Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to:

My dad: Thank you for always being willing to help me in all I've done. (Does everyone know that he encouraged me to teach and not continue working at the hospital? He even loaned me money to make sure I didn't 'go broke' in the process!) You are an inspiration and you've taught me so much. Today, I can't find the words to express the love and respect I have for you. But know that I'm ready to fight this cancer right by your side and see you enjoying life after chemo and radiation. I love you!

My husband: The best Daddy to Eli and my best friend! Also, he's the best cook, the best jokester, the best bed-hogger, the best lawn mower, the best insurance man, the best, the best, the best. Thank you for being my husband - although we've only been married four years, it seems like so many more!

Other dads that have touched our lives - you know who you are and THANK YOU!

Just a few short weeks ago, my parents delivered this cool trike for Eli. My dad just loves this little boy. He couldn't wait to buy him a tricycle and Eli instantly fell in love with it. Too bad it's too big! Soon enough, though, we'll wish he was small enough to ride it!

I think everyone knows my obsession with rubber duckies! If you don't, there's a story to ask me (or Jen) when next you see me! Eli has discovered my duck slippers and now wears them around the house. It annoys Husband to no end and I think it's adorable. Check out the fashion statement - with his Elmo jammies!

Here is a pic of my parents from this afternoon. In a couple of weeks, they will celebrate their 46th wedding anniversary. Their marriage has been the model of how you work through the rough patches and teach your children to love God, family and others. Thanks, you two!

After a yummy homemade dinner by Husband, we all got the chance to visit (watch Eli tear up the house and get out ALL of his toys) and discuss the events of the past couple of weeks. We also discussed our 'game plan' for this fight against cancer. We are strong, we are resilient, we are ready to fight! We're hoping to get some more answers tomorrow morning and we'll be going to the oncologist tomorrow afternoon.

Here is a pic of Eli and Grandad from after dinner. I'm not sure what my dad was telling him but he sure was listening! He's wearing his new Star Trek underoos! Remember those?

Please keep the prayers coming! And, thanks to all of you for your support, kind words and deeds. It's through your actions and thoughts and prayers that we are (feeling) more ready to fight and less scared as we head into battle!

As for me, the stress of my dad's illness and the loss of Gram in the past month have really gotten to me. I have become an obsessive cleaner and my sewing projects are getting finished up! So if you've been waiting for me to finish something for you - your wait has gotten shorter! For example, I 'whipped up' a quilt for Dad this week (which wasn't even on the list) and just need to finish the quilting/binding; Eli's new curtain is finished and hung 'with care;' I've uncovered a few finished projects ready to deliver and ironed a couple of projects needing binding and labels. In addition, I finished piecing the blocks for Eli's new quilt for his new racecar bed. Whew! I guess most of this productivity takes place when I would normally be sleeping but since I'm not sleeping very well...glad it's summer!