May 2025 Update

Since I wrote last, we had an opportunity to take a big vacation with several members of our family to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.  My son-in-law, Kevin, has a membership at the Hard Rock Resorts, and every few years we get to join his and Hannah’s family on one of these nice vacations.  Besides them and Krista and I, Abigail and Bernie and their kids, Zach and Brandi, and Levi and Kayla joined in on the fun.  The resort was beautiful in every way, and we had lots of fun lounging by the pools, eating so much good food, and spending time with each other.

Grandson Alex making a diving catch into the pool

Breakfast with Kayla and Levi

Zach and Brandi playing with Emmett

Bernie, Abigail and Emmett

At the hibachi restaurant, the chef made a snake out of eggs!

Sort of related to that vacation, I wanted to give a health update on myself.  The resort was very large, and it required a lot of walking to get everywhere.  You may remember that I have had problems with plantar fasciitis.  We had tried exercises, stretches, seeing a podiatrist, better supportive shoes, etc., but nothing seemed to help.  I’d still have a lot of pain if I walked too much, even just like mowing our lawn (which isn’t that big).  Krista and I were worried after the first day of walking and walking at the resort that I would be miserable for the rest of the week.  But, praise God, I wasn’t!  I had no PF pain all week!  Now she and I have been able to go on walks again around home, and we’d really missed that.  It’s like a mini-date when we can just go for a walk down the street.  So please praise God with us for His goodness to me in this way!

 

I also had my latest check up with my urologist for the 2-year follow-up to my prostate cancer surgery.  Everything is still looking good with that, so now I only have to see him annually for three more years, and if everything stays good, we can be done with it.  Again, God is so good to me!

 

As if that wasn’t enough excitement, my son, Levi, proposed to his girlfriend, Kayla, on May 10!  He had planned to propose at the Lilac Festival in Rochester, and then have Krista and I and Kayla’s parents and some friends join them there for a celebration lunch.  Well, the weather was perfect that day, and the Festival was packed!  Lots of things he hoped would go a certain way were thrown off by the crowds and the lack of parking, and people not being able to get there at the right time, but he managed to get a “Yes!” anyway, and we celebrated later that day at a restaurant near home.

 

That night, Abigail, Ella, Jem, and I went to see the latest Marvel movie, and we all enjoyed that.  It made for a very full day!

 

Of course, the next day, May 11, was Mothers’ Day.  Jem and I quietly celebrated Krista with lunch at home, with lots of other kids and grandkids dropping by at various times throughout the day.  Our church had a great place to get Mothers’ Day pictures, so Krista took one with her three daughters who go to our church with us.

Hannah, Krista, Jem, and Ella

And we’ll talk again in June!