Hello, Irene and Dave!

You have been on my mind and in my prayers. I’m sure there’s some excitement with the upcoming wedding and Joanna’s new venture. Praying for strength and relief from nausea. Know that you are loved!

Dave Dravecky http://www.endurance.org, pitching for the San Francisco Giants Baseball team.  Dravecky was a rising star until suddenly stricken with life altering cancer, ending his high hopes and baseball career.

After an enjoyable weekend (didn’t she look great in the photo?), Irene’s home this evening from dialysis, challenged by a POUNDING headache and nausea in the 9+ range on a 1-10 scale.  She’s COLD under a blanket even though the room is very WARM.

She practices ENDURANCE and, like Dave Dravecky, inspires us everyday.

Thanks for caring,

Dave

Despite 24/7 nausea for more than three years, her healing wrist which still aches, and three days a week of kidney dialysis, Irene’s determined to live above her circumstances.  In this photo she’s busy preparing the ring bearer’s pillow for Jocelyn and Jordan’s upcoming wedding on September 18th.

Thanks for caring,

Dave

7 p.m.

Thanks for checking in…!!!

Irene’s dialysis schedule has changed.  She now leaves the house around 10.30 a.m. with a scheduled start time of 11.30 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.  She hopes to be home on those days by 3 p.m.  This time slot works well; the biggest benefit is that she won’t have to drive home in the winter months when it’s dark close to 5 p.m. 

Irene’s wrist continues to be well on its way to healing.  Her blood test results today were outstanding;  smiling faces in all categories…!!! 

The nausea continues to come in waves…the amyloid remains in remission.

Thanks for caring,
Dave

8 p.m.

Thanks for checking in…!!!

Irene had a rough day at dialysis but deeply appreciates all of the cards, calls and well wishes for her BIRTHDAY!

The nausea is raging but she’s gracious as usual…

Hoping for a strong recovery… and better tomorrow.

Thanks for caring,
Dave

Irene’s birthday is Monday, August 16th, but celebrating on a dialysis day just didn’t seem as much fun as doing it today!!

We had a delicious lunch at the Santa Cruz Harbor followed by a rich, home made birthday cake for dessert made by JoAnna and opening gifts at the house ... it was great to relax and celebrate LIFE together ... a beautiful day on the Monterey Bay ...!!!

Thanks for caring,

Dave

“Poise: the ability to be ill at ease inconspicuously.”
— Earl Wilson

“God places the heaviest burden on those who can carry its weight.”  — Reggie White

“The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives everything its value. I love the man (or woman) that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress and grow” — Thomas Paine

“Bare heights of loneliness…a wilderness whose burning winds sweep over glowing sands, what are they to HIM? Even there He can refresh us, even there He can renew us.” 
— Amy Carmichael

“Subdue your heart to match your circumstances.”
— Joni Eareckson Tada

“Sometimes God allows what he hates to accomplish what he loves.” 
— Joni Eareckson Tada

“Heartache forces us to embrace God out of desparate, urgent need. God is never closer than when your heart is aching.”
— Joni Eareckson Tada

“The most fortunate of us frequently meet with calamities which may greatly afflict us. And to fortify our minds against the attacks of these misfortunes should be one of the principal studies and endeavors in our lives.” —Thomas Jefferson

Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do — living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to men in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.

The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And,

“If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”

So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

1 Peter 4:1-19

There was a couple who used to go to England to shop in the beautiful stores. They both liked antiques and pottery and especially teacups. This was their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. One day in this beautiful shop they saw a beautiful teacup. They said, “May we see that? We’ve never seen one quite so beautiful.” As the lady handed it to them, suddenly the teacup spoke “You don’t understand,” it said. “I haven’t always been a teacup. There was a time when I was red and I was clay. My master took me and rolled me and patted me over and over and I yelled out, ‘Let me alone’, but he only smiled, ‘Not yet.’

“Then I was placed on a spinning wheel,” the teacup said, “and suddenly I was spun around and around and around. Stop it! I’m getting dizzy! I screamed. But the master only nodded and said, ‘Not yet.’

Then he put me in the oven. I never felt such heat. I wondered why he wanted to burn me, and I yelled and knocked at the door. I could see him through the opening and I could read his lips as he shook his head, ‘Not yet.’

Finally the door opened, he put me on the shelf, and I began to cool. ‘There, that’s better’, I said. And he brushed and painted me all over. The fumes were horrible. I thought I would gag. ‘Stop it, stop it!’ I cried. He only nodded, ‘Not yet.’

Then suddenly he put me back into the oven, not like the first one. This was twice as hot and I knew I would suffocate. I begged. I pleaded. I screamed. I cried. All the time I could see him through the opening nodding his head saying, ‘Not yet.’

Then I knew there wasn’t any hope. I would never make it. I was ready to give up. But the door opened and he took me out and placed me on the shelf. One hour later he handed me a mirror and I couldn’t believe it was me. It’s beautiful. I’m beautiful.’

‘I want you to remember, then,’ he said, ‘I know it hurts to be rolled and patted, but if I had left you alone, you would have dried up. I know it made you dizzy to spin around on the wheel, but if I had stopped, you would have crumbled. I knew it hurt and was hot and disagreeable in the oven, but if I hadn’t put you there, you would have cracked. I know the fumes were bad when I brushed and painted you all over, but if I hadn’t done that, you never would have hardened; you would not have had any color in your life. And if I hadn’t put you back in that second oven, you wouldn’t survive for very long because the hardness would not have held. Now you are a finished product. You are what I had in mind when I first began with you

God knows what He’s doing for all of us. He is the potter, and we are His clay. He will mold us and make us, so that we may be made into a flawless piece of work to fulfill His good, pleasing, and perfect will, which we can never escape.

This is a simple reminder of how God is the potter of our life and we are the clay. God is the shaper of each of our lives and when struggles seem overwhelming, we need to remind ourselves that these struggles serve a purpose in making us stronger, wiser, and in the perfect image that God has for each of His creations.

Unknown Author

Irene’s cast was removed today so what did she do to celebrate? She shopped at Beverly’s and Safeway… then vacuumed the house… and prepared dinner for me. She will not be denied…!!!

Thanks for caring,

Dave