Grandparents' Day

When I got up at 5:15 this morning I was surprised to see that Miki and Bjorn were already sitting on the livingroom sofa. I asked, "Couldn't you sleep?" Bjorn answered, "Well, for us it's 11:15 in the morning." So they are experiencing major jetlag. Probably about the time they adjust, they'll go back home to Sweden!

While I was at school Dick, Jeremy, Miki, Katrina, and Bjorn went to my parents' for lunch. They were delighted to have some of Grandma's baked corn and pumpkin pie.

When I arrived at my parents' after school, this is what I found - Bjorn, Katrina, and Jeremy busy with their cell phones. Sounds like they had had fun with helium from a balloon, with my dad's golf cart, and walking around the community. My dad is now walking with two canes instead of a walker and will soon be starting physical therapy. I'm so happy for him.

From there we went to Dick's parents for supper where we had lasagne and more delicious home-grown corn.

Afterward we played "Take One", one of my favorite games with Scrabble letters. Katrina and Bjorn wished they could make Swedish words instead of English!

This evening Dick and Jeremy went to the gym, and I took Miki and the kids to the grocery store. They were eager to buy things they can't get in Sweden. They konked out soon after we got home.

Tomorrow I am taking a personal day from school. We shall see what fun things the day will bring.

I'm a happy camper

I had the great pleasure of seeing Jeremy peering through my classroom door at the end of my last class today. The person who picked him up at the airport brought him to school. I was so happy to see him and to have him at school with me. So many teachers, some he never knew, came up and said, "Hi Jeremy. I know you from your mom's blog." It was so funny!

We picked up a few groceries after school, then went home to await the arrival of Dick with his airport load. And here they are - Katrina, Miki, and Bjorn.

Jeremy was eager to show his portfolio to Miki. She was an architectural drafting major in trade school, and an art education major in college, so she and Jeremy have a lot of common interests.

We have had a most enjoyable evening, eating supper together, talking, reminiscing, and laughing A LOT. I am just crazy over Katrina and Bjorn. I am so looking forward to spending this week with them. If only I didn't have to go to school.

They're on the way!

As I'm getting ready for school this morning, our "company" is on their way here.

Miki and her kids are somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean enroute from Sweden. They'll arrive at the Newark, NJ airport at 1:10 this afternoon, where Dick will meet them. For them it will be 7:10 in the evening, but our day will be only half over!

Jeremy is flying up the east coast this morning to the Philly airport, where a friend of his will pick him up. By this evening we'll have a full and happy house. I can hardly wait!!

Getting ready for "company"

I did a lot of cooking ahead today, getting ready for the upcoming week. I even made separate, smaller vegetarian versions of everything for Jeremy. It's amazing how the vegetarian "meats" actually taste a lot like the real thing.

Dick was feeling pretty good today, but I think he was more tired than normal. But then, so was I! It was a dreary day with lots of rain. When I walked out of the grocery store this morning I waited with some other folks on the porch, hoping the rain would slow down. Eventually, I got tired of waiting and just went out in it. I got DRENCHED. So did my groceries.

I've been trying to not talk much about Miki and the kids and Jeremy coming when Destiny's around. If she knew they were coming on Monday, she would not want to go back home Sunday evening. I think when we take her home I'll tell her that they'll be here the next time she comes to our house, so she can look forward to it. But she doesn't need to know that they'll actually be here all week.

What a DAY!

Dick and I are in recovery mode this morning after the big day we had yesterday. While I was at school trying to survive the horrible way I felt with my right ear completely closed, Dick was at the oncologist's office getting his first chemo treatment, which lasted about six hours. I had an appointment at my family doctor at 1:45 for my ear. PRAISE GOD the flushing with warm water was just what that ear needed. I had tried doing it myself, but it hadn't worked. He did my other ear too, so now my ears are waxless and maybe I won't talk so loud anymore, ha, ha, ha!! That'll never happen!

When Dick got home he said he was feeling well enough to go with me to my evening event, so we left for Lancaster Mennonite School at 4:00, got the barbecued chicken meal they were serving, then I had a rehearsal at 6:00 with the choir, followed by a concert at 7:00.

What a BLAST!! There were about 100 people that showed up to sing, people who had sung in Campus Chorale or Choraleers under Arnold Moshier's direction, ranging from 1961 graduates up through the 80's. It was CRAZY trying to figure out who people were. Arnold kept saying throughout the evening, "I'm still trying to figure out who some of these people are!" But it didn't matter. The sound was incredible!! We sang everything from Haydn's The Heavens are Telling and Handel's Hallelujah, Amen to Gaither's He Touched Me. Dad, I just wish you could have been there. You would have absolutely thought you had died and gone to Heaven already.

As I said, he had asked me to do the solo in Jester Hairston's Amen. It goes through Christ's life, from His birth to His resurrection. It was a thrill to be a soloist instead of a director for a change.

This picture is for my sisters who sang under Arnold's direction, but couldn't be there last evening. Here they are - Arnold and Maietta, now in their eighties. I realized again what a huge impact they have had on hundreds of teenagers over the years. He was really, really touched last evening. I think this picture was taken at the end when we were singing the last Hallelujah, Amen of the Festival Doxology (more commonly known in Mennonite circles as 606) with the audience.

Tomorrow's plans

My high school alma mater, Lancaster Mennonite, is having homecoming this weekend. Long-time music teacher, Arnold Moshier, age 82(!), has been invited to come from his home in Florida to direct a concert of former Campus Chorale members. Campus Chorale is the select traveling choir of the school. So that's where I'll be going after school tomorrow. It will be fun seeing people from way back in the good, old days. I'll probably have to introduce myself to people, considering that I used to weigh 95 pounds in high school and wore coke bottle, cat-eye glasses! Arnold called me this summer and asked if I would sing the solo in the gospel song "Amen." So I've been practicing it this week with the record we made back in 1969! (Yes, I have a record player at school!!)

So of all times, my right ear has been driving me CRAZY ever since Sunday. It keeps going shut and I can hear myself breathe and swallow, etc. And it makes me feel grouchy. I've been using wax softener, etc, but I guess I should have gone to the doctor.

No update tonight on Megan or Lori. But I DO have a good update about my dad. He had follow-up doctor visits yesterday, and heard some VERY encouraging reports about his progress. Thank you, Jesus!!

Some updates

Thanks for all the love and support and prayers since last night's post. This morning as I walked into school I remembered that line from the song Mighty to Save - "Savior, He can move the mountain", and how that phrase was what I hung on to when we were praying about Ray's placement orders last fall. This morning I told the Lord that we have more mountains that need to be moved. I am so glad I know the One who is mighty enough to move mountains.

Today Wendy (Megan's mom) was making contact with Johns Hopkins for a second opinion and hopefully quicker action. I have not heard if and when that will take place. We were praying today that it would be very soon. Megan is in so much pain.

My niece Lori text messaged me this evening. She said she's feeling worse tonight than she did after her first treatment two weeks ago - headache, indigestion, and very tired. I promised her that we will keep her lifted to the Lord.

Thyda was so touched by all the kind words of thanks and encouragement today in your comments. I talked with Ray for a long time on the phone this evening. He's trying to keep busy with work and even foot ball. Now anyone who knows Ray will have no trouble believing that football would be very therapeutic for him! Number 80 Gonzalez. That brings back good memories from his high school days!

I also talked with Jeremy this evening. He's at the end of another quarter and had to do an all-nighter last night on another one of those huge projects for Commercial Design. I was talking to him this evening as he drove home from school, trying to keep him awake. We said goodbye when he walked in his door. Tomorrow he will do his presentation. Wish I could hear him. And guess what? He's coming home for five days next week while Miki and her children are here. He hasn't been home for two years. I'm getting really excited about next week.

Prayer DOES make a difference

I am more convinced than ever that when people pray for us it makes a DIFFERENCE. As I said before, there is never an end to the needs we can pray about. Below is my former student Megan who is now in 10th grade.

Her mom, Wendy, teaches at our school and is a very good friend of mine. Recently Megan has been experiencing severe, pulsating headaches on top of her head. MRI's have been done, and she has been diagnosed with a big tumor (very likely benign) on her pituitary gland. PRAY for Megan, her family, and the doctors as they determine the best way to remove this tumor and that she will be protected from any serious side effects. Her mom told our school secretary (during a phone call today) that she can tell that people are praying, and it's enabling her to cope with this unbelievable and scary situation.


Another one needing our prayers is my neice Lori in Michigan, and her family as well. Lori will be getting her second chemo treatment tomorrow. Lori has a recurrence of colon cancer.

Also, please pray for my dear hubby. He's diligently, but so far unsuccessfully, looking for a new job. And at the same time he needs chemo for a flare-up of lymphoma. He will be getting his first treatment on Friday.

And another person to remember in your prayers is our beautiful daughter-in-law Thyda. She is deployed on the Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier with the US Navy and is somewhere out in the middle of the ocean. She and I communicate via email almost every day. A few days ago she wrote that she cried herself to sleep as it really hit her that she won't see Ray for seven months. And when she awoke in the middle of the night she cried some more. It just broke my heart. She reads my blog regularly, so how about sending her some love in the comment section? If any of you would like to encourage her from time to time with an email, I'll gladly give you her email address.

Trip to Altoona and State College

Saturday morning I went to our women's retreat until the noon break. I was having a good time, and I can hardly wait to hear about the rest of the day. However, we had to get on the road.

Dick and Destiny picked me up and we hit the PA turnpike and headed west.

It was a sunny day, but very hazy for some reason, so my pictures of the mountains are not nice and clear. I have decided after this trip that the majority of PA is mountainous. The scenery as we drove was stunning in spite of the haze.

At 2:30 we arrived at Thunder in the Valley, a biker rally at Altoona where Anthony's band, Holy Smoke Blues, was already playing.

There were lots of things to do and look at - kids games, various displays, etc. Dick was especially interested in this restored Ford Falcon.

Here's Destiny "gettin' down" during one of Anthony's songs!

We had her new guitar along and she wanted to play along with the band. I think she'd have gotten up on stage if we had let her! Doesn't she look like a folk singer in this photo?

Looks like even Grandpa took his turn playing that purple Hannah Montana guitar!

This was the last time for us to hear Holy Smoke Blues. Anthony has gotten too busy with his guitar lesson website, and now they're starting a family, so he's giving up the band. What a great group of guys, each one an excellent musician and really fine man.

After the show we went to El Campasino, an authentic Mexican restaurant. The food was so delicious. We were all pretty tired, especially Anthony. His band had played for several hours the night before, and then again for a couple of hours that afternoon.

After our meal we made the one-hour drive to their house in State College. The entire trip from Altoona to State College was mountain scene after mountain scene.

After Destiny was tucked in bed we four adults had fun eating ice cream birthday cake and talking. Yes, he's 32. Unbelievable that our kids are getting so "old!"

Sunday morning we went to church with Anthony and Lori. As always, the worship was both lively and precious, and the message by their pastor was tremendous. In the afternoon we went to a bowling alley to celebrate Anthony's birthday with some of their friends. We had good pizza and lots of fun. Destiny had the greatest time playing with 5-year-old Trey between turns. I just wish I had taken a picture of Trey's 2-year-old brother Jaden. He was SO petite, but would take his turn and then do a victory dance no matter what his score. Just ADORABLE.

After the party we packed up and headed home. And guess what we saw on the way home? More mountains, of course! Imagine what all these mountains will look like a month from now!

We took Destiny home to Reading first, and finally arrived home at 10:30 PM. I felt like I was in a fog at school today, so I'm hoping to hit the sack earlier this evening.

A special weekend

I've been looking forward to this weekend for quite a while. First of all, I'll be going to a day retreat with our church ladies and girls tomorrow morning. It's going to be an awesome time of worship and LOTS of fun. Maybe next week I'll put the monologue on here that I'll be doing at the retreat. It's called A.A.A.D.D. or Why I Make a List.

The retreat is from 8 to 4 tomorrow, but Dick and Destiny will be picking me up at noon and we'll be heading out to Altoona to an outdoor concert where Anthony's band will be playing. The band will soon be disbanding and we really, really want to hear them one more time. Besides, tomorrow is a very special day - Anthony's birthday. I have SUCH wonderful memories of the day he was born. He's 8 days old on the picture below, and I could still just eat him up.

And here's what that same chubby baby boy will look like tomorrow. I'm so proud of him.

We'll be going to their house overnight tomorrow night and going to church with them Sunday morning, then celebrating his birthday with some of their friends in the afternoon. I gotta hit the sack!

"I surrender these into Your hands"

Dick and I have been taking a few days to think through a decision, so I didn't bother posting the past couple of days.

Last week Dick had his regular 6-month CT scans and this week we found out that the lymph nodes they keep watching have become larger. The doctor gave him the choice of going ahead with four chemo treatments now or waiting three months and having them checked again at that point. Our first reaction was that of course we would wait three months. He's in the process of looking for a job right now. Who would want to hire someone who is undergoing chemo treatments?

But we've changed our minds and decided it would be better to get the treatments now while he still has good insurance coverage (COBRA from his previous job.) Dick has always handled chemo treatments amazingly well, usually missing only one day of work with each treatment So if he finds a job in the middle of treatments, he can do it!

I can tell people are praying for us. I do feel down sometimes, but for the most part I have an amazing peace. The Sunday before Dick lost his job I led a song at church that I hadn't led for a long time. Since then that song is often on my mind as I try to put what I know in my head down into my heart . Here are the lyrics:

Jesus, All for Jesus
Robin Mark

Jesus, all for Jesus.
All I am and have and ever hope to be.
Jesus, all for Jesus,
All I am and have and ever hope to be.

All of my ambitions, hopes, and plans,
I surrender these into Your hands.
All of my ambitions hopes and plans,
I surrender these into Your hands.

For it's only in Your will that I am free,
For it's only in Your will that I am free.

Jesus, all for Jesus,
All I am and have and ever hope to be.

1991 Word's Spirit of Praise Music

Counting my blessings

One thing is certain - if I am at all tempted to feel sorry for myself, all I need to do is watch the news for a few mintues. The economic news is bleak, and we are by no means the only ones experiencing unemployment. And then the news from the devastation caused by Ike is even more bleak. I need to be counting my blessings.

Before I went into the gym this afternoon I was listening to my Michael W. Smith Worship CD. The song Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus with incredibly beautiful violin accompaniment, washed over me as I played it again and again. I remembered hearing him do that song in person at a worship concert in Philadelphia back in October 2001. Dick and I and Jeremy (and one-year-old Destiny) went to that concert of various worship leaders and composers. It was an amazingly precious experience that I'll never forget.

Bed - here I come!!

I am SO ready for bed tonight, so this will be quick.

We had a less-than-enjoyable (for me) birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese this evening for Destiny - a no-show mommy and family due to car trouble, a daddy that was preoccupied with his cell phone, a younger brother that was scared to death of Chuck, crazy loud music and screaming kids everywhere to aggravate my already aching head, and way too much driving before and after the party to get people there and home again. Enough said.

Destiny didn't seem to mind any of the above. She just loves being at Chuck E. Cheese. And here she is with our gift to her - a Hannah Montana 3/4 acoustic guitar. Oops, she's holding it left handed. That's right - she is a leftie. Hopefully she can learn to play chords with that left hand!

On a much brighter note - our daughter Miki called from Sweden today to say that she and her kids, Katrina and Bjorn, will be coming for a visit in a couple of weeks. They haven't been in the states since 2004 and have never been to this house. Now THAT'S exciting!

Eight years ago

Eight years ago this evening I was being a labor coach to our foster son Frank's girlfriend, Enid. Frank was there too, as well as Enid's mother. A little while after midnight a little girl, with eyes wide open, entered this world and was named Destiny. We all fell instantly in love with her. Little did we know that it would take all four of us to raise her. Certainly I did not know what a major part of our lives she would become.

And here she is eight years later. We love her so very, very much. Tomorrow is her birthday and we'll celebrate at her favorite place, Chuck E. Cheese, with both her mommy and her daddy. I can't wait to show you what we got for her birthday gift, but that's still a surprise.

This evening she and I played Uno. Believe it or not, I haven't played that game for so long that I couldn't remember how to play it! Besides, we had two sets all mixed together. So I looked on the internet to figure out how many and which cards go in one set, and I also printed out playing directions. Now I remember why that game was so much fun. I think we'll be playing it a lot.