What a week

What a crazy week and a half it has been. Last Saturday, the 17th, my Uncle Steve went home to be with his new found Lord and Savior. It was somewhat unexpected to come so soon. He had finished the last radiation on the 15th, then that night suddenly stopped talking and eating. Friday afternoon he went home from the hospital and by 6:30 the next morning he was gone. It was a shock to us all, as we thought the treatments would be giving him more time. Then came the visitation on Monday the 19th and the funeral on the 20th (our anniversary). The funeral, visitation, and burial went great. My dad did the service and clearly gave the salvation message to the room full of unsaved family and tons of kids from the local high school. My mom gave a family memories eulogy and held it together nicely. Steve was more like a father figure to her, moving in when her father left the family, buying her first car and walking her down the aisle. My dad had planned on attending the pastor's conference at Moody Bible Insititute that week, he was able to work it out anyways despite missing the first day and a half. So, I took my mom and sister home from the funeral and stayed with them for a few days up in Pentwater so my mom wouldn't be alone

Izzy and I had a great time up north. We went to Sara's soccer game, shopped, kept mom company, and relaxed. I actually got to read for fun for the first time in a long time! Friday afternoon I left my parent's house and went to Paul's family's cottage which is only about 15 minutes from Pentwater on Silver Lake. I was there with his parents and his oldest sister's family. Then, he and his younger sister came on Sunday. It was soooo good to see him after being apart for nearly a week. We had a great time at the cottage. Sunday was Dad Spica's birthday- we celebrated with a great cookout and a trip to Craig's Cruisers. The boys went on the slick track and it was so fun to watch. I even got in on the go cart action.

We came home Monday morning and it was sooo good to be home! I did 7 loads of laundry (thats a lot for our small family of 3) and grocery shopping yesterday. Paul is a selling agent for a Parade Home- so he has been working everyday until 9pm. It is sad not to see him much- but it has been very productive. He has had nearly 300 people through since Wednesday, and the parade of homes continues through this Saturday- great exposure for the development! Hopefully we'll get at least one sale out of it.

I'm still trying to climb my way out of being away from home for so long. I'm still in somewhat of a grieving stage. It could be a long week- hopefully the weather warms up so Izzy and I can enjoy some outside play time.

On a random note- if you could please be in prayer for my father in law- paul's dad (Fred). Dad S. has parkinson's diesease. He has been diagnosed for about 12 years. He is quite slow at progressing, but has seen considerable change in his speech, sleep, and overall quality of life in the past year or two. He and Mom (Julie) have decided to go ahead with DBS (deep brain stimulation) surgery. It is a two step surgery. The first surgery is Tuesday, June 3rd. It is outpatient and he will be awake. The doctors will be drilling holes in his skull and then stimulating areas of the brain with a probe. Once they find the areas they are looking for they will insert some wires. These wires will then be hooked up to pacemaker type objects in the second surgery on June 13th. These pacemakers will send electrical impusles to the brain. This will hopefully decrease or elimate the symptoms caused by Parkinson's and hopefully eliminate his need for medicines that in their own right have many side effects. While this surgery is not dangerous- it is still brain surgery and has its risks. Dad is ready and excited- while Mom is a little more nervous. We are all hopeful that this will provide dad with a greater quality of life and better relationships with his grandkids. He's hoping it will improve his golf game-haha. We would all covet your prayers.

Well, this post got kind of long and boring- I'll try to add some pictures from the weekend soon.