Well, it's been awhile again!  But here we are - still together, abundantly thankful for each day.  This is a picture from the trip we took East a few years ago - a reminder of all the yesterdays we can be forever grateful for!!
Thought a post just before Thanksgiving would be completely appropriate, since we can always find something to be thankful for!

The past few months have had there challenges, but with hard days comes abundant appreciation for the good days.  Wayne started a new treatment in London, every 6 weeks. [I should clarify, this is a treatment to try and slow down/ break down the cancer in the bones.  All the treatments they have tried to slow the actual prostate source have been unsuccessful, so no further treatment that way - just trying to treat/control symptoms and further spread] The first couple treatments were very hard on Wayne, but with the addition of a new medication to help control the symptoms, he is tolerating the treatments much better. [A huge thank you to Dr. Huff!!]  There was concern the treatments weren't helping, but after some blood work today, it seems the treatment has started to do what it is supposed to - so he can continue on with them!  We are so thankful for this, the opportunity to still be in some form of treatment is reassuring.

We have been extremely thankful that Wayne has been feeling pretty good the last month.  Mornings and evenings are still slow, but he is able to putter around here during the day - and that helps us all feel a little 'normal'.  We were able to enjoy some outings with our children and friends this summer, and he has been able to make it to make it to church a few times, and even to the arena this fall to watch Brian - more to be thankful for!

This is such a broken world, and we have been reminded of it lately as we have had some others close to us receive difficult diagnosis' and walk hard journeys with their families.  We cry for them and wonder why, just as we can still question our own path.  We don't have the answers, but we do have Faith [another thing to be thankful for, for without it we could not stand].  We move forward each day with Trust and Hope.  We pray for them and for us, and we know when the days come that it is hard to pray - there are others out there praying for us, and we are forever grateful for that.

So thank you all again, for your ongoing love, support and prayers.  Know that we are doing good and be thankful with us for the gift of time.
We wish each and every one of you a wonderful Thanksgiving together.

Take a close look and you will see our families first initials, woven so beautifully together! Our own personal "family crest", created for us by our very talented cousin [plug in here for Amy Burrows and her graphic design business - Innisfree Design]! Hopefully this will one day be crafted out of metal and hanging over our fireplace!

It's been a few months since we've done a blog, and of course there's been some happenings.  In February Wayne's PSA began to climb again, he had all the bone and CT scans repeated the end of March, and back to see the oncologist yesterday for bloodwork and results.  After some delay in getting results, we received the call late yesterday afternoon that his PSA has gone up more, and there is a new area of concern behind the sternum.  Well, I'm not going to lie, that rocked us.  The Dr. is quite concerned, as are we.  She is scheduling him for a biopsy of the new area, as well she has sent in a referral to London for another opinion.  These will hopefully happen this month. 
After processing this last night [shout out here to thank my work family for covering my shift last night - we needed that!], we are pushing forward, trying to hard to stay positive, and praying hard.

Wayne continues to have his good and bad days, but generally has been doing ok.  Mornings are still a little slow, but he is sleeping better [shout out here to essential oils!], we have again tweaked his diet - and he feels good with that.  He is able to putter around here during the day, doing little projects that's he's been wanting to do [even got the stone on our fireplace surround this winter!] Generally we are actually really enjoying our "early retirement" together, and so thankful for the opportunity to have this time with each other and our family. Speaking of which, our children are doing well.  Jessica is pushing through her last semesters at college, hard to believe she will be completely done in August, and will be starting her full time job as an Architectural Technician in September!  Vanessa is finishing up her 2nd semester in her Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and has been enjoying her program - it has been so wonderful to see our girls flourish and enjoy their schooling/career choices.  Vanessa was even hired as a fulltime student nurse for the summer at the hospital here -  an amazing opportunity for her to get some excellent practical experience [and make some money for next year]!  Brian is done hockey and missing that, but has been enjoying a little more free time! He is looking forward to warmer days, atv rides, paint balling, soccer, camping . . .

So here we are again, finding joy and thankfulness in our every day moments  -  just 'being' in each others, and our Heavenly Father's, presence.

We just wanted to put a quick note out letting you all know how things went with the latest CT/ bone scans and blood work.  We know there have been many thoughts and prayers for positive results.  Well, we are happy to report that there were some positives - Wayne's PSA has dropped a little, and his scans all show no further change [the areas of cancer
are still there, but no new sites were seen!].  This was an enormous relief for us, definitely answer to prayers!  The Dr. is still keeping a close eye on things, and will be doing repeat blood work and appointment early February.  In the mean time we will enjoy this little breather!

Thank you all, once again, with love - Wayne and Brenda