Until I see you again

Yesterday our family said "goodbye" to John. He passed from this life to an eternal one with our Lord. To me John was truly my best friend, we were a "team" in every sense of the word. I will love him all my life, and already feel as if part of me is missing. John was a wonderful father, he loved his children passionately, always putting his family first. John was a friend to many.

The pain of losing him is only made easier knowing he is with our Lord and I am sure having a wonderful time, whole again, singing praises, jumping and leaping for joy at being in the presence of our almighty God. John truly loved the Lord, and I know in the last days was anxious to be with him.

We will be having service to honor John's life, it will be on Tuesday, February 3, at 2:00 and The Oaks Community Church, 10200 Campus Park Drive, Bakersfield, CA

He's doing great

Chris that is, is doing extremely well. He will probably be able to come home tomorrow. Which is a huge blessing. What is next, well we do not know yet. We are still waiting for the final results of what exactly we are dealing with. Then a course of treatment will be planned. But for now we are just living each day, knowing it is a gift.

Chris's Emily came in last night and that was just the right thing to give him encouragement. You could just see the joy he felt having her here to be with him. As they walk this path together I know that they are being refined and made stronger. God is going to use all of this for a purpose greater then they can imagine. I feel sadness about all that my son has endured - but look forward to how God is going to use it in his life. God turns all things to good for those who love Him and Chris definitely loves the Lord.

On another note, while waiting during the surgery in the waiting room, there were several of Chris's friends as well as some of John and mines. As we waited one of my friends, Rille, started us praying every 1/2 hour. After an hour one of the girls, Kristina, felt led to worship God in song,(she's a worship leader :-)) so she sang a beautiful song. This began a time of worship right there in the waiting room. It was so beautiful, our group singing and worshiping God. Today one of the directors of the hospital commented that people through out the hospital were talking about the worship they heard. Wow - God you are so worthy of our worship

Out of surgery

Chris came through the surgery very well. They removed the tumor and the doctor felt good about removing all of it. The unfortunate news is that it initially appears to be the same type of cancer John has. This is not the news we wanted, but God is in control, He is on the throne and Chris's life is in His hands. All Chris's days are numbered by the Lord.

The good news is that we know a lot more about this type of tumor and can approach the treatment I feel more informed about various options. With John I felt we just followed the Kiaser standard treatment and I now know there are other options to go along side that. Chris's age is also a big plus. But the biggest plus is our faith and knowledge that we serve a good God and we will contend for complete healing and victory.

Shock

I write this at 4am getting ready to go to the hospital where Chris is going to have brain surgery. Shock does not even begin to encompass the emotions that goes through me. Chris had been having headaches, they got progressively worse and while at school at Cal Poly after talking with his doctor, he went to the ER there where they ran a brain scan. They showed he has 3 lesions on his brain. He was transported back to Bakersfield via Ambulance and is at San Joaquin Hospital.

The plan to is remove one of the lesions which is closest to the skull and find out what it is. From there a course of action will be taken. Chris is in good spirits, he had a large group of friend with him all day yesterday keeping him laughing and preoccupied. It was a huge blessing in the midst of truly an unbelievable situation. Chris is suppose to go into surgery at 7am this morning.

I place this all in the hands of my Father in Heaven, knowing He is good and that He will use all these trials and storms in Chris's and our lives to be turned to good. Meanwhile thanks for your prayers and love of our family.

Chris and Emily

Mihaela took this picture of Chris and Emily on a trip up to the snow.

We will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

I get a daily devotional from "The vine" and this was part of todays. It encouraged me, I hope it encourages all of you who are facing trials of many kinds.

"We will reap a harvest if we do not give up" Galatians 6:9

Perseverance turns adversity into advancement. Paul writes, "Everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News" (Philp 1:12 NLT). Paul didn't give up - he rose up! How did he do it? He found the benefit to him personally that comes from every trial. One Christian author writes: "Today we're obsessed with speed, but God is more interested in strength and stability. We want the quick fix, the shortcut, the on-the-spot solution. We want a sermon, a seminar or an experience that will instantly resolve all problems, remove all temptation and release us from all growing pains. But real maturity is never the result of a single experience, no matter how powerful or moving." Growth is gradual. The Bible says, "Our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters… and we become like Him"

Lord please help us not give up...