Thank you

Thanks to all who remembered me on my birthday with cards and phone calls. Julie and I went to Chile's here in Granbury and that's about the extent of our celebration.

I've been driving to north Forth Worth this week to deliver training for a client and that has kept me pretty busy.

I'm glad I can be busy at my advancing age.

Updates

Julie's Dad came home from the hospital today and is doing fine. Thanks for your prayers.

Also I heard from Michael yesterday as he was driving back from Houston that he passed all his coursework exams. All that's left for him is to finish his dissertation and do an internship. Congratulations Michael. We're really proud of you.

West and East

Today is full of joy in the west and anxious waiting in the east.  In Lubbock today, Marc and Amy go to court to have Caroline officially named a Corbett.  Texas law requires a six month waiting period between the time the adoption takes place and the final name change.  Marc and Amy call it Gotcha' Day and we're so happy for them.  They've had a wonderful time reconnecting with their church and RUF students while visiting in Lubbock this weekend.  You can read all about it here.

Meanwhile, Julie has flown back to Columbus, Ohio to be with her Dad who is having surgery today to receive a pacemaker and defibrillator implanted.  Elmer is officially going bionic!  He will be kept in the hospital overnight to keep an eye on his new equipment before coming home tomorrow.  Julie plans to say with him until Friday if all goes well.  Our prayers are with Dad Hogue this morning.

Aunt Emily Continues to Improve

Emily was sitting up in a chair today and talking with some renewed energy. We're glad that she seems to be responding to treatment, both medical and spiritual. Thank you for your prayers.

A Day in My Dad's Hometown

A beautiful day today as we drove to the top of a small mountain to look over the city of Reading, Pennsylvania. We went to see the Pagoda, a tourist spot in Reading for 100 years. But they were remodeling the building and it was enclosed in scaffolding. Here's what it looks like.


We drove to Wernersville where my Dad went to church all of his growing up years and where his Mother and Father are buried.


I visited the old pump in the cemetery. This pump was the water source for the house in which my Dad's father grew up. He's buried about 50 yards from where he was born. In our family, we cherish a picture of Jill with my Dad at the pump that I snapped about 30 years ago when Jill was a little girl.

Aunt Emily Doing Better Today

Aunt Emily was sitting up in bed today and although she found it very difficult to speak, was able to communicate with her visitors.

Never a Dull Moment (updated)

My Mom was putting in some eye drops this morning and poked herself in the eye. Because she takes all these blood thinners, she now has a horrible looking bloodshot eye. They just called me here at the hotel to tell me they were going to take her to the emergency room just to have her checked out.

They will probably prescribe -- you guessed it, eye drops.





Update:


Here's a picture of the damage. Scroll down only if you dare ...

Pray for Aunt Emily

My Dad's sister, Emily, is in the hospital here in Reading. Gertie told us she was very weak and didn't recognize her. Well, of course, we were very concerned and as soon as we got here we went to visit her in the hospital, even though it was past visiting hours.

Emily is very weak and suffering from a serious bladder infection. She can't walk any more and there is concern that she may have to go a nursing home rather than back to her assisted living apartment. I will count it a blessing if she gets out of the hospital quite honestly. But she is in such pain and suffering I think it best we pray that God take her home. This is her prayer, I know. She's a wonderful Christian lady, probably as close to a saint as anyone I will ever know.

Her husband, Bob, is an athiest and an all-round boorish man. He has constantly belittled Emily and her faith for the 55 years they have been married. He is coming by to see my Dad and Mom. I skeedattled to the hotel where I have Internet access to avoid him as much as possible. A little of Bob goes a very long way.

Aunt Gertie

I flew to Baltimore Sunday, picked up a rental car, and drove to Annapolis where my Mom and Dad had arrived on Saturday to visit friends and family. I drove them about 2 hours north of Baltimore to Reading, Pennsylvania. My Dad grew up here and two of his sisters still live here. We stayed the night with my Aunt Gertie who I haven't seen in many years. She was glad to see us and had lemon merangue pie, my Dad's favorite, ready for an evening snack. Now if they could only figure out how to open the pie container!

Dad waits patiently for the treat.