Memorial Day Tribute to ALL Who Have Fought for Our Freedom

Grab a tissue before watching this powerful video of a life that given so YOU and I can enjoy our freedom.  Friends from our church have a son-in-law who is also a Navy Seal and friend of Adam Brown.

Long Weekend, Beautiful Weather!

We are rejoicing in the fact that we have a three day weekend and the weather is supposed to be incredible.  So far today it has been beautiful...picture perfect!  We enjoyed meeting Matt's friend, Katelyn, who came to our home today for a lunch cookout and then bike ride with Matt.  Katelyn is a fellow MVNU student studying nursing.  She lives in Greenford, Ohio about 2 1/2 hours northeast of Columbus.

We enjoyed another "surprise" gathering at my sister's for her birthday.  Kelly's children planned a surprise weekend together and invited a few family and friends to join them on Saturday night for cake and ice cream.  It seems rarer and rarer that all of her children are together...it was great to see Dan and Brittany who call Michigan home.

Peonies from the Anglea yard!

Happy Birthday...Lauren!

Happy Birthday, Lauren!  What a privilege to be your aunt and uncle.  God had blessed our family and we are so thankful God placed you where He did.  We trust your day is blessed and that Tim treats you like royalty today (over and above what he normally does!).  We love you and can't begin to express our appreciation to you and Tim for the encouragement and support you have been to us through this difficult time.

Happy 25th Birthday, Abbie!

Twenty-five has always been my favorite number...my birthday, Jesus' birthday, etc.  Today our niece, Abbie Anglea Miller, celebrates her 25th birthday on the 25th of May!  Tom received his 25th radiation treatment on the 25th!  That's a lot of 25's...I like it!  Abbie, we pray your day is as special as you are and that Alan treated you like a queen...but we're sure that he does that every day!

We have been praying and waiting on the results of Tom's EEG he had last week and finally today we received good news...no seizure activity!!  Tom will "wean" off of the anti-seizure medication and be completely off of it by June 7th.  This is an answer to prayer.  We are both so thankful to those of you who have prayed.  Tom will not pursue the driving class until we return from our family vacation.  He is one step closer to that goal of driving again.

Tom saw both his radiologist (Dr. DeHaan, he sees every Monday) and his oncologist (Dr. Keubler) this week.  He is in for the long haul and ready to knock out the radiation treatments next week!  The chemotherapy will end for just a month next week also.  Tom will take a double dose of chemo starting a month after radiation ends.  He will take chemotherapy five days a month for 6 months.  Tom is scheduled for his first post-radiation MRI on July 8th.

Yesterday after school Dave Muschott and Cindy Dunn stopped by to talk "school".  The end-of-the-year details are "full go" even when the principal isn't!  Cindy brought us an herb garden and healthy eating magazines!  What a treat it will be to add fresh herbs to my healthy cooking!  Thank you, Cindy.

It's been so good to have Matt home from college.  You know your son is growing up when he initiates cleaning his room, doing laundry, mowing the grass and cleaning cars!  We love you Matt!  He's adjusting to a new way of eating too!  He wrote "ice cream" on my grocery list!  There are a lot of exclamation points in this paragraph...if you're a mother of a son you'll understand and let me share there is hope!

Today dear friends, Carylee Meyers and Deanna England, stopped by to bring me this beautiful Psalm 23 bracelet!  What a special treat to have them to visit and to think of me in such a special way.  Each color bead represents this beautiful Psalm.

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd (white), I shall not be in want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures (green).

He leads me beside quiet waters (blue), He restores my soul.

He guides me in paths of righteousness (clear) for His name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death (black)

I will fear no evil for You are with me;

Your rod and your staff (brown), they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies,

You anoint my head with oil (yellow); my cup (purple) overflows.

Surely goodness and love (pink) will follow me all the days of my life

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord (gold) forever.



Happy 1st Anniversary Zac & Sarah!

Just one year ago we were celebrating the marriage of our daughter, Sarah, to Zac Hess.  What a beautiful day to remember.  We can hardly believe it's been a year!  We are so blessed to have gained a son.  Tom and I have said so many times that we are so thankful the wedding was last year and not this year!  We pray that Zac & Sarah will enjoy worship this morning and a special day together.  We know that as they seek to keep Jesus Christ at the center of their lives they will celebrate many happy years of marriage.  It was great having them home for the weekend.

Last week Kent Homoelle and Kevin Weakley came to enjoy lunch with Tom, but more importantly than lunch was the smiles they bring to Tom's face!  We had the privilege of Anne Marie, Megan & Grant coming too...but, as usual I didn't get my camera out until after they left.  Megan had written and illustrated a book for her preschool teacher that she shared with us and we were all impressed.  It truly was amazing, creative and adorable!  Thank you, Megan!

Thursday was a special day for me to spend time with my sister, Kelly and celebrate her birthday.  We had manicures done then went shopping.  Tom, Papa, Granny, Terry, Aubrey, Cassidy & Zac met us at The Cheesecake Factory for a dinner surprise!  Great food, great conversation and then on to more shopping.  Our time together always goes too quickly.
Friday Matt finished his last college freshman final, packed up his belongings and headed home for the summer.  We pray that he finished well and when his grades arrive we will be thankful he is a sophomore!
Friday also brought Zac & Sarah home for the weekend.  The five of us enjoyed a family dinner together with much laughter...so good to be together.  The boys enjoyed a movie while the girls played a game.
Saturday morning Zac headed to Bellville to meet with a couple who he will marry next weekend; while Matt, Sarah & I went to Mount Vernon for my niece's college graduation.

Congratulations, Emily!

We love you Emily and pray God's richest blessings on you as you use the gifts and talents He has given you in a nursing career.  We know you will be used by God as your compassion is poured out on those you care for.
After the graduation Sarah and I went to a bridal shower for C.J. Beatty.  Sarah is so honored to have had C.J. as her bridesmaid and also sing in her wedding.  Now Sarah will stand by C.J. on June 26th when she marries Jonathan!  What a beautiful shower for a beautiful bride-to-be.
Matt and Zac took advantage of the beautiful sunshine and warm temperatures to play a round of golf.  Great bonding time for brothers-in-law!  Every one's spirits were higher yesterday because of brighter skies and sunshine...thank you, Lord.
Tom spent the day alone...resting.  He was proud to have done a couple of projects.  He washed the screens in the two bathroom windows, put some new carpet squares down in the garage and cleaned his tennis shoes!  Not to mention he had to fix his own breakfast and lunch!  It is so hard for me to leave him and yet everyone tells me it's good for me to get out.  The whole time I'm away I can only think of him. 
We all returned home for a cookout dinner with Tom before Matt headed off for a graduation party and Zac & Sarah returned to Winona Lake, IN.

Kelly's Birthday!

Happy Birthday Sister!



Birthday Blessings


Instead of counting candles,
Or tallying the years,
Think about your blessings now,
As your birthday is here.

 Consider special people
Who love you, and who care,
And others who’ve enriched your life
Just by being there. 

Think about the memories
Passing years can never mar,
Experiences great and small
That have made you who you are. 

Another year is a happy gift,
So cut your cake, and say,
"Instead of counting birthdays,
Count God's blessings every day!" 

 

Kelly:  Thank you for modeling Jesus before me.  I'm so glad that God knew to have you be born first because our lives would have been a train wreck had He allowed me to "lead"!  You've taught me the importance of being a godly wife, mother and friend.  Through tough times and fun times you've been there for me, leading, guiding, cheering, comforting, laughing and documenting it all!  I am so thankful God blessed me with YOU!  I love you...I trust your birthday is as special as you are.

Tom completes his 20th treatment today!  Two-thirds of the way done with radiation.  Yesterday Tom had his EEG to see if there has been any seizure activity in his brain.  We will get the results at the end of the week.  We are praying that the test is clear and then Tom could possibly be weaned off of the anti-seizure medication...one step closer to possibly driving again.  Thanks again for praying for God's will to be done.

We so enjoyed our busy weekend with Tom's parents who flew back to Orlando on Monday.  Before they left Tom really wanted to buzz his remaining hair.  The radiation/chemo was taking its effects on his hairline!  Not all of his hair is coming out but mainly where the radiation beams are focused.  So now he his a tall, handsome almost bald guy!  He continues to look more and more like his dad.  Thanks Pops and Granny for a great weekend...we trust we didn't exhaust you too badly.



Grace College Graduation 2011

She did it!  Our baby girl is an official college graduate...we are so proud of her accomplishments.  Our weekend started with leaving Columbus after Tom's 17th radiation treatment on Friday.  We arrived in Winona Lake, IN around 5:30 p.m.  We met Zac & Sarah at Bob Evans along with Zac's brother Matt, his wife Amanda and their darling daughters, Addison & Aubree.  After checking into our hotel and meeting up with Lisa's parents we arrived at the dessert reception at Grace College for the graduates and their families.  Tom was extremely tired but we were able to meet several of Sarah's professors and friends before retiring to the hotel.

Saturday morning started early with the graduation ceremony beginning at 9:00 a.m.  We are so thankful to Zac's parents, Lisa's parents, Zac & Matt arriving early enough to save seats for all of us.  Tom's brother, Terry along with his wife, Joyce, our nephew Luke & his fiance Jessica, our nieces Leah and Cherith, surprised Tom with their coming from Bourbonnais, IL!  Tears flowed freely as we greeted them...what a special moment for us to have.  Sarah had 23 family members there to support, encourage and cheer her on!  What an accomlishment graduating magna cum laude.  A beautiful ceremony that made us realize how many people prayed for Tom to be able to enjoy this day and here we were taking it all in...to God be the glory.  If there is one regret...I didn't get enough pictures...no pictures of our whole group.

After the graduation ceremony we took those who had not seen Zac & Sarah's apartment for a quick "tour" of their abode.  Dear friends of Zac & Sarah offered their home for Sarah's celebration cookout!  We are so thankful to Dr. Matt & Kate Harmon for opening their beautiful home to us!  Matt grilled the "Hess" burgers & brats while Kate had the kitchen ready to feed the "flock"!  Thank you to Zac's parents for providing the hamburgers, delicious bean medley & fruit slush!  I don't think anyone went away hungry and the rain held off until the grilling was finished...thank you, Lord!  The food and fellowship was so special.  Tom even had one and a half hamburgers!!  This is the most food he's eaten in a long time...just a little out of the "healthy" zone he's been on!  We are so thankful the Lord gave him the energy and stamina he needed...thank you for praying.

"The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much."

James 5:16