This has been a very busy week. We left for Redmond on Friday, where we spent the weekend with family and attended Don's memorial. It was a beautiful service Sabbath afternoon, a fitting tribute for a good man. We buried him at Camp Polk on Sunday morning. Grand son Jay placed his newly won Free Fall Wings on the urn, the most respectful tribute a miltary man can give-and a very moving gesture. We will miss him.
It was very good to see so many of our dear family members. We are looking forward to the family reunion in August, when we will get together for the joy of it rather than to bid someone good by.
Thank you Loris and Marvin for hosting all of us after the graveside service-it was really good to spend some time in your home and with each other.
On Monday we drove to Portland to spend some time with Cherilyn, Todd and Phoenix, as well as Todd's parents who are visiting from Pennsylvania to help out for a couple of weeks. We had a good visit, and arrived just in time to stay with Phoenix while everyone else raced off to medical appointments. We can see Phoenix has already grown noticeably, and it will not be long before he is chubby and smiling. Can't wait for him to respond with smiles and good eye contact. Of course we enjoyed every moment with all of them.
We came home on Tuesday, then left Wednesday for Seattle where we met Chaunda, saw her new apartment for which she had just picked up the keys, then went to dinner together.
Leland's appointment was this morning. Things are looking good for now, he gained another three pounds, feels good and his PSA is 8.9-down from 52 last month! The Zytiga is working. He is certainly a poster person for Integrative Medicine, especially when compared to how sick he was at his first appointment. We are both so grateful for his quality of life. We know it is not permanent, so appreciate every good day. There have been lots of them, and in many ways it is tempting to think he will stay in this condition. The Zytiga will stop working at some point, and then we will be trying other things under Dr. Chen and Dr. Sweet.
We have been reading two very good books by Philip Yancey, Prayer and Disappointment with God. I have had some real personal struggles this last winter, but some excellent counseling from a wise and godly counselor and her reccomendation of these books has been very helpful. I believe they would be helpful for anyone struggling with life situations and wondering where God is in all of our trials. I have seen a new picture of God which I did not have before, and I now can understand it is OK to be angy with Him, or disappointed with Him, but the most important thing is to be totally honest with Him, and never stop talking with Him even if the only thing one can do is rage or cry. Thank you Darlene!
FYI : Washington State allows a 550 dollar fine if your insurance papers are not up to date in your glove box! When we were stopped, the State Patrolman was very stern saying he would give us the benefit of the doubt-this time. I got right on the phone, and the insurance company had mistakenly not sent out the papers we need. We were two weeks past due, but had not thought about it at all, since it is supposed to automatic.
Tuesday April 30
I did it again, posted this blog, but did not publish it-instead it went to "drafts" How do I do it? I don't know! Anyway thank you Loris for the email asking where it is, it would have sat there until the next one without you saying something!
That's great news, Eileen! So very happy to hear it! :)
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