Grateful for Help Received

Making the foundation stronger...

Today I was able to do some work to our fold-up trailer. I painted the frame which was starting to rust.
Yesterday was a day in which a project that had been weighing heavily on my mind was done. One of the foundation walls of the barn the girls keep their horses in was starting to collapse and leaning in badly. Many thanks to Dan Hendrikson and Nathan Kleefman of Highbury Pools who came with a steel i-beam and an excavator and straightened the wall. Next week Tuesday my brother-in-law Rick Fintelman is coming and we will finish the project by putting in gravel and a drainage tile.

Project  complete!

We received news today of an appointment with two oncology doctors, one for radiation and one for chemo. Although we still do not have any further prognosis, it is good to have a time set for the appointment.

A Good Sunday

We will miss Dad greatly!

It was an emotional day on Saturday. Rather a lot of mixed emotions. It is always hard to let go of our earthly relationships even when we know dad had a long, good life. We do have many, many good memories of him. Pastor Ralph had a very Christ-centered message and shared many encouraging passages from scripture, not only for yesterday but for the uncertain days ahead. The condolences and promises for prayers for me and my family was so encouraging.
At this time we are still waiting to hear about the results of my surgery and the program for chemo and radiation. We know that all we can do is wait patiently and pray that God will give the doctors wisdom and help us to trust him with the future.
Today I was able to go to both church services. It was good to worship and fellowship together.

Joanne and I took a nice Sunday afternoon walk through our woods, a tradition we've had for as long as I can remember. We have lived here most of our married life---twenty-four years! The memories and the dreams are so many but now with God's help we'll have to take it one day at a time.

Sunday afternoon walks with the Family 

and often the animals too.

Life Continues...

I am sleeping fairly well at night and am able to get up in the morning.We were up early to get the trailer ready for a rental. I am thankful that Joanne is able to manage the rental of our trailer. I did some reading and had some tires repaired at the tire shop for my tractor and lawnmower. I am very thankful that Ryan was able to install the wheels so that I did not have to do it. It is never a good time for things to break down, but at a time like this, it is most frustrating. We went to town on a minor errand after supper and found out that the starter had broken down on one of the cars the boys were driving. I do think that I find it easier to get discouraged at this time. I find it difficult to know how much I can do.

Sad Day

This morning after a prolonged illness my father passed away. He was 89 and had been in very poor health for the past months. I was glad that my brother, Steve and sisters, Hennie and Evelyn could be with my mom these last few nights. We will have visitation at the Lockhart Funeral Home 109 Montreal st Mitchellt. on Friday evening July 23 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm where the funeral service will be held on Saturday at 11:00 a.m.

I am glad that my father is now over his suffering and in glory with his Lord and Saviour. He will be greatly missed.

One of many Vandenbrink gatherings

I have felt tired the last two days and am anxiously waiting to find out what the prognosis will be. It has taken some time to realize what is really happening. It seems strange to me that I may not be able to continue doing the things that I have always done like repairing things and keeping up place where we live. I have to trust that even if I am not able to do certain things, they will be done by others when needed. My children are very capable and I am very blessed to have them.

Quiet at Home

I am home today after having been discharged yesterday from the hospital, and I am glad to be home. I slept well but am experiencing a fair bit of swelling in my face. I am also getting some clicking in my head , which is apparently not too unusual for this type of an operation. I slept fairly well last night , and have a good nurse to do my medications and keep me company, and now I can catch up on some reading and some sleep. I even slept through a tremendous thunderstorm last night.

Home on Sunday

We're really thankful that Gary can be home again.
He is feeling tired but glad to be home. He also has more swelling today which was expected. I think you'll be seeing Gary with a hat on for the next little while. For now he does not dare take his armband off!
The kitten, he got for Father's Day from his animal-crazy daughters, is happy to see him too and quite content sleeping on his lap.

Gary loves cats!

Greetings from Gary

Yesterday we had a quiet day. Gary came out of the observation unit about noon and is now in a private room (#105 on 7th floor).
He told me he had quite a morning as he was to go for another CT scan but they left him out in the hall for quite some time because for some reason he no longer had a name band. No ID, no test. He said he was taken out of his room just as his breakfast was being brought in and he was starving!! Later he said to me, "I told you I needed my cell phone, I could have called for help."
His appetite remains very good.
It was Gary's idea to share this picture. He is getting up on his own and is not experiencing too much pain.
Joanne