Kate has been in bed resting for most of the day but was up this evening to eat dinner with the family and hang around the kitchen a little bit. That's positive!
She is not as sensitive to sound and light as she was before which is good with three boys in the house. However, to keep things quiet on the second level of the house (bedrooms) for Kate, Aunt Dee Dee made a new chart for the boys, actually a diagram of our house, to show them the loudness "zones" in the house. The basement is the "roudy" zone, main level is "moderate noise" zone, and the second floor is the "quiet" zone. Under Aunt Dee Dee's new system, this is a team effort (we're into accountability here) where the "team" will get a star in the G (Good) or B (Bad) column at the end of the day based on their performance. One warning is allowed to be given (and I'm sure will be given every day).
The system is working pretty well, at least this first day, because I went to the basement and found the boys engaged in a serious wrestling match. (Though younger, our middle child can definitely hold his own with our oldest, when needed)
We've decided it would be best for me to head back to work tomorrow since Soccer Gram will be able to watch our youngest all day while Kate is resting and the older boys are at school. Please pray for me about this. I could be a tad overwhelmed on my first day back since I am the only one at my company that does what I do, however, I do have a new employee starting tomorrow that will be much needed relief, especially with what lies ahead with Kate's cancer treatment plan. God's timing and provision are always perfect!
For His Glory,
Dave
P.S. If God allows Kate to make a full recovery and we can get all of this behind us we will be forming a chapter of Blogaholics Anonymous for any of you who are interested, or willing to admit it :-)
18 comments:
My heart praises God because of you. Your words to the boys and to each other makes me see Christ in you. He has made you this week more into His image. May we all be challenged to be more like Him as well. Praise be to God.
Sara
Dear Kate, Dave and the boys,
I've just gotten back on-line since Friday morning and wanted you to know we continue to pray for you without ceasing.
God is faithful,
Kim, Bill, Emily, Nick & Noelle Endraske
now living in Memphis, TN
Dear Kate and Dave,
Okay, so sign me up for the Blogaholics group! I hadn't been able to check your blog since Sat. morning, and I was definitely going through withdrawal!
I am so thankful that your talk with the boys went so well. EXCELLENT job, Dave!! A visual that will stick with them (probably forever, literally) as they process all that is happening. You are wise to expect questions from them--they will most likely come, eventually.
Dave, I was "misty" this morning as we sang the same song at our church ("Forever"), and then again as I just read your blog and thought about how God used it to encourage you.
Kate, I am so glad you are back at home and seem to be resting. "There's no place like home!"
You all remain in my prayers, including Soccer Gram, and Aunt DeeDee (I am one of your most loyal followers, by the way!)
Don't know if you guys have the Steven Curtis Chapman CD "All Things New" (I think it's a few years old), but there's a song on it that offers great comfort, and I'd love for you to hear it. I can't find my CD case to say for sure, but I think it's called "Believe Me Now," and it's track #9. I'll try to post the words maybe another time.
Love and prayers to you,
Tiffani Gibbs
If you're leading the group then sign me up...It's good to hear you are all doing well. We are continuing to pray for you whole family.
Dennis, Tabatha, Sarah & Macy
Preparing to Get Back to Work is a good portion for Gram to check in.
After living out of a suitcase all week I thought it was time to approach Carter to see if we could make some accomidations for a few of my clothes.
I left a room that was rather Grandmotherly. Beige walls with an old quilt that belonged to my mother, a few little pictures etc. Now I take up residence in a room filled with sports. Stan Musial and the likes. The overhead fan blades are baseball bats, a glove and the light fixture a large baseball. The picture I like the very best is Albert Puhols from ceiling to floor. His fingers pointing upwards and eyes toward heaven.
I asked Carter if he thought I could have a little drawer space for some of my things. He went to his dresser and opened the first drawer and studied it a bit. Took his arm and slid his underware and socks to one side and smiled at me and said, is this OK Gram? Well Gram had in mind the whole drawer, but it did seem rather reasonable that we share since it was his room. Next we ivestigated the closet. He found for me yet another spot to put afew more items. While in the closet he had to show me a collection of little boy things. Sea shells, bird nest, snake skins and more. This took me back in time when my own sons were going up on the farm. One day I opened a drawer and a very large turtle poked his head up at me. I had a very good time exploring with Carter little boy world. All in all I believe we solved my problem of suitcase living.
I am overwhelmed with the comfort of the scriptures that all of you have been sharing. One can just read and savor.
Alas the week begins anew with three little boys.
Soccer Gram signing off.
Dear Kate and Dave,
Wanted to share something from "Our Daily Bread" this morning. "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal." (2 Cor. 4:17-18)The commentary adds that the writer, Paul, took a long-range view of our experiences as followers of Christ. "In the midst of personal setbacks, he urged the Corinthians not to lose heart (2 Cor. 4:17). In spite of loss, we are to pursue the higher goals of God's kingdom now, anticipating our eternal triumph in Christ."
As you take up everyday life again, the long-range view may be hard to hold on to--the daily stresses, deadlines and curve balls life throws will tend to occupy your thoughts. But don't let them crowd out the bigger story you're involved in--they are all temporary. God has you and your family involved in something eternal, and so many friends are sharing that with you through this blog.
Love,
Marilyn (McDonald)
Kirkwood, MO
You have been in our thoughts and prayers at this time.David, Stacy and Zachary Plocek
Phil 4:13 has been my motto and have my last spinal surgery set for Dec 6. God has brought me through 28 years and three surgeries for sciolosis and I know God will sustain you through this and this will strengthen your family.
Kate and Dave (and boys)-
You are being prayed for by many at Covenant Church, both corporately in the services and privately by many people. You are in our prayers for a full recovery! So many are being blessed my your faithfulness through this hardship. God certainly does bring us though dark times (and we have seen a few ourselves) to the other side with a renewed faith and perspective on life. Praise God for your witness to so many!
Julie Bauer (and John, Katherine, Elizabeth and "baby B")in St. Charles
Dear Kate,
An Emmaus friend just told me about what was happening with you, and asked if I knew you. I got on this site and feel like I've been catching up on 10 years of life...since being at Turkey Hill together! I am so encouraged to read of your family, wonderful husband, and how the Lord is sustaining you through this time. Your love for the Lord and your family makes my heart swell in thankfulness for the godly example you are and how you and Dave have brought your boys up to seek the Lord. And I will be praying for you!
Proverb 16:11 "Thou wilt make known to me the path of life; in Thy presence is fulness of joy; in Thy right hand there are pleasures forever."
Love,
Katie Scott (soon to be Welch!)
Living Waters Bible Camp, Westby, WI
Dear Snodgrass Family,
I am finally able to send a message. This is LeeAnn Gienke. We have come into contact several times...gymnastics at Vetta, Awana at EFree. I have been praying and asking God to give you strength and courage. (Just like Joshua before he entered new and unknown promised land.) I am thrilled to know you were able to come home so soon, Kate. Is that normal, or did they kick you out? :-)
When I told Samantha about your situation, she immediately asked if she could come watch your boys. (That is an offer extended if you ever need her.)
Thank you so much for putting your lives out there on this blog so we can stay up-to-date and be praying for you. You have shown incredible faith and such wisdom as you have gone through this whirlwind.
We love you,
The Gienke Family
Todd,LeeAnn,Peter,Samantha,Ben and Jack
I am so touched by the old Turkey Hill Ranch Bible Camp people beginning to blog on. Please excuse all spelling mistakes or typing errors from Gram. Aunt Dee Dee will get me up to speed. And spell check or a Dictionary and a little sleep would also help.
Kate is up and down. Hard to keep that girl down.
Gram
Step 1: We admitted we were powerless over blogging...
I am going to hold on to the bible lesson that you shared with your boys, both for myself and for our kids. What simple but profound reminder of God's care, as well as His greater plan for us. (Thanks you Marilyn for sharing it.) At some point in the future I am sure we will need those same reminders in our own family. We continue to pray for you constantly.
Love, from the Weinbergs
certainly our work is not over, it has just begun. with kate back home and the treatment beginning soon, along with dave returning to work, grandma and myself have ruminated over the possiblities, i.e. schedules, treatment outcomes, finances, work, etc. we have come to the conclusion that the family needs us now more than ever. cole is right, indeed "cancer comes from the trashcan." but we have hope that kate's cancer, and not kate herself, will end up in the trashcan.
in the meantime we have a story to tell. a story about a young aunt and an independent grandma and a sister with cancer and her boys--all under the same roof. kate told me last night, after dave and i put the boys to bed, that the doctors warned her that she might not come out of surgery the same person. the people in white coats told her that her mind might change, but what they didn't tell her is that her heart would most definetly change.
i was silent when i heard this. i have been quieter lately, maybe because i don't want to get in the way of the routine. i'm trying to give kate and dave space so they can process this news, and also time to adjust to all of our personalities mixing together. i come when they call, and go where they need me. i am listening and watching how this machine works. i am like carter and cole at school learning a different language. and i am trying to stay awake, trying to train myself to fit this lifestyle, while at the same time falling asleep on the living room floor and on the couch. i am trying not to get any more traffic tickets in west county because i need to get to kate's house before the wheatgrass juice oxidates and loses its nutritional value (the cop looked at me strangely when i held up the little plastic shot glass filled with green liquid. tilting her head, she said someone the night before was driving drunk on that same road. i told her the only thing i've been drinking is wheatgrass).
i want you to know that this isn't a sacrifice, neither is it a compromise; helping kate and the boys and grandma is something i want to do. and writing about this experience is something i am going to do, because like my sister my heart has changed.
Kudos to the person who said "Cancer Sucks" Thank you for finally calling it like it is. Don't get me wrong, it is extremely helpful to quote scripture during a time like this, however, every once in a while, it is nice to finally call it what it is, a disease that "SUCKS". And, I actually think God completely understands the word "SUCKS".
Also, kudos to Carter for letting your Grandma have a spot in your underwear drawer. Way to step up to the plate, Carter!
Sincerely,
A Christian Blogaholic. Actually I think we should have party and call it "Blogapoluza"
BIG PRAYERS for you Dave as you go back to work tomorrow and have peace as God gets you through your work productively so that you can be home with your darling family.
Tom and April Curtis
Kirkwood Missouri
covenant church
Kate/Dave
I knew in the heart the facts about the outcome of the tumor before you got them. Not that we don't have a curve thrown for us, but as said so many times, we know we can handle this. It is not for me as to question why...but to know it was meant to be this way. I know how hard this has been for all of you. I pray for strength for all of you. Look around you, God has surrounded you with so much love, friendship, you can sustain this and so much more. Thank you God for letting this tumor not be the high grade level. You have fought a long hard battle and you are more than 1/2 way throught the fight. God is truly leading you to victory and glory in this. I have to tell you that this is the first time in my life that I witnessed a miracle...blessed are we to be part of your lives... If you need anything at all...you only have to ask and we will be there...
Diana, Rick and Ashley Loewe
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