Is it the REAL Christmas yet?

I was speaking with one of the women in my support group and she said, "I don't think I'm going to do Christmas cards this year, I mean exactly WHAT do you say!" The answer is I have no idea but, as I've found with almost everything about being a widow, the hardest part is screwing up the courage to try. So here goes...

Let me start by acknowledging this year has been a difficult one. In addition to dealing with Eric's illness and death, we've moved half way across the country, started new schools, decorated an enormous white box of a house and made some wonderful new friends. I must admit listing it all makes me pause, and I lived it! None of his would have been possible without the love and support of too many people to name. Our gratitude for your compassion, kindness and care is immeasurable. We simply pray God will bless you in turn.

As for Team Plummer, we are adjusting to this new family of four. It's difficult, some times I look at a picture of Eric (I've finally taken them out of the boxes) and think, "I just can't believe you're actually gone." I know in my mind that it's true. I remember all the painful details and yet, part of me can't believe it. It is sort of how I feel when looking at the kids newborn pictures. I know they were that little. When we brought the girls home they were smaller than my forearm and yet, looking at them now, it's hard to believe they were ever that small. I'm told this is all very normal. Grief is a strange ride I must admit.

The girls are loving kindergarten and are reading above everyone's expectations. Their teacher raves about what good, kind and helping students they are. I am very proud but, must admit they have inherited their fathers love of school! They just finished a session of ballet at the park district (see the video on facebook). Chloe has committed to ballet, at least until she is 12. She wants to dance on her toes before she tries something new. Amanda is off to gymnastics in January. Ballet was fun but, the tumbling and balance beam are too enticing.

While Evan and I have had some epic battles, I believe the night he spent in his room with no toys, pillows or electricity was the turning point in our relationship. He and I are enjoying a new honeymoon period where in I have the official title of "bestest mommy". He is doing well in school and is due for another holiday program. I'm hoping it will be as hillarious as the fall program. Keep tuned for more video.

Evan asks me every morning, "Mommy is it the REAL Christmas yet?" What a joy it is to see the excitement of Christmas in a child's eyes. My wish for you this year is that you too might see the peace, love and joy of Christmas in a child's eyes, especially as you look in the mirror. For you too, are a child of God.

Blessings to you all!
Amy, Chloe, Amanda & Evan

P.S. As I mentioned in my previous post, I am switching to the facebook format. I know some of you have already followed me there. I hope many more of you will too! This however, will be my last post. I plan to leave the site up, I know there are some of you who come here just to see the pictures. Thank you again for walking this road with me. It was an honor to have you.

Hello Everyone!

I know some of you still check this on a semi-regular basis. I haven't been updating as much as I'd like and to tell you the truth, well, working here in this environment feels a bit like a time and space I'd like to forget. So....I've decided to switch formats and invite you all to join me. I've set up a facebook page. It allows me to do pictures, video, blogging just as this does but, it is much more conducive to two way communication than this ever hoped to be. For those of you who are not techno savy, don't fret, it is not difficult. Just go to www.facebook.com and sign up. You will get your own page for free and then to access me, just search for Amy Howard Plummer. You'll have to invite me to be a friend. For those of you who I may not know personally, just include a note about being a fan of ericplummer.com and I'll happily accept your invite. I look forward to seeing and speaking to you all very soon!

Blessings,
Amy

PS...just to encourage you, I put my first blog in a long time up yesterday!

He's a nut!

Evan had his fall program last week. I must be getting the hang of this whole widow thing because I actually felt prepared. After getting blindsided with the first day, I am pleased to report both Evan and I came away relatively unscathed by the noticeable absence of Eric amidst the sea of dads. I am still amazed how much Evan looks like Eric. On any given day I would tell you he acts much more like me but today I'm blaming it all on Eric. I hope you enjoy!

Oh, October!

I'm thinking about boycotting breast cancer awareness month. The truth is after the past year, the last thing I need is a heightened awareness of cancer. I mean really, it's everywhere. October used to be one of my favorite months. How can you not fall in love with the beauty of the month. It's like that song from Chris Tomlinson, " the earth is filled with His glory". When is that more evident than in the beauty of fall's colors? And the weather, cool in the morning with a chill at night. I love sleeping with the windows open! But every where I turn, it's Cancer, Cancer, Cancer. It's in magazines, even Ann Taylor Loft has a coupon supporting it, and do I need to mention all those little pink ribbons. It's as if it's there, mocking me. Na, Nana boo boo, I got your husband!

The worst part is while I do feel justified, I also feel guilty. Cancer awareness is a wonderful and important thing. I'm certain hundreds of thousands of lives are saved by the education. It's just not so great for those of us who are already intimately aware. I wonder how many others feel the same way. To be honest, it never occurred to me. Perhaps next year, when October rolls around, I'll renew my love affair with October. Right now, we're on speaking terms but ever so slightly estranged.

Go Team Plumtastic

The kids and I are all doing very well. Our school morning routine is turning into a well oiled machine! It feels good to be in a more "normal" routine. Have no fear, we have found many things to keep us busy. We're heading to Ohio next week and I'm off to VEGAS with a girlfriend (Hi Stacy) at the end of the month. But the one thing we are very excited about is the Wellness House 5K walk we'll be participating in. If you want to learn more about it, check out our site;
http://www.events.org/sponsorship.aspx?id=9984

The Ultimate Do Not Call List

Ok, so for many reasons, being a new widow is not fun. There is the hurdles you jump through when changing health insurance to the COBRA benefits, the new widow box you have to check every time a form needs to be completed, there is the painfully visible absence of Dad on the first day of school and the annoyingly stinky garbage that needs to be taken out each Sunday night just to mention a few. But every once-in-a-while you come across a hidden benefit you never expected.

Today Amanda answered the phone for me, Chloe and Evan are battling strep throat and a nasty fever that won't seem to go away so I was busy tending to them. I could tell by the caller ID that it was an 800 number and was just about ready to tell her not to answer when I heard her sweet voice say,

"Hello, who is this? My name is Amanda." (We've been practicing our phone etiquette) Then just as sweetly she says,"Sorry, he's dead but you can talk to my mom".

Now before you start to think how sad, let me just say that before I could put the phone to my ear the line was, for lack of a better word, dead too. I guess we just enrolled ourselves into the ultimate "do not call list".

I hope you too will be able to find humor and gratitude in silver linings today. No matter what the situation, God always sends one. I think it's his way of reminding us we're not alone and he is in control.

We're all doing well here, except for being sick. KONE came today and picked up Eric's car. It was sad, just another reminder that he's not coming back. Every time I walk to the garage, I'm reminded again. I suppose buying a sports car isn't the solution but it seems like a good idea right now! I'll keep you posted.

Blessings to you all!
Amy

Well I was returning an email from my pledge mom in college and It occurred to me that you all might enjoy an update too. So, here's a snippet:


All in all, I think we are doing pretty good. Amanda and I have had a few moments this last week, one in particular with the two of us sitting in Eric’s closet smelling his clothes. The tears were flowing because we could still smell him on some and could no longer smell him on others. This mourning thing is quite sneaky that way. Evan is being 3 which in itself is annoying! We’ve been working on better ways to express our anger than yelling at the top of our voice “YOU’RE MAKING ME ANGRY!!!”. You want them to be able to express themselves but really...there must be a better way. I remember when he was littler he used to just hit. Later he would say in an Arnold Schwarzenegger voice, “I’m going to hit you now” and then hit. It took a while for me to not burst out laughing before I could remind him if he hit, he’d get in trouble. Fortunately, it passed, I’m sure the anger yelling will too. As for Chloe, she’s excited about starting school tomorrow but while she won’t tell me, I know she’s secretly scared as well. She doesn’t particularly like new things. We are always stretching her, Amanda and I. Unfortunately, Amanda has strep throat and won’t be going to school the first day. It’s going to be interesting tomorrow at the bus stop. I’d say it’s a 75% chance of tears and a 50/50 chance she actually gets on the bus with out some physical help from me.

I'll post a picture tomorrow!
Blessings to you all,
amy

Well we are here in Florida and while the weather is hot and steamy we're still having a great time! It's funny, in Illinois, there are very few memories of Eric lurking around the corner waiting to surprise me. Here, there isn't just one but many at each turn. I went out this morning to turn in my safety deposit key and barely made it out of the bank before the tears starting rolling. I remember the day Eric came home from the bank, so proud of himself that he'd rented a box. The truth is we never put anything in there! Just seeing his signature, made the memories come flooding back.

I have not been looking forward to my trip to the jeweler to have my engagement ring cleaned and checked. Eric had developed a friendship with the owner while buying my ring. After every child was born, he bought me a present and himself a new watch. I so didn't want to have to explain one more time the particulars of Eric's death and sickness. Additionally, I know the day will come when it is time to take my rings off, but I am not ready yet. It is not lost on me the provision of God these days. He has in many ways, taken care of those things I wasn't sure I could handle. Today is no exception. Our dear jewelry store was just an empty store front with a for rent sign in the window. While I know the irony is thick, I am ever more grateful for the hand of God working visibly in our lives.

Part of me has been dreading this flood of memories. Now that I'm here, I've decided to try and cherish them instead. I'd like to say I drive around town looking for them (it would sound so healthy of me), but the truth is, I'm just not griping the steering wheel anxiously anymore. It's a start.

People keep asking me how I'm doing these days, I've been thinking about saying hopeful. I'll leave you with a quote from our bible study again. Hope you like it, it is a reference from Jeremiah 17:5-8.

Hope grows best in the soil of faithfulness. As we live our lives for God, loving his law, doing his will, immersing ourselves in his Word, believing he is who he says he is, and worshiping him together with his people, our hope will grow stronger, and we will be like the tree planted by water, whose leaves are always green and supple

I don't know about you, but I'd like to be forever green and supple. It reminds me of the palm trees here. They bend and sway with those hurricane winds but rarely break. I can't wait to see many of you on Friday at the service. Bring your best stories, we'll have a great roast!

The last week has been quite busy. Busy with all the things of a spouse dying they don't bother to show you on "Steel Magnolias" or "Terms of Endearment". Things like visits to the bank and the health club to close accounts. I sat in the Social Security office and was just struck by all the papers strewn about on the desk. To them that is who Eric was, just a bunch of documents. My sister reminded me, he was so much more than that. But reality had already struck.

Eric's ashes arrived yesterday. It was a strange moment in that they also delivered the tie Eric wore. His mom wanted to keep it and so the tie was removed after the funeral. I just stood there with the tie in one hand and the urn in the other. Talk about the irony. I'm not sure you could have scripted a better scene. The only thing missing was a sad background song about the finality of it all.

I did a Beth Moore study this spring and one of the sessions talked about how God sings over our lives.

Zephaniah 3:17
17 The LORD your God is with you,
he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing."

Eric and I had a long talk about this, it was one of the last God talks we had. He loved the idea that God sang in general but specifically sang over us. Beth Moore reasoned God must have taught the stars and angels to sing (Job 38:7). How else would they have known? She went on to say that "our salvation experience is accompanied by music". God and the heavens singing over us when we get it right, singing over us when we get it wrong, singing over us when the music's qued for the sad background song. I suppose because Eric loved music so much he cherished the thought of God singing over him. We never talked about what those songs would have been. I wish now I would have asked. He always had a soft spot for the heavy metal hair bands. Beth Moore made the joke that when we got to heaven, Jesus would meet us at the gates with our own personalized CD. A compilation of the "greatest hits" of our lives, all sung by God himself. I sort of hope that one really happens.

My dad's brothers & wives gave us a gift certificate for the local nursery. I had a tree delivered this morning and planted in the back yard. It is a beautiful tree about 17 feet tall already. In it's prime it should be 60 feet tall with beautiful orange/red fall colors. Seemed like a fitting tribute. The kids and I sat in it's shade this morning. When you live in a new subdivision, shade is a valuable commodity. I've been trying to think of the appropriate song for our soundtrack. The only one I can think of is Coldplay's "fix you". I'm pretty sure God's up to the challenge. What's God singing over you right now?

I've finally got the details ironed out for the service in Florida.

Friday August 15th, 5:30pm
Christ Church UM Gym
4845 NE 25th ave
Fort Lauderdale
954-771-7300

I added the picture of the kids at the funeral. I hope you like it!

Treasures

The last week has been the strange dichotomy of a whirlwind and moments that lingered. I am so grateful those of you who were able to make the pilgrimage and pay your final respects. The sheer number of people, and so many that we not only knew but were dear to our hearts, who came on Friday and Saturday was overwhelming. Eric was always the life of the party. He would have been so pleased to draw such a crowd!

I've been trying to savor each moment. Our pastor reminded me last week of the passage in Luke that speaks of the visitors at the stable on the night of Jesus' birth. It says, "But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart".

I will always treasure the moment I heard Chloe's sweet voice singing "I Can Only Imagine" just in step with Joe. And the fact that our three children took their first communion at their fathers funeral. It isn't traditional church doctrine but I believe it made God smile.

I think about each and every one of the seven, I know, seven eulogies. I thought it was crazy too, but Eric insisted and he was right. Each one of you spoke of the man I loved with such beauty, love and respect. I couldn't have asked for more. I remember my dear aunt who flew in from Florida just to arrive for the reception. And my father and his four brothers who lost their father when they were children and yet, despite the painful memories were there to support us.

I so enjoyed seeing Eric's ties on all the speakers and pall bearers. It was as if every time I turned around, there, was another memory to greet me. I am grateful for the phenomenal music, which was such an important part of Eric's life and consider it a blessing to have had our pastor from Florida make the trip. I had forgotten our original conversations with Alex concerning Isaiah 41:18-20;

18 I will make rivers flow on barren heights,
and springs within the valleys.
I will turn the desert into pools of water,
and the parched ground into springs.
19 I will put in the desert
the cedar and the acacia, the myrtle and the olive.
I will set pines in the wasteland,
the fir and the cypress together,
20 so that people may see and know,
may consider and understand,
that the hand of the LORD has done this,
that the Holy One of Israel has created it.

As you did, we always wanted the work of God's hand to be evident in Eric's healing. But in that moment, I could see God had done what he promised. For each of you who stood by Eric's casket and told me of how our journey had strengthened your faith, I was a witness to the pools of water in the desert. When you came and told me our blogging had made you reconnect with God, I saw in you, those tall pines rooted in what once was wasteland. And while each and every one of you thanked me for our blogs and what they had meant to you, I must say just as verse 20 did, "see and know, consider and understand that the hand of the LORD has done this". Eric and I were just the unlucky couple with cancer who were honored to share our lives with such wonderful friends and family.

I know I will treasure many more memories but am grateful I captured one in a photo. The sight of our three children singing and dancing to the mountain song Eric sang so many bedtimes. Your presence at Eric's funeral was a blessing to us, I pray it was a blessing to you too. I am certain when I say, "Eric was well loved".

Amy

Condolences- 10 Years Later

Earlier this spring, Eric and I had begun having more talks about life without him. One of the things heavy on my heart was the weight of responsibility associated with remembering him not only for myself but for the kids. Eric found this article in the April 21, 2008 edition of NEWSWEEK. He left it on my bedside table one evening. While he said he thought it might ease my mind, I think secretly, the fear of being remembered was equally heavy. I've kept it in my bedside table since then, just a little note for a rainy day. I hope Katie Couric won't object to my reproducing it.

Even the word feels clunky and uncomfortable. "condolences." No wonder so many of us are at a loss when dealing with loss. The right words can be such a salve for raw, unabating pain. So why is our biggest goal simply to fill up a note card or piece of stationary with enough words to get the whole exercise over with? The next time you put pen to paper to express your sympathy, focus on a simple story, recollections of a brief encounter, a loving or funny memory. You will find a grateful recipient at the final resting place of that correspondence.

I commemorated a sad milestone a few months ago. It was the 10th anniversary of my husband, Jay's death, which seems as inconceivable as I write this now as it did on that Saturday morning in January 1998. My daughters and I always remember the date in some small way. Whether it's just talking about their dad, looking at photographs, sending a helium balloon to rise nonchalantly toward heaven; each year the date stands out somehow. But this year was different. First of all, there is something especially significant about a decade. Second, it was the year I decided Ellie and Carrie, now ages 16 and 12, were old enough to read some of the hundreds of letters I received after Jay's death. Because of the public nature of my job, I received many letters from total strangers.

But I also asked those attending Jay's funeral to write the girls so they would at least get to know their father posthumously. A few years ago I tentatively dug into the boxes with a strange mix of curiosity and apprehension. The man I was dating at the time agreed to sort through and organize them with me. As I read letter after letter, tears flooding down my face, I told him it must have been one of the weirdest dates he'd ever had. "Not one of," he replied, slightly bemused. "THE weirdest." Three years later, on the anniversary that traditionally requires exchanging gifts of tin or aluminum (here's a roll of Reynolds Wrap, honey!) - I traced the narrative of a man's life in sympathy notes. We would have been married 19 years this June.

I picked four letters, and we read them at the dinner table. One was from a lawyer in Birmingham who, like my husband, had gone to Washington and Lee University. He had written a hilarious account of one of their football games and the role Jay's hairstyle had played. After Jay caught a pass and was running to the goal line, "Out of nowhere, a defender caught hold of that damn ponytail and pulled Jay down denying him a touchdown. All of us laughed so hard, we had to call a time out to gather ourselves." Another was from a lawyer who appeared with my husband when he provided legal analysis of the O.J. Simpson trial on FOX. He wrote about Jay's willingness to brief him about everything that day and laughed when the attorney had repeated one of Jay's observations on the air. He also told my daughters of the kindness Jay had shown his. She had some developmental issues, and also wrote a note that read in part, "Dear Miss Couric. I think your husband was a very nice man. The reason that I am writing you is that last year he signed his name in my autograph book as OJ Monahan and I thought you would get a kick out of that." My sister wrote several typed pages that began, eerily, with this: "Dear Ellie and Carrie, I am writing this on February 18 1998...I assume that as you read this it is the year 2008 and you have grown into fine young ladies." She wrote about Jay's intervention when she and I had a fight because her two teenage sons and husband had eaten all the leftover Thanksgiving pies for breakfast the next day...an incident we laughingly now refer to as "piegate". In the process of selecting the letters, I opened an entire series of tender and funny snapshots of a single life, recorded in sympathy cards, on Crane stationary and simple loose-leaf notebook paper. Some are from well-known names: John F. Kennedy Jr.'s neatly written, monogrammed JFK card expressing sympathy for "the far too early passing of your husband" and remembering Jay's mischievous twinkle and penchant for dressing up in period garb as a Civil War re-enactor. "having gone through a few losses myself, the challenge is to find meaning in what has happened," he wrote. There are other letters, almost confessional in tone, from those who wanted to share similar experiences. Reading through many of them on this sad anniversary, I had a strange impulse to call or write the senders, and yet I know I never will. How is the warm and wonderful mother of two girls who had lost her husband, Tom, to colon cancer a year before Jay's death? What do the little girls in the photograph of the once happy nuclear family look like today? Her letter was so loving and intimate for someone I had never met. Is Jay's college friend still practicing law in Birmingham? Does he have any idea how I treasure his simple story of a college football game? Does Nancy Mathis, the local news reporter whom I competed against when we both were on the "night beat" in Washington, D.C., have any idea that 10 years later, her note recounting the night Jay picked me up on the Mall where we were covering a story to whisk me off to a Willie Nelson concert made me smile and remember?

These letters are a gift, in boxes and bundles still to be put in some orderly, sensible chronology. For me, they ignite memories that have long receded. For Ellie and Carrie, who were just 2 and 6 when their father died, reading about those moments from his childhood, college years and career, recounted through so many different prisms, will allow them to know Jay's life story. And, in this era of e-mail, long after the glue has worn off the envelopes, they will have that story at their fingertips, as well as tangible evidence of the love, care and effort that went into writing every one.
-Katie Couric

It is my prayer, that you all might do me the same favor, lifting some of the weight and responsibility of remembering Eric. After reading this article, I imagined boxes of letters filled with photos and memories. Enough to paint a picture of the man we all knew and loved, that would stand the test of time. I hope for those of you making the trip here to Chicago will bring your letter with you, and for those of you not able to honor Eric with your presence at the funeral, you might take some time to invest in his children's memories of their father sending a letter in your absence.

I know this is not an easy thing to ask, but also know Eric left many markers to be repaid. His love for friends and family was never ending. But I don't need to tell you that. I look forward to opening my mailbox in the weeks to come!

Chloe, Amanda & Evan Plummer
2340 River Hills Lane
Bolingbrook, IL 60490
Do not open until 2018

The kids, my parents and I are off to an open house at the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm where we bought a share in an organic farmers harvest. I couldn't think of a better thing to do the day after Eric died than to go and see life continuing to spring forth. No matter how hard you try, life does keep going on.

I'll post some pictures for you tomorrow!
Amy


It occured to me last night that I didn't provide you with all the "official" information.
Services for Eric will be at 10:00am on Saturday, July 26th at Grace United Methodist, 300 E Gartner Rd, Naperville

The public visitation will be from 3-9 on friday at Fredrich Jones, 44 S mill street in Naperville. There will be a Family Visitation from 2-3pm the same day. For those of you who are pallbearers, please arrive at the church by 9am.

I look forward to seeing you all this weekend. Please read tomorrow as I have a specific job I'd like you to complete before you arrive.
love,
amy

I think God must be crying.

It is my honor to tell you that at 10:25pm last night Eric took his final walk HOME.

Yesterday was such a long day. The kids were wildly disobedient which resulted in more than one spanking for both Evan and Amanda. At one point while I was spanking Amanda, she said "Mommy why are YOU crying?" I suppose I'd just had enough and tearfully spoke more of the truth than she wanted to hear when I said, "I don't want be spanking you. I don't want to be up here all by myself. I want Daddy to be here helping me not downstairs too sick to even wake up!" In the quiet of too much information Amanda said, "I want Daddy to sing me the mountain song." It began a conversation I will be forever grateful for. We talked about Eric's impending death and that it was now measured in one to two days.

After we all calmed down, the girls went down to Eric's room and said good-night to him. They very sweetly gave him kisses and rubbed his head and then headed off to bed. Afterward, I was able to join Eric in his room for only the second time that day. After a little while, he woke up a bit and stared right at me. He was trying to say something but his poor body would allow him even that. We were able to quiet him and I just sat there telling stories to the aide about how we met, the look on his face when we discovered we were having twins, and how I told him I was pregnant with Evan. They say your hearing is the very last thing to go. I like to think he was reminiscing with me as well.

Eric's Mom and Aunt stopped by around 10pm to visit with him. While the nurse and I were preparing his evening medicine, Donna and Barbie had a chance to sit and speak to him. I have to say, I don't think we were all in the room more than three minutes when I began to notice Eric's breathing slowing down. In the end, he took a breath and paused, took another breath paused, and took his final breath. It was so very peaceful. If you weren't paying attention, you would have missed it.

For those of you who knew Eric well, it was very important for him to have a "good death". He didn't want to be moaning or mumbling, thrashing or gasping. I am pleased to witness it was more peaceful than even I had hoped for. I found myself smiling after a while, just thinking of the party he was entering as the guest of honor.

The rest of the evening was filled with the "stuff of life" conveniently left out of the movies. It was 3:30AM before we went upstairs and moved all the kids to our/my room. I wanted to wake up with them so I could be the one to tell them what had happened. When I told Chloe and Amanda that Eric had gone to heaven Chloe simply said, "I'm so glad I got to say good-bye to Daddy".

I didn't have the funeral home come and take Eric's body until this morning. I didn't want them to wake up and him be gone. It was a difficult decision to make at 2AM but I am so glad I made the right one. In the morning each of the kids went down to see Eric. I must say it is surprising but, there is a difference in the way a person looks after the soul has left it's body. I had explained to the girls that when a soul leaves it's body, it is sort of like when you eat a banana. Once the banana is gone, all you have left is the peal, the outside. The good stuff is in the banana itself, the outside isn't much without it. I'm grateful they had that time to touch Eric's body and feel it's coolness, to see it's stillness. If I would have just taken them to the funeral home before the visitation, Eric would have been all dressed and painted up, looking like he used to and that would have been deceiving. Now they know Eric's soul is in heaven and his body, well that's at the funeral home.

I didn't want the kids to see Eric's body being moved. So we headed off to breakfast this morning and then to the flower shop to pick out flowers for their bouquet. While we were sitting and eating, it began to really rain. Amanda looked at us and said, "I think God must be crying for daddy too." My mom and I looked at each other with tears in our eyes and both said, "I was just thinking the very same thing Amanda".

I can't sign off without saying thank you to all of you out there in cyberspace who have prayed us to today. We are eternally grateful.

Blessings and peace to you all as I know you mourn and celebrate with us today. Heaven always was the very BEST option in our battle with cancer.

Amy

I've been thinking all day about how to tell you about Eric. The words just haven't come. My mom sent this earlier today. I figured you all wouldn't mind a "Pinch writer".

Hi Everyone,

We have come back from Bolingbrook after spending two days. Since Tuesday, Eric has gone from playing cards with his family to not eating, drinking only small amounts and sleeping most of the time. Much of the time in the last 24 hours have been deep, non responsive sleep. His pain seems to be being managed and most of the time he seems peaceful.

There is an overstuffed black office chair that sits next to Eric's bed. I periodically peak in and check on the black chair. It is very rarely empty. One view will be Amy with Eric's prayer shawl rapped around her shoulders sitting reading and holding Eric's hand. The next will be Eric's dad sitting watching the bicyclist in the Tour de France stroking Eric's arm. Another view is Eric's mom sitting facing Eric holding his hand in both her hands speaking to him. On a different occasion, Bob will be in there talking to Eric as he sleeps, telling him about the All Star Game going 14 innings. Yet another is the care giver of the day folding clothes. And of course, I get to sit in the chair periodically to talk about the days events. The kids have fun spinning the chair around and around. Other inhabitants of the chair have been Eric's boss, his brother, Mike, friends, a full array.

A friend of mine told me once that you should always have an empty chair near you. So that when you feel alone, out of control, or overwhelmed by the stuff of life, just peek over at the chair and know that the chair is really never empty. God is sitting in the chair right beside you holding your hand. You don't need anything else.


Tana

Borrowing the Blankie

Today has not been a good day. Eric has been restless and a bit confused for about 36 hours. Hospice says that's how it is. You'll get a few good days and then a few bad ones. Tomorrow is another chance for a good day.

So many of you have asked how the kids are doing. Amazingly enough, they are doing pretty well. We go to a support group on Tuesday nights and I have found some great resources in hospice and the Wellness House. I know some families choose not to talk about cancer until they have to but, well I come from a long line of talkers, I married a talker and we've produced three talkers of our own. Keeping Eric's illness under the rug was never really an option. We've talked about cancer with the kids from pretty early on. It's not so difficult in the beginning, you just say "Daddy's sick and the doctors are doing everything they can to help him. Don't worry, I'll let you know if things aren't going well". The difficult conversations come when Daddy's not doing well. Amanda, Chloe and I had a long conversation back in February about what happens when you die. They understood Daddy would go to heaven but figured out that if you didn't believe in God, you probably wouldn't want to go to heaven and spend eternity with him so, where did you go? Needless to say, it wasn't the first tough question I've had to answer.

Each one is at a different stage in their understanding of the situation (I suppose we're all no different). Chloe and my conversations recently have been more about the funeral and cremation. She's a visual kid and needs to see things to understand them which has brought up all kinds of questions for me about how much exposure is too much. Amanda is just starting to show her understanding of Eric's death. She held his hand this morning and said, "I don't want my Daddy to die". As hard as it is to hear, I am grateful she has started to talk and claim her time with Eric. Evan, well he may be only 3 but he is so smart. He told one of the caregivers he felt bad because he wanted to spend time with his Dad but, didn't want to bother Eric because he was so sick. Yet another difficult conversation.

I've seen them in the last week each making their own time with Eric. Some days they just sit in bed with him and watch a movie while he's asleep. Tonight they all paraded down in their bathrobes so proud to show Dad. I was worried they would find him at this stage just to painful to be around. Instead, I see them being so very sweet and gentle with him. I found Eric asleep the other day with Evan's prized blankie tucked under his arm, a token of comfort and love to be borrowed for a little while.

I think they get something we struggle with. So often when we've had visitors, it seems like what was needed to be said isn't until the very last moment. I've cleared the room many times so that someone leaving would have the privacy to say what had been on their heart for the last four days. It's not that way with the kids. I see them come in pick up Eric's hand or kiss him on the cheek, say what they want to say and then they're off. No hesitation, no screwing up of courage, they just do it. What a wonderful and amazing thing, a child's love!

Blessings and peace to you all
Amy

Good time with Dad

Hello everyone! Just wanted to ease your worries about my not blogging. I usually blog at night after the kids go to bed but the last few nights Eric has been awake and I've been taking advantage of that! We've watched two terrible movies and had a great time doing it.

Chloe wants to say a few words...

This morning dad and I played the card game golf. After that we watched Scooby Doo with Evan and Amanda. The move is not quite over so I have to go see the end. Thanks for all your prayers.
Love, Chloe

Sometimes, I find God provides things to fill a need we didn't even know we had. I joined a bible study this spring in an attempt to try and meet some people from one of the churches we were visiting. At first I was a little disappointed to find there were not many women with small children like mine, then I found out only 2-3 of the group of 15 were actually members of the particular church. While this wonderful group of women was not at all what I thought it would be, they have filled a need in my life with amazing abundance. They've brought meals, watched my children, prayed, inspired, supported and all around loved me, a complete stranger. It has been an honor to be on the receiving side of such Christlike love. (Hi everyone!, I know you all read.)

We have been studying a book for the summer, "Praying the Names of God" by Ann Spangler. It's been a great comfort to me in these past few weeks. Our last chapter spoke of the name MELEK which means King. She discussed the following passage from Mathew the other day.

Jesus told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.

"The owner's servants came to him and said, 'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?'

"'An enemy did this,' he replied.

"The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?'

""No,' he answered, 'because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.'"
-Matthew 13:24-20

...though God could have instantly destroyed Satan and sinners (that's all of us), he decided to take the long way around, quelling the world's rebellion not by brute force but by the power of Divine love. That strategy requires restraint. It takes patience. It means justice in a final sense has to be delayed. It means evil is played out to the bitter end so that love can draw as many people as possible into the net of the kingdom. To say it another way, the weeds and the wheat are allowed to grow up together until the world's last day.
-page 214

I've been wondering how long we will be in limbo waiting for Eric to pass away. A few days ago we were in the beginning stages of death, now we are more in the middle stages. I've always prayed that he would be "good" for as long as possible and then it would go quickly. Lately, I've been torn between not wanting him to go but also, well, it's been a very long year. I was so struck by the sentence in italics, "played out to the bitter end so that love can draw as many people as possible into the net of the kingdom". It's like God was whispering into my ear, "patience dear Amy, I need a little more time. There are a few more who need to find their way into the net still".

A few months ago, I kept hearing the passage from Luke:

From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

Eric and I have always considered ourselves in the "entrusted with much" category. God has so blessed our lives with wonderful family and friends, security in finances and employment, a strong faith and divine wisdom. We have always felt God was watching our backs. If this "playing out to the bitter end" is our "much more" being asked, well then, patience will be our response.

Please continue to pray for our strength and patience. In addition, pray for those still finding their way into the "net of the kingdom". Eric and I were talking the other day about how we've had so many emails from people we know, and don't know, telling us how our journey has inspired their faiths. I told Eric I like to imagine him up in heaven, lining the streets of gold, watching someone else finish their race and Jesus leaning over to say, "cancer was worth him don't you think?".

Blessings,
Amy

Enjoying the ride

Eric is bedridden now and that comes with a whole new set of challenges. I must say the dying process is a lot like the newborn process. I remember complaining to my friend Tane (Hi Tane!) when the girls were infants about how it seemed that just when I felt like I had finally figured things out, they went and changed. Whether it was from two feedings a night to one or giving up a nap, it always felt like just when I had my bearings, things would change. She ever so gently reminded me that it wasn't about the destination but about the journey. The important thing was to enjoy the ride. I'm trying to picture myself in a convertible with my hair blowing in the breeze but right now, I find myself in a Yugo!

As we embark on this new set of changes, I've decided to trade in the Yugo for a real convertible. No, I have not found some boy toy to trade Eric in for. Shame on you and your dirty minds. I've decided to take everyone's advise and ask for help. So, I've hired an in home care company to provide round the clock care for Eric. I don't want my memories of Eric to be clouded with dirty sheets, sponge baths and bedpans. I've decided, I would rather be the wife than the sole caregiver. I sound like I'm trying to convince you all it's the right thing to do. I suppose the one I'm really trying to convince is me. There's the small fact that this will indeed just about cost the same as a convertible and, there's an unexpected amount of guilt in choosing to hire in help. I think it's because I'm taking my first step out of "the trenches". I've sat here for about 10 minutes trying to figure out what to say next and the truth is, there isn't anything.

Moving on, even in this very small way, can't help but feel a little like deserting. I know it's not, but it still feels that way. Don't get too worried about me, I spent the evening calling friends who were happy to remind me it's OK to get help and that I've done more than my wifely duty already. Tomorrow we will continue our adjustment to this new change with the addition of a new house hold member. And I, plan to enjoy my convertible ride for as long as Eric's driving.

Blessings on your own journeys
Amy

Try to relax Chicken Little

Well, I'm happy to say the reason I missed blogging yesterday was because Eric was awake and I decided to spend time with him instead of you all! Yesterday was a difficult one. All day I tried to wake him to no avail. By the end of the day, I resigned myself that this was just how it would be but, to my surprise, around 7pm he woke up and wanted to eat, talk, and watch a movie with the kids. Around 11:30 when we were getting ready for bed I said, "What a gift these last few hours were. I just figured our "good time" was over." His response was, "me too".

To my even greater surprise, he woke up today and was awake a good portion of it. I put a quote on the girls bedroom wall in the new house. I figured it would be helpful as this time in our lives progressed but also into their teenage years. It says, "Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly". I suppose there is a two fold lesson in that for me these days. The obvious one, caterpillar-butterfly, death-heaven, but also the less subtle one...The world's not over until it's over. Relax Chicken Little, it's just a little piece of sky falling down.

Here's to the hope of a few more "good days" and a big deep breath.
Amy

the short list

I've been sitting here for about an hour not knowing were to begin. I suppose listening to the "short" list of songs for Eric's funeral doesn't help. Music has always been such an important part of our lives. There are so many good ones that speak what we want to say about Eric's life, his death and our faith.

There's "A Cloud of Witnesses" by Mark Schultz, we felt such a connection to that song when we lost Emma. It paints the most wonderful picture of what heaven might be like when we enter it. Surrounded by the cloud of witnesses who've gone on before us, lining the streets of gold, cheering us on our way to the Throne of God.

I heard Caedmons Call, "There is a Reason" the other day. How can you not be encouraged by the line:

He makes all things good, He makes all things good. There's a time to live, a time to die, a time to wonder and to wonder why. There is a reason, there is a reason

Eric has always loved "I can only imagine".

Surrounded by your glory will my heart feel, will I dance for you Jesus or in awe of you be still, will I stand in your presence, or to my knees will I fall, will I sing Hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all, I can only imagine

And "Word of God Speak" from MercyMe. Speaks so to my heart these days. The lyrics

...all that I need is to be with you, and in the quiet hear your voice. Word of God speak, won't you pour down like rain, washing my eyes to see your majesty. To be still and know, that you're in this place. Please let me stay and rest, in your holiness. Word of God speak.

Eric has begun to "decline" as they say in hospice. He sleeps most of the day and is only awake and alert for a few hours each day. Yesterday those awake hours were very clear. Today's weren't so much. We expect his "good time" to continue to dwindle until a point when he no longer wakes up. At that point, I am told he will still be able to hear us even though he doesn't respond. It's hard to imagine Eric not having something to say in response. I may have to take advantage. It's hard because I see him torn between wanting to be done fighting and not wanting to leave.

I heard "Wish you were here" by Mark Harris for the first time on my way home from the hospital one late evening. I could just hear Eric saying the words to me and knew it would be sung at his funeral.

But don't cry for me, 'cause I'm finally free. To run with the angels in streets made of gold, to listen to stories of saints new and old. To worship our maker, that's where I'll be, when you finally find me. I wish you were here.

As much as I hate the idea of him being gone, I sure do like to think of him "finally free".
Thank you for your continued prayers! I've seen God's hand moving in ways I never imagined
Amy

How can you pass up a tomato named Mr. Stripey?

Eric has been resting in bed these last few days. He was walking with the walker on Tuesday at the beach but Wednesday morning it seems his right leg decided not to work any more. It's difficult for him to bear any weight on his legs which, makes moving him difficult for me. It just might be the first time in my life I wished I weighed more than my current weight. Moving someone literally twice your size is not an easy feat! They're supposed to bring some sort of lift tomorrow that will make it easier for us to get him into the wheelchair. It makes me think back to my college days, all those pulleys and mechanical engineering stuff.

The kids arrived home today, as did the dog. The house is no longer quiet but at least it's getting back to normal. I've gotten everything in the right room, now all I need to do is unpack and put it away.

I decided in the spring that since the lot behind us had not been sold, I would plant a garden this year. It's the first time I've had a garden in a long time and I think I may have gotten a bit excited when I was buying plants. There were just so many interesting tomato varieties, I never quite got out of that area. I came home with a pepper, a watermelon, a cantaloupe and 6 tomato plants. Nevertheless, I am still very excited about the progress of our little garden.

A friend of mine agreed to come over and water the yard and our garden when we were gone. The thing about living in a new neighborhood is that until the lots around you are sold, you are surrounded by a big dirt patch which in the summer, grows a lot of weeds. Now, weeds in general, are indiscriminate about where they grow but, I've found, they tend to grow much larger around the perimeter of your property because of the runoff when you water. The same is true of my little stolen patch of land I call a garden.

When we came home, you could barely tell the difference between the weeds and my dear tomato plants. This is not a particularly big problem except for the fact that our builder's solution to the weed control is to periodically run the front loader over the empty lots. They were kind enough to spare my garden last time, but it was more clearly marked a few months ago. So, high on the to do list when we arrived home was to weed the garden and clear some space around it so, the front loader might spare us again. I began with just the garden, picking out a little weed here and there. I started to think about what the bible says about God "pruning the vine so it will produce good fruit". I tell you, weeding is not the most comfortable thing to do. You're on your hands and knees. If you're soils anything like mine, there are rocks digging into your knees. After a while, your back starts to hurt from being bent over. It's hot in the sun and you get dirty. I always thought of that passage about pruning as being something that was painful for us, the ones being pruned. I don't suppose it's all that pleasant for God either, allowing pain and hardship into our lives in order to refine us, making us able to bear more and better fruit. We are his children after all.

And yet, in another week, I'll head out again to weed the garden. I do it not because I enjoy weeding, but because I know it strengthens and protects my harvest. I figure God has the same in mind.

A lot of you have told me you can't understand how God might allow this to happen to Eric. I wish I had an answer but I don't. I do believe it must sadden God to see Eric struggle with cancer as much as it saddens us. And while I don't understand the pruning God has been doing in our lives, I have already begun to see the fruit of His labor. And that, will be enough for me, until my day at the pearly gates comes.

I hope you enjoyed the picture of our biggest young tomato.

Blessings,
Amy

Bozo I miss you!

Jesse Helm died today. I recognized the name but would not have been able to tell you who he was. It's not that I knew his politics or respected him as a man, although I'm sure he was a fine one. What strikes me about his death is the same thing that I think of every time someone famous dies. I never thought Eric would live longer than Jesse Helm or Tim Russert, Heath Ledger or Bozo, George Carlin or Jim McKay,Yves Saint Laurent, Sydney Pollack... there are so many more just fill in the blank.

It always reminds me of how precious time is, makes me wonder if we spent ours well, but most of all, it makes me grateful that we had some advance warning. That we've had our time to speak and do and cherish. Eric wasn't hit by a car or killed in an airplane crash. We've had time to mourn as we went along instead of having our lives ripped apart in a single moment.

I tell you all this for two reasons. Firstly, to remind you that no one knows the day you will die but God.

"Show me, O LORD, my life's end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life. You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man's life is but a breath. Selah
-Psalm 30:4-5

Don't waste one more day without telling those you love just how much you mean to them. Don't go another day with division between you and another. Make peace, share your love, and make today the day you do that thing you've always wanted to do. All our days are numbered and no matter how many are left it will always be too few if you procrastinate.

Secondly, I want to be able to look back at this on a day when Eric is not doing well and remind myself that this is better than the alternative. Having the advance warning was worth it.

Thank you all for encouraging me to keep blogging.
Blessings to you all this 4th of July. What a privilege we have to live in a country founded upon Christian values. And oh yea, Fireworks ROCK!
Amy

P.S. You all enjoyed the sky photos so much I included another.

(d) none of the above

The week before we left for the beach our hospice nurse Leslie said to me, " I know Eric wants to go on this trip and I know he wants to die at home. He may need to decide which one he wants more because, he may not be able to have both."

So many times in our cancer battle we have come to the point where all we really wanted to do was answer "(d) none of the above". You find yourself faced with a decision where all the options available are undesirable. It's so easy to just get mired down in the wanting of something you can't have, stuck in the land of indecision because you just don't like the options. And then, feeling sorry for yourself. (Did you know that children are not innately born with the ability to feel sorry for themselves? It is a learned behavior. We as parents, teach it to them.) The most difficult thing to do is let go of the option you want, the unavailable one, and instead, pick the best of the bunch and move on or "press forward" as Romans says.

Sometimes, your obedience is rewarded and you get to have a write in vote. Today, for us, is one of those. I find myself exhausted and happy listening to my sweet husband snore in his bed while I finish cleaning my "fresh off the farm" organic vegetable delivery.

God is so good!
Amy

p.s. I hope you enjoy the photo today. Our pilot Justin took it today on the flight.

Calling all Yoga Babes!

I'm officially hooked on this whole blog thing. I actually am finding myself thinking all day long about what my next title will be. I'm afraid of facebook now!

Today was an eventful day. It started with the largest sand castle I've ever seen courtesy of Jimmy Slagle. Watching the kids try so hard to leave it alone while Jimmy worked on it was a lesson in patience and self control we all could learn from. The reward of course, was being allowed to play cars on it and then, when everyone was tired, smash it to bits and use the rubble as a slide. If only we were always rewarded so aptly for our patience.

The nurses assistant came and gave Eric a bath. We are ALL grateful for Chris' hard work. The hospice nurse also stopped by. She gave Eric the cleanest bill of health a hospice nurse can. Thank you Jacqueline!!!

Stacy, Tane and I spent some quality time on the beach practicing yoga. I wouldn't say we attracted a crowd but it certainly was peaceful, that is when we could concentrate on the yoga and not our children drifting off to sea. Joking aside, yoga on the beach is one of the best ways I can think of to slow down and connect with God.

We watched a video in our small group a few weeks ago that has made a lasting impression on me. The topic was our breath. I had never given it much thought other that the 5 minute Lamaze overview we had in birthing class. The challenge was to think of our breath as not simply an exhale, but as a way to speak the name of God with each breath. We looked at the Hebrew word for Lord, Yahweh. At how this word was actually made up of four vowels in the Hebrew language. In particular four vowels that are pronounceable on the exhale Yah-Hey-Wah-Hey. It sounds strange, but try it. Take a deep breath and exhale Yah. Breath in again and exhale Hey. Another breath and exhale Wah. Breathe in and exhale Hey. Close your eyes and try a few more times, Yah-Hey-Wah-Hey, Yah-Hey-Wah-Hey. In four exhales you've spoke the name Yahweh. I did a bit of research on this name for God.

The name Yahweh occurs more than 6,800 times in the Old Testament. It appears in every book but Esther, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Songs. As the sacred, personal name of Israel's God, it was eventually spoken aloud by only priests worshiping in the Jerusalem temple...Yahweh is the name that is most closely linked to God's redeeming acts in the history of his chosen people.
-Praying the Names of God

Think about it, as we breathe each breath, we speak the sacred, personal name of our God. It gives so much more meaning to the biblical idea that we were made to praise Him, that we are designed to praise him with every breath. Without even knowing or being aware, we speak the most sacred, personal name of God. Even those who do not believe, speak his name at least once every minute. How many times have you said God's name since you began reading this.

So, back to yoga. Can you think of a better place to breathe the name of God than on the beach with a light breeze and a gentle surf? Breathing in the fresh sea air and breathing out Yah-Hey-Wa-Hey. Breathe in, can you smell the sea air?

Blessings to you all! Go breathe the name of God on all your loved ones!
Amy

Who ever is sitting on the couch when the ambulance comes gets a piece of candy

Personally, I thought I was being crafty when that particular phrase came out of my mouth. I was challenged with the task of packing the car and keeping the kids out of my hair. The ambulance hadn't come yet and my kids love candy. I'm not above bribery and it worked! Everyone else thinks it is the winning quote of the week.

The best thing about great friends is they allow you to laugh at your self. I can't remember the last time I laughed this much. It's one of the most cruel things about cancer, it does it's best to suck the joy right out of you. There's a line in a Indigo Girls song that goes, "If you don't laugh you'll cry your eyes out". I've tried to remember that but it helps to have friends to remind you!

I would be lying to you if I said I hadn't worried about this trip. Would Eric be able to make it to the beach, would he make it home, would he pass away before we even left? And yet here I am, three days from the end of our trip, watching Eric play guitar hero with his friends, complaining that we had to turn it off to play a stupid card game. How foolish God must think I am. He's always had a plan, and surely a part of that plan must have been to bring all these wonderful friends and family to the beach, marinating us in the love of some of our favorite people.

I can't help but think of Psalm 23.

"...You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever."

I pray you find as much comfort in the promises of the bible as I do. And in the midst of the storm, you might be blessed enough to honestly say, my cup overflows.

Amy

This is the bestest day EVER!

Well we arrived at Ocean Isle Beach yesterday with out a hitch. I must tell you truthfully, there is no explanation other than answered prayers. We have had such traveling mercies! I hired a non-emergency ambulance to move Eric from the house on Hobson Beach to Ocean Isle. Our first trip from the airport was fine except they sent two very nice ladies who were completely unable to help Eric up the stairs to the house (all the houses on the beach are on stilts). When I called to request another ride, I reminded them we needed a bit more help. Mark and James arrived at 10am and were entirely able. They were just the sweetest southern gentlemen. When they left, they promised to speak to the owner about allowing them to come over later in the week to take Eric down to the beach for us no charge. God has provided for us at every turn!

We are enjoying the daily additions to our house party. This week's attenders are all people we have known from Florida, our Florida family. By tomorrow there will be 12 adults and 13 kids. While we are out numbered, two are only babies so we should be OK!

As for the house, well there are 8 bedrooms and a swimming pool. What could be better? When we pulled up to the house, I opened the door and Chloe yelled, "There's a pool! This is the bestest day ever!!!"

I hope you feel the same about your day today!
Blessings to you all.
Amy

PS. Eric is doing well, just forgot to mention it.

The long goodbye

I went out today to pick up take out. It was my 3rd trip away from the house this whole week. I do more than that in one day at home. There just doesn't seem to be much outside of here that I need, other than chocolate! My trip today was in search of the "best shrimp burger ever" as a number of family will attest. I followed Scott, Amy and family off the island, they returned to Texas today. While I was driving it occurred to me that this would be the beginning of the long goodbye. Many of you have come to visit but I think in the back of my head, it hadn't really sunk in that Eric was saying goodbye to you for the last time. We've been so focused on getting here to the beach to spend time with family and dear friends, I never thought about what it would be like to say goodbye when the week was over. Eric's been feeling the same way. He made it out to the deck today to watch the kids play in the sand. I came up to check on him and he said,"It's sad knowing this is the last time I'll be here." Why are goodbyes so hard

We've been talking a lot about Eric's funeral these days. I haven't enjoyed much of the process but have cherished the time Eric and I have spent searching the bible for his favorite passages. This one we rediscovered yesterday. I pray it so for myself and for you as well.

...for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:11-13

God's peace and blessings to you all!
Amy

This is better than Disney World!

Eric and I finaly made it to the porch about 3pm this afternoon. Just seems like we've embraced the beach lifestyle and have been taking our time these last few days. The breeze was lovely and we watched the kids play in the surf with their uncle and grandpa. Chloe came up to the house with the biggest smile on her face.

I said, "Chloe, are you haveing fun?"
She replied, "YYYYES!!!"
I said, "Is it better than Disney World?"
She thought about it for just a second, then her smile got even bigger and she said with a whisper, "YES!"

Shhhhh, Don't let the secret out! Sleeping Beauty will be crushed.
Blessings to you all!
Amy

Who knew Mr. Magorium was so profound?

After you've been married for a while, you find your partner has their own set of strengths and weaknesses. If your'e lucky, you'll find your husband/wife's strengths compliment your weaknesses. The good news is you make a great team, shoring up each other as you go along. The longer you're married the more you find those areas of your spouses strengths are areas you've long since stopped trying to improve upon in your self. It's not something I'm proud of but sadly, it's true. Think of it, when was the last time you endeavored to mow the lawn in a diamond pattern or exchanged stain removal tips with a friend in an attempt to expand your skill set. The truth is we all bring expertise to the table and since there is precious little time, we rely on our partners to provide their expertise when needed.

The problem arises when your team loses a member. In the last year I've been expanding my repertoire to include taking the garbage out and killing bugs. I've learned to appreciate Eric more than before but even more importantly, I've reaffirmed what my mother always told me, "I come from a long line of strong women". The difficult part of this whole "growing" thing is stepping out of your comfort zone. Come on, one of the benefits of being married is letting your partner, who's good at "that" stuff (what ever it may be), do it for you! I guess God has other plans.

This afternoon I had another one of those "growing" opportunities. You see, I'm not a real lover of the ocean. Sure it's pretty to look at but I'm not wild about all the stuff swimming around my legs. And the salt, well do I need to say more? Eric has always been the one to play with the kids on the beach. My job was getting everything packed up and ready, his was humping it down to the beach and entertaining. Once we're there, I am fully willing to sit at the shores edge and read a book. Never once, did I say, "boy I sure wish I could be the one to take the kids out in the surf, chasing, jumping, and carrying." No, I was just content to sit and read, watching them play, complimenting myself on packing just what was needed and nothing more (my particular skill set).

This afternoon, I sat watching Chloe watching all the kids out in the surf with an adult. I'd like to say it was my mother's intuition but, I'm pretty sure a rock couldn't have missed the longing on her face. When I asked her if she wanted to go out, she said no but I knew better. Accepting the challenge, I chased her around the beach, picked her up kicking and screaming, screwed up my courage and headed out into the waves. Every 30 seconds she asked/begged, to return to the shore and after about 5 minutes I at least felt like she had enough of a taste to decide for herself if she truly liked it or not. At her next request, I acquiesced only to her her say, "well maybe one more wave". As soon as we returned to shore, Evan wanted a turn. As I made my way back to the waves I could hear Chloe say, "Grandpa, will you take me out to the ocean?" A mother always knows best.

I rented Mr. Magorium's magic emporium a few weeks ago. I'm always looking for movies for the kids to watch with Eric and I'm happy to say this was an unintended gold mine. I'd recommend it for all of you struggling with Eric's impending death. The story is about a magic toy store and it's owner Mr. Magorium. You see he's decided the day, tomorrow, has come for him to die and leave the store to his able assistant. The toy store, being magical and all, is not particularly pleased with Mr. Magorium's plan and protests in many ways. At one point, after closing time, Mr. Magorium has a heart to heart talk with the store. He scolds it for being so precocious and says something that has stuck with me ever since. He says, "We will face tomorrow, what ever it may bring, with bravery, determination and joy". I've tried to infuse that into our lives. I believe today, we were successful. The determination was mine, the bravery, Chloe's and the joy, well, that was shared by us all!

I don't have a picture for you from today, so I thought I'd share another special one from yesterday.

Have a blessed day!
Amy

It takes a village...

When we heard the news that the cancer had gone to Eric's bone marrow, we had a long discussion about weather or not we should go forward with our beach plans. No one ever said they could get us here, they only offered to help us try. Weighing the risks I asked Eric if the trip would be worth it if all he was able to do was sit on the porch and have a beer with his brother. It didn't take long for him to answer YES! It was in that moment I knew we were beach bound.

Today I have the great honor to report Eric not only had that beer with his brother but made it all the way down to the beach to put his feet in the sand. Can I get an AMEN!!!

For all of you who are panicking, take a big deep breath, there was no walking on the beach for Eric. Not only does it take a village to raise a child, it also takes one to bring Eric to the beach. Please take a moment to thank God for the Plummer Family Men. With out the help of Bob Plummer (dad), Scott Plummer (brother), Bruce Tucker (uncle), Chris Tucker (cousin), Jeff Tucker (cousin), Kenny Choat (uncle), Dan Bettner (cousin-in-law), and Ernest England (cousin-in-law) we would have not been successful. Watching these eight men carry Eric down a flight of stairs in his wheelchair, pushing/carrying him through the sand was a sight to behold and a lesson in love. You see, each one of them had come to me over the last few days to let me know no matter what it took, if Eric wanted to go down to the beach, they would get him there. Ernest even threatened to throw him over his shoulder and carry Eric down himself. I was sitting at the waters edge when they all started coming down the stairs. What a sweet sight it was.

Just thinking about all of us spread out in our beach chairs around Eric, beers in hand, watching the kids play in the sand brings tears to my eyes. It is a moment I will never forget.

I sign off now with the joy that only comes from a dream realized. My deepest gratitude goes to all of you and your role in this great adventure.
In His service,
Amy

AGGH! You sunk my battleship!!!

Yesterday was a long day of pain meds every 2 hours with a climax and 10:30pm with a call to the hospice nurse. Sam was wonderfully successful in bringing him from a 8 out of 10 pain level to a 2 so he could sleep comfortably. What a difference 12 hours can make. We've adjusted the medications and doses and now, the battleship bonanza has begun. As I write this, Bob has sunk three battleships and the Chloe/Eric team is knocking on the door of their third sinking! Update: Eric/Chloe won the game!!!

While yesterday was a day in bed for Eric, it was full of fun for the kids. Chloe, Evan and Amanda arrived about 2pm and headed out to the beach immediately. Playing in the surf and sand with cousins wore them out. There were many waves ridden and sand castles made. Lila even had a new dress made of sand for the beach at one time.

Eric's old boss, Jay Artzen, drove up from Atlanta to spend the day with us. What a blessing it is to visit with old friends. God and I have been having a number of conversations these days, but the one that keeps recycling is the question of how to fill the hole Eric's absence will create. As humans, we seek to fill those voids with anything we can find (I'm sure you can all relate). My big concern has been how to fill that space with good, useful and appropriate things, the sort of things that will feed and nurture the kids. As I sat and watched Jay and Evan play in the surf, being "surfer dudes", I finally heard His answer. There are many fine, upstanding, God loving men, who love Eric so very much. For many years I have teased Eric about his "boyfriends", now I'm asking you all for a huge favor. I will be counting on you to help me fill the void a father leaves behind. I know that is a huge responsibility and commitment but, I am confident you will hear God's calling an be obedient in your response. I've seen it already!

I am continually grateful for the awesome gift of seeing God's hand moving in the present time. Thank you all for your participation in this gift!
Blessings to you all!
Amy

When God said "it was good" he was looking at the beach!

Well we are here, at Holden Beach, North Carolina looking out our window at the surf tickling the shore. Our airplane trip was unbelievable. It truly was as if the clouds parted the whole way down to North Carolina, storms to our left, storms to our right but clear, unturbulent skies for us. I have some sense of what Moses must have felt when the Red Sea parted! When we were getting ready to land Brian our trusty pilot and Justin our able wing man, could barely believe the radar. It was as if the weather surrounding around the airport had been erased. There was rain to the left, rain up ahead, and rain to the right but clear skies right above. Even the plane landing right before us had visibility difficulties. But praise God, not us. What a privilege to see God's hand in real time!

We took an non-emergency ambulance to the rental home and when they got him up to the deck, he said, "Well this was all worth it". The view from our porch is breathtaking!

While the trip was uneventful, we are now, dealing with the after effects. Eric's spirits are still strong but we are struggling with controlling the pain. We are hopeful that in the next few days we will be able to master it.

Eric's brother and family arrived late last night after quite a travel fiasco. They arrived in Raleigh on time but had to sit on the plane for 2+ hours due to a lightening storm. Amy said she was grateful to take our portion of travel complications! I think that's brave of a woman with a 4yr and 10month old!

We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of the kids and my parents. Their trip has been good. Evan called me from the road to tell me, "Mom, there are too many cars on the road and we can't go very fast". Chloe called to tell me, "We're staying in a skyscraper mom, there are 11 floors and the people look so small!" Amanda has been uncharacteristically quiet.

Thank you all for your prayers and support. Without many of you we would not be here!

God's Blessings to you all!
Love,
Amy

Made it to the Beach!

Amy and Eric made it to the beach today without any problems.  The flight down was smooth and they miraculously avoided multiple storms on the way.  The kids drove to North Carolina with Grandma and Grandpa Howard and are staying with uncle mike tonight.  Lot's of people in a little house!

The plan is to drive the kids to the beach tomorrow, Sunday morning, and drop them off with mom and dad.

Eric made the trip without complications and is currently resting after a long day.  Amy said she felt like someone was watching over them on the way down.  Hopefully they'll keep watching in the days and weeks to come.

They are currently without internet access, but Amy said she'll be looking for a place tomorrow where she can check mail and hopefully post an update.

-mike howard

North Carolina Here We COME!!!

This last week has been a flurry of activity. So many of you have come to visit us and sit with Eric. In times like these, when there are no words, we are so grateful that you have come to just sit, pray, and be. As I write this, there are a bunch of Eric's fraternity brothers, most of whom he hasn't seen in 15 years, bringing us lunch. We are so well loved!!!

The cancer has compromised Eric's bone marrow and the ability to make the quality and quantity of red blood cells his body needs. As your body recycles it's blood supply in about 30 days, we are grateful to hospice for allowing us to extend our good days to the beach. Wednesday morning Eric took the exciting ride down to a hospital in Chicago for a blood transfusion and a quick overnight stay. All went well, they gave him 3 pints of blood and we're hoping that will be enough to get him to the beach and back. We have talked extensively about the benefit an risks of transfusions and are expecting that to be his last.

Eric's parents left Thursday afternoon on their way down to North Carolina and the kids and my parents were off about 9am today. Eric and I will be flying, courtesy of a wonderful man named Brian, in a private plane tomorrow morning at 8am. When Eric first found out he was sick, his gut reaction was, "let's go to Ocean Isle Beach". It's the beach his family has been going to for the last 40 years. It holds a lot of memories and while traveling now is accompanied by many risks, some quite large, he wants to put his feet in the sand one last time before he dies. I think our lovely pilot said it best, "All the worries and concerns about these other things are in God’s hands and I’m confident he will provide for us. Let the angels carry us safely to our destination.".

We've had so many obstacles in our way to getting to the beach and yet God has provided for us at each step. From a plane to a hospice willing to work with us on blood transfusions to my parents offering to drive the kids the 16 hours to the beach, we haven't found one insurmountable yet. Please pray for strength for eric. We don't know how much strain travel will put on him. It is possible this may hasten the natural progression of this disease. We are praying for the miracle of strength so that we might enjoy one last family trip and return home for Eric to pass away in the peace and comfort of our home. Please as you feel the sun on your face these next two weeks, think of us and pray for strength, as you feel a warm breeze or hear the sound of water, say a prayer for Eric's safe return from the beach. We have asked for prayers from you all since the beginning of our journey but, this request alone is our most coveted.

We're bringing Eric's computer on the trip with us so look for more updates and pictures!

God blessings to you all!
Love,
Amy

Released to Hospice 6/9/08

Sorry for such a long lag between postings… I am not doing well and after this last bought in the hospital for pneumonia again, they have determined that the Tarceva chemo therapy is NOT working and that the cancer has spread to my bone marrow. They releaesd me to home hospice care. Very disappointing to say the least.

I need your prayers more than ever.

I have had some great visitors. On hearing the news Joe Mazza came right away, so did Mike Howard, Jim Slagle, Todd Schonherz, and my Brother Scott and his wife Amy.

My main goals right now are to still try to get to the beach at the end of this month.

Grace and peace to you all. I love you all very much,
Eric

A close call... 5/14/08

I have some bad news… In going to a routine radiation appointment, I was feeling especially weak and sweating and asked the nurses to take my temperature. That led to a check of my oxygenation level. It was alarmingly low and I was admitted to the hospital right away, with acute pneumonia.

Complicating the recovery, was that my lung tumor had started to close off my bronchial tube. I had no idea how sick I was… The radiation team immediately radiated my lung to shrink the tumor near the bronchial tube and pumped me full of antibiotics. All told I was in the hospital almost 2 weeks and am only home because I have supplemental oxygen. I am hooked to it 24/7, until I can demonstrate I can breathe adequately on my own.

I need your prayers more than ever. I have never been weaker physically after this fight, plus laying dormant for 12 days straight… Mentally I was a bit shaken. This was the first time doctors asked us if I wanted a DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) order or not. Not easy to hear or answer.

Fortunately, we are past that hurdle and I will fight through this, too. I am starting to recover and feel like I am a little stronger each day.

Here’s my quick prayer list:

1. Full recovery from the pneumonia.
2. Relief from the neuropathy in my right hand (hard to type, write, loss of strength).
3. Relief from my back pain.
4. Strength for Amy.
5. Strength and Peace from Christ through all of this.

As I wake up each day I realize it is a gift from God. Another day to kiss my wife, hug my kids, watch them laugh, play, fight... :) Seriously each day is another that I can glorify Him. We can only take this one day at a time as we trust in God's plan for us all.

I’ll write more later. Sorry for these delays b/w them.

Grace and peace to you,
Eric

End of a great 3 week stretch 4/22/08

The last 3 weeks have been great. Remarkable even. Especially given the 14 radiation therapies I had to my head. I have had a great run of strong days and even jokingly said to Amy that maybe I am cancer free?! Reality set back in this last weekend.

After working three straight long days, Thursday, I stupidly pushed myself into what turned out to be a brutal day of walking and standing. Long story, short: I attended a Building Management Luncheon, followed that by walking all over the Merchandise Mart (our Chicago office location), topped by attending the largest Construction Industry dinner function and networking event. I walked and stood more that day than I have since I was diagnosed with cancer. That next day, in the office again, I knew I would pay for it later and sure enough, Friday night through Sunday, I was totally laid up with my back blown out.

I called my doctors and they said to go to the ER Sunday night when I included the new symptom of neuropathy in my right hand, which may also be a part of the issue. There from 8pm until 3am, an MRI showed no chord compression (good news…) but does show that I have a compression fracture of my L4 vertebra (just below the L3 that I had done the vertibroplasty last year) and that my tumor burden on my spine has advanced.

I have not heard back from my doctors yet on what we need to do with the compression fracture. As far as the general advance of the bone mets, I guess it is not really a huge shocker since I haven’t done any chemo in the last 12 weeks or so, but it is still distressing to hear. The cancer is not taking any time off…

Top all of this off with the fact that I started chemo back again today (Tuesday 4/22) and there ends the 3 week run… I started the Tarceva and am nervous as to what the side effects will be and when they will start. More of the fun of chemo… The main three side effects of this drug are severe acne-like rash, diarrhea, and fatigue. Not looking forward to any of those, especially the first two.

Some highlights of the last three weeks: Greg Kroencke came to visit a second time. Justin and Tracy Kohler and there two boys flew in town and stayed with us. My brother Scott and his family came to visit for his birthday. I walked to our neighborhood park (first time I was able to make it) to watch the kids play.

I have been encouraged by Romans lately, especially this verse…

Romans 8:18 (New International Version)
Future Glory
18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

The rest of the chapter is also amazing:

19The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. 20For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21that[i] the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
22We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? 25But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
26In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.
More Than Conquerors
28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,[j] who[k] have been called according to his purpose. 29For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
31What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36As it is written:
"For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."[l] 37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[m] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.


I don’t have any more to say right now. Just hoping for your prayers to continue for my healing, for my strength to increase, and for the side effects to be minimal with the Tarceva.

Love, In Christ,
Eric

New Plans and the Roller Coaster Ride 3/25/08

It has been a bit of a roller coaster ride this week, plus… I found out last Monday night that my genetic markers were NOT a match and therefore I am not a prime candidate for Tarceva. This was a strong hope I was holding out for… That left us with the clinical trial option, which we set up for this Wednesday, 3/26.

In the mean time, in setting up the clinical trial base-line scans, my brain scan came back with some bad/strange news. The scan shows two active tumor lesions but there is confusion as to what exactly is being seen (meaning there may not actually be active lesions). The U of C wants it’s own Radiologist to review it and Dr. Maitland says that this changes the game somewhat… And not necessarily, entirely negatively; The brain is easy to radiate, either with whole brain radiation (broadcast to entire head) or with Gamma Knife radiation (pin points tumors only). So there was not as much concern as I would have guessed.

Next up is my pain story... Dr. Maitland recommended that we go to University of Chicago’s Pain Clinic to explore changing my pain meds/regiment. That appointment went very well. We are changing the game here, too. I switched to Methadone, which to my understanding, does a more effective job of blocking the pain receptors, enabling a much smaller dose of the drug than what I am currently taking of the Oxycodone. We started that regimen last Thursday and I can report (praise, God!!!!) that my pain has been under control for the first time we’ve been in Illinois. I am also excited about reducing my dosing on the Oxycontin IR for break through pain. I am down to only 1-2 doses and can envision the chance to finally kick this pain I have had since coming to Illinois. Yeah!

Dr. Maitland and I met again this past Monday, 3/24, to go over our new plan… More roller coaster… To start, he had two U of C radiologists review my brain scan. They all think putting chemo on hold for a bit longer and moving forward with Whole Brain Radiation is the way to go. Not happy about that, but it really seems to be my only option here. I will definitely lose my hair and there is a 50% chance that that hair loss will be permanent. There will be fatigue for sure. And there are also risks with regard to both short and/or long term loss of cognitive function, short term memory loss, impact on fine motor skills, etc… I am told I am less at risk due to my age (again, most people are in the 60’s when going through this stuff) and that I have a high level of cognitive function already, despite what my wife says…

As far as the chemo plan, we will start that up approximately 1 week after the radiation treatment, which will be 14 straight business days, starting tomorrow (Wednesday 3/26).

So here’s the good news… We are NOT going through with the clinical trial chemo plan, but instead, are going back to try the Tarceva. That was an unexpected possibility. Apparently I did have an one unexplainable genetic code in the tumor and I still matched the profile of young, non-smoker profile, so the Tarceva still may have a good chance of working.

So, despite the brain lesion and whole brain radiation news, I am actually feeling strangely encouraged and upbeat. Maybe I am channeling some of the “Peace that passes all understanding!”

Please pray for me to NOT have any of the side effects (especially not long term) of the whole brain radiation.

Please pray for my faith to continue to grow and strengthen.

Please pray that this radiation will clear my head of all brain tumors, permanently.

Peace and love,
Eric

SXSW Trip 3/16/08

Hello all! Today is Palm Sunday. Hosanna in the highest! I hope you are all had nice services at your churches today. I will try to keep this week a little more thoughtful and prayerful with regard to the amazing plan/mystery that God laid out for us. That, and NCAA March Madness starts Thursday. So there are a lot of reasons for praise this week!!!

The last week was a fun one for Amy and I. We flew out Wednesday night to Austin, TX to see my brother Scott and his wife and two kids, and to spend time at the South by Southwest Music Festival; something I have been wanting to see in person for years. SXSW was everything I hoped it would be. Imagine 1500 bands descending on Austin, TX, from all over the world, all trying to get their break. The only problem is that there is just too much to see. You can’t possibly see everybody, so you have to do your homework and find out where bands are playing and when, all the while leaving space in your schedule to hear new acts you have never heard of to stay in the spirit of discovery the festival promotes. Scott set up this trip and itinerary and we were in great hands… We saw about 4-5 bands per day and Scott and Amy took turns pushing the wheelchair that the American Cancer Society loaned us. The highlights: The Black Keys (I have seen them twice previously – one of my favorite bands) and a band from Norway called “Big Bang”. Big Bang was one of our random finds. They were playing at a place called Maggie Mae’s Taco Express that we stopped at for food. They really rocked and the tacos were fantastic. We marveled at the idea of such good talent playing taco joints… Later that night we Googled them and discovered they are the best selling rock act in Norway’s history. How random… Just underscores the cool vibe of the festival.

Here’s the other definite benefit of our trip: The Weather! We had 80 degree days and 65 degree nights and mornings, with the sun shining every minute. Amazing. I wore shorts and a T-shirt the whole time and got lots of sun. Unfortunately, we had to leave and return to reality. Point in fact: Despite the fact it is Mid-March, Chicago still has 30 degree weather… When does spring officially start??? Soon I hope.

We flew back Saturday late afternoon, arriving tired but ready to see the kids. I held up very well and was so glad my brother organized the trip.

As far as what’s next treatment-wise, I am still waiting… We had our follow up appointment with Dr. Maitland of University of Chicago last Wednesday and still have had no word back from the labs as far as my match for the drug Tarceva. He was promised a response tomorrow, Monday 3/17, so I should hear in the next day or two.

In absence of a response, or a negative response, it looks like I will then be a part of a clinical trial, starting chemo therapy as early as Wednesday, 3/19, of this coming week (!). I definitely am not feeling enthused by that, especially since the main purpose of the trial is to see how BIG the dose can be (above the currently FDA-approved doses) without pushing the patients into massive side effects. Unfortunately, there may be some difficult days or weeks as we find what my most “beneficial” dosing will be.

I will need your prayers for strength if we go the clinical trial-route. I am not feeling very brave about it, fearing the side effects… Call me vane, but I also have almost a full head of hair back and don’t really want to lose it again! That is actually not a real concern. But the idea of feeling sick all of the time again is not enticing.

That all said, if it will work, bring it on…

Talk to you all again, soon.

Love and Peace,
Eric