David and His Slippers

David got out of his almost most embarrassing moment yesterday. I don't know how he got so lucky. He decided to work from home for a few hours and then he was going to take the 9:00am train into work. He normally leaves at 5:00am, but he was tired. Anyway, he got completely dressed, but he was wearing black slippers because he was at home working from the computer and didn't want to wear his work shoes in the house. When it came time to leave he actually left the house in his slippers, and then his boss called to tell him not to bother and just telecommute. He came back in the house to tell me he was staying home wearing his gun belt and everything. It was only then when he went to take off his shoes that he realized he had almost gone to work in his slippers. How did he escape??? I would have loved to be in the office that day!

Alpha and Omega

Chandler to Mom "Why do people make it so complicated and say God is the Alpha and the Omega? It would be so much easier if they just said He is the "A to Z"

Celebrating Easter

The yummy food!
Avrielle hunting for eggs.
Relaxing in the sun.
Charissa and her friend Mike.
David taking a turn at the BBQ

We celebrated Easter at my dad and Katja's house. This was the first year having Easter
without my dad there. Even though the dates are different, he died the day before Easter last year, so we were all busy making the funeral plans. Dave had to take over the barbecuing this year which he was not totally comfortable with, but the food came out awesome. ( He had lots of help from Carissa's friend Mike.) Overall, we had a really relaxing afternoon. I am thankful for these traditions that we have to spend time together with family.

Swim Mentors

Avrielle and her swim friends.

Getting to meet her mentor, Nicolette.
Chan and Steven
During Easter break all the younger swimmers on the swim team were paired up with an older mentor. We had a kick off at the pool where Avrielle and Chandler got to meet their swimming big brother and big sister. They were both so excited to get to know them and learn some tips from them. Avrielle's mentor even brought her a little treat.

No Cancer

The gastroenterologist from USC called last night and said that the biopsy shows no cancer. We are so relieved and thankful. We appreciated your prayers so much again this week as we had to think through all the "What if " scenarios. God did give us peace and helped us to trust Him through your encouragement and reading His word.

Thanks For Praying

David had the endoscopy yesterday, and he is doing great. The doctor didn't seem that concerned about anything she saw. She biopsied the two areas to send to the lab and we will know the final results in about a week.

Pet Scan Results

About a week ago after calling the doctor several times, she finally called us back. The reason it took so long was that there was some question about the results of the PET scan. The results came back positive, but she wasn't sure why. There was activity in the stomach area. The doctor is pretty convinced that what is showing up isn't Hodgkins because that type of cancer follows a logical progression and this isn't in the pattern. She wanted another week to let some other doctors look it over because she had never seen this kind of result. We called again earlier this week and I guess the other radiologists or doctors also decided the results were positive, so David will have an Endoscopy this coming Wednesday to get a better picture of what is going on in his stomach. They can't redo the PET because it is too much radiation. Right now the doctor thinks it could just be a false positive, but we need to check it out. Even though we have been through this before, the waiting and not being anxious is always the hardest part. This time the wait seems extra long. The good news is that in God's sovereign plan the both times we have had to wait for test results have been Easter and Christmas. I think it is a blessing that they have come on these two dates because it is so easy to remember that God loved us so much that he sent his only son to die for us. This gives David and I hope because we realize that this world is not our home and we have an eternity with God to look forward to. Romans 8:8 says,"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us."

Yesterday I was reading this song from the album Come Weary Saints.

Shall I take from Your hand Your blessings
Yet not welcome any pain
Shall I thank you for days of sunshine
Yet grumble in days of rain
Shall I love you in times of plenty
Then leave you in days of drought
Shall I trust when I reap a harvest
But when winter winds blow than doubt

Oh let Your will be done in me
In your love I will abide
Oh I long for nothing else as long
As you are glorified

Are you good only when I prosper
And true only when I'm filled
Are you King only when I'm carefree
And God only when I'm well
You are good when I'm poor and needy
You are true when I'm parched and dry
You still reign in the deepest valley
You're still God in the darkest night

So quiet my restless heart
Quiet my restless heart
Quiet my restless heart in You.

I like the last line of the song for me especially. Quiet my restless heart in You. One of the ways this week that I have been calm is because I have just been super busy with life and so it is easy not to think about it. I have been able to discipline my mind to not let my thoughts wander to the worst case scenario...but, I think God wants more than that from me. He wants me not only not to worry, but to quiet my heart in Him. To "consider it all joy" as James says in 1:2. So if you read this and want to pray for us this week, obviously our desire is that the Pet scan is a false positive and nothing is wrong, but more importantly we truly want to have faith in God's perfect plan and know that no matter what, because of Christ, the result is good for us.

Celebrating the Passover

Last night we went to Grammy Micki's and Papa Rick's house to have Passover. I always like how this holiday is meant for the children to remind them about how amazing and good God is and all he has done for us not only many years ago, but today as well.

Decorating Easter Eggs

Every year the Andersons have had us over to decorate eggs. It is always so much fun to spend time with them and officially start our Easter Break!

Katja's Birthday

My nanny and her caretaker Jenni.

My nanny specifically ordered hamburgers for dinner. She ate the whole thing!
Frozen lemonade ice-cream pie. So refreshing! It would have been better if the weather cooperated.
Katja, Carissa, and Avrielle

Still Waiting

We are still waiting for the results of David's PET scan. He had it a few weeks ago, but we are learning to be patient and trust in the Lord. The doctor is still looking it over and I'm sure we will hear back soon.