Wed 25 Nov 2009
Happy Thanksgiving from the Jarretts
Posted by paulejr under Uncategorized
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Dear Friends and Family:
We wish you a Happy Thanksgiving as you celebrate God’s blessings with family and friends. We are thankful for many things this year, most remarkably Marty’s continued presence with us here on earth after her serious illness in September. All our family will be together this year for this celebration for the first time in several years.
Marty has made continued strides in her recovery without the backward steps which characterized the first month. She has lost all 50 pounds of the water weight accumulated in the five days in ICU. Despite receiving no treatment for two months, her CA2729 tumor marker has remained low after the chemotherapy that sent her into a tailspin. She is now on an estrogen receptor blocker, the effectiveness of which will be measured sometime next month.
While holding onto counters or the walker, she walks around the downstairs portion of our house straightening and organizing things. She’s trying some low steps but isn’t ready for the Stairmaster just yet. She can sit in a wheelchair for several hours without getting too tired making us hopeful that she can fly to Florida next week for five days at the Price’s condo with John and Cathy. It’s a two-hour, direct flight to Ft. Myers from Indy. We’ll visit Dr. Milton next Tuesday to get the final approval.
We’re thankful for God’s mercy and provision for our other family members. Pat and Lisa’s family is healthy and more or less straight – Nathan’s arm being the main crooked feature in late summer. After surgery and some rehab, he has resumed all activities. Pat enjoys his job in Anderson, and Lisa is very busy doing homeschool and caring for their eleven children.
Jon and Sharon arrived last night from Charlotte. Jon will continue to work in the caretaker role of his former company’s business; he has also started a new home-building business that is doing well. The five boys had a very successful soccer season; baby Ansley is now five months old and is a real show-stopper with her wavy copper hair and radiant smile.
Beth’s baseball season finished on a high note – a month with the major league Washington Nationals including road trips to New York, Philly, Miami, and Atlanta. She’s now anticipating a cruise to Chile, Argentina, and Brazil next month with Aunt Shirley.
Tom and Christine finished remediation of their mold-damaged house and have moved back in after several months of working until dog-tired each day – primarily for Christine. Tom continues his battle with biotoxin illness; although he still can’t work or even play very long, he has found some treatments to be helpful.
Susie and Chris are doing well as he is midway through his junior year of medical school; he is enjoying the clinical rotations. Susie works hard with her massage therapy business but still finds time to visit and encourage Marty.
Debbye and Aaron enjoy their role of parents as Paul approaches his first birthday. Debbye still teaches art to home school groups and families; Aaron is very busy with his creative graphic design work.
Becki and Peter just got back from a Caribbean cruise for their 5th anniversary. He enjoyed the time off from his busy job; Becki ministers through child care in her home in addition to caring for Charlotte.
Amy’s full time job with St. Vincent Sports Medicine is going well; she hopes to pay off college loans quickly and is exploring mission service for the future.
Laura has been home since September and seems to be improving from her bout with biotoxin illness exacerbated by mold in the place she was living and ministering in Japan. She hopes to go back in the future, but the timing and conditions of such a return aren’t clear at this time. Meanwhile she is ministering to Japanese people in the Indianapolis community.
Rachel is maturing and ministering through child care for Lisa, Debbye, and Becki; she enjoys Facebook and any social activity with friends and family.
Although I’m still waiting for an in-depth report on our orphan homes, I’m assured that all the children are doing well as they grow in stature and wisdom.
Paul’s role of full-time care-giver for Marty hasn’t ended yet. I continue to volunteer at Gennesaret Free Clinics and administer Hope Ministries Tenwek orphan project in my spare time. I now understand why God closed the door for me to resume clinical practice earlier this year.
So, we are thankful for God’s direction, provision of healing, good health, friends, prayer partners, employment, and ministry opportunities. We look forward to the time when we can be more active in the mission field abroad but are content serving where God has placed us for the time being.
Wishing God’s richest blessings on you during Thanksgiving and Christmas, celebrating and praising God for sending His Son to give us the fit of eternal life.
Thank you so much for your prayers.
Paul, for the Jarretts in Indiana