So many people to thank...

I realize as I post pictures and thoughts from Easter that there are so many other people who are on this journey with me. I want to thank so many of you who have written, called, and prayed for me, my husband and kids, and for my parents. I wish we could all spend a lazy Sunday afternoon together, talking and laughing!

Thank you for your support and love. Thanks for pursuing me even when I don't feel like answering the phone calls and emails. They ALL have meant so much.

A special thank you to my in-laws who took Jaelyn and Addison to Michigan for four days so that Andy and I could spend time re-stitching our emotional selves together. Thanks to my generous sister-in-law, Marianne, who became the Mother Theresa of the vacation by facilitating all types of adventures. They had a blast; they didn't want to come home. Andy and I had a wonderful time together; thanks to everyone there!

Happy Easter

Every year we celebrate Easter with friends from church. It's one of my favorite holiday traditions. This year was even better because our kids were celebrating with their family in Michigan, so Andy and I could concentrate on the adult conversations. And, what a blast that was! We covered a lot of ground....our love for Obama vs. our ambivalence for Clinton, the virtues of being Canadian, the tragedy of war, and many other topics not completely suitable for a family blog.

Laughing on Resurrection Sunday felt really good; this year's Lenten season was pretty rough, but it does help to journey through it all with these people. I'm really thankful for the stories that were shared and how these people have integrated their lives and stories into mine. It was a very rich day.

Jaelyn's Birthday Party

On her actual birthday, Jaelyn got breakfast in bed and the usual royal treatment, but finally yesterday we celebrated with a party.



We took Jaelyn to the Cuyahoga Falls Natatorium with three friends to celebrate her birthday; all had fun.



Even Addison who on the drive north had mourned the absence of any other boys on the trip, turned to me as we ascended the staircase to the top of the waterslide and said, "This is the best Birthday Ever!" For Addison, (usually *so* attuned to fairness standards) for him to not be registering a formal complaint on his own behalf, but instead to just be entirely caught up in the joy of the moment, that means that it was really a success.

Happy 38th!

On Wednesday, March 5, we celebrated this amazing man in our lives. There will be other celebrations to come, but it was nice to have time with just the four of us.

Addison made a treasure hunt, Jaelyn chose the long, dangling streamers, and I helped drink the wine after a hectic OGT-prep day. I was excited to give Andy a piece of Michele's art. It's a great symbol to commemorate our lives at this point.

More than anything else, I'm extremely thankful for my husband. He's an amazing partner, father, friend, and artist!

Stage Four

We have officially found out that dad's lung cancer is at stage four. The cancer has spread to both lungs. Through his doctors at University Hospital in Columbus, he has been invited to take part in a clinical trial currently taking place on non-smokers who have lung cancer. That decision will be made in the next few weeks.

"Incurable, terminal disease" is not a phrase that is easy to hear. There always seem to be options in this country of plenty. It's a somber reminder of our finitude.

Thank you for your prayers.