802.heaven

You are living proof that miracles exist. To God b...

2012-05-05T14:46:09.834-05:00

You are living proof that miracles exist. To God be the glory! We'll be praying that God will give you many more years, hopefully chemo free!

Riva

Hey Ben, Have you read the book, "The Fault i...

2012-04-19T14:47:36.801-05:00

Hey Ben, Have you read the book, "The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green? I read it recently and it made me think about you. I feel a little bad suggesting you read a book about someone who has terminal cancer seeing as I don't have cancer and don't know at all what that's like. It doesn't say a whole bunch about hope per se, but a lot about living. And that is what really inspired me. You and your blog inspire me as well. Anyway, you can check it out if you want. If you do, I'd like to hear your thoughts. I'm praying for you guys.

Welcome to Seattle! :)

2011-12-12T20:59:51.063-06:00

Welcome to Seattle! :)

Yep, did 2700 miles. That's about 900 miles a ...

2011-12-09T16:12:37.949-06:00

Yep, did 2700 miles. That's about 900 miles a day! BTW: I also turned off the "where I'm at" Google thing because, frankly, now that the trip is over you don't really need to know "where I am at" at all times. (Trust me, it'd be fairly boring anyway)

The song in my head that keeps rolling around when...

2011-12-06T10:47:28.585-06:00

The song in my head that keeps rolling around when I think of you is:

"Good morning', America, how are you?
Say, don'tcha know me, I'm your native son?
I'm the train they call the City of New Orleans,
I'll be gone 500 miles when the day is done."

Happy training!

Love,
Mom

Difficult not to internalize his struggle...quite ...

2011-11-29T08:13:04.187-06:00

Difficult not to internalize his struggle...quite an understatement. Your ability to come to the conclusion that his fight is not your fight is part of the miracle you are living. I am reminded of my favorite JB Phillips translation of Colossians 1:27 "...And the secret is simply this: Christ in you! Yes, Christ in you, bringing with him the hope of all the glorious things to come." You are a gift to us as well. Thank you for sharing your journey in a way that teaches us who God is as much as who you are. We do love you.

Thanks for posting this. My first inclination on r...

2011-11-28T14:37:57.141-06:00

Thanks for posting this. My first inclination on reading about Andrew was to go throw up. (I didn't) Your reminder is so good. Your fight is not Andrew's or mine or anyone else's. We all need to live the lives God has given us. Thanks for helping to give my soul some peace.

Love,
Mom

We are thankful for you as well! Praying that both...

2011-11-23T07:13:31.777-06:00

We are thankful for you as well! Praying that both of you will have a Thanksgiving full of love for each other...and that bird! Poor Nikko...must wonder what that turkey did to deserve such a day! Love you both!

Hey, if you're grilling ponies, I'm not su...

2011-11-17T21:19:27.813-06:00

Hey, if you're grilling ponies, I'm not sure I want you at my house! Ky is often confused with the equine species....

You're grilling ponies now?

2011-11-17T20:37:01.763-06:00

You're grilling ponies now?

I am going to my bible study tonight, and you are ...

2011-11-15T18:14:38.736-06:00

I am going to my bible study tonight, and you are on all of our prayer lists.

Hit up the link towards the bottom that says help....

2011-11-12T10:15:28.266-06:00

Hit up the link towards the bottom that says help. Plus there is a link up at the top that says Help!

Thanks.

I an definately in. Let me know how to do this to ...

2011-11-11T23:38:52.631-06:00

I an definately in. Let me know how to do this to make sure you are credited.

Right. I can work and get health insurance, or I c...

2011-11-11T15:54:41.709-06:00

Right. I can work and get health insurance, or I can collect disability and get health insurance. For Anthem there is no "mixed" territory there.

I went on short term disability with OC's insurance when I first got sick. That ran out after a year, and I am currently on long-term with OC's disability insurance. That is the disability that is letting me work 10 hours a week and stay on disability. (The "Get back to work" program or something like that.) It's what made Anthem decide I was "working" and not "disabled".

But if you could somehow work 30 hrs, while Anthem...

2011-11-11T14:55:34.410-06:00

But if you could somehow work 30 hrs, while Anthem might again consider you an employee, Disability would drop you, right? In which case, you probably wouldn't get the caliber of care to which we've become accustomed... Right?

Basically, you were getting income form Disability, and insurance from OC?

What about OC's Short Term Disability and/or Long Term Disability Insurance? What medical coverage is expected when one uses those insurance safety nets?

Beautiful...and such good practice for Thanksgivin...

2011-11-07T14:40:03.845-06:00

Beautiful...and such good practice for Thanksgivings to come!

How many times can I plus you???

2011-11-05T18:17:02.219-05:00

How many times can I plus you???

This week I was touched by John 11 and the story o...

2011-11-02T11:32:25.318-05:00

This week I was touched by John 11 and the story of Lazarus. When chapter 11 opens, it's clear that Martha, Mary and Lazarus are very close friends of the Lord. When they send word that L. is sick, their anticipation is that Jesus will drop what He is doing and come and heal him(or maybe just heal him from a distance--it'd happened before). Jesus tells his disciples that the purpose of L.'s sickness is the glory of God and that He would be gloried by it. What struck me is verse 5, "Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus." So, Jesus allows some of His closest friends to endure grueling pain for His glory. He trusted His closest friends to remain true to Him in spite of the hurt they were going to feel. What was overwhelming to me was the privilege we have been given to be allowed to go through what we are going through. Jesus knows we will stay true to Him. It's the kind of honor that makes me fall on my face, feeling very unworthy.

Love,
Mom

Ben - after going through my very short stint with...

2011-11-02T09:24:49.353-05:00

Ben - after going through my very short stint with cancer, nothing like what you've gone through, this is very touching and to the point. You are an inspiration to me and I so love your openness about your battle. I know for me that I don't put everything out there, so I'm sure you and Lisa also keep some of your "bumps in the road" private. Keep fighting the battle, Ben - you both are in my prayers daily. Much love, Holly Campbell

my sister loves the library down there!

2011-11-01T18:45:39.963-05:00

my sister loves the library down there!

Thanks for the nod at the end. I've come to th...

2011-11-01T11:28:46.377-05:00

Thanks for the nod at the end. I've come to the end of October feeling rather left out. Glad you're settled in, though.

Customer service can make such an amazing differen...

2011-10-27T10:56:25.642-05:00

Customer service can make such an amazing difference. I really do think this is an area in which our country has fallen flat on its face. Good to hear there are some shining stars out there.

Words cannot express my thanks to the Lord for mov...

2011-10-26T11:11:49.710-05:00

Words cannot express my thanks to the Lord for moving you so much closer to MDA. What a joy!

Thanks for taking good care of Dad!

Burn, baby, burn!!! Loved the great report. And ...

2011-10-15T07:06:12.026-05:00

Burn, baby, burn!!! Loved the great report. And we're looking forward to MANY more down the road.

I've never seen more superstitious people than...

2011-10-08T01:19:32.125-05:00

I've never seen more superstitious people than group of highly educated and intelligent men sitting around a table of dice. People that deal with numbers and logic for a living are suddenly reduced to comments like "This one's cursed, hand me that green one" and "This is my night, I just can't roll a low number". I have no idea why.