okay.   I got a couple of perscriptions to try for a month and hopefully things go back to normal.  
  
  For some reason, it seems right to have a doctor that is older than your kids.   Dr. Bridge is not old, but he is older than Susan.  He's seen lots of stuff.  His dad was a doctor, and his grandad was a doctor.  You kind of feel like you're getting a whole database of information. :-)  It doesn't hurt that he has a meaningful relationship with Jesus too.
  
  Wow, it's been quite a year.   Thanks for all the prayers.  I have survived surgery, chemo, radiation and heart weirdness.  I hope 2011 is boring.    I am looking forward to that puppy.
  
  God is good, all the time.

• Tuesday, August 17, 2010 7:00 AM, CDT

  Howdy.   Has it been warm enough for you?   I think Indiana is a land of complainers.   We are either too hot, too cold, too wet or too dry.   At least we get lots of variation. :-)
  
  Today, at 10 AM,  I see Dr. Harb.   I hope he has some explanation for the PSVT.   I think it's weird.   My rate is staying right around 95.   I guess I am doing aerobic exercise even when I am sitting in the recliner.   Unfortunately, I am not loosing weight at a fast rate.
  
  Susan, our student guest, has moved in.   We are enjoying her company.   She reminds us all of Rebecca.   It is interesting to hear about her world travels.   Her parents are full time missionaries and she has lived in Papua New Guinea and Australia.  Andy got her laptop tuned up, secured, and connected to our network.   She's off to her first day at Purdue this morning.
  
  The guys have been helping Scott set up the new soundboard this week.   Today Andy goes in to wire up the Tricaster (video switcher).   Sadly, we have a memorial service on Wednesday.  The person's parents live in China, so we need to make a video to send them.  Please pray for the family.  They have two children at home and the death was very unexpected.
  
  Well, that's all for this morning.   I'll post more if I learn something important from Dr. Harb.   Have a great day.
  
  God is good - all the time!

• Wednesday, August 11, 2010 8:10 PM, CDT

  YAHOO!  The end of radiation therapy!!   Hokey smokes.   It has been an exciting week.   Monday I had my second to the last treatment.   They are just focusing on the scar tissue.   That is where most re-occurrences happen.   Everything was going fine until...   The treatment finished and I was getting up off the table.  I had this freaky sensation and I could hear my pulse in my right ear.
  
  I thought I was having a little anxiety attack.   They did the treatment in a different room, and I was a little anxious.   Okay, I figured when I got out to the van I'd be fine.   I didn't feel dizzy or bad in any way.   I could just keep hearing my heart beating fast.   Weird.   Well I needed to go to Sams, so I figured it would go away if I walked around for awhile.   No such luck.   I tried to take my pulse, but couldn't really get any kind of idea.  
  
  I went home and sat in the recliner.   Thought if I just was quiet for awhile, I'd be fine.   I really didn't have any other symptoms.   Okay curiosity got the better of me.   Got out the stethoscope.   Yeeha, I couldn't count the beats.  Sounded like a baby in utero.   Definitely not right.   Called our family doc.  Rats...on vacation.   Called Dr. Harb...out of the country.   Called Dr. Sinha and was told to come right back.  
  
  Nelson had ridden the bus to work so I went and got him.    He drove me to Dr. Sinha's office.   They got me right in.   My pulse was 195.   Pretty wacko.   I felt fine, just my heart was off to the races.  They sent me right to the ER (across the parking lot).   Got right in.  
  
  They ran an EKG and started an IV and collected a blood sample.   Next the doc gave me adenosine via IV.   He told me I'd feel really weird, then my heart rate should go back to normal or nothing would happen, or I'd feel weird and it would continue really fast.
  
  Well, he sat on the bed and monitored my pulse at my wrist.   Next I felt like I was in an elevator on the 100th floor of the John Hancock building and the elevator fell.   It was quite the rush.  Then, just like he'd said, I started right up with a pulse of 90.   That was way better than 195. 
  
  I have always wondered what it would feel like to get hit with a defibrillator, but I didn't really want to know.   It just looks cool in the movies.  Fortunately, I didn't experience that medical treatment. :-)
  
  They kept me on a monitor and sent me up to the floor.   Next thing I know they stick a foot long Q-tip up my nose to test for MERSA.   They ordered a ultrasound on my heart just to check things out, and contacted the cardiologist.
  
  I was a little freaked out.   The ER doc told me this type of thing is not unusual.   He said his colleague had it happen fairly recently.  That did make me feel a little better.
  
  What can you do when you're suddenly stuck in the hospital?   We watched TV.   While we're watching, the nurse comes back with gloves and a gown and tells me my MERSA test was positive.   I am peeling and I have some blisters from the radiation.   MERSA?  What now?  Guess what the news feature was on the TV?   Some gal had a baby in a hospital and got MERSA.  It ate all her skin and they wrapped her in saran wrap.  Then it ate her organs.   GET ME THE REMOTE and let's change the channel!  So yesterday I was fine...today I have MERSA and a heart problem.
  
  Finally the heart tech arrived.   She did the scan and stayed and talked a little while.   She explained that about 99.9% of people working in the hospital have MERSA in their nose.   It is no big deal.   It seems like e. coli in your gut.   A little is necessary.   A huge amount can kill you.  MERSA is only an issue if you have a compromised immune system.   My white count is just okie-dokie.  She also said the scan looked really great and the doc would be in as soon as he saw it.
  
  The cardiologist explained that I had PSVT.   I have a little extra electrical "wiring" in my heart and it got out of sync with the main "wiring." 
  A physical examination during a PSVT episode will show a rapid heart rate. The  heart rate may be 150 to 250 beats per minute (bpm). In children, the heart rate tends to be very high. There may be signs of poor blood circulation such as lightheadedness. Between episodes of PSVT, the heart rate is normal (60 to 100 bpm).  It happens mostly in children and young people.
  My heart is in fantastic shape, and this may never happen again.   If it does happen again they can treat it with medicine, or if it is a frequent thing, they can burn out the extra "wiring."
  A really strange thing happened that night.   My friend Patty stopped for a visit.   They had moved to Indy, and I hadn't seen Patty in four years.   Amazingly, she came up just as Nelson was trying to figure out how to go home and get stuff without leaving me by myself.  We had a great visit.   I prefer to think of it as a "divine appointment."   Is our God amazing or what?
  Well, we had a good date night at the bed and breakfast.   We watched the Discover Channel and the History Channel.   Learned some cool stuff.   Did you know Henry Ford is related to a Kingsford?  They invented charcoal together and Fords came with a bag for cooking out.   ...and the Weber grill was designed by a guy that worked for a buoy manufacturing company.  The meals were great, but I don't recommend it for a relaxing vacation. :-)
  At St. E. they play chimes every time a baby is born.   That is cool.   I am glad they don't play taps when ...   The new hospital was very nice and the staff were top notch.   I was very impressed.
  When we got home I slept all afternoon.   Today I felt fine and went for the LAST radiation treatment.   Now all I have is follow up appointments.   A few extra ones were added to the list after my exciting Monday.
  Thanks to Ramona for letting John hang out for the day and feeding him dinner  AND giving Andy a ride to work and back.  Another thanks to all my Covenant buddies and friends that prayed for us as we were on the way to the hospital and beyond.  There is a God in heaven and he is the ultimate DOC.  I was very glad to see Patty and we had a great visit.
  Andy said several people at Covenant told him they had experienced the same thing.    Some had it more than once and were totally fine.  That was very reassuring.
  I have to brag on my boy.   When we came home I was blessed by a very clean house.   Andy even cleaned the entire kitchen and cleaned the carpeting on the stairway and upstairs.  That was a great gift.  Sometimes he amazes even me. :-)
  The puppies were born on the 6th and our whole family is excited about getting a dog in around 7 weeks.   That will be a happy time.  Here's a link to my friend's web page: ourlilaussies.weebly.com.   I think we're going for the red male.
  I do have a little sad news.   Rebecca's good friend from Jackson Hole Bible College lost her daddy to lung cancer at 4AM Monday.   He was a strong believer.  Please pray for the family.   We were glad that he was able to be at his son's wedding before this happened.   We are planning on attending the funeral.
  At some point fairly soon, we'll be having a party to celebrate the end of treatment.   We'll let everybody know.
  God is good - ALL THE TIME!
  
  

• Monday, August 2, 2010 2:06 PM, CDT

  Good day.   I hope you've had a good week and enjoyed the weekend.  Andrew purchased a Canon XL H1a video camera.   It is a high definition professional model.  He has been interested in upgrading and we connected with Louie from the Outdoor Channel who was shifting to the tapless model and selling this one.   We made a trip to Louisville to pick it up.
  
  That afternoon, Andy used it to video a promotion for Pastor Henderson about a friendship program for International Scholars.   It worked well.   
  
  I suppose the highlight of our weekend was attending Ethan and Randi's 30th anniversary party.  We enjoyed some delicious food and visiting with friends we don't see often.  Lots of our buddies from the Calvary Chapel days were there.   Many of the homeschool families were there too.
  
  I suppose one of my favorite things was enjoying acoustic worship music from an impromptu group of the second generation.   The third generation played games and did a little happy dancing.   Raising children is the toughest job in the world.   It is so rewarding to see that it is worth every moment of the effort.   We have a mob of delightful young people.
  
  I looked through the group of young people and saw some terrific young parents, professional people, and active community people.  Most of what we hear via the media is depressing, but I have great hope when I see this quality of young folks coming along.
  
  I enjoyed looking at Randi's beautiful photo albums with her mother-in-law.  It was a great way to celebrate marriage.   I hope the young folks appreciate the accomplishment of thirty years of marriage in this culture of non-commitment.
  
  Today was my LAST big-blast radiation treatment.   I guess my verses of the day are:
  
  
  Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. PS 20:7
  
  Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the LORD. Isaiah 31:1.
  
  Half way through my treatment the machine broke.   One of the motors that operate the little shields that move back and forth horizontally quit working.   They had a technician repair it, and then resumed the treatment.
  
  It is a little freaky to be subject to something you don't understand.   I have had several treatments now and I kind of know what to expect.   I do not know how the thing works, I just know how I have seen it move in the past.   Fortunately, it threw  the techs and error code, so they knew it had a malfunction.   I observed that it wasn't doing the normal thing, but I have no idea.
  
  When they got it fixed, they forgot to put the weird bubble pack stuff back on me.   It is some kind of shield that causes the machine to focus on the surface skin.   Again, I don't really know what is supposed to happen, I just know what has happened in the past.  I yelled out to them and they came right in and put it on.   Hopefully the initial blast I got without it doesn't cause any problems.
  
  I am convinced  that weird things happen during medical treatments directly proportional to the number of treatments you have.  In my case, Murphy is often in the room.   I would bet that no other patient has had the hose come off in the pet scan machine, and not many people have had in IV run through their radial nerve. 
  
  Dad actually had a hospital roommate receive Dad's chemotherapy treatment.  You have to be totally alert all the time, and even that is no guarantee of your safety in medical circumstances.   I really think you ship is sunk if you aren't surrounded by prayer warriors and in a relationship with God.  
  
  All these medical discoveries are astounding but they are all subject to the fallibility of humans.  I heard about a breast cancer treatment that involved killing all the patient's bone marrow, then replacing it.   They actually did this to people.   The patients died a horrible death.  Later it was discovered the data leading to the clinical trial was falsified.  
  
  The bottom line is that God is THE doctor.   I am glad to have the remarkable people that have treated me, but ultimately my trust has to be in the Lord, not in the "horses and chariots" and fancy gadgets.
  
  Can you pray for some young friends of ours? The husband just finished two masters degrees and has to batchelors degrees, but unfortunately hasn't found a job yet.   He is an outstanding scholar and I know there will be something great, I just hope it shows up soon.   God is never late, but sometimes we wish he'd come forth a little sooner. :-)
  
  Thanks to you all for the prayers!  
  
  God is good, ALL THE TIME!

• Monday, July 26, 2010 6:03 PM, CDT

  Short and sweet today.   Cathy asked for my watermelon pickle recipe.   I love watermelon pickles!   If you haven't had them, you'll think it is a little weird.   They are a wonderful crunchy sweet pickle.  Summer delight!
  
  Watermelon Rind Pickles
  4 Quarts cubed watermelon rind
  7 Cups sugar
  2 Gallons cold water
  1 Cup of canning salt - no iodine
  2 Cups of vinegar
  1 Tablespoon of whole cloves
  1 Tablespoon of allspice
  1/4 teaspoon mustard seed
  3 Cinnamon sticks
  1 Lemon thinly sliced
  
  

  1. Pare watermelon rind, removing green and pink portions.  Cut rind into 1 inch pieces. 
  2. Disolve salt in water, add rind and let stand 8 hours or overnight. 
  3. Drain, rinse and cover with cold water in large saucepot.  Cook until tender about 20 minutes.  Drain and set aside. 
  4. Tie spices in a cheesecloth bag.  Add spices and remaining ingredients to saucepot.  Bring to a boil and cook 10 minutes. 
  5. Add rind, simmer until transparent.  Remove spice bag.  
  6. Pack rind into hot jars leaving 1/4 inch head space.  Remove air bubbles.  Adjust caps. 
  7. Process pints 10 minutes in boiling water bath. 

  Yield: about 6 pints.
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME!
  

• Sunday, July 25, 2010 5:24 PM, CDT

  Hi there.   Hope you've had a good week and weekend.   I took a great trip with the guys, my mom and sister to my mom's birthplace - West Union, Illinois.   Mom is going to be 90 this year and we wanted to see some of the places that were part of her growing up.
  
  We had a great stay at the Canyon Inn at McCormick's Creek State Park.    I really enjoyed the time to visit.
  
  We drove past the house where Mom was born and lived at until she was two.  We saw the family farmstead.   We also saw a church they had attended. 
  
  When Mom was two, she moved to a farm with Great-Grandmother.   One of the neighbors, Faye, was a spinster school teacher.   Mom enjoyed visiting her and her mother.   They took Mom to church with them.   Mom told us about being horrified one Sunday when she saw folks being baptised by immersion.   I guess as a kid, all she could think of is that the pastor is holding those folks under water trying to drown them.
  
  I am grateful for people like Faye who step into our lives and introduce us to the Lord.   I am sure that Mom was very positively impacted by her experiences attending church as a child - once she got past the baptism experience :-).   I have always known Mom to be an active member of the body of Christ.  That has had a impact on my life and the lives of my children and grandchildren.   Thanks Faye...
  
  In Mom's family were several pivotal divorces.   Odd as it seems for the era, my grandmother and great-grandmother were both divorced.  Since Mom's going to be 90, they were divorced a long time ago.  These splits caused the following generations to have a rift between sides and many of them never met their own relatives.   There aren't many relatives still living in the area.  
  
  One of the cousins owns a bar/restaurant.   We stopped an got to visit with him.  Mom and her cousin were on different sides of a rift.  Neither one of them ever knew what caused the rift, but they just grew up not associating with their own relatives. 
  
  Sometimes things we choose affect generations of people to follow.   Huge family rifts can develop over misunderstandings.
  
  There are several small cemeteries in the county.   We visited two of the three where our relatives are buried.
  
  As we visited cemeteries, we noticed how many monuments have worn so thin that they are unreadable.   Some are covered with grass and even when cleared off are not readable.   I just thought of the scripture "The grass withers and the flowers fall,  but the word of our God stands forever. (Is. 40:8)"  So many of the relatives are gone and forgotten.
  
  The guys and I had some interesting conversations as we traveled.   We talked about the things of relevance that we need to remember and pass on about things that affect our lives.   How do we honor people's lives and contributions to our lives in memorable ways that do not fade?   For one, we continue to tell their story.   We talked about the Bible and the folks whose life story is in Scripture.
  
  "18 Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 19 Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 20 Write them on the door-frames of your houses and on your gates, 21 so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land that the LORD swore to give your forefathers, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth." (Deut 11)
  
  The Lord was pretty serious about passing his word on to the following generations.  That is the only inheritance that I can imagine that can continue for generations.
  
  We are all here for a relatively brief time.   Have you ever thought of what impact your life has made or will make on other people?   What is the story our lives leave behind?
  
  Throughout this wild ride called cancer, many people have made a profound impact on my life and the life of my family.   We have see some incredible acts of kindness and some real blessings from God as my treatment continues.  None of us will ever be the same.   The story continues...
  
  Just two more weeks of radiation.  Dr. Harb says everything is looking good so far.
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME!

• Tuesday, July 20, 2010 12:50 PM, CDT

  Howdy,
  I hope you are having a nice summer.   It is county fair week for some folks in our area.   I am glad to not have to rush projects, food and animals to the fair any more.   Some parts were fun, but it is a consuming experience.   If you are doing things at the fair, I hope that you have lots of fun.
  
  We are recovering from a huge storm in our neighborhood.  Lots of mature trees fell.   Some fell on houses.   As far as I know, nobody was hurt.   Our electric was off from Saturday to Monday.   Our street flooded.   Lots of lightening, wind and rain in the storm.   We got some water in our basement, but other than that, we dodged the bullet.
  
  One thing that was nice about such a severe storm is the way neighbors helped each other.   We all worked together to clear the storm drain in the street.   Then all the floodwater drained away into the ravine.   Several neighbors helped clear branches and cut up trees.   We met some of the neighbors for the first time.
  
  Everybody watched the Duke Energy workers as they put up poles, replaced wires and transformers.   There were lots of very busy workers and trucks.   It was a major undertaking.
  
  Being without electricity in the city is much easier than at the farm.   I think it is like camping, except you have flush toilets and your own bed.   We cooked on the grill.   We even had showers because we were careful not to run out all the hot water.
  
  I did discover LED lanterns are much better than fluorescent or standard bulb lanterns.   LEDs use half of the number of batteries and last 10 times longer.   Instead of replacing our old lantern batteries, we replaced it with a new LED model.   Lighting was our one shortcoming at the beginning of the power outage.   Our flashlights didn't work well.   We had candles, but I don't like to use them.  Now, we're all set with the LED lantern.
  
  I thought for a while about how awful natural disasters have been in the South and Haiti.   It is awful to be suddenly without shelter, safe water, and food.  It made me consider how blessed we are and that we should not take those blessings for granted.
  
  Today I had the 20th radiation treatment.   My skin is getting a little sensitive.   It is kind of like a mild sunburn.   Fortunately, there is so much nerve damage that I don't feel it a whole lot.  I am not sure if I have two or three more weeks to go.
  
  I saw the Radiation Oncologist today and she said everything is looking good.   Next I had an appointment with Dr. Harb.   He said I am doing well.   My bone density is "off the charts" in a good way.   I will be taking daily medication to suppress estrogen as soon as the radiation stops.   This medication will continue two years, then switch to something different.
  
  I am working on getting a genetic test so that Susan, Elizabeth, and Rebecca will have some idea of their risk factor.   I wouldn't want anyone to ever get this, but if there was a chance I would want them to watch closely for any symptoms.
  
  In general, estrogen stinks.   Even if I knew I had a genetic marker, I am not sure if I would have had a preventative surgery.   Some people do that.   It would be better than the chemo and radiation I suppose.
  
  Whenever I get an encouraging medical report I feel like I am making some kind of progress.   I suppose I am feeling better all along.   Chemo really knocks the stuffing out of you.   I am really surprised at how long it takes to recover.
  
  Thanks so much for your prayers and support.   That is as important to me as all the medical treatment.   I really think that it would be easy to become very depressed.   I have only been able to stay focused on being positive because of friends and family.   I know that is why I feel pretty good.   God has certainly surrounded us with some fabulous people and I am thankful for that EVERY day.
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME!

• Friday, July 9, 2010 9:43 PM, CDT

  Hi there.   Hope you have been enjoying the summer.   I am glad to have 13 radiation treatments behind me.   I have more hair now.   It will be fun to get a haircut again someday.   It could probably use a little trimming to even things up.   I have a lot of gray.
  
  They have a CD player in the treatment room, so I try to bring music each time.   It really helps the time pass.   I listened to Dulmos today.   That's our friend Scott on dulcimer.   They have a pretty nice sound system.  It is relaxing to listen while the machine is doing it's thing.   I just close my eyes and listen to the music.
  
  We had a really nice trip to Michigan over the holiday.   We enjoyed our visit with Liz and David while we were on the way.   Unfortunately Travis was at work, so we missed him.  
  
  It was fun to see Susan and Matt and all the kids.   They have grown so much.  We were all amazed with Eleanor's eating talents.   I have never seen a kid so excited about watermelon. 
  
  They have a deer that grazes in the field in back of their house.  She doesn't seem to be concerned about people being around.   I think she's become a pet.   Susan calls her the gardening supervisor.
  
  On the way back we stayed with my niece Debbi and her husband Jim.   We watched fireworks all the way to their house.  It was fun to see their new home.    They have done a beautiful job landscaping and decorating.
  
  Thanks for all you prayers and support.   I am still plugging away.   My blood test came back really good.   My skin is doing okay after 13 treatments.   I do get tired easily and I have a little difficulty keeping focused, but all things considered - I am doing great.
  
  God is good - all the time!

• Wednesday, June 30, 2010 8:25 PM, CDT

  Howdy.   Hope you have been enjoying the beautiful weather.  Today was wonderful.   I shut down the AC and opened all the windows.   My garden is doing well.   I have been picking peas most every day.   Lots of tomatoes are on the vines.   Peppers are just starting to form.
  
  I continue to do the radiation thing.   I think there will be 4 more weeks after this.   Things have improved some there.   They got a CD player.   I have brought some CDs to listen to.   It really helps the time pass.   I still find the machine a little unnerving.   I just close my eyes and listen to the music.
  
  I suppose my chief complaint is that my legs really hurt.   I have no idea how to remedy that.   I just keep taking Aleve.   It is hard to know whether to exercise more or not.   It doesn't seem to make any difference.   I'd like to do more walking, but my feet start to swell.   My solution is to force myself to take breaks and elevate my feet.    All things considered, I am doing great.
  
  Have you been enjoying the summer?   I hope you have a good time over the holiday.  
  
  We are going to try to go up to Michigan over the holiday and visit with Susan and family.   It's a 6 hour drive, so we plan to stay overnight.    We haven't seen them in a long time.
  
  I heard from my friend recently and my puppy should be ready to go in October.   We got another roll of fencing today to finish the backyard.   I never imagined it would take 250 feet of fencing.   I did measure, but it didn't seem that large.   I am really looking forward to the pup.  
  
  When the kids were younger they enjoyed reading Joni Ereckson Tada's books.   We watched the movie about her life story too.   She had a diving accident when she was 18 and became a quadriplegic.   She has an amazing ministry.   Her organization has provided wheelchairs for people all over the world.   She sings beautifully and has a radio program.   I think she has helped countless people.  
  
  This week Joni had surgery for breast cancer.  It went well and she will be facing chemotherapy.   It is not going to be fun, but I know she has a fantastic support group and a wonderful husband.  Please pray for them as they face lots of decisions this week.
  
  Thanks for your support.  You have made this journey much easier.
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME.
  
  

• Tuesday, June 22, 2010 1:03 PM, CDT

  Well, I have returned from the belly of the great fish.  Today was my first radiation treatment.   It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't fun.
  
    It is like a walk in freezer.   There is a long table with the custom mold they made last time.   I had to lay down on the table then they raised it what seemed like four feet off the ground.    It's probably 50 degrees in the room - maybe colder. 
  
  They took several x-rays for positioning.   Then they colored on my chest wall with Sharpies.  Next the head of the machine orbits around the table.   It pauses at certain intervals and makes noises.   Apparently that is when the radiation is emitted.
  
   There is a "porthole" in it that's about 18 inches in diameter.   There are pairs of horizontal rods that shift position creating an opening in the center.   The opening varies continuously.  
  
  The room is bright and cold.  There is nothing to see.   It is also very quiet.   Music would be a plus.   ...any kind of music.
  
  I thought of Jonah.  I never wondered what he did in the belly of the fish for three days.   It must have been dark and smelled awful.   I wondered if he thought he was going to die in there.
  
  It is interesting that sin separates us from God and that Hell is a permanent separation from God.   Being alone in a strange place must be a lot like Hell.   The big difference is that as long as you are in Christ, you are not separated from God.   You can pray, you can listen for God's voice.   As rotten as being alone is, Hell has got to be infinitely worse.  Don't plan on going to Hell.
  
  We met with the Radiation Oncologist.   I was curious what the benefit of radiation is at this point.  What wasn't cut out was hopefully killed chemically.  I guess the issue is that even one cell might have escaped.   In that case the radiation will incinerate it.   She said that statistically it decreases the risk of recurrence.   I guess I will always wonder what the outcome would have been if I hadn't done anything.
  
  Well, I guess I will be doing the radiation thing every day for the next six weeks.  Tomorrow I am bringing my winter gear, because in that room "it's always winter and never Christmas."
  
  Thanks for your prayers and support.   I'd never make it through this on my own.
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME.

• Friday, June 18, 2010 6:00 PM, CDT

  Back home again in Indiana...   Howdy!   Hope you have been well and had a great couple of weeks.   I have had the adventure of a lifetime.
  
  We drove out to New Mexico to visit Nelson's sister.   It was 1300 miles one way.   We loaded up the Town and Country and headed West.   We stayed in Missouri the first night and Amarillo the second night.   In Amarillo, we had dinner at Texas Road House.   We thought of Tim and Deb Dommer.   They like Texas Road House.   The food was great.
  
  Next we drove to to the ranch.   I think the longest part was the one mile drive to the ranch house.   They have a driveway created for Hummers.  It is a beautiful place nestled in the mountains.
  
  One thing I discovered is that it's always windy there.   It was really hot some days, but the wind made it very comfortable.   They have the best tasting water I ever tried.   The wildflowers were stunning.   I enjoyed the peace and quiet.  There is no cell phone reception, and the Internet is via satellite.
  
  As evening approaches, we joined Adrianne and Jack on the back porch watching the beautiful sunsets.   Just a little while later the coyotes call their bands together.   Then the night is still and filled with stars.
  
  It was so nice to see Rebecca again.   We all miss her.
  
  We enjoyed visiting with Jeff, the ranch foreman.   If you have ever enjoyed "Hank the Cowdog,"  Jeff is a dead ringer for Slim.
  He is very talented and keeps things going.   Currently he is constructing an addition to the ranchhouse that doubles it's size.
  
  They raise Longhorns.   Longhorns are NOT cattle - just ask Jeff.   They are a breed of their own.   I think they look really cool, but from a distance.   I was really glad to have that 300mm lens.   I could stand in the pine trees and get some great photos.  Rebecca and Adrianne were amongst them feeding them cake cubes by hand.   I am a big chicken - I admit it.
  
  John, Andy, Nels and Jeff took a hike in "the back" to check for lion tracks.   They saw a variety of tracks and concluded that there was a good balance of wildlife at the ranch.
  
  Adrianne took me on a tour with the "electric horse" AKA the four wheel ATV.   It is a big BIG place! 
  
  The elevation is very high compared to here.   I did have some trouble with the altitude.   I got tired really easy and I had a hard time sleeping.   I didn't know, until I saw Mike M. here, that the altitude can do strange things to you when you lie down at night.   I was wondering if I was having some heart issues.
  
  Andy and John enjoyed going down to the range deep in a arroyo (or dry stream)  and shooting their air-soft guns.   They did lots of target shooting.
  
  We made a trip to Cimarron, NM.   We visited the Philmont Scout Ranch (137,000 acres) and the "Villa."  We also went to Santa Fe, where we toured the Capitol buliding. 
  
  There was a celebration in Cimarron to commemorate the Santa Fe Trail.   I got out to take a few pictures of the wagons and got to see a reenactment of a store robbery.   The Sheriff rode in and shot the bad guys.
  
  We also visited a really old cemetery in Cimarron.  Some of the grave markers were wooden.   They had been there a long time.   The desert like environment had preserved them.   I wondered if there were people buried there from the days of the Santa Fe trail.   We couldn't read most of the wooden markers.   They had faded over the years.
  
  We really enjoyed the visit to the ranch.   It was a rich time of clear thinking without distraction.   A very pleasant break.
  
  On the way back we visited NRA's Whittington Center.  The guys enjoyed the firearms museum.   It was an interesting stop. 
  
  We stayed in Colorado Springs, and headed on toward home.   I don't know how I completely forgot that Focus on the Family is in Colorado Springs.   I would have loved to see the campus.   I never thought about it until we got home.
  
  The mountains are lovely to visit, but I really like the good old flat land of Indiana.   "Mountain top experience" has taken on a whole new meaning in my world.  It includes: shortness of oxygen, perilous roads streaming through clouds, and constantly changing weather.
  
  On the way back, the van's AC died.   I am sure glad that didn't happen in Texas when it was 104 degrees.   I remembered we had gotten a notice from Chrysler about an extended warranty.  I thought it was for the heater, and I filed the letter.
  
  When we got home, I found the letter.   Our mileage (at the dealership was 69,915.  The warranty was good until 70,000.  Thank you Jesus!   We left the van for repairs and headed North to Lake Michigan.
  
  We had a great visit with my mom, sister and niece.   My nephew took us for an amazing trip out on the lake in his boat.  I am NOT a water or boat person, but I had an amazing time.   The boat was very comfortable and quiet.   It was so peaceful being out on the lake watching the sun set over Chicago.  I never imagined I would do anything like that.   I had a GREAT time.    I got tons of very nice photos.   Jeff is a great captain!
  It was a wonderful way to end our vacation.
  
  I really was thinking about not getting in the boat.   Then I stopped and thought that nothing could come close to what I have experienced over this past year in terms of fear or pain.   No kidding.   It really gave me the courage to step FAR outside my comfort zone and I am so glad that I did.   Honestly, nothing seems very frightening any more.   Still, I don't plan on getting in a plane any time soon.   :-)
  
  Thanks for your prayers.   I know that's why we had a safe trip.
  We had a tornado in Topeka, Kansas.   We followed some really bad storm systems in our journey.   The van was great.  No flats, no breakdowns.   Even the AC was covered.   We all stayed well.  The weather in New Mexico was wonderful.   We were so glad to know that Rebecca also made the trip and got back home safely.
  
  As I look forward to radiation for the next six weeks, I am not worried.   It isn't going to be fun, but I can get through it Lord willing.   What a year it has been...
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME!
  
  

• Tuesday, June 1, 2010 7:25 AM, CDT

  Hi there.  I hope your weekend was fantastic.  Saturday we had a great time helping Sarah and Aaron get their house ready to sell.   The guys worked on some landscape projects.   We had a fun lunch together.
  
  After that we did video and sound for Todd and Maria's wedding.   It was a very nice service.
  
  The Sunday "Family Service" was fun.   Kids submitted questions to Pastor Henderson.   His sermon was answering the questions.   We also saw the P2A project video.  Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdB5Q2LFrPU&feature=player_embedded
  
  Sunday afternoon we visited with my mom, sister and neice.   We saw my nephew's house.   He and his wife have been working on their house and it looks fantastic.
  
  On Monday, Nelson and John marched in the Memorial Day Parade.  Andy and I held down the fort waiting for the new fridge to arrive.   That turned out to be very complicated when we found out the new fridge was really a used fridge.   After numerous phone conversations with the store manager, we got the situation resolved to our satisfaction.   Our faulty fridge was hauled away.   Everyone was happy.
  
  We enjoyed lunch at Chick-fil-a.   They had a special FaceBook promotion of their new spicy chicken sandwich.   Sam came with us and we enjoyed a great lunch.   The boys had milkshakes afterward.
  
  When we got home, the guys had a gaming session with the neighborhood kids.   It's a good thing that Andy has lots of computers.   They had a really good time.   They also played some basketball.   I thought about how differently the guys interact together as compared to their sisters and friends.  A good time was had by all.
  
  Later, Adrianne called and we finalized some trip plans.   Next we talked to Becky.   We are trying to get her transportation arranged from Jackson to New Mexico.   There are no trains or busses, so plane is the only option.
  
  We are really looking forward to the trip.  We have lots of video stuff to finish before we leave, so we're going to be pretty busy.  I will probably not be updating CB while we're gone, but I will update FB.
  
  I have been feeling fairly well.   It is nice to be away from chemo.   I am getting some of my sense of taste back.   My hair is itchy, but it is growing.  :-)   I still get tired fairly fast, but that is improving.
  
  Thanks for all your support, especially prayers.  I am looking forward to our trip and I hope we don't have any problems traveling.  I hope you are enjoying the official start of summer.
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME.

• Thursday, May 27, 2010 9:38 AM, CDT

  Good morning.   I am very glad today is a little cooler.  Hope your day is starting off well.
  
  I had an exciting morning.   I had to go over for the baseline CAT scan with the molded form.   That seemed easy enough.   I knew they were going to use a contrast media IV.   It started off well.   When I registered they gave me one of the little restaurant disks that blink and buzz when your order is ready.   I sat in the waiting room and waited for the  disk to detonate.
  
  Then I signed a bunch of papers and the nurse took me back to start the IV.   Here's where the fun started.   They could  not hit a vein in my arm.   I felt a little dehydrated and that didn't surprise me.   They decided to utilize the port.   I wasn't really sure about them putting dye in there.   They said it was okay, but I went ahead and read the literature that came with the port.  They they stuck the port and it didn't work.  I was getting close to thinking this was a bad day and telling them "let's try this another day."   The second time they stuck the port it worked.
  
  They explained the contrast media would feel warm when it went in and that it would be under pressure.   The IV system was part of the CAT scan machine, or so it looked from my position.   It had a clear glass cylinder with a plunger, and a coiled length of tubing.   They hooked it to the line from my port  and the CAT scan machine started.   They said it'd be about two minutes.
  
  Just as the thing fired up, the tubing disconnected and contrast media was flowing everywhere.   Yeeha, a water park feature.   I yelled out "Something is wrong!"  Soon all the crew came running back in and they shut everything off.   They got the hose reconnected and we tried again.   This time everything worked.   Wow, what a morning!  Fortunately the contrast media is not a skin irritant.
  
  I think that is probably my last visit without taking someone along.   I didn't think it was going to be a big deal.   Nelson could have gone.   At least I survived the trip.
  
  My life is sometime too exciting for my own good.   I think I need a nap.  
  
  The fridge guy is supposed to come and work on the fridge this morning.   The freezer is varying from 29 degrees to -10 degrees.   The warranty runs out in six weeks, so I am trying to get it fixed so we don't have to kick it to the curb.  BTW, it's a Samsung.
  
  I hope you have a peaceful and relaxing day.   Thanks for your support.
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME
  

• Wednesday, May 26, 2010 6:22 PM, CDT

  Howdy.   Another hot day in Indiana.   I am really glad Nelson got the A/C in the vehicles fixed.
  
  I saw the radiation people today.   They made the mold of my torso.   That was pretty simple.   I just had to lie down on a thing that looked like a blue tyvec pillow three inches thick.   Next the tech used a device to suck all the air out of the "pillow."   Then it was re-inflated with something and became semi-firm.  That was one of the easier tasks I've had to participate in.
  
  I was really thinking three or four weeks of radiation.   I was thinking wrong.   It will be six to eight weeks.   By that time I will have become a radioactive human French fry.   Hokey smokes.   I have to go every day, but I get weekends off.
  
  The place is nicely decorated, but it really reminds me of a funeral home.   There is just "that kind" of furniture.   It is really quiet.   They have  "meditation room" instead of a consultation room.   That's where I met with the tech.  If I was decorating the place, there would be lots of plants, a pond and some happy music.   ...maybe even jazz.   The place needs some life in it.  There aren't any magazines, because their protocol says that magazines harbor germs.  
  
  It's just a really dead place.   The exception is all the receptionists who are so happy you'd wonder if they are doing wine tasting when they leave the room.   They are giddy happy.   They are fun.
  
  Side effects of the radiation include drowsiness, and a sun burn type skin reaction in the area being treated.   I am just hoping to recover from the chemo side effects.   At least my hair is actually growing.   I see more little sprouts of brown.   I actually have two eyelashes poking through.  
  
  I am still working hard on the weight loss.   I dropped a couple more pounds.   I don't get that hungry.   My appetite has decreased.   I think the chemo drugs made me hungry all the time.   I am trying to be more active.   I have a LONG way to go, but I am making progress.
  
  I hope you've had a nice day.  Thanks for your support.
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME.

• Tuesday, May 25, 2010 1:55 PM, CDT

  Hi there.   Hope your day is going well.   If you're in Indiana, I hope your A/C is working. :-)
  
  I am back from my appointment with Dr. Harb.   I am happy to report that the scans came back clear.   That is good news.   He seemed to think things were going very well.
  
  Tomorrow I get the body mold made, and Thursday I get another scan.   I think this is the faster type.   It will help them to target the area for the radiation.  It's going to be a fun week.
  
  I had lunch with my friend Nancy.   She has also had quite the go-round with cancer.   She just came back from a vacation at Virginia beach.   She is doing great.  It was fun to trade "war stories."  Cancer is a bizarre experience, but it really makes you appreciate every day to it's fullest.
  
  Hope you have a great afternoon.  Thanks for reading, and thanks for your prayers.
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME.

• Monday, May 24, 2010 8:12 AM, CDT

  Hi there.   I hope you enjoyed the weekend.  Things were pretty busy around here.  We had a community garage sale Friday and Saturday.   We got rid of a bunch of stuff we weren't using.   I got to visit with some of my neighbors, and we bought a couple of things we needed.
  
  Sunday was a very busy day.  David's sermon was very interesting, and energetic.   He used an active-drama illustration for the whole message.   I am going to enjoy watching the video, because we we're so busy following the action we did not get to pay close attention to the dialogue.   Lots of people had great comments about the message.
  
  Sunday evening we did video as the folks from Passion to Action presented their community service project plan.  They are a very interesting family.  Here's their web link: http://passiontoaction.org/ 
  We thought their story reminded us of the TV series "Promised Land."  They have a huge project planned for May 29 in the Lafayette area.   Maybe your church is involved, or maybe you'd be interested in participating.   It will be HUGE.  Check out their Facebook page (Passion to Action).
  
  Last week was the "scans."  This week I meet with Dr. Harb to hear the results.  On Wednesday, they make a mold of my torso to prepare for the radiation therapy.   On Thursday another scan.   I guess they figured that I enjoyed last week so much they gave me bonus tickets to the medical amusement park.
  
  My hair is finally detectable.   I am developing some brown fuzz along with the white fuzz.  I think I am a long way from looking for a comb or brush.   As hot as it was outside yesterday, I am probably going to be glad I don't have much hair.
  
  Sometimes I wonder if all this chemo and radiation is worth the side effects.   It makes me think about all the drug ads on TV.  The drug may cure the original problem, but the side effects include nausea, vomiting, hair loss, mental confusion, dizziness, numbness, swelling and tingling in all extremities, menopause, loss of taste sensation, burning of the skin, bone pain, joint pain, back pain, mouth sores, drowsiness,  body temperature fluctuations, potentially cancer, or death.   What don't kill you makes you stronger, I guess.
  
  I am greatly encouraged by the folks around me that have actually survived the ordeal.
  
  I really enjoyed Sunday afternoon's visit from Liz, Travis and David.   David is becoming a little chatterbox.   It is fun hearing his new words.   I am so glad that Liz and Travis are making parenting a priority.   They work very hard a being good parents.
  
  Susan and Matt have done a great job with their six kiddos too.  
  
  I am so glad to see both the Lains and the Stocktons involved in Bible believing churches.   I am glad that God is the number one priority in their families.  
  
  3 John 1
  2Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. 3It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth. 4I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
  
  This week is going to be a challenge in many ways.   I think about God's response to the Israelites when things looked rather grim:
  
  11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
  
  I know that God is Sovereign.  I do not have to concern myself with medical issues, I leave that up to God.  For me, the only concern I have is following the busy schedule.
  
  We are all looking forward to visiting with Rebecca and Adrianne.   The time is getting closer and closer.  It's going to be an exciting trip.
  
  I hope you have a great week.   Enjoy all the summer birds.  I have had lots of humming birds at the feeders.  It is also fun to hear all the bird chatter outside.
  
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME.
  

• Thursday, May 20, 2010 7:10 PM, CDT

  Well I survived the PET scan and Cat scan.   My nephew wonders if there is a dog scan.  Nelson thinks the technician should say something like: "Blindfold?  Cigarette? Morphine?  Last Words?"
  
  I didn't realize I was getting both scans.   It was creepy, but I have lived to tell about it.  It was not painful, except maybe for the radioactive IV.   That was minor.
  
  Today I helped myself to some dirt therapy.   I cleared out one of the raised beds and planted green peppers.   Then I gave the oak leaf hydrangea a trim.   After that I weeded.   Ah, it felt great.   I was good, I wore the pink nitrile gloves Mom gave me.
  
  I went to Camile's for lunch with Becky, Amy and Sally.   That was a pleasant break.
  
  The guys have been helping me set up the garage sale for tomorrow.   We have a ton of stuff to unload.  Our whole neighborhood is participating in a sale Friday and Saturday.   I figure it will be a fun way to meet more of the neighbors.
  
  I am delighted to get a sectional from Craigslist.   It was near where my sister lives.   She checked it out for me and then my nephew loaded it on a trailer and they delivered it last night.
  It is just great.  Exactly what we were looking for.   I really appreciate the delivery service too.   I really enjoyed the visit with my sister and nephew.
  
  I hope you have had a good day.   Many of my friends have had a rough week.   I think the dark weather has an effect.   I am happy to report that Thomas is much better and has been able to recover at home.   That was an answer to prayer.   I am sure Mary Beth and the kids are happy.   Thanks for your prayers.
  
  I will get the results of the scans on Tuesday.   We meet with Dr. Harb then.
  
  Thanks for your support!
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME.

• Tuesday, May 18, 2010 8:42 PM, CDT

  Hi there.  We are getting lots of rain, but the plants are looking good.   This may be the first time I actually have blueberry plants.  I thought one had died, but they both have leaves now.   You'd think after 30 years of trying that something would actually work.
  
  The rose is blooming.   It is loaded with flowers.   It has the most wonderful fragrance.
  
  I have see humming birds yesterday and today on the feeders.  It has been pretty cold and I wondered if they were around yet.
  
  Tomorrow I get to experience "medical fear factor" again.   I have a follow up scan.   I really hate these things.   They are noisey tight spaces.   It would be lots easier if someone could talk to me while I am in the stupid thing.   Instead they all are far away.   They just give me a shot.   Unfortunately,  last time  the medication completely wore off half way through the scan.
  
  Ergonomic medical test is an oxymoron.  If I was a medical engineer, things would be lots different.   I would start with mamograms.   A man must have come up with that idea.   It may be cost effective, but that's the only positive thing I can say.
  
  Why do medical tests come with so little information for the patient?   Do they suppose that if you knew what was going to happen you'd just leave?   Take MRIs for example.   They take a really long time (nearly an hour) and they are loud.  You know how bad a test is going to be when they offer you morphine.
  
  I think of Indiana Jones and the pit of snakes.   That is just about how appealing most of these diagnostic tests are.  The whole thing would be different if you could have a pleasant distraction.   How about some Christian music?   ...or how about if someone could talk to you.  
  
  I think the worst part is being totally alone in the belly of a mechanical whale.   A very loud mechanical whale that sounds like a space shuttle launch.  It's a good thing that it is still possible to pray in all circumstances.  At least you can have a conversation with God.
  
  The only good thing about the scans is that they are not painful.  I just try to keep that in mind while I am in the solid rocket booster of the space shuttle.  It could always be worse.
  
  My good friend's husband just had gall bladder surgery yesterday.   He is running a fever and the antibiotics weren't working today.  Please pray for Thomas.   I am praying that the medical people find an antibiotic that works.   I am also praying that Mary Beth gets some rest.
  
  Hope you all have a good night.   Thanks for your support.
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME
  
  

• Thursday, May 13, 2010 5:19 PM, CDT

  Howdy.  Hope you have been well and that you are enjoying the "May Flowers."   My Peony bushes are blooming now.   The blackberries are doing well.  The wild rabbit ate the leaves off the middle one, but I think it will come back.
  
  I keep forgetting to mention that if you click the photo, you can see the larger version.
  
  Andy and I had a great time doing video for the BGE convocation.  Jolene is so talented at creating these events.  When she retires from teaching, she could do stand-up comedy.  It was lots of fun.
  
  Next we did video for "Little Women,"  the homeschool drama for this year.   There were 27 parts, and some of the actors were in the first night and others in the second.   It was very professional and well attended.   It was a fun Friday and Saturday.
  
  This year the drama group purchased video rights so they can distribute the video.   They are selling copies for $10 (2 DVD's per night).  Andy and I have been loading the tapes.   We used four cameras so we had sixteen tapes to load.   Andy is about finished editing Friday.
  
  I have gotten back into doing my real estate virtual tours.   I did a couple of them this week.   I still fight getting tired.   Naps help.   Today I edited and uploaded the photos.
  
  This week I actually remembered Bible study on Wednesday.   I keep remembering on Thursday and miss my study.   We are doing the book of John.   I really enjoy the group.
  
  Rene' had a great insight Wednesday.   We can be surrounded with people who know about Jesus, but do not have a relationship with him.   It's kind of like knowing Drew Brees.   A person may know all his stats, where he was born, where he went to school, his favorite food...yet if Drew was in the same room, Drew would not know the person's name.  Don't ever know about Jesus without knowing him personally.
  
  I am feeling fairly well and glad to begin my third week after chemo has ended.   I had to get a blood test yesterday, and that will continue weekly.   My hair is getting a little fuzzy and I hope it does some serious growing now.  My nails are still painful and look like I hit them with a hammer.
  
  I am thankful that my sister had a safe trip driving her friend to the Cleveland Clinic for a scheduled checkup over the weekend.  She is a good friend.
  
  We are still planning on our trip out West to see Nelson's sister and Rebecca.   The time is getting closer.   I am looking forward to it.
  
  I am trying to eat more sensibly.   I have gained a load of weight throughout the whole chemo thing.   Hopefully I can loose the extra weight and a little more.
  
  I hope you have a nice week.   Seriously, stop and smell the flowers!  Thanks for your support.
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME.

• Wednesday, May 5, 2010 9:01 PM, CDT

  Hi there, hope you've had a nice day.  It has been warm and sunny here.  My iris flowers are blooming!  I planted a bazillion of them, so I am enjoying fresh cut flowers inside.  I remember when the girls were little, we'd have fresh cut flowers on the table every night.   I'd send them out on a mission while I was finishing up preparing dinner.   Sometimes we had dandelions and bunches of wild flowers.  That was fun.
  
  Today I saw the radiation oncologist.   The office is very nice and the staff are very positive.   I will get a bunch of scans and then they will plan the treatment.   They will make a form of my torso that I will lie down on when the do the radiation.   It is so they can hit the targeted area with consistency.  I guess there is a 10% better outcome using radiation after chemo.  There is a 1% chance of developing lymphedema in my right arm.  She said that sometimes 10 years after radiation people develop cancer as a result of the radiation.   Oh well, it seems like a good idea at the time.
  
  I guess the common side effects are similar to a sunburn.   Seems like they will do this every day for three to four weeks.  By then I should glow in the dark.
  
  The radiation will not start until we come back from seeing Rebecca at Adrianne's ranch.   They will do all the scans and make the mold before we leave.
  
  The sinus stuff is still making me nuts.   Headache, runny nose, then headache and stuffed up nose.   This must be what cocaine addicts do to themselves.   I guess I have been lucky not to have allergies or sinus problems for 52 years.  Now I just wish it would go away.  I am glad Cathy S. told me about doing the sinus wash.   I have been using the pediatric saline drops and that really does help.
  
  We had a water line break on our street.   There was a huge amount of water flowing down by Sam's house so all the kids were having a blast playing in the water.   I took off my shoes and enjoyed it too.   It doesn't take much to entertain us.  This morning they shut the water off and repaired the line.   I am glad they were done at 12:30.  I needed to do laundry.
  
  A really big thank you to Vera for a huge bucket of KFC, potato salad, sweet potatoes, and cake for dinner.  She was here when we got back from the doctor's appointment.  That was a big help.
  
  Andy has been busy all week with the drama group.   He is having lots of fun, but he is putting in some eighteen hour days.  I really look forward to the production.   I watched a little of the rehearsal yesterday and it is fantastic.  You better come and enjoy a great night of wholesome entertainment Friday or Saturday.  The costumes are amazing.   Those dresses must have twelve yards of fabric!
  
  Well, I hope you have a good night.  Thanks for your support.
  
  God is good - all the time!

• Monday, May 3, 2010 5:55 PM, CDT

  Hi there.  Hope you had a nice weekend.   We've had a fair bit of rain, but I am really enjoying the flower and vegetable garden.
  
  The weekend was good.  John and Nels went camping at Buffalo.  They had a really good time.  Andy and I hung out at home.  We got the garage cleaned out and rearranged furniture.  Andy did a little video work with his friend Autumn.   Over all, it was a quiet weekend.
  
  Sunday, John and Nels had the stomach thing.   Andy and I managed to do video for the worship services.  We were glad Noah was there to help for second service.   I really enjoyed Pastor Henderson's message.   He addressed the parenting roles of moms and dads.  Good stuff.   I also managed to catch a large portion of Corey Miller's class.  That was very good too.
  
  I am so glad to NOT have chemo tomorrow.  I have had kind of a queasy stomach and hope I have not gotten the "bug."  I am still experiencing the "sinus stuff."  Hopefully the sinus thing will clear up soon.  Over all, I am doing pretty well.  I am supposed to meet with the radiation oncologist on Wednesday.
  
  Hissy the cat and his buddies have had a concert on the patio the past couple of nights at 3AM.   If they do that tonight I am dousing them with John's super soaker.   I have been pretty tired, but I think the "concert" is the reason.
  
  This week is the homeschool drama event at Covenant.  This year's production is "Little Women."  Here's the scoop:
  May 7 - Friday 06:30 PM - Christus Homines Drama Troupe Spring Play     Location: Covenant Presbyterian Church       Christus Homines Drama Troupe
  Proudly presents
  Little Women
  Directed by Ruth Lanz
  Based on the book by Louisa May Alcott
  May 7, 2010      6:30 PM
  May 8, 2010      4:30 PM
  At
  Covenant Church
  211 Knox Drive
  West Lafayette, IN    47906
  $5 a ticket  $15 per family living in one household
  
  Thanks for your support.  Hope you have a great week.
  God is good - ALL THE TIME.
  
  
  

• Tuesday, April 27, 2010 4:56 PM, CDT

  Hi there.   Well we met with Dr. Harb today.   The lab report looked great.   I am officially DONE with chemo.  Next will be radiation.   I have a lot of questions about that.   I will meet with the oncologist/radiologist soon and I can find out all about it.   Fortunately Dr. Harb said we can schedule it around our planned trip.
  
  Thanks to Ramona for sending dinner.   I am always tired when chemo is finished.   You'd think after lying down for hours I would not be tired.
  
  Have a great evening and thanks for all the support!  
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME.

• Monday, April 26, 2010 7:23 PM, CDT

  Hi there.  Hope you have had  a good weekend.  I have been doing fairly well.  I have been really tired, so I haven't posted much.
  
  It is hard to believe that tomorrow is the LAST chemo treatment.  I am very grateful for that.   I have been blessed to not have many side effects until the last few treatments.   I have had lots of pain in my fingernails, some nerve pain in my hands and feet and the cursed metal taste.  I have been taking extra B6 and that has helped.
  
  My hair is starting to grow a little.   It is white and curly.  I have heard from other patients that this is common.   It falls out and then colored hair begins growing.   I will be glad for whatever.
  
  I really enjoyed Sunday School this week.   Corey Miller is teaching.   The class has to do with an interaction between C.S. Lewis and Sigmund Freud.   I am not sure if it is an example, or based on a true encounter.   There has been some very lively
  discussion.
  
  This week we discussed how you can be emotionally and/or intellectually led into or out of a relationship with God.  It was very interesting.   It has led me to give great consideration to what was the most critical point in my experiencing a relationship with God.
  
  I have also spent a great deal of time pondering the sovereignty of God and how that impacts my life.   Trust seems to be a big factor in accepting the sovereignty of God in my life.  How can you yield control unless you have complete trust?  I think another point worth considering is that we do not really have control over anything.  We may think we have control, but that is not reality.   Accidents, weather, and  health are three areas we have no control over.  The volcano ash in Europe has been a good example of how little control people and technology have over the environment.
  
  I have a couple of prayer requests for you.  Jim is 31 and father of two.  He had his stomach removed last Tuesday (cancer).   I am praying for a good recovery, and the peace of God.   Rebecca's friend's dad has lung cancer.   He was rushed to the ER today.  Pray for the skill of the medical staff and for peace of God for the family.
  
  Thanks for all your support through this.  Our whole family greatly appreciates all you have done for us.
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME.

• Monday, April 19, 2010 8:04 AM, CDT

  Hope you had a great weekend.   We enjoyed the "Battle of the Praise Bands" at Covenant.   It was great fun and I think they raised a good amount of funds for charity.   Six bands competed.  There was a silent auction, puppet show, and food.
  
  Nels and I packed the camera and went out south of town to check out an eagle's nest.   I had a 300mm lens and I wasn't sure if there was actually an eagle in the nest till I uploaded the shots and cropped.   The nest is huge.   Eagles can build nests that are 10 feet wide and 20 feet deep.
  
  On Sunday, Brently J. spoke.   He began at Covenant as the jr. high youth pastor quite a while back.   It has been fun to see him grow in responsibilities.   One of our first wedding videos was Brently and Amanda.    We really enjoyed Brently's message.  The guys and I continued to discuss it over lunch.
  
  Later, the guys and Sam helped me attack the evil Yucca plant.   We dug it out last year and used a herbicide, but it grew back.  They shoveled out root pieces the size of melons.   This time I think we got it.   I usually compost our green waste, but I didn't want this to take root so we set it out for the city pickup.
  
  I am going to try planting my blueberry bushes where the yucca had been.
  
  Later, John had a Scout badge requirement to work on.   A fire was made in our fire pit and the guys enjoyed making some-mores.   You shouldn't let a campfire go to waste.
  
  We had a good weekend.   I hope you enjoyed time with your family or friends too.
  
  I have two chemo treatments left.   One on Tuesday, and one the following Tuesday.   I can't wait to be finished.   One of my friends said that this has been the year from hell.   That is probably a fairly accurate description.   I could do a screenplay on "The Medical Shop of Horrors."  I do not know how I would have ever made it through without a whole lot of Jesus, and his followers.  
  
  Joan and I talked Sunday about how similar cancer treatment can be to pregnancy.   It is so bizarre.   With your first child you really have no idea what to expect.   Your body is changing and you are not really sure how the process will play out.   That is quite similar to cancer treatment.   The worst part is all the well meaning folks that contribute tales of horror.  
  
  It's funny how even strangers will contribute.   "Oh my aunt LuLu had cancer and all her teeth fell out, they had to amputate her limbs and she died six weeks later."   or "My sister had breast cancer and after all the treatment she got ovarian cancer.   They treated her for that for a year then she got lung cancer and died."  Do I really want to hear that? ...no.
  
  When your pregnant, they will walk up to you and tell you things like, "After I was in labor for 12 days, they went ahead and did a C-section and I nearly died."   When it is your first pregnancy, these things freak you out.   Why do people say things like that?
  
  What is really helpful is all the people that say, "Hey, it's rough, but I got through it and you can too.  Let's go to lunch!"  Joan and I decided that is the way we want to be.  Encourage each other with your speech and actions.
  
  1 Thessalonians 5 8But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
  
  I am having a harder time with the chemo, but I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and that encourages me to just keep pressing on for a few more days.  The finish line is in view!
  
  Thanks for all your prayers and encouragement.  You have been a blessing to our family!
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME.

• Wednesday, April 14, 2010 7:56 PM, CDT

  Howdy.   Hope you have had a great day.  I am loving this weather.
  
  I enjoyed Bible Study this morning.   My knee is doing much better.  Thanks for the prayers.
  
  John and I putzed around in the back yard.   I finally found a job John actually enjoys.   We had a zillion Maple saplings coming up in the flower beds.  I turned John loose with an electric hedge trimmer.   He enjoyed chopping them all down and raking them away.   He did a great job.
  
  I planted tomato plants and peas.   I am going to have to watch for frost warnings to protect the tomatoes.  I enjoyed some more fresh broccoli.  Yummy!   I have lots of prickly pear cactus and I gave some away to one of the plant exchange members today.   It is very prolific.   It is a cactus native to Indiana and it survives the winter quite well.
  
  It was a great day to do laundry.   I got all the sheets dry on the new clothesline.   They smell wonderful.  I am so glad to have the washer back to normal.
  
  Vera brought us a delicious dinner.   That was a real treat.  There was even a dessert like strawberry shortcake. 
  
  It was a good day.  I love to be outside and it is nice to have lowered the pain to a tolerable level.  Thanks for all your encouragement and support.
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME!

• Wednesday, April 14, 2010 6:37 AM, CDT

  Hi there.  Hope you are enjoying the beautiful weather.  My mind is on gardening.  I got the strawberry bed planted and I hope to get some peas planted today.  I take it in little bites.   I am going to attempt propagating some of the forsythia bushes.   There are so many good resources on the web.  I especially like the OSU instructional gardening videos they post to YouTube.
  
  Chemo went well.   Thank the Lord, just 2 more to go!   I am having some neuropathy symptoms.   The nerves are tingling in my hands and feet.   This is a typical side effect of Taxol.   They dropped the dose a tinge and have me on B6 twice a day.   It is much less bothersome today.   It doesn't hurt.   Just a little tingle in my hands and feet.   I don't notice it today.  
  
  They weren't very busy yesterday, just a few patients.   I didn't have anyone next to me.   I am still trying to think of ways to share Christ.   I have a few nice small devotional books that people gave me and I am thinking about sharing them.  They have a counter you can leave things on to share, but I'd rather just give them directly to the people.   Some are there on a fairly regular basis and I have grown to recognize them. 
  
  I ran into a little scheduling snafu yesterday.  Andy had an appointment, and I had to find someone to be with John for part of the school day.   A big thanks to E.J. for picking up the ball.  She came and stayed with John.   That was a huge help.  Friends are so appreciated when the journey is difficult.
  
  Hopefully the steroids will make today a really good day.   I know now that they will wear off tomorrow afternoon, so I am trying to get tasks completed today. 
  
  We had the washer repaired yesterday, and it seems to be doing well.   I am on the last load of laundry.   I really love the clothesline.   It helps keep the drying costs down and things smell so nice.
  
  I would really like to go and get some eagle photos today.  Radonna clued me in as to where the nest is at.   Glad I have a long lens.
  
  It's almost tax day.  Got yours done?   We are finishing ours today.   I guess it's a blessing to pay taxes, just like having dirty dishes to wash...at least you have income, and food to eat.
  
  Okay, now the humor section.   I have these two Yucca Plants that the former homeowner planted.   I tried to kill them by paying the kids to dig out piles of roots.  Guess what, they are back!  I found this very humors series of posts: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1466991/posts
  You will find them quite amusing.   A word to the wise: NEVER PLANT A YUCCA!  It just about takes some C4, or selling your house and moving to a Yucca free area to get rid of them.
  
  I hope you have a blessed day!  Thanks for all the ways you have encouraged us.
  
  God is good - all the time.

• Monday, April 12, 2010 9:10 AM, CDT

  Hi there.  I am back from my visit to Dr. D.  Whew.  They took standing X-rays and the good new is that the knee looks great and no surgery is required.   He thinks that I strained it and he gave me some exercises to do.  I got a shot of "WD40" under the kneecap to lubricate the area and reduce inflamation where the kneecap slides up and down.  It is supposed to last for several months.  By then he thinks the muscles will be retoned and keep things in proper alignment.
  
  I am grateful for all the prayers.   I am quite relieved to not be planning knee surgery.   I do feel some relief of pain.  
  
  I am free to walk around and do the stationary bike.   I am supposed to avoid stairs.  It's okay to go down and up in the house once a day keeping my left leg straight.  Our bedroom is on the second floor.
  
  The current problem is with my left knee.   My right knee was replaced in April 2008.   He compared the "before" X-rays of the replaced knee with the left knee and the difference is  astounding.  I was very glad to see how good the left knee really is.
  
  Thanks again for the prayers and I hope you have a great Monday!!
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME ...and often  exceptional. :-)

• Sunday, April 11, 2010 5:17 PM, CDT

  Hi there.  I was glad to make it to second service today.  I did video for part of the service, then set and moved to where I could prop up my knee.  It is still bothering me, but I am glad I have an
  appointment with Dr. D. in the morning.
  
  I really enjoyed the message and visiting with friends.  It was so nice to not have to wear a coat today!  Pastor Henderson shared some of "Same Kind of Different as Me" by Ron Hall.  It is a really great book and I highly recommend it.  Here's a link to a free two chapter download: http://www.samekindofdifferentasme.com/SKDAM%20ch%201%20&%202.pdf
  
  We have had a pretty quite afternoon.  That is a good thing.  Yesterday Nels got the white trellis placed back between the magnolia and red bud trees.   I have a wisteria plant to put beside it.  Hopefully, we can get it planted tomorrow.
  
  Are you planting things this year?   I am planning on another few raised beds of vegetables and herbs.   I am going to try, for the thirtieth time, to plant blueberries.   Every year I have planted them, either critters ate them or they died during the winter.  Usually the sheep or goats ate them.  This time I think I have a good plan.   We all like blueberries.
  
  I hope you have had a wonderful day.   I really appreciate prayer as I see Dr. D. in the morning (8AM).   The best outcome as far as I can see would be that I have some kind of strain, or I need to do some physical thearpy.  I really hope I am not looking at a surgical repair. 
  
  Thanks for reading, and all the other wonderful things you do to help us get through this rough road.  You are greatly appreciated.
  
  God is good, ALL THE TIME.
  
  

• Thursday, April 8, 2010 8:52 AM, CDT

  Hi there.  April showers bring May flowers.   In my case, they are bringing April flowers.   The red bud and magnolia are blooming now.   Don't you enjoy the beautiful colors of spring?
  
  I had chemo Tuesday and that went okay.   I found out my knee X-ray was fine.  It doesn't show soft tissue injuries though.   Gil set up an appointment with Dr. D.   He's the one that did my "bionic" knee in 2008.  That one is fine.  The appointment was for the 19th, but I was able to get it rescheduled for the 12th.
  
  The steroids in the chemo meds made the knee feel fine Tuesday and Wednesday...until 4PM Wednesday.   E. J. went with me to Walmart.   I needed soap and a few other items.  I was walking up toward the front and ouch.  The steroid must have worn out.   It was like suddenly having the feeling return to you mouth after dental work.   I was hoping I would make it back to the van.  Last night was not fun.   They said I could take Alieve, but it didn't really have any effect.
  
  I guess I am glad they didn't find some icky tumor in my knee, but I would sure like to know what is making it hurt so much.  I am just glad I haven't experienced back and shoulder pain that many folks on Taxol go through.  This is tolerable, but irritating. 
  I would appreciate prayer in this matter. 
  
  I was glad to make it to my Bible Study on Wednesday.   It is great to visit with friends and learn more.   I really enjoy the time together.
  
  Thanks so much for all your support.   It is a great comfort to know that we don't travel alone.
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME.

• Monday, April 5, 2010 8:27 AM, CDT

  He is risen!  Hope you had a great weekend.   The weather was wonderful.  I was glad to be able to attend the worship service. 
  
  John and Sam had an overnight Saturday so that they could make it to the pancake breakfast.   I do not know what it is about boys and pancakes, but they all seem to love them.   John said it was his best breakfast all year.   Doug B. and his crew did a fantastic job.   I hope that they raised lots of money for youth group projects.  John and Sam were wondering why we couldn't do this every Sunday.  :-)
  
  The service was great.   Choir and the orchestra were exceptional and the sermon was excellent.   Hope you were encouraged by worship wherever you were.
  
  John, Sam and I went home after the service.   They played games and I worked on food.   I made deviled eggs, jumbalia, and pea salad.  I was totally wiped out by 12:30 when Andy and Nels returned.  It was nice to receive an invitation to dinner from Travis's mom (our son-in-law's mom).   I was really tired, but I was glad I had made some things to bring.  
  
  Next Brian, our friend from Louisana, came over.   They invited him as well.   We enjoyed a really great meal and a good visit.  Brian has been working 60 hours a week for several weeks, so we haven't had a chance to visit.
  
  We enjoyed our visit.   The nice thing about holidays is sharing them with friends and family.
  
  Saturday, Andy shot video with his friend Autumn.   I can't wait to see their project.   They are producing sermon illustrating "shorts."   Autumn is very creative.   They have a crew they work with that includes actors.   They have done some nice work.  It is cool to see young people engaged in worthwhile and fun projects.
  
  I am still dealing with the knee pain.   I think of my little pony Taffy.   Taffy managed to get into a huge thorn from a black locust tree.   When she came in from the pasture, she was hopping along on three legs.   Her little knee was hugely swollen.   I extracted a three inch black locust spike.   I gave her some medication and treated the area with an antibiotic salve and wrapped it up.   In a couple of days she was happy and running with the herd.  This knee thing feels like a "thorn in my flesh."   I hope Dr. Harb has some kind of effective treatment.
  
  I am enjoying the explosion of color in our yard.  The forsythia bushes are blooming, myrtle is blooming, and daffadils are blooming.   I am so glad the previous owner planted so many cool things.  We got two more fence posts.  Next we need to start putting up the fencing itself.   It is going pretty well.
  
  Today's goal is to get Andy registered to vote.  I hope that we have all the correct documents on the first try. :-)
  
  Hope you have a great day.   Thanks for reading.   Thanks for all the encouraging cards, email, calls, prayers and food.   We really appreciate our friends and family.
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME.

• Saturday, April 3, 2010 1:30 PM, CDT

  Hi there.   It's an "April Showers" kind of day here.   The flowers are getting a great drink.   The color of spring is beautiful.
  
  We went to the Good Friday service last night.  It was very good.   There were alternating dramas and music.   It was dark and quiet.  It made me think a lot about the contrast between Friday and Sunday.   The stage was struck and reset.   Bright color and beautiful flowers for Sunday.   Sunday is the victory lap and the conquest of evil.
  
  I thought lots about how much pain Jesus suffered through.  Whenever I have had a painful episode, the health care professionals ask:  "On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the most excruciating pain you have ever experienced,  how would you rate your present sensation of pain.   I think Jesus could have honestly said "25."  
  
  I can't even imagine how horrible it would be to have thorns stuck into your head, having your limbs spiked to a wooden post, having your facial hair yanked out by the roots, and being scourged.   I can't imagine anything worse.   I am amazed that Jesus could even have presense of mind to speak.   He had a conversation with the others being crucified, made plans for his mother, forgave his persecutors, and spoke to God the Father.
  
  I am having some really bad knee pain.   It is bothering me all the time.   I haven't been able to do some of the things I should do.   My knee pain is absolutely nothing compaired to the suffering of Jesus.   I am really hindered with the small issue of a painful knee.   Jesus was amazing even as he suffered unto his on death.  It really puts things in perspective.
  
  As I read in John last night, I was surprised to find that Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit on to his disciples after he was raised from death.   I never noticed this.  
  
  John 20:  19On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" 20After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.  21Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." 22And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."
  I wonder if this passage is what inspired this hymn by Edwin Hatch:
  1. Breathe on me, Breath of God,
  fill me with life anew,
  that I may love what thou dost love,
  and do what thou wouldst do.
  
  2. Breathe on me, Breath of God,
  until my heart is pure,
  until with thee I will one will,
  to do and to endure.
  
  3. Breathe on me, Breath of God,
  till I am wholly thine,
  till all this earthly part of me
  glows with thy fire divine.
  
  4. Breathe on me, Breath of God,
  so shall I never die,
  but live with thee the perfect life
  of thine eternity.
  

  ---

  
  We went to see The Secrets of Jonathon Sperry at the theater today.   John's buddy Sam went with us.   I think it was a good movie.   I am anxious to discuss it further with the guys.   The storyline follows a group of boys John's age.   Other than that, I won't spoil the story.
  
  Well, Liz, Travis and David have come to visit, so I am going to hop to the living room chair.   I hope you have a blessed Resurrection Sunday!
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME.
  

• Thursday, April 1, 2010 5:28 PM, CDT

  Spring is here!  It is so nice to feel the warm breeze outside instead of from the furnace.   Sunshine and the spring bulbs in bloom are fantastic.
  
  We got the long version of the Census form yesterday.  I started to fill it out and realized they ask lots of specific and personal questions.   I had to dig up information to fill it out.   It is almost as bad as the tax forms.   The difference is you don't have to keep adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing.   I did entertain the thought of filing fictitious data.   ...like maybe 100 people live in our house and we use 3 trillion dollars of coal to heat our home.  The government doesn't have much of a sense of humor, and there are fines.
  
  The Census inspired me to root out all the tax documents and see if we could get them done.   I hate doing taxes.   I hate the forms.   I would be totally in favor of a flat tax.   I dug out all the papers, then we discovered Nelson's W2s had gone missing.  Rats.   He ordered a new set today.  Guess we'll try to get them done over the weekend.  It took 2 hours to get all the stuff together and start calculating.   Who knows how long it will take to actually fill out the forms.
  
  Yesterday was such a good day.  Today my knee is driving me to distraction.   This time it is just the left one.   The right one is fine.   The right one is the bionic knee.   I hobbled over and got an X-ray.  Hopefully something will relieve the pain.   I'd appreciate prayer in this matter.  Whatever I got with the chemo was great.   I don't know if later the Taxol does this or not.  I can't complain too much, I have been really fortunate so far.
  
  Our son-in-law Travis has had both grandmothers in the hospital.   We have been praying for them.   One is doing much better, the other is not so good.   Travis is going to visit them.  We pray for a safe journey and a meaningful visit.
  
  How has your day been?   Any pranks for April Fool's Day?  Hope you have a good evening/night.
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME.

• Wednesday, March 31, 2010 7:58 AM, CDT

  Hi there.  It is looking like a nice day here.  Hope your day is going well.
  
  Yesterday was chemo.   Eight done, four to go!   I am doing lots better today.   My knees are pretty much feeling back to normal.  I don't know if it is the drugs they give me with the Taxol, or if it is the fact that I have consumed nearly a gallon of water.   Whatever fixed things, I am glad.   It had been a rough previous week.
  
  Going to chemo is an intense experience.   Some of the patients like to visit during the process, and some don't say much.   Some we recognize as regulars, some are new.   Yesterday, the place was packed.   All ten stations were full and every treatment room was full.  Some are young people in there 20s, and some are elderly.   It is sobering.
  
  The gal next to me was from Rensselaer.   She was about my age and has two children.  She is a Christian, I am guessing Dutch Reformed.   She commented quietly on how many people had either been cured or "went to Glory."  She said she never imagined she'd experience this.   She knew everyone will die, but she didn't want to die this way so she was fighting as hard as possible.   She started treatment last April.
  
  My friend Cathy calls Florida "God's waiting room."  I am begining to think of Dr. Harb's office as God's launching pad.   Either it launches you in to ministry and life, or send's you on to "Glory" as my friend said.  It is horrible to think of the people in there that may not have a relationship with Jesus, because they are not going to "Glory" and probably don't know it.  Pretty convicting.   I sat and thought about Lindy and how he must have shared with folks there, because he did that everywhere.  I thought about feeling convicted to seek more opportunities to do the same thing over the next four weeks.
  
  Nels and John got the metal posts in the ground yesterday, so the fence project is moving along.   Sam helped unload posts with John.
  
  Sam has been such a great friend to John.   I have had Paraclete on my mind.   Paraclete is from Greek and means advocate, or one who comes along beside, and it also refers to the Holy Spirit.   I see an example of that in Sam as he has "come along beside" John to help him complete his quarter mile runs so that he can advance in Scouts.   Sam has been faithful in coming over to encourage John by getting the timer and saying "John, it's a great day, let's go run!"  He records the time on the calendar when they get back.  One day they ran in the rain, but they got it done.
  
  Nelson's birthday was Monday.   I managed to bake him a Pineapple Upside Down Cake.   I haven't made one in years, but it came out okay.  That is something he had as a family tradition from home.   We got him a new strap for his guitar and some other things.  I am not saying how old he is, but he can get the discount at Goodwill now.  That is one of our favorite shopping places.
  
  Friday, John gets to tour the nuclear reactor at Purdue.  Dr. Simms is leading a group of homeschoolers on the tour.   I was surprised at John's interest in this.   I have taken the tour, and it is quite interesting.
  
  Andy is working for Dan, then he has a couple of video projects this afternoon.  Then he has a ton of responsibilities at Covenant tonight, and a memorial service this afternoon.   Please pray that he can complete his tasks and doesn't get worn out.  He works very hard.
  
  Our grass is totally green and we'll probably have to mow this weekend.   It is amazing how fast spring zooms in on us.   I have so many flowers blooming.  I love to see the daily surprise of something else poping open.
  
  Thanks for all your prayers, cards, emails, Face Book posts, encouraging phone calls and visits, and meals.   You have been a real blessing to our family.
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME!

• Saturday, March 27, 2010 9:12 PM, CDT

  Wasn't it a beautiful day?  Hope you enjoyed some time outside.
  
  Andy and I did video for the Alpha class this morning.   We got to test out a new idea that our friend Gary H. had.   We used an independent Sony lapel mic to test for audio.   It was interesting and we're glad we went.
  
  Nels and John went to the Red Cross event.  Nelson taught and John earned certification in several areas.
  
  Later we all met at Panera for lunch.   It was a fun time.
  
  My knees were still giving me a lot of grief today.   In the afternoon I ventured outside to consult on the fencing project.   The guys got more wooden posts set in concrete.   We discussed the project with a neighbor and the guys got some of the metal posts in the ground.   Unfortunately they are too big for our pounder, so we took them back.   We'll get some at the farm store to finish up the posts.
  
  John cut out some of the honeysuckle that was in the fence line.   It is kind of a nuisence bush.   Looks like they will get in all the posts by Tuesday.
  
  By this time my knees forced me to go inside.   I parked in the pink chair.   Joyce E. brought over a fantastic blueberry pie.  Yummy!   We had that for dessert.  It was still warm.
  
  I took Randi L. up on the jacuzzi offer.   My knees hurt really bad and I wondered if the heat would help.   It surely did.   I had tried a heating pad and a shower massage with warm water, but the jacuzzi really seamed to help.  They are not great now, but they hurt a lot less than they did earlier.   Thanks so much for sharing, Randi.
  
  I am looking forward to hitting the sack.   Hope you have a good night and that you have a good morning worship time.  Thanks for reading.
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME.

• Friday, March 26, 2010 6:09 PM, CDT

  Love that sunshine!   Wow, it was a beautiful day.  Hope you got to get outside.  Don't you just love spring?
  
  I think this has been one of my worst days, but all things considered, it wasn't that bad.   Hokey smokes.   I feel like I have the Tin Man's knees.   I am hobbling around today.   I have no idea why my knees are so stiff and painful.   Once I get up and moving it's not so bad.   It is just getting up and moving.  I guess it must be the Taxol.   It feels almost as bad as the post-op pain from my knee replacement.
  
  Medicine is a good thing.   It has helped.   I am glad to have a super flexible schedule even if I am not flexible.   I just attacked the day in small bites, and big breaks.
  
  I sliced and grilled a pork loin with some of the Webber grinder spices from Sams.   That came out pretty well.   I cheated and used the grill setting on the convection oven because I can set a timer.   Mostly I incinerate meat on the gas grill because I usually get it too hot, and I admit, I get distracted.   I just cooked a portion at a time till I got it done.  Yummy.
  
  Next, Andy, John and I went over and recorded a short clip of the palms in the sunshine for Sunday.   It was so windy the palms kept blowing over.   We thought it would be especially to run the video backwards with "Up From the Grave He Arose."  Okay, we have a geeky sense of humor, but it would be funny to have the palms suddenly jump up from where they crashed on the ground.  Don't worry Pastor Henderson...
  
  I pretty much loafed the rest of the afternoon.   Tried some heat on my knees and that was helpful.   I look at it this way, after today, tomorrow will be spectacular.   I am thankful the sinus stuff is much better this afternoon.
  
  It was fun watching Andy and John play that war game on the computer.   It has amazing graphics and they each play on a separate machine that utilizes the same battle program.   I was amazed at how well they work as a team when the battle the bad guys.   It is a tricky game and they communicate well.  I am glad that Andrew includes John even though they are almost six years apart in age.   John really enjoys the game.
  
  Later, our young neighbor Eli came over looking for someone to play outside with.   Eli is going into fourth grade and I am glad John takes time to play with him.   They both enjoy Legos and exploring the ravine.  John's about twice Eli's height, and I am glad John has learned to be kind to the smaller kids.   ...must have learned that from his brother.
  
  It's supposed to be nice again tomorrow.   I hope that the guys can finish the fence posts.   Our dig permit runs out Tuesday.   I guess I can renew it if we need to.   Once we get the posts set, we can take our time getting the fence and gates installed.
  
  I hope you have a great weekend!   Thanks for reading.   Friends and family have been the biggest help ever seeing us through this journey.
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME.

• Thursday, March 25, 2010 5:46 PM, CDT

  Hi there.  Thanks for reading.   Hope your day has gone well.  It's a cold and rainy day here.
  
  Wednesday was a fun day.   I felt better than I have in months.  Andy and I went to visit our friend Gary H.   He is a videographer, photographer, cinematographer and part time keyboardist for a popular band.  Most of all he is lots of fun and an encouraging friend.
  
  We learned about wireless sound capture for our video cameras.   Got to check out his plethura of high quality gear.   One of his units sent crystal clear sound back to our camera from over a quarter mile away.  That unit is probably a little beyond our budget, but it was fun to play with.  It was a fun time.
  
  Later, we worked more on the fence.   I really felt great and helped clean out some of the augured post holes.   Nels got the posts set on the South side of the house and in the back.  They are looking good.   John and I went for more posts and concrete.
  
  My sinus stuff was pretty well cleared up and thank God the headache went away.   Hey, I was feeling pretty good.
  
  Today is a different story.   I was so tired I slept a couple of hours this afternoon.  I feel like I need some WD-40 in both knees.   Golly, they will barely bend and they hurt.   I am walking like Herman Munster.  At least the sinus stuff is not bothering me.
  
  I enjoyed lunch with Julie, Anna, and Becky.   We went to a Japanese restaurant.   The food was a little unusual, but not bad.   I got to experience a different culture.   This must be what our foreign visitors feel like when they visit an American restaurant for the first time.   Both cultures consume different grain products, rice vs. bread, and use different utensils, chopsticks vs. silverware.
  
  Japanese food is big on garlic and soy and maybe MSG.  I guess I hear American food is big on sweet, salt and fried.   We definitely have different preferences as cultures.  It was an interesting lunch, but not something I would prefer as a steady diet.   I guess it's a good thing to have a wide variety of foods available.
  
  I am thinking about covering my flowers tonight.   It is suppose to get really cold.   I hate it when the frost kills all the spring flowers.
  
  I sure hope I feel better tomorrow.   Wednesday was such a good day.
  
  Hope you have a good night!
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME!

• Wednesday, March 24, 2010 3:52 AM, CDT

  How was your day?  I hope you enjoyed the beautiful weather.
  
  Another chemo treatment behind me.   Five more to go.   I met with Dr. Harb today.  Things are going well from his perspective.  Four weeks after the next five treatments of Taxol I am scheduled to have radiation.  Then I will be on one type of pill for two years, followed by a different type for three years.
  
  I am really tired and my joints/bones were pretty sore.  I think the sinus thing is on the run because that is getting better.  I didn't get too much done today besides laundry and school.
  
  John and I are going through A Patriots History of the United States by Larry Schweikart and Michael Allen.  It is a really good book and not an easy read.  I highly recommend it, especially if you are a product of the public school system.
  
  John is studying Amos Fortune, Free Man, a biographical novel by Elizabeth Yates.  They are doing a play in co-op.  The Patriot book describes in great detail the foundations of slavery in the U.S.  
  
  It was very interesting to see how unscrupulous ministers misquoted scripture to justify slavery.  They misinterpreted the stories of Cain and Abel (Genesis 4:8-15), and Ham (son of Noah) and d alleged God imposed inferiority on all blacks as the "curse of Ham. (Genesis 9:18-26)"  This is something I first heard in my white public high school as a truth. 
  
  European, so called scientists, argued that blacks were an inferior sub-species of humans.   (Thank you Darwinian evolution for later contributing to the foolishness of the scientific community.)  This was a way for people to rationalize that blacks were not really human beings, but rather property. 
  
  Do you see how this ugly logic has perpetuated the abortion movement today?  If a baby is really not human, it's okay to rationalize killing it at any time.  That is getting harder and harder to logically justify in the advent of ultrasound.  That is why the abortionists fight full medical disclosure for their victims.
  
  Fortunately the Second Great Awakening moved slavery to the top of the list of man's sins.  In 1775 the Quaker Anti-Slavery movement began in Pennsylvania.  Soon the Northwest Ordinance forbid slavery north of the Ohio river and the Constitution abolished the slave trade in 1807.
  
  It is bizarre how people can unscrupulously misquote and twist scripture to justify just about anything, even enslavement and murder.   I really appreciate Dr. David Henderson's encouragement for us to be like Bereans and examine every teaching against the context of scripture.   Not just a sentence fragment, but in light of the entire verse and hopefully chapter and maybe even the entire book.
  
  Acts 17:11 "Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true."
  
  I don't know who is learning more in our home school environment, John or me.  Mostly, I find how many gaps are being filled.   I am glad that John has the opportunity to question and discuss things we study. 
  
  My hope is that Nels and I are able to provide a solid foundation for our children that will not be washed away as they are challenged by the godless culture in which we live.   It is a sad statistic that 3 out of 4 college students walk away from the faith - mostly through ignorance.  So some parents are spending $20K to send their children to Hell.
  
  Okay, enough of the history lesson.  When we got back from chemo, Nelson and John finished painting in the living room.  They did a great job and I am very happy it is finished.  Hopefully I will feel like getting those pictures dusted off and hung up soon.
  
  This afternoon, maybe Nels and Andy can get more fence posts set.  I think there are a total of 13 wood posts to install.  I am so glad we have the auger.   It makes the work much easier.  Nels is really good at setting posts.   It has been a good practical lesson in  geometry for John.   When you home school, everything is a teachable moment.
  
  Today I hope to meet up with my friend Gary.   Andy and I are trying to work out a wireless microphone system to feed directly in to the video camera.   We have a lot of "on location" work coming up and it is a real hassle having to run and XLR cable to the microphone.  It will be so nice to have it wireless.
  
  I find the Taxol is not nearly as bad as the A/C, but it really zaps my energy.   It is frustrating to have to keep taking a break.   Sometimes the breaks are longer than the productive time.   At least I am up to reading, and I do lots of that. 
  
  Five more weeks!  The thought of the end of this being closer, and a constant flow of little projects keeps me from slipping into the vortex of depression over the whole matter.  This is second to the prayers and support from our friends and family.   I am so grateful for all the ways you have helped in this trial.  Scott Freeman, thanks for telling me "You look fabulous!" each time we talk on the phone.  You make me smile.    Thanks again.
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME.
  
  

• Monday, March 22, 2010 6:27 PM, CDT

  Hi there.  Hope you have had a good day.   It is a rather gloomy rainy day here.   We are supposed to have several nice days this week though.
  
  I had planned to do a few things today.  It is so funny how God can interrupt plans and make everything turn out even better.  I was going to try and finish the last bit of painting in the living room.  I had also planned to call about the church's  projector Andy and I had taken in for a repair estimate.
  
  The projector was fixed and it turned out that a ribbon cable inside had come partially unclipped.  That probably happened from moving it around constantly.   It is the "floating" projector and gets used in different areas all the time.  I was so glad that the fix was minimal.   Replacing the projector could have been as much as $600.
  
  I remembered reading on Face Book that one of my church friends had a power supply go bad on her monitor.   She uses the monitor to communicate because she has ALS.  Her husband had fixed her up with a temporary replacement, but they were in need of a new power supply.  Our friend at the repair place keeps loads of used parts and power supplies.   We stopped by and picked up the broken power supply so we could match it.
  
  Fantastic!  Larry had a power supply that would work on the monitor.   We dropped it off and Andy hooked it up for her.   While he was there, one of her helpers had a computer problem.  Andy was able to fix that quickly too.
  
  I didn't get my living room painted, but I am much happier with what Andy and I were able to accomplish.  Sometimes it is surprisingly fun when God interrupts your day.  John and I can finish painting another day.
  
  I think the sinus stuff is somewhat better.  It is still giving me an annoying headache.  I was glad to get several hours of sleep last night.   That in itself was an improvement.
  
  Tomorrow is chemo again.  I only look forward to it because it means one more treatment is behind me.  It is very difficult to sit still for the afternoon.  After tomorrow I think there are 4 more to go.  I am glad the port has been working properly.
  
  Thank you for all the prayers, visits, cards, meals and calls.   Your support has made this journey much easier.  I hope you have a great week.
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME.

• Sunday, March 21, 2010 9:03 AM, CDT

  Good morning!  I am so glad the weather is nicer.   I am pretty tired of snow, how about you?  These flowers are on the south side of our house.   They were a pleasant surprise on Saturday.
  
  We started working on the fence Saturday and got a few posts set.   Nels installed my retractable clothesline.   It required a post.   Since we don't like to have lots of stuff to mow around, we put the post in the center of the raised beds.  It will be so nice to hang sheets outside to dry.  The guys moved the rabbit hutch back beside the shed.  We did some more yard clean up. 
  
  We are all glad that Nels was able to fix the garage door opener.   Now we have to clean out the garage so the car will fit inside. :-)
  
  We drove up to see Liz, Travis and David in the afternoon.   We had a nice visit.  David is really growing.   He can count to ten, although I don't think he is able to correlate the numbers with items yet.   He has begun to recognize letters.    It is fun to watch him grow up.
  
  I am still dealing with this sinus thing.   It is somewhat better in that the drainage has slowed down, but I am really getting hammered by the headache.   It seems like everything from my jaw to my eyes hurts.   I am having trouble sleeping.   Hopefully I will grab a nap today.   I am staying home from church because I don't want to get exposed to anything else, and I really don't feel great.   I must admit, this is not too bad considering some of the things other people deal with during chemo.
  
  Well, I hope you have a good day.   I am going to take John in to church for the second service.   Nels and Andy are there.
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME.

• Thursday, March 18, 2010 8:32 PM, CDT

  Hi there.  Hasn't it been a beautiful day?  It was so good to see some sunshine.   I am still getting hammered by the sinus thing, but hopefully the medicine will work.   I managed to spend some time outside and the beautiful weather made me feel a little better.
  
  I got a chance to visit with my neighbors.   One of my neighbors lost her husband last year.   He died suddenly.   She is doing okay, but she really misses the companionship.   I was glad to get a chance to talk to her for awhile.   I know that Covenant has some kind of support group for those who grieve.   I plan on trying to find out more about it for her tomorrow.
  
  I got to talk to my retired farmer neighbor and his wife about my fencing project.  He gave me several helpful tips.     Nels helped me to mark off the area and count up how many posts we need.  My other neighbor told me the weather is supposed to get ugly, so we need to get some of the posts in tomorrow.
  
  I am glad we have a gas powered post auger.  Nels is really good with operating it.   Andy can help.  If we can just get the posts in before everything greens up I will be happy.   My ultimate plan is to finish the fence before we visit Nelson's sister.  I don't want to get a dog until after we come back.
  
  Fencing is a little tricker in the city.  Neighbors can be persnickety about what you put up, and where.  I think it is important to be in agreement with them before beginning.
  
  Romans 12:17
  "Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone."
  
  I find that if I share a project plan with them they are more inclined to feel a part of the project.  Many times they jump in and help.  I enjoy spending time with my neighbors.  We try to help them when we can.
  
  I went into Payless and got a bunch of marked down stuff.  It was a real blessing.   We like their veggie trays, but they are terribly expensive.  It's nice to find them for 75% off.  You know John loves doughnuts.  I found a box for $2.99.  He was delighted.  I was so glad that Nels was home to help.   He made sloppy joes.  By the time I got home, I was ready to take some hydrocodone and crash.  I am so glad to have good helpers.
  
  I really hope this sinus thing turns around soon.  I am feeling pretty yucky.   I would appreciate prayer if you think about it.
  Thanks so much for reading.   I appreciate all the wonderful things friends and family have done for us during this ordeal.
  
  Hope you have a good night and a blessed day tomorrow.
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME.
  
  

• Wednesday, March 17, 2010 3:34 AM, CDT

  Hi there.  Are you enjoying the spring weather?  I went outside for a while yesterday and checked out the backyard.   I would like to get the yard fenced in before the "green stuff" takes off.  I had the Holey Moley folks mark the utilities.  They finished yesterday afternoon.   We don't want to dig into a gas line to set a fence post.   I think I have decided on white picket fencing.  We will set wooden posts.   I hope to enlist the wisdom of my farmer/neighbor.  Merle put in a really nice privacy fence in his back yard.
  
  I hope to get a dog from my friends the Schnepps when we come back from our trip out west.  That is why I hope to get the fence project underway.   If we can get the posts set in the next two weeks, we'll be doing great.   The job ticket from the Holey Moley people lasts for two weeks.
  
  I am going to see the doc about the sinus/throat thing today.   Since it is 4 in the morning you have probably guessed I didn't sleep very well.   Actually I was so tired after chemo, I slept for several hours.  That probably messed up my night even though I did take my prescription before going to bed.
  
  Now I am at the half-way point on the Taxol.   Everything went as well as chemo goes.  The port worked fine and the Zyrtek worked.  Thanks for the prayers.  Six more Taxol treatments to go.   I will be so glad when this is over.
  
  My hair is starting to sprout back in.  Now it looks like a funky buzz cut.   I laughed when I looked in the mirror.   My friend said she saw her dad staring back when she looked in the mirror.   I see "My Favorite Martian" from the old TV sitcom.  So far it's mostly white.   Oh well, at this point a bad hair day beats a no hair day, but actually any day is just fine with me.  
  
  In the past my hair grew extremely fast.  I had to do some trimming at least every four weeks.  I hope I have enough hair to ditch the hats soon.   They are getting to be a little on the warm side as the temperature goes up.   I am thankful to have this all happen through the cold winter months.   Hats were a great help.
  
  Thanks for reading.  Thanks for all the prayers, calls, visits, meals, Guest Book posts and words of encouragement.   They mean lots to us.  I hope you have a great day and week.
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME.
  
  

• Sunday, March 14, 2010 6:10 PM, CDT

  Howdy.   It's been quite the week.  I was glad to finally finish duplicating the Symposium DVDs, but I think we may have received a few more orders.   So far, I've made 234.   That's great.   I am glad to see the material shared beyond the Symposium.
  
  I have had a hard time sleeping.   I keep wrestling with this sinus yuckiness.   Every time I think about seeing the doc, I feel better and don't go.   I think I am going to go Monday.  I have had some "bone pain" stuff, but I have been able to take the medicine Dr. Harb prescribed and feel okay.   I try only to take it at night because it makes me a little fuzzier than normal.
  
  I am so glad to see the warmer temperatures and growth of plants outside.   My magnolia is getting ready to bloom and the pine tree out front has popped all it's pine cones open.   It sounded like a bowl of Rice Crispies on the sunny days.   The daffodils are getting ready to bloom.  You've just got to love spring.
  
  I really enjoyed having lunch with Becky and Julie this week.   We ate at MCL and I had beets.   I really like beets.   I didn't realize that I got some juice from the beets on my index finger.   Julie pointed it out and I wiped it with a napkin.   I didn't realize that it did not come off.   She told me that it was still there.   I made a serious effort to remove the beet juice and it wasn't coming off.   The Julie said, "It's the mark of the beets!", which we found terribly funny, and laughed out loud for several minutes.  (For those of you that didn't get that, it sounded like the "mark of the beast" from Revelation.)  Fortunately, I finally got the beet stain off my finger.
  
  I was really glad to hear from all the girls on Saturday evening.  There is just something very soothing knowing that everone is safe and happy.   I used to enjoy the time when everyone was still at home.   It was such a warm, peaceful feeling knowing they were all safe in their beds for the night.  Now I just have to have a peace that they all rest safe in the arms of Jesus no matter what their location.  I am really glad for free long distance service, and cell phones.
  
  Saturday was my friend Hannah's wedding.   We met the family through homeschooling.   We have known them for a very long time - since before Hannah was born.   It is such a delight to see the kids grow up in a healthy happy home and realize that it is possible.   We hear so many twisted dysfunctional tales that it is easy to think there is no other possibility.
  
  Hannah's wedding was very nice.   It their family, the girls have all been given necklaces with a golden key.   It represents the key to their heart.   During the ceremony, the daddy takes the necklace from the beloved daughter and puts it around the neck of the groom.   This symbolizes the daddy giving him the key to his daughter's heart and makes him aware of the responsibility attached to that key.   It is a beautiful thing.  It is so nice to see folks that take the marriage covenant seriously.
  
  I am working on planning a trip to New Mexico to visit my sister-in-law's ranch after this chemo thing is over.   She suggested we celebrate.   I am not sure how everything is going to work out, but I am working on making train reservations.   I just don't think I can do another cross country drive.   The train sounds nice.  We've never done that before.   I am looking forward to doing a lot of photography out there.
  
  Well, I am looking forward to a slower week.   I still have a little to paint in the living room, but it won't take long.   I really like how it looks so far.   Chemo is every Tuesday for the next 7 weeks.
  
  It will take us a little while to adjust to the time change.   I have to be honest.   I do like DST.  There, I said it.
  
  Hope you have a great week and you get a chance to enjoy the spring weather.   Thanks so much for the prayers, cards, meals, calls and visits.   This is a difficult time, but you are making it much nicer.  Thank you.
  
  God is good - all the time.
  
  
  
  

• Tuesday, March 9, 2010 8:25 AM, CST

  Hello sunshine!  Golly, I think spring must be just around the corner.   Aren't you glad for the warmer weather?  I have enjoyed my hydroponic garden.   It sits by my computer.   Day by day I have watched the plants grow and develop flowers.  The plants are the photo for today.
  
  Well, today is chemo day again.   I really hope the Zyrtec works.  The Benedryl was determined to be giving me the bad reaction, so we are trying Zyrtec this time.  It's always something. :-)  I am glad the reaction wasn't caused by the Taxol.
  
  Last week was a hard week.   I keep thinking the sinus thing is gone, then it becomes a problem again.  My stomach is no problem on this chemo drug, so, no nausea.   That's a good thing.   I think the hardest thing is to slow down my schedule.   It is hard to resign to the fate that I can't do as much as I'd like to.  
  
  I painted the living room last week - one piece at a time and rearranged the whole main floor of the house.   The edit bay and computer gear all moved to the living room, the dining area moved back to the dining room/library.  Fortunately the guys moved all the furniture.   John was a great help with the painting.   He is really good at taping.    I really like the color.   It is nice having the gear on the main floor.   We like to check the DVD's and it was a pain running up and down the stairs to put them in the player.
  
  I copied and burned over 100 DVD's of the Symposium.   It took a while, but I am really glad that more people will see the program.
  
  I went and photographed a house for Dan over the weekend.  The photos are labeled and loading to the web now.  I have a couple of floor plans to work on this week.
  
  It was great fun to meet Mom, my sister and niece at the Whistle Stop in Monon.   We had a good meal and a nice visit Sunday afternoon. 
  
  Missions Sunday was last Sunday.   I was really tired (do you wonder why?) but I really enjoyed the services and lunch.  I sat with Matt H.   I really felt old when he said he'd been with Navs for 17 years.  Nels and I met Matt back at Calvary Chapel a long time ago.  He and his wife work with 20 somethings in Seattle.  We talked about how many people leave the faith in college and how difficult it is to lead them back.
  
  I heard on the radio last week that 3 out of 4 secular college professors are agnostic or atheistic in belief.   Many of them are aggressively venomously atheistic.  It seems going to a secular college these days results in large amounts of debt and a ticket to hell for students that are Biblically illiterate and weak in their faith. 
  
  That is a mandate to make sure that your children are well instructed in the faith so they can stand up to the taunting and testing.  The only thing you can take with you to heaven is your kids - IF they are believers.   Nothing is more important.
  
  Deuteronomy 11
  18 Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 19 Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
  
  I am really convicted about spending time in the Word and with Andrew and John.  I am equally convicted about encouraging Susan, Elizabeth and Rebecca in their Christian walk.  It gives me great joy to see them teaching the  grand-kids  about the faith.
  
  Well, I hope you have a great day.  I am very thankful for all the prayers, meals, cards, calls and visits.  That greatly encourages us throughout this trial.
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME.

• Tuesday, March 2, 2010 9:28 AM, CST

  Today, I am cheating.   This is a selection I just posted to Dr. Harb's cancer discussion group.   I had been thinking about these things for a long time and maybe even more so today - it's chemo day again.
  
  
  Cancer is an ultimate defining moment of life.  It's an orange neon sign with the question, "Who are you, really?"  I think it is easy to answer, "What are you?"   That answer usually involves objective truths about gender, occupation, relationship definitions, statistics of age and external appearance.  What, is a more physical question.
  
  Who are you, is a much deeper question defining your soul.   It is a question to ruminate on for a time.  "You don't have a soul. You are a Soul. You have a body." C. S. Lewis.  It spawns many other questions:  Who is your God?  What is you life's purpose?  Why are you here?  Who are your friends?  Who can you trust?  Searching the soul is intense work.  I am a Christian.  What does it mean for me to have my identity in Christ?  How real is Christ in my life now?  These are things I had to ponder on a deep level.  There is suddenly a sense of mortality, where there has always been a sense of infinite days.
  
  I have always had really long hair, that's what I was.   At one time it was forty-four inches long.  Hair is like a body part for me.  I really had a lot of anxiety about loosing my hair.  Silly as it sounds, I had more anxiety over loosing my hair than I did about the mastectomy.   I had to really ponder the C.S. Lewis quote I mentioned earlier.  I am not hair.  I have hair - or not.   Now, I am amazed at how fast I can shower in the morning.  My friends have supplied me with some really interesting hats.  I am not my hair.   It will probably grow back, but I will be fine if it doesn't.   I never could have imagined that statement before cancer.  Hair is not who I am.
  
  Who is God?  More importantly, can I trust God in this?  Well, I certainly can't comprehend my situation in full.  How do I choose a doctor?  Do I really want to go through chemo?  I am just a very finite being with a very limited volume of knowledge.  If I really believe that God created me and everything around me then I needed to take that to the next level and really know that my current situation was no surprise to God.   Either you believe or you don't.   There is no half-way.
  
  I needed some help.   I needed God with flesh on.   Things started to happen.   A friend recommended physicians.  I received encouragement from total strangers.   A young lady at a bank started telling me about her successful journey with breast cancer.  Friends and neighbors showed up with meals, and continue to do so.  Pastor David Henderson, from Covenant Church, and all my brothers and sisters in Christ have been exceptional.  Cards arrive in the mail, and friends call on days that had been difficult.  Our driveway and walkway were mysteriously cleared of snow.  People who I didn't realize had survived cancer came and shared their story.   I discovered, at a new level, the wonderful treasure of true friends.
  
  My physician and friend, had a great deal of angst about the pathology report and diagnosis.  By that point in time I had come to the realization that people die unpleasant deaths every day.  They step on mines, are shot,  have car accidents, fall of cliffs, are burned in fires.  It is all sad.  The truth of the matter is that there is no guarantee of tomorrow, or even a next breath for any of us.  It is important to wrestle with the defining moment before it is a final moment.  I purposed to live and enjoy each day as a gift from God.  When you can reach that point it changes your entire perspective.
  
  Who am I?   I am a daughter of the King, a wife of an exceptional man, a mother of five delightful children, a friend of exceptional friends, and I just happen to have cancer.
  
  This is an extremely difficult journey.   There is sickness, pain, and anxiety, but it is worthwhile.   Ask for help.  Never attempt this trail alone.
  
  God is good, ALL THE TIME.

• Monday, March 1, 2010 3:37 PM, CST

  Hello again.   Hope you are well.   It was a wild, wild weekend.   We worked on the C.S. Lewis Symposium all weekend.   Friday night was at Purdue and Saturday was at Covenant.   Dr. Root was very interesting.   We had a very good attendance.   Today, I am really tired, but it was worth it.
  
  Today Andy and I got more DVD media, and he needed some computer parts.   We found a tall guy store and Andy found some trousers he was really happy with.   They also have BIG shoes.   It has been hard finding shoes that fit Andy.   We saw our friend Brian at Sam's.   He couldn't believe how tall Andy is.   It has been a while since we have seen Brian.
  
  I am kind of slacking today.   I've just been doing laundry and some work on the computer.   I am really sore today, but I think it is the weather change as much as anything else.   The sinus thing is a little better, so I didn't make a doctor's appointment.
  
  Tomorrow is chemo.   I have done some reading about Taxol and it seems the reaction I had was not normal.  I am going to mention it tomorrow and see if they can slow down the drip a little.  It will take longer, but at least I shouldn't have a panic attack.  Oh boy, 9 of these things yet to go.   Eight after tomorrow.
  
  We went to a dinner party after the Symposium.   That was a lot of fun.   It was strange that 4 of the  14 people at the party had experienced cancer.   Can you believe how many people have cancer?   I never imagined so many.  One guy asked his students how many in the class had a family member or close friend with cancer.   Only one student didn't.  All I can say is you better keep your ducks in a row, because you never know what will happen.
  
  On to a happier topic...  I am working or redoing our living room.
  I am going to paint the long wall with now windows "Boston Tea Party Brown."  Next I got a bazillion picture hangers to hang the bazillion pictures that have been crated in my basement.   I think there is not point in hanging on to stuff if you're not going to use it. 
  
  We went out to lunch Sunday and the restaurant had a wall of eclectic photographs.   It inspired me further.   I have had the idea for a while.  At least this project is not nearly as bold as the bathroom makeover.   I didn't think I was going to outlive that one.  I plan to paint Tuesday and hang frames the rest of the week.   We have some really interesting antique photos, and some recent ones I've shot.   I think it will be fun.
  
  Well, I hope your week is starting off well.   I have a prayer request.   I hope chemo goes well tomorrow.   Thanks for all the meals, cards, calls, visits and prayers.   They are greatly appreciated.
  
  God is good - all the time.
  

• Friday, February 26, 2010 8:16 PM, CST

  Hi there.  Hope your week has been going well.   It has been a busy week for us.   Wednesday we did video for Pastor Henderson's presentation on C.S. Lewis.   It went very well and lots of people attended.  The guys are working on producing the video as I type.
  
  Tonight Dr. Root spoke at Purdue.   I think there were about 500 people there.   It was very interesting and folks asked very good questions.   We were fortunate to grab an XLR input so we could feed sound directly from the Purdue system to the camera.  That was a good thing because there was a moderately noisy event in the adjacent ballroom.  That is loading right now.
  
  We hope to have at least 20 copies ready for tomorrow's event.  I am really tired.   I am glad I have been able to recruit some extra help for tomorrow.   It is pretty much an 9AM-5PM kind of event.   It will be exciting to see how many people are there tomorrow and to hear another series by Dr. Root.   He is a very engaging speaker.
  
  There will be a series of four talks and a lunch provided in the middle.   Come on over and check it out.   You don't have to stay for the whole day.   It will be interesting just to catch one, if that's  all you have time for.
  
  I had a great time going out to lunch with my friends, Becky, Peg, and Julie.   I love my guys, but it is delightful to get a little bit of girl time in.  There is something wonderful about uplifting conversation with dear friends.
  
  I am having some sinus pressure and it would be greatly appreciated if you could pray that I can make it well throughout the long day tomorrow.   I've been taking some sinus medicine and that is helping.   I am beginning to wonder if I have a little infection going on.   Probably need to pay a visit to Dr. Bridge on Monday.
  
  Good news about Nelson.   His throat has gotten much better since the coughing has subsided.   He still coughs a little, but nothing at all like the 24 hour hacking he was doing.   Doc said it was looking really great. 
  
  Gosh, Nels and I are getting old.   It seems every date we have involves a doctor's appointment.   I will be very glad to pass through this phase of life.   I am hopeful that at some point we'll go back to the annual check up thing and that will be it.
  
  I am so thankful for all the meals, cards, prayers, calls and visit from our friends and family.   That is what keeps us pressing on from day to day.   There is now greater treasure than friends and family - except a relationship with Jesus.  THANKS.
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME.
  
  
  
  

• Wednesday, February 24, 2010 6:51 AM, CST

  Well, another Taxol treatment out of the way.   Three done, nine more to go.   The Taxol doesn't seem to have such a bad effect as the A/C did.   I was totally tired when I got home and I went and slept a few hours. 
  
  The Taxol is really strange.   They load me up with two bags of Benedryl before they start the Taxol.   As soon as it hits I feel like the fight or flight response hits.   It is the feeling you get when you are driving and you are missed by another car by a hair's breadth.   Your heart pounds and your head spins for a nanosecond.   It is like a anxiety attack.   Then it subsides, but it is freaky.
  
  There was a bunch of stuff I wanted to do when I got home, but I just needed to take a break.  I finished up Pastor Henderson's powerpoint for tonight.   That just needed a few tweaks, so not much effort needed.
  
  I am reworking my diet today.   This whole chemo thing has really caused me to gain a ton of weight.   I don't know if it is the chemicals so much as the lack of physical activity.   I have learned that one of the greatest factors for a cancer relapse is excessive weight.  I do not want to go through this again if there is any way I can avoid it.   I know that I can successfully shape up if I am determined. 
  
  Since I am feeling better than I did with the A/C, I am going to try to do some walking in my neighborhood.   Several of my neighbors walk regularly and I am going to try to join up with them.  I have been trying to spend some time on my stationary bike and elliptical.
  
  I hope you have a great day.   Tonight at Covenant Church at 7PM is Pastor Henderson's : What's the Big Deal about C.S. Lewis? Come and check it out if you can fit it in your schedule.
  
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME.

• Sunday, February 21, 2010 8:35 PM, CST

  Hi there.  Hope you have had a great week.   I had chemo on Tuesday and everything went well.  I have felt pretty good, just a little tired.   I didn't have so much "bone pain" this time until Saturday and Sunday.   The medicine helped.
  
  I have tried to keep busy on little projects around the house.   Most of the time I have stayed home.   Wow, I always thought it would be nice to just stay home and have the schedule fairly clear.  I must admit after a few days I was getting a little stir crazy.   I see how difficult life must be when you can't go anywhere.  There is only so much material I can read before I hit the saturation point.  Television is not a great companion, even when there is good stuff on.  This week made me think of all the folks that are shut-ins and how I might be able to make a difference in their lives when this trial is finished.  It also made me think more about getting a dog this summer.
  
  One of the highlights of the week was a visit from Susan, Matt and the children.   I have never seen Eleanor.   We all looked forward to their visit.   On Saturday we ate dinner together and the kids enjoyed some play time.   Sunday they joined us at church.  The children have really grown.  It was delightful to get to spend some time with them.   Eleanor is a very pleasant child.   She has a charming smile and seems to be pretty happy most of the time.  (She is featured in the journal photo today.)
  
  They got to stop at Winona Lake and visit with Liz and Travis.  Liz made pizza and they had a nice lunch.
  
  I talked to Rebecca for a little while on the phone.   She was headed to the pass to do some snowboarding.   Sounds like a fun afternoon for her and her friends.   She has really enjoyed snowboarding.
  
  Andy just got a new phone.   It probably controls the Strategic Air Command.  It has a radio, camera, video and web stuff.   Gosh, it does more things than I will ever figure out.  Remember when phones were anchored to the kitchen wall and if you were lucky you had a twenty foot cord?  No telling what he will be doing with this thing.  I will just be glad if he answers my phone calls.
  
  Today's worship service was great.  We had communion.  I was glad to make it to both services. 
  
  This afternoon I worked on a slide show for Pastor Henderson's presentation about C.S. Lewis on Wednesday evening.   The photos were amazing.  I am looking forward to his presentation.
  
  Here's the scoop:
  What's the Big Deal about C.S. Lewis? Wednesday, Feb 24, 2010 - 7:00 pm
  As we prepare for our symposium, please join David Henderson at 7:00pm, this Wednesday, February 24, in the Sanctuary for an introduction to the life and thought of one of the most important Christian writers in the twentieth-century. Come discover the surprising ideas of this jolly, frumpy man, the unlikeliest of world-changers; with photos from Davids recent trip to Lewis sites in Belfast, Oxford, and Cambridge. Child care available call Peg, 463-7303.
  Hey, it's going to be great.  Try and come if you can.
  All of this is in preparation for the Symposium.  We'll be doing video at Purdue and Covenant.  It is going to be a busy week.   I really enjoy reading C.S. Lewis books.   My favorite is Mere Christianity.  Lots of people have read The Chronicles of Narnia.  He was one of the most interesting people I have ever heard of.
  C.S. Lewis Pilgrimage to Faith Symposium February 26-28 Friday, Feb 26, 2010 - 7:00 pm
  Join us for our symposium on C.S. Lewis' Pilgrimage to Faith coming in February. We will meet Friday, February 26, 7:00pm at Purdue Memorial Union North Ballroom to discuss C.S. Lewis' Pilgrimage to Faith "Emotional Hurdles". On Saturday, February 27 we will gather at Covenant from 9:00am to 4:00pm for a day of discussions on "Intellectual Hurdles", "The Biggest Hurdles", and "The Use of Fiction and Christian Apologetics". Our speaker Dr. Jerry Root will conclude our symposium by giving the message "C.S. Lewis and the Love of God" during worship services on Sunday at 9:00 and 10:45am. Questions? Contact the church office 463-7303. To download a CS Lewis Symposium brochure or to view a YouTube video, click on the title of this event above.
  Dr. Root is a very interesting man.   He is a cancer survivor.  I met him a few weeks ago when we filmed a talk and made some promotional videos for the Symposium.   I thought he was very encouraging.
  Well, it is going to be a very exciting/busy week for Team Howell.  Several people asked how they could pray for me.   I really need protection from the evil flu bug that is going through the community.  I am hoping that chemo goes well Tuesday and that I will feel well enough to do all the stuff on our schedule.   I am really looking forward to this week.
  Thanks to everyone who brought food this week, prayed for us, sent cards, called and/or visited.   You really bless our family.  I don't even want to think about what this trial would be like without all our faithful friends and family.  You are greatly appreciated.
  God is good - ALL THE TIME!
  
  
  
  
  

• Monday, February 15, 2010 6:15 PM, CST

  Hope you had a good weekend.   Ours was pretty good.  The medicine Dr. Harb prescribed seemed to be helpful.  I am just taking it at night so I can sleep.  Today I felt better.  That figures, tomorrow is the next treatment.  I have a DEXA scan in the morning.   That is an easy test.  It's fast and open.   It will check my bone density.  It's more or less a baseline scan.   I had one a few years back as part of a Purdue research study and I will be interested in seeing if there is any difference.
  
  Today I did some work on the computer for Dan.  I had taken a bunch of photos that I needed to upload and label.   Next John and I removed the hallway carpet on the first floor.   The hardwood floor wasn't too bad.  The dust-mite war continues.  Tomorrow is trashday, so I want to get the carpet piece out.
  
  I used the eleptical and the stationary bike a little while today.   I am trying to get a little time on them each day.  My knee has been really stiff and needed a little workout.
  
  A water main broke in our area this morning.   It was very strange.  I got out of the shower and next I went to brush my teeth and there was no water.   I hurried and got dressed and went down to the basement hoping that we hadn't broken a pipe.  Later we had a tag on our door from the water company saying we were on a 24 hour boil order because a water main had broken.  
  
  It is nice to be in town where we are not the water company.   We had our main line break at the farm and the only way we found the break was when Nelson's car fell in the hole created by the washout.   Then we had to repair the pipe.  It was a pain.
  
  Andy worked this morning.  Nels was at work too.   Some really swell neighbor cleared our driveway and sidewalk.   We had snow this morning.   That was so very nice!   Our snowblower is still on the fritz, but Nels is getting closer to tracking down the problem.  Usually the guys work together to clear our neighbors out.  Snow can be an inconvenience, but it is also a great ministry opportunity.
  
  I hope you have had a good Monday.   Thanks for reading.
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME.

• Saturday, February 13, 2010 6:03 PM, CST

  Hi there.  Hope you have had a good week.  My treatment Tuesday went very well, but last night the joint pain hit.   That is a side effect of the Taxol.  Supposedly, it only lasts  two to three days.  My chief complaint is knee, hip and joint pain.   I didn't sleep very well.   I thought it might be better today, but it is still bothering me.   I talked to Dr. Harb and he called in a prescription for me.   I am hopeful that it will help me sleep better.   Then I know I will feel better.
  
  My stomach has been just fine with this medication.   I haven't had any problems.  When I was taking the A/C treatments, I had to rely on Compazine a few times.   I don't feel as tired with the Taxol - except for my sleeping problem.
  
  Today I did video for Pastor Henderson's pre-marital seminar at Covenant.   The group was very serious minded and responsive.   I really appreciate Pastor Henderson's serious attitude about marriage, and his wise teaching.   If you ever want a real treat, attend one of the weddings at Covenant.  The message is always valuable.   I guess you could contact the church about a copy of this seminar if you were interested.   I hope to get the DVDs produced this week sometime.  I think the thing I appreciate the most is how real and applicable the seminar is -  even if you have been married for a long time.
  
  Well, it's Valentine's Day tomorrow.  That makes me think about how much I really appreciate Nelson.   I am so glad that he is able to take time off from work to go with me to the bazillions of doctor appointments and treatments.  Andy and John have been great to help out around the house.   I appreciate the encouraging emails and phone calls from Susan, Elizabeth and Rebecca.  Beyond all that my mom, sister, and niece have been great help and encouragement and help.  
  
  On the radio Friday was a trivia question about which profession gets the most Valentine's Day Cards.  If I was really ambitious, my family and friends would surpass this group - which happens to be teachers - if you hadn't guessed.  Thanks so much for all the prayers, cards, phone calls, meals and/or visits.
  
  I have a couple of praises to report.  Matt, my son-in-law got a new job which will allow him to be home with the family more often.   Rebecca had a close encounter with a moose, but was fortunately able to avoid a collision.  My nephew's wife had a car accident when a fellow hit her car at a stop light, but fortunately she was not injured.  One of my biggest praises has been the extreme reduction in Nelson's coughing.   I am doing my best to conquer the dust mites.   I even sold our sofa this week.  I am on a hunt for something in leather instead of cloth. 
  
  Well, I hope you have a great weekend and that you are able to make it to worship services on Sunday AND that you have a fantastic Valentine's Day.  You are greatly loved.
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME.

• Tuesday, February 9, 2010 5:28 PM, CST

  Hi there.  A big thank you to all the prayer warriors.  Today's Taxol treatment went very well.   Dr. Harb reviewed all my blood test data.  Everything is looking good except I am still at 10.2 on the hemoglobin.  However, that is fairly normal for me.  He said that four weeks after the Taxol treatments end then he will order radiation treatment.   After that I will be on a estrogen suppressant for five years.   Well at least he has a long term plan, and I am not dead yet.
  
  Taxol orginally came from the bark of the Pacific Yew.  Now they produce it in a lab.
  
  I was a little anxious about the treatment because it is possible to be allergic to the chemicals.   The oncology nurse stays right at your side with drugs ready just in case there is a reaction.   It would be very fast, because I can feel the cold liquid in my vein going right into my heart.  Fortunately, everything went very well.
  
  The roads are very icey but we traveled slowly and made the trip just fine.  Looks like we're in for lots more snow.
  
  John had a great afternoon sledding with his friend Sam.  We still have some really nice sleds.  They went to Happy Hollow Park.  Now he was invited over for some hot chocolate.  I am so glad John has a friend like Sam, and also that they live so close to us.
  
  Thank you so much for praying for our family, bringing meals, sending cards, emailing, dropping by for a visit and/or calling.   I really know that it what has made my treatment go so well.  Our family feels very loved.
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME

• Monday, February 8, 2010 8:14 AM, CST

  How was your weekend?  Did your team win?  I can't remember the last time I watched the Superbowl.  This time I watched most of the game, but mostly I was interested in the commercials.  It was an exciting game.  The quarterback position was vital.   I was amazed at how much depended on that position.   Guys are scrambling all over the field and the quarterback had to make split second decisions of who could receive the ball and throw it with great accuracy down the field.
  
  The halftime show was interesting.  How old are those guys?  They still preformed well.   The stage was interesting and the pyrotechnique and light show was first class.   It would have been very interesting to see how the stage was moved and set up so quickly.  My hat's off to the techies.
  
  I haven't watched network TV in a very long time.   The shows that CBS advertised looked very lame.  I am glad we have SkyAngel.  We were intrigued by Undercover Boss.   We watched that after the Superbowl.  I was pleasantly surprised.  I have had some positive interaction with Waste Management locally.  Andy and I did a promotional video for Taste of Tippecanoe, and I worked with them to get a recycling bin for Covenant.  I have also heard a Focus on the Family program about the company.
  
  Larry O'Donnell, president and chief operating officer of Waste Management, went undercover and worked at several positions as an hourly worker.   He sorted recycling, cleaned port-a-pots, collected trash, and worked several other positions.  It was very interesting to see his perspective from the employee's point of view.  It was nice to see him reward his employees for their hard work and see policies changed to encourage workers.  It was a very interesting program.  I liked it better than the Superbowl.
  
  This week starts the next round of chemo.   Taxol is the chemical.  I will have 12 weeks in a row of treatment.  I have heard it is not as severe as the A/C treatments I just finished.  I am looking at this as the second half and starting the countdown clock.
  
  I am experiencing wild temperature shifts.  One minute I am wrapped up in a blanket and the next minute I'd like to go roll in the snow.   Hello menopause.  They told me that the chemo would hasten this along. 
  
  It is going to be an exciting week. Looks like we are in for more snow.   I hope that we can get our snow-blower running.  Last time we used it, it worked fine.   Now it is having starting issues.  I am sure Nels can get it to start.   I am going to try and get a new spark plug for it today.
  
  The snow has been beautiful and the sunny days are delightful.  I enjoy watching the birds at the feeder.  Do you have a bird feeder? They are lots of fun.
  
  There are folks that cross-country ski down our street when we get lots of snow.  Hope you enjoy the snow and that you have a really good week.  Thanks for reading.
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME
  
  
  

• Wednesday, February 3, 2010 7:32 AM, CST

  Hi there.  Hope Groundhog Day wasn't too disappointing for you.  Spring will be here someday. 
  
  I am doing pretty well.   I guess my chief complaint is being tired.  All things considered, that's not so bad.  One of the reasons has been Nelson's coughing.   It is really bad when he coughs in the night.  Nobody can sleep through that.   Last night was a whole lot better though.
  
  Nelson had allergy skin testing and he is hugely allergic to dust mites.   They are everywhere.   I have taken some very active steps to combat them.   I washed all our bedding in really hot water, got new pillows' allergy free cases and vacuumed everywhere.   Next I replaced the furnace filther with a super duper allergen trapping filter.   Then I got an air cleaner with a hepa filter for our bedroom.   I am searching for some leather furniture that is easier to keep dust free.   We may be yanking the carpeting out of the house too.   I was glad that after all that work, he only coughed once during the night.
  
  Today I am going to look for a new carbon filter for out huge hepa air cleaner and a new filter for the Aprilaire unit on the furnace.
  
  One thing about tackling the dust monsters, it will be lots easier to get rid of stuff from the house.  Maybe we'll wind up with plastic lawn furniture and a bunch of air filter units.  Easy to clean, just hose the stuff off outside.   A whole new way to clean house. :-)
  
  The Indiana History Museum has a section on the house of the future.  You just clean the house with a hose.  The rooms have floor drains.   I really like that idea.   When I worked for the Park Service, we cleaned the restrooms with a hot water hose.   That was a great idea.   You could use a Miracle Grow kind of container with Lysol.  I wish my bathrooms were that easy to clean.
  
  Wouldn't it be great if your house had a sprinkler system?  You could walk out the front door and activate the thing and let it clean your whole house like a car wash.  When you got home, everything would be clean.  I think the closest we'll ever get to that is getting a roomba vacuum cleaner.  In reality, I am really glad to have a house and not a tent.  
  
  The Super Bowl is coming up.  Do you plan on watching the game?  I don't know who is playing, but I enjoy the commercials.   We have SkyAngel and I don't think it will be on there.   Andy is going to try and reconnect the antenna and see if we can still get TV18.  I think it is supposed to be on CBS and that's the local cannnel.
  
  Have you heard about Tim Tiebow's commercial for Focus on the Family?  It sounds great.  I can't wait to see it.  I think Tim is an amazing guy.
  
  I am looking forward to Bible Study today.  I joined a group that meets at noon on Wednesdays.  It's nice to get a chance to spend some time with other women.   It is a whole different phase of life going from a house full of girls to a house full of boys.  I really like watching the boys grow up and take on challenges, but I do miss Rebecca, Liz and Susan.
  
  I hope you have a fantastic day.  If you get a chance, pray for Mark and his family.   They are seeking some alternative treatments for cancer.   I hope they find something that will work and that they are not given false hope at great expense.
  
  Thanks for reading!
  
  God is good, ALL THE TIME.
  
  

• Sunday, January 31, 2010 5:26 AM, CST

  Hi there.  It's Sunday morning and I am firing up the brain cells getting ready for worship.  
  
  Saturday was a ton of fun.  We started out pretty early for Team Howell.   In order to get Andy and John out of bed before noon on a Saturday, we went to Christos for breakfast.   They have fantastic food and the place is really clean.   Clean is really important when you have a compromised immune system.  When we got ready to leave we had a huge surprise.   Someone had paid our check.   The waiter didn't say who, but since we visited with David S. I would put him high on the list of suspects.   That was so very nice.   We felt a big hug.
  
  The reason we rolled out early was the amazing Covenant Variety Show rehearsal.   Nels and Andy did tech.   The Variety Show is always a big hit each year.   Every act is different and it is a total laugh riot.   I would say it is the most fun a family can have.  By the way, dinner is at 5:30 tonight and the show starts at 6:30.  Hope to see you there.
  
  John and I went shopping.  It is about the first day I really felt up to making the trip.   We got a coat for John and restocked on groceries.   John is a big help.  We also needed softener salt and cat food and he can manage the bags very well.
  
  After that, we went to do the next promo for Taste of Tippecanoe.  It will be posted tomorrow.   That was a lot of fun.   We shot it a Tapawingo Park on the Levee.   When we finished we went to Nine Irish Brothers with the band for dinner.   Check out the video tomorrow.
  
  Cancer is really a wild ride.   I ran into a neighbor from quite some time ago on our shopping trip.   She has been doing chemo for over 18 years.   I can't imagine that.  This affects so many people in so many ways.  This morning my Rebecca emailed about a friend's dad that was just diagnosed.   It is Stage 4 Incurable lung cancer. There are spots on his hip, ribs, liver, brain and just found out, in his spine. I am praying for Mark and their family.  This is SO hard. 
  
  It is so important to be concerned about the state of your soul.  Souls are eternal, bodies aren't.   Cancer is really a wake up call as to who you are in Christ.   Cancer is everywhere.  It strikes randomly.  I never imagined I would have cancer.      Nothing you do can prevent cancer.  Patrick Swayze, and Lance Armstrong were probably  the most physically fit people ever, so exercise doesn't help.  It doesn't matter how organic and healthy you eat, you can still get it.   This is not to say that you shouldn't eat properly and exercise.
  
  1 Timothy 4
  7Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 8For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
  
  Matthew 15
   16"Are you still so dull?" Jesus asked them. 17"Don't you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? 18But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean.' 19For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. 20These are what make a man 'unclean'; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him 'unclean.' "
  
  I have grown to understand that the condition of my soul has very little to do with what I eat, or how physically fit I am.  It has everything to do with how spiritually fit I am.
  
  I urge you to pray for Mark and his family.  They are Believers.  I also urge you to evaluate the condition of your soul.
  
  ...after that.  For a really good time, see you at Covenant tonight at 5:30. :-)
  
  Rebecca is "Employee of the Month" at UPS.  :-)
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME.
  
  

• Wednesday, January 27, 2010 6:37 PM, CST

  Hello sunshine!   Ah, we finally broke the veil of darkness.   I am so glad to have seen some sunshine today even if it was just for a few minutes.   I hope you have had a good day too.
  
  This last round of A/C has been a rough one.   I think the gloomy weather contributed.   The past few times I have felt pretty good by Saturday.   Finally today I am feeling pretty good.   Glad that was the last A/C treatment.
  
  I took a load of excess "stuff" to Trinity today.   I am slowly working my way through the house.  I have pretty well finished the second floor and the library.   Now to work through the rest of the main floor and the basement.   It is quite a project.
  
  I enjoyed going to Bible Study today.   We are actually working through an interesting book by Sybil Towner called Listen to My Life.  It was good to get out of the house.
  
  John and I are trying to get caught up on Science.   We had fun with an experiment on density.  It is easy to get behind when Mom is not feeling well.   I am glad we are not driving to school every day.
  
  I am so thankful for all my friends that have brought food.  That has been a HUGE help.   I think we would be on a diet of TV dinners and pizza because most of the time I am not feeling to much like cooking.   All the encouraging FB posts, emails, cards and phone calls have been equally important.   You all have been a great support group to our whole family.   We are blessed.   I am glad to be half way through with this wild ride.
  
  I was very glad to talk to my dear Rebecca this evening.   She has been really busy with work.  She is having an intermitant sore throat problem and we are hoping it goes away soon.  If you think of it, put that on your prayer list.  She is trying something new and she will keep me posted.
  
  I hope you have managed to stay warm and well in this January gloomy cold snap.  At least I think we will see the sun sometime over the next couple of days.   I am ever so grateful not to live in Seattle.  I have got to have some sunshine.   I guess that is one thing to appreciate about Indiana, the dynamic weather.   It doesn't get boring.
  
  Thanks for reading.
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME.

• Sunday, January 24, 2010 2:20 PM, CST

  Good afternoon.   It has been a wild day here in the heartland.   We are having some really weird Indiana weather.   It has been in the 50's.   We've had wind, rain, a moment of sunshine, and then flurries are predicted around midnight.
  
  None of us slept very well last night.  I think the wind and rain made noise and kept us awake.  I was glad Nels made it to the worship service.   I am looking forward to the DVD.  The 3rd graders received their Bibles today.   I still remember when I got my first Bible in Sunday School.  It was big.
  
  Yesterday, we shot another one of the scenes for Trinity Mission's video project.   We had just enough people.   It was great of everyone to come out and help.   Andy has continued to load the tapes on the editing machine.   It has been a complicated project, but lots of fun.   Sometimes it is hard to coordinate things when you depend on volunteers and their schedules.
  
  So far my favorite scene is the police / arrest scene.   That one took quite a while to set up and video.
  
  I hope we get some sunshine this week.   So far it looks like Wednesday will start to brighten things up.   I really enjoy listening to the Zebra Finches on days like today.   Sometimes I have to turn the light on in the library to wake them up.   They aren't getting much light in through the window these days.
  
  I think I am going to fritter some time away collecting up stuff we're not using anymore  so that we can donate it for someone else.   It is amazing how much stuff accumulates.
  
  I hope that you have a good afternoon and evening. :-)
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME.

• Thursday, January 21, 2010 9:32 PM, CST

  Hi there.  Chemo has gone well this time.   The port worked just like it is supposed to.   This was the last round of the A/C.  In three weeks I start on the weekly Taxol.  It doesn't sound as bad, but I am not looking forward to twelve weeks in a row.
  
  I am pretty tired, but other than that I am doing OK.   We have been greatly blessed with meals from my fantastic friends at Covenant and my neighbor Ramona.   That is a huge help.  We do have back-up frozen pizzas, just in case.  John and Andy really like pizza.
  
  I have spent lots of time doing the house thing for Dan.  That does keep my mind occupied.  It is nice to have something creative and at the same time challenging to do.  I enjoy it.
  
  Today I cut the boys hair.   We managed to get our clipper blades picked up from Herbs after chemo on Tuesday.  Now they are nice and sharp and I think the guys are looking pretty sharp too.
  
  Wow,  I hope we get some sunshine tomorrow.  This rainy overcast stuff is downright depressing.   The ice was really bad today.   I managed to go out and get the mail, but I shook salt out as I went.   It was just a glaze of ice everywhere.
  
  My hydroponic garden seems to be doing well.   The chives are looking really nice.   It is nice to see something growing.   I really appreciate the fish pond, zebra finches, and plants on these could rainy days.
  
  I hope the weather is much better tomorrow.   My friend Alice has invited me out to lunch.  I really enjoy visiting with Alice.  She is a professor at Purdue and she is from Taiwan.  She is very interesting and a great friend.  We enjoy their whole family.  It is nice to have things to look forward to.
  
  We are planning on doing the next video segment for Trinity Mission on Saturday at 10 AM at Covenant.   We need 10 adult volunteers to participate in a nonspeaking part for the video.  It will only take a few minutes.  It amounts to walking through a black drape, then walking through a green screen drape.  Let Andy or me know if you can help. 
  
  Our next project is another promo for Taste of Tippecanoe.  Andy and I are looking forward to that.  Scott has a fun script.  Then we have another convo at BGE.   We have a lot of fun with these projects.   They take a lot of time, but it's fun and something to look forward to.
  
  I hope that you are having a really good week in spite of what the weather may bring.
  
  One of my relatives posted this quote on Facebook and I thought it was very profound.  Live each day to the fullest with harmony and no regrets.
  
  
  "It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth - and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up, we will then begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." unknown
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME.

• Tuesday, January 19, 2010 9:14 AM, CST

  Hi there.   Hope you had a good weekend.  Andy and I had an interesting time doing video for a C.S. Lewis scholar on Saturday.  I am anxious to watch the DVD to catch any points I missed.  One thing that really intrigued me was his emphasis on the eternal existence of the soul.   In our culture, we find so much emphasis on the exterior of the body.   Every magazine rack is filled with body emphasizing cover designs.   Every commercial has some body related content.   The political buzz is health care - of the body.
  
  
  "You don't have a soul. You are a Soul. You have a body."
  C. S. Lewis
  
  That little quote puts things into a real perspective.  It's pretty profound.  C.S. Lewis was an amazing man.  One of my favorite books is "Mere Christianity."
  
  I look forward to the Symposium on February 27.  I will post more details later.
  
  Today is chemo.   It is not my favorite thing, but I hope that it is working.  The port is a good thing, when it works properly.  I am amazed at how much it stings when the put the needle into the port.   I think it must be a 16 or 18 gauge.  Fortunately, they have a big target, to they don't have to do that more than once each time.
  
  This is the last round of Adriamycin and Cytoxin.   The next phase will be Taxol every week.  I am not sure what to expect with that.  I don't think it is as intense because they don't prescribe the anti-launching medication with that.
  
  Wow, can you believe this weather?   It is so depressing not seeing the sunlight during the day.   It makes me really sleepy.   I am glad to hear our zebra finches chattering.   They seem to be happy campers no matter what the weather.
  
  I was happy to hear from my friend in Pennsylvania.   She and her husband came across a bear preparing for hibernation.   They got some great photos.   It was quite interesting.   You can see Susan's photos at this link: http://www.pavendors.com/chicora-bear.htm
  
  I hope that you have a great week and that we get some sunny weather soon.   I have a bunch of stuff to finish up this morning before chemo.  Thanks for visiting!
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME.

• Tuesday, January 19, 2010 9:14 AM, CST

  Hi there.   Hope you had a good weekend.  Andy and I had an interesting time doing video for a C.S. Lewis scholar on Saturday.  I am anxious to watch the DVD to catch any points I missed.  One thing that really intrigued me was his emphasis on the eternal existence of the soul.   In our culture, we find so much emphasis on the exterior of the body.   Every magazine rack is filled with body emphasizing cover designs.   Every commercial has some body related content.   The political buzz is health care - of the body.
  
  
  "You don't have a soul. You are a Soul. You have a body."
  C. S. Lewis
  
  That little quote puts things into a real perspective.  It's pretty profound.  C.S. Lewis was an amazing man.  One of my favorite books is "Mere Christianity."
  
  I look forward to the Symposium on February 27.  I will post more details later.
  
  Today is chemo.   It is not my favorite thing, but I hope that it is working.  The port is a good thing, when it works properly.  I am amazed at how much it stings when the put the needle into the port.   I think it must be a 16 or 18 gauge.  Fortunately, they have a big target, to they don't have to do that more than once each time.
  
  This is the last round of Adriamycin and Cytoxin.   The next phase will be Taxol every week.  I am not sure what to expect with that.  I don't think it is as intense because they don't prescribe the anti-launching medication with that.
  
  Wow, can you believe this weather?   It is so depressing not seeing the sunlight during the day.   It makes me really sleepy.   I am glad to hear our zebra finches chattering.   They seem to be happy campers no matter what the weather.
  
  I was happy to hear from my friend in Pennsylvania.   She and her husband came across a bear preparing for hibernation.   They got some great photos.   It was quite interesting.   You can see Susan's photos at this link: http://www.pavendors.com/chicora-bear.htm
  
  I hope that you have a great week and that we get some sunny weather soon.   I have a bunch of stuff to finish up this morning before chemo.  Thanks for visiting!

• Wednesday, January 13, 2010 7:09 PM, CST

  Howdy.   Hope your week is going well.  I am really enjoying the sunny weather.   It isn't terribly warm, but it is nice to see some sunshine.
  
  I am glad to have my "computer" glasses.   It is so much easier to work on the computer when you can actually see what you are doing.  I have been working on more floor plans for my friend Dan.
  
  Julie and Becky came over and brought lunch today.   Let me tell you, Julie makes the BEST egg rolls I have ever had.   She brought a whole bunch of them and her sweet and sour sauce.   ...but that wasn't all.  She also brought a stew and rice and a cooked banana dessert.   It was wonderful.  We were all so stuffed.  
  
  After lunch we had a nice visit.   It is nice to get together with friends.  Facebook is entertaining, but real faces are so much more fun.
  
  I hope that tomorrow is as nice outside as today.  I have a bunch of photography work to get done.   I am trying to wrap up projects before chemo on Tuesday.  I am glad that is the last treatment of that type.  I have no idea what to expect from the Taxol.
  
  It doesn't seem like I have done very much today, but I am quiet tired.   I hope you had a great day and that you got to get outside in the sunshine for a little while.
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME.

• Monday, January 11, 2010 5:19 PM, CST

  Hi there.   Hope you had a great weekend.   I was very happy to actually make it to the worship service Sunday.   I have been having some problems feeling dizzy, but I think it was just an inner ear thing.  During first service my ear did lots of popping adjusting pressure.  By noon, it was much better.   Life gets pretty wild when the room is spinning and you are not spinning with it.   I was glad to be done with that little adventure.
  
  It was great to reconnect with my Covenant family.   I enjoy hearing Dr. Brownson speak.   Sometimes I think the guy has the entire Bible memorized.   I have trouble remembering what I had for breakfast.  He is truly amazing.   We were glad to see Mrs. Brownson's health is so much better.  Everybody has been praying for her.
  
  Today Scott, the guys and I had a blast doing a promo for the Taste of Tippecanoe's Facebook page.  You can watch it at this link:
  
  http://www.facebook.com/home.php?/group.php?gid=260356286968&ref=ts
  
  FYI, the video link is on the lower left side of the page.  Click on the picture.  John had his acting debut.   We had lots fun. 
  
  Next we did a couple of outdoor sequences for Trinity Mission.   That project is finally close to editing.
  
  E.J. came over and helped me clean up the aftermath of the bathroom project.   We enjoyed some tea and watched a few video clips.   It was nice to have some company.
  
  Now, Andy's at work and Nels and John are at Scouts.   I am working on laundry and taking a break.   It has been a fun day, but a long day.
  
  Wow, a week from tomorrow is chemo again.   That will be the last sequence of Cytoxin and Adriamycin.   Hopefully the Taxol will not be quite so bad.   I really don't know what to expect.   Taxol is a weekly thing, but they do not make me take the anti-barfing medicine, so maybe it is not so bad.
  
  We had a nice sunny day today.   There is still lots of snow, but it wasn't quite so cold.   We had a heat wave of temperatures in the 20s.  The snow still looks pretty and white.  I hope tomorrow is as nice.   I also hope my computer glasses come tomorrow.
  
  Well, I hope you have a nice evening and a good night.   I am trying to downshift into a lower gear for the evening.  It has been a fun day.
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME.
  
  

• Saturday, January 9, 2010 7:43 AM, CST

  It keeps snowing, and snowing, and snowing.     Winter was always a difficult chore time back at the farm.   I do remember sliding across the frozen creek on my belly with 400 feet of hose to fill the stock tank because the underground line froze.     It was nice to just take a short break and enjoy the sound of the horses enjoying their morning grain and hay.   It is a peaceful content sound that makes the surrounding area quiet and calm.
  There is just something circadian about chore time.   It just makes the whole day seem right.   I guess that has been a part of my daily schedule for more than thirty years.  
  
  I like watching the city boys plow my street from the comfort of my warm house.   Plowing a quarter mile of drifted snow with a tractor is not a warm experience.   We don't have to brave the drifting snow on 75E anymore to make our way home.
  
  I am really looking forward to spring.   I have lots of garden plans.   I am dabbling with hydroponics right now.  Travis sent me an interesting e-book and I managed to pick up an Aerogarden for  $10 over the holidays.   The chives have just poked through. 
  
  I have pretty much been inside all week, and I guess that is why spring and outdoor plans are on my mind.   Are you getting seed catalogs yet?   Do you have cabin fever?  Maybe you have been doing some sledding and cross countyskiing .   Some people have been down our street on skis.   I am sure the Becky is snowboarding.   I am glad she enjoys the snow, but I am also glad I am not watching this.
  
  Our entire area is flat, so no sledding here.   At the farm I remember the kiddos climbing up the tree fort and sledding down the slide.   This gave them enough momentum to zip on down the driveway past the barn.   It was a pretty descent sled run and I liked their creativity.  I guess the city kids do Slayter and Happy Hollow.   Sledding is fun.
  
  Snow does provide lots of ministry opportunities.    In the city, it is nice to snowblow driveways and sidewalks for neighbors.   One of our neighbors takes a walk with his snowblower and does lots of the sidewalks.   I am sure the older folks really appreciate this little act of kindness.   I have sent the boys out a couple of times to help the neighbors.
  
  Snow is almost a way of enforcing a little Sabbath time too.   Schools get closed.  Work gets closed.  It is a nice time to just take a deep breath and spend some time in the Word or with family.   I think of it as kind of a winter vacation.
  
  Hope you have a great weekend.  Thanks for reading.
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME.

• Tuesday, January 5, 2010 6:54 AM, CST

  Good Morning.   Monday was a pretty good day even though it was quite cold.   Are you keeping warm?   I am so glad that homes and cars have heaters.   Hot running water is a sign of civilization to me.  Tea and Hot Chocolate make the cold even more tolerable.
  
  I felt a whole lot better Monday.   I went and ordered another pair of glasses because my prescription has changed.   A pair of "computer glasses" will help me to work better.  I am very glad there is vision correction.   I think I would be walking into walls if I didn't have glasses/contacts.
  
  The boys and I went to Chick-fil-a for lunch.   We met up with Molly and Dawn.   Molly has just gotten contacts.   She is growing up into quite the delightful young lady.
  
  It is funny how God shows up when you least expect it.   I was draging along Monday morning.   I had several errands to take care of and I did feel much better.   I kept being nagged by the adversary.   I thought about the next round of chemo with dread.   Would it be even worse?  Is it really worth it?  This time has been the most difficult.   I am really getting tired of this trial.
  
  I had some business to take care of at the bank.   The person that helped me brought up the subject of cancer.   She had finished her treatment two years ago.   She looked wonderful.  She said she felt great.   We talked about the treatment plan I am having.   She had the same thing.   She was VERY encouraging.   She had thick red, long, wavy hair.   She told me the hardest part for her was when all he hair fell out.   I felt so much better after meeting with her.   It is so funny how encouragement appointments just happen - or do they?
  
  Jeremiah 29 11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
  
  Hope you have a great day!  God is good - ALL THE TIME.

• Sunday, January 3, 2010 10:02 AM, CST

  It's Sunday, and it is a sunny day.  It is really cold out there.  When I woke up it was zero, now it's nearly 11AM and now it is a heat wave of eight degrees above zero.  I am still feeling a little wonky after chemo Tuesday, so I decided to stay home this morning and watch the DVD of the worship service when the guys come back home.  Hopefully next week I will feel much better.
  
  Now that it is so cold, I am amazed at how well hair insulates our heads.  I never had the problem of my head being so cold or so warm when I had lots of hair.   Now I am constantly putting on a warmer hat, a cooler hat, or taking off my hat.   I never imagined how well designed hair really is when it comes to regulating body temperature.  I understand that people loose a huge amount of body heat through their head and that it is very important to insulate your head if you want to maintain your body temperature.  There is a lot more to hair than simply style.  
  
  All the critters that live outside have specialized hair coats.  Hissy the cat has a very fluffy and full coat with lots of underwool.   He seems to be quite content to sun himself on the front porch even though the temperature is so cold.   Squirrels have that great fluffy tail to help keep them warm as well  as balance their weight as they travel.
  
  I watch the birds primp and fluff their down feathers as they insulate themselves against the cold of winter.
  
  If there are so many aspects of simple natural insulation for living things, can you even begin to imagine how complex the design of  living things really is?
  
  Job 12
   7 "But ask the animals, and they will teach you,
         or the birds of the air, and they will tell you;
   8 or speak to the earth, and it will teach you,
         or let the fish of the sea inform you.
   9 Which of all these does not know
         that the hand of the LORD has done this?
   10 In his hand is the life of every creature
         and the breath of all mankind.
  
  Thanks for reading.   I hope you have a meaningful day and that you stay warm. :-).
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME.
  

• Friday, January 1, 2010 6:00 AM, CST

  Happy New Year everyone.  2009 has been a wild ride for us.  Sometimes you wind up on paths you never imagined.   It has been a time of trial, faith, pain, confusion, trust, building and reconnecting friendships and relationships.
  
  I just made it through the third round of chemo.   One more of this kind to go then 12 of the next kind. 
  
  I was so glad to have a visit from Mom and Marianne on Wednesday.  It was a short visit, but I am so glad they came.   They helped rehang my living room drapes and we took down the Christmas tree with some help from the boys.
  
  We went to see Blind Side at the theater yesterday.  It was a really good movie and I highly recommend it.  Everyone enjoyed.
  
  Most of the day I just kept up with the stomach thing from chemo.   I was able to do ok keeping the meds on schedule.  So far that is the worst side effect of the whole process, other than regulating my temperature with hats and no hair.
  
  I guess the thing I most look forward to in 2010 is having hair again.  It is beginning to grow in splotches now, which I didn't expect.  I just figured it would stay gone for a while.
  
  It seemed strange this New Years Eve not having Rebecca around with her high energy plans.  I did talk to her on Face Book though and that was fun.   It is so nice to be able to keep in touch with the girls that way.  I enjoy the photos and tales of the grandchildren.   Now we have a web cam and it's fun to see them too.
  
  The Carr family brought us a delicious meal yesterday.   We all agree that Matthew's carrot salad was fantastic.
  
  I hope you have a great 2010 and that you grow in your relationship with your friends, family and the Lord in surprising ways.
  
  Thanks for prayers, visits, food, cards and encouragement.   We are so blessed by our friends and family.
  
  God is good - all the time.

• Tuesday, December 29, 2009 5:44 PM, CST

  Don't you love the sunshine?  It makes the snow tolerable.  It is funny how sunshine makes everyone feel better.
  
  I have a huge praise to report.  I talked to my friend Carl (who had the bad automobile accident) today.   He is feeling fantastic.   That is totally amazing.  I am praising God for his protection and healing.  Can you imagine hitting a utility pole with enough force to break it off, have your car totaled and feel fine a couple of days later?  It is amazing that he wasn't killed.
  
  Today started off kind of dismal.  I really didn't feel all that great.  I talked to Mom on the phone, and later Susan.   I got some of my domestic stuff done.  Then it was time to head over to the doctor's office for chemo. 
  
  The doggone port did not work.  They did a venous stick for the lab testing.  They put lots of heparin into the port, but no success.   Then they restuck the port.  That didn't work either.   In order to do the chemo thing they have to be able to extract blood from the port.  I was getting a little worried that they may have to put in a new one.  Finally they put Draino (the medical equavalent) into the port and I had to wait for an hour.  They tried it again and it worked fine.  I was greatly releived.   Then they hooked up all the chemo stuff.  We just got home a little while ago.  
  
  I am glad the my hemoglobin is now up to 10.  That's pretty good for me even though it is lower than the normal range.
  
  I hope that you have had a good day.  Thank you so much for reading.   We are greatly blessed for the prayers, visits, calls, food, and cards.  There is no greater treasure than a loyal friend or relative- and we have bunches of them.
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME.
  
  I feel pretty good now.  Nels and John are out working on a project.  Andy is down in computerville rescuing the princess, or whatever he does down there.

• Sunday, December 27, 2009 7:34 AM, CST

  Good Morning.  We've got snow.  Not very much, but it is pretty.  The roads have been a little slick.
  
  We are watching the new on the latest terrorist activity in Michigan with the airplane.   Nelson's sister is currently in Amsterdam and will be on a flight back soon.   We are praying for her safety.  The whole terrorist thing is really weird.   I am glad the other passenger had the fortitude to jump on and restrain the guy, or the news may have been grim.
  
  Yesterday Travis, Liz and David came to visit.   We enjoyed a meal and exchanged gifts.  We enjoy seeing how much David is growing.  He likes to put things into containers and then he likes to remove the things.   Nels built him a little wooden tote and we got him alplabet blocks and some nesting barrels.   He entertained us by puting all the blocks in the tote, then taking them out and puting them back in the carton.   Then he stacked the barrels and put blocks in them.  Next the barrels were on his ears and I thought he looked like Larry Boy.  He was very entertaining.
  
  We enjoyed visiting with Liz and Travis.   We don't get to see them very often.
  
  After Travis, Liz and David left for home, we checked the forecast.  We had planned on driving around a little looking at Christmas lights.   We make hot chocolate and do that each year.  I saw and article in our local paper's web page about and accident.  
  
  As I read further, I discovered it was about a friend of ours from church.  A car pulled out from a gas station in to the path of his car.   He avoided the car and hit a utility pole.  It was a bad accident and I called the home to see how he was doing.
  He is in the hospital and we are praying for a good CAT scan or X-ray today.  So far it seems there are no broken bones, but he really injured his head and neck.  Please pray for him and the family.  I think he is going to be in a lot of pain today.
  
  Later we helped Andy finish up at the church.  We found another leak and a cieling tile had fallen.  The roof has had lots of repairs that seem to be doing very well, but this seemed to be a new spot.
  
  We had lots of fun watching the Tim Hawkins video Travis and Liz got us for Christmas.   Tim is a laugh riot.  That pretty much wrapped up our day here.
  
  We are all still battling the yucky sinus bug.  I am not feeling real great this morning, and I have chemo scheduled for Tuesday.  Andy has it again.   We stayed home this morning and John and Nels went to church.   Nels still has the bug, but he slept fairly well and the tech crew is really short on help - so he went.
  
  I hope you have had a good day and that you are getting a little down time over the  holidays to enjoy friends and family.  We are very thankful to Carol and Rob for bringing over a fantastic Christmas dinner.   We are enjoying ham sandwiches made with the spiral sliced ham.   Friends and family are a treasure.  Thanks to all of you who have prayed, visited, brought food, and /or sent cards.  You are a great encouragement to us.
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME.

• Friday, December 25, 2009 8:44 AM, CST

  Merry Christmas to you and your kin!  It is hard to believe Christmas is here.   It is rainy and looks to be in the 40s.  I am glad we didn't get all the ice that went through the Midwest.
  
  My friends Gary and Linda greatly surprised me yesterday with a tray of homemade cookies.   Linda and Sarah, her daughter, had a cookie baking day together.  I had just been thinking about how much I like to make Christmas cookies.  Later the Henderson kids came by with a couple of quiches for today.  Friends are a treasure that you can't buy at WalMart.
  
  Yesterday, Nels and Andy helped with the Christmas Eve services.   I took John over to help at the last one.  I stayed home because I had a little bit of a fever and was still coughing.  I will enjoy the DVD.   When I took John over, we stopped by Michele's and dropped off a copy of the Christmas Program.   I was glad we had it finished so they could see it.
  
  I watched Fox and Friends Christmas special.  It was very nice.
  
  Nels and I are still fighting the coughing bug.   I think we were up four time in the night hacking away.   I bought some "Fisherman's Friend" cough drops.   Those things could clear drain clogs.  Gosh they are strong, but they help.
  
  It's been and unusual Christmas Eve and Christmas day for us, but one thing remains the same.  We still celebrate the birth of Christ.   I am not really sure that we have the correct date, but it doesn't really matter to me.  What matters is that we celebrate the opportunity for redemption and relationship with God through Jesus.
  
  John 1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning.  3Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood[a] it.
   6There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. 8He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.[b]
   10He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13children born not of natural descent,[c] nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.
   14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only,[d] who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME!  MERRY CHRISTMAS!
  
  
  
  
  

• Thursday, December 24, 2009 5:01 AM, CST

  Hi there.  Hard to imagine that it is Christmas eve.  Looks like we're in for a cold rainy day.   I just hope it doesn't get icy.  Even though the weather isn't ideal, it is still the day before Christmas.  Are you ready for Christmas?
  
  I still have the yucky sinus thing, but I am feeling somewhat better.  Nelson and I are having coughing duets.  My throat is much better, and the coughing is not as frequent.
  
  Tonight we have 3 Christmas Eve services.   I am not sure if I will be going to any of them at this point.  I would like to, but I would need to feel lots better.  It would seem very odd not to go to Christmas Eve services, but it has been an unusual year.
  
  On Tuesday night we watched It's a Wonderful Life.  That is an amazing movie.  Even though it was made in 1946, it is just as appropriate in 2009.   It's a true classic.
  
  Can you imagine the show the shepherds saw on Christmas Eve?
  
  Luke 2:   8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ[a] the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."  13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
   14"Glory to God in the highest,
        and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
   15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
  Can you imagine being a shepherd on that night?
  
  Thanks for visiting.  God is good - ALL THE TIME.
  
  

• Monday, December 21, 2009 6:34 PM, CST

  I tried really hard to avoid it, but the "bug" caught up with me.   I felt pretty crummy on Sunday.  Today I had a major sore throat, lots of coughing and yuck.   Fortunately the doc must have got my message on Friday, because they called me with an antibiotic prescription.   I'm glad tomorrow is only labs and not chemo.
  
  I pretty much stayed inside today.   I did go pick up my medicine at the drive up and took Andy to Aldi to restock on stuff we were out of.  I am very glad he could go in and get the stuff for me.  That was a big help.
  
  I got my Christmas cards mailed this afternoon.   They'll either be early for next year or on time for this year.   At least they are off.
  
  It's hard to imagine that Christmas is just days away.  The snow is pretty.   I am glad I don't live on the East coast.   I am very happy to be sitting in the pink chair all wrapped up in the gold fleece blanket.  It is cold out there, but I am keeping warm.
  
  How are you?   I hope you are enjoying the Christmas season.  There are so many opportunities to grow deeper in relationships with family, friends and neighbors.
  
  Hope you have a good evening and night.   I am going to turn in early.
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME.
  
  

• Saturday, December 19, 2009 10:47 PM, CST

  Well, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.  Finally a little show.  It sure was cold today.  It was nice to see sunshine for a few moments.
  
  I am feeling kind of yucky today.   I have gotten a "sinus thing."  Sinus headaches are a pain.   I have been using lots of Ocean, drinking lots of fluid, and blowing my nose lots.  Not a particular fun day, but my efforts seem to be helping.  I feel better tonight than this morning.
  
  I cleaned the carpet in the living room.  It's not that hard to do and the carpet machine just came back from the repair place.   Lots of crud had accumulated and the carpet looked awful.  I am glad the spots came out and it looks pretty good now.
  
  Andy spent lots of time cleaning at the church.  He was there till late Friday, but couldn't get it all done.  It's a busy place this time of year.
  
  Nels worked putting finishing touches on the Christmas Program DVD.
  
  I got to see one of my neighbors when I got back from driving Andy to the church.  I had a nice visit and I invited them to the Christmas eve service.   I have invited them before and got a chance to talk to the wife.   She had a positively horrific experience at a different church's youth activity when she was growing up.  I think they probably have not gone to any church since that time.  It is sad how a really bad experience can affect your whole life.  I explained to her that was not Jesus, it was a person acting badly and I hoped that she would not continue to think that everyone that attends a church would be like the person she encountered.  If you think of it, please pray for them.  They are an elderly couple and several of their friends have passed this year.  I am going to make an effort to invite them again.
  
  I finished the annual "Christmas letter" today.  I am sure I won't get the cards out till Monday.   They will either be late this year, or early for next year. :-)
  
  Ramona brought over some delicious taco soup.  It was just spicy enough.   I think it helped with my cold.  Nelson fired it up with some hot sauce and thought it was wonderful.
  
  The cats are enjoying their heated water bowl.  We put a little extra insulation in their box.   They are staying nestled in most of the day.  They are a pretty good indicator of the outdoor temperature.
  
  I am really glad we are not getting the record breaking snows on the East coast.  There were lots of accidents on the news.  Weather can make life very difficult.  I am glad for electricity and gas furnaces.  It is good not to be hauling wood inside every day.
  
  Well, I think I am going to turn in.   I hope you are safe, warm and dry wherever you are.  Thanks for reading.
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME.
  
  
  

• Friday, December 18, 2009 6:40 AM, CST

  Good morning.  Are you ready for Christmas?  Today is our dear daughter Rebecca's 21st birthday.   I can not believe she's going to be 21.  The time has passed so quickly.  I hope she has a great day out there in the wilderness of Wyoming.  We miss having her close by, but we are so proud of her and what she is doing.  We are so glad to have the Internet and cell phones to keep up with her.
  
  Yesterday was a ton of fun.   Becky S. and Julie took me out to lunch for my birthday.   We went to Scotty's.  The food was great, but too plentiful.   I will have lunch again today.  I enjoyed our visit. 
  
  Yesterday evening we has a surprise visit from part of the choir.  They came and did some Christmas caroling.   That was such a treat.   How beautifully their voices blend.  Nels and I really enjoyed the visit.
  
  I think I have got a little bit of a sinus thing going on today.  I am going to check in with the doc and see if I need to do anything unusual.
  
  I hope you are enjoying the Christmas season and planning to have some meaningful family time over the holidays.  Christmas and New Years always seem like a great time to catch your breath as the year winds down.   I hope to work on some Christmas cards today.  Have a blessed day.
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME.
  
  

• Tuesday, December 15, 2009 7:35 PM, CST

  Hi there.  Don't you love this season?   It may be cold, but I love the anticipation of Christmas. 
  
  Today we got Andy's Aerobed mattress.   He ought to be sleeping really well tonight.  Yesterday Becky S. gave us a set of boxed springs and we bought a bed frame.  He has gotten to be so tall that he needs the extra sleeping area.
  
  We went to the Engineering Computer Network Christmas luncheon at Purdue.   The boys had a great time because pizza was on the menu.   This year they had a huge "white elephant" gift exchange.   Guess what I got...a white elephant.   It was a lot of fun.   John got two gift packages of Stetson cologne.  Andy got an LED headlamp.  Nelson got some very exciting Christmas boxer shorts.   Andy thinks he should wear them with his red Christmas shirt for choir.  It would be very festive.
  
  I had my lab test today.   This time I asked if they could just do a venous stick instead of messing with the port.   Easy in, easy out.   I think I will do that each time except when I have chemo.  On those trips they can rig the port and then I can go on to chemo without being stuck again.
  
  Nels is doing much better with the coughing.   I keep forgetting to report that.  He is taking Singulair.  Maybe Nurse Lynn is right, he might have asthma.  Whatever works to let us sleep.
  
  I have a very amusing video to entertain you:
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ey_IL57a-b0
  Enjoy!  We love Tim Hawkins.
  
  I hope you have a great evening.  Thanks for reading.
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME.

• Monday, December 14, 2009 7:15 AM, CST

  Good Morning.  Hope you had a nice weekend.  As you read, the Christmas Program went well.  That was the biggest part of our weekend.   It was so fantastic to see people enjoy the presentation and hopefully take home some deep spiritual meaning.   I can't think of anything I would have rather done with 178 of my best friends.
  
  On Sunday I was just to wiped out to make it to the service, but I'll watch the DVD.  Sunday afternoon we had a delightful visit from Jeff and Jeffery B.   They are dear friends from Indianapolis.  Jeff and Ruth are taking in a foreign student and needed a set of bunk beds to rearrange the kiddos at home.  Andy "the tall one" has outgrown his bedroom furniture.   The boys disassembled the bunk set.   We had been using them as twin beds.   The guys loaded them up in Jeff & Ruth's van and off to Indy they went.
  
  Andy, John and Jeffery had a good time playing some sort of Army game on Andy's network.  I have no idea why they like it so much, but they had a good time.
  
  It was so nice to visit with Jeff and hear all about what he's learning in his spiritual life.   Jeff is very insightful and quite the engineer.   He studies topics with great depth and intensity.  It is fun to explore topics together.   I was especially glad that John joined us for quite a while -  he was eating.  :-)   It is such a good thing for a young fellow to hear men discuss deep issues of the faith.   Sometimes we think they don't pick up on it, but they really are impacted.  It reminds me of what it must have been like at the "city gates" in the Bible.  That is a rich time to spend together with a young fellow.
  
  Today we will be getting Andy set up with a bed.   It seems that full and queen size mattresses are longer than twins.   He needs longer.   He really likes our Aerobeds, so I imagine we will look for a frame and use an Aerobed mattress.
  
  I also had a nice visit with Bridget N.   It is good to get a chance to talk to another homeschool mom.   I am going to be sad to see them move to the Chicago area, but it will be high on my list of places to go and visit.  My little buddy Jackson was not feeling well yesterday.  If you think of it, would you remember him in prayer today?
  
  Well, I hope you have a great day.  Thanks for reading.
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME.
  
  

• Saturday, December 12, 2009 8:50 PM, CST

  Howdy.  I am really tired, but what a great day!  The weather was perfect.  The Christmas program went well.  My mom, sister and neice came to visit.   What more could I ask for?
  
  Hope you had a good day.  I also hope you were able to make it to the program.  The place was packed both times.  
  
  Now I am enjoying my mom's great homemade pea salad.   Nobody makes pea salad as good as Mom.   What a treat.  
  
  Nels and Andy are trying to finish the cleanup and have things ready for Sunday morning.   I hope they are not too late getting finished.   I was just too tired to help.
  
  Thanks to all of you who have prayed, brought meals, sent cards, and or been great ministers of encouragement.  You bless my soul!   You are dearly loved.   Have a great night's sleep.

• Saturday, December 12, 2009 7:18 AM, CST

  Hi there.  Hope you got a little sunshine yesterday.  I kept pretty quiet.  I went with my friend Linda to purchase a winter coat.  Mine is several years old and it was mostly my chore coat at the farm.  It is getting rather worn.   I was glad to find something that met my needs and a couple of hats to match.   Now I have pretty much a full compliment of hats.   It is still weird not having hair, but the hats are keeping me warm.
  
  Well today is the big Christmas Program.   Call time is 2PM, but I don't think I am going until just before the start at 4PM.   I need to get there early enough to get to the camera platform, but I am saving my energy to shoot the video.
  
  Weather for today is looking pretty good.  I have been praying that we wouldn't have ice or sleet.  It is supposed to be cold, but precipitation is not expected.   There might be some later in the evening, but the forecast said the temperature was supposed to be around 38 degrees.
  
  I hope that folks enjoy the program and receive the meaning of the program.   I hope that all the crew and cast receive a special blessing and enjoy their parts as well as contemplate the meaning of the parts they play.
  
  Well, I am getting ready to take on the day.  I hope you have a great day and I hope you can come to the Program if you are able.   Hope to see you at 4 or 7PM.
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME.

• Thursday, December 10, 2009 9:38 PM, CST

  Is is cold enough for you today?  Wow, where's that global warming when you need it?  I remember way back when I was in high school it was all about the coming ice age.  Did all the hot air go to Copenhagen?
  
  I baked a glazed ham today.  I had help from my daughter Susan, the Pampered Chef.  It was delicious.  Even John liked it.  Very tasty.  It was fun talking to Susan on the phone.
  
  I cleaned my kitchen floor.  It has really been bugging me, so while Susan and I visited on the phone, I mopped the ugly lineolum.  It isn't any prettier, but it is cleaner.
  
  Then I ate a ham sandwitch and took a long nap under my good old electric blanket.  I am glad I rested up. 
  
  Tonight was the rehearsal for the Christmas program.  Andy, Autumn, and I videoed and Noah ran the Tricaster.  I think it went pretty well.  Well watch the DVD tomorrow and review to see what we need to change.  Nels is singing for the 4 o'clock program and he'll run the Tricaster for the 7PM show.  Remember it's on December 18th. :-)
  
  I made it through the video just fine.  Thanks for all the prayers.
  I am tired now, but I expected that.  Tomorrow I can rest.  My medicine is keeping the stomach under control.
  
  Thanks to all for the meals, prayers, cards, visits and encouragements.   You have blessed us beyond measure.  Thanks for reading.  Have a warm night.
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME!
  
  

• Wednesday, December 9, 2009 5:22 PM, CST

  Hello from Ice Station Zero in central Indiana.   Wow, it's cold and snowy here today.  I am so thankful that our house is warm and the van has a good heater.
  
  I have had a pretty slow day today.  I haven't done too much except remember to take the various medicines.   We went and got the Neulasta shot this afternoon.  It was getting pretty slick.
  
  I went and shaved the remaining stray hairs today.  That was a weird experience, but at least it doesn't itch.  I am glad to have a bunch of hats to keep my head warm.
  
  Thanks to all for the birthday greetings.  It has been a memorable time.  The greatest gift is the treasure of the many friendships.
  
  I think I am going to be lazy and watch White Christmas.  Andy is working, John is playing Nerf war with his friend.
  
  Hope you have a good evening and that it is warm wherever you are.
  
  God is good - all the time.
  
  

• Tuesday, December 8, 2009 5:38 PM, CST

  Hi there.   Hope you have had a good day.  It has been cold and rainy/sleety here.   It is a typical December in Indiana day.   I spent most of my day at the doctor's office doing the chemo thing.
  
  This time it wasn't too bad.   The tech managed to get the port working.  That was a really good thing.   She got it in one stick.  My hemoglobin dipped down to 9.8 again.  I expected that it would.  The involuntary blood donation hit once again. :-(  I really believe that Nels and I could wind up like Sarah and Abraham if I hadn't had a surgical intervention.   Can you imagine chasing a toddler when you are in your 90s?   Surely this will stop when I get the Taxol.
  
  I took the golden fleece blanket with me.  I stayed nice and warm throughout the whole chemo thing.   Several people liked the blanket.   Thank you so much McGinty family!  Usually the IV stuff is really cold going in and it makes me cold all over.   They do provide heated blankets to cover up with.  I was just fine with the golden fleece.
  
  Now I just feel tired.   I will probably take the anti-launch stuff just to be safe.  Last time my stomach felt weird, but the medicine took care of it.
  
  The guys are over working on the Tech Rehearsal for the Christmas Program.  Remember?  It's the 12th at 4 and 7PM.  I am just praying that I feel well enough to video the program.  Nels is going to sing in the first one, and operate the Tricaster in the second one.  I am really excited about the Program.   It is the first time we have done a totally "in house" production.  It really helps me to keep positive when I have goals to work toward.
  
  I am really hoping to get our yard fenced in the spring.   I miss having a dog.   I never thought I would feel that way as much as I do.   Kim and Jim S. raise some pretty awesome pups and a litter will be expected in the spring.   That is my long term goal.
  
  I want to fence 3/4 of the yard in diamond wire horse fence - so that it is totally secure.   You can see through it and it shouldn't be very noticeable.   I like our view of the ravine.   Then I want to match our neighbor's privacy fence on the South side of the yard.   That way the guys can enjoy some Air-soft action without involving the SWAT team.
  
  Invisible fence is nice, but it doesn't fence out critters.  It just makes your pet easy picking for big dogs.  I figure that if I don't feel like walking the dog, it will be safe in our yard for bathroom trips.
  
  Can you believe just it will be Christmas in just 17 days?  I have ordered most of my gifts online this year.   I am staying away from the bad bugs as much as possible.  Today's photo is a sculpture from the Creation Museum.
  
  Mary and John H. brought over dinner.   That is so nice.  It is very tasty.  The fresh fruit salad is really good.  I really didn't feel up to cooking and this was wonderful.  I am so grateful to all the folks that have brought meals, prayed for us, sent cards and or visited.  You are what keeps us going in this craziness.
  
  I find it rather amusing that tomorrow is my birthday and I will have less hair that when I was born.  I am getting used to my new "hairless" style.   Shure makes showering quick.  It's basically wash and wear.   I am hopefull that my hair will return when this is over.  For now, I am doing OK with the hat thing. 
  
  I am just taking this thing one day at a time.  I know who has the ultimate plan.
  
  "Matthew 625"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life[b]?  28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
  Thanks for reading.
  God is good - ALL THE TIME.

• Monday, December 7, 2009 6:52 PM, CST

  Howdy.  It is sure cold today.  I had a couple of things I had to do and I really dressed warm.  In fact, I wore two hats today.  It even seems cold in the house.  The furnace is working fine, so I just think it's me.
  
  Ugh, I am not looking forward to chemo tomorrow.  I feel pretty good now.  I just hope they can successfully get the stuff into the port.   I don't understand why they sometimes have trouble with that.   I ordered all the drugs I have to take.  I guess I am ready.  Hopefully it won't be any worse than last time.  I am really hoping I feel descent on Saturday to video the Christmas program.   If it goes like last time, I'll be ok.
  
  I really respect little Jackson N's courage.   This is tough.   It must be really tough on a little guy.  I just figure if Jackson can do it, I should be able to as well.
  
  I am glad E.J. stopped buy for a visit.   It livened the day up a little.   It's just nice to have another female in the house to talk to.  
  
  I am looking forward to some time in the pink chair with that super soft gold blanket.   Cold weather just makes me want to hibernate.
  
  Andy's wiring up our HD babycam so that the director can be visible to the folks behind the scrim.  Scott has been working on all the finishing touches.  Tomorrow is the tech rehearsal.  Andy's got a lot of work to do, so I hope he doesn't have to be there too late.
  
  John and Nels went to the Boy Scout Christmas party.   John was really most excited about eating lots of pizza.
  
  Well, that's all for now.   Hope you have had a good day.  I would really appreciate prayer about the chemo tomorrow and that Andy's cold would go away soon.  Thanks for being a great friend.
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME.

• Sunday, December 6, 2009 4:27 PM, CST

  Hi there.  I hope you had a good day.   I am very glad to have made it to both first and second service today.  Up till now, second was all I had energy for.   I was delighted to see my good friend Becky S. be baptised and to have her family join the church.  We had a huge group of new members.  I think 24, but I never had time to count.
  
  Today's photo is the Christmas Program set.  Did I mention that the Christmas program is December 12 at 4 and 7PM?  :-)  Just checking to see if you were paying attention.  Watch the promo here: http://www.facebook.com/#/video/video.php?v=1299350168654&oid=174204907614
  
  Tom Johnson's sermon was very good.  It had to do with character, mistakes and redemption.  None of us live a perfect life.   Even though mistakes are generally a minute portion of our existence, the memories of them and their impact can haunt us forever.  Reputations can be damaged in seconds.
  
  As he spoke I thought of the whole mess Tiger Woods has been caught up in.  Here he has been a phenomenon on the golf course, but now through a series of poor personal judgement he has a severely damaged reputation.  It's been the flap on the news and I am sure filled the tabloids.   
  
  King David made a huge series of mistakes in his lust for Bathsheba.  He had her husband killed.  David's child with Bathsheba died.  It was a scandalous mess. 
  
  It is an amazing thing to think about redemption.   Even in the worst of situations God offers us the opportunity to repent and be redeemed.  I have made so many mistakes in the course of my life I cannot even remember a fraction of them.   It makes me ever so grateful for the true gift of Christmas - the opportunity for redemption.
  
  "Romans 3 19Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 20Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. 21But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement,[i] through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
  
  We had a nice surprise visit this evening Aaron and Sarah T. and the children.  The boys enjoyed the "toy basket."  We enjoyed hearing about their house projects.   They have a very nice Victorian farm house they are working very hard to restore.   I think the woodwork is beautiful.   They are doing a really nice job with the houise.  It is hard to restore a home when you have children, but it is worth it in the long run.
  
  Thanks for reading.  Hope you have a good night and a great day tomorrow.
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME.
  

• Saturday, December 5, 2009 8:54 PM, CST

  Hi there.  Got snow?  I am glad we don't - but we do have ice.  It has been plenty cold today.
  
  Becky just sent me a text from Idaho Falls.   She is most of her way back home to Wyoming.   Seems like she got all the flights and didn't have to wait.   Sometimes you can get stuck for days when you fly stand-by.   We are very grateful to Aunt Adrianne for her expert help with the flights.
  
  We got the rest of the needed supplies to finish the bathroom.  The most simple part required trips to three different stores, but Nelson finally found it.   We found flooring on clearance at one of the places and we were able to get enough for both upstairs bathrooms.   We have undoubtedly the ugliest vinyl flooring in this house.
  
  We watched "Faith Like Potatoes" this evening.   It is a WONDERFUL movie.   I had read some reviews, but it was even better that I expected.  It is based on a true story.  FYI we found it at Menards for $6.  I am sure you could rent it at the movie place.
  
  I am adjusting to my extreme hair loss.   My biggest issue is keeping warm.   I am so thankful for all the hats that I have received.   I guess it is a good thing that it is winter now.   It doesn't seem strange to wear a hat - all the time.
  
  Tomorrow is a big day for us.   My friend Becky S. and her husband are joining the church.   Becky is getting baptised.   Since that's happening first service, I am going to do my best to get there.   Trying to get to sleep earlier so I can get going.
  
  The set for the Christmas program is finished.   I am looking forward to seeing it all put together.   Monday starts "tech week"  and I am praying that everything goes smoothly and that December 12 is a good weather day.
  
  Hope you have had a fun day with your family and that you are having time to enjoy the meaning in the Christmas season.  Thanks for reading, praying, bringing meals and/or sending cards.  You have greatly blessed our whole family.
  
  HEY ALL MY MEDICAL BUDDIES: YOU'VE GOT TO SEE THIS:
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEdVfyt-mLw
  (everybody else too)
  
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME.

• Friday, December 4, 2009 8:12 AM, CST

  Howdy.  How are you doing in this cold weather?  I hate to see the fall end, but I hope the cold kills some of the bad bugs.  I am really in the mood for the Christmas season, but not necessarily winter.  Maybe I should be in Australia.
  
  I am really learning a lesson of patience, and trust in the Lord.  This is in a large range of areas both great and small.  Our culture has become a place of "self made men" which is more often than not a totally fallacy.   I think that is fostered in a spirit of independence originating in independence from the rule of a monarch - King George.  In reality, the founding fathers realized that while this new nation would have no monarch, it would recognize the the ruler of the hearts of men is God alone.  It is easy to try and do it yourself, or rely on yourself in this culture.
  
  I really enjoy warm beverages when the weather dips below the 50s.  I had seen a really neat recipe for spiced cider in one of the magazines at the doctor's office.  Spiced cider sounded really good yesterday afternoon.   Becky and I went over to Aldi to pick up milk and they had cider there.  Yum.  When I got home I was reviewing the recipe when the doorbell rang.   It was my neighbor Ramona.   You'll never guess what she brought.  She had a half gallon of spiced cider AND some delicious cookies.  I was stunned.  God really does watch out for every little detail.  That is the best spiced cider!
  
  My hair has felt like it is on fire, or like someone had suspended me by my hair.   Reminded me of the bratty school kids that used to yank my braids.  How weird is it to have pain in your hair?  I figured it was another amazing result of chemo.   Well today about 2/3 of my hair fell out.  Odd, but I still have more hair than lots of people.  At least my hair isn't painful today.  I am prepared for the rest to depart, but we'll see.
  
  Linda H., my mom, and Rene' have supplied me with lots of fun hats.   I am really glad because I am always cold.   With no hair, it is going to be really cold.   I wonder if they make electric hats?  There are electric socks, electric blankets...  There are hats with coolers.   I just haven't seen any with heaters.
  
  Matthew 10: " 26"So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. 27What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. 28Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29Are not two sparrows sold for a penny[d]? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. 30And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."
  
  It has been fun to have Rebecca home.  She has been spending lots of time visiting her friends, but we did go out to lunch yesterday.   I can't believe she will be 21 in just two weeks.  Where did the time go?  Nels and I are so proud of her and what she has accomplished.  She really enjoys her job at the school.   I wish it wasn't so far away, but it is nice to have a place to visit - when there isn't several feet of snow.  It is so beautiful there.  I really enjoyed taking photos there.
  
  We are gearing up for the Christmas program.  Did I mention that it is on December 12th at 4 and 7PM?  :-)  Andy is trying to balance working with his tech responsibilities.   He is still trying to get over a persistent cold/sinus thing.  I am sure it will all work out.   I do not know which of us is more excited.   I am just praying that we have a day of good weather.
  
  Nels is getting to experience homeschooling first hand.  He and John are at Co-op this morning.   John really enjoys Co-op days.  It is the only day I can get him moving on the first call.  I miss going, but of course there are lots of kids there.
  
  Thanks so much to all those who are praying for our family, and/or bring meals.   You have been such a blessing to us beyond what we can put into words.  Hope you have a blessed day.
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME!
  

• Wednesday, December 2, 2009 8:37 AM, CST

  Howdy.   Yesterday went pretty well.  I am feeling pretty average, and my hemoglobin is now 10.5.  It's less than normal, but pretty much par for me.  Hopefully it keeps going up.
  
  We were glad to find that Nelson's eye problem requires nothing more than a prescription change.  His eye is fine.
  
  Seems like winter is creeping in upon us.   It was a two cat in the box night here.   When it gets really cold our cat and his friend cuddle up in the cat sleeping box.   Otherwise it is a one at a time thing.
  
  I was glad to see that the snowflake lights John and I put out Monday were lit up last night.   They are solar powered and they had to charge.   They are LED and change colors.   The are just fun.  Don't you love Christmas time?
  
  I am praying for my friend Michele today.  She has to have her trach changed and she's a little anxious about the procedure.  If you think of it pray that she has peace and that it goes well.
  
  Hope you have a fantastic day!
  
  God is good, ALL THE TIME.

• Monday, November 30, 2009 8:56 PM, CST

  Hi there.  It's been pretty cold and overcast most of the day.  We did get a few moments of sunshine though.  I didn't get a whole lot done today.   I worked on the normal entropy control - several loads of laundry from the trip and storing away the suitcases.
  
  John and I went up to Monon to the Whistle Stop restaurant and museum to pick up Rebecca.   Grandma, Marianne and Leslie brought her down.   We ate lunch together and visited.  Then back home with Rebecca.   We all think she packed her suitcase with rocks.  It was very heavy and we wondered how she got it on the plane.
  
  When we got back home, John helped me put out the solar snow flake lights.   They were a fun purchase at the end of last December.   Each year I wait until the drastic markdowns then I buy one new Christmas decoration.  These have multicolored LED lighting.   I'll have to wait till tomorrow to see them because it was too cloudy to charge them up today.
  
  We also put a picture of the Nativity on our front door.   It actually plays music triggered by a motion sensor.   I didn't turn it on yet because I figured it would scare the cats.  That was a previous years purchase too.
  
  Vera K. brought over some very tasty pork roast, potatoes, peas, a Jello salad and some chocolate dessert.   It was all good, and it's just about all gone.  That was a real blessing for dinner.  I am so grateful for all the friends that have brought meals, and also for all the folks that are praying for us.
  
  We enjoyed having Becky home.   She is already connecting with her buddies.   She and some gal friends went out this evening.  I hope she remembers we are not on Mountain Standard Time.
  
  This evening we continued reading The Christmas Sweater.   The boys liked this chapter especially well.   It was about the wild antics with Glenn's grandpa.  He was quite the character.
  
  I talked to Linda H., Elizabeth H. and E.J. today.   I enjoy visiting with everyone on the phone.  I am glad we are able to do that.
  
  Tomorrow is another blood test.   I sure do hope the tech can work with the port this time.  Nelson is going to an ophthalmologist tomorrow to check out one of his eyes.   We noticed on the trip that he was having a lot of difficulty seeing well.  He does have the beginning of a cataract.  I was delighted to get an appointment so soon, and it is at the same place I have to go for my test.
  
  Andy is still batteling a sinus thing.   I got some more medicine today.   He is going through boxes of tissues.   I guess that means the bad stuff is draining.   I think he feels a little better today.  I think our motel room was just too dry and that set him off.   Next time we'll take a humidifier.
  
  Today Scott and some helpers worked on the Christmas set.   Andy helped for a while after work.  I guess they are going to start again in the morning.   I hope Andy feels well enough to help.  I am very excited about the program.  Remember to mark your callendar for December 12 at 4 or 7PM.
  
  Hope you had a good day today, and that you sleep well tonight.
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME.

• Sunday, November 29, 2009 8:10 PM, CST

  Hi there.  Hope you had a good day.  It was Sunny this morning then rain this afternoon here.  It was amazingly warm for November, but not the warmest I remember.
  
  Hey, how about Marshall O.'s  Red Devils?  Yahoo, they took the State Championship.  Marshall is an amazing man that walks with the Lord.  We don't go to West Side, but we sure do root for Marshall and his team.
  
  Well, hair today, gone tomorrow.  It's been just about three weeks since the chemo, and Dr. Harb warned me that I was going to loose my hair in three weeks.  Well, it is coming out.  This is a strange thing for me who thinks of hair length in terms of feet and yards.  Most always I have had at least 24 inches of hair, and sometimes it's been 42 inches.  Whoa, it is going to be most unusual having really short hair then really soon most probably no hair.
  
  It started coming out this morning, and tonight I grabbed the Fiskers and cut it really short.  They say it is less traumatic to go from short to skin, rather to wake up with what looks like a cat on your pillow or to take a shower and wash the hair right off your head.   I am hanging on to Dr. Harb's statement that it will grow back when the chemo is over.  Elizabeth H. and Cathy L. are living proof of that.
  
  It is feeling really cold and weird at present.  I really don't think I am going to get a wig.  Maybe I will, but at this point I feel more comfortable with just getting hats.  I like hats and I feel good with them.  One thing I have decided is that when it does grow back, I am not going to cut it anymore.  I may have really long hair.
  
  Well, today the worship service was outstanding.  I usually think it is really good, but somehow when Dr. Henderson does first person narratives it is just fantastic.  Today, he was Matthew, and he spoke about the genealogy of Jesus.   It was more interesting than I could ever have imagined.  Soon it will be up on the web page at: covenantpres.org if you'd like to hear it yourself.
  
  We had some delicious chili for lunch.  Thanks Jen K.  The spicing was just right.   It was completely consumed by 2PM.
  
  Monday starts the stage set-up for the Christmas Program.  Scott will be going to Dard to get the lighting.   We have stage extensions as a gift from the Leslie family.  I think Scott has the lighting program keyed in.  I have had all our cameras serviced at Canon and it seems the Tricaster is working fine.  We are ready to roll.  I have tried to schedule my next chemo treatment around the program time/date.  I am hoping to feel good enough to make it through both program times.  I'd appreciate prayer in that regard.
  
  We are all looking forward to visiting with Rebecca.  She rode back from Detroit with Grandma and Aunt Marianne.  Tomorrow we'll drive up to Chesterton and pick her up.  We can't wait to hear all about things in Wyoming and her exciting travels.  I know she is going to be happy to meet up with her friends in town.   We are not going to be able to see her over Christmas, so this will be a precious visit.  We are very grateful to Nelson's sister Adrianne for making flight arrangements.
  
  I enjoyed some of Liz's cookies for a snack this evening.  When she was here she made several batches of dough for me to freeze.   I don't know how she does it, but even when we use the same recipie, her cookies come out far better than mine.  I will think about Liz, Travis and David each time I cook a batch of them.  Thanks Liz.
  
  Today was the big day fro the Lain's.   Eleanor Louise was dedicated to the Lord.  I am so glad Grandma, Aunt Marianne, Leslie, and Rebecca were able to be there.   I sent a handicam so that they could video the event for us.  It is a blessing to see Susan and Matt raise those children in the Lord.  It will only be a bigger day when the children choose to be baptised.
  
  We've got the Christmas tree up and decorated.  The house is "decked" and the boxes are back in their storage area.  I LOVE Christmas.  I like the music, I like the programs, I like the food, and I love the gift of Jesus.  It is what I live for, how about you?  I hope you have a special time with your family and meet Jesus in fresh way this Christmas season.
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME.
  
  

• Saturday, November 28, 2009 9:30 PM, CST

  Hi there.  I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and weekend.  I hope you got to spend some meaningful time with your family.
  
  Today we visited the Air Force Museum.  The guys really enjoyed looking at all the planes.  I was surprised at the art of warfare.  The planes are arranged chronologically.  The older planes are very bright and colorful works of art.   I guess I thought of planes as being wooden, gray, or military green or brown.  There are many creative and bright designs on the bodies of planes.   The more modern ones seem to have their squadron shield and often a character and names of the pilots.
  
  There is a Holocost Display there also.  It is just very odd that any person would deny the existance of death camps during WWII.  It is also unfathomable that people could be persuaded to do such horrible atrocities to their fellow man.  I guess in perspective, our country is no better when you consider how many babies are killed in this country for "convience."  How do people not see the pink elephant standing right next to them?  I am glad to see the tide is changing.
  
  There were some beautiful quilts on display as well.   There were lots of people at the museum, yet it was no where near crowded.  I heard many foreign languages spoken.
  
  They also have a missile silo and missiles as well as a model of NORAD.  It is a solemn experience to stand near the missiles.  They represent the potential of mass destruction, yet they are what has keep the peace as well.   It is deep to ponder.  A strong defence protects freedom on a daily basis.  It is kind of like the lock on the door to your home.  If your home were not secured, bumps in the night could be terrifying.  I hope they never have to be deployed, but I am glad they are available.
  
  I am very thankful for our safe travels and that the weather was excellent.   We got to spend some meaningful time as a family.  I did really miss being around all the kids.   We can hopefully do that next year.
  
  Sam did a great job of taking care of all the pets and checking on our house.  We are blessed to have good neighbors.
  
  Tomorrow afternoon, I hope we can decorate for Christmas.  It is my favorite holiday.   It is not about the presents, except for one - Jesus.  For that I am eternally grateful. 
  
  Thanks for visiting.
  
  God is good  - ALL THE TIME.

• Friday, November 27, 2009 9:22 PM, CST

  Howdy.  Hope you had a great day and didn't get caught up in the black Friday thing.  If you did venture out, I hope you got some great bargains.
  
  We spent the day at the Creation Museum.   It was fantastic.  I was surprised to find flowers still blooming there.  There were tons of people there from many different states, and probably some foreign countries.   I really enjoyed the visit.  Did I tell you I have four free passes to loan out?  All you have to do is call me.  They have a HUGE Christmas presentation beginning December 11.   You can check the web page: answersingenesis.org for schedule and details.
  
  Later we did stop by WalMart for some sinus medicine for Andy.  People weren't buying much and it looked like the "door buster specials" were all pretty much there.  I really don't think people are going crazy buying stuff this year.
  
  The boys voted for pizza for dinner.   We got them a Papa Johns pizza, then Nels and I ate at the motel restaurant.  The food was very tasty and reasonable.
  
  Later John enjoyed swimming in the pool.  There was only one other person in the pool, a little girl.  I sat and finished my book, Glenn Beck's The Christmas Sweater.  I can't believe I forgot my swim suit.  I would have liked to have gotten in the pool.  Oh well, I did enjoy watching John.  The book was very good.
  
  Well, I am really tired and I think I will hit the sack.   We plan on getting home tomorrow afternoon.   We will stop a few times along the way.   I am so glad that we were able to make the trip.   The hotel has been excellent.
  
  Hope you have had a great day.
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME.

• Friday, November 27, 2009 8:22 AM, CST

  Good morning!  We had a fantastic Thanksgiving.  We pretty much stayed home and Travis, Liz and David stopped buy for a visit.  Carol and Rob Koshon were amazing.  They brought us an entire Thanksgiving meal including a turkey.  We were so blessed!  Everything was delicious.  Becky S. brought by a delicious pumpkin pie (Andrew's favorite) and her wonderful caramel apple salad.  It was all so good.  We are so very grateful for incredible friends!  Thanks to you all!
  
  We have so much to be thankful for this year.   I think friends and family are at the top of our list.  We thank God for the way he has over and beyond our every need blessed us.  Our God is truly and awesome God!
  
  We enjoyed the delicious Thanksgiving meal, cleaned up and met with our chief pet care fellow, John's loyal friend Sam.  Then we loaded up and headed to Cincinnati to the Draw Bridge Inn.  The had an EXTREMELY cheap family package for the Creation Museum.  I think it is a very slow weekend. 
  
  We drove a little, then got out and walked a little throughout the journey.  It rained most of the way, and there wasn't much traffic.  The guys watched Ice Age and that kept the "complain-o-meter" in the green zone.
  
  The motel is ENORMOUS.  I have never seen such a big facility.  It is first rate.  Clean, and  excellent staff.  We had a couple of problems and they fixed them immediately.  The room is huge.  Andy was glad because he brought is Aerobed, and there is plenty of room.  They run a shuttle to the Museum, or you can choose to drive.  It is only 13 miles.  Like I said, if you ever want to borrow some passes, just call.
  
  We are all getting ready to head toward the Museum.  I hope you had a blessed Thanksgiving.  I have tried to think of all the wonderful things God does for us each day.  It is just amazing to wake up to sunshine and a heartbeat - but there is so much beyond that it is easy to take for granted - don't.  Just living in the United States is a blessing that many hope for.  In reality the only difference between U.S. and them is that God is our sovereign - even if some of the politicos have forgotten.
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME

• Wednesday, November 25, 2009 10:15 PM, CST

  Howdy.  It was a rainy day today, but a good day.  I enjoyed some delicious banana bread that my Mom brought yesterday.
  
  I went with Nels to his CPAP appointment.  I guess it is working well.  I keep forgetting to report a praise that is very important.  The coughing has decreased by 90%.  It is totally amazing what a good night's sleep will do for you.  Truly, a night of sleep is a blessing from the Lord.  Hokey smokes, we all felt like there was a barking German Shepard in our house.  Nels could win a super sonic coughing contest.  I have never in my life heard anyone cough so loud.  It is like having your ears boxed.  So, praise the Lord for the end of the coughing all night.
  
  When we returned there was a lovely gift bag at our house.  The McGintys brought over a warm fuzzy blanket, lotion, bubble bath and sunflowers.  That was such a blessing.  It really brightened my day.
  
  Becky S. came over with a freshly baked pumpkin pie, and her famous carmel apple salad, and some side dishes for dinner tomorrow.  YUMMY! 
  
  I worked on tie dying more shirts for the Trinity video, and Andy corrected a sound problem on the BGE video.  Nelsons Ebay radio replacement arrived, and it works great.  Lastly, I cleaned out a few things in the garage so that we could get the car in there.
  
  We are going to Cincinatti over the weekend.  We plan to visit the Creation Museum and do a few other things in the area.  I figure it should be a fairly quiet time there.  We'd like to see all the improvements they made this year.  It is one of my favorite places to visit and I wish we lived closer.  We have four guest passes if any of you would care to visit.  If you need more than that, I think we can get them.  It really is a wonderful place to visit for the whole family.  It is a world class operation.
  
  Jackson Hole Bible college (Becky's school) is closely connected to Answers in Genesis and the Creation Museum.
  
  I watched Glenn Beck today and he had Jason F. Wright, the author of The Christmas Jar.  That is an amazing book and there is a web site affiliated with it.  I highly recommend it.  Go to: christmasjars.com.  It will bless your socks off.  We all need some joyous news.
  
  We have so many things to be thankful for this year.  I hope that you all enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday and weekend.  I hope you have safe travel and wonderful time with your families.
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME.
  

• Tuesday, November 24, 2009 5:53 PM, CST

  It's been another nice day.  It was pretty warm and sunny all day.  Now we're getting a light rain, but it's still warm.
  
  I forgot to mention that E.J. came over yesterday and we worked on the tie-dye shirts for the Trinity Mission project.  The kit is pretty complicated, but I think they will be pretty cool when we're done.  Hopefully I will set the dye tomorrow.
  
  This morning Nels and I met Peg and Becky S. for breakfast.  I don't think we have had breakfast out more than 5 times in over 33 years.  That was so fun. 
  
  Nels and I had a nice conversation about living life with zest and enjoyment rather than existing.  It is so easy to be burried with day to day concerns that you completely miss the day to day joy in every day life.  Since the fruit of the spirit is joy, I think the adversary works extra hard to bury us in the mundane so we forget the glorious.  There is no greater joy than to enjoy peace, harmony and fellowship with other believers.  Why is it so easy to miss that?
  
  One of the things Cathy S. and I have always admired about our pastor David Henderson is the absolute zest he has for life.  The man finds contentment in his family, in rocks, in sitting out in the wilderness, or on his roof, or lying on his sidewalk in contemplation and scaling the side of most anything climbable as well as playing on the floor with children.  We have pondered as to how does he do that?  Well, I think I am beginning to understand.  If there is no other purpose in cancer that developing the picture of our true lives, that would be enough.  What do you think?
  
  I had to go in and get a blood test today.  That is pretty much the standard operating procedure for the treatment plan.  Something just wasn't working right though.  The tech pumped in heparin and saline, but no blood would come out.  My theory is the bevel was pressed against the inside of the port, but what do I know?  Anyway, I do really have blood and it came out with a venous stick, which was not unpleasant.  I am hopeful that it will work ok for the next infusion of the chemo.  Stuff went in fine.
  
  Hey, if you ever get one of these Power Ports, don't watch the movie Ironman.  It is freaky grusome.  The hero has this power source in his chest that resembles a huge port and it has a foot of cable on the inside.  The guys were watching it over the weekend.  As if that's not bad enough, the guy pulls some GI tube out when he wakes up.   Dr. Smith, ...don't watch.
  
  I had a big surprise in that my Mom and Sis came down to visit this afternoon.  I couldn't figure out the purpose of the mission. I wondered why the drove the old van instead of my sister's new car.  Ah, they brought me a recliner.  That is SO NICE.  I have been looking to buy one, but haven't found anything yet. 
  
  OK, I am a tightwad and most all our furniture comes from God via Goodwill.  We have what my dear friend Sheri R. refers to as the "butt eating couch."  You would know exactly what that means if you sit on it and try to get up.  It is a nice couch to flop down on and take a snooze, but it is hard to get out of. 
  
  Well the new chair is PINK.  So I have carefully explained to the testosterone  guys that they will get girl cooties if they set in it.  They are pretty repulsed by pink.  Good deal.  Now on the chemo flat out day, you can find me in the chair.  Thanks Mom and Sis!
  
  We went out for lunch at MCL.  Gee I am feeling like the fatted cow.  All my friends feed me.  I need to get on the stationary bike so I don't lard up, but I am loving it.
  
  I was so happy to see Bridgette, Jackson and Bella.  They brought us dinner.  Jackson and I checked out each others ports and compared chemo notes.   Jackson is my little hero.  I am not sure what kind of leukemia he has, but he is a brave little man and I love him.  Hey, would you take a minute and bring Jackson and his family before the throne?  Daddy had a job transfer and they need to sell their home.   They have a rental house all lined up.  Mom's going to have surgery soon.  I know the God I serve has it all planned out, but it would be nice if he'd pass alone a clue now and then.
  
  Andy and Scott worked out the lighting plan for the Christmas Program today.  Stuff needs to be programmed.  I worked on getting Doc to schedule the chemo around the videography.  God is good.  They managed to push it a day earlier so flop day will come two days before the program, which by the way is on the 12th of December at 4PM and 7PM.  Now I am just praying that I will be feeling good enough to push through the taping.
  
  This is our first year to do a totally "home grown" program.  Let me tell you, it is going to be amazing.   My greatest Christmas gift would be to see you and your family come and be blessed by the show.   I guarantee it will be like no other, and it will really make you think.  If you live too far away, be sure I will send you the video.  Praise be to God.
  
  Well I am about out of steam.  Are you glad? :-)  Isn't God totally amazing?  Thanks for visiting!  You are greatly loved.
  
  GOD IS GOOD - ALL THE TIME!
  
  

• Monday, November 23, 2009 7:49 PM, CST

  Howdy.  Another beautiful day here in the Heartland.  Hope it was nice where you live, and that you were able to enjoy the day.
  
  I talked with Becky S. and Linda H. this morning.  I kept watching for texts from my Rebecca as she flew to Chicago from Wichita via Houston.  Not exactly a direct route, but I guess that's the way it's done.  I am thankful she is safe and visiting with her buddy Amy.  I hope the girls have a great time.  Actually, I have no doubt.
  
  I had a surprise lunch invitation with my buddy Randi L.  That was so much fun.  I had my favorite Iced Green Tea and Chicken salad at Panera.  It is so nice to visit with good friends.
  
  Natalie brought us dinner this evening.   Buffalo chicken sandwiches.  Yummy.  ...and chocolate cake.
  
  Honestly, cancer stinks, but I am enjoying it anyway.
  
  I watched Wag the Dog tonight.  They have it at the library, so I checked it out.  I saw it in the theater when it was first released, but it is even more appropriate currently.  It is not a movie for kids, except in the context of political studies.  There is some salty language/scenes.  It really makes you think about the political "news"  produced daily.  You need to have some serious discernment skills and really work at sifting the truth from the dross.
  
  The movie made me think about how many times we are warned in Scripture about "false gospels" and  "false teaching."  Spin is certainly nothing new under the sun.    It is vital to know what IS TRUE and what is FALSE and how you know the diference.  OK, that's the heavy thoughts of the day.
  
  The car managed to have a broken heater core - $300.  At least this is way better than a car payment.  I am just glad we could get it towed in and fixed.  I am also thankful that it conked out close to home.
  
  Wow, it has been a great day.  Hope you have been blessed in whatever you did today.
  
  Be happy, my post did not cost taxpayers $6.8 million per word like the proposed Health Care Bill.
  
  God is good, ALL THE TIME.

• Sunday, November 22, 2009 9:09 PM, CST

  Wow, what a beautiful day!  Hope you enjoyed the day.
  
  I went to the second worship service today.  It was fantastic.  Instead of a sermon this Sunday, people gave testimonials of Thanksgiving.  It was an awesome service.  If I hadn't been doing video, I could have talked the whole time about the fantastic ways God has provided for our family through this adventure.  He has surrounded us with amazing friends and family.   Every time I have been down, he has sent someone or a phone call to encourage me.   We serve an awesome God!
  
  After the service we were blessed with a delicious meal from the Kochon family.  I had never tried Italian green beans.  They are really great.  Everything was so tasty.
  
  Today the heater hose blew out on the car.  We decided instead of trying to fix it ourselves, we're going to have it towed tomorrow.  It is complicated to get any space to work under the hood of that car.  It has lots of stuff everywhere.  We were glad it made it's way home.  Fortunately it's just a few blocks.
  
  I enjoyed visiting with Mom on the phone today.  I am so thankful that her neck pain is greatly improved and she was able to drive herself to church today. 
  
  Well, that's about all for today.  I am praying for my friend Rene' who had sinus surgery and is having a great deal of pain.  Hopefully she will be feeling better tomorrow.
  
  It was exciting to see how many Operation Christmas Child boxes were on the truck this evening.  Janet B. and her family have done a wonderful job leading on the collection and packaging.   What a blessing those boxes will be.
  
  We received two of the pumpkin rolls that the American Heritage Girls make for their annual fundraiser.  They are delicious and a great addition to any holiday meal.  The troop is sponsored by our church and they try to fund the year of program for the girls with this project.  If you want a delicious dessert for Thanksgiving, contact Janet through the church.
  
  Thanks for visiting!  God is good ALL THE TIME.

• Saturday, November 21, 2009 10:21 PM, CST

  Hi there.  Hope you have had a nice sunny day wherever you are.  It looked a little stormy this morning, but cleared off to be a really nice day.
  
  I dragged myself out and went to Jen W.'s  Creative Memories open house.  I just stayed for a few minutes, but I had a good time.  She lives a couple of blocks from me, so It wasn't difficult to get to.  I got some fun items.  It was good to visit with friends.
  
  I have been really craving salad.  Fortunately, we have been the recipients of several mixes of salid.   I made some vinaigrette and enjoyed lots of fresh veggies.
  
  I was moving kind of slow this morning, but I felt much better this afternoon.   The guys went with me and we shot a couple of houses.   It was a pleasant afternoon.
  
  This evening I enjoyed a nice phone visit with my sister-in-law.  It is always nice to hear what she is up to in her busy world of world travel.  It was very nice of her to help arrange travel plans for our dear Rebecca to visit over Thanksgiving.  Last I heard the Beckster is somewhere in Kansas visiting, then making her way to O'Hare.
  
  I also spoke with Liz.  They are coming down on Wednesday, so we'll be glad to visit with a little of the family over the holiday.  David is getting to be such a chatterbox.  It was fun talking with him on the phone.
  
  We enjoyed some delicious chocolate chip cookies from the cookie dough Randi L. brought over yesterday.  Yum, I love Chocolate Chip Cookies.  I do believe that my Elizabeth makes the best ones I ever ate.  I don't know what the secret is, but they are always terrific.  These store bought ones were pretty close.
  
  Tonight Diamond Rio was on Huckabee.   They have out a new Christian album.  I am not a big country fan, but I really enjoyed the selection they played for the show.  It blessed me.
  
  Well, time to call it a day.  Hope you had a wonderful day.  Thanks for visiting.  Hope you have a meaningful Sabbath rest tomorrow.
  
  God is good, ALL THE TIME.

• Friday, November 20, 2009 11:21 PM, CST

  Howdy.  Hope you got a chance to enjoy this beautiful sun shine day.  I was happy to go and take a walk with Ramona K. and Abby.  I was really tired, but it felt so good to get outside in the fresh air.
  
  I was pretty wiped out today.  That is what I expected.  I just slept a lot.  I tried to get a few things done, but not much.
  
  We enjoyed chicken soup and muffins for dinner.  It was some of the best chicken soup I ever ate.
  
  This evening, Randi L. came over.  I really enjoyed our visit.  I can't wait to listen to the Casting Crowns and Steven Curtis Chapman CDs she brought.
  
  I was really quite tired, but I am getting "cabin fever."  We all went over and helped Andy finish up his cleaning.  I needed to do something physical, or I wasn't going to have much sleep tonight.  No worries, I didn't do any heavy stuff.  Wiped a few tables and stuff and rested a little between.  I must say I felt tired, but in a good way. 
  
  Heard from Rebecca.  She is making her way to the airport in Kansas.  From there I think to Chicago, then Detroit.  I am praying for safe travel on her trip.
  
  This evening, my stomach started to settle down.  For that I am glad.   This is about the closest thing to "morning sickness" I have ever experienced.  Neither is pleasant.
  
  I hope that my friends Rene' and Heidi are doing well as they recover from surgery.
  
  Well, I hope that I am feeling better tomorrow.  I hope we have another sunny day.  That lifts anyone's spirit.  Hope you have a good night and a great day tomorrow.
  
  Thanks for visiting.
  
  God is good ALL THE TIME.
  
  

• Thursday, November 19, 2009 9:50 AM, CST

  Hi there. Hope you have a good day.
  
  I went and got a Neulasta shot yesterday. It is supposed to increase blood cell production. My stomach is still a little upset, and I keep taking the anti nausea stuff they gave me. I had a pretty good night.
  
  Today I finished our insurance program's healthy online instructional quizzes. How exciting. Just glad to be done with them. If you don't complete the course, you pay more for insurance. I must admit that they are somewhat interesting. I saved one of the PowerPoint presentations for the boys to look at. It stresses the importance of eating healthy with less white breads, sugars and refined foods. There is also an interesting section on stress and exercise.
  
  Today I need to get to the library with our overdue books. I am really glad that Aldi is open close to our house. Now Nels can stop there quickly on the way home if we need stuff. It is going to save lots of time and money for us.
  
  "You can tell how popular a Church is by who comes on Sunday morning. You can tell how popular the pastor or evangelist is by who comes on Sunday night. But you can tell how popular Jesus is by who comes to the prayer meeting." (Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire by Jim Cymbala)
  
  Well, that's all for now. Thanks for reading.
  
  God is good - All THE TIME.

• Tuesday, November 17, 2009 5:40 PM, CST

  Hi there.  Hope you have had a good day.  It has rained her almost all day long.  At least, we don't have to shovel rain.  I am very thankful for a warm and dry place to live.
  
  I did laundry and "entropy control" most of the morning.  With three really tall guys in the house, it's hard to keep the trousers straight.  We're going to sharpie the tag inside, so that everyone gets the right clothes in the right closet.
  
  The kittys are snuggling in their box on the porch.  That is a pretty good measure of the weather.  They are eating lots of food several times a day.
  
  Well, today was my first chemo treatment.  I was just a little anxious about it, but it went well.  First they inserted a needle into the port.  It had a hose on it like aquarium tubing with a cap at the end.  They drew my blood for testing.  We had to wait for the test results before they would begin the chemo.
  
  Next Gil, the PA, checked all my lungs, reflexes, throat, nose, ears and abdomen.  They want to make sure that everything is healthy before they start the chemicals.
  
  They started a normal saline drip connecting it to the aquarium tubing plug.  Then was the anti-barfing medication.  Then came the ginormous syringe of red koolaid AKA Adriamycin.  That was ok.  Then they started the Cytoxin which was in a bag.  I had to eat ice and drink a lot of water. 
  
  I was so glad that Elizabeth H. was there.  She shared an article with me about the human/pet bond.  It included a really touching story about a German Shepard and a Soldier.  I really can't look at the tubes/port or I will be out like a light.   She was a very pleasant distraction and asked some helpful questions.
  
  Today was Dr. Harb's birthday.  The staff had signs posted everywhere.  I had an opportunity to wish him a happy birthday.
  
  I feel pretty good so far.  They said I would probably be pretty wiped out on Friday.   I have lots of medicine to take at home on Wednesday and Thursday.  I will just be glad if there is no launching.  I am pretty tired, but I think the anticipation was much worse than the treatment.
  
  There is so much information to process, that I am glad Nelson is able to help.  There are lots of indicators for calling the doctor.  Hopefully we won't have to do that.  One of the things is a temperature above 100.5oF.  We got a really cool forehead thermometer, so it will be easy to check.
  
  Thanks to everyone who lifted us up in prayer.  We really appreciate it.
  
  Hope you have a great evening!
  
  God is good, ALL THE TIME.

• Monday, November 16, 2009 8:52 AM, CST

  Hope you had a great Sunday.  I made it to the second worship service.  I ducked in the side door, ran the video camera, and slipped out quickly.  I am trying to stay out of crowds because chemo starts tomorrow.  It was a great time of worship celebrating our entrance to the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.  It was a very long process, but well worth the wait. 
  
  I really liked Dr. Jeff Jeremiah's (EPC leader) message.  I will have to get the exact quote, but the gist was, obstacles present opportunities to witness the work of God.  I feel like I am living that.  Cancer is certainly considered an obsticle.  I have been totally amazed at how God has opened up a part of myself I never knew existed and how he has surrounded me with brothers and sisters in Christ. 
  
  I was delighted to see so many of my buddies yesterday.  I am blessed with my young friends Noah and Richard.  They have faithfully served with the video crew and have been a great encouragement to me.  I love my whole family of techies - you guys are fantastic.
  
  Elizabeth H. came over after the worship service and told me she's planning on sitting with me through the chemo thing Tuesday.  I admit I am a little nervous about sitting for three hours getting toxic chemicals pumped directly into my veins.  It is a blessing to have friends come along side that have been through the path I am about to travel down.
  
  I had a surprise visit with my Mom, sister and neice yesterday.  I loved sharing my "get well" cards with Mom.  You all have been such an encouragement to me.   I showed her my pink XXX hat, and the cool bag Kristi gave me - and a bunch of other stuff.  Mom brought a really nice yarn shawl that folks up there made for me.  Since I am always cold, that will be nice to wrap up in.
  
  Instead of the "always winter, and never Christmas" of Narnia, I think God has sent me through the wardrobe into a land where "even though it is winter, there is Christmas."
  
  Psalm 36
  5 Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens,
         your faithfulness to the skies.  6 Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,
         your justice like the great deep.
         O LORD, you preserve both man and beast.
   7 How priceless is your unfailing love!
         Both high and low among men
         find [b] refuge in the shadow of your wings.
   8 They feast on the abundance of your house;
         you give them drink from your river of delights.
   9 For with you is the fountain of life;
         in your light we see light.
   10 Continue your love to those who know you,
         your righteousness to the upright in heart.
  
  Love you all.  Thanks for all you have done and are doing.  May God bless your day.
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME.

• Saturday, November 14, 2009 7:22 PM, CST

  Howdy.  Hope you have enjoyed this beautiful day. 
  
  Nels and I went to the Craft Fair at Lafayette Christian this morning.  There were some interesting projects there.  I really enjoyed seeing some of my friends there.  I think I spent more time visiting than looking.
  
  Next we at lunch at Chick-fil-a.  I am trying to be very cautious about germs.  Chick-fil-a is the cleanest restaurant I know of in this area.   They also have some amazing employees and best of all - terrific food.  I really like their carrot salad.  I really like Tim Hawkins's song, "Chick-fil-a.  I could eat there seven times a day.  Oh I'm in love with Chick-fil-a."
  
  This afternoon Andy installed a solar powered motion sensor security light above our garage.  Hopefully we won't loose anything else from our automobiles.  Next will be the motion activated camera.  :-)  Ah, life with the Geek Squad.
  
  John and I planted bulbs along the new sidewalk.  His little buddy Eli came and helped.  I really think they had fun digging in the dirt.  Now we can't wait to see what pops up in spring.  Eli asked us to call him as soon as we see the first flower.
  
  We started the simple project of covering our mailbox post with a plastic exterior.  It is a 4 X 4 post, and the cover is supposed to be made for a 4 X 4 post.  It should have slid right over the top.  Murphy was involved in the project.  Finally Nels had to climb up on a ladder and hop up and down on the cover.  That in itself was an amusing site.  He got it down to within 3 inches.  Tomorrow, we'll heat it up and try to push it on down.  Glad there is no mail delivery on Sunday.
  
  Tonight I am really tired.  We did sleep fairly well last night and I hope that is the case tonight.  Tomorrow it the huge "Homecoming" celebration at Covenant.  That will celebrate our membership in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.  I am going to try and shoot video for the second service.  I know I won't make it through both services.
  
  Well, I hope you have a great weekend.  Looks like the weather tomorrow will be nice too.
  
  Psalm 100
  
  1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.  2 Worship the LORD with gladness;
         come before him with joyful songs.
   3 Know that the LORD is God.
         It is he who made us, and we are his [a] ;
         we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
   4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
         and his courts with praise;
         give thanks to him and praise his name.
   5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
         his faithfulness continues through all generations.
  
  
  

• Friday, November 13, 2009 8:14 PM, CST

  Hi there.  I hope you have enjoyed this day.
  
  It is amazing what a little Benedryl can do.   I got a good night of sleep.  Nels had his usual coughing thing, but I went back to sleep and so did he.  We finally got a pretty good rest.
  
  Today I was glad to see my buddy Madeline.  She was back from Nebraska and it was her birthday.  I had pizza for lunch with Madeline and the Covenant crew.  It was a nice visit. 
  
  Kristie gave me a really cool bag from Avon.  It is a very colorful tote.  I will use it to put my stuff in when I go to chemo.  Well I will be fully outfitted in my cool pink Triple X hat from Cathy, and my tote from Kristi.  I have some pretty awesome friends.
  
  John and I have enjoyed watching Ma and Pa Kettle, courtesy of Janet.  We also listened to some Hank the Cowdog CDs.  We really like John Erickson's stories about Hank.
  
  John and I went and got some paint for his room.  Now it's all cleaned up, he'd like to paint it Khaki.  Then we'll put up his Abrams Tank border.  I guess it will all match the camo bedspread.  It's a boy thing.  It will be cool.
  
  Next I got a thermometer.  It is kind of cool.  It is one that you just glide across your forehead.  Somehow, we've lost the ear thermometer.  The new one doesn't have to have expensive shields.  I will have to watch my temperature.  If it gets above 100.4, I am supposed to call the doc right away.
  
  Sally brought dinner tonight.  It was great.  I love chocolate chip cookies - especially homemade ones.  I couldn't believe how tired I was after going to the store.  It was so great to have dinner ready to eat.
  
  Nels and I visited with Tom J. at Covenant.  As we spoke, I really was stricken with how wonderful my friends and family have been through all of this.  I can't imagine enduring all this alone.  I am so blessed.
  
  I hope you have a great weekend.
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME.

• Thursday, November 12, 2009 2:21 PM, CST

  Good Afternoon.  Today started out being a difficult day, but the sun is out and my wonderful friends have picked me up and encouraged me greatly.
  
  Last evening was a lot of fun.  Nels and I took a walk with John.  We are planning a 1/4 mile route for John to work on his fitness/Tenderfoot merit badge.  It was a good lesson in pacing off distances and calculating.  The stars were spectacular.
  
  Next we had a good time playing Imagine If.  It is a board game Travis and Liz got for us quite a while back.  We haven't had much time to play games together, but we made time last evening.  It was lots of fun.  We had a good time.
  
  Later we surveyed the bathroom.  I am beginning to think we will never get it back together.  I thought I had done some careful research on purchasing a product that would save lots of time on installation and be very durable.  Well, the installation is reminding me of the term "irreducible complexity."  Argh!  Turns out we will have to remove more drywall, and then have to put drywall back in over the edges.  I so hate plaster/drywall.  Nels does a really good job with it but it takes long periods of time and makes a huge dusty mess.  
  
  The tub spout will have to be unsoldered and resoldered because the wall has to start up two inches then slide down and lock to the back.  See what I mean about "irreducable complexity."
  
  I thought when the instructions clearly said "nail directly to stud" that I was escaping the drywall nightmare.  Apparently not.  Hope I live long enough to see this installed.  Things like this make me wish I lived under the Main Street Bridge and bathed in the Wabash. 
  
  This is so frustrating.  I had great hopes of replacing the minature shower in our bathroom too.  What I need is Ty Pennington and a wrecking ball.  Our shower is so small that if you drop anything, you have to step outside to bend over and pick it up.  It is only two feet wide.  I guess I should be glad that we do have hot and cold running water.   Those are the only two things I don't like about our house.  Unfortunately we need to use them every day.
  
  Well finally we went to bed.  Oh no! Then the coughing started.  I last looked at the clock at 3:30AM.  I kept praying that Nels would be able to go to sleep.  At 6:30 the alarm went off, so I guess we did finally catch a few hours of sleep.  I wonder if massive quantities of codeine cough syrup would help.  Eventually I guess he will be able to sleep and cough at the same time.  I will be so glad when this cough goes away, but not as glad as Nelson will be.
  
  I was a little bummed this morning, but my buddies Julie and Becky came and took me out to lunch.  That was so nice.  Janet sent dinner over, and Cathy L. stopped by and dropped off a really neat top her friend Paula sent.  The sun came out.  It turned out to be a pretty good afternoon. :-)
  
  Psalm 40 For the director of music. Of David. A psalm. 
  
  1 I waited patiently for the LORD;
         he turned to me and heard my cry.  2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
         out of the mud and mire;
         he set my feet on a rock
         and gave me a firm place to stand.
   3 He put a new song in my mouth,
         a hymn of praise to our God.
         Many will see and fear
         and put their trust in the LORD.
   4 Blessed is the man
         who makes the LORD his trust,
         who does not look to the proud,
         to those who turn aside to false gods. [a]
   5 Many, O LORD my God,
         are the wonders you have done.
         The things you planned for us
         no one can recount to you;
         were I to speak and tell of them,
         they would be too many to declare.
  
  GOD IS GOOD - ALL THE TIME!!
  

• Tuesday, November 10, 2009 5:43 PM, CST

  Hope you've had a good day.
  
  We were pleased with our visit to Dr. Berner.  It seems like we have some sort of plan with this persistant cough thing.  Fortunately, our family doc had started a pretty good plan of attack.  Nels already had a CAT scan, allergy testing, and reflux medicine.  Dr. Berner treated an infection in his septum (nose) and is exploring surgery to reconstruct this area.  He is going to review the CAT results.  That might also help with the sleep apenea.  Hey we are just glad for whatever would put a stop to the cough.
  
  Thanks to all who have been praying about this.  Well, that's all for the evening update.  Have a good night.

• Tuesday, November 10, 2009 8:00 AM, CST

  Psalm 143: 8 Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
         for I have put my trust in you.
         Show me the way I should go,
         for to you I lift up my soul.
  
  Hope you all had a great day Monday.  The weather was perfect.  I was very happy to have a visit from my dear friend E.J.  We worked for several hours cleaning out the garage.  Andy was able to get boxes down off some of the high shelves for us.  We went through just about everything. 
  
  Garnal came over and picked up the metal items to recycle.  It was good to visit with him and hear about what he and Stephanie are doing.
  
  When we finished E.J. had a carfull of stuff.  Some things she could use, and some are going to a mission project she is familiar with.  ...and I had a pretty well organized garage.  Today is trash day so Andy helped us get some of the stuff to the curb.  I have been wanting to get this project done for a long time.  I figure I may as well tackle some of these things this week, because after next week I don't think I will have much spunk.
  
  I am getting a new sidewalk today.  The city is redoing the sidewalks in my neighborhood.  The completed sections look really nice.  There were some really bad cracks in some areas.
  
  Today is Nelson's appointment with Dr. Berner.  I am hoping he can find the off switch to the coughing problem.   We have tried so many things and nothing seems to help.   I have never heard anyone cough so loud.  I am going to be deaf if there is much more.  I know Nelson would also like to get a good night of sleep.  Please pray that Dr. Berner will have some insight to the cause and the solution.
  
  I am doing pretty well.   I keep stretching and trying to improve my range of motion.  I am still a little sore, but tolerable.  I keep taking the iron tablets and hoping that I will not be so tired.  I think they are helping.
  
  Well today, we are working on school work and trying to get John's room back into some form of order.
  
  Hope you have a great day.  Thanks for reading.
  God is good, ALL THE TIME.

• Sunday, November 8, 2009 6:32 PM, CST

  Wow!  It was an exceptionally beautiful day here.  I hope you had a nice day and had a chance to be outside for awhile.  I stayed home from church today.  I am still trying to avoid picking up a virus. 
  
  I did a few things around the house and watched the video of the worship service when the guys got home.  Later in the afternoon Nels and I went and got some Chlorox wipes, antibacterial hand sanitizer and vinyl gloves.  I am trying to be prepared and be cautious.
  
  This evening there was an ordination service we did tech support for.  I knew there was not going to be a huge crowd, so I went and shot video.  It was nice to get out, but golly was I tired afterward.   The service was very interesting.  I think that was my first opportunity to see and ordination.  Good message.
  
  I am really surprised how fast I get tired.  Must be the low hemoglobin.  I am taking the pills and trying to eat healthy.  Hopefully that will improve over time.
  
  I am hoping this will be a slow week.  No doctor's appointments this week.   I am so hoping that Nels can get the tub surround finished this week.   We really need to get it done.  I am so glad to have gotten the basement reorganized and get stuff hauled to Trinity.  We have a few more things to get out of the garage so the van can fit inside.
  
  I hope I can find a radio for Nelson's car - to replace the stolen one.   I keep looking on Craigslist and Ebay.  We are not very good at installing radios.  We have tried that a few times with no success.  I am hoping to find a faceplate that will work on the radio body we have.  At least it doesn't impair the drivability of the car.
  
  Well, thanks for reading.  I hope you have a good evening.
  God is good ALL THE TIME.
  
  

• Saturday, November 7, 2009 8:39 AM, CST

  Hi everyone.  Looks like we are going to have really nice weekend weather.  I ran out of steam yesterday before I updated the journal.
  
  Early in the morning I went to physical therapy.  I am doing pretty well trying to get stretched out.  At least I would say this was not nearly as painful as the therapy appointments for my knee replacement.  I am trying to use my right arm as much as possible and I do some stretching in the shower while the area is warmed up.
  
  I finally managed to get the box sent to Rebecca in Wyoming.  I just kept finding thing I wanted to add to it so I kept moving to slightly larger boxes.  I hope she enjoys it. 
  
  The boys and I have continued to work on the basement reorganization project.  I am having them load up stuff to donate to Trinity Mission.  It is working out pretty well.  The goal was to open up the design to use more light from the windows and eliminate the extention cord menace.  We are also trying to better organize the video equipment and archive storage.  It is funny how entropy sets in when you are not really paying attention.
  
  I was glad to have a visit from Gloria B.  It is funny how when you both have lots of kids you can easily loose touch with each other.  It was nice to have a little time to reconnect.
  
  The sidewalk work has moved on down to our end of the street.  Heavy equipment and workmen were removing the old concrete and preparing to install new concrete.  It is noisey, but it will be much nicer when they are finished.
  
  Judy and Nancy brought dinner to us.  It was great.  I really like vegetables and fresh fruit.  The sandwiches were a big hit especially with the guys.  We have been greatly blessed by wonderful friends.
  
  I found a nice basket while working in the basement and I have put all my cards in it.  It is a great encouragement to me.  Cathy S. connected me with a friend of hers that is winding up a similar treatment.  She had some helpful tips and insights.
  
  Chemo is scheduled to begin on November 17.  I am a little anxious about it, but I feel good about Gil and Dr. Harb.  It was nice to experience having the port flushed.  At least I know it will work and it wasn't terribly bothersome. 
  
  I don't know what our plans will be for Thanksgiving.  I am not supposed to sit still for longer than 60 minutes and it is a 6 hour drive to Susan's.  We probably need to stay here.   I also need to be very careful about germs/viruses.  I suppose we can videoconference.  I certainly live with the "Geek Squad" and I am sure they can arrange that.  I am not worried about it.
  
  Nelson is still hacking away, but he will see Dr. Berner this week and I am praying he finds something that helps.  It is like being in a room with a barkaholic German Shepherd.  He is getting a very sore throat from all the coughing.
  
  Well, I need to get things moving here.  We have lots of stuff to haul to TM, and lots of Thank you cards to work on.   I hope you have a great day.  Thanks for taking time to read my journal.  God is good ALL THE TIME.

• Thursday, November 5, 2009 5:47 PM, CST

  Hi there.  Hope you have had a good day.  Isn't it wonderful when the sun shines?  Fireworks and happy dance today.    All the scans came back good.  The heart scan was above average, there was a little inflammation on the CAT and PET (maybe they need a DOG) scans.  That was attributed to post surgery.  The hemoglobin level had come up a little bit.  I need to keep taking those blasted tablets.
  
  We met with Cindy, Dr. Harb's insurance specialist.  She was very helpful.
  
  Next we met with Gil, who is Dr. Harb's assistant.   He was very thorough and easy to understand.  Elizabeth H. went with us.  She has been such a help and encouragement.  She was very happy with all the info we were given.   We got loads of information - almost information saturation.  Fortunately, Elizabeth took good notes, and we got lots of printouts.
  
  Dr. Harb came in and explained the scans.  He is a very nice man.
  
  The port needs to be flushed every four weeks.   Since they are going to wait to do the chemo until I have a chance to completely heal my incisions, it was going to be due to be flushed.   They did it while I was there.  I am glad.  I was very apprehensive about it and it really was not bad.  I feel a lot more comfortable with it now.  It still feels creepy to have a device under my skin, but I will get used to it.
  
  Funny, I think the hardest part of this whole ordeal is going to be loosing all my hair.  Gil said they had one patient in the last 12 years that did not loose all their hair.  I wouldn't mind being the second. :-)    I know I will get used to that too, and hopefully it will only be temporary.  I am collecting hats, and I like hats.
  
  I had a good lunch and visit with Julie and Becky S.   We went to MCL.  It was nice to get out for a while.  They are wonderful friends.
  
  Vera K. brought dinner for us.  The roast and veggies were great.  I love tapioca pudding, and I was really hungry for brownies.  It was so nice to get home from a long and somewhat stressful appointment and enjoy a delicious meal.
  
  The guys and I worked on the basement reorganization plan.  Don't worry, they did the lifting, I just did the pointing and measuring.  It is shaping up really well.  Andy needs to get up and running soon because we have a video project in the queue to be edited.
  
  Thank you Jesus!  I am so incredibly blessed with wonderful friends and family.  God is good ALL THE TIME.

• Wednesday, November 4, 2009 7:06 PM, CST

  Hi there.  Hope you have had a good day.  Ours started out a little annoying.  Somebody stole the faceplate off the radio in our car.   It is so silly.  The radio and car are old.  The radio sells for $50 on Ebay.  You can't use the radio without the front panel.  They didn't bother anything else.  It was just plain annoying.  We did file a police report. 
  
  The only good thing is that I met one of my neighbors.  She was working in her yard and I mentioned it to her to see if she had heard anything.  We had a nice visit.
  
  Well of course the day improved after that.   Peg gave me a ride to Bible Study.  I really enjoy the group, discussion and the book.  Today's topic was Unconditional Love.  I am stretched to feel that way sometimes.  It is very complicated to imagine God's love for us in that context.  It is so easy to see God as a supervisor, judge, master, Lord.  It is sometimes difficult to see God as Daddy.   It is hard to imagine that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  It is easy to try to define God in terms of our human relationships.  
  
  The guys and I are working on rearranging NASA in the basement.  They did the heavy lifting and I did the SmartDraw plan.  I think we will have Andrews mega system where it can have enough power outlets.  We are also making a huge donation of "stuff" to Trinity Mission.   I am all for cutting loose stuff we are not using.   I say, "Travel light."
  
  Anita brought a meal to us today.   John loaded up on the chicken and noodles.   Teenage boys have hollow legs.  It was all good.
  
  I got a very cool surprise from the American Heritage Girls troop.  They brought over a really cool framed sign.  All my buddies signed the back.  I found the perfect place to hang it in the foyer.  It's the picture of the day for today.
  
  Well, tomorrow we meet with Dr. Harb's people.  I should get the chemo schedule then.  Elizabeth H. is going to go with us.  They will also review our insurance packages.
  
  I am so glad to have the drain out.   I really worked on movement of my arm today.   It is a little tight, but I think it is doing pretty well.
  
  Nelson is still hacking away.  I hope that will be stopping soon.  It is still messing up our sleep, and I am sure it is very annoying to him.
  
  Hope you all have a good night.   I have some fantastic friends and family.  God is good, ALL THE TIME.

• Tuesday, November 3, 2009 7:19 PM, CST

  Hi there!  Well it's been a good day here.  I hope your day had gone well.  Sunny days are easy to enjoy.
  
  My biggest plus was ditching the hand grenade AKA the "drain that was a pain."  I am so glad not to have the aquarium tubing stuck in my side.  I don't know how many times I snagged that thing.  Ouch!  Honestly, that was a creepy experience.  It didn't hurt nearly as bad to remove as I imagined.  I will be very glad to sleep on my right side again.
  
  I was really glad that Dr. Smith took time to talk to Nelson and me.  We are so out of our area of expertise that it is fantastic to have someone we trust to sift through all the details and explain them and encourage us.  That has been one of the most amazing things through this adventure.  Seems like God has placed a lot of help to guide us through the unknown path.
  
  I did a little "entropy control" with my faithful helpers, John and Andy.  Andy even cleaned out the van.  After that I worked on some house floor plans for Dan.  It is good to keep mentally occupied.
  
  I talked to Linda, Becky S. and Cathy S. on the phone, and Lucille H. brought a fantastic meal for dinner.  I was glad she could stay and visit a while.  I have been looking for a home for my years of equine management notes, and they went with Lucille.  Hopefully she and Emily will put them to good use.
  
  I hope to get to moving my right arm to regain a full range of motion.  The physical therapist had some helpful suggestions.  I am confident that it will be fine.  I struggled for quite a while with my knee, but it is doing great now.  It just takes time.
  
  Thursday afternoon we meet with the oncology people again.  I should get a better understanding of the treatment plan then.  Maybe they will have the scan results too.  It is time to re-up our insurance through Purdue, and they should help us select the best policy choice.
  
  Thanks to all you that are praying, helping, and encouraging.  We have amazing friends and family!  I can't imagine going down this unknown trail alone.  Leave a note in the Guest Book if you have time.  God is good ALL THE TIME.
  
  

• Monday, November 2, 2009 5:35 PM, CST

  Scan day.  I was just a little stressed about the prospects.  It was nice to hear from Gary H. about his new video gear.  It was a very helpful distraction.  I will be interested in seeing the commercial and the camera.
  
  The muga-scan was pretty simple.  They started an IV line, withdrew a small amount of blood, mixed it with a tracer agent and reinjected the dye.  All I had to do is lay a few minutes on a table.  That one was easy.  
  
  The PET scan was a little more complicated.  The gave me another IV substance that had a glucose tracer and a saline drip.  I sat and watched Cash Cab for an hour while the stuff moved through my system.  That was fine but I was really cold and the IV fluid is always cold.  The brought me three warmed blankets and that helped.
  
  As I understand, cancer cells like glucose.   They need fuel to divide at an alarming rate.  The scan picks up the cells groups that are sucking in the sugar.  Hopefully there aren't any, but who knows.  So far so good.
  
  I got to the PET scan area and they injected something that I think was Valium.   Ah, that warm fuzzy place.  I got strapped down to the table and covered with the warm blankets.  Nap time. 
  
  I was doing pretty good.  It reminded me of what it would be like to do the luge at the speed of a glacier.  Lying down sliding slowly into the white abyss.  I was pretty relaxed.  Soon I was sliding back out of the machine.  Ah, this wasn't too bad. 
  
  ...but wait.  I am pretty awake and the thing is making a lot of noise and shaking.  What?  Oh rats!  I am heading back into the tube.  They didn't say it was going to do this twice.  Oh boy!  Of course the technicians are not around.  Well, I didn't die on the first pass, so I figured I could survive another.  I started thinking of all the worship sets the choir had done over the past year.  I don't sing, but imagined them in my mind.  Unfortunately, I could only remember the first line of each song.  So I had a funky time of a montage of one line worship songs until I got safely launched out of the luge machine.  By the time I was out again, the technicians were back and I was done.   Whoa, the things they don't tell you about these machines.
  
  Then we went to Chick-Fil-a for lunch.  After that, back to the CAT scan.  It looked just like the PET scan machine, but less depth to the tube.  This time I asked them how many times I would go inside and back outside.  Fortunately this one was really fast compared to the other one.
  
  What a day.  I guess I could say I stimulated the US economy.  I think these tests were as much as $10K.  Honestly, I would have come up with a zillion ways to use that kind of cash that didn't involve radiation and drugs :-) , but hopefully they will be helpful in the treatment plan.
  
  I was happy that E.J., Chris T., and Lynn. W. came over this afternoon.  It was relaxing to have a nice visit after a fairly stressful day.
  
  I really am encouraged by the Guest Book.  Thanks for leaving little notes. 
  
  Richard, I really appreciate you and Noah helping with the Tech Crew.  You two are doing a great job.  It means a lot to me to be able to see the worship service.
  
  Nelson is still doing the coughing thing, but not quite as awful as Saturday night.  He'll see Dr. Berner in 8 more days.
  
  The drain comes out tomorrow afternoon I hope.
  
  Well, I hope you have had a good day.  It was a little chilly here to start but I think it was 63oF in the afternoon.  I have the best friends in the world!  God is good ALL THE TIME.

• Sunday, November 1, 2009 6:13 AM, CST

  I am writing this morning because I fell asleep before I posted yesterday.  We had two difficult nights in a row.  Nelson and this bizarre cough.  It attacks randomly.  I have no idea what sets it off.  Wow, last night I thought we were going to wind up in the ER - as if they could do anything we haven't tried.  You'd really think lung parts were going to come out.  Well, 9 days till we see Dr. Berner and I sure hope he has some kind of idea.  The neighbors and I would like to be able to sleep without hearing protection.  Nels would just like to sleep. 
  
  We had a really exciting day.  Nels and I did some photography and the morning and got a few items from Sam's.  The guys helped me make some chili and John finished the writing part of his Reformation Day project.  Then we headed to the Tylers.
  
  Wow, what an event.  They had the entire machine shed decorated.  We got to watch a theological debate between Tetzel and Luther.  Kids played dress up in period costume.  The University projects were on display to examine.  Sarah and Arron printed a gave us all a historical quiz.  There was a "name that relic" contest just for fun.  The kids also had a Wartburg Castle straw maze to play inside.  There was a "printing press" area where the kids printed bookmarks and shoelaces.
  
  The program began with singing one of Luther's hymns, A Mighty Fortress is our God.  Then Pastor Sebald of Eastwoods Church gave a message about the importance of having a Bible in our own language.  Not to many of the folks in the crowd had studied Latin, but a few had.
  
  The "University" awards were presented.   They had three age categories and some nice prizes.  They had several corporate sponsors this year.
  
  Then we ate a pitch-in dinner consisting of a variety of homemade soups.  Yum.  Soup is a great meal on a chilly fall day.
  
  John wound up his day at the Harvest Party at Covenant.  His best friend Sam was there and he enjoyed the drama presentations and of course the games and candy.  I stayed away from that to avoid the large group of kids.  John has had the flu, so hopefully he doesn't get sick again.
  
  I think the Reformation Party was the best celebration of October 31 Nels and I have ever experienced.    Halloween costumes have become so gruesome and the vandalism just gets worse.  The whole concept of "give me candy or I will vandalize your property" is just wrong. 
  
  Tomorrow is "Scan Day," - muga-scan, cat scan, and PET scan all in the morning.  They are trying to see how far the cancer stuff may have spread.  I am a little anxious about the scans.  They will have to insert dye and some radioactive stuff to trace the information.  I am so claustrophobic I will be dozing on Valium, so I probably will be very calm and happy while they do this. 
  
  I hope the stuff hasn't migrated little colonies everywhere, but it is what it is.   I can't change anything.   I know God is not going to be surprised by anything that shows up on these scans.  I have to hope the Dr. Harb will have an attack strategy now matter what the outcome.
  
  There is no telling when they will have results from all these "scans."  This whole process is "hurry up ad wait" to me.  I just know God has a plan even if nobody else does, and His plan never fails.
  
  My guys are headed off with equipment to set up for the worship service.  They still have the stuff from the BGMS video.  I am going to stay home away from viruses for a couple more weeks  I see the graph shows the worst of the HINI has passed, so in a couple of weeks, I hope to be safe.  I am looking forward to the video this afternoon.  We have had some sound problems but I think there is a good plan to resolve the problems.
  
  Hope you all have a great day.  God is good ALL THE TIME.

• Friday, October 30, 2009 9:15 PM, CDT

  Another rainy day.   At least we don't have to shovel rain.  It looked really windy, because my pine tree was dancing.   The two kitties were hunkered down in their house on the porch most of the day, so I guess it was chilly.  I looked at the web cam in Jackson Hole, Wyoming to see what kind of weather Rebecca was having.  I heard about record cold and show in Nebraska and Wyoming, but her area looked like the weather here.  I didn't see snow on the ground, but it was very overcast.   These webcams are fun things.
  
  Nelson and Andy went to Battleground Middle school to video their convocation.   I have really enjoyed these events, but I am trying to stay away from viruses, and the kiddos are little vectors.  Nelson had a good time and I am looking forward to seeing what Jolene scripted this time.   She is so creative and funny.  These events encourage the students to read lots of books.  It is cool to see Andy leading the video production.  We have been doing this together for several years.   I am so delighted to see how he has grown into a young man.  His elementary teachers are always amazed to see how he has matured into a 6'5" man.
  
  I worked on some more floor plans and gave Todd and Maria a CD of their engagement photos.  It was fun to get a chance to visit with them.  Then I did a little battle against domestic entropy, AKA laundry and dishes.
  
  I enjoyed phone calls from Janet B. and Andrew P.  It is very encouraging to hear from my buddies.  It really helps me to keep my focus on the most important things.
  
  I was also glad to talk with Mom today.  Her neck pain was much better today.  She slept well and even though it was a damp cool day, she seemed to feel pretty good.  For whatever reason, damp and cool are bad if you have arthritis.
  
  Susan was busy getting ready for Tiffany's birthday today.  She and Matt were preparing to grill ribs.  Everybody seemed pretty happy.  Eddie's little arm and shoulder were a little touchy today, but he seems to be well on the mend after his fall off an amusement ride.  He had broken his arm, but the cast is now off.
  
  I am a little sore today.  I will be so glad to loose this drain, but it is still doing it's job.
  
  Dan and Elizabeth brought over a delicious pot of potato soup, homemade bread, salad, and some great peanut butter/chocolate bars.  Chocolate belongs to the "happy" food group on the pyramid.  We enjoyed their visit.  Nels showed Dan the bathtub project. 
  
  I cannot wait until the new tub surround gets installed.  Nels made another little bit of progress getting the rest of the caulk removed.  It seems like the wiring is done, the plumbing is done, now if he can just get the thing nailed in.  It will be nice - some day.
  
  John worked on his Reformation Day progress.  Guttenburg would be impressed.  He made a press out of Legos - his favorite building material.  I am pretty amazed.   I am looking forward to the party, but I am going to be pretty careful to stay flu free.
  
  Hope you have had a good day.  Aren't Fridays great?  Hope everyone has an enjoyable weekend and some fun with their families. 
  
  God is good - ALL THE TIME.
  
  

• Thursday, October 29, 2009 7:53 PM, CDT

  Hope you had a good day.  I was glad to be able to open the windows for a little while and air out the house.   I did the normal household maintenance stuff, laundry and some dishes.
  
  I got a surprise in the mail today.  Mom sent some blue super soft fuzzy pajama pants and a top.  They look really warm and comfortable.  My kind of stuff for hanging out at home.  I was glad to talk to Mom and hear that her neck was feeling better today.  She is not sure if it's the new medicine, but we're all glad she's feeling better.
  
  I had a nice visit from Julie and Becky S. for lunchtime.  They brought some great food.   I love Julie's beef and peppers over Jasmine rice.  Becky added some brownies, carmel apple salad, and a veggie casserole.  We had a fun visit over lunch.
  
  Later Deb C. stopped buy with a frozen main dish for a later time.  I enjoyed a visit with Deb.  It is nice to have something easy to fix in the freezer.
  
  Lucille called and told me about some very interesting research at Purdue with and medicine made from Paw Paws.  Paw Paws are also known as the Indiana Banana.  They look like pears and taste like banana pudding.  I really think they are tasty.  Apparently the medication is made from the twigs.  It has shown great promise in cancer treatment.  Interesting, but I would require more research before I'd try using it. 
  
  I keep hoping to loose the "drain" but it is still working.  I just hope I can get it out before I have a serious range of motion problem.  My arm is getting pretty stiff.  I am not supposed to  raise my arm above my shoulder, and it gets kind of painful if I get close to the limit.
  
  I worked on some house plans, and edited some photos.  Andy helped me move the laptop to the living room so I have a more comfortable area to work.  I am using my lap desk for my laptop.  Novel idea.
  
  Nels managed to get through another night with out coughing up a lung.  Unfortunately he was coughing a lot during the day.  That is almost tolerable if you can sleep all night.
  
  Nels, John and I went to the library last night.   John needed to get more material for his Reformation Day project.  It was startling to me to look through the biographies in the children's section.  So many books about people who are lacking in character and substance.  So few books about people who have made real contributions to the benefit of mankind.  He found a few books about Luther and Gutenberg - his topic.
  
  We did some reading tonight and found an interesting fact.  Upper Case letters were kept in the top box of type, and you guessed it,  Lower Case letters were stored in the box below them.  I always wondered how they were classified that way.
  
  "Unless I am convicted by Scripture and plain reason - I do not accept the authority of popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other - my conscience is captive to the Word of God.  I cannot and will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe.  Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise.  God help me. Amen" Martin Luther
  
  
  Thanks for visiting!  God is good, ALL THE TIME.
  
  
  

• Wednesday, October 28, 2009 7:36 PM, CDT

  I went and had my blood drawn really early.  My plan worked out well.  Only three people were there, so I hope I keep dodging viruses.
  
  Next I went to physical thearpy.   They are trying to make sure I have a full range of motion in my arm.   I did learn a few things about the lymphatic system.   God has a marvelous design.  I couldn't do a whole lot yet because of the drain.   She did show me how to do proper stretching to improve my movement when the drain is removed.  If you want to have a laugh, watch this Tim Hawkins short video.  Copy  (or highlight then ctrl c) and paste this link:
  
  http://www.tangle.com/view_video?viewkey=1b1ab18191a852120231&utm_source=newsletter1028&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=weeklytopvideos
  
  Coming up I have a heart scan, then a PET scan.  Gosh, I'll be wanting to sleep on the printer's scanner bed before this is over.
  
  You know, I am beginning to think cancer is more than a diagnosis, it is a career.  Golly I have more appointments than I can imagine.  It is frightening to think of how much this is going to cost.  Even if it is paid by insurance, there is still a cost.  I just wonder what percentage of the U.S. economy is designated to cancer treatment.   I think it would be staggering.   It might be the largest industry in the country.  I am just thinking that politicians keep quoting that 20% of the U. S. economy is healthcare.   Most bankruptsies are medical cost related.  I read statistics that 1 out of 8 women develop breast cancer and 1 out of 4 people develop cancer.  It's huge.  I have determined what causes cancer.  Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit because they wanted to be as God.   Everything went downhill from there.
  
  I managed to make it to Bible study this afternoon.  The lesson focused on compassion.  It was very interesting.  After that Julie took Becky S. and I to lunch at MCL.  That was a nice treat.
  
  After that, I had a visit from Jo H. from Reach to Recovery.  She was very encouraging and shared her story with me.   Reach to Recovery is quite a ministry.  She brought me a hat, some literature and a nice tote bag.
  
  Nels, John and I went to the library this evening.  We had some books to return and John wanted to get some material for a project.   We are participating in a Reformation Day party that includes an educational project fair.  John is planning on building a model.  He has some research to complete.
  
  It is really nice outside tonight.  Fortunately, Nels did not have a coughing attack in the middle of the night.  He has had a few sessions during the day.   Still, I am pretty tired and think I will turn in early.
  
  We have some amazing friends! Thanks for visiting.  Hope you had a good day.  God is good, ALL THE TIME.
  
  
  

• Tuesday, October 27, 2009 5:10 PM, CDT

  It's been kind of a dreary rainy day today.  It is a nice day to stay inside and drink cups of tea.  Nelson was coughing again last night, so we were pretty tired today.  I think he is becoming the human alarm clock.  Along about 2:30 he goes off.  I am glad he is able to get back to sleep when it subsides.  I usually find myself grabbing a nap later in the day.  He has coughed at random intervals during the day.  Odd, it stops as quickly as it starts and it doesn't seem to follow any pattern.  I will just be extremely glad when we find something that stops the cough.
  
  I was hopeful I could loose the "drain" today, but it started collecting a larger quantity, so it's with me a while longer.  Maybe Thursday it will come out.  I guess I am glad the stuff is going out instead of collecting inside.  Dan H. gave Nelson a good suggestion for securing it better.  That has helped keep it from feeling like I have an arrow in my side.  I was able to loose a bunch of the surgical tape, which is getting itchy.  So, some gain in that area.
  
  I have to get some lab stuff done in the morning.  Our plan is to arrive as early as possible to avoid all the people with nasty viruses.  You can't get any appointment with the lab people, so it's pretty much first come first serve.  I could probably be quite successful drawing it myself, but I don't think they'd like that.  I worked as a phlebotomist at the hospital for a long time.  Before that I worked in a veterinary hospital.  I am pretty good with a needle.   Unfortunately it makes me rather queasy when I get drawn.  Weird.
  
  I need to get John back on track with his algebra and biology.  Between the flu and this, we have some catching up to do.  We may watch "Luther" again in preparing a project for the Reformation Day festivities at our friend's party.  It has grown from a house party to quite the event.  Why didn't we celebrate that, instead of Halloween when I was a kid?  It is so much more fun and a far better event to celebrate.  I think it is a great idea.   
  
  We have never really done anything for Halloween, except to celebrate Chocolate Day on November 1.  That's when all the really good chocolate stuff is on sale.  We would go get several bags and drop them in the freezer to disperse during the year.  It kind of reminds me of the early Christians who purchased discounted meat that was left over from the pagan's temple sacrifices.  I guess we all are just trying to be resourceful.
  
  I am still working on my box to send out to Wyoming.  I keep finding stuff that doesn't fit, then I have to upgrade the box.  Pretty soon it could become a box car.  I need to stop adding.
  
  I enjoyed talking to Liz and Becky over the weekend.  I try to wait until the weekdays to call Susan.  Their family is pretty busy keeping up with the activities for six kids.
  
  Thanks to the Remo family for a great dinner.   I was trying to ponder what Andy and I were going to make when they called.  It's funny, I just don't get very hungry now, and it is hard to think about cooking something.  The meal was very tasty.  I have always liked meatloaf.  My mom makes great meatloaf and we had it on a regular basis when I lived at home.  Tonight we had meatloaf, green beans, potatoes, salad, pie and brownies. 
  
  We have some awesome friends!  Thanks for visiting.  Hope you have had a great day.  God is good ALL THE TIME.
  
  

• Monday, October 26, 2009 5:10 PM, CDT

  It's been a beautiful day.  I am amazed at how warm it was, and how lovely the trees still look.  Andy and John cleaned up leaves in the back yard.  They helped to get the shed in order.  We put the bicycles away and straightened things up.
  
  I enjoyed talking with Cathy this morning.  Next I had a nice visit with E. J.  We went to WalMart and got some potting soil and a philidendron.  Back at the house E. J. helped me repot some poor rootbound plants and rearrange them around the pond.  We had a very nice visit.
  
  Next Cathy L. came over and brought me the XXX pink chemo hat.  I can't go wrong with that hat!  Actually for those of you outside the Lafayette area, XXX is a fantastic restaurant that serves root beer.  Cathy's friends own the place and they gave her the pink XXX hat when she was going through chemo.  Now she is doing great and passed the had on to me.  Of course I had to promise to wear it to each chemo session, and I did. 
  
  I am going to be really glad to dispense with the hand grenade, AKA "the drain."  It feels like I have had an encounter with an angry native American.  Feels like an arrow stuck in my side.  It comes out tomorrow afternoon.
  
  I took a short drive today.  That went well.  I am pretty tired this afternoon.  Nelson is still hacking in the night and we can't wait till he sees the ENT.  Hopefully something will put a stop to this random persistant cough.
  
  Wow this day has gone quickly.  Nels just got home to take John to Scouts.  I can't believe it's after 6.  Last time I looked it was 4:30.  How time flies when you're having fun.
  
  I hope you all have had a nice day.  I am trying to enjoy each one.  Winter will be upon us soon.
  
  I enjoyed a really nice card from my veterinarian friend Kim and another one from her mom today.  I have some wonderful friends, and you are one of them.  Thanks for visiting.  God is good ALL THE TIME.

• Sunday, October 25, 2009 6:42 PM, CDT

  I stayed home from church, but watched the video.  Beni Lup was a VERY interesting speaker.  He is from Romania.  He was so interesting that my young helper thought the service ended early, when in fact it was a little long.   That is huge coming from a young teen with lots of energy.
  
  This afternoon Nels took me to Happy Hollow Park for a short hike and some time to take some photos.  The weather was great.  Next we went to the Celery Bog.  I still think some of the best color was in our yard.
  
  We made a short side trip to Borders.  It was pretty empty, so I could stay away from germs.  I got the guys a really cool Mythbuster experiment kit.  They will soon be in a marshmallow war I am sure.  I got some of our favorite Hank the Cowdog books to send to a special friend of ours.
  
  Now, Nels is heating up some Romanian soup for dinner.  It was left over from this weekend's events at Covenant.  I love soup.  I smells good.
  
  My arm and muscles are pretty sore today.  I am trying to keep moving to prevent them from getting too stiff.  It is hard to avoid lifting over 5 pounds, but I am restraining myself.  I am glad my camera is well under that limit.
  
  Hope everyone had a great day.  God is good ALL THE TIME.

• Saturday, October 24, 2009 9:20 AM, CDT

  One day at a time.   John has been sick since Thursday of last week.  Flu?  I don't know.  We have just been super careful with the hand washing, bleach, and Lysol.  I am leaning toward a flu shot.  Maybe Monday, because I need to have some more blood tests.  John felt pretty good yesterday and this morning he seems OK. 
  
  I am trying to stay away from anyone that might have a virus.  My biggest challenges are being super tired (low hemoglobin), and adapting to a super slow pace.  I'd really like to go up to Prophetstown and ride my bike, but I think I'd be flat out for a few days if I did.
  
  I am enjoying the beautiful fall colors.  I managed to get out with my camera for awhile and take some photos in my neighborhood.  That about wore me out.
  
  It is hard to slow down!  I keep thinking of Sharon H's comment about "do less, enjoy more."   I keep trying to complete some thank you notes, but invariably, I keep setting down the cards and forget where I set them.  Hopefully, I will complete that today.