High Five

Here's a vdieo from Alyssas' birthday get-together last week, in which Andrew demonstrates how Mikko can give him a high five.



In all fairness, you have to note that the dog did do the trick the first time.

Status

Last week, I marked my second year since diagnosis with cancer. For more than a year, I have wanted to write a blog about how that first year with cancer was the greatest year of my life, as God showed me how great He was in caring for me, how much I was loved, what a wonderful wife He had given me, and many other things. Lately I have seen how He sometimes lovingly breaks His servants to ferret out those remaining areas of (ouch!) sin in our lives, and increase our humility and dependence on Him. Maybe someday I will get to write those blogs.

Yesterday, I received results back on blood samples taken last week. My current status is that I am "stable." The cancer level hasn't increased or decreased over the past two months, but is at the lowest level since diagnosis. I am still undergoing chemotherapy, and there is currently no plan to change medication anytime soon. Thanks to all for caring and praying. This is still a long, long way from being over.

Happy Birthday, Alyssa!

Today was my granddaughter Alyssa's first birthday. Happy birthday, Alyssa!

That Was The Week That Was

TW3. It's been a quiet week in Lake Whoa, Be Gone. Or maybe quite a week, one of the two. Matthew passed his test for certification as a Cisco Systems Operating Engineer on Wednesday. Ah, Cisco! Way to go Matthew!.

On Friday night and into Saturday morning, Carol had to do a health inspection on a Wal-Mart in her territory, so it could reopen after a fire contained to one part of the store. I went with her since it was late at night and far from home. It was very impressive to see how well-organized the Wal-Mart team was, and how well Carol went about her work. See her blog for more details.

Also, on Friday, I had my 57th birthday, and all of our local kids and their persons of interest came over to help us eat grilled burgers and celebrate. Thanks to all who sent their wishes. Never in my life have I received so many wishes for a Happy Birthday. Thanks, thanks, thanks.

Yesteryday I swam a mile, for the first time in I don't know how long. It felt really good to do it again. It took me an hour, but we'll see if we can whittle some time off that again.

I've had two weeks of feeling pretty good. I will go back to the doctor on Wednesday of this week for another infusion, and let them sample some blood. Maybe by Monday of next week, I'll have some results to know how I'm doing. Thanks for your prayers and concern.