Friends--where would we be without them?

It's been awhile since I last posted our doings--Steve was in the hospital in Mercy/Roseburg until Thursday afternoon when he was finally released. While in the hospital, he was so blessed to have had so many friends stop by to visit with him.
Too many to name, and I'd probably forget someone.

One night, Shaun Hill, asked several of his friends to come to the hospital to sing & pray with Steve while he was in his hospital room. So Wed. night, Emily & Steve Pappas, and Tyler Thennes, with his guitar, came to sing and pray with Steve. It was so wonderful to see these young people surround Steve with their hearts and and voices in praise to our Great Physician Faither!! We were so proud to have these
sweet people in our midst! Thank you.


So many affirmations of love to our family while going during this turbulent uncertain time. One morning the pool guys from Preference Pool were cleaning our pool and carrying a large carton. I identified the box as being the size of a new diving board. I started crying and the guys saw him, and said to me, "Mrs. Smith, is the pool not as clean as you had expected? The neighbor's tree is carrying alot of flower blossoms and it's collecting in your pool, and we're trying to get as much out as we can." I said, "Oh No, the pool looks great--I'm just so overwhelmed by everyone's generosity--and now there's a new diving board. I'll NEVER be able to repay people for their generosity."
The guys from Preference Pool said to me, "Our boss Steve talked with the diving board distributor/vendor and we got a really good deal on the diving board, so it's a joint effort between the vendor, Steve, the Preference Pool owner, and Art Adams. So please believe us when we say, it was too good a deal to pass up."
So then I start crying all over again............I don't even know the diving board distributor/vendor!!!

Then we received in the mail a pair of beautiful slippers to replace the "boat sized slippers" that the hospital lost after last visit. Thank you so much Suzy and Tom for the beautiful slippers, they fit Steve's feet just fine. The swelling as reduced and his feet are only "partial boat sized" feet!!

The scrapbook fairy was identified to be Michelle Reber. Thank you Michelle for the scrapbook items, I can hardly wait to have the time to sit and scrapbook soon.

Thursday night at the ESD (Education Service District--where Steve works in Rsbg) had their monthly board meeting. Jon Hill, the Superintendent of the ESD, asked if Steve could be in attendance as the Board wanted to honor him for his service these past 16 years. Well, during the meeting, the Board and Jon honored Steve with his name being nominated for an award. If Steve should win, the Justus A. Prentice award--the final award will be given out in May in Bend. But the Board and Jon read a book full of accolades of Steve's service to Special Education and the children he has served over the many years. We were so lucky to have our good friend, Mike Rice, visiting from Boise. So he was able to come with us and be our photographer for this special event. Then we got a bunch of pictures of people hugging Steve and congratulating him. It was a very emotional evening, for a very deserving & wonderful man!!

We had hoped to attend Easter Services with the rest of our family today. However, the pain in Steve's hip is continuing to increase in severity. So he didn't sleep Saturday night due to the pain, and felt pretty puny Sunday morning. So we missed our first Easter service together in years. However we did get to visit with our families later in the day, as they stopped by for dessert and coffee late afternoon.

We are asking for prayer for tomorrow (Monday, March 24), as we travel to Portland for an appt. with Dr. Nichols. At this visit, we will hear first hand what the CT-Scan said and what his thoughts are regarding chemo or continued treatment. I am fearful (as we don't know if the chemo is as affective as we once had hoped.........we continue to pray for a miracle and really want to have God honored and praised with the healing of Steve!!) I hate to use the word "fearful"--but in my small human mind--I am scared. I see the pain that Steve is in and I see how he is shrinking in front of me!! He currently weighs 148 lbs. And his appetite is waning--and I try to feed him constantly!! I am trying to be optimistic and I'm trying to be brave--but it's so hard!! When the man I love is enduring all of this chemo and medicines, and pain pump and everything to try and beat this hideous disease. We covet your prayer so badly--as the enemy is constantly trying to make me afraid and doubt the Lord's abilities to heal!!

The Lord placed so many people and blessings in our paths this past week, and it was so encouraging to see people from our college days, our church friends, our neighbors, Steve's wonderful co-workers at the ESD and school districts, friends who have moved away from us and returned especially to visit with Steve and our wonderful family members. We can't journey down this hard road without all of you.

I received a wonderful gift from the class of 1967 The Dalles High School reunion committee. These wonderful folks thought of us and sent us a check to use for our expenses travelling back and forth to Portland. Several of them have battled cancer, or have loved ones battling cancer and came alongside of us in a very meaningful way. Thank you Sharon and Maja---what a thoughtful gift!! Thank you committee members--I hope that someday--someway I can pay it forward!!

Remember us tomorrow as we hear the news from Dr. Nichols and we're also going to the PERS folks to start Steve's Early Retirement process. Lynsey is going to help me
drive to Portland, so she can help with getting Steve in and out of the Blazer and into various wheelchairs. It'll help having two pairs of hands. As it will be a long and hard day in Portland.

Thank you for your continued prayers and we really feel each and other one of time.
Good night,
mj and Steve