Hello! This is Steve. We have had an eventful last couple of weeks and Sandy has not had a chance to post an update, so I volunteered.

Sandy started her third round of treatment on September 2nd (almost half way through!). The treatment went well with the dreaded frozen mitts being handled in a heroic way by Sandy. The week following was an uncomfortable one for Sandy due to periodic difficulty with nausea and other stomach related maladies. Also her legs were sore which we attribute to the injection she received on the 3rd, which encourages the production of the important white blood cells.

Katie and Blake came home for the weekend of the 6th and 7th to begin the wedding planning. But first on Saturday morning, we attended Will's cross country meet at SW High School in San Antonio. He is running on the varsity for the Boerne Champion Chargers. The Chargers won the meet with Will running a terrific race finishing 21st overall (I estimate that there were around 150 runners in the race) and 5th for the Chargers.

The afternoon was spent visiting a possible location for the wedding. We had fun traveling together and talking about the blessed event. On Sunday, Ryan joined us for lunch after church. We enjoyed the traditional Mack Sunday lunch of brisket, potato casserole and green beans. We missed having Julieanne for the lunch, but if she had been there we would not have had enough! Adding Blake to our table means that we have three growing boys (plus an old hungry one) and things just don't stretch as far.

Sandy had her treatment of herceptin on Tuesday the 9th and then on Wednesday the 10th she met with the general surgeon who will take care of the next step in the cancer battle. When Sandy is finished with her chemo treatments, the surgeon will remove the remaining tissue to be sure we have rid Sandy of any remaining cancer cells. Dr. Tramer was very thoughtful and professional, spending over an hour visiting and examining Sandy. He was very encouraging indicating that the tumor had pretty well "melted" away with the chemo treatments and that he could not even easily determine that a tumor was ever there! Thank the Lord!

On Friday I had a minor surgical procedure performed on my ailing left knee and Sandy spent the day looking after me. The knee is sore and stiff, but should improve quickly.

On Saturday, we traveled to Ingram to watch Will and the Charger CC Team easily win another meet with Will finishing 10th. He is having a good season and improving each week.

Our family is grateful for the continuing encouragement and prayers that are being offered to and for us. The Lord has been good to us during this period while we take one step at a time and resolutely march our way toward the finish. We know that God is in control and will care for us. Sandy is a beautiful example of faith. She encourages me with her trust in the Lord and confidence in his healing power.

Okay, I told you I was not very good at this yet! I'm sorry it has taken so long to get a new post up. It's been a very busy week around here. We took Julieanne to Abilene on Saturday and were there until Tuesday helping her move in and go to Passport (Freshmen Orientation). It was very hard to leave her there but I know God will take care of her and surround her with amazing friends.

We got back from Abilene on Tuesday afternoon just in time for my treatment. Will and Steve went with me this time. The treatment went well but on the way home I started feeling pretty nauseous and that continued into Wednesday morning. I'm feeling a little better today but the nausea comes and goes.

One of the side effects of chemo is the awful taste in your mouth. Everything you eat tastes like metal, that is except for iced tea. Tea tastes so good! It's the only thing that tastes normal.

I have lost nearly all of my hair now. There is still a little bit left but I have shaved it to about a quarter inch because it is so thin. The thing about losing my hair is hard not because I loved my hair but that without hair I look sick and I feel like people look at me and feel sorry for me. I don't want people to feel sorry for me. I have a God who loves me and is carrying me through this battle and fighting for me and teaching me so much!!! God is so good!!!

Thank you all for your sweet comments and especially for your prayers!! God is sustaining me because of your faithful prayers! Until next time...

"Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations." Psalm 100