Lea had a very good final day of our week long visit to the Hannibal, Missouri area, though she was overwhelmingly fatigued by the end of the day. We ended our week with a trip to the family’s property in rural northeast Missouri, near the Fabius River. The small acreage includes a four room house that was constructed in the early 1900s.

The small house, originally only two rooms, was the birthplace of Lea’s father, and the birthplace of her grandfather as well. The land was purchased by her great-grandfather in 1891, and has been passed down in the family for four generations. Lea’s father willed the land to his seven surviving children, and today it is used as a delightful retreat from the noise and dust of the city.

This weekend was particularly pleasing to us since our oldest son, Link, and his family had traveled to the area to visit with Deanna’s family in a nearby community in Illinois, and joined us at the old Homeplace for the day on Saturday. We were delighted to have another short visit with our lovely grandaughters, who are growing up all too quickly. We had over fifty of our relatives and friends join us for the day of good food, lots of conversation, and the traditional water balloon fight. I’ve included a short piece of video in which Megan gets a good soaking from Christy. As you will see, Lea just barely escaped the soaking herself!

 What a blessing this visit has been for us, as Lea prepares to undergo knee surgery this coming month! She will be going in for a stress test to see if her heart is strong enough for the surgery, and will also see a anesthesiologist to see if her lungs have recovered sufficiently for her to receive a general anesthesia. If these tests go well, we will be scheduled for surgery some time in the middle of July time frame, and will then have a minimum two month recovery. The surgeon told Lea that she should expect her recovery to be longer than most, due to her weakened physical condition. He stated that it may be as much as six months for her.

We thank you for the continued support. Thanks for your notes of encouragement, and for lifting Lea up in prayer for completion of healing for her. We lift her up daily in our prayers, and give God the glory for all the works He has done during her illness and recovery. Eph. 1:3 – Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.