I still feel victorious every time I write before John Kerry has a chance to sign in ahead of me.....perhaps this is a sign of too little indolence in my life at present.

It is wonderful to hear that you continue healing. At 1 1/2 miles you are halfway to Erin's bike riding record of 3 miles with no training wheels. It was a wonderful yet bitter sweet moment to hear her suggest the other day that we could accomplish a visit to a friend, replete with a pizza purchase mid-leg, on our bikes. She'd planned the whole thing out. She's got wheels! I watched her grow a figurative two inches as she voiced that one new idea. It must be much the same with healing. Lots of celebration over those steps to independence and plenty of bittersweet moments to reflect on mid-leg.

Please keep on doing the hard work of resting, Donel. And remember the Galaxy Quest motto.... "Never give up!"

I have been following your story for a while. You don't know me, but my daughter Ginevra helped set this site up for you prior to your surgery. She told me to check out the site back then because you were in her words "a really neat person, like Jonesy" (aka the Rev. Albert Jones) the first minister she ever knew.

Like many a 20 something, Ginevra has been finding her own path outside of organized religion. It probably has a lot to do with Rev. Jones' successor who was enough of a piece of work to drive me out the Episcopal Church for a while. In her comments to me about your sermons and your attitude, I sense in Ginevra, if not a readiness to return to organized religion, at least a willingness to consider the idea at some point inthe future. For that, I want to say thank you.

I pray your recovery will continue and that you may stay in remission for a long, long time.

Katherine Kirkland

What a wonderful, powerful experience. We're all so glad to hear you are continuing to heal, and so happy you're able to find sleep again, in your own bed!

Never an easy thing to do, but a little indolence is just what the doctor ordered. You are in our prayers everyday.

Thought we'd send a few jokes your way. Enjoy!!

We love you! Cathy, Tina and Jenna

JOKES THAT CAN BE TOLD IN CHURCH

Attending a wedding for the first time, a little girl whispered to her
mother, " Why is the bride dressed in white? "
" Because white is the color of happiness, and today is the happiest
day of her life. "
The child thought about this for a moment, then said, " So why is the
groom wearing black? "
.....................................
A little girl, dressed in her Sunday best, was running as fast as she
could, trying not to be late for Bible class. As she ran she prayed,
" Dear Lord, please don't let me be late! Dear Lord, please don't
let me be late! "
While she was running and praying, she tripped on a curb and fell,
getting her clothes dirty and tearing her dress. She got up, brushed
herself off, and started running again. As she ran she once again
began to pray, Dear Lord, please don't let me be late...
but please don't shove me either! "
....................
Three boys are in the school yard bragging about their fathers.
The first boy says, " My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of
paper, he calls it a poem, they give him $50. "
The second boy says, " That's nothing. My Dad scribbles a few words
on a piece of paper, he calls it a song, they give him $100. "
The third boy says, " I got you both beat. My Dad scribbles a few
words on a piece of paper, he calls it a sermon. And it takes eight
people to collect all the money! "
.........................
An elderly woman died last month. Having never married, she requested
no male pallbearers. In her handwritten instructions for her memorial
service, she wrote, " They wouldn't take me out while I was alive,
I don't want them to take me out when I ' m dead. "
.....................

A police recruit was asked during the exam, " What would you do if
you had to arrest your own mother? "
He said, " Call for backup. "
..................
A Sunday School teacher asked her class why Joseph and Mary took Jesus
with them to Jerusalem.
A small child replied: " They couldn't get a baby sitter. "
.......................
A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her
five and six year olds. After explaining the commandment to " honor
thy father and thy mother, " she asked " Is there a commandment
that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters? "
Without missing a beat one little boy answered, " Thou shall not kill. "
..........................
At Sunday School they were teaching how God created everything,
including human beings. Little Johnny seemed especially intent when
they told him how Eve was created out of one of Adam's ribs.
Later in the week his mother noticed him lying down as though he were
ill, and said, " Johnny, what is the matter? "
Little Johnny responded, " I have pain in my side. I think I'm
going to have a wife. "
..............................
Two boys were walking home from Sunday school after hearing a strong
preaching on the devil.
One said to the other, " What do you think bout all this Satan stuff? "
The other boy replied, " Well, you know how Santa Claus turned out.
It's probably just your dad. "

Jenna has one for you too:

*What did the snail say as he took a ride on the turtle's back?

Wheeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!

It takes a lot of energy just to sit there healing quietly. And healing is such an interesting "in the now" experience requiring great flexibility and - faith.

Thanks for sharing the journey with us.

Love to you and all the family, Mary