I AM Smarter Than a 5th Grader!

Well, I guess that is good news, considering I'm a 6th grade teacher! Nonetheless, I thought I was toast when I got stuck on the 4th grade English question: "Who was Sherlock Holmes's assistant?" and my only fellow player that I could peek off of or copy was Amberlea, my 2nd grader.

Elementary, my dear Watson!

So I'm actually now a millionaire also!

In defense of Amberlea, she was right on quite a few questions! She didn't get the Dred Scott question, but did answer King instead of England when asked what country ruled the colonies. It was a great time!

But, it doesn't top that she spent the 2nd half of the day dressed as Hannah Montana, wig and all (shh Tim and Abby, she has a big surprise planned for you with her new, long blonde hair). She had a gift card from Claire's (thanks Emma). She shopped and shopped, passing up numerous earrings and lip glosses, a fluffy bed for her cell phone (that she doesn't have), and lots of other neat things for the coolest of the cool, a Hannah wig. She looks adorably hilarious, and we were quite entertained with listening to her sing on the way home!

Jacob hung out with Brian for a while today and watched a movie, while Tye stayed at the sitter with Erin's kids. The girls and I shopped for a couple of hours in St. Joe because of a few returns, a few gift certificates, and Rachel needing new basketball/gym shoes because she's outgrown her other ones...and also because I wanted to get my ring sized and sautered. It was really nice to get out of the house, and I'm sure it was nice for Brian to have some quiet around home.

Your prayers have been working. His temp has stayed steady at normal to 100. He is feeling good, and his leg is looking better (still an odor, but better). He still battles pain in the hip area, same as it has been for a few months now. He and I shared a lot of tears over the last few days, mostly concerning the devastation of this disease, the salt in the wounds. After a lot of tears late last night, he felt like reminiscing about things we've done in the past. We took turns, and got some good laughs. I sort of felt like I fell in love with him all over again. It was a long, lost feeling, one that has been masked by the hell that melanoma has put us through. We are trying to find our way back to each other. We slept in our bed last night for the first time in months, and it felt good to snuggle up. We did get a few laughs, like when his leg started twitching...I thought it was going to bounce me out of bed. Brian sleeping in bed also includes lots and lots of pillows. Then this morning, Tye tried to join us...I had to be real careful because any movement is so painful for Brian...so Tye bouncing around took some corralling! Besides just feeling close, I think it was good for Brian to have a change, to sleep in our room, then be out in the living room during the day.

In the midst of the tears today, we also learned that the same drug that Brian is on has worked for our MPIP friend Mark. His results today showed considerable shrinkage of tumors much more advanced than Brian's. Again, it is hard not to get our hopes up. There are lots of success stories with each of the treatments Brian has tried, they just haven't ever worked for Brian. But we continue to believe that this will be the one, that this miracle will happen. We continue to trust in the Lord to heal his body and bless our future with many more years together.

We pray tonight for so many who are suffering. We also offer thanksgiving for Cindy's son, Drew, who finally got his kidney/pancreas transplant last week. And we also ask for special blessings upon the family who chose to donate their loved one's organs to save Drew's life in the wake of their loss. We donated my mom's organs, and it has been a wonderful feeling to know she lives on in so many. I often think of those people whose lives were touched by my mom's death, whose hope was restored by our loss. What an odd feeling, to truly step back and see the weaving of God's plan.

Also on the prayer list tonight: Dave, Brett, Keith, Mark, Dean, and all of our MPIP friends; Kathy, my Uncle Gary, my Uncle Dave and my grandma.

Blessings your way for another great day,
Jenni