The Trial Continues.

TK1258 has succeeded in kicking my

dear husband's behind the past several

days.  He is tired, tired, tired . . . drug 

through the keyhole tired.  A couple of

other not so pleasant symptoms have also

presented themselves!  We are excited,

however, as we have the next TWO days

off from treatment.  We have had several

fun cozy days around our new home and

have been excited to support our Dad 

as he began this clinical trial.

Smoothies are just about the only thing

that sounds good to our Dad.  He works

on finishing them throughout the day.

Mango seems to be his favorite and we

are only to eager to provide them for

him.  As a result of being homebound,

our family has really enjoyed the

Olympics together this year as well

as the rain that hit our rooftops last 

night and today.

We continue to count our many

blessings, especially our supporters

in our family and friends.  Thankfully,

new mercies and hope come each

morning and give us all that big

jolt that we need in order to help our

Dad through the day.

I have gotten oodles done on my

dissertation and should be ready to

submit my proposal to my mentor

by the end of the week or the beginning

of next for certain.  It has been a 

crazy couple of days for sure as we

miss our Luke.  It is waaaaay to quiet

around these parts for us . . . 

Here's to TWO days off!!!

Onward.comrades.

ABC Blocks.

My name is Jill. I am addicted to

blocks. I am addicted to making

blocks and putting them in 

galvanized buckets and baskets.

I am addicted to blocks that look

like they have been played with

for a bazillion years by, um, kids

and GRANDkids . . . 

Yep, here is my latest collection

of b.l.o.c.k.s.

When I am not making blocks, I

am taking husband's blood pressure,

which has been running 191+/113+.

We FINALLY got it down to 162/98

last night around midnight.  He is on

EVERY beta blocker and blood pressure

control medicine known to docs.

Those adrenal gland tumors pump

cortisol and really drive that blood

pressure up, up, up.  

Onward.comrades.

He's Off.

Tearfully, we sent our youngest off to

church camp for a week today . . . I

love that the boys have an opportunity

to do so many things, but boy, it is

tough on old Mom.

Luke is so organized and had everything 

JUST so and ready for his week away.

I am so impressed at how he gets all

of his things ready to go and likes to

pack himself . . . although I JUST can't

resist helping . . . 

I swear that they come back taller and wiser.

Prescott, Arizona . . . here they come.

Here's to a great week at camp for

my Luke!!

TKone.two.five.eight.

Well, here we have it . . . our clinical trial drug.  Mike
began taking TK1258 yesterday morning and will
continue taking six pills each and every morning.
We are excited to have the opportunity to participate
in this clinical trial and have GREAT hopes for
helping our Dad.  We realize more and more how
much we depend on God for our each and every
need.  We trust in Him to make the right
decisions for our family.  It is difficult to accept
the reality of this disease, but we are thankful
that we have a dedicated team of professionals
working diligently along side also.  We covet
and feel the prayers of each of our family
members and friends.  We cannot imagine going
through this alone and without supporters.

Heres to you TK1258!

Friendship Pie.

My Susan baked me a pie . . . that is a 

statement of true friendship right.there.

After a bazillion hours at the doc's office,

what a wonderful treat to come home to.

This happened even before I could take

a quick picture.

With four boys . . . need I say that 

there isn't even a single crumb theft.

Great family and friends . . . DO NOT

know what.I.would.do.without.them.

Proverbs 17:17 A friend always loves, and a

brother is born to share trouble.

Client #&$*% Day 1.

July 26 marks day numero uno for

our clinical trial.  We are so excited,

that we didn't mind being there TWELVE

hours with blood draws every hour.  In

fact, we ended up having lots of fun

talking and laughing most of the day.

We read and played games on our Kindles,

texted and emailed on our phones, and

talked to our kids a bazillion times

during the day.

Today we received the cocktail

drugs and tomorrow we will receive

THE drug as well as the instructions

on how many days in a row to 

take the new meds.

In eight weeks we will have our 

first CT scan to tell us about all 

of the progress that we are making!!

I can hardly wait.  

Onward.comrades.

Scraps and Things.

With only 152 days to go until CHRISTmas,

I love to see my scrap pile grow and grow!

It means that I am getting lots done!!  I have

special gifts in mind for each of the people

on my CHRISTmas list this year!!  I also

have a TON of work to do!!!

The.news.  Unfortunately, the news that we

received today regarding our Dad's test

results were not at all what we had been

praying and hoping for.  However, we 

are determined to have an extraordinary

amount of faith through this trial and to

wholeheartedly participate in the exciting

new clinical trial.  The clinical trial begins

tomorrow morning, bright and early, and

continues into the evening hours, with

blood draws every hour.  We are very

excited to have the opportunity to 

participate and are thankful for modern

medicine.  All of the boys were with

us at the doctor's office today and 

stood steadfastly by our side.  I am so

thankful for each of them and pray

diligently as their path may become

quite difficult at times.  Once again, I

remind myself of our many, many 

blessings and our wonderful support

team and cheerleaders.  I am very 

grateful for each and every single one

of them.  I appreciate each phone call,

email, and text message.  

Onward.comrades. 

Strip Quilting.

In between running back and forth between

the oncologist's office, doing laundry, making

meals, grocery shopping, playing chauffer,

preparing for next school year . . . I am working

on my first strip quilt.  My friend Susan 

gave me this little pattern that she has

invented.  I am excited!  Luke helped me 

straighten out the first strip . . . It was over

100 feet long . . . it reached down our block!

With CHRISTmas quickly approaching, I

have many projects such as this that I 

must get done!!  I am so thankful that I was

introduced to the hobby of quilting.  I do

so love it and am grateful that I have the

time to devote to it.  My family and friends

love to reap the benefits also!!

Blessings . . . on their way for sure!!

Monday Madness.

Busy, busy, busy day today as Mike 

had more preparation for the clinical

trial beginning Thursday.  We are so 

excited . . . praying, praying, praying.

Today also included mondane tasks such

as laundry and maintaining our household

accounts.  I worked like a big dog using

the hand sander, stencils, paint, and

sponges.  Each of the boys were busy

with friends, swimming, and playing

baseball.  I also spent much time 

preparing for our next homeschool year!

As we near the end of July, I always

begin to look forward to the new school

year, fall, and the holidays.

As we begin the journey of this clinical

trial, we are filled with hope and continue

to pray for a miracle.  We are thankful

for God's many, many, many blessings

that He has bestowed upon our family

and continue to have peace in the fact

that He is the ultimate healer and in

total control.

Over the past four days, Mike has had

and will continue to have a million

labs.  Today he had a CT scan and 

tomorrow he will have a bone scan.

Wednesday we will receive the results

of all of the testing and begin the

clinical trial on Thursday with our

running shoes laced up, ready for

action.

Big blessings on the way.  I just

KNOW it!!

Impromptu Front Yard Project.

 Okay, so we like had  some STUFF that had

to come out.  As we were leaving for church

this morning, landscapers were working

across the street.  I ran over there to get the

low.down.

Needless to say, they were here helping us

within minutes . . . old out.  New in.

Be-a-uuuuuuuuutiful!

Oh, yeah!!!

My supervisor was on.the.job. making sure

that everything was moving right along.

We are so getting there.  I am 

super-de-duper excited!!

Big blessings on the way . . . I just know it!!!

Shabby Chic Meets Farm.

 A HUGE thumbs up for our new kitchen!!!

 The guys just finished moments ago and we

are love, love, loving it.  My crew is amazing!

They helped me put the knobs on, which was 

not an easy task.  The job was much lighter

once SIX of us were doing it together.

 I was skipping around the kitchen making

dinner . . . 

 I thank my little family for appeasing me

when it came time for the knob choice . . .

totally eclectic. 

Big blessings on the way!!!

Spoooools.

 If you know me well, you know that

I can easily become a tiny bit 

obsessive . . . Well, it has happened

with the spools.  As promised, here is

a wonderful rolling library bookshelf

to house some of my bazillion cookbooks.

 A rolling library bookshelf would

be complete without a cuuute picture

of this adorable one-year old boy

born in 1958.

I just love to whirl my bookshelves

around and look at all of my books.

I think that I am addicted to 

things on wheels . . . ugh!

I know that it looks as though my

family has rightfully hooked up a

noose to this BIG BAD BOY, but

it is seriously one.huge.spool on

wheels.  I have BIG plans for him.

He will not be a bookshelf.  However,

we have to get him upstairs . . . 

Hence, the rope!  More details to

come soon.

In the meantime, please continue 

praying for Mike's clinical trial which

will begin on July 26.  Pray for a week

of doctor appointments, tests, and labs.

Know that I love, love, love you from

the depths of my heart and would 

not.make.it.without.you!!!

Big Blessings!!!!!

160 Days . . .

. . . until CHRISTmas that is.  Busy, busy, busy

working on gifts for my peeps.  I am already

getting so excited for our first CHRISTmas

back in Las Vegas with all of our family

and friends.

CHRISTmas came a little bit early for our

family today as Mike qualified for the

clinical study.  We are so thankful for

all of the prayers, thoughts, and support

of our wonderful family and friends.  The

schedule is rigorous, but we are excited

nonetheless.  We begin bright and early

tomorrow with a MUGA scan, which is a

test for the heart.  We will have CT, bone

scans, and labs all along the way.  We

are so very grateful and thankful for this

opportunity and cannot wait to see what

God does during the whole process.

Merry.CHRISTmas. (A wee bit early!)

Oliver.

Well, I guess you can get the idea 

from this phone pic . . . My peeps and

I had a wonderful time eating some of

our favorite grub, enjoying the cooler (90*)

weather, and watching an AWESOME

musical.  We had fun looking at the

stars, laughing, and joking.

Summer . . . gotta.love.it.

Library Card, Please.

 Ta da!!  Our new rolling bookshelf!!

Do you love it . . . I had to take about

a bazillion pictures of it, I just love 

it SO much.  I couldn't even wait to

put all of the books in it!!!

. . . off to unpack more books to load

up my new r-o-l-l-i-n-g bookshelf.

You want more . . . oh yeah, just

stay tuned . . . There is more where

this baby came from.

P.S. I am still waiting on chapters 1-3

of that darn dissertation.  On thing for 

sure, these exercises in sanding, staining,

varnishing, sanding, staining, and 

varnishing are giving me lots of time

to pray and meditate.  Maybe that is

just.what.the.doctor.ordered.

Sanding and Staining and Sealing. Oh, my!

While waiting for chapters 1-3 of my

dissertation proposal to be reviewed,

I have a million ways to get in trouble

constructively use my time.  This baby

is going to be pretty.darn.cool.

There are two more of these bad boys

just waiting in the wings . . . have I

got plans for them.  In the meantime,

I must run to Home Depot for more

sandpaper, stain, and varnish!!!

Warning:  You're gonna love it!!!

Shabby Chic.

Somethin' is cookin' in our brand new

kitchen and it's not dinner . . . 

Awesome results super soon.

Bless your Sunday!!

My Boy is Back in Town!!!

Sam got back from Christ in Youth

MOVE summer camp . . . a life

changing experience for certain!!

We are so amazingly excited to have

our wonderful boy home.  

Off to enjoy my boy!!!

Busy Week Wrap Up.

Even though I did take a shower and get

dressed today, I wore my robe as it 

was pretty.darn.chilly in these parts

today . . . I believe it may have even

been in the 70s at some point.  We

have most definitely had a brutally

busy week and today was no exception.

We are gearing up to put more closet

rods in the closets, finish the countertop

in the laundry room, and build two

awesome bookshelves.  We are excited

to welcome our #3 home tomorrow,

pick up a couple of FREE items from

Craig's List, and work on our jobs

around our new house.  I am also waiting

breathlessly to receive feedback on 

chapters 1-3 of my dissertation.

Prayerfully, we approach next week

as we have an important doctor's

appointment for Mike to make certain

that his liver enzymes are down 

enough so that he may begin the

anticipated clinical trial on July 26.

We will also have a PET/CT scan this

week, which is always a very nerve-wracking

experience.  Nonetheless, we are excited

and cannot wait to see what God does next

in this journey.

The Library is Now Open.

 Stoked! Stoked! Stoked!  We pickled,

measured, cut, chopped, glued, nailed,

and pounded our little hearts out 

today!!!

 Ta da!!  The bookshelves are done,

done, done!!  Even before the paint 

was dry, I had boys slepping books in

from the garage.

 Mike and I got a little teary eyed 

when we saw the many books that 

we read to the boys as they were

growing up.  The spines are missing

and some of the pages have tons

of loving.  They asked for these books

to be read again and again and again.

Yep, I do so miss those days!!

Now I am loving my new bookcase that

looks as though the home was 

designed just for it . . . Oh wait, it was.

There has not been one nook or 

cranny that God Himself did not 

put in this home just for us.  We

are totally convinced of that and we

thank Him each and every moment for

providing such a beautiful and comfortable

home for our family.

Perhaps just as exciting, when we brought

in the 84 boxes of books, we had a TON 

of room in our garages.  The elves helped

and we cleaned, moved, and repacked 

boxes . . . my car is now in the garage!!!

Restored.

 Ooohlala!  Gram and Grampa's dressers

have been fully restored!!!  I could not

be happier with the results!!  Last 

night I had to sleep with one eye open

all night long just to look at these

babies!!  I love, love, love them.

 Gram and Grampa's dressers truly have

a story.  I can remember having my 

picture taken in front of these dressers

40 years ago!!!  These dressers, as

Grampa puts it are "solid maple wood

and good furniture . . . "

 That they are.  Each piece must weigh

about a million pounds.  Anyhow, 

Grampa would insist upon moving these

heavy beasts each time that we moved.

I prayed that he would change his

mind and begged him to let us buy new

lighter ones to replace these monsters.

It is easy to see that he NEVER gave

up and we carted these suckers everywhere.

We crammed them in spaces that were

way to small and scrunched to get into

his bedroom as he loved these two

pieces of furniture.  You definitely get

the picture.  When Grampa died, I was

sure that those two OLD pieces of 

furniture would be quickly lovingly

donated to charity.

However, the night after Grampa died,

I woke up in the middle of the night

with this brillant idea to have those

lovely lightweight pieces of furniture

refurbished to adorn our brand new

master bedroom.  A few phone calls

later . . . I was blessed to find an

AWESOME furniture refinisher who

quickly came to my rescue.

I do so love the results and am grateful

that I was not too hasty in my 

decision to let these two HEIRLOOMS

go.  It is fun to put our belongings

in the same drawers that Gram and 

Grampa did.  Crazy, I know!

We do so miss our Grampa and Gram.

It has been one month and one day

since Grampa went to Heaven.  I talk

and think about him tons and wonder

just how much he is enjoying Heaven,

Jesus, Gram, his family and friends.

I carry his handkerchief and cell phone

in my purse.  I miss his calls, talks,

Milk Dud runs, and his love and 

devotion to our family.  It won't be

long until we all join him there!  I must

say, with each passing day, I get 

more and more excited about that!!!

Sneak Peak 2.

Another exciting project is taking place

at the Sweet Gale compound.  We are

uber excited!!!  . . . stay tuned for final

deets!!!

Off to Camp.

Sam headed off to Christ in Youth camp

today.  Although I have been through it

before, this growing up thing NEVER

gets any easier.  I am excited, however,

for him to have a wonderful time and

to see what God does in his life during

the week that he is gone.

It is a little difficult to feel to sorry for these

guys heading off to "camp" in an air

conditioned tour bus headed for the beach

in So Cal.  

The kids were all uber excited and I am 

thrilled that our Sam is getting plugged in

and is hitting the road with teens that 

are committed to Christ.

Off he goes.  Praying for myself that I

do not have any major computer, camera,

internet, phone or other technical issues

while my main IT guy is gone.

Have a wonderful week Sam!!!

Sunday Dinner.

I love, I mean LOVE having everyone over

for Sunday dinner!!  When we lived in Boise,

we had Sunday dinner every Sunday night.

One of our very favorites, was blueberry

pancakes with ALL of the fixins.   

 Before we even moved back to Las Vegas,

I told EVERYONE that I wanted to 

reinstitute Sunday family dinners.  We have

really had fun doing it.  It gives us a perfect

Sunday afternoon and prepares us for the

busy, busy week ahead.

 One of the things that Grampa said he 

most remembers was Sunday dinners with

his family.  I love family, cooking, Sunday,

and dinnertime . . . 

 One of our very favorite Sunday things to

eat is whipped cream on practically ANYTHING!

Today we whipped up a batch for

homemade strawberry shortcake.  Tim made

the homemade biscuits, Sam chopped the

strawberries, and I made the whipped cream.

I won't tell you how many pieces of strawberry

shortcake my Luke at today!!!

Sunday family dinners lead to dishes . . . lots

of them.  It is well worth the effort and a

tradition I plan to keep going forevermore.

Happy, happy, Sunday.