A Little Tuesday Christmas Cheer

Amazing Grace Techno - Computer Controlled Christmas Lights from Richard Holdman on Vimeo.

Anna's Hope

When I was a freshman in college, I was blessed with a happy coincidence. Across the room from my dorm room was a delightful 19-year-old girl, Laura, who was an exchange student from Wheaton College in Illinois. Laura and I quickly became friends and spent many hours talking in her room while we were supposed to be studying. After that semester, Laura returned to Illinois, I went my way, but we kept in touch. A little spotty, but we did our best.

Fast forward twenty or so years. By now, Laura and her husband, Bob, have four kids and are settled in Illinois. I live in California with husband Steve and our four kids. Laura and I still stay in touch though but now it's only through Christmas cards.

Then, in 2002, I received a Christmas card from Laura that stilled my heart.

The previous summer, Laura's eldest daughter--Anna, aged 17--returned from a two-week mission trip to Dominican Republic.



While overseas, Anna had lost some weight and now noticed a funny bump on her abdomen, on the right just below the rib cage. She has no discomfort and no symptoms; just a funny stomach. Her grandfather, a doctor, looked at it and quickly realized that they were dealing with something serious. The lump was quite large and appeared to be associated with the liver. Within days, Anna's lump was biopsied. She was diagnosed with Stage IV, high risk Neuroblastoma, just prior to her senior year of high school.

Anna has been in treatment for over six years. This cancer, common to very young children, originates in the sympathetic nervous system but quickly metastasizes to other organs in the body. Anna has lesions on the bones of her right arm, legs and hips and throughout her abdomen and lungs. Since then, Anna has endured multiple rounds of chemotherapy, major surgery to remove the primary abdominal tumor, many rounds of radiation and has participated in numerous clinical trials. She has been unable to rid her body of this disease, yet has been able to remain relatively stable for the past several years.

Even with all of the treatments, Anna graduated from Wheaton College in May, 2007, majoring in Psychology and minoring in Mathematics. In the summer of 2007, Anna’s disease began to progress, spreading throughout her abdomen and chest, eventually showing some positive response to the Thalidomide and Temazolomide regimen. She is continuing on this oral treatment and and has started a foundation to benefit research for a cure for neuroblastoma called “Anna’s hope.”




Last week, Anna spoke at Wheaton College Chapel about her story. You can listen to it here.



Anna is a gifted speaker and has shared her journey many times on TV, radio, and at events. It's her hope to raise money for Neuroblastoma research so that these many children can win their battle against this disease. Funding for neuroblastoma is pitifully poor, especially compared to other forms of cancer.

Of course, all of Anna's friends are hoping and praying for a cure. I've prayed for her nearly every morning since I learned of her diagnosis. If you'd like to know more about the amazing Anna and her remarkable, wonderfully supportive family, check out her website here.

And please join me in praying daily for Anna's full recovery. Her parents believe that she is a living testament to God's unfailing love. "Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God'" (Mark 10:27).

A Little Christmas Spirit

Roses in Oregon!

If you're a college football fan, have you caught this student-created You Tube video? "I Love My Ducks!" And Eugene really does love its Ducks. This clip has had over 300,000 viewings and stirred a buzz in the Oregon media.



So now the Ducks are on their way to the Rose Bowl! Last night's U of O vs. OSU was an incredible game to watch--neck and neck all the way to the end. Even though OSU lost, all of Oregon won. We're pretty sure the entire state took the day off yesterday, preparing for the Civil War.

Go Ducks!

The Instrument of Your Heart

This is an inspiring story about guitarist Jon Abel. Love his perspective!

Rave Review Recipe

Have you eaten a wonderful dish at a potluck, or have you received “rave reviews” over something you've served?

I've been preparing this dish for various occasions (mostly brunches) during the past umpteen years. It is an easy entertaining dish since you put it together the night before and refrigerate it. Feel free to substitute turkey or sausage for the
ham. To make a vegetarian version, leave out the ham and use mushrooms or spinach instead. To make a smaller amount, you can cut the ingredients in half and use a 9x9-inch baking pan.

Makes: 10 – 12 servings

8 to 10 slices of white bread, crusts trimmed
4 cups cheddar cheese, grated
2 cups ham, cubed
2 Tblsp. minced onion (Can use dehydrated onions)
1 Tblsp. flour
8 to 10 large eggs
3 cups milk
2 Tblsp. prepared mustard (Dijon or your favorite)
Garlic salt, to taste
A little white pepper, if desired

1. Spray a 9 x 13-inch baking pan with Pam. Cut the trimmed bread into
cubes. Spread evenly in the bottom of prepared pan.

2. Assemble by sprinkling in order:
• Layer the cheese over bread cubes
• Layer the ham over cheese
• Layer the onion over ham
• Sprinkle the flour over onion

3. In a bowl, beat to combine the eggs, milk, mustard, garlic salt and white
pepper. Pour over the layered ingredients. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

4. The next day, preheat the oven to 350º F. Bake, uncovered, for 60 minutes.
It will come out of the oven like a puffy egg dish. Serve hot or warm.

The Choice is Here!

The Choice arrived yesterday afternoon! Two big cartons, straight from the printer. It will take some time to find its way into stores...but the book looks so beautiful! Front and back! (And my son still wants to date that cover model.)

It's such an amazing feeling to think that a story started in my laundry room...in my TINY laundry room...where the computer is squeezed into a corner.

The manuscript gets sent off to the editor, comes back for edits, goes back again, then off to the project editor for more proofreading and edits...back and forth a couple of times as galleys, then proofs. Meanwhile, the graphic artists have created a gorgeous cover. The marketing and sales team have worked their magic to start an industry buzz...

Then voila! The doorbell rings and the UPS guy is standing at my door in his brown shorts. By his side is a dolly filled with boxes! And back that story comes, just a few feet away from that laundry room.

It never gets old, that feeling!

Conversations with Dad

My cousin Bill brought my folks over on Thanksgiving Day. I think it was the first time Dad didn't recognize me. Usually I can see recognition in his eyes, but not that day. Could have been there was just too much going on--we had a crowd. Regardless, it's my own fault--I haven't seen him in a number of weeks.

Sad to see how much he continues to decline. That little sparkle is gone--he had such a fun personality--but now he is increasingly "vacant." There but not there.

One funny moment: On Wednesday, I spent considerable time hunting for the ingredients for creamed onions, Dad's Thanksgiving favorite. You know what stores are like the day before Thanksgiving...crowded! Finally, I decided to make them from scratch. Everyone loved them! My sister said they were the best creamed onions she ever had.

Dad had one helping of the meal, then we took him back to the kitchen for another helping. I spooned them out for him and he shook his head vehemently. "Dad, I worked so hard on these! Are you telling me you don't want any?"

"No!" he said. "Don't like 'em."

You have to laugh!

Well, I mentioned the creamed onions story on Facebook and it turns out quite a few people like creamed onions! So not only do I apologize for bashing creamed onions, but I am going to provide the recipe I used:



Prepare steamed onions (I used a bag of frozen pearl onions and followed directions to steam them off the bag.)

Make one cup white sauce. (Melt two tablespooons butter. Add 1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons flour and blend over low heat for 3-5 minutes. Stir in 1 cup of milk slowly. It will thicken and smooth out. Season to taste.)

Cover onions with white sauce and cook for one minute. Add 1/4 cup chopped parsley, a dash of cloves, 1/4 teaspoon paprika. Enjoy!