Update for 1-31-07

We had a great day on Sunday. I was the worship leader and after service I spoke to a group about forming a Small group. We had 13 people sign up. Our friends and next door neighbors from Chicago had come to Bonaire and were at the service. After the service they told us they wanted to be baptized and asked if Mary Anne and I would do it. We had been praying for several years that this would happen. We baptized them that afternoon and it was a great day. We felt very honored that they asked us to do it!!!!

I am feeling OK although some days I have some liver pain and it depresses me. I am still diving. Kevin (our youngest) and his wife Tracy and their little boys are here for the week and it is so good to spend time with them. Other friends, that come to Bonaire each year, came in on Sunday and Tuesday and it is so good to be with them again. When I was diagnosed, I wondered if I would ever see this beautiful little island again.

I believe that I am being sustained by the prayers of so many people. May God bless each of you!

Joe

Update for 1-25-07

We are still doing well. Joe has gotten emails from some people on the cc website who he doesn't even know. Very encouraging. He has been queezy all week but not today. We still dive everyday.
I got the Ok to dive Monday and we have had a great time with the girls, Kelli and Karen. Last night Joe went to rehearse at church to sing Sunday and Kelli, Karen and I went on a sunset sail on the Samur, a boat built in Thailand, an authentic Junk. (That is meant in a positive way.) Then we went to dinner at Swiss Chalet and had Rosti, one of my favorite dishes. She will close her restaurant in March and has sold it to a dutch guy. So no more rosti... :(
Every afternboon is really relaxing. Joe takes a nap on the couch and the girls go to the beach for awhile and then also nap. Tonight is the rum punch party (no rum for us of course) and then to Ribs factory for dinner (no ribs for us either) Things are as good as they can be. The sun is wonderful, having the family here is terrific and Kevin Tracy and the boys come tomorrow. Ed and Jayne, our next door neighbors, arrive too. The kids will be here for one week and Ed and Jayne for 6. That will be great.
Stay well and please keep on praying. We are also praying for you. I may not get to blog twice a week but just know we are thinking of you. God bless. We heard that Mark Clemens died of cc and are very sorry to hear that. His sister Stacie started the cc website.
Mary Anne

Update for 1-18-07

Today is Thursday -- I don't know the date. It is not important down here. We are doing very well. Joe has been feeling really well, no queezy stomack for 4 days at least. If he goes off vegetarian he has fresh fish from the ocean caught that day so no preservatives etc. He is taking the juice plus pills to supplement the lack of vegetables he is eating. He and the kids are doing two dives this morning. The little kids are in class for 4 hours snorkeling and learning how to use scuba equipment and I took the two teenages Marianne and Matthew snorkeling. We saw lots of great stuff and had a good time. I go to the doctor Monday to see if I can dive yet after my surgery. The kids go home Saturday and Karen and her friend Kelli come on Sunday. The time has gone very fast. It is much easier than 4 years ago because the kids are older and entertain themselves well. Jake our dog is loving it down here in the warm weather. Last night we played hand and foot with 6 of us. Joe team won but this time I was on it so that was great. We feel very blessed that we ar actually here and that Joe is feeling so well. We know the prayers are making a difference. Thank you all so much. We miss all our friends back home but hope the blog will kep us in touch.
God Bless
Mary Anne

Update for 1-18-07

Cassie and Kirk and the kids arrived on Bonaire at 3:30 pm, much more respectable hour than Mike and Heidi and their three when they arrived at 6:00 am. It's great to have them all here.

We went to the International Bible church this morning. That congregation has been praying for me for months and I got up and gave a short testimony to prayer and trust in God. They are a small but great congregation. The weather is super with abundant sun and temps in the low 80's. Karen and her friend Kelli will be coming next Sunday. Lots of our friends from the islad heard we were here and stopped by to visit.

Thanks for your continuing prayers.

Joe

Update for 1-11-07

We are in Bonaire now! Except for a cold/flu that started when I got up Tuesday, we are doing well. So far Joe hasn't got it. We have found most of the food we need to survive down here and the kids are bringing the stuff we can't find. The weather, of course, is fine and we have already seen some of our friends from other countries. We will keep up the blog several times a week so you know that we are OK.
Thanks so much for caring about us.
God Bless
Mary Anne

Update for 1-07-07

Well, if you look to the right at the links, you will see that our talented son-in-law Kirk put in the "O Holy Night" video link. That is what Joe and Kevin sang at church on Christmas Eve. We are glad to have it preserved. Thanks Kirk, and thanks Cassie for videotaping it.
We have now weighed and reweighed our suitcases trying to get every last ounce in, and not be overweight. I am trying to bring some food and spices down that will be hard to find down there. I have also been busy copying CD's of worship music to listen to while I am down there now that I have a CD player. We will continue to blog from Bonaire several times a week even if nothing is going on with Joe's cancer. That would be a good thing and we want to share that. We don't think we would be doing this if it weren't for all the prayers of so many friends and people who don't even know us. I now realize just how important it is when you say you will pray for someone, not to forget because we know God hears us. Our small group prayed with us on Thursday night that we would have a safe and healthy trip. We are so looking forward to it and sharing it with our children once again. We know we are blessed to be able to get out of the cold but this year, more than ever, it feels like good medicine to be less stressed and in the warm sunshine soaking up the Vitamin D. Although we may be far away in miles you will be close to our hearts and we will pray for all of you praying for us every day as we have been.
We plan to try and start a small group down in Bonaire and do it on Thursday nights just like we did here at home. They have never done them down there so this will be new. Joe has felt well the last few days and we pray this will continue until we return in April.
Take care and God Bless.
Mary Anne

Update for 1-05-07

As most of you know, we are getting ready to go to Bonaire (small island in the very southern Carribean, near Aruba). We are planning on going for three months and are looking forward to each of our children and their families visiting us while we are there. The island is best know for scuba diving and that is why we went there first. Last year I did about 100 dives there. All of our children and their spouses are scuba certified and our two oldest grandchildren, Matthew and Marianne have done it and will again this year.

I have felt pretty well for the most part. A few days ago I had some nausea and what I thought was associated pain. Whenever that happens and I get any kind of abdominal pain, lots of negative thoughts stream into my head. The last few days I have just had a queasy stomach. Mary Anne continues to do well although yesterday, somehow she subluxated a rib and went immediately to the chiropractor. That really helped and she will go back again today. The intown kids will be coming over on Saturday and we are hoping that they will help us take down the tree. They are pretty wonderful about that kind of stuff. I took down the outside lights last week when the weather was very warm....I have taken them down in below zero weather....it's not as much fun!

Again, thanks to all those who pray for me. I know that I would not be feeling the way I am if it were not for your prayers.

Joe