Difficult days ...

Teri headed to Orlando to the Florida Hospital yesterday morning as her friend from childhood, Lisa Pannell, was scheduled to undergo surgery to remove a mass in her lung. It was malignant although the doctor was fairly certain he had been able to get it all. He removed the bottom lobe of her right lung.

Lisa is just a little older than Teri so needless to say, this really had an impact on Teri. Also, Lisa looked to Teri for support so Teri needed to put her own feelings aside to be strong for her friend. I am so blessed by daughters who take their role as friends very seriously. Bob and I talked about that last night -- that each one is always "there" for whomever needs them and for that, we are so blessed.

Teri said that when Lisa called her a few weeks ago, she realized that she sounded a little unaffected at first and felt a little badly about that. She was just processing the info ... Lisa knows Teri pretty well. She told her boyfriend, "Give Teri about an hour and she will call back very upset" ... it was almost an hour on the nose! Teri called ... and she was bordering on hysterics as Teri can do.

Will appreciate your prayers .. it seems so many have been going through difficult times recently. We have received word of several who have died -- one as young as 7, one in his 30's -- another in his 50's. So many need prayer!!

On a lighter note maybe -- it's cold in Atlanta!! I have traveled from Atlanta to Indianapolis to the middle of PA -- and the fluxuations in temperatures seemed almost unbelievable! From 59 degrees in PA in the middle of February ... to snow a couple days later. Fortunately, it didn't stick!! I HATE driving in the snow!! Okay -- that sounds strong but I have strong feelings when it relates to driving in snow!!

However, we have our own version of 'black ice' when it rains after it has been very hot here in Florida. The oil on the roads comes to the surface and can become very slick. So, I guess I can't get completely away from driving challenges .. still, I'll take my Florida weather -- I hope to be back there on Monday afternoon -- for about 3 days. And then it's back to Indy again!! I am meeting myself coming and going!! I am anxious to get back to see Ava ... oh, and all the others, too, of course. I think Tyler is afraid that I was going away for a long time so I assured him on the phone that I would be back soon!!!

So much for now ...

Running ....

Teri ran in a mini-marathon this past weekend .. it took her about 2 hours and 20 minutes to run 13-1/2 miles. That included several stops along the way so she was quite happy with her time.

A bright, brisk morning in central PA ....

Now I sound like a radio announcer ... actually, it is a beautiful, clear day in central Pennsylvania. Last night, I wondered if it would be when Rachel and I were attending a wedding in Sunbury, about 15 miles from here. We were getting ready to leave the church for the reception and opened the doors to snow! It appeared it might even stick to the ground but it didn't last too long so I breathed a sigh of relief. I don't necessarily like to drive in it -- especially when I can't remember the directions well. Am I directionally challenged ... sometimes. Oh, I did a great job in mapping out the directions to the church and on to the reception. But, I put aside the directions to the church after we got there .. and then couldn't quite remember how to retrace our steps. So, I just took off north on one of the road I assumed lead to somewhere - which it did and it didn't cost us too many extra miles -- maybe one or two, or so.

The wedding was beautiful ... Esther Hobbs and William Straight. I knew Esther's parents since I was a teenager -- when a lot of 12 year old girls thought Mike (Hobbs) was one to pursue ... it's pretty funny in retrospect. He didn't choose any of those girls to be his wife -- Joann was one beautiful lady (inside and out) and went to be with Jesus about three years ago. William and Esther have quite a love story which can be read here ...

This morning, Teri is running in a half-marathon (13-1/2 miles). I was a little concerned since she has had bronchitis but her doctor cleared her to run so I am praying she will be okay. She sent me this photo to make sure I knew she was doing fine!! So, it's off to church soon and then heading west a few miles for the rest of the day!

It has been fun to be in these parts which we called home for a few years in the late 70's and early 80's. How the years have flown by but friendships remain close!

We are truly blessed!!