Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Tickets Bought...
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!
Monday, May 17, 2010
Health update
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!
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!
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
I am His...
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!
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!
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Weekend celebrations...
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...
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
What Ukraine Is To Me...
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.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Spring is here...
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.
"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.
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