Karin had a great day today. She was able to get out and do some shopping and then headed home for a good nap. Only one nap today! Yeah! She is planning on walking tonight also. Today is definitely better than last week.

Thank you, thank you, to everyone who showed up to help with the planning of the Karin L. Carter Hope 5K Run/Walk & Auction. The planning is underway and it is going to be an exciting event. In case you missed that post it is going to be held on May 20 from 2-5 in Brentwood. More details, including registration info to follow.

Picture of me and Karin at one of our trips to Fentons. Think I must be laughing at Jeff. :)

Jeff just posted this as a comment and I thought it was great.
The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous & His ears are attentive to their cry;..The righteous cry out & the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in sprit. Psalm 34:15

Just a quick note for people that are trying to donate to the Karin L. Carter Hope Fund at Bank of America. A couple of people have gone in and the teller has no idea what account they are talking about. If you walk in, physically, to the bank please ask for Zack or Bryson. Jamie at Celebration is always happy to do the deposit as well. You can find her at Celebration Christian Preschool, 624 Anderson, Brentwood. Thank you for all your support!
Jamie also has a new supply of bumper stickers. Ginger also has some as well as Julie Garcia. Again, if you are not near one of those people email me at bethey12@yahoo.com.

Karin has called me three but we have been unable talk, so as soon as I talk to her, I will post. They were out at Target so she must be feeling good to be out and about.

Forgot to mention about Chef Jeff and his bowl of microwave (???!?) rice. This was his first attempt at such a thing and neither Terri or I got off the couch to help him out, but I JUMPED at the chance to take a picture and make fun of him. Another funny thing was that he practically suited up in fireman's gear to take it out of the microwave.

:0

Karin slept great Friday night. Really other than us waking her twice to give her meds she slept from the time we put her in bed around 5 to 5 the next morning. She was a little nauseous on Saturday morning and she required a little pain medication for the tooth. I left around 8:30 but sometime after that she was able to make it out of bed and to the couch. When I talked to her last night she was feeling better. I talked to her a little while ago and she slept great and is feeling much better. If I remember correctly so has no appointments this week and hopefully the affects of the radiation are wearing off so that she will be feeling good again. The kids have been gone most of the weekend so she is getting a nice quiet house.

By the way, I added on the bottom of the blog a "cluster map". It shows the where in the world people are viewing the blog. Thought it was cool. You can click on the map and it gives you moe info.

Today has been a rough day.
Karin woke up with a tooth ache. She had it last night and I guess it was bugging her all night, to the point that she was counting the minutes to take Tylenol again. If you don't know Karin never takes any meds, so for her to count down until she gets to pop some Tylenol is big. She mentioned around 9 that it was still bothering her so I picked up the phone to call the DDS. She had never seen this dentist, but the kids have gone to him. I called him and explained to him the situation and they said I could bring her down right now or wait until Monday. We opted for right now. We got there about 10 and they saw her right away. She had a root canal & crown on this tooth in the back that was not doing its job. The dentists advice was to have it removed today. AHHHH. What else?? Karin would need to see a specialist, given her situation, and the dentist got us an appt there right away. It was right up the street so we headed right there. Wonderful, wonderful oral surgeon. Took us right in and proceeded to call Karin's other doctors so that everyone agreed on the extraction and then meds to be given for pain and for infection. It was all a go. We had to go back at 3pm to to get the extraction so we headed home for Karin to take a quick nap. Around 3 we headed back to the oral surgeon who drugged her up via IV and did the extraction. We are home now and Karin has been asleep since 4:30. We woke her up at 6 to give her meds and she ate a little yogurt and then she went back out. The oral surgeon called a little while ago to check on her (did I mention she was wonderful??) and just wants to make sure she is getting enough fluids. We are going to wake her up in a bit to get her to drink some more.
No tattoo today, guess it was not meant to be. Next time.
Not sure I will be able to post tomorrow. I will be going home which requires being in an airplane for 1/2 the day, then with the time change it will be late. I will try before I head out though.
Pray for Karin to sleep well and for her to not be any pain. Stinks to feel miserable and be in pain also.

Note to self: Next time I come to CA I need to not eat the three weeks prior to coming. We went to Fentons TWICE in 2 hours. We went there for dinner, it was close to the Tumor Board. The visit with the tumor board was very encouraging. The doctor said that the chemo is working. Karin's "nodules" continue to disappear and or become smaller. This is very good. The tumor board doctors said that she is on the right track and agree with her current treatment. Karin will have new scans done on the 15 & 16. We need for the brain to be completely clean of any cancer. Once the brain is clear there are a lot of options. If there are just a few tumors on the brain, less than 3, Karin is eligible for the Gamma knife radiation. We all left feeling really good, therefore we went back to Fentons for ice cream. :) It is all about the food. I am not kidding when I say that we are eating lunch and she is already thinking about what will be for dinner. She told me what she wants for dinner on Tuesday (that is next Tuesday, 5 days from now!).

Tomorrow several of us are going to get tattoos. Pictures to follow. :)

Thank God for this opportunity to go to the Tumor Board. It was a God appointment.

Everyone is wondering where the update is! I was on a plane to California yesterday so I was unable to update. So Sorry to leave you all hanging. :)

Anyone interested in helping with the planning portion of the Karin L. Carter Hope 5K Run/Walk can contact either monicamalcuit@kw.com or JenniferHaus@KW.com. These girls are the contacts for the planning of the event and they need help!! The date of the run will be May 20 in Brentwood. A auction/drawing is also going to take place so they need help securing donations. If you just want to run there will be information about that later, right now be are just looking for help. Thank you.

I am here sitting with Karin now and she looks great. Jeff just took our pic so I will post that in a bit. No more radiation so pretty soon here she should be feeling chipper again. Tonight Jeff and I are taking Karin to the Tumor Board in Oakland. They meet once a month and you have to go with your doctor to be seen however, Karin has a hook-up with one of her mom's friends so she was able to get in. This is a great, God opportunity.

Karin says thanks again for everything. The card, gifts, flowers, prayers, encouraging words, support. The list goes on and on. Really, their house looks like a florist. Karin asked me to take a picture of the bulletin board that Jeff put up (crooked :), love you Jeff ) that is covered in cards. It is so covered there is a second board waiting to be hung up (crooked??) so that more cards can be hung on it.

I will post more later on today to make up for yesterday.

Karin (actually, the whole house) did not sleep well last night so she has been trying to make up for it today. Karin and her Mom just went for Karin's blood work and then to lunch. Tomorrow they have an appointment with Dr. Gloom-n-Doom. I forgot to ask what time.

Very Exciting news, hot off the presses! A Karin L. Carter Hope 5K Run/Walk is being planned for May 20th in Brentwood. More information to follow later but save the date so the whole family can get out and run (or walk!)!!

Karin went to radiation and walked out holding her arms up like a runner finishing a race. You are amazing! She is feeling MUCH better today than over the weekend. PTL! The Dr. said it takes about a week for the radiation to get out of your system so she should feel better by next week, but we can pray for her to feel better today!!
Karin, Jeff and kids are all going to a pizza fundraiser tonight.
Oh, Karin asked me to post that Salina won her soccer game on Saturday to a team that beat them 5 times last season. Way to go Salina! You Rock!

I was looking for the perfect verse to add to the blog today and then this one pops up from a friend! She also reminded me that God WORKS the night shift. When Karin is sleeping, God is still working. :)
Psalm 121 says:I WILL lift up my eyes to the hills--From whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved;He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel (KARIN) Shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is your keeper;The LORD is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night.The LORD shall preserve you (KARIN) from all evil; He shall preserve your soul.The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in From this time forth and even forevermore.

Karin slept most of the weekend. She said she slept good last night & was bright eyed and bushy tailed when I spoke to her early this morning. She should get some kind of award for positive attitude.

Bumper stickers are going like hot cakes! I orginally ordered 200 and we have gone through about half of those since last Wednesday. Karin told me this morning she saw one on somebody's car for the first time last week. She said it was someone that she did not even know! How awesome is that?? The whole idea behind the stickers was so that when she drove around town she would see people in support of her. That is exactly what she got! If you have not done so already, you can get a bumper sticker from Jamie @ Celebration & from Julie Garcia @ Gateway. If you do not know either of them email me bethey12@yahoo.com and I will get one to you. All proceeds from the sale of the stickers go to the Karin L. Carter Hope fund at Bank of America.

I have a favor to ask in regards to the bumper stickers. If you have a bumper sticker I would like a picture of you and your family standing next to your car where you put your bumper sticker ( I want you & the bumper sticker in the picture). I am a scrapbooker and I want to make something for Jeff & Karin with these pictures. You can email the pictures to bethey12@yahoo.com. Thank you!

Karin is looking forward to her last day of radiation! Yeah!

Keep praying and pray for BIG miracles!

Talked with Karin a couple of times today and she is super tired. She is hoping to go to a movie tonight with Jeff. Please pray for her to not be exhausted. She has not been sleeping well at night either. Maybe if she could get some better sleep a night she would feel better during the day. Pray for good sleep for her and Jeff. Karin has her usual positive attitude though. Always up!
Karin told me I can't call her tomorrow so I won't be posting tomorrow. Hopefully, she will save up stuff to tell me so I will have a lot to say on Monday.
Monday is the LAST day of radiation! Praise the Lord! He is Good!

"When life is too hard to stand, kneel."

Just heard from Karin and her oncologist wants to hang onto her until after the scans are done on her brain. That is not really bad, he just wants to see if what he is doing is working and Dr. O'Day said he would not do anything different right now anyway. We want it to be paid for by Kaiser so if we need to wait a couple of weeks until the scans are done, that will still be good.

Towards the end of our conversation Karin said, "Oh, some of my 'nodules' are going away or getting smaller." WHAT????? (that "what" is for you Karin ;) ) I told her that should have been the first thing out of her mouth when I picked up the phone!!! This is great news! That means the treatment is having an effect. I think she said two were gone completely, several were smaller and the two main ones are not changed. That is progress. Praise the Lord!

When I talked to Karin this morning she was feeling better today than yesterday. She said she was pretty sure all her hair would be gone by the time I got there next week on Wednesday. She said she was fine with that. Her & Jeff are looking forward to seeing Dr. Gloom-n-Doom today at 11am with the hopes of transferring Karin's care to Dr. O'Day at John Wayne. Pray, pray, pray.

Romans 8:28

We are assured and know that all things work together and are for good to and for those who love God and are called according to HIS purpose.

Just a reminder about the Karin L. Carter Hope Fund. You may make a donation by mailing a check made out to the Karin L. Carter Hope Fund to Bank of America, 241 Oak Street, Brentwood, CA 94513. You may also give anything you wish to deposit to Jamie Olson or Julie Garcia and they will take it to the bank. Thank you so much for giving!

Karin was going to get the kids off to school and then take a nap. She said she is not as tired as yesterday but she did not fall asleep until 3am and then got up at 6am. Please pray for her to get good sleep, that is a big step in feeling better.

Matthew 8:13 " Jesus said, Go; it shall be done for you as you have believed."

Just got off the phone with a Karin. She said she is super tired and is looking forward to that getting better soon because of the changes that Dr. O'Day made in her meds yesterday. She got plane tickets to go to LA again to go to John Wayne on May 30th. Continue to pray that Kaiser will release her so that her expenses will be covered.

Bumper stickers have arrived. See Jamie at Celebration, Julie at Gateway or Ginger Rose. If you do not know one of those people email me at bethey12@yahoo.com and I will get you one.

Just got off the phone with Karin who was getting ready to walk out the door to take the kids to school. She said she did not sleep well last night but credits that to the excitement of the day and all the naps she took during the day.

PLEASE pray for Karin as she goes to see Dr. Gloom-n-Doom (the oncologist at Kaiser) on Friday. Jeff and Karin are going to ask him to transfer her care to Dr. O'Day at John Wayne. Pray Hard!! Pray for Karin to have favor with him and that all the doors will continue to be open.

Karin's hair is falling out. I told her to think of the time she would save in the morning. ;) She said she thought it was good because her head felt really "heavy" and she was hoping this would make it better.

More later.

I just got off the phone with Jeff who could not contain his excitement!! Their visit went great and Dr. O'Day was "wonderful". So much to say that I don't know where to start! He said that Karin looked great. He told her to keep going to the gym, keep it all up. He said that the approach that Kaiser has taken is exactly what he would do. He lowered one of the steroid drugs she was on (it made her tingly feeling) and switched one other med but I can't remember what that one was. He said continue with the 4 more days of brain radiation, he said that is exactly what he would have prescribed. He said after the radiation wait 3 weeks for the brain swelling to go down and then have all the scans repeated. He asked that they return to him with new scans in 5-6 weeks. He said that only the cancer that is in her brain is "life threatening" and Kaiser is taking the right approach in treating that aggressively.

I am sure I will have more to update on this tomorrow after I talk with Karin in the morning. I will post more details then.

God is good. All the time! Thank you so much for praying. The doors were open!!

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but her leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit." (Jeremiah 17:5)

Karin just called from the airport. They are all checked in and waiting to board the plane.

True to Satan's character, he is pulling out all the stops to distract Jeff and Karin. Yesterday, Jeff realized that his wallet has gone missing. He spent a great deal of yesterday looking for it. Thankfully, they were able to pull together the necessary paperwork so that he could fly with Karin today. Thank you, Lord! Then, while they were at radiation this morning John Wayne called to tell them that they did not have a copy of Karin's MRI. Karin and Jeff had to track that down while they were at Kaiser. They were able to get a copy of it (a miracle, if you ask me) and will bring it with them to the appointment.

I probably won't talk to Karin until later in the day but as soon as I hear from her I will post. Pray HARD!

The bumper stickers will be available later today around 1pm PST. Jamie will have some at Celebration - feel free to drop in there (624 Anderson Ave. in Brentwood) and get one, just ask at the front desk for her. Julie Garcia will have some at Gateway Christian tomorrow morning and Ginger Rose will have some as well. They are available for a donation and all proceeds go directly to the Karin L. Carter Hope Fund. Also, if you are not near any of those people you can email me at bethey12@yahoo.com and I will get one to you. Also, for all you that Paypal we have set up an account with Paypal so that you can donate that way as well. You must be a member of Paypal to use their services. To access Paypal, go to www.paypal.com and select the tab at the top that says "send money" on the right side of the screen it will ask for an email address, type in ventimiracleextrahot@yahoo.com. Any monies in that account will be transferred to the Karin L. Cater Hope Fund. Please select that that the money being sent is for "goods". Don't forget your address so that I can send you a bumper sticker! Again, please email me with any questions.

Here is the schedule for tomorrow:
8AM radiation
11:00 AM fly out of SFO
12:15 PM fly into LAX
2:15 PM Appointment to fill out paperwork at John Wayne
3:15 PM Meet with Dr. O'Day

The appointment with Dr. O'Day runs about an hour and a half to two hours.

Jeff and Karin have an open ended ticket and flights are every half hour so as soon as they are done they will fly back home.

Pray for Karin to not be exhausted tomorrow with all this running around.

P.S. Natalie Ostrom that posted yesterday - can you email me at bethey12@yahoo.com. Thx

As soon as I have a report I will post.

As far as blogging goes today I have been a slacker. Sorry.

Karin & Jeff woke up and took the kids to school and then came right home and Karin crashed for over three hours. That explains why I could not find her all morning. :) She was on her way to radiation with a friend.

Tomorrow is the big day. Be praying for those doors at John Wayne Cancer Institute to be OPEN for Karin and that she would be at peace.

Karin has been having a few side effects from her various meds. Fatigue, increased appetite (you'll have to ask her about this one, but if she coming your way, stock up!) and short term memory loss.

She continues to have a great attitude and still enjoys her trip to the mailbox.

Thanks so much for all the prays. Don't stop now!

Karin had a great (but short :( ) visit with Johanna. Karin said she was a little nauseous this morning but was feeling great this afternoon. She is looking forward to a big red meat dinner 0: (is this the same Karin??) with her family tonight.

Karin has another full week of radiation scheduled for this week.

Please remember to pray for Karin & Jeff as they head to John Wayne on Tuesday. Pray for doors to be wide open! Continue to pray that everything cancerous would be removed from Karin's body. God is Big! Bigger than cancer.

I am not sure if Karin and I are the only ones who look at that counter or now BUT I think it is so cool. This blog has had almost 6 thousand hits in two weeks (when I put the counter on). I know a lot of people that read this have never even met Karin. If every time you hit this page you say a quick prayer for Karin's supernatural healing, that would be around 400 prayers a day just for Karin!! Isn't that cool?

Johanna (Karin's cousin) was supposed to arrive yesterday evening from TN. Bad weather in various places has left her stranded in Las Vegas, of all places! She is hoping to get into SFO about 3pm, PST. That stinks! Then she has to turn around and go home on Sunday. Sorry Johanna. :(

I do not have much to report and Karin told me I can't call her the rest of the day! She thinks my mind never shuts off, it doesn't - that is a story for a different blog!

Rod (my husband) and I have designed cute, cute bumper stickers to show our support for Karin. These bumper stickers will be available starting Thursday. You can get them from me (for all you East Coasters), from Julie Garcia @ Gateway/Golden Hills, from Jamie Olson or from Ginger Rose. These are available for a donation and ALL proceeds go to the Karin L. Carter Hope Fund. I have set up a Paypal account if you would prefer to donate that way. I will provide a link. If you live somewhere were one of these people are not, I will mail it to you.

Here is a picture of the sticker on Jackson's car. He was the first to get one, fitting since Karin pulled an all nighter to watch him come into the world.

Time for a new picture. This was taken Christmastime 2006 outside of Disneyland's California Adventure.

Opps! Karin was not able to have the PET scan today. She did not know she was supposed to fast before and not exercise 24 hour prior, nor did they tell her any of this information. Guess she was not supposed to be there. Her new scan is scheduled for May 2. This is good. She will be done with radiation then and it will give her brain swelling time to go down.

I posted yesterday about the Karin L. Carter Hope Fund and then quickly removed it. Sorry for the confusion. Neither Jamie or I have ever done this before and the bank does not do it that often either. If you would like to make a donation to the Karin L. Carter Hope Fund you may do so by mailing a check made out to the Karin L. Carter Hope Fund to Bank of America, 241 Oak Street, Brentwood, CA 94513. You may also give anything you wish to deposit to Jamie Olson or Julie Garcia and they will take it to the bank. Jeff and Karin will know who gave, so that they can thank you, but they will not know the amount.

Please keep praying that Karin gets into the John Wayne Center. This is such a BIG BIG opportunity and the clinical trials they do there show promising results.

I spoke with Karin early this morning after her trip to the gym. She was a little tired so was going to rest before her 11:30 am PET scan. Following the PET scan she will have 1pm radiation.

Just got off the phone with Karin. She is a hoot. She is feeling good and is full of her usual spunk. :) Radiation went good. She says "thank you, thank you, thank you" for all the cards, gifts and flowers. She even has a "phantom" giver. She is blessed.

Karin has heard from two different people that have seen Dr. O'Day at John Wayne. Coincidence?? I don't think so! One person saw him 5 years ago and the other saw him 6 1/2 years ago!!! They both raved about him and the center. Keep praying!

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jer 29:11

Jamie just reminded me of this verse. It is perfect for what we are going through.

Karin is doing super today. She is looking forward to an easy day with just radiation at 1pm.

Please follow this link http://www.jwci.org/Staff/DrODay.htm to this doctors site at John Wayne where Karin will be going next Tuesday. Please pray for this doctor, that he would have God given wisdom and that Karin would have favor with him.

Karin got a sooner appointment at John Wayne! She and Jeff will fly to LA on Tuesday after Karin has an 8AM radiation in Walnut Creek. Karin's cousin (a nurse) will pick them up at the airport and accompany them to the appointment. Pray that if this is God's will the doors will be open.

Karin has just gotten an appointment and John Wayne for next Wednesday at 2pm.

I just heard from Karin after her trip to the oncologist. Her oncologist recommended that Karin go to John Wayne Cancer Institute in Southern California. Karin is hoping to get an appointment there before week end for a consultation. If the doctors there see her as a "promising" candidate she could receive treatment there. Please pray for this. This hospital specializes in Melanoma. Pray that God would also work out the details of Karin getting an appointment there. Time is of the essence.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

Sorry there was no update yesterday. I did not talk to Karin until late in the day.

Yesterday Karin went to the herbalist in SF with her Mom and Tom. The herbalist was very encouraging and told Karin some things that she could do boost her immune system during the treatment periods. They all walked away feeling very encouraged.

Today Karin and her Mom and a friend are going to the oncologist at 9AM then they have radiation at 1pm. Both appointments are in Walnut Creek.

Karin is feeling good, although tired and is catching a nap here and there.

We are still working with Bank of America on the account. Apparently, they do not do this kind of thing often and want to make sure they are giving us the best thing for our needs.

Karin's Mom and Tom are staying at the house until Friday when Karin's sister and Johanna come in for the weekend. She is covered as far as help is concerned for the rest of the week.

Karin and Jeff appreciate so much all the love and support and encouraging words. That, in itself, is priceless.

Just a quick update on the trust bank account for Jeff & Karin: Jamie is working hard on this and we hope to have it all together by tomorrow. Once we have the account number I will get it out here. We have not forgotten, just the typical bank red tape.

Karin had a good day today. I just got off the phone with her and she had just woken up and was getting ready for the Warriors game with her brother. She mentioned that she had a a side effect from the swelling of the brain brought on by the radiation. All normal stuff that is corrected by adjusting her medications. Continue to pray that she would feel good and not be bothered by side effects, and of course, that God will remove the cancer completely!

Karin was up and at the gym with Jamie early this morning. Don't worry, she took it very easy and felt good. Jeff and Karin are off to radiation and then Karin is going home with her Mom. Karin is going to a Warrior's game tonight with her brother, Jonathan. :)

The kids are off this week for Easter vacation.

Tomorrow Karin has several appointments that her Mom and Tom are going to take her to. If I remember correctly they are going to the oncologist, radiologist and to an herbal doctor in SF.

Have you seen this gal around town???

WOW!!!

Karin has asked me umpteen million times to add this picture. So, to get her off my back, here it is!! Next week we will put one of Johanna and Karin. :)

I just got off the phone with Karin and she and her family & Jordan were at Starbucks sipping on Caramel Frappuccinos, Venti size! :) They had just come from church and were enjoying the morning.

The tomb is empty! He is risen, indeed.

Karin had a much better night last night. She slept all night and woke up feeling rested. Jeff and Karin are looking forward to spending Easter Sunday with their family.

No radiation on the weekends. Karin continues to take her chemo meds daily though.

Psalm 62:1 & 2
I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from Him. He alone is my ROCK and my salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken.

Karin had a rough night last night. Her sleep was comparable to a night with a newborn! She thinks this was due to one of the meds. and is going to ask about it today when she goes in for her treatment. She is hoping to catch a nap later on to make up for it.

Karin had another night of great sleep and a good day today. She said that she was a little tired in the morning and then also later in the afternoon after her radiation appointment. Other than that she has had no other symptoms from either treatment. This is a major praise!! She has such a positive, great attitude. It is catchy. :)

Karin had a good day today. Her radiation went well and took all of 10 minutes. She still has had no side effects from the treatment.

Karin wanted to say a big thank you for all the cards, flowers, gifts, emails, etc. She said she loves going to the mailbox to see what is in there. :) She feels loved and is blessed everyone.

Pray for another good night sleep for her and no side effects. Continue to pray for every bit of cancer to be removed from her body.

But those who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isa. 40:31

Karin slept great last night and slept a full 8 hours. She said she would have slept longer but Noah came in and woke them up. :) She said she had NO side affects from the radiation or the chemo. That includes no nausea and no headache. That is an answer to prayer. Continue to pray that she would feel good and not be miserable.

Jamie and either Enola or Terri are going to accompany her to radiation today at 1pm.

One thing that I forgot to mention was that Karin's treatments will be at 1pm Monday thru Friday for the next 14 days.

I keep coming back to this verse. "Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us." Eph. 3:20

Karin just called me after her first radiation treatment. I asked how it was on a scale of 1-10 and she said "11"!! Her positive attitude is contagious. She said the radiologist said the side effects vary from person to person but that nausea and hair loss can be expected. I feel lead to pray that she has NO side effects.

Karin's Mom has been staying with them at their house. All of you that have offered of help (meals, housekeeping, childcare, taxi service, etc. . . . ), THANK YOU. Jeff and Karin said they are just playing it by ear to see what they need and do not need, but since her Mom is there they are good. We will keep all you "servants" in mind for when and if the need arises.

Keep the prayers coming. I KNOW for a fact that Jeff and Karin feel them. Pray for 100% complete healing, a healing that will only come from the Father!

Several have expressed a desire to set up a fund for the Carters for expenses incurred while undergoing treatment. I will be working on that tomorrow and will post information about that as soon as I get it set up.

Keep the faith!

Karin, Jeff and Enola (Jeff's Mom) are going for the first radiation treatment this afternoon (Tuesday) at 2:30. They are not really sure what to expect or how long it will take.

Karin took her first dose of oral chemotherapy last night before bed. They have given her several drugs to control the side effects of the chemo but because she picked them up so late in the day, she was unable to take them before she took her first dose. Therefore, the first dose was hard. She is hoping that tonight will be better because she will be able to take those meds first.

She is strong and in good spirits and her faith is unshakable. She is already seeing God's hand at work. Keep praying!

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3: 5 & 6



The news from the doctor today is not good. The cancer is in Karin's brain, her lungs and her lymph system. It is Stage 4. Karin will start Chemotherapy tonight, before she goes to bed. Her oncologist told her she will take chemotherapy for the "rest of her life". She is starting radiation tomorrow morning and will continue for the next ten days. Karin was very positive when I spoke with her and reminded me that "God is bigger than this".



Please pray for the family. Pray that God would surround them with His love. Pray for complete healing of Karin's body.



Please limit your calls to them. It is hard for them to answer the phone. If you would like to help in some way you can contact Julie Garcia or Jamie Olsen.

Brief Update: Karin and Jeff went for an MRI at 9:30, they were done in 45 minutes (instead of the projected 2 hours) and as they were walking out Karin's Primary Care Physican called to schedule an appointment with her for today, Monday, at 4:30. Not sure what this means. As soon as more information becomes available I will post it. Thank you so MUCH for your prayers and outpouring of support. I know that Jeff and Karin feel loved and covered in prayer.

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us. Eph. 3:20

Please remember to pray for Jeff and Karin as they go to the oncologist tomorrow. Pray BIG because God is BIG! Believe for nothing to be on any of the scans that were done last week!