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We have news that Adam’s dad is being discharged from the hospital today, earlier than initially expected.  That’s good news.  Adam talked to his parents last night, and Steve seems to be doing better.  I don’t know any details, really, but I know you’d like to hear the good news that he’s going home.  Thanks to many of you for asking about him.  He could use your continued prayers.

In other news, Adam edited and uploaded an interview he conducted with my Grandpa Swanson in 2006.  If you’d like to hear about his childhood as a Swede in Minnesota and his time flying a “Pregnant Whale” in WWII, you can download the interview at http://lofbomm.com/Grandpa.mov.  (It’s a big download.)

And then, completely unrelated, I’m now #29 on the Idol Underground chart, up from #40 last week.  Thanks for stopping by- I’m sure it was you that raised my ranking.

We appreciate you, our friends and readers.

-Jessica

I try to keep things on the light side for this blog, but sometimes life is heavy.  I didn’t know how to write about my grandpa’s passing and this on the same day, so here it is.

Adam’s dad collapsed yesterday (Sunday morning) at home and was taken to the hospital.  They discovered that he has blood clots in his lungs.  He’ll be in the hospital for a week now as they thin his blood to get rid of the clots.  This could have been fatal.

I mourn the loss of my Grandpa, but he was an old man.  He lived his life, and it is natural for old men to fade out.  But Adam’s dad is only sixty.  He hasn’t gotten to hug his grandkids yet or take them camping.  This has been a really strong reminder of how much we love and value him in our life.

Please keep Adam’s dad, Steve, in your thoughts and prayers.

-Jessica and Adam

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My mom’s dad was an alcoholic. He was drunk through most of her special moments growing up. He was distant, and he lied. His wife didn’t trust him. He had high walls around him.

Then he got old. He still drank. He and Grandma moved from New Jersey to be near my mom and dad in Illinois.

Soon, my dad took away his car keys. He fought tooth and nail for his independence, but he wasn’t able to get out to drink without the car. The fog began to lift. And then, Grandma passed away. This man we had always known as irritable, lying, and closed, melted away. He mourned his wife.

Grandpa began to say “thank you.” He started to tell my mom, “I love you.” His dementia gave him a sweet naivety, an innocence. He talked about his good life and the gratitude he had for his family. His addictive tendency turned toward Oreo cookies. He walked through the hallways of his retirement community and greeted his neighbors with a smile, a hello, and a delicate handshake. He always asked my parents about their dog Blake, oh and then their kids. He became simple, warm, and grateful.

It was an incredible gift for my mom to get to know her father in the last few years.

Grandpa passed away in the middle of the night (this afternoon by our clock). He had skin cancer growing behind his ear since February, and it finally took him. I am grateful for my Grandpa and for his final years of love and clarity. He was a kind man.

-Jessica

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My mom wrote yesterday to say that Mrs. Riebock, my high school teacher passed away during a surgery.  It’s shocking news.

Mrs. Riebock taught at Wheaton Academy for 18 years.  She was my freshman and sophomore Bible teacher.  Her door was always open for young students who needed a shoulder or an ear.  Every inch of her classroom walls was hung with fabric, posters, branches, banners.  During Old Testament class, when she talked about the old Jewish laws of circumcision, she whispered the word, then screamed in terror.  Mrs. Riebock was hilarious.

I was at the Academy with her son and younger daughter.  Her older daughter is now a teacher there.  It’s all the more devastating since Mrs. Riebock’s husband passed away earlier this year.  Please pray for Quinn, Josh and Corbett who have lost both parents this year, so young.

Here is a memorial on the Wheaton Academy site.

-Jessica

“Get a down on a the floor!” he yelled.

“Put a the money in a the bag!”

“Keep a your head a down!” pointing at me.

“Stretchy out on a the floor!”

That’s right. There was a hold-up in the office this morning. My American manager, Aero, taught the crazy sales guy, Beong Soo, how to rob a bank. This was, of course after Beong Soo floated in, singing his noribang (karaoke) version of the Titanic song followed by an abridged version of “It’s Raining Men”.

I sang along.

-Jessica

This is simply amazing. You must watch it. Words cannot possibly do it justice. See if you don’t find your self humming this little ditty for days afterwards. Many thanks to the fine people of Japan for their continued commitment to educational ingenuity.

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I have a superpower.

No, I can’t fly. I can’t read minds. I can’t walk on glass. I have a special power that I call Doggie Love.

That’s right. I have a superhuman love for dogs. And they love me too. It’s an observable fact. Mean dogs, barky dogs, skittish dogs, passive dogs, good dogs– we have a connection. Each one sits down, licks my hands, shakes its leg at my scratching.

There are many examples I could share, but none so unique as last week in Japan:

Adam and I went to Ohori Park in Fukuoka to enjoy the beautiful night and walk around the lake there. As we rounded a bend, we saw a big, beautiful English Sheepdog ahead of us. Korea is full of pansy dog imitations, so I always jump at the chance to visit with big dogs. But the Sheepdog was far ahead of us, jogging with his owners.

The path curved again, and we lost sight of our friend. Since we were walking, and he was jogging, we knew we wouldn’t catch him without being weird dog people chasing him down. I hoped aloud to Adam that they would take a break and sit down on a bench.

As we rounded another curve, the Sheepdog came back into view, and as though he knew we had emerged, he stopped abruptly and swung around. The dog looked at me, then sat down. The owners pulled on his leash, but he just sat there, watching me as we approached.

Adam and I eventually reached him, and asked if we could pet him. The owners spoke English and laughed that their dog never stopped like that. “He was waiting for you!” We loved on the doggie for a minute, then he was on his way.

What’s your superpower?

Tonight, Adam discovered BARk magazine and bought me a subscription. Thanks, Addy! :).

-Jessica