Hello Everyone. Spring is finally coming to Chicago! We've had weather in the 50's and even 60's this week. I know for some of you in warmer climates, you'll find that funny.

We had a wonderful weekend with Josephine and at church celebrating Easter. As for Scott, things are generally the same as I described in the last update -- stable. That's good. If you didn't get the last update, here's a reminder that you can check recent and past updates anytime on http://scooterscoop.blogspot.com.

Scott and I keep marveling at how God has brought us through this last year of battling brain cancer. We are so grateful for all the ways God continues to fill us with hope and joy and how he has used all of you. Scott wants me to tell you that he feels the Lord is still with us and loving us. He also wants to remind you that even from the beginning he has believed the spirit of God has more for him to do. He knows it in his heart and feels God's love. It is because of this that we have found a way to laugh at some of the other difficulties in life that might otherwise be very upsetting.

I'm going to share a few of these recent things with you so you can keep them in your thoughts and prayers. We aren't going to allow these new challenges to destroy us, not after all we've been through and still come out hopeful. That's how we've decided to look at them.

At 3AM Monday morning the fire department was pounding on our front door. Before I reached the door I saw the glowing red flames and smoke from outside our window. A car parked out front was a blazing ball of fire. I could see the car wasn't ours but then I saw our mini-van parked directly behind it and it had caught fire too! The entire front end was a mangled mess, it was destroyed. Firefighters had to rip the front open and smash the windows to make sure all the fire had been put out. Police suspect it was the work of gang bangers. Fortunately, no one's house caught fire and no one was injured. That's the most important part. The mini-van was on loan to us from Scott's parents and was about 12 years old. It was a great car but the insurance value will be very little. Mostly, Quinn used the mini-van while taking care of Josephine. I've really relied on her help to run errands and grocery shop as well as get Josephine around to activities. We have another car but it always needs to be available so I can get Scott where he needs to go, especially in an emergency. If anyone knows someone getting rid of or selling a cheap used car that's very safe (since it carries children) let us know. This might even be a blessing in disguise. Maybe the car was on it's last leg and then it wouldn't be worth anything. So now, it has some replacement value even if it's small.
Here's what the van looks like:


Also this week, the city Department of Waste Management came by to fix a broken sewer pipe in front of our house. Over the last 6 months we've had the nauseating smell of sewer waste in our house. No sewage back up, just sewer gases - P U! It's been extreme at times and quite a mystery even to sewer contractors and inspectors. We think, hope, and pray that when they dig up the street tomorrow and fix the broken pipe it will solve our stinky problem. Finally, a solution may come -Hooray!!

The last two things to keep in prayer are toes and legs. The legs are mine and I need them to take care of Scott and Josephine. I'm again having a very painful experience with varicose veins due to the pregnancy. This happened with my first pregnancy and resulted in a blood clot in one of my legs. I had two surgeries to strip the veins in both legs and the doctor told me there was only a 2% chance of the having problems in a future pregnancy. Well. The only thing that can be done now is to wear compression stockings every day all day but it's still not enough. Next is toes. Scott has had a toe infection that hasn't gone away for three weeks. He's already on his second course of antibiotics but it doesn't seem to be helping either. The whole thing is really a pain in the toe for him. Seriously, it is frustrating.

See, now there really is something ridiculous, almost humorous about all these other unusual things going on. We haven't come this far with joy in our hearts to be destroyed by things like this and we won't.

Thanks for laughing with and loving us. We love you too.

Michele and Scott Gray