Merry Christmas!

Ah, it's that time of year again. I must admit, I've been so busy with our Shakespeare on Broadway production at Bridlemile I've hardly had time to reflect too much on all that lies ahead for our family around this time of year. Our tree is up, the house is decorated (inside and out, mind you!), gifts are accumulating under the boughs of the noble fir, and I have one more week of teaching left for 2007. I can hardly wait to STOP and SAVOR the true meaning of Christmas, worship the King of kings, read about three or four books I'm halfway through, and just hang out with "the fam."

Chris and I recently celebrated our 22nd and 47th birthdays, respectively. Amanda (Chris's fiance and seen in the photo above), her parents Susan and Greg, Momma June, and Sabrina's parents and her sister's family joined us for a great celebration a week ago. Charlie taught us how to play Hearts, and we had a great time together. One of the supreme blessings of this year has been getting to know Amanda more and more, and experiencing the process of merging two families together as Chris and Amanda move closer to their July 19th wedding date.

On the health front, Momma June has finished her chemotherapy for awhile, and the oncologist will make a determination after the holidays whether or not she'll need a regiment of radiation treatments. At this point, surgery doesn't appear to be the way they are headed. It seems she is getting her strength back a bit and I'm sure longs for spring and summer to come so she can get back to her flower gardening and all that she enjoys doing when the weather is better. If you would like more specifics on how she is doing physically or otherwise, I'll leave it up to you to communicate directly with her.

As for my dad, he recently received some discouraging news with his lung cancer. According to the doctors in Bend, it has spread from its origin in the pleura of the lung to the liver, pelvic region, spine, and ribs. We continue to invite you to pray for both of my parents during this difficult and often depressing time in both of their lives.

With all the mix of emotions we can feel during this time of year, especially when serious health issues are an abiding reality, I'm comforted in knowing I have a Rock (Psalm 62) to stand on during life's tempests. Recently, I dug up this encouraging and inspirational quote from Malcolm Muggeridge; it's a reminder of the significance of the Deliverer who was born a child and yet a king:

"We look back on history and what do we see? Empires rising and falling, revolutions and counter-revolutions, wealth accumulating and wealth dispersed, one nation dominant and then another. Shakespeare speaks of 'the rise and fall of great ones that ebb and flow with the moon.'

In one lifetime I have seen my own fellow countrymen ruling over a quarter of the world, the great majority of them convinced, in the words of what is still a favorite song, that, 'God who's made the mighty would make them mightier yet.' I've heard a crazed, cracked Austrian proclaim to the world the establishment of a German Reich that would last a thousand years; an Italian clown announce that he would restart the calendar to begin his own assumption of power. I've heard a murderous Georgian brigand in the Kremlin acclaimed by the intellectual elite of the world as a wiser than Solomon, more enlightened than Ashoka, more humane than Marcus Aurelius. I've seen America wealthier and in terms of weaponry, more powerful than the rest of the world put together, so that Americans, had they so wished, could have outdone an Alexander or a Julius Caesar in the range and scale of their conquests. All in one little lifetime. All gone with the wind.

England part of a tiny island off the coast of Europe, threatened with dismemberment and even bankruptcy. Hitler and Mussolini dead, remembered only in infamy. Stalin a forbidden name in the regime he helped found and dominate for some three decades. America haunted by fears of running out of those precious fluids that keep her motorways roaring, and the smog settling, with troubled memories of a disastrous campaign in Vietnam, and the victories of the Don Quixotes of the media as they charged the windmills of Watergate.

All in one lifetime, all gone. Gone with the wind.

Behind the debris of these self-styled, sullen supermen and imperial diplomatists, there stands the gigantic figure of one person, because of whom, by whom, in whom, and through whom alone mankind might still have hope. The person of Jesus Christ."

Come Thou long expected Jesus,
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us;
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel's strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear Desire of every nation,
Joy of ev'ry longing heart.
(Charles Wesley)

Kazakh Paintings, Nazi Hunters, and the Power of Memory

This past Saturday I got the surprise of my life when, following a lunch with a longtime friend from Kazakhstan, I was presented with a painting we had once owned in Almaty, Kazakhstan. In fact, this item was one of the first things we "accessorized" our apartment with upon arrival there in 1994. Boy, did it bring memories back for Sabrina, me, and the kids!

Dave and Theresa Knauss really pulled a fast one on us! We had given them this painting as a gift when we moved back to the U.S. in 1997 and never imagined we would ever see it again. As Sabrina and I spent much of last Saturday gazing at the painting, we were reminded of the power of an object to bring your mind back to the past and relive old memories. I was translated back to all of our Russian language lessons with Gulya, our language teacher, sitting on the couch under this painting, not to mention all the Bible studies, birthdays, times of worship, and, yes, even a few "cultural stress breakdowns." Oh, if only this painting could talk!

I was thinking about the powerful connection we can have with people, places, or things in our lives all this past week, especially after my lunch with Dave Knauss. For much of the 1990's, the "Knauss House" (now expanded to number six and seen here in the pic to the right) was a big part of our lives, particularly as we prepared to move to Central Asia and work together there. We had spent a couple of holiday seasons together in their little village of Vanovka (as it was once called) and benefited from their encouragement, gracious hospitality, and shared vision in Christ.

As I was recently watching a documentary on the life of famed Nazi hunter Simon Wiesenthal (The Life and Legacy of Simon Wiesenthal), I was reminded once again of the enormous power a thing like a painting or a place like a hotel can have on your memories. Mr. Wiesenthal had lost 89 family members in the Nazi death camps and had subsequently spent six decades tracking down over 1,100 Nazi war criminals around the world. On the occasion of his 90th birthday, he requested that he celebrate it at the Imperial Hotel in Vienna, Austria. Ironically, the same hotel was one of Hitler's favorite places to hang out and conduct WWII. Himmler had a suite there and there was even a bunker underneath for Hitler and the rest of his henchmen. I was so struck with something Simon Wiesenthal said as he contemplated the irony and utter joy of celebrating one of his lasts birthdays there: "I want the history of this hotel to read that Simon Wiesenthal held his 90th birthday here with a kosher dinner. Hitler is gone, the Nazis are no more, but we are still here singing and dancing."

Whether it's encouraging us with something like a graciously returned painting or bringing to light the irony of having a Holocaust survivor celebrate his 90th birthday inside one of Hitler's old hangouts, I'm reminded of how faithful God really is. In Wiesenthal's case, it speaks to the living, breathing, and historic reality that God keeps His promises through time. From the calling of Abraham to the last pages of Revelation, He has promised to preserve a remnant of Jewish people unto Himself. As a Gentile believer in Christ, I've been grafted into "Abraham's tree" (Romans 11:17-18), and now have the blessing of being connected to my Father and all that the Kingdom promises entail as a member of the Bride of Christ. What an amazing salvation!

"Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father,

There is no shadow of turning with Thee;

Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;

As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!

Morning by morning new mercies I see;

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided,

Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!"

Did You Know; Shift Happens - Globalization; Information Age

Very interesting statistics regarding globalization and the exponential impact of technology on our nation and world.

Big Headlines at Villa Noir

The big news continues at the Black household in Sherwood. Today's big headline is Chris and Amanda's engagement. Chris had a creative proposal, Amanda acquiesced, and they plan on getting married this coming summer. We joyously congratulate them and wish them the very best as they continue to seek the Lord together and forge ahead with their plans.

A few other headlines...

"Young Lad Crashes and Totals Granny's Only Car"

Just last week, while Grandma June was up in the Seattle area visiting Debbie, Chris borrowed his grandmother's car, rounded a slippery corner on a country road as he was picking up his girlfriend for church, and ran into two trees. Long story short...he came out safe (praise God!), but dear ol' June's Honda Accord was totaled. Fortunately, her collision coverage with Allstate has only a $100 deductible. We are still awaiting Allstate's final assessment on what they'll settle on as sale value of the car.

"The emperor does not share your optimistic appraisal of the situation" (Darth Vader)

"An Offer on Mom's House in Eugene"
We are pleased to tell you that there has been an offer on 1283 Brookside, my mom's house in Eugene. She made a counter-offer, and it has been subsequently accepted by the other party. We are still waiting on a structural engineer to assess a small crack in the foundation, but we should know if everything is good to go by the middle of this month. Please lift up prayers as we
wait to seal the deal.

"Residents of Villa Noir Continue to Learn Important Spiritual Lessons"
With everything from breast cancer to "strep arm" infections, to crashed cars and wedding plans, we continue to learn that we puny humans are not in control. I'm always amazed at our Heavenly Father's loving (yet seemingly harsh) methods for conforming us into the image of His Son (His ultimate plan for his adopted kids). In times like these, I'm reminded of this quote from one of Alistair Begg's recent sermons I listen to on my iPod via podcasting:

"If dependency is the objective, then weakness is an advantage."

This clearly runs counter to most Americans' materialistic, autonomous, "self-made-man" mentality, but it is undoubtedly right where God wants us as He takes His "trial lumps of clay" and transforms us for a life in the Eternal Kingdom.

God Knows What He's About

When God wants to drill a man

And thrill a man, and skill a man

When God wants to mold a man

To play the noblest part,

When he yearns with all His heart

To build so great and bold a man

That all the world shall be amazed

Then watch His methods, watch His ways!

How He ruthlessly perfects

Whom He royally elects;

How He hammers him and hurts him

And with mighty blows converts him

Into shapes and forms of clay

Which only God can understand

While man's tortured heart is crying

And he lifts beseeching hands...

Yet God bends but never breaks

When man's good He undertakes

How He uses whom He chooses

And with mighty power infuses him

With every act induces him to try His splendor out

God knows what He's about!

Four Hands Guitar

Okay, I'll admit it has been a rough week...I need a little light humor in my life right now!

William Tell Overture

Here's a humorous take on motherhood (sung to the tune of "The William Tell Overture"

Popeye and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse

Well, just when we thought things were quieting down in the ol' Black household here in Sherwood, lo and behold, I found myself out of school for nearly a week and in the hospital for a few days. While I was at school last Monday, my elbow starting tightening up and by early evening, I had a high fever and couldn't get warm. After seeing my primary care physician in Sherwood, she started treating me for an infection, but my arm continued to swell from my elbow to my fingers. If I had drawn an anchor on my right arm with a black Sharpie, it would have been a dead ringer for Popeye's.


By Thursday morning, we decided I was going from bad to worse, so we headed for the emergency room at the Providence Hospital in Newberg, where I was treated for some form of "cellulitus" (infection of the skin). After a couple of I-V's of vancomyacin (a heavy-duty antibiotic used to treat resilient staph infections and such), we finally got the blood test results back and discovered that I actually had a "Group C Strep" form of cellulitis. So, once my temperature stabilized, I was sent home on Saturday with oral penicillin, vicadin, and ibuprofen.

These last couple of months, with all the family health issues, have seemed filled with pestilence and other challenges. When I was laying around in the hospital, I was encouraged by several verses from the Psalms, notably this from Psalm 41:3:

"The Lord nurses them when they are sick and restores them to health."

Tim

Mom's House on the Market!

Sabrina and I spent last weekend in Eugene putting the finishing touches on the house. Despite a toilet that consumed about half a day's energy (a VERY long story!), we were able to get everything reinstalled after the carpet and vinyl flooring had been laid.

You can check out the MLS listing at this link: http://ellengroen.mywindermere.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Listing.ListingDetail&ListingID=18591613

We'd appreciate your prayers for a quick sale and a sense of calm in the midst of everything.

On the medical front, Mom has established her connections with a primary care physician in Sherwood and a new oncologist, Dr. Keith Lanier (http://www.oregonhematology.com/)
Today, I'm battling what I think is tendinitis, so I'll be spending time with a doctor today--oh, joy!

Back to School!

Today marked my first day at school with students. Just before Labor Day, I had done some setting up in my classroom, participated in meetings at Bridlemile, then traveled down to Eugene to finalize the move (of my mother) up to Sherwood. I had almost thought that the ball had been dropped with the Uhaul I had to pick up in Junction City, until the auto detailing shop proprietor's wife showed up unexpectedly and walked me through the rental while talking to her husband in another state via telephone. It seems he was on the road to deliver a motorcycle to someone in Las Vegas and someone hadn't informed him that my online Uhaul reservation had to be addressed. Anyway, I considered it divine intervention that she "accidentally" drove up to run an errand. I sure appreciate how the Lord delights in addressing the "nitty-gritty" details for his kids (especially when they are under immense stress!)

We finally got everything packed up, drove up to Sherwood, and got everything unloaded by Saturday evening. We're slowly "de-cluttering" the garage with trips to the storage unit and talking friends into taking extra mattresses and other items off our hands. I'm hoping by winter we'll be able to actually fit a car in the ol' garage.

Mom is doing relatively well. We have turned our downstairs office room into a bedroom, and there's a full bathroom right next to her room. She has made contact with her primary care physician in Sherwood and will see her new oncologist in Beaverton this coming Friday.

Thanks again to all of you who keep praying, writing, calling, and/or keep mom (and all of us!) encouraged. It really means a lot to all of us!

In case you're interested, here's a couple of websites you might be interested in. The first (http://www.myteacherpages.com/webpages/TBlack1/) is my new classroom website, and the second (http://www.pps.k12.or.us/schools-c/pages/bridlemile/index.htm) is our school website at Bridlemile Elementary School.
Tim

Our Home in Sherwood

Just a quick addition to the blog today. Here are some pics of where we live in Sherwood and how we're setting up the backyard to accommodate Mom's menagerie of flowers and lawn sculptures. I've also added on a new slideshow to the right; our backyard is REALLY in bloom right now!

Shuttling Between Eugene and Sherwood

Just a quick note this week to let you all know things are moving forward with June's (that's our mom, if you don't know) preparation for her Sept. 1st move to Sherwood. Her email address will be changing to junebug421@verizon.net effective 9/1/07. The current Earthlink address will also be good until 9/13/07. Our home phone is 503-625-9128. You can call or email for a new mailing address.

We've continued to all work very hard on getting the house cleaned up and ready to sell by September 8th or so. When we get the market analysis worked up by the realtor in Eugene, we'll try to link you to it. Deb, Bill, Kathy, Sean, Hannah, Cortni, Chris, and Amanda (Chris's girlfriend) have pitched in quite a bit with organizing, packing, installing lights, replacing garage springs, staining the deck, finishing and cleaning up the garage, painting the fireplace, staining moulding and doors, removing cobwebs, answering phones, and much, much more. Sabrina and I wrapped up this week's stay with painting of the garage, touch-up paint in the rooms, repair of dryrot and staining of the decks, picking out flooring, lining up window cleaners, taking runs to the dump and Goodwill, and innumerable other odds and ends.

Mom will have another dose of chemo in Eugene next week, then we'll transfer her up to an oncologist in Beaverton and a Primary Care Physician in Sherwood. She'll be set up on a Medicare "Replacement" or "Advantage-type" plan through Providence, so we're feeling pretty good about where she'll be sitting in terms of insurance. She phases out of the COBRA insurance she had via Bi-mart as of 8/31/07. I feel like I am really ready to retire now, what with all the education I've received concerning Social Security, Medicare, supplemental programs, etc. At least going back to school and multi-tasking all of the first of the year stuff will seem pretty easy now, by comparison! Mmmm, I wonder if I've accumulated enough in my PERS account yet?

A huge THANKS to all of you who have shown your love and concern with flowers, cards, phone calls, emails, assistance with the house, visits with Mom, etc. I really believe that, aside from your prayers, these things have really lifted my mom's spirits greatly. Having moved overseas over thirteen years ago to Almaty, Kazakhstan, I think I might have an inkling (albeit a shadow of Mom's) of what it must feel like to experience so much loss all at once. This has been an intense time, since July 31st, of losing a lot of things: decent health, a home, a community of supportive and loving friends and coworkers in Eugene, the end of a long involvement with the University of Oregon's foreign exchange student program, a beautiful view of Douglas Fir trees, Japanese maples, squirrels, flowers, and even an occassional turkey or two out the window, "stuff" that holds sentimental value, and on and on. Considering all of this, it seems to me that my mother is holding up pretty well. So, please continue to hold her before God's throne, asking Him to reveal His goodness and presence to her.

Continuing Mom's Cancer, Etc. Update from Eugene

This week we've continued to prep Mom's house for an early September marketing (and hopefully early sell) of her house. She has lived here for over thirty years, so it is a difficult transition for her, on top of all the recent news about her breast cancer. The home/pest inspector has been in, and we have had several things to address like a furnace inspection, minor electrical circuit issues, and some dryrot near the base of a couple of the deck support beams. We continue to multi-task throughout the day as we address insurance issues, social security/Medicare, transitions into new supplemental programs, and lining up gutter/roof inspectors or flooring estimators. Whew....the cell phone is getting a lot of use this month! I feel like the lead contractor on a massive building project. It looks like Sept. 1st will be Mom's moving day to Sherwood, so we'd appreciate your prayers as we move ahead toward that day.

Mom had her first clinic visit to her oncologist this week, and he was actually quite positive, all things considered. He said that the lab reports and other diagnostic tools they've used indicate no "bad oncogenes" (oncogenes are cells that normally direct cell growth). He also said that she has responded well to the antibiotics and said the breast with the tumors looked "dramatically better" (in terms of the infection itself). Furthermore, Dr. Kovach also said that the cancer was probably a little less agressive than initially thought and that she would be a good candidate for hormonal therapy since she was "rich in hormone receptors." So, we take the good news when it comes, don't we?!

Today, Sabrina and Cortni took Mom out to find a wig (still expecting hair loss in another week to ten days), so that will be something to look forward to. I told her to go for a "beehive" style. She seems to have relatively minor side effects thus far (as long as we keep the Cherry Coke, Hershey Kisses, and potato bread stocked and flowing). Friends have been visiting, calling, and writing, and her spirits in general have been good up to this point.

Thanks to all of you who are sending cards, emailing, calling, supporting and encouraging us through your kind words, and praying for a myriad of things before God's throne. We really sense a supernatural energy to get a lot done in a short time, a joy in the midst of stress and emotional turmoil, and loads of lessons about being Christlike servants (Phil. 2). We have a LONG way to go, but we hope to grow through this and learn to love Mom, family members, and others more deeply through this.

It is getting late, so I'll sign off for now. Thanks to all of you around the globe--from Japan and Taiwan to Kazakhstan, to Germany, Turkey, and Norway, and throughout the U.S.--who are reading this blog and thinking and/or praying for my mother. We are so blessed to have you lifting us up!

Tim, on behalf of the family

Update on Mom

It has been a real whirlwind since my last post, but I'm pleased to say that Mom has been released from Sacred Heart Hospital in Eugene, and is now at her home in Eugene with us. The infection in her breast has been brought way down and the color is much, much better. She is on oral antibiotics and is taking something for potential nausea. She had her first dose of chemo last night, and took it pretty well, all things considered. They want to wait at least twelve weeks to do the mastectomy.

We've gotten a lot done with the medical insurance details and general clean-up around the house. A chimney sweep came today (incidentally, he's currently an understudy for King Lear in a local production, so fun to talk Shakespeare and acting with him), and in the next few days we'll try to tackle some drywall and other projects.

Throughout all of the chaos of the last week, Sabrina and I have sensed the hand of our loving and merciful Father in all of it. I feel like my brothers, sister, and I have come together in a beautiful way, not to mention support and advice from other family members and a myriad of my mom's friends down here. He's given us the grace to apply humor at just the right times (we've even joked that we should write a book entitled Supporting Your Mom Through Cancer for Dummies). So, thanks to all of you who've been praying; we really appreciate it!

In the midst of all this, I've been reminded of one of my favorite poems by William Cowper:

Light Shining in the Darkness

God moves in a mysterious way,
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill,
He treasures up His bright designs
And works His sovereign will.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take,
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy, and shall break
With blessings on your head

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence,
He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.

Blind unbelief is sure the err,
And scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain.

Wm. Cowper (1731-1800)
English poet, friend of John Newton (writer of Amazing Grace), and a guy who really struggled with depression and even suicidal thoughts


Until our next update,
Tim

Mom's Cancer

What a difference a week makes! As many of you may have heard by now, we found out on Tuesday, July 31st that my mom in Eugene has breast cancer. She noticed at work that she was feeling ill, and by late Monday or so her left breast appeared to have something that looked like a third-degree burn all over it. She went into urgent care and was immediately diagnosed with breast cancer. She has two tumors in her breast (one the size of a tennis ball). The discoloration is the result of an infection (one doctor basically said that the tumor had started to pierce the skin of the breast). They have been since treating the infection with heavy-duty antibiotics (the initial type was able to actually eat your veins), and they plan to begin chemo treatments by early this coming week (Aug. 5th or 6th, perhaps). The current plan is to have her come home, continue treatments for about twelve weeks, then do a mastectomy on the left breast.

Unfortunately, the cancer has spread to the lymphatic system, to the lungs, and one spot has been seen on the liver. This is aggressive cancer and we are on our knees before the Lord asking for strength, comfort, healing, and that His will be done. Some of you may also know that my dad in Central Oregon has been battling lung cancer since last fall, so keep him in your prayers, too!

As I learn new things in the upcoming weeks, you can return to my blog and get updated. Many of you have my number and can call for her room number at the hospital. You can reach me via email (twblack1@verizon.net) for additional information. Please pray for the following:

1. Continued healing and comfort for my mom.
2. Wisdom and sensitivity as we help her navigate the waters financially (we're learning A LOT about Medicare, insurance supplements, advance directives, etc.).
3. Energy for the final three weeks of my summer off before heading back to school (this will be prime time for helping my mother in the transition).
4. Energy and comfort for my two brothers and my sister as we work together to help Mom through this.
5. Attention to the spiritual dimension ("For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?"--words of Jesus in Mark 8:36).
6. Wisdom and sensitivity with issues related to Mom's house (our current plan is to sell her house and have her move in with us). The next few weeks will be VERY intense and many important, emotional choices will have to be made.
7. That God's Word would speak encouragement and hope into all of our lives:
"Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10)

Summer Events 2007

Our summer so far has been filled with a number of fun activities around the beautiful Northwest. In early July, Sabrina and I traveled up to Lost Lake (near Mt. Hood) to do some hiking and celebrate our 24th wedding anniversary. Earlier that month, I made a solo trek up the Top Spur trail with my faithful hound--Bahkit--and had to traverse through some snow that was still covering some of the trail. I returned a few weeks later with a friend, and we were able to make it all the way up to the McNeil Point shelter. Chris accompanied me on a three day backpack into the Three Sisters Wilderness area, hiking from the Pole Creek trailhead outside Sisters, Oregon all the way up to Camp Lake (situated in the saddle between the South and Middle Sisters). We started our summer off, though, with a brief kayak excursion in June, exploring the Willamette River just north of Newberg.

"For the Lord is the one who shaped the mountains, stirs up the winds, and reveals his thoughts to mankind. He turns the light of dawn into darkness and treads on the heights of the earth. The Lord God of Heaven's Armies is his name!" (Amos 4:13)