Back home

We had a wonderful family Christmas with our kids--which we truly spent at a real "stable"--the horse-boarding stable "Twin Pines", where Tim and Kim live and work!!

It was warm and cozy inside, although the weather outside was unseasonably warm for the prairies at the end of December!!

On Christmas Eve day we enjoyed a fabulous turkey dinner with Kim's mother's family in Regina.

The Christmas Eve service at Tim and Kim's church was wonderful, but proved to be a little too much for a very tired little girl!

A few of the family experienced a one to two-day flu bug, but thankfully Kim wasn't one of them!! She had her first chemo two days before Christmas and felt pretty normal until extreme tiredness overtook her on the third and fourth days following chemo. There were lots of us around to help, so she was able to rest when she needed to.

The most "touching" present that was opened on Christmas morning was the gift that Tim made for Kim. He took a few horseshoes and nails and re-shaped them to form symbols for FAITH (a cross made of horseshoe nails), HOPE (the breast cancer ribbon complete with a touch of pink on the nails in the horseshoe!), and LOVE (a heart of course!). He then twisted wire to write the three words under each symbol, then mounted them on some bead board, and framed it into a wonderful wall-hanging.

Of course Christmas morning was all about the kids and the excitement of opening their stockings and presents. Star Wars "stuff" dominated the boys' "haul" as well as Nerf guns, and the girls loved their dolls and "little ponies", etc. But I think they both would have liked their own guns too!!

Kim crocheted slippers for everyone and no two pairs were alike!! David's fit his zany personality just perfectly!

Enjoying an abundance of food and precious time with one another filled our week.

We came home tired, but very happy and so thankful for God's goodness to us as a family this past year. BOB's time away was shorter because of needing to get back for dialysis, but he was able to miss one treatment with no negative effects. And chemo is suspended now until there is an indication that the tumour is growing. He really is feeling quite well, just more tired than he'd like to be!!

We've had a couple of days' rest, and now we're preparing for the arrival this evening of my sister Barb and her husband Buddy, who are flying up here from Texas for four days. Then we'll have another two days' rest before Bob's sister Lois and her husband Duane arrive from South America for over a week. All of their children and little granddaughter are coming as well for a few days. Excitement will abound I'm sure. Thankfully the guest suite in our condo complex is available and they will have their own quarters down the hall from us.

My brother JIM saw his radiation oncologist yesterday and was encouraged regarding his cancer. There's a strong likelihood that all of the cancer was removed through the aggressive treatment he received and the following surgery, so he won't be engaging in any further treatment for now. They will monitor his condition by occasional PET scans. The everyday challenge is being able to "ingest" enough to keep his weight and energy up. He can only eat small amounts at a time so must continue to supplement his diet with protein supplements given through his feeding tube. This takes a few hours each day. Please continue to keep him in your prayers.

And KIM will be getting chemo every third week for the next four to five months and will lose her hair quite soon. She's a very brave young woman whose courage and faith in God amazes us. Tim also is facing this challenge with incredible strength and confidence in God, but he needs our prayers that he will be able to carry the heavy workload at the stable and the extra demands of family life.

At the end of this year our hearts are FULL of joy, gratitude, and expectancy as we approach a new year that God has already planned for us and we are confident in His loving and sovereign care.

Well, believe it or not "that's all folks!""--at least for now!!

Many "Beds of Roses" this year!!

Bob and I won't be sending out our traditional "Bed of Roses" Christmas greetings, although this year the experience of spending lots of time in "bed" is more accurate than ever!!!

Our family will be gathering in Regina at Tim and Kim's for Christmas, so the many beds will all be full of Roses!! Billy and Manny look so forward to joining Colby and Carson sleeping in bunk beds together, and Gracyn and Mykenna will move into the toy room to escape the "boy cooties"!! Since Barbie also lives in Regina, there are enough beds between her condo and Tim and Kim's home for all of us.

Kim will begin her chemo treatment two days before Christmas!!! She was hoping that it might be delayed until after Christmas, but that wasn't to be. We will all give her lots of help and try our best to be in good health to prevent Kim from catching any germs.

My brother Jim is still recuperating from his dramatic surgery in November and learning to eat many small meals a day, as he feels full after just a few bites. He and Kim are considering whether he will have another round of chemo in the new year. Please pray for direction and continued healing.

This will be a very special Christmas to savour as a family with lots of love, joy, and thanksgiving filling our hearts. I know that this year each of us has had a fresh encounter with the living Christ, and celebrating the wonder of His birth will take on a deeper significance than ever before. He came to be Emmanuel--"God with us"--and our experience of His very real presence this year has been amazing!!

Here is a picture taken of Bob and me last week, the very day he had surgery to insert a "graft" in his arm whereby he'll have a more permanent vascular access to dialysis. Doesn't he look great? We are full of gratitude to the Lord for bringing us to the end of this year with more strength, joy, and peace than we ever could have imagined a few months ago. GOD IS SO GOOD!!

Have a "joy-filled" Christmas,
Bob and Carol

Going on a Mini-Holiday!!

It’s a beautiful sunny winter day here in White Rock, and Bob and I are getting ready to drive into downtown Vancouver for the weekend!! We’ve been invited to a banquet there tomorrow evening at a classy hotel that happens to be right across the street from the WorldMark complex (a Time Share). A couple of weeks ago we decided to see if there might be any availability to stay overnight tomorrow night since it’s always a very late evening and finding parking is always a challenge.

Amazingly we were able to book ourselves in for both tonight and Saturday night. SO . . . we’ll be having a mini-holiday!! These are the kinds of vacations that Bob and I will have together now that he really can’t travel. Even going to Regina for Christmas has proved to be a challenge because the hospital there won’t be able to give him access to dialysis!!! This was a big disappointment when we got the word on Wednesday, but we’ve made an adjustment to our plans and he will still be able to go, although he can only be gone for four days instead of eight. Bob’s nephrologist has given him clearance to miss one dialysis treatment, giving him a four-day window. We were able to change his flights at quite an additional expense, but we’re thrilled that he’ll still be able to go!!

On Wednesday BOB finally had the surgery to insert a “graft” in his left arm that will be a more permanent vascular access for dialysis. He came through the procedure well and we were able to even drive up to North Vancouver for dinner with some friends that evening. He’s nursing his left arm quite a bit and taking Tylenol 3s, hoping that his arm will be well enough to play the piano for a Carol Sing at our church on Sunday night!!!

And here’s the latest on KIM. She saw her oncologist on Tuesday and will begin chemo within a week or two. She’ll have chemo once every three weeks for the next six months. It isn’t a lovely prospect, but we’re all so grateful that her prognosis is very good, especially since there weren’t any cancer cells in the lymph nodes that were removed. She and Tim will be hosting Christmas this year so we will all be helping as much as we can and also pray that nobody will be sick and pass any germs around.

JIM continues to recover from his surgery and is adjusting to eating very small meals and trying to keep his weight up. He fills up very quickly and doesn’t have much of an appetite, so this is a challenge. He and Kim will see his oncologist next week and will find out what kind of treatment will be followed.

THANKS again for your love, support, and prayers. God is so wonderfully providing all that we need and giving us much joy and peace on the journey. It’s so comforting to know that He loves us so much and is in control and He’s working out His good purposes in ways we could never have imagined!!

GOOD NEWS!!

Tim just phoned us a half hour ago with wonderful news. He and Kim had just seen her surgeon and received the news that no cancer was found in any of the lymph nodes that were removed. Consequently she will only need chemo, no radiation. They also found out that just six out of the twenty lymph nodes under her arm were removed, meaning that she won't need to fear having lymphadema to the same degree . . . AND she can resume her normal activity!!! There's no doubt that she'll be out in the barn tonight . . . and dancing a few jigs with Tim and the kids!!

We are rejoicing and full of thanks to the Lord!!

It's beginning to look . . .

. . . a lot like Christmas!!

Although we'll be spending Christmas in Regina with all of our children, we wanted to "deck our own halls" for the Advent Season. We're still awaiting word whether BOB can have dialysis in Regina. The Renal Unit at the Regina General Hospital is currently undergoing extensive renovations, and it's proving to be a challenge to fit into their somewhat chaotic system. He may even have to go to Moose Jaw for dialysis.

Bob was hoping to have his final chemo treatment yesterday, but his platelet count was too low. So he's officially completed his first full round of chemo and won't receive it again until there is evidence that his tumour is getting larger.

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JIM has been home from the hospital since Wednesday and has been enjoying homecooked food and the ability to actually eat and drink with greater ease than he has for weeks. His recovery has been remarkable according to all of the medical staff.

Just before Jim's discharge, he got the results of the pathology tests. My sister sent us the following update: "The doctor said that of the many lymph nodes that were removed, ONE came back with traces of cancer cells. He also said that treatment with chemo for this is controversial. The pathology of the tumor revealed that it was wise to have removed it, because the chemo/radiation treatment had not killed all of the cancer cells in the tumor. Jim and Kim will meet with him early in December to discuss the options. Between now and then they will be developing a list of questions to ask to clarify what Jim is facing and help them determine the course of action that has the greatest potential for success. We are very thankful that the tumor has been removed and other information has been gathered as a result of the surgery. Please pray for wisdom to know what questions to ask and what course of action to pursue and peace that only God can give during this uncertain time."

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In a few days KIM will get the pathology results from her most recent surgery. Thanks for your continued support and prayer for all of these needs. Someone once said that there are just two approaches to God in prayer: pleas for HELP and words of THANKS--and we are engaging in both kinds these days, and finding God to be abundantly faithful.

Giving Thanks!!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!! Today, and every day, we count our blessings.

I arrived home from Regina on Tuesday at midnight. It was so wonderful to be with our kids and grandkids. KIM is recovering from her surgery and still awaiting news of the pathology report which will indicate whether she'll just have chemo or will need radiation as well. Their church family and stable community have been giving them overwhelming support--especially in providing an abundance of delicious meals, much encouragement, and lots of prayer. I hardly had to do any cooking!! It was so heartening to see how well Tim and Kim and the children are doing.

Winter arrived on the prairies so we enjoyed a nice warm fire in the fireplace--in addition to all the warmth of love that filled the air.

It's hard to get four children all together for a picture, but watching TV on Saturday morning provided the perfect opportunity!!

Grammy enjoyed being smothered with hugs and kisses!! One of the greatest joys was having all four children crawl in bed with Grammy early in the morning!!

Barbie made Kim a cozy blanket with the breast cancer logo on the fleece.

Here are Gracyn and Auntie indulging in Barb's 40th birthday pie!!

Tim loves to stretch out on the couch for a little snooze whenever he can get the chance in the middle of his busy day working in the stable. Mykenna (or Kenna, as she calls herself) makes the very best "comforter"!!

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JIM astounded everyone with his amazing recovery after such extensive surgery. He was discharged from the hospital yesterday, just eight days after his surgery. Since Monday, he's been eating and drinking with no trouble at all, although he says that he gets full much sooner. This is a HUGE answer to prayer!!

Kim's surgery

KIM's surgery went well yesterday. I arrived just a few minutes after she and Tim got home from the hospital. She is really quite the "trooper". The pain was pretty bad last evening but is better today. She never complains and continues to function as though things are quite normal, although she's tired. Now they await the pathology report to determine whether she'll just get chemo or both chemo and radiation.

JIM's doing quite well, according to all of his doctors and nurses, although he will be in ICU until Wednesday before being moved to a general ward for about a week. They will make sure that the attachment of his esophagus and stomach isn't leaking and that the fear of any complications is over before transferring him. He will also be awaiting the pathlogy report. Recovery will take a few months.

BOB saw his oncologist yesterday and she's pleased with his progress. His tumour marker decreased again from 11 to 9.5. He asked her what the optimal number should be or whether they look at the "trend" more than the actual number. Dr. Le said that the number isn't nearly as important as the trend, which in Bob's case is continually decreasing.

We are SO thankful to the Lord for how well all three are doing--and grateful for your love and prayers. This has been quite a journey that isn't over yet. Thanks for your companionship on the journey.

Kim has selected a few verses to frame and hang in their home that as a constant reminder of God's loving presence. One of them is Joshua 1:9

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid. Do not lose hope. I am the Lord your God. I will be with you everywhere you go."

What a wonderful promise AND reality!!

Surgeries

My brother JIM was "under the knife" for almost ten hours yesterday. Surgery began around 12:30 pm and lasted over seven and a half hours. It was a very difficult operation and the tumour was removed along with a few lymph nodes from inside his esophagus, and sent for a pathology report. Major reconstruction was done to re-attach his significantly diminished esophagus and stomach. The whole precariousness of Jim's situation caused the doctor to caution Kim and Barb that some complications could arise.

As they were awaiting clearance for Jim to leave the operating room, his anesthesiologist became alarmed that Jim's blood pressure and hemoglobin were going down rapidly and determined that there must be some bleeding internally. Instead of opening him up again, they went in laparoscopically and discovered that one of the arteries that had been clamped shut with staples to prevent bleeding hadn't successfully blocked the artery. Apparently this happens very rarely.

It took quite a while to correct this problem and clean the blood up that had accumulated. So Kim and Barb had to wait for over two hours before getting word that the problem had been discovered and rectified. They decided at that point to go home and get some much-needed sleep rather than waiting another couple of hours to see Jim, knowing too that he would be totally unaware of their presence anyway!!

When Kim and Barb saw Jim this afternoon, they were surprised that he looked as well as he did following his gruelling surgery. He's getting morphine intravenously for the pain, however it has made him quite nauseous, so they've added another drug to deal with that.

Thank you SO much for your prayers. Keep lifting Jim up as he begins the long road to recovery. He will be in Intensive Care for a couple of days followed by another ten days to two weeks' hospital stay. These will be long and tiring days for Kim and Barb in particular as they plan to be at the hospital for many hours in the upcoming days.

This is a hard time for Dad and Mom, as they are not able to be with Jim. My two cousins who have been visiting Bob and me for five days, just flew down to Palm Springs this afternoon to spend six days there. They will be a huge encouragement to my folks. Again, we are totally in awe of God's timing in all of this, since Sharon and Marilyn planned this trip long before Jim knew he even had cancer!!

Just take a look at these two wonderful gals and you will know what joy they will bring to Mom and Dad!! Sharon, Marilyn, and I went over to Victoria on Sunday, and we went to The Empress for "high tea" and had a wonderful time on the island for two days.

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BOB's surgical procedure to insert a "fistula" into his arm was postponed because of an overload of elective surgeries at the hospital today. It will be re-scheduled sometime in the next week or two. He'll have his final round of chemo the next two Fridays, and will be off chemo indefinitely, unless tests indicate an increase in the size of the tumour. He really is feeling quite well, except for being tired, and we are SO grateful to the Lord.

Here's proof positive that whether you eat "high tea" at a classy hotel like the Empress, or share a "White Spot" burger with a loved one on dialysis, it can be an enjoyable experience!!

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Our daughter-in-love KIM will have her second surgery for breast cancer tomorrow morning in Regina. Some lymph nodes will be removed under her left arm. Although this is just a day surgery, it is still quite traumatic and could result in some challenging side-effects. It has been SO encouraging to see both Kim and Tim grow in their faith and trust in God through these difficult days.

I'll be flying to Regina in the morning for six days--helping Tim and Kim with the children, giving lots of hugs, and doing anything I can to ease their load. Barbie had her 40th birthday today, so we'll celebrate it together after Kim's surgery.

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All of us are learning to lean more heavily on the Lord and one another and finding Him to be more faithful and true than we'd ever imagined. Thanks for your part in accessing God's peace, strength, perspective, and healing on our behalf.

Fun with cousins!!

My cousins Sharon and Marilyn, from Kitchener, ON, are spending a few days with us and we're having such a good time. Bob's definitely outnumbered--gender-wise and verbal-wise!!! But he's enjoying every minute of the high-estrogen atmosphere. We've even gathered around him at the piano each evening and harmonized--adding a musical benediction to Mom and Dad's night-time prayer phone call.

Friday night we sang "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" and last night "Precious Lord Take My Hand" and "I'll Fly Away"!!--pure joy!!

After church this morning, Sharon, Marilyn, and I are going to give Bob a couple of days of quietness. We're taking the ferry to Victoria for two days--and the sun's actually shining with a sunshine continuing in the forecast!!! We're SO thankful.

Jim will have his surgery on Tuesday, so please keep him in your prayers. I will post news regarding his surgery on Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning. My sister Barb is flying to California today to be with Jim and also our parents for three weeks. And . . . on Wednesday, Sharon and Marilyn are leaving here and flying to Palm Springs for a week. This plan was in motion even before we knew of Jim's cancer and his surgery date. Once again, we see God's hand in the timing of this, as they will be such a support to Mom, Dad, Jim, and Barb. GOD IS GOOD!!

Bob has his fistula "installed" on Wednesday and Kim has her surgery on Thursday. Thanks again for your love and prayers for each of them too.

Enjoying Niagara Falls

Pictures of David, Ann, Billy and Manny at Niagara Falls last Saturday

Billy and Manny are growing so much. Billy's seven years old and in grade two and Manny's four and attending two pre-schools--one at the university and the other at the public school.

We will all be together in Regina for Christmas. We're all excited about that, but especially the cousins!! They are becoming good pals.

Family news

Much is happening in the next couple of weeks as Jim, Kim, and Bob will all be having surgery.

Jim's surgery will be next Tuesday, Nov. 15. It will be very extensive and will take upwards of seven hours. Apparently two-thirds of his esophogus will be removed and half or his stomach!! They will then be re-attached and he will have a long recovery period. Jim will likely be hospitalized for 10 to 14 days and have a two-month recovery time at home. My sister Barb is flying there from Texas for three weeks and will spend time with Jim and Kim as well as our folks in Palm Springs.

The following day, Nov. 16, Bob will have a minor surgical procedure whereby he'll get a "fistula" in his left arm, providing a permanent vascular access to the receiving of dialysis. Until now, he's had a more temporary porta-cath.

And the next day, Thursday Nov. 17, Kim will have surgery once again--this time to remove lymph nodes under her left arm. Anticipating this and the limitations this may bring has been difficult for Kim. Please continue to keep them in your prayers.

I actually plan to fly out to Regina to be with Tim and Kim and help with the children. Kim's surgery will just be day-surgery, but she and Tim will appreciate a couple of extra arms around to help care for the children, cook, etc, and give lots of hugs!!! And it will be great to be with Barbie too, as she celebrates her 40th birthday on the 16th!!!

David, Ann, and the boys are in the midst of a very busy semester at SUNY (State University of NY) in Fredonia. David's teaching and doing a lot of performing and Ann's in her second year of her M.Mus. program. They did get a little break last weekend and drove to Niagara Falls for a family outing. They're only an hour from the falls and it is a favourite family spot. They sent us a number of pictures and here are just a couple.

Update on Kim

This morning Kim had an appointment with her surgeon and sent the following report-- "The tumor was excised with clear margins, but they found one lymph node with a 'micro' amount of cancer cells. So, just to be on the safe side, they are going to remove more lymph nodes in the armpit before chemo. It will just be day surgery to take place within the next three weeks, and the surgeon will insert a 'port' for the chemo then too - so that is a good thing. Things are moving forward... "

Although this was a disappointment, the results could have been worse. This will certainly limit Kim's activity for a while, which she will find difficult. She's been doing a lot of reading the past few weeks and there's no doubt that she will find some project that will give her a sense of fulfillment and purpose during this time. She and Tim read the devotional book "Jesus Calling" this morning before her doctor's appointment and were struck by these words of wisdom, instruction, and comfort from the Lord:

"A yielded heart does not whine or rebel when the going gets rough. It musters the courage to thank Me even during hard times. Yielding yourself to My will is ultimately an act of trust. In quietness and trust is your strength."

Tim and Kim are so grateful for all the love, support, thoughtfulness, and prayers for them. They will continue to need them.

Report on Bob

Bob had an appointment with his oncologist today and she continues to be very pleased with his progress. The latest bloodwork in which they looked for something called a "tumour marker" once again indicated that it had decreased quite a bit. The first time this kind of result was tested, his tumour marker was 37. A couple of months later it was 26. And the latest bloodwork showed that it had decreased to 11. This is wonderful news!! She said that due to the strange nature of his tumour, likely CT scans won't reveal its size or severity with as clearly, and that the bloodwork may give a more accurate reading. This is so encouraging.

He will continue to have chemo until the end of November, and every few months or so they will test for this "tumour marker" in his bloodwork and assess whether chemo needs to be resumed at any time. We are SO grateful to the Lord for His healing touch--and thanks again for your prayers!!

Of course he continues to be on dialysis three times a week. It's amazing how one adjusts to such a regimen, ESPECIALLY when it brings such improvement and well-being. Rather than being an inconvenience, Bob finds it to be a good time to read, have extended phone conversations with our children, and often a friend drops by the "renal unit" to visit with him while he's on dialysis. So again--nothing is wasted when we receive it as a "gift" from God's loving hand!!

Sunny California!!

I'm having a wonderful time re-connecting with family and friends in Sunny California. Attending my high school reunion on Saturday evening was such a thrill--especially being able to spend some concentrated time with four of my best high school friends.

My brother Jim is still recovering from his aggressive cancer treatment and continuing to lose weight, unable to eat and drink as much as he needs to. I had a couple of days with Jim and Kim and on Sunday afternoon, he and I drove out to Palm Springs to be with Mom and Dad. It was hard for them to see him in such a weakened condition, but we continue to trust that the Lord will bring him through this ordeal. He will have surgery in three weeks, and at that time 2/3 of his esophagus will be removed and 1/2 of his stomach!!! He returned home last evening and needs to gain strength (and weight) before his surgery.

It's always a delight to be with Mom and Dad who constantly amaze us with their mental, emotional, and spiritual strength, although each of them has some significant health issues.

Thanks so much for your prayers for Tim and Kim. Kim's surgery went well last Thursday and she came home from the hospital the following morning!! They are awaiting the pathology report that will indicate whether further treatment will be necessary.

Kim's supposed to be resting and is finding that challenging, as she's such an active gal. She has always worked alongside Tim doing all of the chores morning and night, so he's carrying quite a heavy load. Some of the horse-owners have been assisting Tim a bit, and friends are bringing in meals and all manner of treats and gifts. Apparently they say that it's almost like Christmas!! We are so grateful for the loving generosity of their friends and church family, especially when we live so far away. The children are quite sensitive to their mommy's condition and are helping around the house with a mature sense of "responsibility".

Bob is managing well in my absence this week. He will see his oncologist tomorrow afternoon and have chemo on Friday, and I will be flying home on Sunday evening.

Again . . . thank you so much for praying for Kim, and for Jim, and for Bob. We know that God answers prayer!!

Surgery's over!!

Kim came through the surgery well this afternoon. Tim and Kim will talk to the surgeon in the morning to get a full report. Her left breast was removed and a tissue sample from one of her lymph nodes will be examined and they will receive a pathology report in a couple of weeks. Apparently this is the best result for now. The surgeon told them if she noticed a hardness and suspicious nature in the lymph node area, she would go ahead right away and remove all the lymph nodes, but that wasn't done, so we're encouraged. If there is ultimately some cancer in the lymph node or nodes, they will operate again and remove them.

Thanks for your love and prayers. We'll keep you posted.

Now I need to get packed to head for CA in the morning!! My brother Jim is meeting me at the LA airport and I'll be in the Arcadia area for two days--spending time with Jim and Kim and also attending my high school class of '66 45th year reunion!!!! Then on Sunday Jim and I will drive out to Palm Springs and I'll spend a week with Mom and Dad. It will be so good to see them. I haven't seen them since mid-March.

It will be wonderful to see Jim too. He's recovering right now from his 6 week chemo and radiation "assault" and will have surgery on Nov. 15.

Bob's doing amazingly well and actually has a rest from chemo this week. I think that he just may enjoy some solitude, although we're both sure that we'll miss one another quite a lot since we've been together almost 24/7 for the past few months.

We continue to trust the Lord for healing for Bob, Jim, and Kim. This morning Bob and I read Psalm 20 and pondered the meaning of verse 7, which says, "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God."

We paraphrased it in this way--"Some trust in surgeons, oncologists, and chemo, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God!"

Although we USE the medical professionals and treatments, just as King David used horses and chariots in battle, our ultimate TRUST is in the LORD!

Kim's surgery

Our daughter-in-"love" Kim will be having surgery tomorrow, Thursday, Oct. 21, at 1:00 pm in Regina. She'll be having a mastectomy, and greater examination of her lymph nodes will take place to ensure that they haven't been affected, and they will be treated accordingly.

Please pray for Kim and Tim. They are confident in God's faithfulness and love, which gives such hope, but are naturally struggling with fears and the various losses that this represents. Pray that they will experience the peace that passes human understanding and successful surgery, recovery, and complete healing.

It seems much easier to go through these kinds of experiences ourselves than to watch our children face them. However, we have seen God's faithfulness in abundance these past few months and that encourages us as we walk with our children--and we hope that it strengthens them too.

Tim and Kim

For a couple of weeks now we have been living with an additional health concern for our daughter-in-law Kim. She has had multiple doctors' appointments and tests that just last week confirmed that she has breast cancer!! The diagnosis came the day after I returned from spending a week with them in Regina. It hit us all with a mixture of shock and numbness, on a larger scale than Bob's diagnosis. It's one thing for a 68 year old to have cancer, and quite another for a 33 year old mother of four little children and wonderful wife to our son.

Kim had an MRI on Tuesday to determine whether the cancer had affected any lymph nodes, and we're so relieved to find out today that it likely hasn't. She'll be having a mastectomy (which is major enough!) towards the end of next week, and further treatment, if need be.

Tim and Kim are facing this with such courage and faith, and the assurance that God is in control, and that the only thing they have control of is how they respond to what God has allowed. They are learning to live one day at a time and even finding things to be thankful for!!

Thankfully, Barbie lives just minutes away from them and will be helping take care of the children as much as she can, and Kim's mother lives in the area as well.

Please join us in praying for them and we will continue to post updates. Bob and I can attest to the powerful impact that the prayers of friends and family have had as we've walked this journey through the "valley of the shadow". We have truly experienced a peace, joy, strength, and healing that only comes from the Lord, and we are confident that Tim and Kim will receive these same gifts from His loving hand as well.

This picture was taken when they visited us here in BC this summer. The children are Colby (8), Gracyn (6), Carson (4), and Mykenna (2).

Thanksgiving

On this Canadian Thanksgiving weekend, we want to make it official: we thank God for the challenges he has sent our way. Carol and I were talking the other night about how we're learning attitudes and perspectives that we couldn't imagine coming any other way. While many are suffering in this world, we're grateful to be included in that host, and God has become more real to us. For those of you who know the Bible, you could easily recall many verses that verify what we're saying. One of them goes like this: "Don't worry about anything, instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." (Philippians, 4:6-7, New Living Translation).

We also thank God for those of you who follow our journey with such interest and prayers. You have been an amazing gift to us. My latest report from the CT Scan suggests the cancer is not spreading, so for today that's encouraging news.

The attached pictures of Carol's recent visit to Regina will help you visualize our deep thankfulness for all those in our family there as well as in Western New York. God is good . . . all the time, and we're thankful.

Colby, Gracyn, and Carson waiting for the school bus in the morning

Grammy, Mykenna, and Gracyn with their horses Sassy and Ferro (the Shetland pony)

The three cowgirls--Mykenna astride Sassy and Gracyn grooming her while Kim overseas it all

Tim reading a bedtime story to Colby and Carson--"Hank, the Cowdog"!

Super-Auntie Barb and Mykenna