Prayer Request

I just posted a new blog before this one, but this one is much more important. Our family needs more prayers. First of all, my uncle's wife, Leah, has been battling an unknown infection and other associated problems. She still needs a lot of thoughts and prayers as the doctor's continue to figure out what is going on. My cousin Tom, who lives alone in Austin, Texas, lost the sight in his right eye several weeks ago. Further testing has revealed a tumor on his right optic nerve that will require surgery on Wednesday of this week. It will be a major surgery, removing part of his scull, and removing the optic nerve. (I think.) He will be in ICU after the surgery. We also ask for your prayers for Rebecca's brother, Brian, and his family, as he does what our country asks of him in Afghanistan.

When it rains it pours. But, as I have said many times, we cannot do this without each of you and the thoughts and prayers you have continued to offer up for us. We pray simply for peace, guidance, and comfort. Thank you again to each of you.

Remember everyday to put one foot in front of the other, drink a lot of water, and don't forget to breath................

It takes a village......

I am noticing things more these days. Or at least I am paying more attention, escpecially to things spiritual. The things God wants to show me. I don't know if it's the cancer, or just getting older. Probably a combination of the two. But I noticed something this Easter weekend. Rebecca's brother is in the Army and was sent to Afghanistan last week. His wife and 19 month old came down and stayed with us over the weekend for Easter. On Saturday, she and Rebecca left me with Nathaniel while they went to run some errands. I know some of you are shocked, but really, I can babysit! We had a pretty good battle of wills after mom left, but once he realized he wasn't going to win with me he was great. At one point he fell asleep and I thought about the saying, it takes a village to raise a child. And it got me to thinking about my childhood.

It takes a village to raise a child. I know we don't live in villages here, but I really think that it still applies to us today. At least as I look back on my childhood, it applied to me. As a parent now, I realized Rebecca and I are very careful who we allow our children to be around. (It may also have something to do with what we do for a living too!) But we associate with adults who are like minded, have the same values, and raise their children much the way we do. We don't allow our kids to spend the night with a family we aren't familiar with or who do things drastically different than we do. We spend our time with others who have the same values and belief system we do. The people who watch our kids know that they have the right to discipline them when necessary, but we also trust them to teach them the same values we do. I also hope that our kids will feel comfortable talking to them if they need to.

As I look back on my childhood I realize there are many people who have influenced my life and helped me become the man I am today. I understand that my parents had the same values, outlook, and attitudes that Rebecca and I do when it came to the people I was around. Being a preachers kid who moved a lot, there were a lot of people. Not to mention the coach's, teachers and others who influenced me. And as I look back I grasp the value of my parents wisdom in who they allowed me to spend time with better than ever. I guess, like many other times in my life, it took this weekend with Nathaniel for me to really get it.

I am going to do something I try not to do very often. I am going to name names. I don't, not because I don't want to, but because I am always afraid I will leave someone out. So if I do I am sorry. As I stated, there have been many. Jim and Mary Morrison, Rob and Kathy Gandy, Doyle and Faye Jackson, Ken and Laura Lovett, Janice Ogden, Mike Lewis and the list goes on. But there are two in particular that I want to thank. Gene and Katie Reeves. You have to understand. Their son, and my best friend Shawn, spent more time together growing up than any of us can remember. When we lived in Ada, Oklahoma we were together every chance we got. I spent hours and hours at their house and with their family. And I realized this weekend a big part of who I am today is because of Gene and Katie. They taught me about work ethic, honesty, commitment, and more importantly love and the value of family. Gene taught me what it meant to be a man who loves God and takes care of his family. Katie taught me the value of that family, and just like my mother, how a wife is supposed to be. I will never forget the love and acceptance I always felt there. Shawn and I did a lot of things wrong and got in trouble, but I always knew they loved me no matter what. I could go on for hours but I won't. But I want them to know I now realize what a huge part they played in my life. Much of the fight that I have right now to fight the cancer, and the commitment to never give up, came from them. Gene and Katie, thank you. I love you guys.

And it's not just them. It is everyone who has touched my life through the years that gives me the strength to fight each and everyday. It truly takes a village to raise a child, and for all of my villagers, thank you. I am here today because of each of you.

Remember everyday to put one foot in front of the other, drink a lot of water, and don't forget to breath.....................

Random Pictures

Spring Time

Well again it has been a while, I know. I go through "moods" I guess, one may call it a time of speechlessness. Bottom line, I haven't felt much like writing. The mood hit this morning, even though I really don't have a lot to say! Things are good at the Wileman's house. I got to see my new nephew a few weekends ago. My brother Jared and his wife Lindsay have a new baby boy, Parker Thomas Wileman, who is the cutest kid in the world! My brother, sister and I and all of the grandkids were at Grams and Papa's house a few weekends ago and it was great to be together. We have been doing a lot of spring cleaning and working in the yard a last few weeks. The garden we built is doing great. (I included some pictures of it and the "herb table" we built.) It has been a far more enjoyable than I ever imagined. It is very fun and rewarding to build something, plant things, and watch them grow as we try our best to take care of them. We have redone all of the flower beds and I have worked on the grass that still doesn't want to cooperate. Rebecca and I spent the entire day working outside yesterday. It's our "escape", therapy, and quality time together and we love it. Even though I will spend the rest of today on the couch in pain, it is well worth it. The picture of us, by the way, is at the Houston Astro's game from the last trip we made down there.

For any who may not have heard, our last trip to Houston was just a meeting with the doctor to discuss the next step. They are sending me to Nashville to Tennessee Oncology. The gist of it is we are running out of options. The doctors in Houston feel the next best step is to try a new drug that is not FDA approved, but is available for compassion cases. (Those like me who are stage 4 and nothing else is working.) The drug is specifically designed to target melanoma with the BRAF mutation that I have. It show's good results initially but from what we have read for most people the cancer comes back and comes back worse than before. The doctors in Houston even warned us about it while we were there last time. So we have an appointment on May 2nd in Nashville. It isn't a guarantee that we will get on the drug. The doctor in Nashville will make that decision after our meeting. So we push on. I think the worst part of this for Rebecca and I is the unknown. Not to mention we aren't excited about starting over with a new doctor, new place, new drive, new hospital, new everything medically. I am definitely being removed from my comfort zone in Houston. We won't go back to there unless this drug doesn't work and the doctor's in Nashville can't help us anymore. So, Nashville here we come.

I am feeling ok. I still have issues from the side effects caused by the chemo. We have had a lot problems with my incision from the last surgery. The glue and tape they use to close it up doesn't like my body. Part of the incision opened back up after surgery and we have been having to baby it to get it to close. More wound care, dressings, gauze pads and time caring for it. You would think that we would be used to it by now! I have such a great wife who does a great job caring for my wounds. I am trying to do more physically to get some strength back. I am getting there slowly but have to be careful not to over do it. The kids are doing good, looking forward to the end of school and summer time. Rebecca is well and still putting up with me, thank goodness! We are getting ready for Easter weekend and time with Rebecca's family. That's all for now. We wish everyone a great Easter weekend and hope you all can spend time with family and friends. That is after all, what really matters.

Remember everyday to put one foot in front of the other, drink a lot of water and don't forget to breath......................