I wanted to let you all know how things have been going latley. A lot of you know that my dad is terminal with cancer, and my mom has dimentia/alzhiemer's. It has been a lot of work, as well as stress. But it is also why Ted and I walked for Relay for Life. I just wanted to share a little of what we've been doing lately.

This past week-end turned out to be a mixture of so many things. We spent Saturday picking up my parents and bringing them down to Norwich. We took them to see the Rose Gardens here in town. My parents had never seen it, and always wanted to. So we made a day of it. My dad's pain was pretty bad, but he wanted to go anyways - so we took him. He loved it, and took lots of pictures! My mom just wandered around, so happy to see all the flowers. Mike, Kelly, and all the kids came to the rose garden too. They visited with their grandparents, and lots of pictures were taken. It was so nice to have them there as well. Then we took them out to eat, and back home to Massachusetts. My dad was so wiped out by then, and his pain level was very high. I don't know how much longer he has to live - but I am glad that we could take him out for a bit.

My dad's cancer is growing pretty fast now, and my mom's mind is slowly slipping away. For the past few months I have been busy trying to help them get ready for what is next, for each of them. Because of all of that, I haven't been writing as much as I usually do. But I finally sat down and wrote a short story. It is about our lives, and how sometimes it doesn't go the way we think it is supposed to go. But the Lord knows the timing of everything. The story is called "There is a time for everything . . ."

I put the new story up on the ministry webiste on Sunday. It is very personal, but if you would like to read it let me know and I will pm you the link.

I also put some new pictures up of both our trip to the rose garden, and also our walk for Relay for Life, on my MySpace. If any of you have myspace and want to check them out, please do. I hope you like the pictures - and the story.

I want to thank those of you who have become my best friends here on the Trisha board. Your love, your prayers, and just your friendship have made it a little easier for me. Thank you - and I love you!

Love, Debbie

Oh Debbie! You know we are here for you and love ya! I read your story, and let's just say it hit very close to home for me right now. I'll email or call you later and chat about it. Take care of yourself. Love ya!

Thanks Heather! My dad is going in for surgery on Tuesday. The rod in his leg cracked from the cancer. He is in terrible pain, so they have no choice but to try to take it out. The doctors at first made it sound like he wouldn't make it through the surgery, but now they seem a bit more positive. They think he will get through it ok, and have less pain. But he won't be able to ever walk again. The cancer is continuing to grow, so hospice will be there when he gets home. We don't know how long he has, but I'm hoping that it is quiet and he goes in his sleep when the time comes.

But it sure has been a rough few weeks. I will be taking my mom and dad on Tuesday to the hospital and taking care of my mom while he is in surgery. He will probably be in hospital and nursing home for about 2 weeks and then be coming home. But we don't know for sure. Please keep the family in your prayers. My mom gets so little and it is so difficult when he is gone. So we'll need all the help we can get to take good care of her.

Thanks again everyone!