Blurbs from the Erbs

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Update on My Dad

Today's surgery to remove my Dad's kidney was successful and completed without any complications. The recovery room was a little rough as coming back from the anesthesia proved to be a little difficult for him. Though he is in quite a bit of pain, we are all thankful for God's grace and mercy. Thank you for your prayers and please continue to pray for a speedy recovery.

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Graduation

Graduation festivities began this week with a reception for the graduates and their families at the seminary president's house. Here we are with Dr. Al and Mary Mohler.

Dr. Mohler's basement library is impressive to say the least, somewhere near 30,000 volumes. Jason and Little G are sitting in front of Dr. Mohler's desk. Little G has really picked up on how to "cheese" for the camera.

The forecast of thunderstorms threatened to move this outdoor graduation indoors, but Friday turned out to be a perfect day. Here is Jason receiving his diploma; he has now officially completed his Master of Divinity in Theology. Congratulations, Jason! I am so proud of you!!

Thank you so much to the family and friends for all the support and prayers!

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Barber Shop

I, Andrea, am usually the barber in our house, but since I am certainly a novice we decided that Jason and Little G would go to the barber shop for nice short "summer cuts." I have cut Little G's hair a few times before, but since this was his first trip to the barber shop I grabbed my camera to get some pictures of the event. Well, I was so busy trying to keep the little man still and calm that I never got one picture of him sitting on Jason's lap in the barber chair. But here are some pics of them after. You sure cannot tell from his smiles how traumatic the haircut was for him.

Friday, May 1, 2009

Last day of class!

Jason attended the last day of class for his formal education (at least that we know of for now) today. He was a bit nostalgic last night as he stayed up very late to complete his last paper. This educational process has, after all, been a rather long chapter in his life.

Here are some pics as he heads off for the last class...

...contemplating being done with school...

...and this last one makes me smile!

Now we get to celebrate!

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

God is Sovereign

Last week I had just finished listening to a John Piper sermon on how God is sovereign, I was very much moved to hear him describe how God has used two poignant circumstances in his life to lead him to where he is, with such an effective ministry, when I received a phone call that would test my faith in that belief. My (Andrea's) dad had gone to the doctor for what seemed to be a minor health problem, a hernia. The doctor being concerned about the location perhaps being problematic sent my dad in for a ct scan, which I should add doctors do not normally do for hernias. After the test my dad went in for the follow up visit the doctor told him he did not have a hernia but an 8 cm tumor on his right kidney. He was told that less than 5% of tumors on the kidney turn out to be benign so all are treated as if they are cancer. Wow! Those are words no one wants to hear.

My dad had an appointment with the cancer doctor yesterday and we are somewhat relieved to learn that while they will have to remove his right kidney the cancer has not spread to the renal artery or the nearby lymph nodes. They will be able to do this procedure with a minimally invasive surgery and no chemotherapy. We are praising God that the cancer was found while still in the early stages as this type of cancer has almost no symptoms and is usually not discovered until it has spread. Please pray for my dad as he will have surgery to remove his kidney sometime within the next four weeks and also that all the preliminary tests are correct and the cancer is confined to just the kidney.