Wishing You a Wonderful Thanksgiving
It has been awhile since we have updated the blog. We wanted however to stop for a moment in the midst of this holiday season of thankfulness to tell you what a blessing each of you has been to us and how thankful we are that you are a part of our lives. You will never know the depth to which you have touched and impacted our lives as you have journeyed beside us over this past year and Kate's recurring cancer. When we pause to consider where we were this time last year our hearts are overwhelmed with praise and thanksgiving for God's grace and faithfulness. We have so much to be thankful for. We are grateful that you have surrounded and carried us with your warm and caring thoughts, faithful prayers and many expressions of love and support. In this season of Thanksgiving one of the things we are most thankful for is you, our friends and family. Thank you to each of you for being a blessing to us and for ministering to us in countless ways!
By way of an update.... Kate's senior year is going well. She is still dealing with the residuals of all the she went through this past year. Nausea, extreme fatigue, and fluctuating counts are still part of the daily picture. She is also dealing with some cognitive and processing issues, as a result of her intense treatments, that are impacting her school work. We are thankful for gracious and helpful teachers and are working with an educational consultant to learn some new ways to overcome these challenges. In the midst of it all, Kate seldom complains and her spirit is tender and sweet as is her smile and thoughtfulness of others. She is thrilled to have a part time job for the holidays that is not too physically taxing helping our dear friend Patti in her Christmas shop. We have been visiting colleges and eagerly anticipating the future God has planned for Kate.
Maggie's regular basketball season is over, the daily hectic pace has let up a bit. Tonight, however, she has her first practice for winter league. This is more laid back and for fun and working on developing the girls' skills. Maggie continues to bring smiles and laughter into our home with her dramatic and enthusiastic response to life. In her Home Ec/Child Development class over the last few weeks the students have carried and given "birth" to a child. They began by carrying a bean in a pouch around their waists, which then progressed to a marble and then a bag of rice and were instructed to keep the "baby" with them at all times. Maggie's "baby", a boy, arrived this past week. Maggie has been her expressive self in declaring that pouch around her waist was a "real bother". We had to rescue the baby in it's bag of rice stage from Gracie who trotted off with it twice:) We all laughed when we ran into the home ec teacher after school in the grocery store and she said to me upon discovering Maggie without her baby with her in the store, "Grandma, where's the baby?" Never a dull moment with Maggie!! She seems to be tolerating motherhood a little better this week, carrying around a cute baby doll in school:)
As for me I have been thankful that subbing has been fairly consistent this fall. I have also been tutoring three students. A few weeks ago, I enjoyed a visit with our dear friends Charlie and Teresa. It was good to reconnect face to face and since we have not seen each other for over three years. The girls were delighted when Charlie and Teresa treated us to dinner at their favorite spot... Texas Road House. I am thankful for the way God has blessed my life through relationships. The people I work with at school are wonderful and I look forward to days teaching and being in such great environment of people. God has sustained many long distance relationships with my heart friends who are spread out around this country and around the world. It is truly an amazing grace gift that our relationships remain strong and vibrant despite the miles and years that separate us. I know that the weight of this journey has been lightened significantly by my Mom and Dad, family and friends who are here locally and always ready to lend a helping hand with a ride for one of the girls, or a home repair, and be there in whatever way they can.
As we celebrate Thanksgiving our hearts are filled to overflowing. We are grateful for the abundance of blessings and reasons for praise and thanksgiving God has put into our lives. Thank you for your on going prayers for our family and for Kate's complete healing.
Blessings to you and yours,
Elaine, Kate and Maggie
By way of an update.... Kate's senior year is going well. She is still dealing with the residuals of all the she went through this past year. Nausea, extreme fatigue, and fluctuating counts are still part of the daily picture. She is also dealing with some cognitive and processing issues, as a result of her intense treatments, that are impacting her school work. We are thankful for gracious and helpful teachers and are working with an educational consultant to learn some new ways to overcome these challenges. In the midst of it all, Kate seldom complains and her spirit is tender and sweet as is her smile and thoughtfulness of others. She is thrilled to have a part time job for the holidays that is not too physically taxing helping our dear friend Patti in her Christmas shop. We have been visiting colleges and eagerly anticipating the future God has planned for Kate.
Maggie's regular basketball season is over, the daily hectic pace has let up a bit. Tonight, however, she has her first practice for winter league. This is more laid back and for fun and working on developing the girls' skills. Maggie continues to bring smiles and laughter into our home with her dramatic and enthusiastic response to life. In her Home Ec/Child Development class over the last few weeks the students have carried and given "birth" to a child. They began by carrying a bean in a pouch around their waists, which then progressed to a marble and then a bag of rice and were instructed to keep the "baby" with them at all times. Maggie's "baby", a boy, arrived this past week. Maggie has been her expressive self in declaring that pouch around her waist was a "real bother". We had to rescue the baby in it's bag of rice stage from Gracie who trotted off with it twice:) We all laughed when we ran into the home ec teacher after school in the grocery store and she said to me upon discovering Maggie without her baby with her in the store, "Grandma, where's the baby?" Never a dull moment with Maggie!! She seems to be tolerating motherhood a little better this week, carrying around a cute baby doll in school:)
As for me I have been thankful that subbing has been fairly consistent this fall. I have also been tutoring three students. A few weeks ago, I enjoyed a visit with our dear friends Charlie and Teresa. It was good to reconnect face to face and since we have not seen each other for over three years. The girls were delighted when Charlie and Teresa treated us to dinner at their favorite spot... Texas Road House. I am thankful for the way God has blessed my life through relationships. The people I work with at school are wonderful and I look forward to days teaching and being in such great environment of people. God has sustained many long distance relationships with my heart friends who are spread out around this country and around the world. It is truly an amazing grace gift that our relationships remain strong and vibrant despite the miles and years that separate us. I know that the weight of this journey has been lightened significantly by my Mom and Dad, family and friends who are here locally and always ready to lend a helping hand with a ride for one of the girls, or a home repair, and be there in whatever way they can.
As we celebrate Thanksgiving our hearts are filled to overflowing. We are grateful for the abundance of blessings and reasons for praise and thanksgiving God has put into our lives. Thank you for your on going prayers for our family and for Kate's complete healing.
Blessings to you and yours,
Elaine, Kate and Maggie
posted by Tracy @ 9:30 PM
2 Comments:
At 10:58 AM,
Anonymous said…
Everyone who knows you and loves you is thankful that we have the three of you in our lives. You bless us daily and remind us what is really important in life.
We watch as you let God see that you are willing to live up to the vision.
Thankful to know you,
PB
At 7:25 PM,
Anonymous said…
Kate that is great that you feel well enough to work this Christmas season. You are in my prayers often.
Mrs. Byrne
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