We have a big family

We have a big family, and that means something is always happening with someone. Sometimes it is exciting. Sometimes it is funny. Sometimes it is worrisome and threatening. Always, it is a joy to have so many who love you unconditionally. Even when we disagree, we love and care and want only the VERY BEST for one another. Here's what's happening THIS week.

On Wednesday as Charlene was leaving work, a silly lady crashed the red light, hit Charlene's new Jeep, and thought she could leave the scene of an accident. She did not know Charlene was a cop and had already taken her license plate number. Tsk, tsk, tsk. That silly lady is in big trouble now. Charlene is okay except for a sprained wrist. (She LOVES loves to catch the bad guys.)

Charlene's blood tests came back, and it appears the brain/pituitary tumor is affecting her hormones. We are waiting to hear more about this from the doctors. We are so grateful that the MRI came back indicating it is not cancerous, and surgery is probably not needed. They will continue to take MRIs regularly to ensure it does not start growing.

Jeremy earned a fully paid scholarship through to the end of his Bachelor's degree. It includes tuition, books, academic fees and housing (which, of course, he does not need). We are elated for him!! Congratulations, Jer!! Great work!!

Marisa joined Tim2 for a long weekend in Chicago. Since her accident and due to her surgical rotations, they have not had a lot of opportunities like this. They were pretty tickled about being able to see eachother TWICE in one week. Hang in there, kiddos. This will be over soon.

Rachel is going through Commencement on April 29th. We're excited for her, and look forward to seeing her receive her Master' degree. Congratulations, Rachel!! Save us seats!!

Charlotte was accepted to several colleges and has settled on Duke's graduate program. We are so proud of her!! Jim is on vacation from school this week, and is making his new house into a home for Charlotte. That's the stuff that makes life peaceful and joyful. We're making plans to go down there to see all they have done.

Kate called and rocked my world. She said her biopsies came back showing cervical cancer. A few days later I was able to speak with the person who did the biopsy. She said she removed two "cones" from the anterior and posterior of the cervix, and both were cancerous, She indicated the cancer is quite deep already, and appears to be quite rapidly growing as Kate's last PAP was "moderate displasia" (precancerous). The good news is the cancer is still "in situ" which means it has not spread anywhere. It was caught early, and cervical cancer is HIGHLY treatable when caught early. Of course we want her to come home, but she has decided to stay in Charlotte, and we honor that. I just wish she was home where so I could hover and ask millions of questions to ensure she is getting the best care.

While home for Easter, Tim Jr. received a toy that was made for him by brother Joshua. Some reading this may not know that I did not allow my children to play with guns. They used their imagination to play soldier, and created their own weapons of mass destruction. (I wonder if Barbara Bush had the same rules.) Joshua recently made a good, old fashioned toy gun, and left it here to be presented to Tim2 on Easter.

Here it is:

You can tell what type of gun it is just by the sound it makes.

Tim's hand is a little bigger than Jeremy's and Joshua's,
but he was determined to fire the thing properly.

Beware.
Bazooka Tim is on guard.

He's getting a whiff of a bad guy nearby.

Aha! I think he's over there.
Time to lock and load.
ka xhu xhu

sshchuuusssssssssssssssss bammmmmm

I just killed you.
You have to lay down on the ground and pretend you're dead.

To our Loved Ones in Warmer Climes: Happy Easter, 2007

Looking out the window of my office on Tuesday I could see a faint green haze creeping into the gray landscaping. Outside it was 84 degrees with brilliant blue skies and a gentle breeze.

• I came home from work, put on shorts, made a pot of coffee and sat on the porch watching the dogs playing.
  
• It was lovely.
  
• I pulled a few weeds and mosied around the gardens.
  
• I watered the Bonzai tree Joshua started on his last visit home. There were a few buds on it.
  
• I was happy to see none of the buds on the fruit trees had popped open.
• Helen was in seventh heaven as she mowed her lawn.

Wednesday morning the temperature was in the 20s. Thursday it was snowing, but the ground was so warm plows and salt trucks were not needed. it kept snowing and snowing and snowing. On Saturday just before dinner I noticed the snow was accumulating in the road. Dad suggested we should start shoveling, but I talked him into waiting for the snow plow.

We both forgot the term of our plow contract runs from November 1st to April 1st.

We barely made it out of the driveway at 5:40 a.m. to go to Easter Sunrise Service. The roads were heavy with snow, and we took our time. Lights and curls of smoke rose from the lodge chimneys. The crew arrived early to start the fires, set the tables and begin cooking. The Nelson family, the DeWitt's, Bob Copeland... A new heat duct runs the length of the lodge carrying heat throughout the room. It soon became so toasty warm we soon shed several layers of clothing. Dad said, "Normally I would go outside for a smoke, and that would cool me down."

Dad sang a duo, He's Alive, with Pastor Roger Korsten, and it was fantastic. I saw a few people with tears in their eyes. Someone later said they had their head bowed, and thought at first it was a recording of Johnny Cash. The song in itself was a whole Easter message. The whole service was quite wonderful.

The teens shared their testimonies and served us breakfast. Nicole DeWitt is a senior in high school and has a voice like an angel. Dana is in college. Her dad, Dave, is a math teacher at Memorial Jr. High. Kacie Slattery teaches there too.

I thought about the fact Kate was just six months old the first time we went to one of these breakfasts. Danny Pierce and Greg Welch were babies too. They were there today - now grown men and finished with college.

Home by 8:30, Dad and I took a nap. It snowed and snowed and snowed. Around noon we realized the cars were stuck in the driveway. Dad and Jeremy shoveled. The snow was heavy and wet. I put the ham in the oven, and sat down to write the blog.

Tim2 and Marisa will arrive around 2:00 p.m. We will eat at 3:00 . Tim2 is scheduled to fly out around 6:30.

Charlene has the day off. She and Jeremy will be able to join us for dinner.

Joshua and Rachel are in Richmond, VA with Jim and Charlotte. Kate and Steve were going to join them, but they had to stay in Charlotte, NC.

We did not buy any candy, and we did not put out Easter baskets this year. This is the first Easter in my life with no jelly beans.

The family is all spread out, but we feel immense joy and gratitude for the great blessings God has bestowed on this family. It is Easter Sunday, and inspite of the snow, we are assured He is Risen Indeed.

Allelujah!!

The following pictures were taken at high noon on Easter Sunday.
They show Dad in his brown coat and hoodie, Molly Wuppie, and Jeremy in a dark blue coat.

Dad and Molly. (Jeremy is on the other side of the car digging out the wheels.)

Gizmo does not care to play in the snow with Molly. She's heading back in.

The walk was shoveled just minutes earlier. The snow is heavy, wet and constant.

To our Loved Ones in Warmer Climes - Happy Easter, 2007