The NC State Fair 2011!

EZ was very disappointed last year when he realized he couldn't carry on our family tradition of going to the NC State Fair every October. It could probably be classifed as "germs central", so with his baby immune system following transplant, going was out of the question. This year we more than made up for it by enjoying a gorgeous fall day, full of fun, with four of our grandchildren and their mommy and daddy! There were rides, sights, smells and sounds to behold with the little ones, and most definitely there was the FOOD. From roasted corn, to lemonade, mini-donuts, ice cream cones, cotton candy, funnel cakes, caramel apples, rootbeer floats, ribbon fries and corn dogs, it's all good!

Of course who could miss the unusual things they actually fry at the fair. Just look at the selections here. I mean fried Kool Aid. Really? We skipped this booth, but according to our daughters, the fried Oreos and Snickers are really pretty good!

Nathan and Natalie are so big now they can ride the kiddie rides together. Here they are enjoying the dragon and catepillar without fear. And the closer to the front, the better in their eyes. Such big kiddos!

Samuel and Samantha got to ride on the firetruck high in the sky with the whole family.

Samuel's favorite way to travel was on Grandpa's shoulders. These pictures tell it all!

Samantha was fearless on the rides and was the biggest eater of the four! Her heart should say, "I love the fair!"

Luckily we came home without carrying one of these!

A fantastic time was had by all, and after 3 hours or so, we called it a day. Already looking forward to next year when Emery can come along and join the fun!

A Whole Lot of Help From Family and Friends

Though EZ has made wonderful progress in his recovery post-transplant, he is still limited in what he can do because of the damage to his sacrum. Standing in one place, standing on his feet too long, bending, twisting, carrying heavy loads, and sitting vertically are still painful problems. Enter...his best man at our wedding almost 36 years ago...Van Mitchell, and one of Nick's best friends, Eric Sabo. Van traveled to Raleigh last week, from Florida, for the sole purpose of helping Ernie for two solid days...and help he did! Eric happened to be passing through, yet stayed an extra day, jumping in to help out as well!

And just how did they help you might ask?
1. Van raked our entire front yard (almost an acre!) making piles of sticks and leaves.
2. He and Eric then proceeded to help Ernie and Nick completely empty out the attic, shed and crawl space at my mother's house.
3. They loaded the items into a trailer, and unloaded them into our basement.
4. They collected numerous mounds of sticks and leaves from our front yard and deposited them in our debris pile.
5. Van helped Ernie with a new set-up for our water filtering system, cutting, routing and mounting a custom designed wooden shelf to house our new unit.
6. He vacuumed Ernie's workshop.
7. He helped Ernie hang a very heavy antique mirror.
8. He risked life and limb to clmib up a long ladder to our roof, where he repaired some of our shingles.
9. He then headed back to the front yard to trim all our hedges and weed the front beds...IN THE RAIN!

I can't believe I didn't take a single picture of Ernie, Van, Eric and Nick in action. Maybe they were working so fast it was all a blur! I did snap these of Van and Debby holding Samantha, and some of the foods we made for our celebratory dinner for all the hard work!

Ribeyes

Twice baked potatoes

Apple dumplings

Many, many thanks to Van, Eric and Nick for all the hard work. We love you and really do appreciate it!

On a little side note, the previous night we all had a good laugh with these:

Bring back memories for anyone? Here Mom, Deb and I are having a little fun pretending with our "candy cigarettes"...totally out of character, and we do realize smoking is nothing to joke about! (I am not, and never was a smoker)

When Words Are Hard to Find

Last week was hard. On Monday, October 10, this adorable little three year old went home to be with the Lord after an eleven month battle with medullablastoma, a rapidly growing cancerous tumor of the cerebellum. His name is Paxton. I taught his older brother in church. We saw his mom carry him to term and we all celebrated his birth. His family dedicated him to the Lord in August of 2008. We watched him grow. We rejoiced at the arrival of his little sister. He was adorable and no one ever thought for a minute that something like cancer would end his life on earth at such a young age. It's heartbreaking, yet we don't mourn as people who have no hope.

Much like Multiple Myeloma, I had never even heard of  Medullablastoma, and the more we learned about it, the more frightening it became. It sent our church to our knees, praying constantly for this precious child. He endured months in the hospital, surgery, chemotherapy, not one but three stem cell transplants, and countless needles, procedures and tests. And yet, he managed to surprise his doctors, smile, laugh, and lift the spirits of everyone around him. He was a warrior in the battle for his life. We all hoped and prayed that he would be healed here on earth, but it wasn't to be. Instead, he was taken to that perfect place, heaven, where there is no cancer, no pain, no sorrow. Only joy, complete healing and everlasting life!

I commend his parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles for their steadfast faith in the battle. They came alongside one another, cared for each other, and selflessly gave everything they could for Paxton, especially his mother, Christy. She lay in that hospital bed with her boy night after night, and when he was too weak to walk, she carried him. She was his biggest cheerleader and she set an example of faith and strength that none of us will ever forget.

Their friends and our church family were also amazing to watch, with people seeking any and every way they could help, from meals, to babysittting, to financial donations. It was a blessing to feel like there was something you could do to lighten their load. Whenever you think about it, please pray for the Seneri family in the days, weeks, months, and years ahead. Even in their loss, they know they will see Paxton again, and they will continue to fight childhood cancers through an organziation named for their son. You can read more about it here.

When words are hard to find, I share with you these words from Paxton's Mommy:

 "Sweet Paxton, I was so blessed to be your mommy. You taught me so much. How to love, how to fight, how to live. You have touched so many lives in your short time here on earth. I'm so proud of my brave little boy. Though I don't want to let you go, I am so happy that you can run, play, laugh, and be a kid again. I'll always carry you in my heart. See you soon, my best little buddy."

Sometimes a song helps give us a new perspective on the difficulties of life.

Something You May Not Know About Steve Jobs

The following is an article posted today by Jim Daly from Focus on the Family that taught me something new about Steve Jobs. His story really highlights the difference adoption can make, both in the life of the baby, and his adoptive parents. Think you might enjoy reading it...

Because Paul and Clara Jobs Said "Yes!"

Steve Jobs  2/24/55-10/5/11

"What if Joanne Schieble hadn’t said “yes”? What if Paul and Clara Jobs had said “no”? Joanne almost didn't. The Jobs almost weren't even asked. Have you heard the story?

Steve Jobs is being lauded and remembered as the pioneer he truly was, a remarkable man with an amazing mind who changed the way the world communicates. By now you've probably read or heard that Mr. Jobs was adopted as an infant. Born in 1955 to an unwed mother, Joanne Schieble, his life took an incredible turn the very night he made his grand entrance.

Prior to giving birth, Miss Schieble had told her adoption agency that she wanted her baby to be adopted by college-educated parents. A couple was selected. But on the night of the birth, upon learning that Steve was a boy and not the girl they wanted, they turned down the placement.

And so it was in the middle of the night when Paul and Clara Jobs’ phone rang with a question that not only changed their lives and that of a little boy – but also, by extension, your life and mine.

But there was a problem. Neither Mr. nor Mrs. Jobs had a college degree. Joanne Schieble was troubled by that and grew wobbly when it came time to sign the adoption papers. In the end, she did.

Perhaps Steve Jobs might still have founded Apple if that first couple had agreed to adopt him, or if Joanne didn't sign those papers, but I wonder. According to Steve, his father was a “genius with his hands” and just happened to work for a company that made lasers! The Jobs clearly raised Steve in an environment that encouraged and nurtured his extraordinary gifts.

Yes, we're born with a temperament and special gifts, but we are also shaped by the lives that touch ours."

Many lives have been touched by the genius of Steve Jobs. EZ loves his iPad and I love my iPhone. Neither of us has a MacBook, but many in our family do and they love them! It's hard not to think of Steve Jobs every time we use our Apple products now. What a mind he had, and it blessed millions of people because of a decision both his birth mother and his adoptive parents made.

Have a blessed weekend and may we all be a little more cognizant of the fact that we are shaped by the lives that touch ours!

Thankful Thursday - I Am Grateful for...

I feel thankful for alot of things today, so decided to list them! Every once in a while it's just good to stop and be grateful. I'm thankful:

1.   The NC State Fair is this month.
2.   The weather has turned cooler and the sunsets are beautful.
3.   My mother's house is almost entirely cleared out.
4.   I have the luxury of sleeping in.
5.   My car has new tires.
6.   My Mom and I get to share a cup of coffee/cappuchino every morning.
7.   Ernie's stamina has improved, he can be on his feet alot longer, usually sans cane.
8.   Nick is still around to keep us laughing and help out in so many ways.
9.   I live next door to my church, my daughter, son-in-law, and four grandchildren.
10. The men in our church mow our lawn.
11. Leah and Emery are coming in a week.
12. I get to spend some time at SEBTS with some dear friends in the coming days.
13. I am a daughter of the King and heaven will one day be my home.
14. I get to enjoy some Sweet and Spicy Honey Grilled Shrimp and Coconut Rice tonight.

I think I'll stop here for right now and head to the kitchen, but believe me, there is much more to be grateful for!

Prayers Please for Friends with Multiple Myeloma in the UK

When EZ was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, we found ourselves reaching out to others battling this particular form of blood cancer. We were so naive, there was so much to learn, and it was helpful to connect with someone, mostly through blogs, who was going through treatment or a stem cell transplant. I posted about the importance of this "community" here, and one of the people I wrote about is Paula from the UK. Though we have never met face to face, we feel like she is a dear friend. She is young (diagnosed in 2009 at 39), and underwent an autologous (her own cells) stem cell transplant in May of 2010. Here is a picture of Paula and her contagious smile.

Recently her doctors discovered that she has relapsed, meaning the myeloma is back. She is now making decisions about having an allogeneic (donor cells) transplant which carries many more risks and complications, but may be her best option. She is currently in the Royal (hospital) fighting a fever and a cold (which she caught there!) Everyone knows the hospital is NOT where any myeloma patient with a compromised immune system wants to be. Paula is witty, crafty, energetic, talented, smart and YOUNG! Paula, aka Feresaknit, is a knitting machine and many, including my 5 grandchildren, have been blessed by her Myeloma Buddies.

She just posted on her blog, that she is feeling the best she has felt since last Tuesday, knitting and blogging once again, possibly going home tomorrow! PTL! Please join EZ and I in praying  for her body to fight the cold and remain fever free, and that she may be able to go home soon to regain strength for the next treatment, whatever that might be. Her husband is Bernard, lovingly referred to by her as "B", and her constant companion is her dog "Buddy" (who I know is missing his walks!) Pray for her heart and spirit to be encouraged as she battles on. Pray for her doctor's wisdom in treating her, that she might once again feel well and keep the myeloma at bay.

Also, another fellow blogger in the UK, Sean, is in the Royal Liverpool for an allogeneic transplant that will take place on Thursday. He, like Paula (who now know each other by the way!), had an autologous transplant (in August of 2010) and relapsed. Sean is a father, husband, photographer, writer and much more. His brother, Nigel, will be his donor. Once again, this is considered a high risk procedure, however Sean said that though he was apprehensive about the process, he now feels confident that things will be okay. Please pray that there are no complications for he or Nigel, and that all goes smoothly during his transplant Thursday. We would ask for minimal side effects in the days and weeks to follow, and that his body would accept his brother's cells no problem! Here is a picture of Sean and his wife Charito, so you can put a face with the name. He has a married daughter named Amy.

Though an ocean separates us, our God is the God of the whole universe, and we pray for His mighty hand of healing on these two friends in the UK. Prayer is powerful...

"Do not be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Phil. 4:6-7

P.S. To Sean and Paula...if I have any information wrong, please feel free to correct me. I just wanted everyone to be praying for the two of you, and I know that God knows the details!

How Quickly We Forget!

I was browsing my pictures when I stumbled across this one of Big EZ in October of last year. Wow, how quickly we forget the hair loss. He truly was Mr. Clean, smooth as silk on top of that head! And look...even the eyebrows are a bit patchy!

And here he is today, HAIR growing in so fast we have to cut it just about every 2-3 weeks. Soft, dark and probably with a little less gray for sure. Hair...just something else to celebrate one year post transplant!