AAH!! I just had a whole post typed up and it erased it!!!!! Oh well, I really have to go to bed now. I haven't got to sleep before 11:30 any night this week, and last night it was 3:30 til I finally slept soundly, so I really must get some sleep!! Hopefully I'll have some pictures on facebook soon!
ltr,
Tanya

My darling, cute little brother.--Melody

In Loving Memory

Jim's oldest brother, Delbert, finally ended his fight with cancer last Thursday, May 14, and passed peacefully into glory.  He first learned that he had cancer in 2001, and has had varying degrees of pain/sickness ever since.  His last year was especially painful, and he was finally confined to bed/wheelchair, and could do nothing for himself.  He had his 53^rd  birthday in January.  The funeral was held Monday in his home church in Sparta, MI (near Grand Rapids), and then we transported his body 3 ½ hours north to AuGres for a graveside memorial in the family burial plot.  We are very thankful for Delbert’s church family, who were the family to him that we could not be because of distance.  We also thank everyone else who had a part either in his care or supported the family in his passing with either prayers or other kind deeds—food, lodging, visitation, or flowers.  

We are glad to be home again, and hope to be able to get over here to our website more often to keep everyone up to date.  The children and I have been gone for most of the month of May, so we are very glad to be home.

Hey there! Melody here. Today Cecilia Brown came over and I took some pictures of her and my little siblings. These are the finished results. Tell me what you think!!!    

Katrina seems to be doing fine.  Her right thumb got in the van door; she closed it on herself, somehow, and it just decapitated it, somehow.  The piece that came off wasn't big enough to sew back on, but it should grow back somewhat.  They put a piece of cellulose (plant fiber) material that helps it to scab/grow over on it, since it was a big open hole, and it will somewhat absorb into the skin, from what I understand.  It was one of those cases where you really don't know what to do--we did go to the Dr office first, and they didn't want to treat it; if it would get infected later on, or made it hard for her to write, we would have felt bad if we hadn't taken her in.
     So that is a praise--except for the bill that I know will soon arrive--but please continue to pray for us as a family. I have felt very overwhelmed this week, even before this happened. It seems that Satan is trying to discourage us.  I have felt closer to depression this week than I ever remember in my life.  Finances, relationships, school, work, church, . . .yeah, it just all has been very heavy.  So please pray for us extra hard right now.  I am trying to keep my focus on God and His plan, and reminding myself why we are here.
     Not that there haven't been bright spots in my week.  I forgot that I wanted to mention that I thank God for a really nice time with the Fox family ladies.  Their son has been attending Bible study.  Their store burned several weeks ago, and Tanya and I got to spend the day yesterday bagging up bulk foods for the new store which will be opening soon.  I really enjoyed the time with them, and hope to go again one day next week.  I told them it was like "playing store"--bagging up and pricing all those foods : )  Anyhow, that was the bright spot in my otherwise depressing and trying week.
That, and time spent tying up loose ends with Jessica's wedding.  Only 3 weeks away!!!! : )
We'll see many of ya'll soon!
Dorcas