“A Very Special Update on My Karen” December 9th, 2015

Before I share with you the latest update on Karen, please allow me the opportunity to briefly reflect on these very special days to us. Friday is our wedding anniversary. We were married in between semesters at Bible College.  Forty-four years ago tomorrow I discovered a handwritten note in my student mailbox from the Practical Bible Training School Theology Professor Dr. Floyd Barackman. It simply said, “Michael, please report to my office immediately.”  I knew that our mid-term exam for his class would take place Friday morning. My car would be packed and as soon as I completed the exam I would head for Western New York for our wedding rehearsal and then the next day I would marry my sweetheart.

The note sounded ominous. With my sense of imagination I reviewed rapid fire everything I did for the prior week. I couldn’t think of any college rules that I had broken. I didn’t think I offended anyone. I thought the worst. What could Dr. Barackman want with me? I was frankly quite terrified.

The note used the word “immediately” as to when I was should report to his office. I remember showing the note to a couple of the guys who were checking their mailboxes at the same time. “What did you do Mike?” was the typical question. That surely didn’t calm my fears. I had a few minutes right then so with sweaty palms I headed to his office.

As I arrived Dr. Barackman looked up from his desk and the stack of papers through which he was working.  With a smile on his face he motioned for me to come in.

“I’ll be brief Michael” he said. “I understand that you are getting married this weekend.” Before I could manage much more than a nod of my head, Dr. Barackman continued, “I’ve checked the schedule and see that you have no other mid-terms other than mine on Friday morning. You’ve been do so well that I don’t want to spoil your grades. Your mind will not be on my exam. It will be on Karen. So Michael, I am waiving your exam. Get your car packed and go home today. I will see you after the Christmas break. Go on. Your exam is waived.”

With that I shook that dear man’s hand so vigorously that I probably nearly dislocated his shoulder. He was right. I tried to be prepared for each of the mid-terms. I studied and tried to concentrate. But my mind was on my Karen. With joy I dropped my quarters into the pay phone in the lobby of the men’s dorm. I know that this really dates me. Most folks reading this post have never used a pay phone! I shouted the good news to Karen and said, “I will be home in about five hours. I love you Honey. My Friday exam is waived.” With that I was on the way home a day early.

We’ve been enjoying unseasonably mild weather the last few days in Northeast Ohio. Forty-four years ago it was so warm in Batavia, New York that most of the men didn’t wear coats and the ladies wore sweaters or light coats to our evening wedding. After a two day Honeymoon to Niagara Falls we headed back to our little apartment in Johnson City. The next day the unseasonably mild weather was gone and we were snowed in with heavy snow that gripped the area.

My mind has been on Karen for a long time. My mind has also been on the Lord, our children, our grandchildren, our ministry partners, and now on you dear folks who are traveling on our journey with cancer. What a journey it is and how thankful we are that you are walking with us.

I am so glad to report to you that Karen’s better days have come earlier this cycle. She has done a little Christmas shopping by herself. She seems to have more energy and a better appetite than usual. Whenever Karen is having a good day, I am having a great day. Karen goes in for lab work tomorrow. On Friday she sees her oncologist and then has her next round of chemotherapy. Please pray that the chemo will smash the mass. Her next scan is January 5th. I will update you folks before then. Thank you so very much for your prayers, friendship, and partnership. We love and appreciate each of you.