Quick update

Emily was really depressed that she is still in the hospital for Memorial Day weekend.  Every year, Dawn and I have had a picnic to celebrate the holiday and the kids always look forward to riding our four-wheeler (of course, Candy and Kim have every bit as much fun on it as the kids do!).  The last couple years have also included some motorcycle rides - Emily and I went on a nice long ride last year celebrating her recovery and chatted all along the way.  When we got back, I was in big trouble with Dawn because everybody was ready to leave, "and where did you go for so long?!"  We were only gone for 40 minutes or so.  She got over it pretty fast when I told how much Em enjoyed our time together.

Emily told Candy the other day that this is her favorite holiday because she gets to come down and ride the motorcycle and had really hoped that she would be home by now.  Then she began to cry.

It simply breaks my heart that she has been in the hospital for more than 100 days now.  The doctors are still struggling to keep her blood pressure in check and cannot find what is causing it.  They fear that her luekemia may returning so will be performing another bone asperation this week.  She has been sick and not eating for the past week.  We pray that there is some other cause because a relapse at this time could be devastating. 

The only good news is that they have finally found a cream that has been effective in healing her open sores.

Jim is not doing well either.  He is still in a great deal of pain and has no strenghth left.  Candy is simply overwhelmed by all that is going on

And yet, Romans 8:28 states, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."  Even in this terrible struggle all of you find yourselves wrapped up in, God will work good out of it in a mighty and powerful way.  Call on him and he will lift you up and strengthen you!  We love you guys!

Emily, I have said it before, I'll say it again, you are one tough young lady!

Em's Struggle

Emily has been having a really tough time lately as she fights her ongoing battle with leukemia.  A few days ago she took a surprising turn as her temperature began rising without any known cause.  After her nurse insisted that she be watched very closely, the doctors decided to put her in ICU where her blood pressure dropped to nearly zero and she had no pulse in her outer extremities.  After pumping her full of meds, her blood pressure skyrocketed then the battle was on to bring it back to normal. 

She is still in the ICU as they try to figure out what caused the dramatic changes in her system.  They have ruled out any infections, which is a good thing.  However, that leaves them to speculate what caused the spike in temperature and drop in blood pressure so they need to retest her marrow.  That will have to wait for another day because she is too weak right now to go through that - the doctors will wait till she is a bit stronger for any tests like that.  We are praying hard that her leukemia has not emerged again to wreak more havoc in her body.  She has been through so much - please continue to pray for her.

Two More Weeks?

How in the world does this happen?  The next thing we know, two more weeks have flown by!  I am sorry, it is just a little crazy!

Okay, so here is a bit of a "catch up."

Last weekend Jackie had a bunch of women together to celebrate her bridal shower... oh yeah, Grandpa Naylor, too.  But the real miraculous part of the party was that Grandma Naylor was able to come down to Linesville to celebrate with them!  There were so many family and friends that came out for the day, Jackie was extremely blessed.  When I came home from the Junior High District Band Festival, Jackie was so excited about the day that she could hardly contain herself!  Thanks to all of you who shared that day with her.

Last Wednesday, we held our Spring Band Concert at the school.  It was an incredible evening that brought many compliments to the students and was a great overall blessing.  It is hard to imagine that another class will be graduating in a couple weeks - a class of students that seems like just yesterday they were bouncing into my kindergarten classroom fully expecting another great music lesson and all excited to learn another new song for the day.  I will miss having them in my ensembles but am looking forward to seeing them soar off onto the horizon as they move into the next chapter of their lives.  They had better come back to visit once in a while, that is all I have to say!

Then, this past weekend Adam and I (along with 11 other members of our worship teams from church), went to a fantastic praise conference called AMS @ Crosspoint Chapel in Buffalo, NY.  We all walked away touched and blessed beyond measure.  There was so much information offered that every element of praise and worship was touched on with great points covering ways to improve our ministry as we strive for excellence for the Lord.  The bands and worship teams were simply out of this world! [No pun intended]  We have already put next year's conference on the calendar as a "must attend".

Finally, today was our church's annual blessing of the bikes.  You might find it hard to believe, but I spent most of the early part of the festivities meeting and talking to newcomers to the event.  By the time I got out to the parking lot to take some pictures many of the bikes and riders had already been blessed and left!  So I snapped a few shots as people were leaving but had to talk with those who were left.  Like the father and son (16 years old) riding matching custom Harleys who were going to be featured in an upcoming advertising campaign by Harley-Davidson trying to reach out to the younger generation.  Or the woman who had unfortunately hit a dog on the way to the church.  There was some damage to her Harley, and sadly, some of the remains on the pipes and covers of the bike.  The blessing is that she was able to keep the bike upright and was not hurt.

Many of the bikes had left by the time I took this picture, but the exciting thing was that this year we set a record with over 160 motorcycles.  Talk about time flying by... this was our 8th "Blessing of the Bikes" event!

Unique machines?  It seems that each year brings something that is very unique and this year did not disappoint.  Of course, it is customary that whenever something really cool comes along, our pastor has to take it for a spin around the parking lot.  This tiny little chopper packs an incredible 110cc powerplant with a 4-speed tranny!  After his first lap, he stopped in for a pit-stop to find out how to get it out of 1st gear!  The shift pattern is simply four down, come on - everybody knows that!  (ha-ha, who woulda' guessed, right?)  After the blessing, we went out for a ride to the historic, White Turkey root beer joint in Ashtabula, Ohio.  You know, you have to have a root beer float!

Many of you look forward to updates on our family members who are facing some very difficult times, so I thought it a good idea to share a brief update with you.  Emily is still struggling, so please continue to keep her in your prayers.  The doctors are going to try some experimental medications to see if they can help with her recovery.  She is having a very tough time of it.  Jim is struggling even more than she is, so we greatly appreciate all of your concern and prayers.  Poor Candy is trying to keep up with everything but it is so overwhelming.

One Never Knows

On occasion, life has an interesting way of bringing great people alongside of us.  For the past couple months Dan Miller has been working with me as a student teacher from Edinboro University, PA.  He was a tremendous asset and a real blessing - a friendship that I am sure will continue to grow over the coming years.

The kids thought he was fantastic!  If you work with kids, you know that says a great deal.  Thanks Dan, for all that you brought to our little school!  I pray many blessings on you as you continue on your way which, I'm sure, will be a truly great adventure of your own.

Dan graduates this Saturday but is coming back to Linesville next Wednesday to conduct a couple selections at our Spring Concert.  We are all looking forward to a great evening.

Tired of the bridge?

Okay, I'm not gonna lie - I cannot even believe that it has been an entire month since my last posting!  Life has had us on the "wheel" and we have been running like crazy but not really getting anywhere.  Have you ever been there before?  Now, in all honesty, looking back we have truly covered a lot of ground as we get ready for things yet to come yet at the same time we have been taking care of an incredible amount of present day demands.

My classes went very well, but demanded far more time than I had planned.  And to think that I only have another fifteen months to go!  Woo-hoo!  They were very good though and I was able to glean a great deal from them.

The wedding plans are coming along very well - thanks of course to Dawn and Jackie [between the lines = no thanks to Will and I!].  This weekend will be the big wedding shower.  A gathering of all kinds of chicks - from the mother hens all the way down through the little chickadees.  Joys!   Just kidding ladies, just kidding!

I just talked to Jackie and she is doing really well at school.  Her classes are finished this Thursday and she is really excited to come home.  That will mean that she is on to her next thing... Here comes the bride...

Will won't be there because he is busy in Sommerset putting the new business together.  He is planning to open his doors on Monday.  Of course, if he doesn't have to be there, neither do I!  Now don't get me wrong, I would love to spend the day with my girl, just not at a shower.  I've passed through a couple of them before and they are most certainly designed for those with the xx chromosome.  I think it is a chromosome thing.

Many of you are probably wondering what is going on with Emily.  She has been having it really tough lately.  For over 75 days she has been trapped in her hospital room!  She has only been able to escape a couple times during the past couple weeks and even then, only for 15-20 minutes.  Due to a low white blood cell count she cannot risk exposure to any germs.

She has a couple different infections as well, so they have had her on various anti-boiotics in an attempt to fight them off.  In conjunction with that, is a battery of steroids which is why she is so puffy.

Emily is tough though, she has been through far more than any teenager should have to face and yet, carries a positive attitude that simply exudes a sense of, "I'm gonna get through this!"  The doctors feel that she is on track to pull through the transplant and treatments just fine.  It is taking longer then we expected, that's all.

Jim is not doing as well.  They still have not performed the surgery and the cancer has moved into his spine.  There is far too much happening there to write about in this entry, but please remember him in your prayers.  A miraculous healing would be wonderful!

For those who look forward to my postings, please forgive my absence.  I will try very hard to keep you up to date.