Clif, Emily and Lisa were all at home for Christmas and the whole family enjoyed just being together.

Laura finished her shots yesterday and begins the Coumadin today. Tomorrow she goes to the Coumadin clinic and will find out what the next steps are.

The treatment of this cancer is getting old and she's ready to eat food and taste it and to eat whatever she wants to. With the Coumadin, her diet has new restrictions. It's not just the food, though, she's just tired of all the side effects from the treatment.

Don't get me wrong. I think she's still able to enjoy some of everyday. In fact, the other night, I had a great conversation with her and we laughed a lot.

Please pray for Laura this week...

• that the blood thinners she's been on will have taken care of the clot.


• that she'll have something in every day that makes her smile -- or even better, laugh.


• that she'll have something fun to eat that actually tastes good to her.

She's a sport. She's a fighter... and she'll get through this. Seems like she needs a break, though, from the rough effects of the treatment. That's what I'm hopin' for this week.

Here's to a year ahead with lots of good news!