m e a d o w l a r k

So i just now found out that we have this cool family blog. obviously I was a little out of the loop. Too wrapped up in my own busy life. Which is just getting more and more busy. Today Mom and I sat down and filled out my Washington State University application!! college already, can you even believe it!? I am hoping that by applying with early admission that gives me a better chance of getting in. WSU is my number one school and now that i sent in my application I am very nervous and will be excitedly awaiting for my letter back. Other news in my life, as you all know I am a cheerleader and we have had a very busy season. Our football team remains undefeated (10-0) and is still #1 in state (for the 4a division) it is predicted that we will win state this year, which is very exciting but it also means that my cheerleading season does not end until mid december. and then it is time to cheerlead for basketball. Homecoming was last weekend, which includes spirit week all week before the dance and game. it was very fun! We have crazy dress up days and since it is my last year of high school i decided to have a little spirit. Costume day and 80’s day were the best. I borrowed a friends jersey and dressed up as a football player and on 80’s day everyone kept telling me that i was born in the wrong decade. I disagreed because there is no way I could wear that high of shoes every day of my life. It was an honor to be nominated as one of the senior homecoming princesses! A group of 3 couples went to dinner at one of the boys’ house (the cooked for us) it was very sweet and the food was surprisingly good. Then we all went and danced the night away, which was very fun for me because I love to dance. It was sad that mom and dad were in tennessee during Homecoming but at the same time i enjoy being independent so it was a nice change. I think that is about all that is going on in my life for now. Mostly just stressed about college and crossing my fingers that I get into WSU!

Love you all family

Laura Elizabeth

-lgc

I wish that there was a clever or witty way to begin this post, but there is none-

Sam’s cancer is back.

I am sure that some of you already know this, but I want to make sure that everyone is aware. Obviously, our hearts are heavy. Sam and Carol have been fighting so hard and for so long. The news of the relapse here has been totally deflating. I can only imagine how life on Meadowlark Ct. is going right now.

If there has been anything positive to have come out of this darkness, it would be this website. It was after our trip to Napa last summer that Renee’ had seen how far apart our family had become, and what it might take to stay as close as possible. With much help, the family website was born.

Some of you have met our good friend Karen. Jason and Karen are our best friends. She is a nurse in the Twin Cities. She shared a story w/us a while ago that I have never forgotten, that I shared with Sam and Carol Last summer.

As part of staff development, she attended a seminar for doctors and nurses on effective tools for patient healing. The lecture focused on the role of the doctor in ensuring that all available resources are utilized to help their patients get well. The focus of the seminar then shifted to the documented healing power of prayer for the sick.

The results were overwelming and extremely conclusive. The vast majority of patients that were under the care of a physician experienced both a greater likelihood of recovery, and also a shorter recovery time. This was irregardless of who it was that praying for the patient (stranger or friend) nor was it tied to whether the patient even knew that they were being prayed for. The power of prayer in recovery rivaled the very power of medicine itself. Understand that this conference was not held in a church by a minister of any particular faith, but was held in a public hospital by an objective medical community without a specific bias. The conference concluded with the obligation that a doctor has to use all available means necessary to restore those under their care to full health per the hippocratic oath.

For those without a faith, this should at least be compelling. For those of us that do profess a faith, this should be obvious, if not forgotten. It seems to me that even in church prayer is treated as more than of an afterthought than as a sharp tool.

I know that Sam has been prayed for daily since his first round of cancer with the confidence that he would completely recover. Prayer alone has not given him 2 rounds of victory over the killer, but I can boast that Christ has heard those prayers and has responded in kind.

Just as doctor that is worth anything would never authoritatively say that they are 100% positive that a complicated and delicate treatment will be totally effective; I would never be so brazen as to name this cancer and claim that Sam will be 100% rid of this disease. However, that doctor will use all of the tools that are available to him, and I believe that we should be using ours.

So, more than the general, “Please pray for Sam” request, I am hoping that we would be just as methodical an diligent as are those who are working to care for Sam. I am thinking of a schedule that is set so that Sam is continually prayed for. I don’t know what the mechanics of this looks like, so I will simply start this post and seek your reply.

chuck

Bill & I have returned from our visit to the South.

We are already missing Wil & Kris, it was fun living with them for a short time and sharing a part of their lives. They lead a life that is filled with:

Committments to school & work (Kristen is the most talented student in her school of design, I am not just saying that, she has so much talent it is almost hard to believe at times). Kristen is working on the ‘Vernon’s ‘ (lead singer of Rascal Flats) home in her work right now and although it is not her style, I know she is doing an incredible job. Wil… it’s such an honor to be his mom. We went to his Starbucks everyday (an addiction that I am missing very much, Kristen introduced me to Maple Lattes, YUM) He is so well liked and respected by the employees at Starbucks, they were all so kind and so happy to meet us. He is obviously not a boss who his staff cringes when he comes in. He knows just about every local in Franklin and we even got his Aunt Gail and Uncle Bernie in there to see him! Our kids are not only a beautiful couple, they are intelligent, interesting, fun and gifted. My heart is warmed, I know as they grow up and into a marriage that is filled with one another along with everything else in their lives, they will have love, joy and success!

A Mural in the History Exhibit in Old Downtown Franklin, painted by Kristen!

Wil in front of the Old town Franklin Starbucks (his store) it is a beautiful historical building

Good looking couple, the smokehouse at Carnton Plantation, where we saw NO ghosts, not even hogs!

Friends & Franklin. We enjoyed spending time with Wil’s great friend Jeff and his brother Andrew (they & Bill have a very fun business idea that they met about and brainstormed on, it was initiated at Wil’s bachelor party). Then for dinner one night we thoughougly enjoyed a full out vegan dinner (prepared entirely by Wil, and it was REALLY GOOD) and an evening of games playing with Mike and Cassie. Cassie is Kristen’s best friend in TN and Mike is her Italian boyfriend! we learned these four young adults are so much better at Trivial Pursuit than we are it is not even funny.

Many dining options! We really enjoyed all the yummy places to eat out, something we lack in a huge way here in Sisters. We had breakfast at a Jewsih diner in Nashville (Noshville) so good! Had a great Italian dinner with some fantastic Chianti at Mangiano’s (I can never have to much eggplant parmesan). We had lunch at some great places in downtown Franklin enjoying great ale at Wil’s favorite pub right near his work. The food was all so good and so much fun!

Great Ale, notice the clover pattern in the foam!

The gorgeous country of the south. I admit it is such a beautiful area, I go back there and I wonder…. why do I not live here. The rolling green countryside, the fall foliage was so pretty, the horse farms, the plantation style homes, the brick buildings everywhere. It is lovely. The people are genuinely warm, friendly, welcoming and interested in you and interesting to know. It’s a wonderful place. Everywhere we went the kids new people, Franklin has the small town feel I love so much along with a city close by and many things to do. I love it there!

The Carton Plantation. The setting of the historical novel, Widow of the South, a bestseller. It’s so lovely.

Gracie. She is so cute, so smart, so well behaved, so funny, so clumsy and yet so graceful. She is huge to say the least and is only five months old, so… she could possibly end up twice as big. It is a crazy thought although she is a very good dog and Kristen and Wil take so much time training her and loving her that her size is not an issue, it’s just noticeable because she is big and very cute. She is so funny because of her size she has a bit of clumsieness but when she runs she is so graceful it is unbelievable, it is like she is floating on air. Gracie is a sweet dog!

Gracie on her couch.

Bill & I had an opportunity to see some clients, and visit his bother and family also. The trip was good for us and we are grateful for the hospitality that was showed to us by Wil & Kristen. We will be back, we love the Franklin area so much!

lgc