Conversations with Joel

The funny thing about Joel these days is 75% of his conversation consists of the following two phrases: "Huh?" and "How you know?". This can be very frustrating but also highly amusing.

Joel spots me with a box of cheezits and holds out his hand for one
me (handing him one): "They're spicy."
Joel: "How you know?"
me: "Because I ate one."
Joel: "Huh?"

Today however my favorite conversation went something like this:

Joel: "Going to the beach?"
me: "Yes."
Joel: "Can I go too?"
me: "Yup."
Joel: "What's a beach?"
me: "It's um...sand and water."
Joel misinterprets this as being sand IN water and babbles something about getting the water dirty.
Joel: "Can you swim it?"
me: "Yes, you can swim in it."
Joel: "Will you swim too?"
me: "Yes."
Joel (thinking of the pool in our backyard): "Is there a ladder at the beach?"
me: "No there's no ladder you can just walk into it."
Joel: "Huh??"

Overheard at CI....

"Scare the womens every day!"


"If you make the princess in the story named Miss Megan she will like it and loosen up so you can finish it."


"I have all that stuff you guys do at home because I went to Big Sandy!"

July 17 update

On July 3rd we saw the oncologist for the report on Donard’s latest tests. All previous areas of cancer had grown since the former tests in November, and there is additional new growth in the lungs. Most discouraging was that cancer has reappeared where it had been removed in February (along with 2 vertebrae and part of a rib) during surgery to protect the spinal cord from disease in that area.

We were told that the recent cough is likely caused by increased disease, as well as the discomfort and pain in his back that we had blamed on slow recovery from surgery. The slight improvement in stamina was short-lived. After being up a couple hours, his back has reached its limit, and he goes back to bed to rest and sleep. The past year has been a long, discouraging exercise in futility to control pain and slow and/or conquer growth and spread of cancer. Donard has decided against further chemotherapy and plans to once again try non-traditional, natural therapies to continue his battle. Eleven years ago the surgeon gave a grim report after his first cancer surgery, but God had another plan. The future has always been and remains in the hands of the Master, and we know He will never leave us or forsake us. Thank you for your continued prayers on our behalf.

Rose Ann for the family.