Spending time at home with "Thumb"...

It was Brandon's last day of finals - in fact it was his LAST final, in Shop Class. Sadly, the tin snips won! The huge wad of gauze supplied by the school nurse has been replaced by band-aids and a metal thumb protector.


Margaret loves this picture of Brandon and Grandpa, sitting side by side, watching "Forest Gump."

Tremendous blessings...

After weeks of waiting, three rounds of chemo therapy and countless tests, Margaret's younger brother, Lee, who lives in Florida, was finally able to have surgery to remove a cancerous growth on his thymus gland. It's with intense relief that we can report he came through the surgery with flying colors and has been told by the surgeon that the growth is gone! I was able to speak with him this morning as he was sitting up in a chair preparing to have his first full meal - a roast beef dinner. He has a somewhat long and painful surgical recovery ahead of him - accessing the tumor required cracking his chest as if for heart surgery. But, his spirits are great, as they have been through this entire ordeal. His family could not be any prouder of him for the tremendous strength, faith and grace under pressure he has shown since his diagnosis in late February. And, we are all very, very grateful for the family and friends who have been praying for him.

Hey guys, I hate this Elizabethan collar...

A couple of weeks ago we learned that Sassy had developed a small, potentially cancerous tumor that needed to be removed as soon as possible. A week ago Tuesday we took her in for the surgery. We were able to bring her home on Wednesday night. Just two days ago we got the pathology report we'd been waiting for - a report that told us our wonderful veterinary surgeon had been able to remove the entire tumor with good, safe margins and that it is unlikely she'll need any follow up treatment. We're so relieved! Sadly, Sassy hasn't yet joined us in the celebration - she's just counting the seconds until she can rid herself of that evil contraption around her neck! Only a few more days, Miss Sassy - the stitches come out next Wednesday and you'll be free to do whatever you want again :)

A day at the zoo...

Heather sent us this great picture of she and the kids from a recent visit to the Santa Ana Zoo.

A new addition to the family...

Late in May, Brandon came to share our home for the coming months and we could not be more thrilled! Since his arrival he's been busy completing Junior year projects and these photos represent some of the work he's been doing. For inclusion in his portfolio of high school achievements, Larry got this picture of him in the t-shirt he received for donating blood at a school sponsored drive, something he's done twice this year. He also had to produce a video commercial and he choose to play both roles. Dressed all in black, he IS Mr. Odyssey! And, last week, he participated in a one day field trip to Catalina Island to snorkel. If it seems he's not quite awake in this picture at the pier, it's due to the fact that they had to arrive in San Pedro by 6:30 a.m. for this adventure. No doubt there will be many more pictures of our favorite sixteen year to post here in the weeks ahead!