SPRING BREAK

The week of Spring Break is over and it has gone by quickly. Although Eileen spent considerable time working on school work and her master’s degree, we also found time to spend a lot of time together which included strawberry picking and a couple of outings to the movies. Eileen has worked hard these past two years on her master’s work, in addition to her high school math teaching job. In another month her master’s work will be complete.

I went to the races at Five Flags Speedway here in Pensacola yesterday with a friend. It was a beautiful day but I should have heeded Eileen’s suggestion to take sunscreen. It was in the low 80’s but it didn’t seem that hot so I passed on the sunscreen. I came back from the races, which had been rescheduled because of a rainout on Friday, with a minor but obvious burn. I didn’t think about the fact that I’m supposed to limit my exposure to direct sunlight, because of the chemo drug Gleevec, until I took my dosage at supper time. Oh well, I don’t feel worse for wear and I think most of the burn will be gone by morning.

I mentioned last week that I got my blood tested at the oncologist’s office to make sure that my leukemia is still in remission. I don’t have an appointment with Dr. Tan for another six months; I’m supposed to call the oncologist’s office for the results. I’ll stop in today and get a copy of my results. I pray for good news and I appreciate all those who keep me in their prayers.

UPDATE

I haven’t given a health update for a while so I thought this would be a good time. However, there isn’t really anything new to report. Stomach pain and G.I. pain along with nausea as a result of Gleevec are almost a constant companion. However, my leg cramps are much better and my skin rashes are much better too. This past Wednesday I had a blood test at the oncologist’s office. I’ll know in about two weeks if I’m still in remission. I pray so.

My arm is in a very vulnerable state as compared to this time of year in the past. I’m not looking forward to the encounters with air conditioning and ceiling fans this year. Already my arm is giving me fits although I am able to sleep most nights. I’m very thankful for that. It seems that if I behave myself with my arm that it becomes more wimpish and unable to handle much adversity at all. There’s a reasonable balance in there somewhere; I’m not sure I’ve ever been able to find it.

Our oldest son’s family is in town this weekend. Although they spent most of this weekend at our daughter-in-law’s sister’s house, we’ve had a great visit with them and our seventeen-month-old granddaughter, Lindsay. Eileen and I always take her on evening walks. Lindsay really likes it and we like her liking it!!

Our oldest daughter is at Camp Pendelton, California for one more week before heading off to Afghanistan until October. We will miss her but we’re proud of the service she is providing to the medical health of our military.

Our other two kids and Eileen are on Spring Break this week. This is the first year that it hit out that they all had it at the same time. It’s going to be a great week.

One last thing…a friend is having serious surgery on Thursday; please pray for him and his family.

SEASON’S GREETINGS!!

We are well into the season of Lent and Easter is not too far away. Especially in our busy world with all kinds of worldly noise distracting us from the important aspects of life, it’s good that we have religious seasons. Oddly enough, Christmas wasn’t that long ago but the Christmas season is becoming so commercialized and political that many have a hard time finding peace and true spiritual meaning in the season. The Easter season gives us another chance at it without so much commercialization. Yet, the distractions and busyness of life can make the season go by without us attaching much significance to it. Indeed, we have to make conscious effort to come out of the Easter season a better person than we went into it. Many people give something up for Lent as a means of self-discipline. Others perform additional righteous acts during Lent. Whatever we choose and regardless of our denomination, it’s a good time to reflect on our faith-journey and make some changes. Even if we didn’t start at the beginning of Lent, it’s never too late to start. Furthermore, personal spiritual inventory is not something that we should only do at Christmas and Easter.

FAMILY REFLECTIONS

This has been an extra good weekend as all the kids were home from last Thursday evening through Sunday evening when our oldest son’s family headed back home. Our oldest daughter is still home until Thursday morning.

When so many miles separate the homes of our two oldest kids, it is a special blessing to have them all home at the same time. As our third child is in the final stretch of his college degree and our youngest daughter begins university life in the fall, we treasure the times we’re all together. Especially with our oldest daughter about to leave for a seven month deployment to Afghanistan, we know that it will be at least that many months before we’re all together again. Even so, only time and career choices in the years to come will determine if it gets easier or harder to get everyone together. For now, we are thankful and celebrate the times we have.

As our children get older and carve their own paths in the world, we experience and enjoy the next generation anew as our sixteen-month-old granddaughter (Lindsay) brings much joy, love, and laughter to the family. Lindsay was taking a nap while the rest of us gathered around the table to pray on Sunday afternoon. I look forward to when the family gathers again in person and in prayer.