I hate cancer!

I'm sure that there are not many who can say that they love cancer, so that statement is really quite stupid. But in one short week a friend died of cancer, Ted's sister was diagnosed with cancer, and my nephew's mother died of cancer. Too much heartache and loss in one week. Even though we are on vacation and life is good, the heaviness of it all is like a cloud that won't go away. The unanswered questions are still there...

We are having a good time...nice because we really have no agenda! Susan has joined us for a few days, and it is nice to have someone that actually enjoys shopping and walking around just looking at things. Ted hates shopping or anything remotely related to shopping. Susan and I just had a few things that we were looking for, so it's not like we are doing it all of the time! It is very hot, and you either need to be in the water or in the air-conditioning. I am going to have to be in the water more tomorrow, as I feel a little sludgy. Or, maybe that's because we ate our favorite pizza tonight :)

Kelsie is holding down the fort and was so glad that the weather finally improved in Ohio. A sorority friend surprised her with a visit yesterday which really perked her up.

Carli only has 2 more weeks at camp. The time has FLOWN. I think that it has been a good summer, one of growth, but also one of frustration. But I think that is when God teaches us the most, isn't it? I hope that Jeremy has been able to spend some quality time with his family as the next months will be very busy for him and Carli.

Todd just got a new job with JP Morgan doing something that I really don't understand. The financial/accounting world really makes no sense to me! But it will be nice for him to have something with the uncertainty that his job with Merrill Lynch held.

I think that I hear deep thunder...guess I won't go swimming tonight after all!

Quiet....

I never thought that I would mind the quiet. After years of almost constant noise and activity in our home, the silence is almost deafening. Don't get me wrong...I am enjoying being able to finally read the newspaper or a book without getting interrupted, except by Ted and his projects...but even the dog is getting old and not moving around much! He just lays by my feet and sleeps...

Kelsie is working her second double shift in a row. She is so worried about her financial situation for her study abroad. I am glad that she realizes that money doesn't grow on trees, but I don't want her to miss out on her summer because of it, either. She has been so helpful...nice to have the dishes done when I come home from work.

Speaking of work...I'm done until August except for some random meetings. Yea!! So much to do before the wedding...am glad that I can get things done now. There are so many little details to think about with an outdoor wedding. We just want folks to have a good time. Carli is adament about people having fun!!

Very stressful week...family health concerns which cannot be named yet...it is so hard to know how to help besides praying...which, I guess, is the best thing to do anyway. But as human beings, we all need help in different ways. But, just because I need people around me when I am hurting, doesn't mean that everyone needs help in that way. I am praying for God to show me how to be supportive.

Please pray for a young woman in our church that was just diagnosed with Hodgkins. She is a single mom of an 8 year old...just started her chemo...her name is Lesley. She has very supportive parents, which will help, but they will need support, too. Really brings back Carli's ordeal to me...I think of those first few weeks after her diagnosis and how everything was a blur. Again, not sure of the best way to help.

Such a beautiful weekend. We leave for vacation next weekend...the beach is always rejeuvinating for us...but this time it's just Ted and I...that will be a real change! Hopefully we can handle just being the two of us.