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August 15, 2008

“Faith is not a leap into the dark, but a step into the light.”

Unknown

When I went into remission for the first time from my cancer in 1995 our family decided to get a dog. On Christmas Day, we drove to Port Orchard, WA and stopped to choose a puppy from a litter I had discovered a week earlier. Which puppy would it be was still undecided. When we walked into the small farm building, we could see all the puppies huddled together in the corner of a fenced enclosure. As we entered the enclosure we just stood and watched the puppies for a little while. How would we choose? They were all so cute. After a few moments, one of the puppies slowly left the group and walked right over to our son Kyler. Right then we knew he was going to be our new puppy. We did not pick him. He picked us. For the past thirteen years Rawley, named after the bicycle, has enjoyed a wonderful life with our family and we could not have asked for a more wonderful dog. I could write page after about Rawley and all the fun we have had with him and all of the love shared between us. Sadly, Rawley was getting old and over the past year his breathing became more and more labored and his energy level and strength decreased to the point he could barely walk without immense effort. Visiting a couple different veterinarians we learned he was just too sick and in too much pain to keep going. Further testing would just prolong his suffering. If we took him home he most likely would not make it through the night. So our whole family gathered together at the veterinary clinic with Rawley. We cried and cried as we said our goodbyes. Afterwards, Kyler and I stayed behind as the doctor put Rawley to sleep. His passing was and still is so difficult. Rawley has blessed us so abundantly and he will never be forgotten. We love you Rawley. You are the best dog in the world.

To see a video we made of Rawley doing his favorite thing, catching a Frisbee, go the following link:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=MsoTFl2RvaI

On a brighter note, my two younger sons and I decided to take on a major challenge this summer. We signed up to do the Courage Classic, a three-day bike ride traveling 170 miles and over three mountain passes. The ride was a benefit ride for Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital. We raised over $1,300 for the Child Abuse Unit at Mary Bridge. Thank you so much to those of you who supported us. Heading into the ride I was unsure how my boys would do. I had done a long ride with Kyler before but not with Tanner. The boys were amazing. They rode so strong. I could barely keep up with them. We started off slow in pounding rain as we left North Bend. The boys and I were miserable and they let me know it. However, after a few groups of people passed us my boys' competitiveness kicked in and off they went. Rain, sleet, hail, or snow they were not going to have people pass them they didn’t think should. After that moment they would beat me up to the top of every mountain pass. Other than Kyler having a minor crash on the third day descending down Steven’s Pass, the ride went very well. Camping was fun, especially the night a pack of deer entered our camp and we watched one them pee on someone’s tent. You could imagine the reaction of the other campers. Not too funny to watch the tent owner clean his tent. (OK. Maybe it was a little funny.) The ride was definitely a great father-son experience and the boys and I left feeling a great sense of accomplishment not just for completing the challenging ride, but for making a difference in the lives of kids affected by child abuse. I guess there was one other tough moment of the ride and that was on the descent down the other side of Snoqualmie Pass. We stopped to remove our tights because it was considerably warmer on the east side of the pass. Upon removing his tights Tanner got a cramp in his leg that had him screaming so loud snow was avalanching off the peaks of the surrounding mountains. The screaming lasted for about five minutes causing many heads to turn as the cars drove by. Fortunately the cramping subsided and Tanner did not get any more after that. We were all glad of that. Word of wisdom…stay hydrated and replace those electrolytes. Eat a banana once in a while.

Congratulations to Michelle’s parents as they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this past weekend!

It is amazing how fast the days go by. We are reminded by this as our oldest, CJ, prepares to head off to college in another week. He will be attending NNU (Northwest Nazarene University) in Idaho. The house will not be the same without CJ around. We are all going to miss him so much. Please pray for his experience at college. Pray he continues to grow not just in his education but as a person of character and faith. We love you CJ. You have grown into an amazing young man and we are confident God will accomplish great things through you.

My health has been good. However, I have struggled with my hematocrit levels dropping from a normal level of around 42% as low as 32%. Definitely feel the effects in the form of fatigue and reduced endurance. My doctors ordered a bone marrow biopsy recently to determine why my hematocrit is dropping. (Thank you to my friend Steve for sitting with me during the test and for all of you who prayed for me.) Praising God that test results indicate my marrow continues to be cancer free. The problem may just be due to an infection. Doctors are not sure exactly but told me not to panic (easier said then done) and they will monitor me a little closer than normal for while just to make sure everything is OK. My most recent blood tests showed a slight increase in my hematocrit to 36%. Not normal yet, but improving.

I will close this journal entry with a poem I read recently. I have read it over many times since. The truth in the words of this poem sank deeply into my heart with conviction as well as encouragement. Hoping my life can be one full of kindness and compassion for others. Clearly something I can only do through Him.

Loving and Caring

Whatever you give away today,

or think or say or do

will multiply about tenfold

and then return to you.

It may not come immediately,

nor from the obvious source

but the law applies unfailingly,

through God’s abiding force.

Whatever you feel about another,

be it love or hate or passion

will surely bounce right back to you

in the Lord’s Biblical fashion.

If you speak about some person,

a word of praise or two,

soon tens of other people

will speak kind words to you.

Our thoughts are broadcasts of the soul,

not secrets of the brain.

Kind ones bring us happiness;

petty ones, untold pain.

Giving works as surely

as reflections in a mirror.

If hate you send, hate you’ll get back,

but loving brings love nearer.

Remember, as you start this day

and duty crowds your mind,

that kindness comes so quickly back

to those that first were kind.

Let that thought and this one

Direct us through each day.

The only things we ever keep

Are the things we give away.

-Author Unknown

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