Pop

We found out last week that Rob's beloved grandfather, Pop, has a brain tumor. We've been praying for some time now that it was not a tumor, but maybe something less scary like mini-strokes. (Not that we would wish Pop was having mini-strokes instead, rather it seemed like the lesser of two evils I suppose.) But after Pop had an MRI we found out for sure it is a tumor.

I met Pop almost 3 years ago when Rob and I first started dating. Rob had talked constantly about his grandparents and how large of a role they have played in his life since birth. I was curious because I grew up without grandparents really, my mom's mom had passed away before I was born and I only knew my grandfather a little bit as he started deteriorating from stokes when I was quite young. My dad's parents have always lived in Arizona and due to many factors were never actively involved in our lives. Thankfully I've had people throughout my life who have filled the "grandparent" role, but it was never quite the same as having the "real" ones around.

But as soon as I met Nan & Pop for the first time I was completely hooked on grandparents. They welcomed me with open arms as if I'd always been their grandchild. I know this is true because Pop is the only one who can call me "Katie" without me getting mad. :) (He actually calls me "Katy-did" like the bug I guess, but it's so endearing I couldn't ever be upset). They have gone above and beyond to show me their love and have supported Rob and I from day one of our relationship.

Rob always says that he sees Pop as invincible. That makes this news even harder to swallow. The thing you have to understand about Pop is that he's not invincible, but he tries to act like he is. He's in his mid-80s, has had cancer twice, (including in his mouth which makes it hard for him to eat), he has diabetes, and is legally blind. Whew. I'd be one cranky girl if that was my life. But not Pop. He is the most joyful, full of life, outgoing, funny person to be around. He has more stories than anyone I know and more friends than I do for sure. He has been married to Nan for 62 years and swears he loves her more today than ever. He truly is an inspiration.

Honestly, I've never been very good with sickness and death and things like this. I get all tongue-tied and don't know what to say. Rob and I have been praying a lot about how to handle this sort of news and its implications for ourselves and for his extended family. Knowing the holidays are coming up is reassuring since we know we'll get to see him and Nan a lot. But it will be hard to see Pop more quiet and withdrawn, more sick.

We fully believe the Lord can heal Pop if he chooses and we hope that he does. There are great-grandchildren to celebrate in a few years! The Lord has brought him this far in life and Pop knows that. Pop loves Jesus and wants to be with him, another very reassuring thing to all of us. When we talked with Pop on the phone last week he said, "I told the Lord, Lord, if you're ready, I'm ready." May it be when it's my time to go I would have such a ready heart. Ilove you Nan & Pop!

Here we are with Nan & Pop at Rob's cousin Maria's wedding in August

Rob's graduation in May

Bread Celebrations

Yesterday I was so glad we don't have kids yet. I honestly don't know how moms (and dads) do what they do and ever find time to relax. Moms are definitely my biggest heroes, but they always remind me how not ready I am to have children! 

This weekend was the first we've been home for the past three or so. The weekends away were fun (family in Cincy for Rob's birthday and Illinois with friends), but it is so nice to be home. I had a long list of things to get done, most of which by now on Sunday is finished thank goodness. I cleaned and cooked and took a nap and read my newest issue of Real Simple magazine while Rob worked on grad school stuff. 

In the evening after all the chores were done we baked bread from scratch together, one of our favorite things to do. I picked out an Italian Parmesan bread that took hours to rise, but it was ok, we had the time in between watching a movie. We each got to braid a loaf and watch it come out of the oven much larger than it went it! We definitely made more than we were expecting, but it gave us an excuse to invite friends over to share. 

Here we are with our finished product! Yum. 

I was reminded of our bread making this morning during church as our pastor preached out of Matthew 14, the passages where the woman pours the expensive perfume on Jesus and where Jesus celebrates the Passover with his disciples before his crucifixion. Our pastor was very detailed in explaining the significance of the Passover for the Jewish community and even more so, the significance of the breaking of bread together. Even though Rob and I aren't Jewish, we celebrate communion and the breaking of bread with others in many ways. Yes, formally at church, but also in shared meals with friends, shared working together on projects with others, celebrating holidays, and traditions. 

At the end of the service our pastor asked us to specifically celebrate something this week. Celebrate our salvation in Christ, celebrate shared meals and fellowship, celebrate the coming of holidays, etc. My question to you in closing is: How will you celebrate this season, this month, this week? What are some specifics we as believers should celebrate? 

And maybe, while you're celebrating, you should make some homemade bread. It's a celebration for your mouth, your friends, and your belly. :)    

Election Day

Well, it's finally here. Election Day 2008. The day that has been coming for a very long time. I am so glad it is here and we can hopefully move on from all the hype after today.

Rob and I decided to vote right at 6 am this morning in Upland thinking the lines would be short and knowing it would probably be our only time to vote during the day since we work further away. We pulled in the church parking lot and it looked like church was in session there were so many cars there! The line was well out the door. We took our turn, quietly standing in line with our neighbors, participating in a weird sort of communal ritual, all with the same end goal. The worker told us he'd never seen the lines this long.

Forty five minutes later I was pushing little buttons and casting my vote. Doing my part for democracy.

I did end up voting for McCain/Palin just so you know. Don't hate all you who've been telling me why I should vote for Obama. I trust we can remain friends and respect each other within the body of Christ. To be frank, it was a very hard decision, but ultimately it came down to policy issues, certainly not personality. I heard McCain's voice on the radio yesterday and literally cringed at the thought of voting for him. And many of you know I think Palin is, to quote my father, "a twit." (Which actually a twit is a pregnant goldfish so it doesn't make much sense, but it seems a fitting word for her.)

As much as I desperately wanted to vote for Obama (and I do think he will win this whole thing) I couldn't push the button for him with a clear conscience.

Rob and I have been wrestling with this decision for weeks. Going back and forth, researching, praying, thinking, talking with others, examing the issues. For me what I had to keep coming back to was Obama's contridictions on wanting to help "the least of these" but consistently voting against the born alive act and where he stands on abortion. I know, I'm probably sounding like one of those "one-issue" people, but across the board, no matter the age, sancity of life is so important. There are other reasons I voted for McCain in the end, mostly having to do with the economy and thinking about how Obama's plan has potential to hurt small businesses, something close to my heart. I also don't like the idea of bigger government that Obama proposes. (There's lots more I could say here and if you want more of my thoughts just ask)

Perhaps some will criticize me for not standing up for social justice issues that Obama supports. Those are really the things I like the most about him and the reasons I honestly considered voting for him for so long. I respect him and think he will be an excellent leader should he win today. I think he could bring new things to this country. I'm tired of some of the Republican tactics and wanted to break free of them in this election. Part of me wanted to be rebellious and rub it in that I went against the grain of everything I knew growing up and voted for Obama. I know in my heart though that I must be accountable to myself, my country, and my Lord for where I cast my vote and that had to be where my priority was.

I think this is a very historic day and I'm anxious to see how it all plays out. I'm praying for a clear decision (no hanging chads please!) and a new focused vision for this country.