I AM SO GRATEFUL!!!

Saturday, June 10, 2006

Monday, May 23, 2005

Joshua & Christoper like these two photos, because when they look at them quickly, first one - then the other, it reminds them of a pop up book :-)
Hope you get the same enjoyment out of it :-)

:-)

Sunday, May 22, 2005

IAM SO GRATEFUL!!!

Math Olympiad - Thank you Catherine!!!

We always loved going to Miss Catherine's every week, when we couldn't go anymore, because of chemo treatments etc., we really missed everyone-our extended family! Do I smell popcorn???? :-)
If you don't recognize those "bunny ear" fingers over Joshua's head, they belong to Collin Hickman :-)

The boys first limo ride :-)

I am so grateful for the people at the Make-A-Wish foundation & the staff at Best Buy in Towson, Maryland! When Christopher had some not-so-pleasant things to deal with, I could divert his attention to looking forward to his wish for a gaming laptop computer. His Make-A-Wish day was a very special day, and since then his computer has been a lifesaver when waiting for appointments, the waiting in small rooms for a doc, or to be admitted, then while as a patient :-) It's made a huge difference in his life :-)

Pat Jessee, lighting the boys birthday cakes for thier 14/13 birthday

Cynthia Kammann, durring a visit to Sinai, taught us how to play 5 Crowns :-)

Thank you , Cynthia, for opening your heart & home to us!

Our nurses at Sinai became special friends:-)

Gingerbread houses "BEWARE!!!"

We enjoyed many wonderful times with the Sobus-Slaw family.

Christopher, Milton, Jean, Mana, Gabriel, Joshua & Leon :-)

Thanksgiving, 2004

We've loved our years with Carol Reggia & Chorus Forte' :-)

Joshua, Master Kevin Agahi, & Christopher- November 2004

Before the diagnosis in September, Christopher & Joshua were ready to earn their Purple Belts in Taekwondo, at Wildelake Karate, but with all the surgeries & chemotherapy treatments, he was unable to physically participate in the Belt Testing. Master Kevin Aghi, who had watched them grow over the past year & a half, knew that both boys were ready & saw all that Christopher had gone through, in his wisdom had Joshua test for he & his brother. Joshua had to do extra things during the test, in order for he & his brother to earn their Purple Belts, because Christopher had to also use inner strength to get through the things placed before him to handle. Joshua did a fantastic job & earned belts for both of them! I am so proud of both of them!
www.wildelakekarate.com

Joshua seems to pick things up so easily.

Seen here with his piano teacher (& other mother :-) Marjay Contwor & her son Nevin (Joshua's other brother :-) She taught him piano & was a "home base" when Christopher & I had to be at Sinai.
We are so blessed with our wondeful angel friends, who have become family :-)

Joshua loves putting Kenx together, It seems as though he can build anything!

Friday, May 20, 2005

I AM SO GRATEFUL!!!

A Year of Great Transition

This seemed to be a year of great transition for our family

from boyhood to young adults

from a town house to our first single-family home

from Maryland, our home of 15 years, to Tennessee, Leon's childhood home

having our first single-family home started being built, in Tennessee, before receiving a bone cancer & metastasis diagnosis of our eldest son. & 8 months into his thereapy, woking with his brother & the seeming problem with his upper left thigh, sudden loss of weight & then bone cancer diagnosis, biopsy etc..

from being a mom, homemaker, homeschooler & working at our home-based business, to add to the list; nurse-maid & care giver, learning more than I ever wanted to know on the subject & procedures.

When hanging bags of fluid become a too familiar sight, we keep our attention on the "Presence" of God within us, & go on.

from knowing we have a great homeschooling community, to actually experiencing full power of the the community rising up to embrace us, in a time when we needed it the most.

The kindness of others has touched us so very deeply, we will carry that love with us forever & hope to always remember, to never be to busy to give it to others!

If not for the "Presence" of God within us, our wonderful Learning Community, & other precious souls sent our way, I wouldn't even want to think about how this past year would have been.

We are so grateful!

From Teresa, Leon, Christopher Corey & Joshua Kyle Stevens - Thank you!!!!

I had a lot of other photos I wanted to add, but since the move, haven't been able to locate them :-( To all those not pictured, you are always with us - we are so grateful for you too!