Our Laughing Place (Ian, Tom)

It seems like every time I wake up, I have forgotten how much of Ian has become inaccessible to us. He's every bit as much there as he's always been; it's just his body that's changed. Last night, for possibly the last time, he actually smiled and giggled a little bit.

He tried smiling on Friday morning. I looked at his face, and he seemed to have an expression of exertion, as if he was using all of his strength to do something. "What's wrong?" I asked. "Nothing" he said, "I'm...trying...to...smile...at...you." Each word is strained, as his speech center struggles to activate the necessary muscles. As our conversations grow increasingly one-sided, I'm learning the treasure each word, and let him make them count. That last sentence was priceless for me.

Later that evening, we were talking about food (that is a common topic these days). We were joking with each other that each of us was going to take all of...something. I can't remember what. But what I will remember is that he actually smiled, and laughed a little. For the briefest moment, my little boy was back with me, and we were laughing together.

I can't remember the last time that happened. I'm also afraid that it will be the last time this side of eternity.

Just One More Afternoon (Tom, Ian, Graces and Mercies)

On Sunday, I had the kind of afternoon that I've had at least a hundred times before. I'm going to miss them terribly.

I wanted to get Ian out for a while, so I decided that he and I would go to Target to find something for him to spend his allowance on, then head to a park for a walk (or, I guess, a roll.)

We packed a backpack full of stuff that we thought it would be good to have with us, just to be safe. As the contents grew, it reminded me of when Ian was much smaller, and we would have a diaper bag packed at all times.

When Ian was a toddler, deb worked 2-3 nights/week at the local mall. Often, the boy & I would go there and wander around. It gave us something to do, and it allowed mother and son to say "goodnight" to each other. He and I had our regular stops at the shopping center, almost on a schedule: We would get a stroller and say "hi" to Deb, then makes our rounds (KayBee Toys, the other toy store, Air Traffic, GameStop, then get a pretzel). He would eat his share of the pretzel and tell Deb about his evening, followed by home and bed.

Later, he and I would branch out for grander outings. Edinborough, parks in summer and Chuck E. Cheese were places I could take him for an afternoon or evening adventure. We were just a couple of guys out having fun.

Anyway, we wandered around Target for a while. The more toys Ian looked at, the more he said "I'll have to save up for that." I had to resist the impulse to buy him whatever he wanted. We both settled for a new lightsaber. (After all, he has only four of them, and only one other blue one. Besides, this one lights up! And it makes sounds!) We also grabbed a new dice game, and a set of 3-D glasses for the Superbowl commercials.

At the park, I bundled the boy up, but forgot my gloves. The air temperature wasn't bad, and being in the sun was great. It's been a long winter, with too many grey skies. But the wind picked up, and we both agreed that we had had enough fresh air. How about going for a drive? That sounded good; we just weren't ready to be home yet. I started off with no particular destination in mind. Just a chance to be side by side, still in the sun.

I took his left hand and held it. One of the issues he's been dealing with is that he doesn't feel much of anything in his left side anymore. He's got strength there, but it doesn't do him much good without the feedback that sensation would give him.

"Can you feel my hand?"

"A little."

"Is it OK if I just hold it?"

"Yeah."

And so we drove for a little while, my hand holding his. It wasn't doing much for Ian, but I'll take what I can get.

Tonight, you get a two-for. (Graces and Mercies, Ian, Temporal Echoes of the Eternal)

I had been hoping that this time would never come, but it's here.

We're now looking at a series of "lasts." Most parents get a set of joyous, but probably mildly sad lasts before the kids move out and leave the nest. Unfortunately, there's nothing triumphant or joyful about our lasts. A couple of nights ago was, more than likely, the last time Ian will sleep in his room, in his own bed. We've seen him walk unaided for the last time, and pretty soon he will go to school for the last time. The tumor symptoms have increased with a vengeance, like an opponent who sees the endgame, and is determined to win.

We're at the point where, while not known for sure, God's decision seems to be clear. We're walking our little boy home, kind of like how we walk him everywhere these days. We're keeping close, aiding with each step, surrounding him with encouragement and praise. This is our calling, and I hate it. I have raged, dreaded and feared this time, but we have no choice but to be faithful with what we're given.

And yet, I couldn't help but to remember Jesus' words in Matthew 27: Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me. I'm re-learning lessons of servanthood, and I'm finding it some joy in helping Ian with the simplest of tasks, with the perspective that I'm doing it for Jesus as well. There is a sense of duty as a parent, there is a sense of love out of caring for my son, but I also have a joy out of caring for someone whom God loves more than life itself, enough to die on a cross. As painful as it is, there is part of me that considers what I do for Ian as a privilege.

* * *

I've told some of you that I'm reading the book Heaven by Randy Alcorn. When Deb & I went to Maui for a week, we studied about Hawaii for at least a month. You would think that before now I would have bothered to do a study on the place where I will be spending eternity. I'll confess that my primary motive was to be able to truthfully answer any questions that Ian might have, as well as make it easier for me to say "farewell" to him.

The passage I read tonight gave me food for thought:

God has never given up on his original creation. Yet somehow we've managed to overlook an entire biblical vocabulary that makes this point clear. Reconcile. Redeem. Restore. Recover. Return. Renew. Regenerate. Resurrect. Each of these biblical words begins with the re- prefix, suggesting that a return to an origination that was ruined or lost. (Many are translations of the Greek words with an ana- prefix, which has the same meaning as the English re-). For example, redemption means to buy back what was formerly owned. Similarly, reconciliation means the restoration or reestablishment of a prior friendship or unity. Renewal means to make new again, restoring to an original state. Resurrection means becoming physically alive again, after death.

These words emphasize that God always sees us in light of what he intended us to be, and he always seeks to restore us to that design. Likewise, he sees the earth in terms of what he intended it to be, and he seeks to restore it to its original design.

Religion professor Albert Wolters, in Creation Regained, writes "[God] hangs on to his falled original creation and salvages it. He refuses to abandon the work of his hands--in fact, he sacrifices his own Son to save his original project. Humankind, which has botched its original mandate and the whole creation along with it, is given another chance in Christ; we are reinstated as God's managers on earth. The original good creation is to be restored."

I've been very focused lately on what will be different in the next age, and how Ian will be different, that I've forgotten to think about what will be the same. I fully expect that he'll have his same laugh that he did before the tumor set in (that I have trouble remembering right now.) His eyes in his glorified body will be the same shape, and the same color. He'll have his same sense of humor. He will enjoy running like he did, and probably even more. We'll have the same inside jokes. There's a part of me the expects when we see each other for the first time, we'll embrace and use our current greeting ("Courage and Kindness, son." "Courage and Kindness, Dad.")

Somehow, that helps. It's strange just how much comfort I've been getting by getting clues about what will be familiar in Heaven...almost as much as by learning about what will be different.

Hey, You--I Gotta Tell You Something... (Temporal Echoes of the Eternal, Ian)

As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is Son, whom I love, with him I am well pleased."
Matthew 3:16-17

We went to Mall of America yesterday, after the doctor's appointment. We've been there dozens of time as a family. This time, we took turns pushing Ian in a wheelchair. We looked at the stores, had a snack and we laughed. The whole time, I wanted to stop each person and let him/her know about my son. Not about his condition, but about him. About what a wonderful little boy he is.

Do you know my son, Ian? You should get to know him. He's a fantastic kid. He's only in first grade, but he can add a column of two-digit numbers in his head. He can read at least a couple of grades better than I did at his age. He's had a rotten year, but he's still got a great attitude. He's brave, and is one of the most kind-hearted people I know. He can see when someone is suffering, but he isn't afraid to say or do something about it. I love him more than anyone else in this world, except for maybe my wife. If you got to know him, I think you would feel the same way. You need to look past the appearance. His body is weak and frail right now, but someday he's going to be glorious.

Is that how you feel as well about Jesus, Heavenly Father? When He was born, as He grew into a man, was it only your wisdom that kept the angels from trumpeting His glory every day, celebrating His majesty each minute?

Ian at the Timberwolves Game (Ian, Pictures, Video)

We had an incredible time this evening at the Timberwolves game. The pictures and video do it more justice than I can with words:

During the warm-up, Ian and his friend Aaron go to meet a few of the players. Here, the boys get to talk with Ryan Gomes

Before the game, we were able to have our picture taken with Ryan. In the front is Aaron and Ian. In the back row are Tom, Deb, Ryan Gomes, and Mr. & Mrs. Bassiere. Mr. Bassiere is Ian's physical education teacher, who wrote in a letter to a local radio station and made this possible.

This shows where our seats were. The two little blue caps are Ian and Aaron.

The Timberwolves gave Ian a prize bag. This included a pair of size 18 shoes. He's have to grow into them...

Al Jefferson making a free throw

During a time-out, Ian got to hold the game ball.

Ian and his buddy Aaron were allowed to give the starting T-Wolves high-fives as they were introduced:






We want to send out a huge "Thank You" to Laura Kellison and John O'Connell at the Minnesota Timberwolves for their hospitality and generosity. You gave us an evening that we will remember for the rest of our lives, and made a basketball fan out of Ian.

Ian Henderson Celebration at DisneyWorld (Ian, Video)

What a great way to start the new year...

Ian's Baptism (Ian, Pictures, Video, Temporal Echoes of the Eternal)

No two parents were ever prouder than Deb and I were on Sunday. Our little boy stood up in front of at least two hundred friends and family and declared in a strong, excited voice "I just love Jesus!" He took his first confident steps on the path that follows Christ, and did it with joy.

The service felt like it was thrown together, but looking back, it was orchestrated by God. On Saturday, Deb and I asked our pastor if it would be possible to have a baptismal service for Ian the next day, instead of waiting a week. By Saturday night, the arrangements were made.

First, a song of praise was lifted up; we sang Mighty to Save by Hillsong. Later, a couple of friends said they could feel the Holy Spirit resting on the gathering.

Ian was a little nervous, but not scared. When it came time to speak, he answered confidently and clearly. When he emerged from the water, he had one of the biggest smiles I've ever seen on his face. Afterward, he couldn't stop saying "I'm so glad I did that!"









A few friends had asked if they could bring some desserts for a small reception afterward. We expected a small, intimate gathering; what we got was a party!






During said party, I took a moment to pray a blessing over Ian, and to give him his values. In the last year, I led a group of men through a program called Heart of a Warrior. One part of HOAW is to determine what your primary values are. After identifying your primary values, the study leads you through identifying the values for your children. While giving him his blessing, I told Ian what his values are: Courage and Kindness. Anyone who knows Ian at all will see that those are definitely his. From now on, Deb and I will seek out opportunities to affirm courage and kindness in his life.





We want to say Thank You! to all who helped make this day unforgettable. The love we feel for our little boy was clearly echoed by everyone who brought food and party supplies, made calls, helped out and drove out of their way to attend. Thank you for showing your love for our son.

An Ian and Dad Saturday (Ian, Tom, Pictures, Graces and Mercies)

Today, Ian and I had pretty much an Ian and Dad day. I had the opportunity to all but spoil him (although, after our Make-a-Wish trip, that bar got significantly higher.)

Ian had his first dose of steroids last night, and the side effects are already kicking in. He was wide awake at 6:00 this morning. Thanks to a dose of melatonin, I had actually gotten some sleep last night, so I got up with him. While he watched a DVD, I checked email and kept refreshing CaringBridge, looking for new guestbook posts.

Later this morning, we hit Mall of America (after a 10:00 a.m. lunch at Subway). We got Deb's birthday present, then I gave him a choice of either playing mini-golf at MoA, or riding rides. Me being the soft touch that I am, "or" became "and", so we wound up riding a couple of rides anyway.

Ian's favorite ride at Mall of America is the Pepsi Ripsaw...

...his other favorite ride is Paul Bunyon's Log Ride.

A couple of shots from Moose Mountain Golf at Mall of America.

Ian doing what Ian does best: creating with LEGOs.

After a rest at home, Ian and I went to a HOPE Kids event, a video games night. It was hosted by a local home media shop, and it featured all the current systems and some really fun games. Ian paused from playing Wii long enough to try his hand at Dance Dance Revolution and Rock Band.






If you haven't read the latest CaringBridge post yet, and in case you are interested, Ian is being baptized tomorrow (11/16) at 1:30, at Berean Baptist Church. Afterwards, there will be a short reception in room 113 at the church.

If you are able to come, we would love to have you there to celebrate with us. This is something that Ian wanted and asked for without being prompted, and we're ecstatic that this could be arranged before we start any possible further treatments. I want to send a big "Thank You" to those friends who stretched to make this possible; you dear friends have no idea how much this means to us.

As a Friend Said..."This Sucks" (Ian, Announcements)

Ever since we got back from Florida, we've noticed some recurring tumor symptoms. At first, we thought that Ian was just exhausted from the trip, and that was bringing on the symptoms.

Unfortunately, we found out today that his tumor is growing, and growing quickly. There are no long-term options at this point. Please be in prayer for all of us over the next few days, as Deb and I will be having a difficult conversation about the best thing to do for Ian's quality of life.

We are fully confident that our God is good, and is powerful, and will be with us through this time. Also, we take joy in the fact that Ian has a clear and definite faith in Jesus; in fact, he will be baptized a week from Sunday. He is very excited about this, as are we.

Can I Go Back...Please?...(Pictures, Make-a-Wish Trip, Ian, Fun Stuff, Video)

I came back from Florida for this?



And, as a follow-up to the last post, here is a video clip of Ian fighting Darth Vader:




We're still in the process of sifting through the pictures & videos, and I'm going to try flexing my video editing skills to come up with something that shows the scope of the whole trip.

Vacation Pictures, Ctd. (Make-a-Wish Trip, Ian, Pictures)

I tried in vain to get screen captures of this from the video clips I took over the past week. Now that we're home from our Make-a-Wish trip, I was able to rip this from the Disney PhotoPass site:


This was the first of many highlights from our trip. Ian took part in Jedi training at Disney Hollywood Studios, then got the opportunity to go toe-to-toe with Darth Vader. As a parent, and as a Star Wars geek, this was very cool.

Once we catch our breath, I'll try to get things a bit more organized. There is so much to show and tell, though, that it will take a few days...

Make-a-Wish Trip, Day 1

Day 1

Exhaustion. Pure exhaustion, and the trip is just beginning. Hopefully, we will be efficient sleepers, so that we can be ready for the next few days…

We started off this morning at 4:30, getting ready to be picked up by a limousine, which was a first for all of us. The driver was very kind, and gave us the first of many thrills for the day. We were met at the Minneapolis/St. Paul airport by a Make-a-Wish volunteer named Martha. She escorted us through check-in and security, and waited with us a while at the terminal.

When we boarded the plane, Ian was allowed to sit in the cockpit for a few minutes and work the controls.

We had an uneventful flight (the best kind), and arrived at Orlando to 70 degrees and lots of sun. We were met there by a volunteer from Give Kids the World (the name of the complex where we are staying) named Helen. Helen took us through the baggage claim to the car rental.

Half an hour later, we pulled into Give Kids the World. This place is amazing. It’s perhaps the most kid-friendly place I’ve ever seen (and, yes, I realize that how close we are to Walt Disney World). Within minutes of arriving, Ian was given a stuffed Mickey Mouse, and that wasn’t the last gift he received. We ate a quick lunch (with ice cream), checked in and then explored the village.

After supper at The Gingerbread House (an on-site restaurant), it was Christmas. Every kid got an age-appropriate present; Ian chose a Sorry game.

Click here for pictures of the trip. Click on a thumbnail to enlarge it, or just view the slideshow.

Tomorrow, we hit Disney Hollywood…

Update (Ian)

This isn't going to be a long post--I'm at work, duty calls, etc.--but I wanted to get something up.

Ian continues to do pretty well. He's been falling more, and complaining about his legs hurting. At this point, we're chalking it up to inflammation (as a result of the steroids). Deb and I are going to try managing his diet better, in the hopes that it will reduce the inflammation.

I've noticed that the past few days, he's had a harder time swallowing. This one scares me. It could be a sign of radiation scatter...or of the tumor. I think that he's getting sick and tired of me asking him if he has any problems swallowing, because when I ask him about it, he just indicates that everything is fine.

As far as we're concerned, Tuesday can't come soon enough. At this point, the waiting is the hardest part (hey, that sounds like a song...)

* * *

I've had a little bit of money saved up from my birthday last month, and I've been spending waaay too much time figuring out what to do with it. I took a cue from a devotional yesterday that covered materialism; one fo the standout sentences was to "want what you already have."

Ian and I have been sharing a Nintendo DS game system for a while, but lately he's been hinting that he would like his own for Christmas. The main reason he gives is that he would like for the both of us to be able to play each other at the same time (the systems can be connected wirelessly, so that multiple people can play each other). I got to surprise him last night, when I took him to a game store and bought another DS. When he realized what I was purchasing, he coyly asked:

"Dad...what are you going to do with the old DS?"

(I love pausing in moments like these, just to stretch the tension out a little bit.)

"I don't know son." ... Pause ... "I thought I might give it to you."

The joy in that little boy's heart was worth every penny. I got several hugs and kisses, and even a few from his stuffed raccoon, Fisher. (I seem to have a good rapport with stuffed animals.)

* * *

Ok, looking back at previous posts, maybe it is a longer one.

A Weekend at Lake Sylvia (Ian, Pictures)

We had the opportunity to extend the fun half of our summer past Labor Day last weekend. Our friends the Conrads invited us to stay an evening at their cabin, then spend Saturday fishing and generally enjoying a lovely day outside. I believe that Ian showed that he is definitely from Deb's family that day, as he enjoyed fishing the entire day.

The lake is gorgeous, especially first thing in the morning.
If I hadn't been so dedicated in the pursuit of sleep, I would
have tried to take pictures of the stars early Saturday morning.
I had forgotten how gorgeous a clear night sky is when there's no ambient light.

Ian was ready for fishing, first thing Saturday morning.

This is Rika. Needless to say, Ian and Rika became good friends.

"Uncle" Joe was an extremely patient teacher Ian (and me, for that matter).

This is Ian with Curt Conrad, Joe's father. Thank you to the Conrads,
for giving us some wonderful memories. It was a great way to end the summer!

First Day of School (Ian, Pictures, Events)

I'm a little behind on posting some pictures of current events.  Here is catchup post #1:

Last Tuesday, Ian started first grade.  It was a big day: first day of school, in a new building (for Ian, and newly constructed) in a new school (Aspen Academy, their first year in existence).  Deb and I wanted to come up with some kind of first-day-of-school tradition, so after the picture-taking, we went out for breakfast.

At the school, it was the chaos that you would expect, given the circumstances.  It was a little difficult to take this step, especially given current circumstances with Ian's health.  But Aspen Academy has been wonderful about being willing to work with us to monitor Ian's condition and help him out however they can.  And, at 8:30 a.m., we let go of our son a little bit more...

One small step for a little boy,
but one big step for the Henderson family...

There was a whole lotta white shirts and khaki pants
at school that day.

Dad, you can put the camera away any time now.

Pictures, Video from Sir Ian the Brave (Pictures, Ian, Video, Fun Stuff)

As Deb wrote on our Caring Bridge site, we had a special day yesterday. We attended the Renaissance Festival in Shakopee, MN. Deb was able to arrange for Ian to go backstage and meet a couple of the knights in the jousting troupe New Riders of the Golden Age. Ian was a little too nervous to ride on a horse, but they were gracious enough to allow Ian to teach a scoundrel a lesson in manners:






The members of the troupe were very gracious and friendly. We want to give them a special "thank you" for giving us another great memory.

Here are a few pictures from the event:



The master of ceremonies, Kelly Baker, is also the director of the group.
He took time out of his schedule to show us how things are done, and made it a very special day.


A knight in the opening ceremonies



We had great seats for the tournament.
One of the ladies of the court, Lady Jane (the one on the right),
was kind enough to let Ian stand with her to get a better view of the action.



Sir Orrin performs a tight turn. Well done!



A salute from Sir William

In addition, we enjoyed the talents of Tuey Wilson, a longtime feature at the Renaissance Festival (28 years!). The man has an uncanny sense of balance:





By the way, the interruption in the video is me being hit with a Nerf dart. You'd think he would have the first couple of rows of the audience sign a waiver or something...

All in all, it was a wonderful day. We're making it a point to cram as much fun into the second half of our summer to make up for the first half.

As a quick aside, the boy is losing weight. The first half of the summer, we kept having to buy new clothes because he was outgrowing them. Now that his appetite is ranges from diminished to normal, his weight is going back down. Pong!

My Other Fathers Day Gifts / Hope (Tom, Ian, Geeky Stuff, Graces and Mercies)

I haven't been writing as much as I was a couple of weeks ago. The initial shock as passed, and now we're working on the routine (or, as I have told Deb, "the new normal.") I am still working full time, so I haven't had (or, more accurately, taken) the time for introspection and mentally chewing through what "the new normal" is. So, instead of my usually articulate and insightful posting (sprinkled with wry humor), today you get the blog equivalent of "shepherd's pie."

The present that Ian bought for me was something that he and I enjoy together: The Looney Tunes Golden Collection, Vol. 4. Never let it be said that I didn't take the time to give my son a classical education.

From Deb, I got Wii Fit. For a little over a year, I had been using a fitness video game called Yourself!Fitness. Wii Fit has advantages, such as a balance/scale unit that gives more feedback, and a male instructor. However, I'm still evaluating it. One disadvantage to Wii Fit is that it makes me think much more about my exercise routine than the program I have been using. It was nice to be able to turn my brain off and just follow the on-screen instructor, from warm-up, through the routine, then finally through cool-down. Wii Fit will most likely be more of a fun complement, but not necessarily a replacement. Also, as soon as Ian is more confident with his balance, hopefully he will want to try it out.

Finally, I came across this article in the Wired RSS feed. At this point, I can't waste my time and energy running down every treatment option that is available. We have the best care possible through the University of Minnesota, and I believe that we couldn't be in better hands. However, something like this is an answer to my (daily) prayer of "grace and mercy for today, hope for tomorrow."

My Father's Day Gift (Ian, Tom)

(I'm posting this on on both the CaringBridge and HendersonHome sites, for anyone keeping score. It's Father's Day, and I can do what I want.)

This Father's Day is perhaps one of the most difficult ones I've had since my father passed away nineteen years ago. On one hand, I feel a stab knowing that my little boy is struggling as he is. However, I focus on the fact that I have Ian with me right now, and I take the opportunity to make sure he knows that I love him, and that I'm proud of him. I started the day telling him that he is the reason I'm happy to be a father, and how proud I am of him.

And the truth is, I am incredibly proud of him. He is perhaps one of the most kind and giving individuals I have known, far beyond his years. Case in point: Ian was given a generous gift card to Target recently. He and Deb went there so that he could have some fun, picking out swimming toys. He wanted to buy Deb's groceries with it (she refused), but he was determined to buy my Father's Day gift, with his own gift money. This is not an isolated circumstance; it's how he is. We're in the middle of a multi-day Monopoly game. He currently owns 2/3 of the board, and has ten times the money that I do. (Mental note: get a financial advisor ASAP.) He wants to give me some of his money, just so that I can continue to play with him.

My son is grateful, too. Often, Ian will say "thank you" for things that most people take for granted. He has made it a point to thank restaurant employees for cooking his food. Ian will thank us for little things (Hot Wheels cars, a cookie, taking him out to eat) as well as larger things. He understands that he is not entitled to these things, and that they are gifts.

In many ways, I hope to be like him someday. He is my son, and he teaches me about how life should be lived. I can think of no greater Father's Day gift.

Thank You (Ian, Temporal Echoes of the Eternal)

Over the past few days, we have been overwhelmed multiple times.

After a while, it gets exhausting. I was overwhelmed with terror over what I did not know, but what I suspected. I wanted to initially think that what Ian was experiencing was due to a lazy eye and an ear infection, but the fears wouldn't leave me alone. On Wednesday night, about 36 hours before the MRI, this is what I wrote in my journal:

I want to believe that the symptoms aren't related. I want to believe that he's got an inner ear infection, plus a lazy eye. However, it's difficult when a doctor wants him to have an MRI. When those words are out in the open, they invite other words that make my strength leave. Words like "tumor," "inoperable" and others that I can't bear to write.

Then, after we got the news, I was overwhelmed once again. I can't remember the last time I've felt such crushing waves of sorrow and terror. My little boy...my "warrior in training"...this little guy whom I call (to his annoyance) "Buddy Bear"...suddenly, I'm being told that I'm not going to get to see him grow up. That all the dreams we've had for him are, in all likelihood, not going to happen. The grief and fear came on me and would not let go even now, it's still a terrible constant companion, welling up when it's not wanted, and it overcomes me.

But, Deb and I are also overwhelmed by the outpouring of compassion that we're seeing and hearing from our family and friends. I've lost count of the number of churches and prayer groups that are lifting us up. Emails, voice mails, calls and visits have been flooding in since we started letting people know about Ian. Knowing how many people love and care for Ian, as well as Deb and me, has been...I can't put it into words. "Touching" doesn't come close. "Humbling" is closer to the mark. "Needed" is definitely there. "God-sent" is right on the mark. We need to hear from you at this time, and more importantly, later in this process. But right now, it's one of the few bright spots in this nightmare, to hear so many people say "We love you, and we want to help."

Thank You, to everyone who has contacted us, and continues to think of us. If I have to be overwhelmed, this is not a bad way to have it happen. I want to say "Thank You" to our friends at Living Waters church in Lakeville. We haven't been with you very long, but the kindness we've seen has been proof that God is living in this body of believers. We want to thank our friends at Berean Baptist in Burnsville; you have been so quick to reach out and show how much you care. Friends who we see regularly, and those whom we haven't seen in years are taking the time to let us know that they love us and want to help any way they can. We treasure all of you, and hope that soon we can tell you in person what God is doing through this time.

Recently, Deb and I have noticed changes in our son, Ian. Dizziness, loss of balance, sore throat, and one of his eyes wasn't tracking with the other. We initially thought that this was an inner ear disturbance, plus a sinus infection. We were urged by two doctors to have an MRI. After it was done yesterday, we were given a horrible prognosis. Ian has a tumor in his brain stem. It is malignant. The tumor is placed deep enough that it is inoperable. We will start radiation treatments in less than two weeks. The treatments will be aggressive (5 times/week for 6 weeks).

Please keep us in your prayers. We will need them more than ever. Deb has set up a Caring Bridge page for the latest news; it's at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/ianhenderson. Also, I will be blogging here more an more.

An Orthodontic Milestone

Yesterday, Ian lost one of his top teeth:


He's lost two bottom ones, but it's harder to count those; his adult teeth came in almost immediately, so it was harder to see a difference.

All I pray is that they keep coming in straight...

My Wonderful Son

Times like these, I love being a father.

On Friday evening last week, at the supper table I complained about the lack of snowblower we were facing in light of an upcoming snowfall. Somewhere in the range of two to four inches was expected, and I would have to do it all by hand.

I was woken up early yesterday morning by my lovely wife. "You've got to come see this," she said. I looked out the window and saw lines going across the snow in the driveway:


Before Ian had rushed outside a little while earlier, he told Deb that he felt bad that our snowblower wasn't working, and he didn't want me to have to shovel the driveway, at least not by myself.

A son like that is a treasure.

That doesn't mean that he likes having his picture taken, though...

Halloween

We had the joy of sharing Halloween this year with our friends, the Staskas. They have a lovely neighborhood with sidewalks and plenty of houses that participate.

This year, Ian is getting into Star Wars. Dad and Mom have allowed him to see the original trilogy (episodes 4, 5 and 6 for anyone keeping track). So, true to form, Ian was Luke Skywalker for Halloween:



The Staska children were a clown, and Obi Wan Kenobi. So, Luke and Obi Wan ran around the neighborhood, waving light sabers and shaking down the residents for candy. Having a clown join them made the experience just a little bit more surreal.



Things were just dandy until we ran across another little boy who was dressed up as a clone trooper (he's a bad guy, for those of you not in the know). Luke and Obi Wan used the force to confuse the trooper, so that there wasn't a confrontation ("These are not the Snickers bars you are looking for.")

Trip to Southern Illinois (Catchup Post)

A couple of weeks ago, we were able to go to Southern Illinois and visit family. It was great to see friends & family. It was also fun to get to show Ian the area where I grew up. He's old enough to start remembering people and understand that Daddy was actually a little boy once (a loooong time ago) and that this is where he was that little boy.

Here are some pictures of Ian at Giant City State Park...

Weekend Report: 9/28-9/29, 2007

The primary difference between this past weekend and the previous four (or five...I've lost count) is not what we did, but what we didn't do. We did not paint. For one thing, it was rainy. Veeery convenient. Plus, we needed a break.

So, what did we do? In the search for new activities, we tried out The Works, an engineering/technology museum in Edina. It's small, but there's plenty for children ages 5+ to do. Ian wasn't very interested in or how or why something worked, but more interested in what was next. That, and building things. In the past year or so, he's gotten into Construx. Legos are for artists; Construx are for engineers. This kids going to design things, I know. Anyway, there was a nice variety of Construx pieces for him to create a race car, and then a downhill track to race against other cars. It's kind of like the track at Legoland at Mall of America, with two differences:

1. The Works uses Construx (obviously)
2. Whereas Legoland has 10,000,000,000 pieces but only five wheels in the whole place, The Works hasn't been ravaged yet, so there are plenty of wheels. One kid made a car that had eight or nine of them, and reminded me of the current Batmobile.

At any rate, two minutes after we got to The Works, I realized that I had forgotten our camera. There were some great photo ops there. However, we will definitely go back. In October, they're making "Fizz Rockets." What little boy wouldn't love that?

However, taking a six-year-old boy to a place like "The Works" can also be an exercise in frustration for someone like me. At each exhibit, I wanted to teach Ian why it was working; he just wanted to do it, and move on to the next one. Hopefully, now that he's done all of the exhibits, the next time I can spark some curiosity in him. Then I'll have my camera...

Afterwards, it was burgers, fries and shakes at The Convention Grill, followed by a walk around Lake Harriet. We got to watch the waves and the first autumn colors.

All in all, it was much better than being up on a ladder.

As promised, some pictures...

I promised some pictures last time, and I'm ready to deliver. And in only 3 days, too!

Well, anyway, there's some catching up to do. First off, at the end of August, I went home to Southern Illinois to attend the funeral of my stepfather, Frank Robinson. I received a surprise on our driveway when I got back:


It might be a little hard to see, but the chalk drawing on the left is of some balloons. On the right are the words "Welcome Home Dad!" If you look at the top of the drawing on the rights, there are white chalk lines going into our garage; Ian drew me a parking space.

Next up, we have kindergarten pictures. A couple of weeks ago, Ian started Kindergarten:

He was anxious to get there, but graciously paused long enough for a couple of pictures. When he finally got to his Kindergarten room, his patience was rewarded:

As soon as he walked in, he was confronted by one of his best friends, Adam. No doubt, they were discussing something of cosmic importance from the Star Wars universe.

Finally, I have been claiming for a couple of years that we needed to paint the house, and that this year (whatever year it happened to be) was the year it was going to be done. I am proud to say that Deb and I are almost done with the south side (the front of the house). Or, at least as much as we can do without a longer ladder. But, as evidence of our Herculean endeavor, here is a shot that shows off the old grey vs. the new grey:
On the left is our old, dingy grey. On the right is the new, "bluer" grey. Once we get the shutters back up, I'll post some more shots.