Relay For Life

Last night was the Boone County Relay For Life Event. This is the second year that I walked during the opening Survivor Lap. I was given the privilege of walking in the front and helping to carry the banner. I don't know for sure, but I would guess that their were well over 100 survivors walking in that lap. On the second lap around the track, all care-givers are asked to join their cancer-surviving loved one. Both Jeff and Josh walked the second lap with me. Afterwards, we bought dinner from the Hy-Vee food stand (100% of the money they collect goes to RFL). This morning our church hosted a fund-raising pancake breakfast. I just got back from that.

I really enjoy participating in the RFL event even though I'm long past being able to stay up all night to walk around the track! As you walk during that survivor's lap, they announce the name of each survivor as well as the type of cancer they had/have and how long since their diagnoses. It is so encouraging to hear numerous people that had cancer 10, 20, and even 35 years ago. They beat cancer, went on with life, and are here to tell about it. It is what I need to hear; that while I might get cancer again, I also might not.

I'm also amazed at the number of people that work so hard to raise money in the name of cancer. Organizations like Hy-Vee must have spent thousands and thousands of dollars on this event. Other companies have teams of people walking overnight as well as just groups of friends that formed teams. It is thanks to all these people that cancer research and cures have come such a long way. I for one am grateful to everyone who has had a hand in helping raise money for cancer research!

Friends From the Past

Last night Jeff and I drove to Webster City to meet some friends of ours for dinner. Mark and Beth Kolwicz and their teenage sons, Erik and Bryce, have been pastoring an Alliance church up in Montana until recently. They are in Iowa this weekend canidating for a position in a church about an hour away from us. We had a really good time catching up with them.

Mark and Beth went to the same church that we did about 13 years ago in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Jeff was studying to be a pastor during that time and was the part-time Youth and Visitation Pastor at the church. We haven't had much contact with the Kolwicz family in all these years, so it's funny how we heard from them so unexpectedly and renewed that friendship so quickly. The Christian and Missionary Alliance denomination is like a big family. You just never know when you will run in to someone that you met years before or in what context. It certainly would be great to have them in our district!

My Father is the Best!!

Today is Father's Day. I work immediately after church until late this evening so I won't get a chance to call my dad, but that doesn't mean that I'm not thinking of him or that I love him any less. I have some great memories of my dad.

My dad was an auto-body repair man and worked in a Chevy garage. Sometimes, we would go pick him up from work and I would walk in to find him. The garage (and my dad) had a very distinct smell of a combination of paint, bondo, and whatever else was used in that garage. To this day, every time I smell paint I am immediately transported back to childhood. I almost expect to see Dad walk through the door.

One of my best memories of my dad is from my high-school years. I think I was 16 at the time and had just broke up with the guy that I was dating. I was more angry than upset and Dad knew just what I needed. It just so happened that Dad was starting a remodeling project in the bathroom that day. He handed me a hammer and let me take out all my frustrations on the tile in the bathroom! I spent a good portion of the day working in the bathroom with Dad. I don't remember what we talked about, but we were together at a time when I needed a positive male role model.

Thanks for being a great dad, I love you. Happy Father's Day!!!

Cindy's Gardening Abilities

I've never had much of a green thumb in the past. Some because I don't like getting dirty, bugs, and hot weather, but mostly because I don't have a clue what I'm doing! I've had a vegetable garden only a couple of times in the last 20 years. I love eating the fresh produce through out the summer, though, especially tomatoes.

Last year I did a couple of tomato plants in containers that were semi-successful. I had decided not to grow any this year since we will be moving in July, but last week a lady from our congregation gave me 8 tomato plants. So this morning, I went ahead and planted them in containers again. Maybe next year I'll try a real, in-the-ground, garden at the new house, complete with green beans and cucumbers. If anyone has any tips on growing tomatoes, I'd appreciate any advise I can get!

Flood of 2008

Central Iowa has been literally flooded with rain the last month or so. I don't ever remember seeing this much water before. Every night or two we get major storms. I really wish I had a rain gauge so I could measure it myself. Above is pictures of Hwy 30 that runs east/west through Ames and Boone. The Des Moines River is way above flood level and the bridge crossing the river has been closed indefinitely. Jeff and I went exploring today and took pictures from the barricades at each side of the river. You can see the road just disappears.

For the most part, the flooding hasn't given us too much of a problem in our day-to-day lives. One day we had a hard time getting to the doctor's office in Ames because so many roads were closed due to flooding. Monday I was working at Hy-Vee when a rumor started that the water plant was flooding and all water would be turned off soon. I think every bottle, jug, or gallon of water in Boone sold in a matter of just an hour or two! Of course, it wasn't true.

Josh's Weekend

Josh had the privilege of having a couple of really good friends come to visit from Hawley, Minnesota. Chris and Garrett both attended our church up north and all three boys were very active in Youth Group. They drove down on Thursday and were able to stay until this morning. Jeff and I didn't see much of them; the three of them pretty much kept to themselves playing their computer games and reminiscing old times. I know Josh really enjoyed himself and I'm really glad Chris and Garrett could come to visit.

Good News!!

Yesterday, Jeff and I arrived at hospital admitting at 6:00 a.m. They wheeled me down for surgery at 6:45. I woke up in recovery at 8:45. The doctor came in and told me that IT'S NOT CANCER. What a relief. I was home by 11:00 a.m. I really didn't hurt too bad, although twice I took the prescription pain medication the doctor gave me. I even went to see the Narnia movie, Prince Caspian, last night with our church for Family Fun Night. I'm planning on heading into church to do some work today. (I haven't gotten many hours in the last week or two with all the family visiting!) Thank you so much for your prayers!

Car Troubles

The last of our company left this morning. My parents are taking my grandparents back to Oklahoma. It was a great visit and I'm so glad that we were able to get almost everyone here for the weekend. With all of our families spread all over the country, kids going off to college, and my grandparents in their mid-80's, who knows if we will be able to do this again.

So, my Ford Taurus was parking my parents in this morning, so as I went to move it so they could leave we discovered that it had a flat tire. When we changed it, we found a huge hole in the side of it. The strut somehow broke and poked a hole in the tire. Apparently, this is common in Tauruses. We got it to a garage and discovered that it will be very expensive to fix it. When Jeff got home from taking care of that, he then took Zach to where his car broke down on the highway last night and towed him to the garage. Who knows what is wrong with it.

It seems like we go from mountain-top highs to incredible lows so quickly. Jeff just preached on this very thing this past Sunday; how it's easy to praise God when things are going good, but when times are bad we say, "Why me!!" Well, I have a praise in this storm: I'm so thankful that the car didn't break down while traveling to or from Oklahoma with my Grandparents.

Fun Weekend

We started our family reunion by getting between 5 1/2 and 7 inches of rain here in Boone in a 24 hour period - during the time that family was supposed to be camping in our yard! We did some quick scrambling and found beds for everyone inside. They didn't think pop-up campers and tornadoes were a good combination.

We've had a good weekend visiting, although teenage boys, little girls, a dog, and my brother make a wild and noisy group! My grandparents have been blessed to see their great grandchildren. Here is a picture of Grandpa and Grandma with Josh (almost 18), John (19), Zach (19), Brian (18), Meghan (4 1/2), Rebekah (1 1/2), and Erika (almost 7).

Surgery

As you know, the doctors have been watching a lump that I found last November. There hasn't really been any changes over the past 6 months. I've had two ultrasounds and a needle biopsy. The surgeon has decided that it is time to remove the lump as see what it is. He still doesn't think that it is cancer, but doesn't want to take the chance. I am scheduled for surgery on Wednesday morning (June 4th). I have to be at the hospital at 6:30 a.m. It is just an out patient procedure and I should be home before noon. The doctor said I could be back at work at the grocery store by the end of the weekend. We are hoping to know if the lump is cancer by the time we come home from the hospital. While I am not freaked out by this, I still would appreciate everyones prayers. I'll try to give an update later on Wednesday or Thursday.