Summer has come to BC at last!!

The weather finally turned to warm sunshine this week and we are so thankful.

I worked back at the notary office this week and Bob took seriously his role as "house husband" and made some delicious meals, serving them with flair--including a special Fourth of July dinner, since we are both half Americans!!

Bob's platelet count rose again this week enabling him to have chemo on Friday. He continues to feel quite well, except that he's more tired than he'd like to be.

My brother Jim is also doing pretty well, but again he wishes he weren't so tired. Since a good portion of his stomach and esophagus were removed, he needs to eat smaller portions of food more frequently. He feels that he's back to eating as much as he used to, but can't seem to put on any weight. He continues to ride his bike and is also exercising in an effort to gain strength.

Jim will see his oncologist in September and have a CT scan to monitor his condidion. Gastro-esophageal cancer is a particularly nasty one, and he has done incredibly well, considering all he has been through. We are so grateful to the Lord.

Jim spent a couple of days out in Palm Springs this week with our parents. Dad had a small surgical procedure on his back on Thursday but didn't need to be hospitalized. He's recovering quite nicely, however at 90 he doesn't bounce back quite so quickly. Mom's been really struggling with very bad headaches for over a month now, so they have more than their share of aches and pains.

Mom and Dad still phone us every evening at 9:00 pm to pray with us, a practice they began well over a year ago when Bob was so sick. They phone Jim and Barb as well. It gives us the opportunity to pray for them too, and "tuck them into bed" with the assurance and comfort of God's presence and peace.

Tim and Kim celebrated their 15th wedding anniversary last Friday. It was a great time of thanksgiving for God's faithfulness to them, particularly in this past year with Kim's breast cancer. She's doing very well and loving being back in the barn and in the garden, and she made dozens of jars of strawberry jam this week!!

David, Ann, and the boys will arrive here tomorrow evening. They decided to take a long roadtrip here this summer rather than flying, and they've had an awesome time on their seven-day journey from western NY, travelling through the Badlands of South Dakota and Yellowstone National Park. Bob and I are so excited about their weeklong visit with us and are presently "resting up"!!

Then Tim and Kim and their four fly here towards the end of the month. Barbie plans to come out later in August, so we have so much to look forward to. And if these sunny moderate temperatures continue, we have the perfect venue to get out and make great memories!!