A Bunch of Firsts (in pictures)

*Claire's first time to attempt to go UP a slide (she hasn't gone down too many) *Claire's first experience with sidewalk chalk...she was hoarding the bag) *Lydia's first "invention"...a sidewalk chalk salad tong holder *Claire's first date with her buddy, Jack *Claire's first time to run through a field of flowers, um, I mean weeds *Claire's first scraped knees...she didn't even hardly fuss...such a tomboy *Jake's first Sparks Matchbox Derby!! He won a few races!! *Jake's first T-ball game!!! *My first time to go to Women of Faith! It was excellent! *This was not Claire's first time in the sand, but here is a video showing how much she loves to get dirty!

***Dan doesn't want to be left out, but I don't have a picture of his latest accomplishment. He just got done installing our new garage door opener (which was a first for him)! Wahoo!!! Now we just need to finish cleaning the garage out, so we can go back to parking our vehicles in there. How nice to be married to a handy-man!

Update

I went to the surgeon this morning. He told me much of what I'd already been told. He was extrememly nice and helpful. Scheduled surgery for May 19th, however, we are in the process of trying to reschedule it. Dan was to leave for the Moody Pastor's Conference that week, with the staff. When I find out the surgery date, I will update again. Thank you for your prayers! God is good. I love Isaiah 26:3!

Still here!

For those wondering where I have been....Here I am! Most of you know, but Dan was gone for 3 weeks. He went to Papua New Guinea to be with his parents and help them with what he could in packing up. (They have been missionaries to PNG for 36 years, I believe, and are retiring from this full time ministry). They arrive in the States in early June and we are looking forward to seeing them and introducing them to our Claire Bear. For your viewing enjoyment, here is a picture of the beautiful country he was in!



The time while he was gone went by very quickly. For that I am thankful. During the second week of his absence, the kids had spring break. The kids and I went to Indianapolis for my niece's birthday party and stayed a few days. We returned home on Tuesday, after making a stop at the Children's Museum. Wednesday morning, I had a scheduled biopsy. A month prior to this, my doctor had found a nodule on my thyroid. My friend, Beth, came with me that morning. I was thinking I'd be fine, but she told me that unless I told her otherwise, she was coming with me (I'd told my mom not to take any time off, that I'd be ok). In hindsight, I am so thankful that God gave me Beth that day. The biopsy was no fun, in fact, I almost passed out (was told I turned white and around my mouth, green). I made it through and only had to wait a few minutes for the results. Obviously, my prayers were that it would be benign, but it wasn't. He found cancerous cells in my thyroid. Initially, I was fine, but about 5 min.s into him talking to me, I started to cry. Mainly, because I wanted Dan with me. Thank the Lord I was not alone though. I calmed down pretty quickly and tried my best to allow my brain to process everything he was telling me. All in all, the prognosis is very good and I have so much to be thankful for. If I've heard it once, I've heard it many, many times...that if you have to get cancer, this is the one to sign up for. It is very treatable. I meet with the surgeon on April 29th (just got bumped up today...yay)! They will revmove all or part of it and then I'll most likely have the radioactive iodine treatment and then on meds the rest of my life. There are sooo many things that I can praise the Lord for already. A wonderful family who have not left my side much until Dan got home (thanks mom and Sarah Beth), an incredible church family who immediately upheld me (and Dan, on the other side of the world) in prayer and showered me in cards and well wishes, friends who have helped out already in so many ways, but most of all, I praise God for His promise to walk with me through this obstacle in my life. He has brought Scripture to my mind many times. When I pray, I'm reminded to not tell the Lord how big the mountain is, but to tell the mountain how big my GOD is! I've been thinking that a lot as other happenings are going on as well. There has been one health concern after another with other family members, but I know my loving Father will remain that loving Father no matter the outcome.

One thing I forgot to mention...another God thing. My friend from church, who is an anesthesiologist at Miami Valley Hospital referred me to a surgeon that she could not say enough good about. So, I was really praying that my doctor would refer the same guy...and he did!!! He told me that if he ever needed this type of surgery, he would go to Dr. Jerome Spiegel, hands down. Another answer to prayer! So... enough about that...look forward to pictures soon. Dan had our camera with him. I had our old one, but got fed up with it. Here is one I took of the girls the morning they got to see Daddy (he got in at 1am on Monday...the socks on Claire are from Dan's flight, guess they are afraid people will get cold feet).

**Sorry it is sideways, I don't know how to fix that one.**