Wonderful carving - it caught the essence of you, Don.

Joke for the day:

Do you know the name of the famous general who kept dynamite in his kitchen?

Linolium Blownapart. . .

Dear Donel,
How surprised to find out at your retirment celebration that I didn't need to check the alignment of the communion table Cross with the large Cross each Sunday from my spot in the balcony. I think in another life there must have been a little Catholic in you. Your retirement celebration was wonderful. It affirmed once again why I chose to become a member of this church. I was also so surprised to find out that others found your sermons had a slightly less than conservative slant to them. Now with that said here is the second joke of the day:

The President, the First Lady, and Dick Cheney are flying on Air Force One.
>
>George looks at Laura, chuckles and says, "You know, I could throw a $1,000.00 bill out the window right now and make somebody very happy."
>
>Laura shrugs her shoulders and says, "Well, I could throw ten $100.00 bills out the window and make 10 people very happy."
>
>Cheney says, "Of course then, I could throw one hundred $10.00 bills out the window and make a hundred people very happy."
>
>The pilot rolls his eyes, looks at all of them and says to his co-pilot, "Such big shots back there..... heck, I could throw all of them out the window and make 56 million people very happy."
Have a wonderful Thursday,
Joan Marsh

Dear Don, Marilyn and FAmily,
It's been wonderful to see all your family photos. I have seen Dani and Jeni in recent years but I haven't seen Martin since he was a little kid. I love seeing photos of the grands too.
Your blog iw wonderful. I have enjoyed reading it and keeping up with your "dance". Your whole family has such a positive attitude, it makes one optimistic. The togetherness is wonderful thing to see.
We've kept you on the prayer chain and send our love and good thoughts your way as well.
Gina Appleton (now Low) asked to be rembered to you from Peru. I'm working with her on APECA, her organization that is working on the Amazon in the jungle near Iquitos, Peru. We have a website if you want to take a look at www.apecaperu.org.
Much love, Ruth

Dear McClellans...Cheryll Blair and I were missing you guys in church yesterday in our phone conversation this AM...and the fact that the blog hasn't given us news just lately about the medical proceedings...Donel are there times of more comfort now that the spinal radiation has stopped? Are you able to enjoy food? Are they able to mitigate your pain and discomfort in satisfactory manner? We were hoping you and Marilyn and the gang were together in Seattle this weekend maybe...We are caring and sending our love and good wishes. Julie

Thank you for your concern, Julie and Cheryll.

I wasn't in church because I slept until 10:00 a.m. Sunday. I have very little energy these days and some days are just uncomfortable. I'm napping quite a bit and trying to keep up on walking. Appetite is so-so depending on factors I don't completely understand.

I finish all radiation tomorrow and hope to gain strength from that point.

My energy hasn't even allowed me to be as active on the blog as I would wish. Typing coordination isn't there to the degree it was a few months ago and that was nothing to brag about.

Martin and I will try to get some new information up.

Your renewed strength is in my prayers today. Erin and I will be out of town for a week beginning Friday but our love remains here in Bellingham with you and Marilyn.

Hooray for the end of radiation!