I wanted to post a quick update to let you all know that my life has been going really well.  I met with the doctor about 2 weeks ago and my cancer is not getting worse.  As I always say, I will still need treatment, just not today, and not sure when.  I have gone from dr appts every two weeks, to month, to every 2 months, and now every 3 months. 

So with my heath cooperating, what else is happening?  Kids are doing well, both playing soccer.  Avery is not really into it, but she likes being with the team.  Kids are of course back in school, Matt in 3rd grade and Avery a big 1st grader, going to school all day, every day.  I am playing softball once in a while with Curt and the team.  I have been jogging...somewhat regularly.  I have travelled a lot in the last 7 weeks (LA, Dallas, Boston, Atlanta, NY).  The nice part is jogging in these cities...it is fun to see the Atlanta skyline or jog in Central Park in NY.  The not so nice part is all of the travel makes it hard to keep up with my other work...and keep a balance in life.  I think I have been doing a good job though.  I think it has improved my relationhip with Dee and I think the kids are experiencing the effect of me engaging with them.  We work together on homework, we play a lot, and we share the type of connection that every father and child should share.

Some of the weekend highlights lately...Taking the kids to a new church this weekend...to St. Lukes in Allendale, it is much closer than St Anthony and I think the kids will fit in well.  Over the past months we spent many summer weekends on Bob's boat, what a blast!  My relationship with some of Dee's friends has really become a friendship with me as well, people like Bob, Mandy, Koster...  We spent Labor day weekend on the boat with the kids.  Had a great time at the Grand Valley home opener with the motorhome, tailgating.  Met many ex-GV players...it is fun to go from watching them dominate to hanging out with them.  And special thanks to Curt for connecting me to them.  And AA for getting us the sideline passes!

I also wanted to mention that Dee and Jordan moving in has made me really happy.  I know there are those who don't understand, but I have learned to really enjoy life and do what I think is right.  I enjoy spending time with them and I think the kids have all adapted well.

So in a nutshell, life is great, and I can thank God for giving me the ability to recognize that I have blessings provided by him and helping me to appreciate them.

Sorry I realize that when you start a blog, you really should update it more regularly--otherwise its really not a log of what is happening.  Truth is that I fill my life to capacity, all the time.  Then I have trouble fulfilling all that I have committed to.  Hence this blog sits here without getting updated.

Regardless one thing I can say about the cancer, it has helped me to enjoy my life and do some of the things that are most important.  In the scheme of things, forcing myself to update the blog everyday is contrary to that perspective.  So here is a brief update:

I am having a blast watching Matt play baseball and soccer.  I have to pitch in and coach in a couple of weeks while the coaches travel to Africa to adopt a little boy.  They are good parents and good coaches and I am very happy for them.  The other day Matt was at pitcher and got hit hard by a line drive on the last play of the game.  He came so close to catching it.  I have found he is really developing into a great ball player, and I think he likes it more than last year.

Coaching Avery in soccer is great too.  I have become a little more firm with the little ones and I think it was time.  At first it was all about fun and introducing them to the game, now we are spending time teaching them.  I really enjoy coaching with Jon and our team mom Connie is the best too.  Avery is also playing T-Ball and that is a blast to watch.  She can hit the ball well, throw well, and when she focuses in the field really gets after the ball.  She got a line drive hit to her the other night that she almost scooped right up at the pitchers mound--big feat for a 5 year old.  She did stop it, and threw to first.  I get to coach Avery's tball team in a couple of weeks too.

I have been working on getting my lawn going.  After reconnecting with my friend George we have had lunch a few times and worked in the yard a few times.  He helped me to identify what needed to be done to get the sprinklers going.  I was amazed that it was that easy, we just replaced a valve, fixed a broken plastic elbow, and installed the controller (that george got me as a birthday gift).  Now that I have water, it is time to get some more grass growing.  My friend Todd loaned me a roller to get rid of some of the mole bumpiness.  He also provided a pull behind tool that tears up the lawn and dirt for planting seed.  I planted a fair amount of grass seed Sunday and set the sprinklers to water 4 times per day...

That is all for now...check back in a month to see if any of the grass grew...And I will have an update from my next Dr appt.  Thanks for all of your love, support, and prayers.  I still feel great and thank god for that!

The spring season of sports is beginning and turning into quite a zoo.  I remember my parents being really happy about my older brother getting his drivers' license so that he could transport me and my younger brother all over the place.  I understand why now.  Last night I had my first Spring U6 soccer practice.  I am head coach and my 5 year old daughter and many of her friends are on the team.  What a blast it is coaching the kids!  Tonight Matt has basketball practice.  Tomorrow night he has soccer practice.  Thursday he has baseball practice, plus avery is playing t-ball too.  CRAZY huh?  I couldn't imagine how it works for parents with lots of kids.  I do love it though.  I wish I could coach more, but with the health concerns and how busy work is, I didn't think it made sense.  Have a great week and spring break next week!