Soaring to Seattle! 5/30/05

I put out daughter, Cassie, and Kris on a plane at 6:30 this morning for Harbor View Medical Center in Seattle, where Cassie will be evaluated in the Epilepsy Center there. This process (first an MRI and then monitoring by an EEG) will take an entire week and will not be pleasant for Cassie, as she will be taken off all seizure medications and unable to shower or wash her hair. Please pray that God will strengthen her mind and heart during this difficult period. The purpose of this evaluation is to determine if Cassie is a candidate for brain surgery. The results will be studied and will not be available for 2 or 3 weeks.

As hard as it is to say this, I guess I need to ask that whatever needs to happen will happen. The thought of Cassie going cold turkey off her medications is a bit scary! But we are comforted in the fact that anything that does happen as a result will indeed serve a specific purpose.

Please pray also that this procedure will give a crystal clear picture of the activity in Cassie's brain and the precise areas of the brain affected, as only if the seizure activity is isolated to one specific area and not scattered about will surgery be a consideration for her.

We are so thankful for your prayers and are hopeful that this trip will finally provide some answers and help. It has been a long and difficult journey. Cassie and Kris return on June 6.

It appears we have lost a just a bit of financial support in our shift over to Alaska Christian College. Not at all due to the nature of our shift. The Lord has really gone before us in communicating our purpose in this change in focus.

We will be discussing the impact this will be on Kris's salary sometime after she and Cassie return in June. I am continuing to do some computer work on the side (I have even done some Dell Computer warranty work!) The transportation job will dry out allot during the summer, so maybe I can concentrate on a few specific computer clients that will give me the flexibility I need to stay involved on campus, although students are gone for the summer, and work teams are in and out thru late August.

The cool thing about doing computer work is that I have been able to donate some time to several area ministries that work closely with ABM & ACC over the past few months. I am amazed how the body of Christ is joined together. There are many needs, but there are always just as many resources to meet the need.

Cassie's older sister, Chelsie, is now a High School graduate! She will be working at a fish cannery this summer and traveling to South Carolina for a year. Then, she plans on coming back to Alaska to attend university of Alaska Fairbanks. We're really proud of her.

Tyler is also still around. His job on the oil platforms is sort of on again, off again - and he's still looking for something more dependable. We will be having company in and out of our home all summer. We are looking forward to the long days and warmer weather, although right now we are battling mosquitoes - - The Alaska State bird.

I know we have said this before, but our home is open to any of you who would wish to visit (assuming we're not all ready booked - - January and February are open!). God bless each of you and your families.

THERE or in the air!

Where Have You (We) Been - 5/15/05

Dear Praying Friends,

Cassie's trip to Seattle for tests has been rescheduled from mid-July to May 30th! She and Kris will be at Harborview Medical Center for 7 days of detailed testing to determine if brain surgery is the next step in her treatment. She had tests run in Anchorage, but this time it will be by the folks actually doing the surgery.

I have really wanted to send out an update lately, but things have been so busy around our house.

ACC has shifted to summer, with work teams and construction. Kris is helping orient teams as they come. I'm "on call" for computer needs on campus as well, since the normal IT guy is out of the country all summer.

Chelsie will be graduating with a 4.0 average her senior year. Soccer season is over. The "end" is coming fast. Pray for her as she considers her future.

Tyler is still working on the platforms, only not as often as he would like.

My mom is still visiting - and she's a real joy to have around. She will be staying until after Kris and Cassie get back from Seattle.

Thank you for your continued prayers for our family. Cassie's situation has been a very "consuming" ordeal. But we have God's people on many fronts praying, and we are confident in his gracious provision for our family.

Thanks!