Tue Apr 22 09:38 EDT 1997
Weekend update: April 18-21

Briefs: Emily wins public speaking contest at her new school.
        Andrew starts little league enthusiastically.
        Miranda goes to Maryland for regional quiz meet.
        Metcalfe's Open House Celebration draws 99 guests.
        Millie Crawford diagnosed with simple cell carcinoma.

I'm going to skipp the first three and get to the Open House.  Joy
commented after the fact that we couldn't select a date that would
suit everyone's schedule.  I replied, "aren't you glad?"  Counting the
Metcalfe family, 105 people came to celebrate what the Lord has done
for us in getting our current residence.  I led tours around the house
and yard as much as I could but had to leave others to fend for themselves
and explore.  When most people had arrived, our associate Pastor, John
Reilly, has a house dedication ceremony prepared which was very well
received.  We read responsively from a bulletin and sang a hymn.  I am
sorry some of my friend missed it by coming later or leaving earlier;
and I am doubly sorry my video camera wasn't present.  It was a good stress
test for the loft, too, because now I won't worry when it shakes.  ;-)
People were amazed by the house and yard.  One said it had exceeded what
he had built up in his mind.  We are also amazed and credit God with His
generous providence.

Turning to more serious matters, my mother-in-law, Mille Crawford, has been
diagnosed with simple cell carcinoma, as we suspected last week.  She is on
hospice care now.  You only get hospice care when the medical community
says that there is nothing they can do - it is care for the dying.

The family drove to New Jersey after church Sunday afternoon.  We spoke with
Tom and Millie's first daughter, Faith, (a nurse in New York) to get an
update.  Mom is weak and finding it difficult to get comfortable.  Her
only exercize and movement from the bed is to be helped to the bathroom
and back to bed.

She received each of my children separately on Sunday because all at once
would have been too overwhelming for her.  They have a monitor set up so
that we can hear her if she needs anything.  Because of this I was privvy
to her words to my children.  Before we left on Monday, we all gathered
in her room and she hugged each one of the children and me from her horizontal
position on the bed.  I left Joy in New Jersey to assist Dad in her care.

Her prognosis gives her less than six weeks to live without chemotherapy;
several months with chemotherapy.  Mom and Dad have decided against
chemo, but are fighting the cancer with natural medications in an
attempt to cleanse her body from the cancer.  Dad's hopes are high,
expectant even, (at least in front of us and mom); a positive attitude is
essential to any possibility of healing.  On the other hand, he has also
prepared the children for the death of their grandmother, so I know
he is not nurturing false hopes.  Everyone agrees that only a miracle
will change the course of events.  We have been given the blessing
(opportunity) of being able to say goodbye.  Many people are praying
for the miracle, but especially for mercy.

Mark
  ,          Mark Metcalfe  ,d88b.d88b,  O love that will not let me go
  \_0__,    (508) 446-6451  88888888888   I rest my weary soul in Thee
    M                       `Y8888888Y'  I give Thee back the life I owe
   .|\. metcalfe@cadence.com  `Y888Y'   That in Thine ocean depths its
  Cadence Design Systems, Inc.  `Y'   flow may richer, fuller be.