"Laughter", a Doug Update, and an ERTCC Plug

Laughter

Weeks ago, Erin asked if I would write a guest blog post. What an honor to be invited into this exchange of the good, bad, ugly, and the beastly. How could one not accept, especially when we decided jointly that a blog on laughter might be just what the spirit specialist ordered. No matter how beastly the cancer is, the spirit is irrepressible. Even on days when the spirit is entangled in anger, fear, and doubt, laughter bubbles up giving hope some breathing room. 


How does one laugh when wrestling with a beast every single day? Doug developed a rallying cry early in this journey. Slay the beast. The statement has become a mantra in our house, repeated daily as a prayer request. There is nothing funny about it. The whole situation seems fraught with despair until we laugh. And laugh we do. 


I don’t know much about laughter from a scientific perspective. I know that when I really laugh hard I cry. Some people laugh so hard they pee themselves, or so I’m told. Others snort when they laugh. I remember laughing in the middle of family prayers so hard that the praying had to stop. Every now and then it still happens, especially when Greg prays. None of this seemed scholarly enough to base a blog on. 


Research was called for. My first hit, was an article from Cambridge University. They published The Uses of Laughter in Greek Culture, but the abstract had so many big words I didn’t understand it. One sentence had sixty-eight words in it and by the end of the sentence I had forgotten what the beginning said. 


After setting aside the Cambridge article I found another on laughter and its role in helping couples deal with cancer. I thought I had hit the jackpot until I read the abstract. The abstract stated, "A diagnosis of cancer may result in both the patient and their partner experiencing psychological distress." “May result…” seriously people? Obviously, the author hadn’t been near a cancer diagnosis. One sarcastic chuckle later, I moved along. 


More digging revealed laughter was linked to the treatment of cancer, Parkinson’s, depression, and more. My research led me to laughter yoga and to Norman Cousins’ book titled, Anatomy of an Illness as Perceived by the Patient, chronicling his personal experience with laughter and ankylosing spondylitis. Cousins’ experience led to a new field of study called psychoneuroimmunology. It was evident laughter and humour were under the researchers’ microscopes as they tried to quantify and correlate laughing to health benefits. 

None of my research led me to the holy grail of laughter until I happened on Sophie Scott's Ted talk. She spoke about how we use laughter in relationships to make each other feel better. She touched on how laughter is deeper and richer when shared with those we care for. Her talk highlighted laughing with others lets us access an evolutionary system that helps us regulate how we feel and makes us feel better, together. Scott spoke about the importance of relationships to the sincerity and involuntariness of laughter. 


The stronger the relationship, the freer we are to laugh with abandon from deep within our bellies. When we laugh the doubt and fear are squeezed out of us with each breath, if only for a few healing moments. Faith and hope slip into the space laughter leaves behind as doubt and fear abate. 


Right in the middle of despair or between tears, laughter will erupt. Sometimes it will be awkward. It might feel inappropriate, or appear so to outsiders. You might stand on the sidelines wondering if we should be laughing even as we cry. Well, dammit yes. We will keep laughing because “A merry heart does good like medicine.” Proverbs 17:22.

- Joy Monsma (Doug's sister-in-law)

Update from Doug

“Never underestimate the importance of having a person in your life who can always make you smile!”

I thought it appropriate that on a blog focused on the gift of laughter that a bit of a chuckle was necessary.   Although our family has many funny people and we laugh often, the most reliable smile generator is grandson Kase!  He is playful and loves life, always exploring, moving, and pointing at all the amazing things that he sees.  These are great qualities, unless you are taking him on a walk!   Enjoy his reading debut, as he travelled to Tofino for a family holiday. 

A quick update on slaying the beast!  Many of you will be relieved to know that I am no longer travelling commando as the shingles have been defeated!  I am very thankful that we caught them early and the medicine worked effectively.  I have also completed another round of chemo and tolerated it quite well.  I had another MRI a few days ago and will get the results back on my next visit to the Cross on July 18.  Please pray for positive news, that the beast be continuing to be slain and that the next weeks be peaceful as we wait for the news.  This routine of an MRI every 2-months will likely continue for some time but is still something that seems surreal and will likely always cause worry and uncertainty.  Tara told me that I needed to get used to it as I will be doing it for 30 years!  Hope so!

Once again, our family thanks you for your love and prayers!

- Doug 

Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer (ERTCC)

And after that awesome blog post, I have the pleasure of asking you for money! In mid-August, five of the immediate family members (Derek, Leanne, Ben, Matthew, and Erin) plus some extended family members and friends will be biking in the Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer. Each team member has a goal of raising $2,500 dollars so that they can participate in the race. See more info on the general ride here (link to donate to our team members below). Please consider donating to the ride as many of us are still a long way from reaching our goal. Good news is, you also get a donation receipt! If you'd like to donate, you can do that here. 

- Erin 

Going Commando!!

It has been about a month since the last post, which has just brought me to the end of another round of chemotherapy. This round of chemo was better tolerated than the previous two, with less nausea and improved tolerance of screens. Daily life routines such as yard work and house maintenance were enjoyed! Weekly routines like caring for grandson Kase were also a continued blessing. I even snuck in a round of golf!  I have also never received more compliments about my appearance (well ...since High school!) as I have the last month. People who haven’t seen me lately are surprised that I actually look quite healthy, even minus 25 pounds.  An updated photo tells the story of miraculous healing since the surgery from last November!

The month has been good!  I was ready to begin the next round of chemo, with my monthly blood work being very positive, until…a visit to the Doctor last week due to some unusual bumps on my skin revealed that I have a case of shingles - just what I needed! Since we caught it early, I am hoping that the symptoms will pass quickly, the pain will be gone, I can start the next round of chemo (which has been delayed due my compromised immune system) and, most importantly, resume grandkid time on Thursdays with Kase! In the meantime, I guess I will continue to Go Commando! Those of you are who empathetic, feel free to join me!

Employment update:

As many of you know, this year would have brought my second 3-year secondment to The Prairie Centre for Christian Education (PCCE) to an end.  I am very disappointed that I haven’t been able to fulfill my duties due to my illness.  The last 6 years have been a wonderful blessing for me and I am thankful for the opportunities that I have had to work in so many Christian schools across North America and to get to know so many gifted, passionate Christian Educators.

But as you are aware, my cancer treatments may stretch well into the next school year so I have decided it best to resign from the PCCE Director of Learning position.  At this time I am on long-term disability and didn’t feel it would be fair, financially and service-wise, to ask a small service organization like PCCE to have one of its key employees away on an undetermined length medical leave.  While we are confident that this is the right decision at this time it has been an emotional struggle to step away from this work just as it is really starting to flourish.

Final thought:

“Can you give me a ride to …”

“Can you pick up _____ the next time you are at Costco?”

“Can you give me a hand unloading my lawnmower?”

“My downspout is clogged - can you give me a hand to clean it out?”

“Offering help is courageous and compassionate but so is asking for help.” – Brenè Brown.

One of the most powerful lessons that I have learned over the last months has been about the beauty of asking for help! For most of my adult life I have been a helper, quick to volunteer with a helping hand.  I have been “courageous and compassionate”!  Now that my role has been altered from being the one giving help to the one needing help, I have seen that part of my self-worth was connected to being a giver or helper.  It has been a real challenge to give up this position of power and become humble enough to admit I can’t do this by myself.  I think Brown captures this tension accurately when she writes, "The danger of tying your self-worth to being a helper is feeling shame when you have to ask for help."  I’m not sure that I have felt shame but I have been embarrassed to ask for help on a number of occasions. However, the embarrassment has always been wiped away by the compassionate assistance gladly offered.  It seems that many folks consider it a gift to be asked to help, which shouldn’t surprise me because I have always been blessed by offering and providing help.

Our family has had a number of very interesting conversations around asking for help and a healthy attitude when helping.  My sister Gayle forwarded this blog post and I found it quite insightful. (I also am jealous of the clever blog name!!)

http://www.talknerdytomeblog.com/2016/04/how-to-cultivate-connection.html

I am praying that we have all become more “courageous and compassionate!” in our asking and our helping!

MRI Results

A HUGE ANSWER TO THOUSANDS OF PRAYERS!

We met with Dr. Easaw this morning and he quickly gave us the good news that the MRI looked great.  There are no new lesions and everything looks like it is healing well.  My Dad has had some headaches, some swelling around his scar, and some sensitivity to screens and Dr. Easaw assured him that these are all normal things.

He was amazed when he heard that my Dad was doing so much walking and work around the yard, and went on to say that my Dad is the healthiest patient that he would see all day!

This feeling of relief is something that we haven't had for the past six months.  Although my Dad has been doing everything that he can do to fight the beast, we haven't known how well things have been working.  While my Dad seems healthy and looks like he is doing well, we still haven't had any certainty.  So today is a pretty amazing day, to know that my Dad's body is doing just as well on the inside as it is on the outside.  To know that God has answered so many prayers and performed miracle after miracle.  To know that the beast is being slain.

Going forward, my Dad is going to continue with his 5-days-on, 23-days-off chemotherapy schedule for at least another three months.  We pray that he can continue to tolerate the chemo as well as he has been and that it can continue to be effective.

Thank you SO much for all of your prayers.  We cannot describe how blessed we feel and how loved we feel.  My parents both said that their phones were tinging away all morning before the appointment as friends and family let them know that our family is in their thoughts and prayers.  Please continue to pray for more miracles and continued health for my Dad!

A celebratory hug on the escalator on our way out of the Cross.

- Tara

P.S.  A reminder that you can subscribe to the blog and receive an e-mail notification when a new post is up.  The "Follow by Email" option is on the right-hand side of the blog.

   

Slaying the Beast - April 27 Update

Hi folks,

Each morning I walk by our “card table” at the front entry, where we have left the hundreds of cards that we have received over the last months.  We thank you so much for your faithfulness during this difficult chapter in our lives.  Each time I walk by the pile, I am reminded of the beautiful community that God has blessed us with.  One card usually catches my attention because it is so reflective of our experiences over the last months.

"May there always be an angel by your side"

What a wonderful hope and prayer for each day ... and we have experienced many angels.  Mainly in human form!

April has been a real challenge for our family, with 4 of 8 family members being accountants, which means lots of hours and pressure until the end of the month.  Loretta has been working about 70 - 80 hours per week for a good part of the month. Work-induced fatigue combined with my ongoing treatment and the uncertainty about the effectiveness of the treatment has left us both quite vulnerable emotionally and  spiritually.  During an especially difficult stretch for Loretta, an angel arrived to share words of healing that really spoke deeply to Loretta’s hurt and anxiety.  We share, with her permission, the words of Sara Douma, who was our family babysitter for many years and has remained a close family friend years later.  We have always joked that we put Sara through her 4-year degree at Dordt College ... a fact she doesn't deny.  Seems like Loretta was a party animal back then too!

From Sara to Loretta:

And Happy Easter! Been thinking of you guys a lot and praying that Doug's last round of chemo went okay. If I recall correctly, this should be a block of "recovery" days. Hoping and praying that the headaches and nausea are less than they were as well. We will continue to pray for good results at the upcoming MRI.

Was thinking about Easter and was reminded of a blog post of mine from a number of years back when our family was experiencing a fair amount of trauma and uncertainty. With it comes the assurance of the resurrection and the promise that no matter where we find ourselves, our God is faithful, and He has won the victory over all the brokenness in this world - our health included. Anyway, thought I would share it, and through it give thanks with you for our faithful God - even when we feel broken, uncertain, and exceptionally vulnerable. May the peace of Christ and the hope of the Resurrection be yours, this Easter especially.

Love

Sara

The Resurrection...

We read the resurrection story from Matthew on Sunday,

and I was struck by how the angel comes to roll away the stone

and then, it says, he sits on it.

The ground is quaking,

the guards shake and fall to the ground like dead men,

the women are afraid,

and the angel sits.

He is not surprised or afraid.

He knows what God has done and will continue to do.

There doesn't appear to be any part of him

that feels rattled by the situation,

rather there is a peace and relaxed strength about him.

He sits as if to say,

"My God keeps His promises.

I'm here as a messenger,

but I am at peace and confident that God is the victor

and I have nothing to fear."

He sits.

He knows and trusts in God's faithfulness

and in the promise of the resurrection.

He sits.

He sits.  We sit.  Sitting is hard, especially after nearly 6 months of treatment and still no word about the effectiveness of it.  What do we learn by sitting?  Are we attuned to what God is calling us to learn and understand?  I pray every day that my heart will be open to what it is that God is needing me and our family to learn.  We sit, but not as confidently as the angel who knows how the story has ended before taking the place on the rock.  We sit...but we know that God has got this!

Not much new on the treatment front.  I completed round three of chemo a couple of weeks ago and the recovery has been much slower this round.  I have an MRI scheduled for Friday at 1:30 that will help to determine the success of the treatment to date.  We then have the follow-up MRI consulting on May 11.  We sit, again!

We are planning to head to the cabin for about five days of post tax season relaxation.  I hope to reassert my superiority at the ping pong table but chemo will be an easily played card, if needed.  Photo from our last match.  Loretta is in yellow!

A few quick items

• An update on the driving - I think that I may have got a photo radar last week.  Shit!  There goes the golf budget!
• The positive side of tax season is that grandson Kase has been hanging around my house a day or two each week as both his parents are accountants.  He is certainly another angel!  Interesting side note -  when I started treatment Kase was just beginning to crawl and now he is a full fledged walker/jogger!  It has been a blessing to watch this transition!  I think he has my sprinter’s speed!

• I can’t quite keep up to the super-active 1-year-old so my mom often tag teams with me on those days. She is another angel!  A 56-year-old cancer patient and a 70-plus-year-old great-grandma seem to be able to handle him - barely!  
• April has been a real challenge for me professionally as well.  A Christian school growth program that I was very involved in developing has been growing quickly, with strong movement in the US, Australia and Japan.  It has been very difficult to see how God is blessing the program so greatly without feeling really left out.  I did “dibs” Australia as my continent nearly two years ago!  To quote an Australian friend, “Doesn’t seem you’re getting a fair suck of the sav.”  Be sure to look it up!
• Another angel - an appointment with a specialist with a waiting list of about two months is happening on Friday because a former student recognized my name on the referral and told the doctor that I was priority one!  Glad I gave her a good mark!
• Do angels ride bikes? Some family and friends have decided to join the Ride to Conquer Cancer bike tour.  Wouldn’t it be a treat to see me in biker’s shorts?  Sneak preview, if you dare!

  

• Here's the link with more information about the ride: http://ab17.conquercancer.ca/site/PageServer?pagename=ab17_home
• And here’s the link for our team: http://www.conquercancer.ca/site/TR/Ride/Alberta2017?team_id=79482&pg=team&fr_id=1592
• And here's the link if you want to join the ride and get $50 off the registration fee (come join Doug's Storm!):          
• http://ab17.conquercancer.ca/site/TRR?pg=tfind&fr_id=1592&fr_tm_opt=none&s_subsrc=4180498

We will update the blog again in mid-May, after our “next steps” consultation.  Please pray that the MRI will show that we are winning the battle against the beast and that the “beast” of doubt will remain quiet until then as well. Thanks to all of you angels who have been prayer warriors and faithful friends over the last 6 months.  We thank God for your many timely words, prayers and visits.  Time to sit on that stone and get praying!  

Slay the Beast - Round 3 Update

Hi folks,

Blessed Easter to all.  I have been reminded of the importance and beauty of the significant seasonal celebrations in the church calendar as I have not been in church during this season of Lent.  Ongoing treatments and a compromised immune system have kept me away, and I have missed it.  I’m sitting here writing the blog with Easter music playing in the background, all bringing back fond memories of communal singing in church.  Is there any stronger confessional music than that of Lent?  I think not!

My Lent weekend celebration has focused on a daily reading of one of my most prized books, “HE WAS ONE OF US” by Artist Rien Poortvliet.  I bought two copies of this book about 25 years ago, one for me and one that I cut up and used to create a Lent bulletin board on my classroom door.  I am in awe of how Poortvliet captures the raw emotions of all the events of Christ’s life.  I have read it for 4 consecutive days and am so pleased that God prompted me to dig it off of the bookshelf last week!  If you aren’t familiar with this book, it’s high time you sought it out!  Here are my two favourite Easter morning paintings.

Text: "She lives in another world.  Dead is dead.  Everything ends!"

Text: "the way he called her by name.  It’s Jesus, he’s alive!  She is afire with joy.
The flames burst out of her! She starts living, at last."

Not much new on the treatment front.  I completed round three of chemo this past Monday and it has been quite mean to me!  If I was a judge, tasked with scoring the Doug versus treatment battle as a boxing match - sticking with the round theme - I would give the round one victory to the combo of radiation/chemo.  Valiant effort by Doug but it beat me up pretty good.  Doug bounced back and won the round two battle, as side effects were handled quite nicely, and energy returned to allow me to walk and complete significant tasks.  Some mental acuity returned as well!  Round three, while still in progress until the end of the month, has been the most challenging thus far, with an increased intolerance for screens and even print materials from time to time!  Stomach is knotted and nauseous for most of the day and food is less appealing.  I am still able to get out and walk and bike daily, which is the only relief that I have from the nausea.  Pray that I make a strong comeback in this round!

One positive of round three is that I have officially been approved to be road-worthy again.  I had voluntarily given up driving since the operation, wanting to ensure that once I started driving again that I would pose no harm to others.  A few friends mocked me about this stated desire because they suggested that my daily driving has always been a threat to others.  The test involved two parts, the first being a computer based test that tests the brain’s ability to interact with the quadrants and other things like reflexes and spatial awareness and decision making.  I passed part one, which allowed me to take an official on-the-road driving test.  

Back to driver's tests at age 56!  After a 5 month layoff! Nervous!  The 45 minute walk to the test was stressful, as I imagined myself having totally forgotten how to drive and wondering if I could still parallel park.  What if the evaluator was one of those super sticky driving drill sergeant types who would treat me like a brand new 16 year old driver and expect me to follow all those technical rules about distances and lane changes and...

God had a cool plan in place as the evaluator was “Motorcycle Mike”, with the looks and feel of a motorcycle gang alumnus, complete with tattoos, bushy beard, and earrings!  He assured me that he knew that I was a competent driver so wouldn't go through a “first license” type test; he would only grade me on driving competency and safety.  Forty-five minutes later, I was good to go.  Having my license back is huge at this time of year as Loretta is working crazy hours to complete tax season. My ability to run errands and grab supplies helps.

I will begin the next round of chemo in the first week of May, pending a positive blood test result.  I will take the chemo pills for 5 days and then have a 23-day recovery period.   

I do have an MRI scheduled for late April that will provide, we hope and pray, a positive update on the success of the treatments to-date.  We will continue to pray for patience, and persist in the treatments.  

We will soon hit the five month anniversary of the first onset of the cancer journey. It is so hard to believe that the past five months have included the initial diagnosis, major brain surgery, and three rounds of treatment.  Through it all, a list of some blessings!

• On the prayer list at a Hebrew congregation
• Africa friends
• Daily prayers
• Notes of encouragement
• Thanks that in the constant uncertainty hope abounds

It’s a blue sky day in Edmonton today, with fresh snow!  Time to go  throw some snowballs at neighbourhood kids!

Please continue to storm the gates with prayers that the beast will be slain!!!  

An Update

Hi folks,

My apologies for the slow posting - almost 4 weeks! The major and unexpected side effect during March was developing a high level of intolerance for any electronic screens.  The computer has been my enemy as it leads quite quickly to headaches and even nausea - a passable excuse for the delay???  The good news is more walking, as I avoid computers and TVs!  The bad news is I haven't watched many Oilers’ hockey victories as they head to the playoffs!

The March round of chemo was double the dose of round one.  Although I was feeling a bit nervous about the double dose, I did tolerate it quite well, as far as typical side effects like nausea and loss of appetite go.  Note: with the addition of a few pounds in the last week, I am now back up to my high school weight - but I still can’t seem to find the 6 pack!  

With spring finally arriving in Edmonton I have been able to get out most days and walk for an hour or two.  What a gift it is to be mobile and outside in the sunshine.  Walking has such a link to cleansing and relaxing thought.  I am becoming quite European, as daily routines such as groceries, prescription, and doctor appointments are all now walking trips!  Overall, daily life has had a “typical” (what was the old typical??) feel to it, with events like eating, sleeping, visiting, and errands still being quite enjoyable and possible.  I even felt well enough to take on a firewood storage rack, a small design and building project with my brother-in-law Wayne. We are thankful that our prayers for tolerable side effects have been answered!  But I am hoping for healing of the electronics plague before the Oilers’ Stanley Cup run begins!

I was just talking with someone about how the recovery was going and we talked about the lack of consistency in daily expectations being very frustrating.  I seem to be trending upwards for a number of days and then have a day or two of regression.  The most challenging part of many days is trying to figure out what is “normal” for brain surgery/cancer patients.  Is the increase in screen sensitivity related to the cancer or normal for patients?  Is the increase in noise sensitivity a bad sign? Any regression seems to get linked very quickly back to the disease but I have to become better at linking it to the treatment.  

During a recent conversation with the doctor, he let me know that there isn’t really any “normal” side effects for patients like me.  He encouraged me to think of the healing process as being similar to a person who has suffered from a severe concussion, and the slow and unsteady progress of healing involved there - this was very helpful for me!

I am just now beginning the process of trying to gain permission to drive again, which requires all kinds of documentation and testing. (Who would have thought that they would be concerned about a person on my treatment regime to be a road hazard?)  Please pray that all goes well as the independence of driving for appointments (golf tee times!) is so important.  

I will begin the next round of Chemo in the middle of next week, pending a positive blood test result.  I will take the chemo pills for 5 days and then have a 23-day recovery period.   

I do have an MRI scheduled for late April that will provide, we hope and pray, a positive update on the success of the treatments to-date.  We will continue to pray for patience, and persist in the treatments.  

Thanks again for your regular encouragement and support - your thoughts and wisdom are so appreciated.  In the last blog I introduced you to Kathy Nieuwenhuis, a teacher-colleague from Rimbey Christian School, who had blessed me with an email that was very timely for me.  In the email she suggested a book that I might be interested in reading for Lent.  I took her up on it and have really enjoyed it so far.  The book is written by JoHannah Reardon and is titled No More Fear: 40 days to Conquer Worry.   I am more than 50% complete but still struggle with fear and worry daily, with the knowing of God’s promises versus the living these same promises. Intellectual is easy - heart and gut are harder.  Yesterday’s reading focused on the Holy Spirit as Intercessor, linking back to Romans 8.  I was encouraged by the promise that the Spirit intercedes for us, praying “in and for us, making prayers out of wordless sighs, our aching groans.”  I appreciate the reference to groans and sighs, which are the language of my heart and gut.

Okay, too much screen time so heading for a walk!  

Please continue to storm the gates with prayers that the beast will be slain!!!  And maybe for an electronics cure for the playoffs!

Slaying the Beast - Another Update

Hi folks,

My apologies for the slow posting but a birthday party and a family weekend at the lake distracted me.  The 4-day weekend at the cabin was a blessing, as it also gave Loretta a mini-break before heading back into the intensity of tax season.

I did have a scheduled appointment with the Cross last week Tuesday to review the next round of chemotherapy, which we will begin this week.  The doctor allowed me to delay the start until after my birthday on the 2nd, which we celebrated with about 40 family members and friends on Friday night.  Thanks to all who made the drive out to Wabamun to join in the celebration.

Not much new to report as it takes between 2-3 months after radiation treatment before they can do an accurate MRI, so we will continue to pray for patience, and persist in the treatments.  We will likely go through another two rounds of chemo prior to the MRI.

This round of chemo is double the dose of round one, as there is no radiation this time.  I am feeling a bit nervous with the double dose but trust that I will tolerate it as I did quite well the first round.  I will take the chemo pills for 5 days and then have a 23-day recovery period.  The plan is to repeat this cycle between 6 and 12 times, pending the results of future MRI tests.

Thanks again for your regular encouragement and support - your thoughts and wisdom are so appreciated.  This week Kathy Nieuwenhuis, a teacher-colleague from Rimbey Christian School, blessed me with an email that was very timely for me, and hopefully for you!

“One of the things I wanted to share with you (according to my journal in December) has to do with God's faithfulness.  I'm much more aware now of how people use the terms faithfulness and blessings.  For instance, when we get a good doctor's report, we say we are blessed, or we see evidence of God's faithfulness when good things happen or something isn't as serious as we were afraid it might have been.  Although I don't disagree that we can be thankful for those things, I have been grappling with the thoughts of "Does that mean that God isn't faithful when we don't get good reports?, when news isn't good, when we aren't healed, when we live in pain?"  I am learning that God is faithful.  ALL the time.  Good reports and bad reports.  Our circumstances don't determine how much he loves us or how he takes care of us. A friend or relative may get great news and be so thankful that "God is good".  It takes confidence in God's love to declare his faithfulness and goodness when we don't see the results we would like.  We are blessed people (whether or not we get good gifts)."

Please continue to storm the gates with prayers that the beast will be slain!!!

- Doug

P.S. A reminder that we have updated the blog to allow you to subscribe to the blog so that you'll receive an email when we add a new post.  You can find the "Follow by Email" option on the right-hand side of the blog when you're viewing either the blog on a desktop or the web version on your phone.