QotD: The Best Part of Summer '06?

What was the highlight of your summer?

This past summer could be considered "uneventful" compared to summer of '05 when I traveled to Alaska and then one week later left for a three-week backpacking adventure through western Europe. However, I was able to travel in '06, and I would say the highlight of one of my NYC trips was walking Manhattan in a day. We started in the Bronx at 225th Street and finished 5 hours later at Battery Park.

Cancer Kids

A few months ago, I came across the website of a 5-year old boy who had cancer. I don't even remember how I found his site, probably through a prayer link at church. I followed the daily blog of this boy, Jacob, until he passed away in June. I have continued to follow his website as his mother continues to occasionally post. She is a woman of great faith, and even though she has lost one of her sons (he was a triplet), she continues to inspire me by her trust and reliance in God. A couple of weeks ago, there was a link on Jacob's site to a 9-year old girl, Christi, who has been battling cancer for the past 4 years. She passed away today.

Reading the blogs, it has been so easy for me to feel like I know these kids. It also inspires me to live every day to the fullest, knowing that the only two things that will last forever are the Word of God and the souls of men. Romans 8:38-39: For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

QotD: I Get Around (Not Really)

How many places have you lived in your life?

3 places...The house I grew up in on 66th Street (16 years), Mikele's condo in Ahwatukee (6 months), and the house I am currently living in on 61st place (10 years).

Walking Manhattan

I was in New York City for the weekend, and yesterday walked from north to south on the island of Manhattan. I had been wanting to do this for some time, and this trip finally did the walk. Lindsay Turner was also in town for the weekend, so it was Lauren, Lindsay, Jenn, Kelly (Jenn's co-worker), Brad (Lindsay's friend) and myself. We started in the Bronx at 225th Street at about 9:15am and finished at about 2pm at Battery Park. We walked through Harlem, Central Park and then 5th Avenue and Broadway. It was warm and humid, but we had lots of water and a Jamba Juice pit stop at 42nd Street. We all had a good time, and I had lots of blisters on my feet by the time we finished. After the walk we stopped at Magnolia Bakery for a cupcake, and then went back to Jenn's apartment for a much needed shower. My legs are sore today, but I would definitely be up for walking the island again sometime
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I am going to miss you, Cedric

Well, today we made the hard decision to put Cedric to sleep. We noticed in February of 2005 that he was losing weight and not eating too much. So, we took him to the vet and they said that he had kidney failure. They gave us pills to slow the progression of the disease. The pills helped until about December and then they were not enough. So, another trip to the vet and we got more pills for him as well as learned how to give him an IV of fluids twice a week. That lasted for a short while and then three weeks ago my mom noticed that he was not eating again. Back to the vet and they said that Cedric was in the final stages of kidney failure. They did an all day IV drip for him and then we took him back the next morning for a blood test to see if the all day IV helped. Unfortunately, it had not so they basically said that there was nothing more which could be done for him. I was in Hawaii for about a week after Cedric's final trip to the vet and that was very hard on me. I prepared myself there to never see Cedric again. I made it home and we talked to the vet again and he said if we did the fluids daily that would help him. We started doing that and it perked him up a little last week. However, on Monday we noticed that he had declined significantly and by yesterday he was crying whenever we touched him. He could not even walk anymore and if we put him down to get a drink of water he just fell into his dish. We knew at this time that it was time for him to go.

The hardest thing for me in letting him go is the fact that the Bible never clearly states whether or not animals will be in heaven (since they do not have the ability to accept or reject Christ). I know that in the Sermon on the Mount Jesus says "Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God." (Luke 12:6) I also know that Isaiah talks about the lion laying down with the lamb in the new heaven and new earth - my question in this is whether these are new animals or the animals that were on this earth. I was praying in Hawaii that God would give me something to answer the above question. Well, that first weekend I was home I believe that my prayers and question was answered (twice - God is amazing :) First of all, I was talking to my friend Jenn on Saturday about the above, and she made the statement that God would not create something just to let it go to nothing. Secondly, in church the next day, Pastor Scott quoted the above verse in Luke (and he was not even talking about the Sermon on the Mount!) This does give me comfort that I will see Cedric again someday, but this morning taking Cedric to the vet and seeing him die was one of the hardest things I have ever done. I miss you already, Ced.