Kelsey is attending the Winter or "J" term this year at Union University in Jackson. It is a condensed class schedule that meets 5 days a week for 3 - 4 weeks for a full semester grade. She is taking Chemistry and a Chemistry lab.
Since many students move out over the Christmas break, students are allowed to live on campus during the J term for a nominal fee. Since Kelsey just had her shoulder surgery and can't drive for several weeks, she is living on campus for this term. Move-in day was January 1st. Needless to say this was a very different way than I normally spend New Year's Day. LOL However, since the BCS came along and UT had a bad year, there weren't many games I was dying to see that day anyway. HAHA We got up early and left about 6:15 or so and started moving her in around 9:30. We had to make several trips to get all the small items, but got her moved in successfully and classes started the next day. She was also taking a Sociology class, but physically could not get from one class to the next on time without losing credit for being there. A new section of the class opened for the Spring Semester, so she dropped it and will take it in the Spring.
We had some difficulties with the door locks, but she is now able to open her door one handed and has arrangements with the Safety & Security office to pick her up and take her to classes on days that it rains or snows. She will have the sling on for another 3 weeks, so by the time the next semester starts, she should be able to drive again and will be back at Christy and Phillip's house.
We came back home on the 3rd and got our Christmas decorations put away this past weekend. Courtney was excited to go back to school this week, but has enjoyed her time with everyone during the break. It has been a very exhausting last few weeks, but things are starting to settle down now.
I am still looking for a job and would appreciate your continued prayer support.
Thank you and Happy New Year.
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
2012 - Heartaches & Blessings
I had an opportunity to watch "White Christmas" at TPAC this year and think about the following words as I reflect on this year: When I'm worried and I can't sleep, I count my blessings instead of sheep - and I fall asleep counting my blessings.
2012 will NOT go down as one of my favorite years for many reasons. However, looking back on the year I can't help but see many blessings that came as a result of heartaches we went through. I hope you can look back on your year and find many blessings as well.
Heartache - Kelsey anxious/stressed about changing her major and where to go to school this year.
Blessing - She decided on Nursing and going to Union University in Jackson. She is living with Christy and Phillip (3 miles from campus), has made new friends, likes the school, is doing well in classes, joined their church, is singing with 2 praise bands, and looking forward to a mission trip to Haiti during the summer of 2013.
Heartache - Glen is diagnosed with esopahgeal cancer and lymphoma.
Blessing - He had successful esophageal surgery in May, recovered, had 6 rounds of chemo to fight the lymphoma, and now the low grade lymphoma is gone and the high grade is in remission. He is still weak at times, but has been able to go back to work, travel for family activities, and enjoyed Christmas with his family at home.
Heartache - "Memo" passed away on Sunday, June 10th.
Blessing - She lived a long life and blessed so many people. She would have been 97 on July 13th. We were able to visit with family and celebrate so many memories of her life. She is now back with Pappy in heaven.
Heartache - On May 4th my job of 21 years was eliminated and I had to start looking for a new job for the first time in 25 years.
Blessing - The timing of my job loss and Glen's surgery and recovery being about the same time, we were able to provide support and assistance for Peggy and Glen without worrying about vacation days or how to take care of Courtney. Jennifer was able to spend many nights with them in McMinnville caring for Glen and allowing Peggy to get some rest (especially when she had severe back pain for a few weeks). I was able to spend more time with Courtney during the summer (we bowled about 5 days a week) and make a few extended trips to visit my family in Sweetwater. We have also been able to spend more time with Christy's family in Jackson. I know God has a plan for me and I have to be patient and seek His guidance to know what that plan will be.
Heartache - Courtney had to have her heart valve replaced again.
Blessing - Due to advances in technology, the doctor was able to replace the valve via a catheterization process and did not have to do open heart surgery. Courtney missed only 3 days of school and was back bowling a week later. It is nice to see direct results from the research funded by the American Heart Association which I have raised funds for the last 15 years.
Heartache - Kelsey had to have shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum.
Blessing - Since she was in Jackson and Phillip and Christy knew the surgeon, we were able to get Kelsey in to see him quickly and get the surgery scheduled before the end of the year. Since I was not working, we were both able to be there for the surgery and help her during the recovery.
There are many other things (small in comparison, but seemed big at the time) that have happened during this past year, but at the end of the year when I look back, I realize that the biggest blessing is that we have a heavenly Father who loves us and cares for us so very much. We are also blessed to have an extended family that loves and cares for one another and we could not make it through these times without our faith in God and our love for one another.
I pray that 2013 does not bring as many heartaches and that we will have blessings heaped upon us. I thank you for your prayer support, ask that you continue to remember us in 2013, and I pray a special blessing on each of you for a very safe, prosperous, and blessed new year.
Thank you and God bless each of you.
2012 will NOT go down as one of my favorite years for many reasons. However, looking back on the year I can't help but see many blessings that came as a result of heartaches we went through. I hope you can look back on your year and find many blessings as well.
Heartache - Kelsey anxious/stressed about changing her major and where to go to school this year.
Blessing - She decided on Nursing and going to Union University in Jackson. She is living with Christy and Phillip (3 miles from campus), has made new friends, likes the school, is doing well in classes, joined their church, is singing with 2 praise bands, and looking forward to a mission trip to Haiti during the summer of 2013.
Heartache - Glen is diagnosed with esopahgeal cancer and lymphoma.
Blessing - He had successful esophageal surgery in May, recovered, had 6 rounds of chemo to fight the lymphoma, and now the low grade lymphoma is gone and the high grade is in remission. He is still weak at times, but has been able to go back to work, travel for family activities, and enjoyed Christmas with his family at home.
Heartache - "Memo" passed away on Sunday, June 10th.
Blessing - She lived a long life and blessed so many people. She would have been 97 on July 13th. We were able to visit with family and celebrate so many memories of her life. She is now back with Pappy in heaven.
Heartache - On May 4th my job of 21 years was eliminated and I had to start looking for a new job for the first time in 25 years.
Blessing - The timing of my job loss and Glen's surgery and recovery being about the same time, we were able to provide support and assistance for Peggy and Glen without worrying about vacation days or how to take care of Courtney. Jennifer was able to spend many nights with them in McMinnville caring for Glen and allowing Peggy to get some rest (especially when she had severe back pain for a few weeks). I was able to spend more time with Courtney during the summer (we bowled about 5 days a week) and make a few extended trips to visit my family in Sweetwater. We have also been able to spend more time with Christy's family in Jackson. I know God has a plan for me and I have to be patient and seek His guidance to know what that plan will be.
Heartache - Courtney had to have her heart valve replaced again.
Blessing - Due to advances in technology, the doctor was able to replace the valve via a catheterization process and did not have to do open heart surgery. Courtney missed only 3 days of school and was back bowling a week later. It is nice to see direct results from the research funded by the American Heart Association which I have raised funds for the last 15 years.
Heartache - Kelsey had to have shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum.
Blessing - Since she was in Jackson and Phillip and Christy knew the surgeon, we were able to get Kelsey in to see him quickly and get the surgery scheduled before the end of the year. Since I was not working, we were both able to be there for the surgery and help her during the recovery.
There are many other things (small in comparison, but seemed big at the time) that have happened during this past year, but at the end of the year when I look back, I realize that the biggest blessing is that we have a heavenly Father who loves us and cares for us so very much. We are also blessed to have an extended family that loves and cares for one another and we could not make it through these times without our faith in God and our love for one another.
I pray that 2013 does not bring as many heartaches and that we will have blessings heaped upon us. I thank you for your prayer support, ask that you continue to remember us in 2013, and I pray a special blessing on each of you for a very safe, prosperous, and blessed new year.
Thank you and God bless each of you.
2012 end of year update
I haven't updated the blog since December 20th, so I will catch everyone up on Kelsey's surgery, our Christmas activities, and the end of the year.
I forgot to mention that we usually have our family Christmas at home the morning of the 22nd and then head to McMinnville later in the day. Since Kelsey was going to be in Jackson and recovering from surgery, we decided to have our family Christmas in Jackson on the 19th in our hotel room. We took all of our presents, Courtney's small Christmas tree from her room, and Jennifer made some Reese's cakes for us to have for dessert and use as our birthday cake for baby Jesus. We always read the Christmas story and then sing Happy Birthday to Jesus and blow out a candle on a cake. Since we forgot a small candle, I had to borrow a large one from the lobby at the hotel. :-) It was definitely different, but we still enjoyed ourselves.
Kelsey's surgery went well the next day and we took her back to Christy and Phillip's house after a short time in the post-op recovery and tried to make her as comfortable as possible. She could not lie down to sleep, so we had to find the best way to prop her up in a chair or bed for a few days and keep ice on her shoulder.
Our original plan was to stay there for a few days and then we would all leave for McMinnville on the 22nd to spend our Christmas holiday with Jenn's parents as we always have in the past. However, Trace came down with his 2nd round of the flu (different strain than his first), despite the fact that we all had a flu shot and we had to rethink everything. We wanted to make sure that noone else caught the flu from him and could not have anyone contagious around Glen. We quarantined Trace in a bedroom for a day and a half and gave him medicine. Since noone else had shown any symptoms by Saturday afternoon, we decided that we would take Kelsey and Tanner and go on to McMinnville and then Phillip and Christy would bring Trace and Tori after they were sure Trace was no longer contagious. Despite some morning nausea problems, Kelsey was actually able to sing at church on Sunday morning, as she has for the past several years. She did great, but had to leave right after she finished. Christy and the rest of her family were able to come on Monday morning and we enjoyed our family activities with some minor schedule changes.
The kids had a great time, Kelsey alternated between Glen's hospital bed and one of the back bedrooms, but overall things worked out a lot better than it could have been. Christy's family left on the 26th to head to Clarksville for Christmas with Phillip's family and we headed back to Hermitage on the 27th. We got everything unloaded, some of it put away, got Kelsey settled in to a new routine here at home, and then we kept Tori here with us for a few days while the rest of the family went to a church retreat in Gatlinburg called "Winter Extreme". They had a great time and picked up Tori the afternoon of the 31st. Kelsey was able to go with a friend and celebrate the New Year with his family and we brought in the new year here at home. It has been a long 2 weeks with lots of travel, little sleep, and so much excitement, we are all exhausted. Too bad we have to get up at 5 AM on New Year's Day to move Kelsey in at Union for the J term. Well, more about that in another post.
Thank you for your continued prayer support..
I forgot to mention that we usually have our family Christmas at home the morning of the 22nd and then head to McMinnville later in the day. Since Kelsey was going to be in Jackson and recovering from surgery, we decided to have our family Christmas in Jackson on the 19th in our hotel room. We took all of our presents, Courtney's small Christmas tree from her room, and Jennifer made some Reese's cakes for us to have for dessert and use as our birthday cake for baby Jesus. We always read the Christmas story and then sing Happy Birthday to Jesus and blow out a candle on a cake. Since we forgot a small candle, I had to borrow a large one from the lobby at the hotel. :-) It was definitely different, but we still enjoyed ourselves.
Kelsey's surgery went well the next day and we took her back to Christy and Phillip's house after a short time in the post-op recovery and tried to make her as comfortable as possible. She could not lie down to sleep, so we had to find the best way to prop her up in a chair or bed for a few days and keep ice on her shoulder.
Our original plan was to stay there for a few days and then we would all leave for McMinnville on the 22nd to spend our Christmas holiday with Jenn's parents as we always have in the past. However, Trace came down with his 2nd round of the flu (different strain than his first), despite the fact that we all had a flu shot and we had to rethink everything. We wanted to make sure that noone else caught the flu from him and could not have anyone contagious around Glen. We quarantined Trace in a bedroom for a day and a half and gave him medicine. Since noone else had shown any symptoms by Saturday afternoon, we decided that we would take Kelsey and Tanner and go on to McMinnville and then Phillip and Christy would bring Trace and Tori after they were sure Trace was no longer contagious. Despite some morning nausea problems, Kelsey was actually able to sing at church on Sunday morning, as she has for the past several years. She did great, but had to leave right after she finished. Christy and the rest of her family were able to come on Monday morning and we enjoyed our family activities with some minor schedule changes.
The kids had a great time, Kelsey alternated between Glen's hospital bed and one of the back bedrooms, but overall things worked out a lot better than it could have been. Christy's family left on the 26th to head to Clarksville for Christmas with Phillip's family and we headed back to Hermitage on the 27th. We got everything unloaded, some of it put away, got Kelsey settled in to a new routine here at home, and then we kept Tori here with us for a few days while the rest of the family went to a church retreat in Gatlinburg called "Winter Extreme". They had a great time and picked up Tori the afternoon of the 31st. Kelsey was able to go with a friend and celebrate the New Year with his family and we brought in the new year here at home. It has been a long 2 weeks with lots of travel, little sleep, and so much excitement, we are all exhausted. Too bad we have to get up at 5 AM on New Year's Day to move Kelsey in at Union for the J term. Well, more about that in another post.
Thank you for your continued prayer support..
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Update on Kelsey's surgery
Kelsey's surgery went as expected and the tear in her shoulder has been repaired. We will get to see her in about 45 minutes.
Thank you for your continued prayer support for a smooth and successful recovery.
Thank you for your continued prayer support for a smooth and successful recovery.
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Wednesday, December 19th
Glen saw his esophagus doctor last week and got a good report. The scan they did showed no obvious signs of cancer anywhere. YEAH!!!!!!! He is still having some issues when eating, but no tests can be done for 3 months to allow the chemo to be out of his system. He also needs to gain some weight before they start more tests. Overall this is good news and he is looking forward to celebrating Christmas with the family.
We all went to Christy and Phillip's house in Jackson this past weekend to celebrate Trace's 8th birthday and to watch the children's Christmas play at their church. We had a great time playing games, eating, and enjoying the play.
Jennifer and I are back in Jackson tonight preparing for Kelsey's shoulder surgery tomorrow afternoon at 1:00. Your prayers are greatly appreciated. The surgery should take about an hour and we will stay here with her while she recovers, before heading to McMinnville for Christmas. Courtney finished her last day at school today and she is staying with Peggy and Glen for a few days while we are in Jackson.
Thank you again for your continued prayer support for our family. I will update again once Kelsey is out of surgery and at home recovering.
We all went to Christy and Phillip's house in Jackson this past weekend to celebrate Trace's 8th birthday and to watch the children's Christmas play at their church. We had a great time playing games, eating, and enjoying the play.
Jennifer and I are back in Jackson tonight preparing for Kelsey's shoulder surgery tomorrow afternoon at 1:00. Your prayers are greatly appreciated. The surgery should take about an hour and we will stay here with her while she recovers, before heading to McMinnville for Christmas. Courtney finished her last day at school today and she is staying with Peggy and Glen for a few days while we are in Jackson.
Thank you again for your continued prayer support for our family. I will update again once Kelsey is out of surgery and at home recovering.
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Praise Report - Wednesday, December 5th, 2012
Glen has finished his last round of chemo and went in last week to have a PET scan to determine what progress has been made with the treatments. He got the results back yesterday and we have great news to share. The high grade lymphoma is GONE, the low grade lymphoma is in REMISSION, and the spot on his esophagus (which the doctor thinks may be scar tissue) is smaller than it was in the last scan. He has an appointment with the doctor who did the esophagus surgery on December 13th to check out the spot and make sure that is okay.
At this time, there are no more chemo treatments scheduled. Glen will have blood tests done every 3 or 4 weeks and the doctors will follow the results to determine if any further treatments are needed. We pray that he can start to gain back his strength now and feel much better.
Thank you again for all of your prayer support and we hope that you and your family have a great Christmas holiday. I will continue to update the blog to let you know how Glen is doing and also to keep you updated on our family.
At this time, there are no more chemo treatments scheduled. Glen will have blood tests done every 3 or 4 weeks and the doctors will follow the results to determine if any further treatments are needed. We pray that he can start to gain back his strength now and feel much better.
Thank you again for all of your prayer support and we hope that you and your family have a great Christmas holiday. I will continue to update the blog to let you know how Glen is doing and also to keep you updated on our family.
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Happy Thanksgiving
2012 has been a very difficult year for our family in a number of ways, but we still have so many reasons to be thankful during this Thanksgiving holiday.
It was difficult watching Glen suffer through his esophageal cancer surgery, the weeks of recovery, and then through 6 rounds of chemo to fight the lymphoma. However, we are praying that with good results from his PET scan and a good follow-up visit with the esophagus cancer surgeon, he will regain his strength and be able to manage his cancer with maintenance doses of chemo. He is a man that I admire very much and I am so thankful to have him as my father-in-law. We look forward to spending many more holidays with him.
It was difficult watching Peggy suffer through her back problems while Glen was recovering from his surgery and starting chemo. However, she has now recovered and been able to travel to Jackson for events for her grandchildren and went on her annual Christmas shopping trip with Jennifer, Christy, Judy, and Caryn for her birthday. She is such a blessing to our family and is responsible for so many holiday memories and traditions that we will always treasure. I am so thankful to have her as my mother-in-law.
It was difficult to hear that Courtney would need to have her heart valve replaced. However, with new technologies that were available, the doctor was able to replace the valve through a catheterization process that did not require open heart surgery. As a result, she only spent 1 night in the hospital, only missed 3 days of school, and was back bowling 1 week after the procedure. It is such a joy to watch her participating in a team sport in high school and having so much fun. I am so thankful that the efforts I have made to raise money for the American Heart Association have helped fund the research that has directly affected Courtney's life.
It was difficult to watch Kelsey struggle with her decision of where to go to school this year. However, in the end it has been a real blessing for her. She decided to transfer from Western Kentucky University to Union University, as well as change her major from Musical Theater to Nursing. She has made new friends and is enjoying being at Union. Since Phillip is a youth minister at a church in Jackson, Kelsey is able to live off campus with them and is only 3 miles from campus. She is adjusting to having 3 small kids in the same house with her and finding the right mixture of studying on campus and at home. She is also singing with a praise band at church and enjoys being a part of their youth group. She also just started working at Macy's in the mall in Jackson. She has had troubles with her shoulder for quite awhile and recently discovered she will need surgery to correct the problem. Fortunately the surgeon is a friend of Phillip and Christy and was able to work her in for surgery in December. She will be recovering through Christmas and while she has classes through her J term. Prayers for her during this time are definitely appreciated. I am very thankful to have her at a Christian school, being involved in a local church, and for Christy and Phillip allowing her to live with them. I am very fortunate to have them as my brother and sister-in-law.
It was very difficult losing my job back in May. I had known for awhile that it would happen, but I have no doubt the timing was in God's plan. Since I was not working, Jennifer was able to go to McMinnville and help Peggy and Glen during his recovery and while Peggy was down due to her back problems. I was also able to spend more time with Kelsey and Courtney. In fact, Courtney and I bowled about 5 days a week for most of the summer during the Kids Bowl Free program. I will admit it has been harder finding a job than I had anticipated, but I also know that God has a plan for me and I have to be patient and continue to seek His guidance to find my next job. I am very thankful to have a loving wife, a supportive family, and faith that God will see us through this.
I am also very thankful to have friends and family like those of you who read this blog faithfully. I thank you for your prayer support and pray that God blesses you and your family during the holiday season.
It was difficult watching Glen suffer through his esophageal cancer surgery, the weeks of recovery, and then through 6 rounds of chemo to fight the lymphoma. However, we are praying that with good results from his PET scan and a good follow-up visit with the esophagus cancer surgeon, he will regain his strength and be able to manage his cancer with maintenance doses of chemo. He is a man that I admire very much and I am so thankful to have him as my father-in-law. We look forward to spending many more holidays with him.
It was difficult watching Peggy suffer through her back problems while Glen was recovering from his surgery and starting chemo. However, she has now recovered and been able to travel to Jackson for events for her grandchildren and went on her annual Christmas shopping trip with Jennifer, Christy, Judy, and Caryn for her birthday. She is such a blessing to our family and is responsible for so many holiday memories and traditions that we will always treasure. I am so thankful to have her as my mother-in-law.
It was difficult to hear that Courtney would need to have her heart valve replaced. However, with new technologies that were available, the doctor was able to replace the valve through a catheterization process that did not require open heart surgery. As a result, she only spent 1 night in the hospital, only missed 3 days of school, and was back bowling 1 week after the procedure. It is such a joy to watch her participating in a team sport in high school and having so much fun. I am so thankful that the efforts I have made to raise money for the American Heart Association have helped fund the research that has directly affected Courtney's life.
It was difficult to watch Kelsey struggle with her decision of where to go to school this year. However, in the end it has been a real blessing for her. She decided to transfer from Western Kentucky University to Union University, as well as change her major from Musical Theater to Nursing. She has made new friends and is enjoying being at Union. Since Phillip is a youth minister at a church in Jackson, Kelsey is able to live off campus with them and is only 3 miles from campus. She is adjusting to having 3 small kids in the same house with her and finding the right mixture of studying on campus and at home. She is also singing with a praise band at church and enjoys being a part of their youth group. She also just started working at Macy's in the mall in Jackson. She has had troubles with her shoulder for quite awhile and recently discovered she will need surgery to correct the problem. Fortunately the surgeon is a friend of Phillip and Christy and was able to work her in for surgery in December. She will be recovering through Christmas and while she has classes through her J term. Prayers for her during this time are definitely appreciated. I am very thankful to have her at a Christian school, being involved in a local church, and for Christy and Phillip allowing her to live with them. I am very fortunate to have them as my brother and sister-in-law.
It was very difficult losing my job back in May. I had known for awhile that it would happen, but I have no doubt the timing was in God's plan. Since I was not working, Jennifer was able to go to McMinnville and help Peggy and Glen during his recovery and while Peggy was down due to her back problems. I was also able to spend more time with Kelsey and Courtney. In fact, Courtney and I bowled about 5 days a week for most of the summer during the Kids Bowl Free program. I will admit it has been harder finding a job than I had anticipated, but I also know that God has a plan for me and I have to be patient and continue to seek His guidance to find my next job. I am very thankful to have a loving wife, a supportive family, and faith that God will see us through this.
I am also very thankful to have friends and family like those of you who read this blog faithfully. I thank you for your prayer support and pray that God blesses you and your family during the holiday season.
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