Oct. 29th

It is the end of Oct. and I 'm trying to remember where the month has gone. The days have passed quickly and I often struggle to remember what day it is. Fall seemed to last a few days and now if feels like winter.
The month may have passed quickly and yet there have been many positive moments The painting is complete and the changes in the appearance of the rooms in dramatic - and we all love it. Painting took place over four days and the work accomplished was remarkable. I am grateful for the support that was provided and know that I would never have been able to do that much work on my own. I was inspired and motivated to do more then I thought was possible. Thanks Dad and the Nancarrow-Timms family. Your dedication and hard work have made a difference in our home and in our hearts.
We have many goals to fulfill. There are the goals that fall under the logistical responsibilities and those that are the personal desires. We are working toward many goals and look forward to having fun along the way. I often try and remember the goals that have already been reached when overwhelmed by the goals still ahead of us. Thanks to everyone around us who reminds us to have fun.
Cute moment of the month: Bryce and Trey running in the rain - just to run. Running and screaming around the yard - literally soaking in the water. And- all of this just after having ice cream in the middle of the day. Why not?

Oct.19th

We are enjoying another great weekend and the changes that seem to surround us. The weather is changing- fall seems to have arrived, the leaves are tuning the vibrant and beautiful colors of fall, Robert has left for Florida and that is always a change in our routine, the walls in our home are about to change as I begin the painting process this week, change in hair color and styles, and the boys seem to change each and every day as they grow. This is why I decided to change the background colors on the blog. A new look - a new feeling. Changing cosmetic appearances will not really change the deeper emotions and the true feelings about life - but it does give us a renewed feeling of satisfaction, a new appreciation of the little changes that can bring us joy in the fact that things can change for the better. A realization that change does not always have a negative connotation. Change can inspire us to to do more and search for the learning that can come from finding the positive aspects of the change. Change can inspire us to feel better about ourselves and appreciate the people who surround us. The generosity of others who help us to create positive change is powerful and remarkable. Change can inspire us to appreciate the material things that we already have and recognize that we are not a product of the amount of things that we own. I guess my point is - I think that changes - whether - positive or negative - can teach us. Circumstances and people in our lives have changed us forever and we are grateful for the messages that we have received.

Oct. 10

Today has been a good day and we are looking ahead to a fun weekend. I was thinking how nice it is when we can take time out of our daily routines and spend time with a special person. How nice it is when we can plan to spend personal time with others and how nice it is that we have others around us to support us in our efforts to connect with each other. We appreciate the time to bond and spend time with the people we care about.
We hope that you have a great weekend and spend it with the people who care for you.
Thanks for caring for us and we are caring for you.

Oct. 2nd

It is Oct. and it is hard to imagine that almost one year has passed since Robert was diagnosed. In some respects it seems like just yesterday and yet it seems like we have traveled through a journey filled with a vast amount of emotions that have forced us to grow and change over time. So much has happened and so much has changed forever.
We have been busy and active and thankful for the ability to spend time having fun. We are thankful for the time with family, and the chance to enjoy the boys. We have spent time with friends, and just been ecstatic to be surrounded by them. We are thankful for the continued support and caring attitudes of others. Your contributions to our well-being are working and we are thriving on the understanding that others care and wish us the best. It is possible to 'feel' the love.
Here is a thought that I have been contemplating today- When times are difficult, we are often given the advice to - 'live day by day' or 'take one day at a time'.
Here is a thought - some days just stink - and we have to think that the next day will be better
and - making future plans and having something to look forward to helps us to realize that situations can improve over time and that we will have fun again.
The emotional comfort & stability that allows us to look forward and plan for the future demonstrates the hope that we have in our hearts.

Sept. 24th

We met with our oncologist a week ago today and we were ecstatic with the report. We knew going in that we were walking into a good report, but it is not until you talk with the doctor and see the MRI scans that you can believe the phenomenal results. The scans indicated a decrease in all spots/white matter seen on the brain. Obviously, I am not presenting the information in proper medical terms. The point is - stable is what is hoped for and any decrease is considered exceptional. Robert is the overachieving patient and is living his life as he has always done - with honesty, integrity, and a dedication & loyalty to the important people in his life. He has the ability to rationalize the lack of control that we ultimately have over many factors in our lives. He has the resolve to face each day with an attitude that 'what will be' - 'will be' and there is no point in worrying about it. We are so happy with the last results and try to hold on to the feeling of relief that has come with the pictures demonstrated on the last set of scans. Wishing everyone well...

Sept. 12th

Our days have been busy and we have managed to keep moving at an energetic level- until 8:00pm. By 8:00 - the boys are in bed and Robert and I are close to it. We went to Ocean City and had a great time. We left on Fri. and returned on Tue. Yes- Tuesday. I had told many people that we would return on Monday and truly believed that this was accurate. It wasn't until we were at the beach that we realized the reservation was made until Tuesday. I had made the reservations and had incorrectly written it on my calendar. Oh well. Robert took and extra day off of work, Bryce missed another day of school, and Trey & I gladly accepted an extra day at the beach.
Since returning- life has picked up the pace and does seem to be moving faster then is possible. Robert has returned to work, Bryce has returned to school, Trey has attended two days at preschool, and I have made two trips to Johns Hopkins - scheduled appointments. Robert had his eyes checked again at the Wilmer Eye Institute at Hopkins. He got another good report. His vision is stable and there were no indicators of pressure on the brain. He will return in another six months for an exam.
As we come up on the 11 month marker of the day that Robert was diagnosed with a brain tumor, we are thankful for the lesson learned, the recognition of love and support, and the understanding that we have been and are blessed with good fortune. This is not to say that we are thankful for the diagnosis, but we are thankful for the increased awareness of the good fortune that still exists in our lives. We have our family and we have love.
It is sometimes difficult to watch our children grow and change and become more independent. I find myself - having to remind myself - that their changing behaviors and attitudes indicate that they are growing and developing as they should be. The fact that they are succeeding in new environments without us, means that they have learned the lessons that we have taught them. The fact that they are growing and changing physically, means that they are healthy. The fact that we are watching them change over time, means that we have had valuable time with them to build memories. I am trying not to hold on to the past or think to far into the future and am trying to enjoy the present. May you all have a great day.

Sept. 2nd

We have received good news today regarding Robert's MRI scans. The oncologist reports that all scans look good. She noted that we couldn't have gotten a better report. We are thankful for the excellent report and for the friends and family that we get to share the news with. We are thankful for the doctors who are willing to listen to us, work with us, and communicate with us in a way that comforts us. We recognize that they are caring for Robert and the family as well. The attention paid to all of us, both physically and emotionally, keeps us strong and ready to focus our attention where it needs to be directed- on living and living well. Thanks.