Here is a quick update of our lives this last year:
Jane- Still cutting hair at Studio Jane. She still loves having her own little salon and I think she loves decorating it as much as decorating her clients :) She has had a hard go watching me go through all the effects of the tumor- unable to walk, drive, pay bills, impatience, fear, anger... I feel so sad for her, and my kids, who had to helplessly watch my terrible decline. I must say her faith held up so well. Really a testimony to her long walk with God. In the midst of this darkness, she was a great light and caregiver.
Cori- She was living with us after her knee surgery (divine providence) and she was also a rock of support. Her faith was strong that I was going to live and she did so much taking me to all the doctors and making sure all the insurance issues were taken care of, even afterwards as I started to recover. God gave her a wonderful job as a Transitional Living and Community Support (TLCS) counselor. She helps and secures housing for homeless and mentally handicapped individuals. I personally believe she was born and uniquely gifted for this type of ministry her whole life. God also gave her an amazing community to live in by her work in Sacramento. I know we are happy she is back so close.
Chris- Has certainly found his stride in school (SFSU). He is still Pre-Med and has kept up his grades so he has a good shot at acceptance. However, he did change his major to Chemistry so if he doesn't get in, he can do his post-grad work (school to be decided, but it will be a CA coastal school :), and then go into full-time research as a professor or paid staff at a university. He has been doing research for over a year with one of his professors in a new anti-cancer drug and his work will be published very soon. He is now married to a wonderful young woman that my whole family and I adore- Ashley.
Ashley- She is graduating in 3 weeks in Political Science from SFSU. She has worked very hard and her grades also are off the scale. Even though her major is PolySci her true passion, in my opinion, is animals. Just watch her with animals and you can't help see it. So much so, while she was at school she took a job at the SPCA. She did such a great job they opened up a position for her as Humane Educator and waived the teaching credential requirement so she could apply. She just found out yesterday that she indeed was selected with a strong starting salary with great benefits. They want to start a family right away.
Erv- That is me and I probably have too much to say. After this last year, and all that I have wrestled with before and after the 11-hour surgery, I could write an entire book, easily. Suffice it to say the main things I have learned is to stop wanting to be the old me that was strong and could see out of both eyes. I must accept the 'new' me and be at peace with that. Just as God demonstrated clearly with the people of Israel in Egypt- He cared and was concerned about them in their cruel condition (bondage), he delivered them by a mighty hand (plagues, plunder, red sea...), he provided for them (manna, quail, leading by cloud/pillar of fire, shoes did not wear out...) and then bestowed goodness on them (the promised land with milk and honey, houses they did not build, vineyards and olive groves they did not plant...), He is now doing the same for me. He has cared for me and delivered me from the tumor and most of its effects (I didn't die, to my knowledge), He has provided for our every need this year and I am amazed that all of our medical bills have been completely paid and the government even forgave my student loans for my children. In the midst of all this God called me to be a missionary to International students through ISI. More on that can be read here: http://isiervthomas.weebly.com/why-support-erv
That's about it for now. I don't want to make this too long. This Christmas letter link is actually a Blog that I will keep using to update the work Jane & I do in our ISI ministry. Perhaps bookmark this page (Ctrl+D) and check it monthly to see what we're doing.
God bless you all! Thank you so much for supporting my family and I through this rough year!! Let us all "fall on our knees..."