Anyone?

Sarah's Annual Update

I just totally guessed how to sign into this. It's been a while, dear friends.

So - for anyone who still reads this - I am asking for prayer.

My mom got diagnosed with soft tissue sarcoma last week, and last Thursday her oncologist told her what to expect in the next year. It is grim, and it is not positive. What cancer treatment is?

On December 2 she goes in for a second major hip surgery to remove her IT band and her tensor fascia muscle, and any other cancerous tissue they find. They will give her a few weeks to heal and regain strength, and then begin aggressive rounds of chemotherapy for 3-6 months. That will be followed by another 3-6 months of radiation. As the doctor put it "We are in a race to save you leg, but also to save your life." They may find that the cancer in her leg is so extensive that a total amputation may be necessary - though they are hoping this is unlikely.

Honestly, we don't know. We don't know anything. We are going into this completely blind. We have no idea what her prognosis is because there is no way to tell how extensive the cancer is in her leg or the rest of her body. Prognosis is poor if it is in advanced stages, which is possible but not definite.

I struggle knowing who to tell, how to tell, what to do. So I wake up each morning and do what I have to do. I wish I could be close to my mom. I wish I could make sense of the fog that surrounds my every activity.

Be praying for us, if you think of it. We are scared. I am praying for peace and for hope, for the ability to wake up in the morning thanking the Lord for another day, for another day of hearing my sweet momma's voice. Pray they can save her leg, that she will walk with both feet again, that she is strengthened as only the Lord can.

I love you all.

New Host Family

Hey guys! I just found out today who my next host family is going to be. I'm going to be living with the Lipp's. I'm pretty excited about it. I'll be moving on the 14th, so in a week and a half. I'll let you all know how it goes.

Rebecca

Sharon Isaacson

Hey guys, our beloved Sharon Isaacson and family could use all of our prayers. Erik's mom just passed away (not sure if it was this morning or last night). She went into the hospital on Tuesday, I believe, so this was really sudden. So be praying for all of the Isaacson's while they go through all of this.

WATCH THIS NOW! THIS MEANS YOU.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsLqKAvKiQM

Every Way the Abe Blows

Two more destinations can be added to Abe's Travels.

He really enjoyed Albania, but he didn't really enjoy the winding bus trips sans A/C. More than once did I have to put him in a zip lock bag lest he toss his teeny tiny cookies. That would have been worse than feta cheese, buttermilk, lamb bone soup.

Mine also seems to be addicted to coffee. Everywhere I went I had to shell out leke to feed his addiction. Anybody else having problems keeping their Abe in check?

Anyways, Abe and I did lots of work (though he's not very good at digging fence post holes), worked on our tans and had some fun times--6 hour bus rides not included.

We missed you all and hope you're having as many adventures with your Abes, if not more.

Much love,

KL & Abe

As close as we could afford to a royal visit.

I've been here 3 weeks?!

Hey all! I figured it was time for an update, since I have officially been working for our beloved West Side for 2 1/2 weeks now. The first thing: it's very different working during the school year than during the summer, much quieter and not quite as many shenanigans going on. I guess I will update you guys chronologically, so there's some order to this post. I arrived in Richland 3 weeks ago today, and moved into the apartment at the Tucker's. I spent that evening with Jake and Rachel because Kim, Ryan, and Korey were at Pathfinders; we watched a couple of cartoon shows and played Mouse Trap (my first time ever playing). Thursday I spent the day unpacking and getting things I needed from the store. I actually got to eat with everybody Thursday, but it was a rushed dinner (as I soon found out most dinners are), because Korey and Rachel had swimming. That Friday was my first official day. I came in, and Heather asked if I wanted to get to work right away, so we folded/put in envelopes/labeled said envelopes/and sent off the Children and Family Ministries newsletter. We got that done, and into the mail. Then we out to lunch with Dan, Peggy Wheeler and Kim (Peggy and Kim are the CFM elders). After lunch, I got to talk with Lois Timmons about insurance (Yay!). Then Heather had the chance to do a bit of orientation with me. Saturday was my day off. Then came Sunday. I got introduced at both services, Heather and I did this through the children's sermon (it was quite entertaining, just ask KaraLynn); and I got introduced at Sunday School. I got to spend that Sunday School hour in the 1/2 grade class, which I enjoyed. Monday was also my day off. Tuesday was Staff Meeting, and I kind of got introduced there, but everyone knew me already. I spent part of Tuesday learning about Paging Station stuff, which is something I'll be working with quite a bit. Wednesday was Pathfinders. So that was pretty much what I did that day. Thursday we had a meeting about having an age-appropriate room for the infants and an age-appropriate room for the toddlers who aren't ready to be in the 2 year old class yet. I also got a bit more into the secratarial work that I'll be doing. Friday morning was spent working on questions for a game for Sunday school along with some secratarial stuff, and Friday afternoon was spent meeting with KaraLynn and figuring out Children's Sermon for Sunday. Sunday, KaraLynn and I did the children's sermon together (with Jerome and a felt board); then during Sunday school, I was introduced to the Rainbow Kids, and spent the hour going into each of the classrooms and meeting those teachers/kids. Tuesday I had CDM (the church database) training, I think this is a program I'm going to have a lot of fun with; and we had staff lunch, which is always fun. Wednesday was the Pathfinders banquet, so I was at church for 11 hours that day - it reminded me of the summer. Thursday I met with Patty Parkman and got to talk about what we want to do curriculum wise for the toddler room. Friday was pretty much just prep for Sunday School. Sunday I was in charge of PromisedLand Sunday School because Heather was on vacation, that was interesting, since I wasn't in there the week before and so all the stories that they had done and the one they were going to do that day were all running together. But, Sunday school seemed to go well. I got to spend that hour in the 1/2 grade class again. After church, KaraLynn, Rachel and I decorated Heather's office because she passed her ordination exams; we had quite a bit of fun, and Heather enjoyed coming back to it. Yesterday, we got the new toddler and infant rooms ready - it will be so much nicer to have them separated and be playing with age appropriate toys and being able to have a bit of curriculum for the toddler's. Today, I spent the morning researching possible curriculum for the summer, and then this afternoon was spent in a meeting about our next units curriculum -we are going to do some stories from Acts, and I think it's going to be pretty cool, especially since it's a book that often gets overlooked. So that has been my first 3 weeks here. It's been fun and full of new things for me as well as some old. I guess that's all for now. I will hopefully be able to write more sometime after Easter.

Rebecca