Saucy Doings

Tickets Bought...

2010-06-09T20:11:00.000-07:00

We're looking forward to our summer plans. July 20th we fly out of Orange County - in Amsterdam - Mark goes on to Belgium - Ben, Josh and I go on to Ukraine. (Mark will be in Ukraine in October). Mark will be doing research in Leuven at the seminary where he taught every year for 2 weeks when we were missionaries. This is the beginning of his 7th semester sabbatical. Josh and I will be in Ukraine for 10 days, then leave Ben at a Christian camp in Sumy, Ukraine where our SEND missionaries, the Paetkaus minister. He'll help out for 2 1/2 weeks or so. Meanwhile, Josh and I will join Mark in Belgium. Then we'll all meet up in Prague at our dear friends' the Dagens - missionaries. Ben and Josh will then go to an MK camp with the Dagen daughters for 5 days in Czech Rep - a camp connected with their International Church in Prague. We parents will hang out and sip coffee :). We depart for America on Aug 23rd. It pays to have been missionaries - you have connections around the world!

Health update

2010-05-17T09:36:00.000-07:00

I'm often asked how my health is -we really appreciate everyone's continued prayers. Here is the synopsis:

A little over a year ago, I switched from City of Hope to St Jude's Medical Center. It cut our health insurance costs by 70% - no joke - and I'm still getting the same treatment, excellent care, like my new Dr and the drive is only 9 min from our house. They also can always refer me back to City of Hope if needed.

Over these 3 years since I had chemo - my cancer is being controlled by RX. I'm on my 3rd kind. The cancer finds it's way around the RX and becomes "active" which then leads to a switch in RXs. I'm on my last option of RXs, then treatment will need to be chemo again and/or "creative" non-traditional options that may or may not work. I go for a monthly injection (the Rx), bimonthly IV to continue to build my bones, monthly lab tests and Dr. appt., and every 6 months - a CT scan. Every month thru the blood tests, my "cancer marker count" is measured - this test shows if the cancer is finding it's way around my RX or not - so we want that # to remain under 37. So we praise God for this month's check up - my count is 24! We get nervous when my #s begin to climb... we don't want the drs to run out of options of treatment for me. As I mentioned on facebook, the #s fluctuate... no one knows why they fluctuate slightly, they just don't want to see a trend of climbing #s.... it keeps us depending on God.

Last week the Lord spoke to both Mark and me again thru 2 Cor 12:9 - "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." for all areas of our lives. His grace has been sufficient, in fact He has blessed us with so many spiritual blessings thru my illness - we also see it in Ben and Josh, even though it's wearying at times to live with the dark cloud of cancer over our heads. I'm grateful that I live a fairly normal life and have energy - I think it's because I don't need to work... another gift from God.

Rejoice with us for God's grace to us and thank you for being part of His grace!

I am His...

2010-02-16T08:33:00.000-08:00

As I reflected on Valentine's Day this morning, I realized how much God has blessed me. I grew up with no father, so I was nobody's princess...
On Valentine's Day, I received beautiful cards with the most precious sentiments from Josh, Ben and Mark..., a box of See's truffles, flowers, a Jamba Juice gift card and a very special lunch date with my big guy - love of my life - at Las Brisas in Laguna Beach. Yes, I felt like a princess. I could hear the Lord say, "Bonnie, you have been My Beloved all along".
It makes me think of my favorite hymn:

"In the Garden"

I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses.

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.

He speaks, and the sound of His voice,
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing.

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.

I’d stay in the garden with Him
Though the night around me be falling,
But He bids me go; through the voice of woe
His voice to me is calling.

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.

Yes, don't ever forget that we are loved by the Lord....
and on top of that, we also received a wonderful box of Valentine treats from the best sister and Auntie!

A Fun Week at VBS...

2009-06-27T19:17:00.000-07:00

Ben helped in the pre-school department!...

Josh had fun with his buddies...

Weekend celebrations...

2009-06-23T21:07:00.000-07:00

Celebrating Father's Day...

...at our favorite restaurant where the waiters and waitresses do line dancing

...CHEERS!!!.. to the best Dad in the world!

Happy Birthday!!

... a birthday present from MK buddies in Ukraine - Just the start of birthday celebrations for our now 12 year old! ...stay tuned...

What Ukraine Is To Me...

2009-06-16T15:28:00.000-07:00

PEOPLE!!... Natasha, Larissa, Galyna, Nadia, Lyba, Annya, Oksanna, Alona, Prokopchuks, Talbot/KTS students, faculty and staff, Vova - his family and church, Cvet Evangeli, Elya and his family, Holly, Heidi, Hue Chon, Sheri, McDonnells, Woodens, Burketts, Sharon, Lois, Jones', SEND colleagues... I (we) just returned from a full 10 days of bliss visiting w/ all of these dear friends in Ukraine. It was bliss for me. Ben and I felt the loss of Ukraine more than ever on this visit. Ben misses the atmosphere and wholesomeness of other MKs - they really understand each other.... our trip... a slice of Heaven.

On the way back, we spent 3 days in Paris...

If you don't mind second-hand smoke, exhaust, and noise... Paris is the cultural center for you...

For me... outside of Paris - Giverny - the home of Monet's Garden... my place... and if all our friends from Ukraine were there with us and from America... it would have been absolutely heavenly. God was there in all His splendor of shapes, colors and scents.
Yes, a trip with a glimpse of Heaven.

Spring is here...

2009-04-05T20:46:00.000-07:00

The end of basketball season...

"Husky's" Most Inspirational

"Highlander's" Best Sportsmanship

Fun at 'Family Jam'...

never too old for an Easter egg hunt

...shooting hoops.

Time to plant tomatoes...

...harvest the last of the mandarins,

...and wash windows.

Gran Fondo, "Little Italy", San Diego, Ca

2009-03-07T20:37:00.000-08:00

Apparently in Italy, every Saturday around the country, there are 'Gran Fondo' bike races going on. This year "Little Italy", San Diego, CA started their first annual 'Gran Fondo' bike race. Guess who we were cheering for?

"Go Dad go!!!"

... 45 miles (60 kilometers) later!

You're the greatest!...

2009-02-17T09:59:00.000-08:00

I have two great kids...
Yesterday, they scrubbed our kitchen floor, did all the laundry, shopped for dinner groceries and Ben (his idea) made us dinner! I'm not sick - just not supposed to lift heavy things yet. By the end of the day, I told them that I would treat them to a movie in the theatre - it hardly seems like an even payback - thanks guys - you're the greatest!

During...
After...

Favorite Pastimes...

2009-01-14T19:18:00.000-08:00

Reunions with fellow missionary friends...

...a reunion with Shirley (standing far left) - from Germany. In our pre-marraige days, we all were part of a young adult group.

...tea with Esther (now in Kazakstan), Josie (now in Kiev), and Julie (now in Odessa). We were all once teammates in Kiev together.

...our special friends from Czech Republic - the Dagens

Basket- ball...
...playing for the Highland- ers

...playing for the Hawks

...watching and routing for the Lakers!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Вітаю з Новим Роком та Різдвом!

2008-12-26T20:40:00.000-08:00

Click on this title and view our 'Christmas '08' photo album...

"I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints..." Ephesians 1:18

Preparing for the holidays...

2008-12-09T21:56:00.001-08:00

at home...

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

our hearts...
read one of these with me this Christmas...

Divinity entering the world on the floor of a stable... God had come near! Max Lucado views the Savior who walked among us through a distinctly human lens. He speaks plainly to those of us who prefer to keep Jesus otherworldly, distant, and predictable: "Don't do it. For heaven's sake, don't. Let Him into the mire and muck of our world. For only if we let him in can he pull us out."

Yancey writes: If Jesus came to reveal God to us, then what do I learn about God from that first Christmas? The word associations that come to mind as I ponder that question take me by surprise. Humble, approachable, underdog, courageous - these hardly seem appropriate words to apply to deity. Yancey reveals the real Jesus beyond the stereotypes...

Heaven came near.... an unwanted good-bye

2008-11-24T21:35:00.000-08:00

We had a very sad week. My dear sister, Aimee, unexpectedly passed away last week. Words cannot express our grief.

Memories of her even in this past year fill our minds:
- She met me at the airport w/ my other sister, Genevieve, when I flew back from Ukraine to be rediagonsed w/ cancer
- went with me to all those initial doctor appts.
- was the family hostess for the holidays of our northern family
- met Josh in Sacramento on his field trip
- flew down for Josh and Mark's birthdays
- came down to visit me w/ Genevieve
- gathered the birthday and Christmas lists from Ben and Josh and bought everything on the lists for them!
- came down w/ Gen and Mom to celebrate my birthday
- called on the exact date of our birthdays and sang "Happy Birthday" to us
- always kept in touch thru e-mails and phone calls
The list goes on. She leaves a big hole for many.

If you look at my last blog entry, she is the one who left a comment. Now she is in that place - Heaven - enjoying our Lord and Savior, for it was thru her that I became a Christian...
"...and thus we shall always be with the Lord." 1 Thess 4:17
"...depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better." Phil 1:23

Smoke - Filled Vision

2008-11-16T18:27:00.000-08:00

We woke this morning to a smoke filled sky and ashes on the ground.
...9:00am

...ashes

We are still quite a distance from the roaring wildfires that have scorched So. California over the weekend. It has been the worst fires since 1961. Around 1,000 homes have been destroyed, 20,000 acres scorched and tens of thousands evacuated and it is still roaring. What words come to mind watching the newscasts?... loss... compassion... and all the emotions that go with that... a huge loss for many.

I have been so blessed by updates from a dear man with SEND International who has Lou Gehrig's disease. He writes: "...outdoor activities such as camping, fishing, canoeing, boating, jet skiing, bicycling, motor cycling, etc, etc. Well…almost all of these activities and joys have come to a halt. So I have been divesting myself of ‘my toys’... A keen awareness of Matt 6:19-21 has been growing in my heart,
"Stop storing up treasures for yourselves on earth,... Instead, store up treasures for yourselves in heaven,..."
With my mortality staring me in the face daily, I have been thinking a lot more about life beyond this arena in which we are now living. What is beyond? What is Heaven like? ...Here are a few gems from Alcorn's book 'Heaven': [460]
“If we build our lives on the redemptive work of Christ, we should all be optimists. Why? Because even our most painful experience in life is but a temporary setback. Our pain and suffering may or may not be relieved, but they will certainly be relieved in the next.”
... thanks for clearing the smoke, Don!

Test Results...

2008-10-31T13:20:00.000-07:00

I had a check up with my doctor yesterday.
Mark's update:
"The news from what results the doctor had available yesterday was good, but other results that came in just this morning were not what we hoped for because they indicated that Bonnie's cancer could again be active. Her numbers are now barely in the normal range and moving in the undesired direction. She's getting checked again in 6 weeks instead of the 3 month schedule we were on. We're clinging to the Lord and appreciate your prayers."

My reaction: In 6 weeks, it will be right before Christmas... (sigh)... I need Your perspective on this God...
"...I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands..." Isaiah 49:15,16

Oбще язык...

2008-10-30T18:29:00.000-07:00

Our dear friends Anatoly and Galyna Prokopchuk (President of Kyiv Theological Seminary) just left after having visited with us for 4 days. In Ukraine, we always felt like we shared "Oбще язык" - understood each other - "spoke the same language". We couldn't have survived without them. We love them and miss them already.

On their way to the airport back to Ukraine... til we meet again.

Ukraine on our minds...

2008-10-15T18:39:00.000-07:00

Mark is in Ukraine right now teaching in the Talbot program, so the topic of our dinner conversations have been:
"Lucky, Dad - eating in the seminary's cafeteria every day..."
"Yesterday he said he ate there twice! Dinner was картошки (potatoes) with meeeeeat sauce."
"Remember their борщ?(beet soup)... ohhhhh and their котлеты!" (meat cutlets)
"Remember the пампушки (filled biscuits) in the рынок!" (outdoor market)
Mom: "In June when we go to Ukraine, we might stay at the seminary."
"Yes! I can't wait to eat there!"
"Are we going to 'Два Гуся'?" (a restaurant in Kiev w/ Ukrainian food)
Mom: "Anatoly is coming in 1 1/2 weeks."
"Is he going to make us his плоф?" (rice pilaf)

Yes, Ben and Josh are their stomachs... but they don't just miss Ukrainian food. We have also reminisced about riding the метро (subway), Шевшенко Park, Уман, various people, and their days in their Ukrainian school - I didn't know that during break time, Ben wrestled w/ the other boys and threw Misha down once! They vividly remember their first day in their Ukrainian school as you see in the photos:

Sept 1, 2000
Sept 1, 2004

Oct. 19, 2008 - Ben carrying the Ukrainian-type flag in our church's mission's flag parade last Sunday.

How Young...?

2008-10-04T22:26:00.000-07:00

A birthday fit for a Queen...

...with family. Thank you for driving down Mom, Aimee and Genevieve..
..and Bob and Nancy!
...The Royal Shiroma Ladies having a queen's brunch at her favorite restaurant.

A surprise from the king...

...2 days in Santa Barbara..

...a perfect gift - thanks hubby.
High Tea with a faithful friend - Thanks, June!

...and a bouquet of Plumerias waiting in Her Highness' garden from her Creator and Heavenly Father.
Lord, thank you for all the thoughtful friends and family... and bouquet of Plumerias!

Saving fuel + absentmindedness = only good intentions

2008-09-18T10:02:00.000-07:00

Our 3 men are doing their share in saving on gasoline a few days a week...

Ben bikes 3.6 miles to school... (calling us on his cell upon arrival and departure)

Josh rides his scooter .8 miles to school... (Mom walks -to and from- half way w/ him)

Mark bikes 2.7 miles to Biola...

Yes, we are the "savers", except when absentmindedness sets in...

This morning when Ben arrived at school, he called - he forgot his bike lock... so Dad drove to his school to deliver the lock. When Josh arrived at school, he realized it was picture day... so Mom quickly drove to his school delivering him a nicer shirt and money... then was told Josh needed to bring homemade playdough today, if not, he would get a lower grade... so Mom drove home to make it and realized we didn't have white flour, so drove to the market to buy some, drove back home - made the playdough and drove back to Josh's school to deliver it.

Well, so much for saving on gasoline today ...we had good intentions.

A New Regime...

2008-09-11T20:32:00.000-07:00

School has begun for all of us.

Ben is in 9th grade at La Habra High School.
Favorite class: German
Activities: German Club, Christian Club, Heritage Program
Highlight: High School group at church
Bummer: Freshman Basketball
...coming home from school

Josh is in 5th grade at La Mirada Heights Christian School (thanks Grandma Kay!)
Favorite subject: PE
Activities: Friends, friends, friends
Highlight: Being at LMHCS, Louay is in his class
Bummer: Didn't make the flag football team

Mark is teaching 5 classes this semester, instead of the normal 3.
The unique ones: Theo 3 for the MBA program, Theo 3 in Kiev (Oct 9-19), and Eastern Orthodox Theology.
Highlight: Cycling

Bonnie is also in school - auditing a class at Talbot.
Class: Hermeneutics & the Word in Spiritual Formation
Highlight: Taking the class with Julie Mosse, women's Bible Study at church
Activities: Being part of my guys' lives - Parent Booster Clubs, Moms In Touch, students over, keeping my guys fed!

A Prayer for Ukraine...

2008-08-16T16:37:00.000-07:00

During these Olympics, our family has been cheering for the United States and for Ukraine. It reminds us to pray for Ukraine, esp. w/ instability at their border near Georgia. One of our favorite songs in Ukraine was, "Молитва за Україну - A Prayer for Ukraine". I tried to find a good rendition of it on You Tube with no success. Do any of you have one? The words are:

A Prayer for Ukraine
May my prayer go
To you like the aroma of incense
And the heart drawn without ceasing
Into your glorious heavenly temple

God, I pray for Ukraine
God, I pray for its people
May you forgive them
May you save them
And show us your mercy

God, I know you are going to be with us
In your temple under the heavens
You gifted us with your joy and peace
You gave your life for the people
You inscribed us in the Book of Life

In your Living Word
You laid out the vision for life
So that all the people would pray to God
To the one who died for them on the cross

Молитва за Україну
Моя молитва нехай лине
До Тебе, наче фіміам.
І серце лине без зупину
В чудовий Твій небесний храм.

Боже, я молю за Україну,
Боже, молю тебе за людей,
Ти їх прости,
Ти їх спаси,
І милість Твою нам яви.
Боже, я знаю,
Що Ти будеш з нами
В храмі Твоєму під небесами
Радість і мир Ти дарував,
Життя для людей віддав,
В Книгу Життя нас записав!

В Своєму Слові Живому,
Ти для людей ведіння дав,
Щоб люди всі молились Богу,
Що на Хресті за нас вмирав.

Lake Tahoe...

2008-08-08T15:43:00.000-07:00

We just returned from a short vacation in Lake Tahoe. It is famous for it's beautiful blues - it certainly is a slice of Heaven. Thanks Gen and Michael for the use of your cabin!

...a familiar language for your bumper, "Keep Tahoe Blue"(clean) - apparently Lake Tahoe and Lake Baikal in Siberia are partners: see the link

View the rest of our Tahoe Photo Album under our links.

To make our vacation even more perfect ...a stop in Sacramento to celebrate Ben's birthday with Bonnie's side - thanks everyone!

Ol' Friends...

2008-08-02T14:42:00.000-07:00

The last 2 weeks have been filled with time with ol' friends from Ukraine. We spent a week in Michigan at SEND's annual conference enjoying reconnecting, and hearing reports from SEND's various fields all over the world, praying for them... and having fun in the 'Olympics'...

This is the динамo team representing Ukraine.
We also had 2 days of bliss vacationing with the Magwood family after the conference.

Then, guess who flew into town from Kyiv... the White family! James, Joseph, Ben and Josh grew up together in Ukraine and will probably be forever friends.

...all just in time for Ben's 15th birthday!

Summer sports have ended...

2008-07-19T14:03:00.000-07:00

Swimming lessons for Josh at Biola...

Josh has never had swimming lessons, so we signed him up with some school buddies in hopes that he would become a more confident swimmer. As you see ...it worked!

Our 'Highlander' practicing...

We got an orientation to La Habra High School basketball during this summer league. Ben and his buddies sat on the bench most games but enjoyed them and practices anyway. His team lost only one game and played for championships in the weekend tournament, coming in 2nd.

It was a pretty wild championship game - 4 technicals! (2 on our team, 2 on the other) - the first was when one of the other team's players took a swing at one of our players ...it became more and more interesting from that point on :). Apparently, if you came out for the summer league, you're on the freshman team for this coming year. Ben is still game and wants to go for it.

...some of the basketball fans: 2 good friends - Yvonne (missionary in Brazil), Janie (soon to go on a 2 week mission trip to Malawi).

...however mountain-biking has just begun for this guy. Thanks for the birthday $ everyone!

Still Clear!!!!

2008-07-14T22:14:00.000-07:00

My CT scan was all clear with no sign of tumors still and my CA-15 (cancer count) is 12.5! - under 31 - still very much in the normal range. My doctor says that since I'm doing so well, he doesn't need to see me for 3 months. We're thanking the Lord again for His grace to us in this way - never forgetting that a year ago April, tumors were in my lungs, liver and bones and my CA-15 was over 200. Remember my verse from a year ago?
"You are my Shepherd; You gather me in Your arms and carry me close to Your heart, You gently lead me with my children." Isaiah 40:11.
It's been a hard year, yet filled with God's grace, holding us close to Himself and watching Him take care of Ben and Josh. Thank you, Jesus... we continue with You...

18 Miles and the "Pied Piper"...

2008-07-14T09:51:00.000-07:00

Actually, right now I am sitting in Panera sipping a latte between doctor appts at City of Hope. I had a CT scan this morning, next is a blood panel, doctor appt and then my monthly infusion (with a nap). My doctor will have most of the results by the time I see him, so I'll let you know tomorrow how things went.

In the meantime, here are some photos of our church campout from last week in Mammoth. I must admit that I'm not the "camper". I don't like dirt or bugs much, but the fellowship was completely worth it, in fact I may be open to doing it again. Our highlights: besides the 3 speakers (1 being my husband :), the great fellowship - getting to know people better, the morning devotions with the small group of us who woke up, and watching Ben and Josh have so much fun.

Ben all of a sudden seems older and had a great time hanging out with the older youth. He even went on an 18 mile hike with them up a mountain.

Josh had a little following of pre-schoolers all week. He does amazingly well with younger kids and likes playing with them and they with him! Barefoot and dirty was their motto all week - loving every minute!

a cold dip at Rainbow Falls...

Half a Century and a Decade...

2008-06-22T17:45:00.000-07:00

Guess who turned the big FIVE O on Friday?!

This Ol' Guy does deserve to Rule after finishing a 100 mile bike ride from Seal Beach to San Diego on his birthday!

'High Mileage, Low Maintenance'

...and guess who finished his first decade turning 11?!

The birthday present he's been wanting...

..."Booster".

Thank you for helping us celebrate, Grandma and Grandpa and for flying down, Aunt Aimee.

...a new wave of culture shock?

2008-06-17T19:30:00.000-07:00

Well, as you know, Ben graduated from 8th grade a week ago from Heights Christian Junior High. A week later, Ben is already a high schooler - He started going to the high school group on Sunday at church and yesterday started summer school at La Habra High School - a public school. He's taking the recommended health class for freshmen and is in their freshman summer basketball league.

I think I'm feeling a new wave of culture shock - is it the police presence at Ben's high school every time I drop him off and pick him up? - actually, I'm glad for it considering what I see. I find myself staring and wondering about this "new culture". Or was it the very aggressive, in your face, intimidating basketball that his team played in their first game today - after their first practice yesterday? Should I cheer for that kind of team? or is that good basketball and I'm just a pansy? Yep - we have definitely been in a bubble this past year. This is reeeeally different.

Is Mom a little worried? ...a little ...in shock? ...ya, but thankful... On Sunday at church, Ben enjoyed the high school group and was invited to join a small group. Picking him up from the small group, he exclaimed, "That was so much fun!" And tonight a high schooler from church called and told Ben that they want him to be on the leadership team - our quiet Ben?! He also has several classmates from his Jr. High in his health class and on his basketball team and they will all be in this semi-honors program together in the fall.

Thank you, Lord. In spite of my shock, You are active in Ben's life - may he reflect You.

Supporting our La Habra Highlander in his 'room to grow into' jersey.

Making the most of summer vacation with a neighbor.

Class of 2008

2008-06-13T16:12:00.000-07:00

8th Grade Graduation
Congratulations Ben!

Aunt Genevieve, Thank you for flying down.

Another generation of Saucys... on to High School... Monday... yikes!... Summer School begins already! Help! ...already a High Schooler?!

Captivating...

2008-05-31T08:30:00.000-07:00

I'm reading the book, "Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman's Soul", by John and Stasi Eldredge. After graduating from college, Stasi hitchhiked thru Europe and as a proud feminist wore a necklace of a symbol of a woman with a fist in the middle - independent and strong. This was after many heartaches. The message of Captivating is this: Your heart matters more than anything else in all creation. The desires you had as a little girl and the longings you still feel as a woman (yet have been pushed aside, wounded, buried) - to be swept up into a romance, to play an irreplaceable role in a GREAT adventure, to be the Beauty of the story - they are telling you of the life God created you to live. He offers to come now as the Hero of your story, to rescue your heart and release you to live as the fully alive and feminine You - whom He thinks is truly captivating.
Doesn't this remind you of all the Disney movies we grew up with? My personal favorite is "Beauty and the Beast". Belle is not an airhead, loves books, doesn't want the provincial life, longs for adventure and finds romance in a peculiar way. With Christ, reflecting Him - our fairy tales are transformed into a true story.

I am finding myself intrigued with Captivating. Some people love it - some hate it. One female professor at Talbot loves it and uses it in her class. Another female professor at Biola published an article against the book for its bad theology. Have you read it? What do you think?

Winding things down...

2008-05-27T08:36:00.000-07:00

Our school year is slowly coming to a close. Some of our weekend activities:

8th grade banquet... with his buddies.

Talbot baccalaureate... Grandpa giving the charge...

... Dad serving communion.

unwinding...

...Saucy style

the MAN CAVE...

2008-05-21T17:34:00.000-07:00

I realized that this blog is sorely lacking a view from Mark's corner, so here we are. His corner just has to begin with his MAN CAVE (a real term)...

definition:
man cave: "A room, space, corner or area of a dwelling that is specifically reserved for a male person to be in a solitary condition, away from the rest of the household in order to work, play, involve himself in certain hobbies, activities without interruption."

We converted our back shed into Mark's prized MAN CAVE...

It's filled with Mark's kinds of tools where he chews on "brain candy". Check out the Sundoulos link to read his latest morsel. (This issue of the Sundoulos is dedicated to Talbot's Extension at Kyiv Theological Seminary. See also Anatoly Prokopchuk's article.)

Then there is the more dignified non-cave at Talbot.
Mark's impressions at the end of his first year...

"I appreciate the community among the Talbot faculty and the university atmosphere."

"I always enjoy the students."

" ...pretty well, relatively normal."

2008-05-13T14:23:00.000-07:00

It is hard to believe that a year has gone by now since we returned from Ukraine and I was diagnosed with a recurrence of cancer. People often ask me (Bonnie) how I'm doing or how I'm feeling these days. My reply is, "...pretty well, relatively normal." I thought I'd explain what is well or normal for me. I'm so thankful for God's grace to me that I can answer in this way, that I forget that I don't feel 100%. Less than 100% mainly is that my body aches all over every morning or after having sat for awhile - upon standing up. My joints are also pretty weak - kneeling down, opening a jar, carrying groceries, etc. are met with some pain. A half hour nap in the afternoon revives my energy. Hmmm...I think that's it. None of this is debilitating. I garden, cook, clean, helped in the church nursery, have friends over for lunch and even go on roller coaster rides with my guys at Magic Mtn ...and then rest.

I take arimidex daily, which is an estrogen blocker and have an aredia infusion once a month for my bones. I also take extra vitamins and supplements and try to exercise and eat healthily - not always succeeding.

How do I feeeeeeel? I (we) meet each doctor check up with some dread and anxiety, wondering if the test results will read that the cancer has begun to spread again. They are about every 2 months or so. Everything remains clear right now - thank you, Jesus - I know that's from You!, but you can pray for me to have Christ's perspective in meeting these check ups - I'm going to have them the rest of my life. One of my strongest emotions - I treasure Mark, Ben and Josh and thank the Lord for them.

Well, does that help? Thank you for caring...
'but He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.' 2 Corinthians 12:9

Happy Mother's Day!

2008-05-09T22:46:00.000-07:00

We'll be away this weekend, so we had an early celebration...

Dinner by our two chefs...

the menu of the evening ...

... for Grandma and Mama
Mama with her row of flowers.

Josh in Sacramento...

2008-04-29T19:44:00.000-07:00

Josh's 4th grade field trip is an overnight trip to Sacramento. Dad took him to the airport early this morning to join his class. Mom, Dad and brother Ben could not join him, but...

Grandpa David was on the other end to meet him...

...and Aunt Aimee

...and Aunt Genevieve and Jeff (and Uncle Micheal). Thank you all of you for joining him for dinner!
The Railroad Museum

Україна - Happy Easter!,

2008-04-26T15:10:00.000-07:00

Христос воскрес! Воїстину воскрес!
Ісаї 53.5 - "А Він був ранений за наші гріхи, за наші провини Він мучений був, кара на Ньому була за наш мир, Його ж ранами нас уздоровлено!"
...may you experience this truth each day.
with much love, the Saucys

A Day out...

2008-04-22T21:39:00.000-07:00

...is this a photo of "our high school homecoming queen court reunion" (someone joked :) or "out on the town" at our church women's retreat? Notice Bonnie's own hair!!!

...at our favorite place

2008-04-22T21:18:00.000-07:00

... for our 16th wedding anniversary.

Spring fever...

2008-04-01T18:06:00.001-07:00

Yehhh! Dad's back from Kyiv!

Spring break from school meant...

...having friends over

an exciting service trip to Mexico w/ the church youth group
...and then back to the grind of school again - "I don wanna do thiiiiis.."

Happy Easter!

2008-03-23T22:57:00.000-07:00

"...the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds, we are healed." Isaiah 53:5
Христос воскрес! Воистину воскрес!
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!
(Mark's in Ukraine)

Easter fun with friends!

highlights...

2008-03-23T21:27:00.000-07:00

Bonnie's young MOPS moms...
First Place in the Speech Meet!

Back from a super time in DC!!

Happy - восьмого марта!

2008-03-08T22:41:00.000-08:00

Happy International Women's Day Ladies!!

Ben off to Washington DC for 13 days...

2008-03-08T21:09:00.000-08:00

check out the daily photos: http://www.hcjh.us/gallery_DCTrip.shtml

"Bye Ben! Have a great time, we'll miss you!"

"Hi Ben!" ...Ben's nightly phone call - nah, he's not missing us is he?

WE AT HOME...

Josh on a field trip to Knott's...

... while Mom and Dad go on a special date

a day in Santa Barbara...

making his own history with Ben Franklin...

Yeh, Hawks!!!

2008-02-25T11:07:00.001-08:00

2nd place winners - we're proud of our Hawks!

Can hardly wait to be on his own team, like big brother...

Ahh, coffee and a good book/magazine after all that cheering!...

Catch up time ...

2008-02-22T21:21:00.000-08:00

You haven't heard from us for awhile, so we'll let the photos catch you up on our "doings" ...

We've become big fans of Jr. High basketball!!!...

Championship game today... watch CNN tonight for the results :)

A new house means...

...new chores

Friends breaking in our new home...

...ah, a day off from school

ahhhh solitude...

2008-01-07T22:20:00.000-08:00

How I love solitude at times. I just finished reading a great book, "The Great Omission", by Dallas Willard. I highly recommend it. He's a philosophy prof at USC. He writes: "Solitude well practiced will break the power of busyness, haste, isolation, and loneliness. You will see that the world is not on your shoulders after all. You will find yourself and God in new ways. Joy and peace will begin to bubble up within you... His character will increasingly become yours."
In this new year, I'm feeling the need for some solitude, so you may not hear from me on this blog for awhile. Phone, skype or e-mail me anytime though.
Happy New Year and Merry Christmas today to those in Ukraine!

2007-12-26T16:26:00.000-08:00

one of our special cards...
Дякую, Сергей і Наташа
Христос Народився - Славімо Його!

Christmas lights...

2007-12-23T22:16:00.000-08:00

strolling around a neighborhood

2007-12-23T22:12:00.000-08:00

Someone's front yard

2007-12-21T23:07:00.000-08:00

Having a jolly, jolly Christmas...!

one of our best Christmas presents...

2007-12-21T23:04:00.001-08:00

Yeh - our friends from the Czech Rep, the Dagens are here!

Holiday fun...

2007-12-21T22:53:00.001-08:00

Josh's school party - a little bit of cookie with the frosting

update...

2007-12-18T08:15:00.000-08:00

It's so nice receiving everyone's Christmas cards. They are decorating our dining area. Many of you are asking how my health is so I'll give you a brief update. My doctor says that the cancer in me is "learning" right now - learning to get around the chemo treatment I had and the current RX I'm taking that helps keep cancer cells from growing. I would say I feel about 70%. I have some nerve damage in my fingers (numbness) from the chemo and body aches from the RX and get a little tired in the afternoons. Nutritional supplements seem to help. We are thankful that my tests keep coming back with the cancer marker count in the normal range. Thank you for praying! We pray that the cancer doesn't "learn" very well. It's always on Mark's and my mind, but my mind is also on verses such as, "You give me life and breath and everything else..." Acts 17:25 I love the "everything else" - like His peace. Thank you also for being part of His 'everything else' to our family! Emmanuel continues to be with us.

on a lighter note ...

2007-12-14T10:34:00.000-08:00

We got our Christmas tree up as you see, but not only is Christmas upon us, but also the end of the semester. Last night was Talbot's baccalaureate dinner. Mark had to dress up in his peacock uniform he calls it (doctoral robe) for the ceremony. We ate dinner at a table with one of my Talbot student wives, her graduating husband and his family - they are all from Columbia! He is headed back to Columbia as one of the rare ones with higher religious education to help teach.

I had the joy of being a co-leader of one of the Talbot student wives' groups this semester. Besides Columbia, the wives in our group were from Jordon, England, S.Korea and America. I enjoyed each one of them - they were a blessing to me!

Today is graduation and then it's grading stacks of papers for Mark, parties for the boys and be-lated shopping for me.

Pray...

2007-12-14T08:52:00.000-08:00

My heart is burdened this morning to pray... since we left Ukraine last March, there have been 5 of us families in Kiev with SEND Ukraine that have left for serious medical reasons - two others for cancer. Pray for the Friesens (the husband) and Barnharts (the wife) who are currently undergoing chemo treatment. Mark, Genna Friesen and Kevin Barnhart were part of the 5 man leadership team of SEND. Reading updates from these families, though, is a total blessing - watching them lean on God and God in action. Some of you have asked, "Is it Chernobyl?" There is just as much cancer in America and it doesn't matter. I love the verses: "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?..." Matt. 16:25-26. Because we didn't shy away from Chernobyl - our whole family, yes, including Ben and Josh gained so much LIFE in Christ our 13 years in Ukraine. Especially now, looking back, we wouldn't have traded it. Pray for our SEND team - they need just as much of God's grace losing our 5 families - they are waiting on the Lord to see if the other 4 families will be able to return - we pray that they are already experiencing God in deeper ways. Pray also for our Ukrainian colleagues - we love and miss them.

We also received some great news that my brother-in-law's surgery to remove some cancer was successful and is cancer free now - Yeh Michael!!! Good News is always music to our ears!

...off shooting hoops!

2007-12-08T23:10:00.000-08:00

Guess who's playing basketball this year?! Ben received his letter of congratulations today for making the JV team! He's pretty excited that he truly will play on a basketball team for the first time in his life. I guess all those days going to the park with Dad and Josh to shoot some hoops since we've been back to America has paid off. Practice begins on Monday already!

correction...

2007-12-06T15:59:00.000-08:00

Today, Mr. Winger told Ben that Mr. Taran (Ben's PE teacher and the JV coach) will most likely choose Ben to be on the JV team, but if he doesn't, then he would like Ben to be one of the student managers for the Varsity. Ben is fine with that and pretty excited that he'll at least be on one of the teams. He'll find out which one this weekend.

school days ...

2007-12-06T10:56:00.000-08:00

We went to Josh's school Christmas program. The story was quite touching about some simple kids giving their hearts to the "King". The whole school was in it, so it was held at the elegant Civic Theatre with over 1,000 in the audience. Josh was part of the big choir and a small group playing the recorder. It was also quite the cultural experience as well. Ben commented afterwards that if it was a Ukrainian school, the program would have been more professionally done - our observations too. We like the casualness of American culture, but we also miss the professionalism in the area of the Arts in Ukraine beginning at the preschool age. Also, whenever the curtains were raised, parents, grandparents, siblings would yell out their child's name cheering them on. OK, is that a So. Cal thing? Talk about casual! Pictures and video cameras were not allowed, we have to BUY the DVD of it. Like I said, the story line was very touching. Grandpa and Grandma (Mark's parents) thought it was the best children's Christmas program they ever saw!

Ben tried out for his school's Jr. High basketball team. The coach asked him to be 1 of 2 student managers for the Varsity team, explaining that they will probably play the least, but will help him with stats, etc. Ben decided to go for it. He said he'd rather be a student manager on the Varsity team than play on the JV team and besides he thought, "... I won't be the worst player, maybe the other student manager will be like me." We were so glad that on his own, Ben wanted to try out. He's never been on a basketball team before and was going up against these boys who have played all their lives. His coach - Mr. Winger - is his Bible teacher, whom Ben likes alot.

We are sooooo thankful for these two Christian schools the boys are in. I'm usually a public school person - thinking we need to be in the real world, but these schools have been such a nice nurturing environment for this year of transition for Ben and Josh. The schools are not small - 250 7th and 8th graders at Ben's Jr. High and 2 classes of each grade at Josh's school, but the teachers and administration are God-sent. We thank the Lord for leading us to these schools - He knew what they needed.

Brain Exercises....

2007-11-23T12:28:00.001-08:00

We are sitting in Alpina Cafe in So. Lake Tahoe sipping on our hot drinks surfing the net. We all have our own laptops this weekend thanks to Aunt Genevieve and Uncle Micheal and Biola. Mark and I are checking and sending e-mails, Ben and Josh are playing chess with others in Poland, Germany, America, England, and Italy ... when I comment (interrupting our web comatose) "Did you know we're still getting e-mails from our mail.com address?" Mark replies, "I don't think anyone uses that anymore." I start giggling at this nonsense conversation and Mark replies in his usual humor, "and then we'll go to Indonesia". Ben perks up, "We are!" Now, we're all cracking up. OK, maybe we better get off the web and get some fresh air in real life. I would post a photo, but I forgot our camera. We hope you are having a great Thanksgiving weekend. Happy Thanksgiving!

P.S. ...

2007-11-12T10:32:00.000-08:00

It looks like in order to play the song that I posted, you need to put it on the pause mode for some reason.
Have a good week!

cool and didn't know it...

2007-11-09T14:08:00.000-08:00

Our last name Saucy is apparently a cool word these days - at least here in So. Cal. Ben says that kids at his Jr. High (including the cheerleaders!) have come up to him asking if his name is really saucy. Ben answers, "Yes" - their reply is, "Cool!" Young salespeople tell us the same thing in stores, "Cool name!". And here we thought we would be these "out of it" missionaries coming back to America. Someone said it means sassy in a cool way. We use the french pronunciation: So-(long o)see - the only place it was ever pronounced correctly the first time was when we were at the Paris airport, but we'll take saucy now too... we think! :)

a trip to City of Hope

2007-11-09T11:11:00.001-08:00

I went for my follow-up appointment at City of Hope. Some of the symptoms I'm experiencing is from the chemo I had, the others are from the med I'm taking, so Dr. Chow switched me to a different med that helps keep cancer cells from growing. Hopefully, I won't get the achyness with this new one. The good news is that my cancer marker count is still 12 - within the normal range.

City of Hope is a cancer research medical center. I'm so thankful I can be treated there. The down side of it is that it takes about 40-45+ minutes to get there depending on traffic. Most of the time I don't mind the drive though -time to spend with Mark, a friend or just with God. This time, I discovered a beautiful song on a new CD we got: "You Are Good" by Point of Grace meaning that God is always good. Enjoy...

a special guest from Ukraine ...

2007-11-02T21:38:00.000-07:00

We had a special visitor from Ukraine this week - Eduard Borisov (Edik). Edik and Eric Oldenburg direct Talbot's new Extension Master's Program in Kyiv at KTS, while Mark now directs from here in CA. Talbot flew Edik over to get better acquainted with Talbot and it's vision. It was so nice to have him here. After a week of meetings, on his last day, we gave him the So. Cal experience - as you see in the photo - Laguna Beach.

Dr. Chow had me come in today because I've been having some numbing, tingling and aching in my fingers and arms. They are taking me off the arimidex for a few days or so and re-evaluating. I've had it for a while now, but it has progressively been getting worse, where last night I didn't sleep all that well. I'll write what the outcome is. I'm so glad I'm being treated at City of Hope - I called today and was seen by the doctor the same day! I'm most grateful because "the nearness of God is my good..." Ps. 73:28

Passing Mom up ...

2007-10-30T07:43:00.000-07:00

Our oldest son has caught up to my height and our 10 year old is not far behind! It's kind of fun to be surrounded by my 3 big guys. Yesterday at the grocery store, one of our items was a razor like Dad's - so after a short lesson from Dad, some peach fuzz was shaved off a certain 14 year old for the first time. My how they are growing!

Catching up on the latest ...

2007-10-24T19:35:00.000-07:00

On Oct. 15th, we returned from a short trip to Kiev, Ukraine. It was a trip to say good-bye to our lives as missionaries there after 13 years with SEND International. The trip was everything we would have wanted it to be: Ben and Josh had the time of their lives with old buddies that they had grown up with - sleep overs, laser tag, soccer game, etc - as well as sorting thru their stuff to give away or ship and getting their school work done that they were missing. At one point, Mark and I reminisced of why we enjoyed our work in Ukraine so much - because we were having so much fun with the students at Kyiv Theological Seminary (KTS) where Mark had been a Professor of Theology. We had one group over the home where we were staying at, another group Mark met with one evening along with individual meetings during the day and I saw all my favorite student wives, colleagues and missionary friends. We are esp. thankful for our colleagues - Eric and Josie with whom we stayed and Lois who gave us an Open House where we were able to see our SEND team and seminary faculty. Anatoly (President of KTS) and Galina also came back into town just in time for the Open House for whom we were so glad to see. We will miss everyone very much.

On Oct. 4th, I (Bonnie) had my last checkup which was filled with good news. You see, we relocated back to the States from Ukraine because of a recurrence of cancer in me. However, after chemo and a current RX I'm taking, all the scans show NO detectable cancer anywhere! My doctor is careful not to say a miracle has taken place because those at my stage of cancer (4) which has metastasised will always have the danger of the cancer still lingering and spreading once again - it may not happen for many many years or sooner than we would like. Regardless - we are thanking the Lord and all who prayed for how God has chosen to show His grace to us thru these great test results for now. My doctor, Dr. Chow, doesn't want to see me again until January. In the meantime, I will stay on my RX and once a month go to City of Hope where I'm being treated to receive an IV of aredia to strengthen my bones - tomorrow in fact.

Tonight, life is peaceful - Mark is off teaching an evening class at Talbot School of Theology of Biola University, where he is now a Professor, Ben is busy getting a science project done, Josh finished his history project and is now playing on his Game Cube. God has been so good to us.

"For in You, Lord, I live and move and have my being. I am Your offspring." Acts 17:28