April 13, 2018

Happy Friday the 13th. Recently, I've been asked by several friends why I stopped updating this page. The quick and skinny is because I'm in a holding pattern until after I visit with some physicians at MD Anderson. No one wants to hear my daily routine. So, here's a quick update before my visit to MD Anderson just to keep things "fresh."

I find myself at the close of my day, lying in bed after all prayers have been spoken and lights turned off, letting my mind wander. There are obviously fears and concerns that I have always battled as my mind tries to rest under heavy eyelids. Those fears and concerns aren't necessarily anything new, but rather a bit intensified under recent weeks dealing with immediate issues. As I laid on my back last night, with my hand on the small of my wife's back, an intense sensation of appreciation and love overcame me. If I were to be able to write my life's story before it were to ever occur, to be able to live the life I have lived so far would seem too good to be true. An amazing youth and childhood with a mother that offered her children everything leading to a successful opportunity for happiness followed by fun and formative friendships in high school and college, meeting and marrying one of the largest influences in my life having an eternal impact on all that I am, still, followed by a handful of incredible children all blessed in their own special way that have each taught me lessons in life I never dreamed I'd experience. Those are only a few of the major foundational memories. Granules of minor experiences encompass those and other events in life fill in all the rest bringing me to become the man I am today. Again, I could not have written it any better to this point.

Life chews on each one of us and spits out the finished product at the end. I am continually learning that I only control my response to all the unique pressures and gifts life offers. How I choose to fill myself throughout this journey leads to what comes out when life is heavy and under pressure. For the sake of my soul, my family and all whom I know and love, I pray that my faith, received as a gift, is given as that same continued gift when under strain. My appreciation for all the kind words, prayers, cards and so much more will never be fully stated as it's not possible. Thank you all for your prayers for my family and my health. I will update again after I know more of how this current obstacle will be treated.

Life is an opportunity, benefit from it. Life is beauty, admire it. Life is a dream, realize it. Life is a challenge, meet it. Life is a duty, complete it. Life is a game, play it. Life is a promise, fulfill it. Life is sorrow, overcome it. Life is a song, sing it. Life is a struggle, accept it. Life is a tragedy, confront it. Life is an adventure, dare it. Life is luck, make it. Life is too precious, do not destroy it. Life is life, fight for it.

   ~ Saint Teresa of Calcutta