Thankful for Family

We had a wonderful six days with our kids and grandkids in Regina—Dec. 25 to 31. The pictures tell the story best.

All of our amazing grandchildren!

Tim, Kim, Colby-9, Gracyn-7, Carson-6, and Mykenna-3

David, Ann, Billy-8 and Manny-5

Papa, Grammy, and Auntie with the kids

Bob’s pain was managed pretty well with his medication, but he was liable to drop off to sleep at any given moment!! Sleeping overnight at Barbie’s gave him the opportunity to get more rest. He had dialysis twice in Regina and we arrived home in time on the 31st for him to have dialysis on New Year’s Eve. The Renal Unit isn’t the most partying atmosphere, but it offered exactly what was needed!!

Then on Jan. 2nd, Bob’s sister Lois came to visit us for four days. She and her husband Duane just returned from Uruguay in mid-December for their furlough and have settled in Eugene, OR where Duane’s mother lives. Lois was able to take the Amtrak up from Eugene to Bellingham, WA—just 30 minutes south of the border from us. We had a great time together—mostly just lounging around, having good conversations, laughing, praying, and drinking lots of coffee—along with the post-Christmas goodies that still seem to be in abundance. We even roasted a turkey to share together.

Bob’s pain has been increasing, requiring him to take larger doses of pain medication—a type of morphine. While we’re so thankful that he has access to effective pain management, we’re concerned about the source of the pain and the need to begin treatment as soon as possible.

Today he saw his oncologist who is proposing a different chemo protocol to begin towards the end of next week. His kind of cancer—“metastatic urothelial carcinoma”-- is somewhat rare, so there haven’t been many studies on various treatment options. He has responded quite positively to the two six-month rounds of chemo that he’s had, but each time they are less effective.

While we are encouraged that the cancer hasn’t moved to other organs, it has spread in the kidney/ureter/bladder area and now lymph nodes are enlarged, possibly the source of his pain.

We had some good conversations with our children about their dad’s condition and how we all are processing it. The kids suggested that we plan right now for the next family gathering so that we are looking into the future with hope and expectancy. So we’re all planning to converge here this summer and spend a few days together in July at a wonderful retreat centre just south of the border called Cedar Springs. It’s the most beautiful setting nestled in the foothills of Mt. Baker and the food is absolutely fabulous!!


Here’s a bit of news on other family members:

KIM completed all of her treatments for breast cancer and is feeling like she’s pretty close to normal once again. Her condition will be monitored every few months with much hope and prayers that she will remain cancer-free for the rest of her life.

JIM’s recent CT scans have come back without any alarms, however he just can’t seem to gain weight and wishes he felt stronger. The doctors assure him that his recovery has been very good considering all he’s been through and that the weight issue may be the new norm.

My MOM and DAD have settled very well into their new home in the Oklahoma City area and are loving being near family. Mom’s been getting considerable relief from her unrelenting headaches through frequent chiropractic treatments. This is such a blessing.

So again, we are full of thanks for all that the Lord has done for us as a family this past year. We’re grateful for all of the good medical attention we’ve received in every form, but our ultimate dependence is on the Lord. So we look forward to this new year with a sense of growing expectancy in His provision of strength, healing, and the peace that passes human understanding.