FROM GEORGIA HOME TO TEXAS - JUNE 2009

We had a beautiful time in Southern Georgia during the last few weeks of May. We had a very private secluded campsite, so quiet and serene. It turned out to be a peaceful spiritual retreat for us. After the first week, a medical crisis occurred concerning our Sarah in Colorado. Sarah, as most of you know, has had systemic Lupus since she was 14 years old. She has been having some unusual and unexplainable symptoms for several months and has seen several specialists. Recently, she has been having severe headaches and strange visual disturbances and loss of portions of her visual field at times. Finally, she got in to see a neurologist who sent her for an MRI of her brain. It was discovered that she had multiple tiny in her brain and was immediately hospitalized for further tests. It was feared that the Lupus was attacking her brain (a life-threatening condition).

Karen flew out to Denver to be with Sarah and Daniel during her hospital stay. As it turned out, the lesions were mini-strokes, also Lupus related due to a clotting disorder, but a controllable condition with the use of blood thinners. The doctors said that she would completely recover from the mini-strokes.

In addition, on the MRI a cyst or tumor was discovered on Sarah's pituitary gland which is located in her head just below the brain. This explained the still intractable headaches. This cyst is going to have to be removed. Surgery was scheduled for Aug 28.

Karen stayed a week with Sarah, then flew back to Georgia. We hitched up and started rolling toward Texas and home. It always feels so good to cross that Texas state line when we've been away. You have to be a Texas to truly understand that.

Karen will work part-time at the hospital through the summer. Her old job always is waiting for her when we come back. Mel has seversal preaching opportunities. All our travels have reconfirmed that God is not through with us yet in His kingdom work. Mel will be seriously seeking a church to serve as Pastor in the future. We both sense God has something specific in mind. Our hearts are being drawn toward the Western Heritage Movement in a big way. Don't know how that will play out.