Dear Marlowe: You are right, this message from Larry is wonderful and I do thank you for including us in this journey. It is amazing that Lea has really survived. I guess our Medical care is better than I have sometimes thought, or is it truely the power of prayer? I am sure it is both, Right?

Is Larry a minister or just a marvelous deep thinking man who has the ability to communicate so beautifully? Hope you and Dean or well and happy. Thanks again

FROM: Connie
Oct 7 @ 10:38 AM

Hey Larry,
I haven’t had the opportunity to meet you, but have worked at Irwin w/ Lea
for a long time, although I am on the production side as Branch Manager
of the Irwin West Office, I may have met you at some of the Christmas
Parties over the years, but time does fly.

I have sent a couple of e/m cards through the hospital, hope you received
them. I just wanted to take a moment and tell you how amazed I am at your
strength through all of this, what a wonderful person you have to be. I was
so surprised to hear of Lea’s illness.

You just tell her to hang in there (both of you), as you have said so many times, God will take care of you. I too have had my tummy opened 2 times and those scars will heal, not you will never be the same, but you can cover it up and be thankful you are able to see it every day. God Bless all of you, I w/ continue to keep you in my prayers. You don’t have to add me to your list, as Melinda
keeps me posted w/ some others at Irwin.

You have a blessed day and I trust that Lea will be able to come home for
the pretty fall colors.

FROM: Phil
Oct 7@ 2:26 PM

Larry,

I’m grateful for the good news about Lea. This is what we all have wanted and have been blessed to receive. Of course, I will be praying with you that this will only continue. I’m sure you are ecstatic!

I was thinking this morning that your experiences in this incredible episode could make an interesting and inspirational book (as if you didn’t have enough to do already).

Do take care. Thanks for sending the updates.

FROM: Jacqui
Oct 7 @ 5:37 PM

Dear Larry & Lea -

This is wonderful news! God truly is a gracious and merciful God – isn’t He?! Lea – good job – you’ve worked so hard to get where you are and Larry has been right by your side. That is fantastic! It is great to see God’s Word come to pass – “if two believe together as touching anything on earth, it shall be done”. (Unfortunately – that is paraphrased – not a direct quote as I don’t have my resources with me and I don’t think I’ve memorized it exactly.) I now get to believe with my brother for healing. He was just recently diagnosed with bone and lung cancer. I look forward to seeing Him work mightily again. Have a fantastic weekend!!

FROM: Marlowe
Oct 7 @ 8:49 PM

Dear Larry and Lea,

This latest update is the best ever; not only the good news of Lea’s progress, but Larry’s incredibly eloquent and insightful reflections. Your insights remind me of what Dean’s stepsister Kathleen wrote to me as she was dying of cancer many years ago: that it is not the suffering itself, but one’s attitude and reaction towards that suffering, which can be transformative. Also, that one’s individual suffering can serve as an opportunity for others to reach out to the victim, and thus bring the community together in compassion and love. Along those lines, I am sharing another gem from my daily e-mail meditation.

“The next moment is as much beyond our grasp, and as much in God’s care, as that a hundred years away. Care for the next minute is as foolish as care for a day in the next thousand years. In neither can we do anything, in both God is doing everything.” – C. S. Lewis

(And yet there are “now moments” which call upon us to do something to prepare for the future. The key is to live in the present, remember the past, and prepare for the future.) Thanks so much, Larry, for sharing your wisdom with others.