Ok folks, I've been keeping the facebook thing more up-to-date than this, but I will keep this up with significant news as best I can. Thankfully, no news is good new right now...

It has been a year now since Ian's relapse, and things are going well on the new Chemo. The last consultation with doctor had us going on this regimen till next July. He continues to tolerate it well, and is doing pretty good at center mid, or stopper in soccer. I am continually surprised, blessed, and grateful for how well both of my boys are doing in school.

I am currently travelling on a two weeks gone, one week home schedule to Rhode Island, and while I am home presently, I do miss the boys and Kathy something bad when I am gone.

A couple really cool moments to note: I had the priveledge to baptize Ian a couple weeks ago. He has requested it for some time, but we couldn't hold him back any longer.

Also, today I finished my first half marathon. The Nike Women's in San Francisco to benefit the leukemia and lymphoma society. Over $14M was raised today to support research for cures, and to help support the families that are going through this. Today I did my part. 2 hours,17 minutes, for 13.1 miles. I feel pretty good about it at the moment.

God be praised for such an uneventful update.

She aint no: Motherless Child

It's been a while since the last post, but gotta put this up.

After a beautiful, relaxing day yesterday, sailing on the Bay (for the first time ever for me, but I loved it), we learned that Kathy's mother passed on this morning. She had been battling cancer for the past 5 years, and it really wore her down. She was a great mother, mother-in-law, wife, grandmother. She will be truly missed.

Cynthia DeAlba Kimmins Hardin, Mother of my Beloved, beautiful and strong women. You were loved, adored by your daughter, and appreciated by your son-in-law, and will be missed by your grandkids. We now are left to live, love, and learn together with your memory, and the lasting impact on our lives. I pray that my boys learn from this, but that they don't assume that cancer WILL take them, but God is Good regardless. We need this to be the lesson.

God Bless you Cynthia.

Rolling along

School starts soon and the boys (and Kathy) are more than ready. Before we called the end to summer, we had a really nice camping trip up to the mountains. A little wet and cool for a day, but in the end things were good. Friends, brothers, sisters. Days and nights on the mountain. Fishing, swimming, shooting, bike riding, a nice 7 mile run at 5200 ft.

Chemo has been tough the last few times, and Kathy's mom is not doing well. Kathye will take a trip back to be with her soon, and I will start travelling to Rhode Island soon. So we are still in a crucible, but there are blessings regardless.

Well guys, this is a recent pic of my youngest, Ian, currently surviving Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma, Survivor of a serious relapse. Lover of baseball, of camp Okizu, of a purple dragon flyz, a true boy, a boy of faith, a boy willing to give when he feels led.

Looks pretty good for a kid on chemo, doesn't he?

Yes, we are still dealing with it every day, every week, but man, it seems good at the moment. And we are thankful for every moment. His standardized test scores at school are now up to, or above grade level now, and I am just thankful. Praise God.



Friends, Family, Neighbors. Thank You. May the peace that passes all understanding guide your heart and minds in our Jesus.

Closer to Fine

Last post was Caleb at Camp Okizu, and this one is for Ian.

We saw Ian off on Monday, and will pick him up on Sunday. Since it was his second year, he was all jazzed to see his friends from last year, and couldn't really sleep the night before. To see the joy and expectation on the face of the young boy was a delight. We are thankful that he is able to go this year, and since things are looking good, we are not limiting his activities this year. The fact that his friends can come back this year is not taken for granted.

Going to a camp for kids with cancer is a tough thing. Every session has kids that won't be back this year, or next. The kids know this to some extent, but are still able to have a good time. To live, climb, swim, play, run, and whatever they are able to do, without the burden of loss.

May we live in the day and learn from our youngsters. God Bless

Walk of Life

Life keeps on moving...

Writing here on a Saturday night, I'm missing my oldest, Caleb, and hoping that he has had a good time at camp this week. That sounds strange to me, to say that I'm missing my 11 year old son, but it's true. Both boys are somewhat older than their years, probably more so for Ian, but it's also true of Caleb. And as Caleb has been away for the week, it makes me very aware that even in the best of situations, we only have our kids for a short time. We love them, disciple them, play with them, laugh with them, worry about them, but they are only our "kids" for a while, and then they are on their own. So we try to live life, here, now, in full color, in full energy and in the full grace of God

May God bless parents, and give them the love they need to share their life with their kids, and the ability to savor the moments when they can, knowing that life will keep walking on.

The last PET/CT scans we had for Ian were clear. We praise God, and are incredibly thankful for that, and all the normal summer days we get to spend together right now. We will then miss him when he goes off to camp in a couple weeks. Take care folks.

Sound and the Fury

11pm on July 4th, Pacifica, California. AKA the War Zone.


As I sit here and write, the sky outside is lit by the mortars, rockets, and any other incendiaries that might be named. This year is a little more tame that previous, due in part to the new $5K fine for illegal fireworks, or maybe it's the economy, I don't know, but it hasn't dampened everyone's spirit. Every now and then someone lights off a big keg, that is, about 24 to 36, 2" shells that seem like an entire fireworks show for a small town, or minor league baseball team, all in what seems to be our front yard. The smell, the felt percussion, the way they light up the night sky. It's pretty incredible. This town is different. Good or Bad I don't really know.

We just got back from a really nice trip to Texas where we saw Grandma, Grandpa, Brother Kyle, Aunts, Uncles, and cousins. It was good, but man was it hot, but not too hot to eat all that food that we miss so much. What was difficult was trying to keep to my training there in the heat. I did, but it was a little painful, and I'm paying for it now. Good thing today is a day of rest. Every one is healthy, and we should get the results back from Ian's scans that were done the week before last. We thank God for this time together with family, for health, and the smell of gunpowder on a 4th of July evening.

Running to Stand Still

Training is going well, but I don't think I'll ever be a true endurance athlete. I'm up to 6 miles, 3 times a week, plus the long run on Saturdays. And my body is telling me I was just not made to do this type of thing, with my knees being the loudest protester. I had to go into a counseling session at the gym at work after a recent evaluation of Body Mass Index. Seems that the stats are close enough to obese that I am at risk of all sorts bad stuff. Of course, I feel better than I have in years, and can eat almost anything I want.

Contributions to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society because of Ian have been great, and I thankful for all. It's time for me to hold up my end of the bargain

Today was a chemo day, and either the drugs, or minor sickness have knocked Ian down. But the resiliency of the little guy is incredible. God be praised!

Rockin in Paradise

Below are some pics from Camp Okizu. The log traverse was Caleb's favorite, especially when they added the leap to get the rag, Ian was happy with a straight climb, but ended up doing the log traverse very nicely.

Of course both boys, and daddy, got a kick from the zip line.


To the left is Caleb after one traverse, and getting ready for another.


The white rag he had in his belt was meant to place on a pulley to jump out and grab. Which he did. Cool.

On the right is Ian for the first on the log





Ian and Caleb ready for the zip line.








Just some foolishness to share. Okizu is a cool place, with a cool mission.

Well, I really don't know what to say about this. In my attempt to raise some funds to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, I have failed in a significant way...

I completely underestimated the generosity of our friends and family. I have been touched by the donations that have come in to the point that I haven't known what to say. I truly thank God for the love shown. To those anonymous donors that I will never be able to thank personally, May God Bless and Honor your giving and give it effectiveness in purpose.

I'll write more about it later, but I guess I have really do this now. I did my first run with the group today under clear blue skies at Crissy Field and I felt good. My knee is holding up, but we are just at the beginning.

Also, Caleb and Ian won their playoff game today, with both boys getting a hit. I wasn't there to see the joy in faces, but from what I hear, they acted like they had won the world series. Again, God be praised.

Spread your arms and hold you breath and always trust your cape

This weekend was blur, but a good blur. We were blessed to experience something that Ian had last year when he, as 7 year old boy, went off by himself for a week long camp about 5 hours from home.

We spent the long weekend at Camp Okizu. This is a beautiful, Sierra mountain camp run for children, their siblings, and families that are experiencing, or have experienced cancer. Last year Ian spent a week with about 100 other children who were going through, or had gone through a similar experience. They were no longer the odd, child with cancer. They were among true peers.

We shared stories, cares, worries, and blessings with others who were in, or had been in the same boat. This weekend we were no longer the family who was dealing with childhood cancer. We were just a some of the folks there to have a good time and share experiences.

We paddled canoes on a mountain lake, shot arrows at imaginary deer and enemies, climbed trees, and spent what was too much time on the ropes course and zip line. Caleb made it across the 25' high cat walk and up to the 50' flag, and Ian spent his time doing spiderman and trying to do the superman on the zip line. And despite the mosquitoes, poison oak, and high pollen counts, we had a really great time. God be praised. It's time for some rest now before work. Take care.

Sunshine in a Bag...

For any who may be following this...

Today was a beautiful day in Pacifica. Temps were in the 80's, the sun was shining, and the mountains were still green around us. It was a good day for baseball, and my boys were shining. Caleb and Ian are on the same team this year, and Kathy and I are the team parents.

They were hitting well, and to see the joy in their faces as they swatted the ball was amazing. I was watching from the dugout as each boy took their turns as bat, and for maybe the first time, I focused on the batter, instead of the hit ball. I watched as they first connected, then realized they made contact, and then understood they had to run. It was pure joy on their faces as they made it to first, second, or third. Now understand, we expect chemo to continue for the year or so, but we continue on, and are thankful in life that is given us.

God has granted us a season of joy, and I pray they appreciate it. I know I do

Also, I have done it. I have committed to doing the Nike San Francisco Marathon in October in support of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I must raise the funds and do the marathon. We have benefited from this organization tremendously, and we must give back. I pray that the efforts lead to progress. I have never done anything like this before, and I am unsure and nervous about the effort, but I will see it through. God give us strength, and I will update on the efforts. The link for giving is:

Scot's Marathon

Blessed be Your Name

"Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be
Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

...

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name"

I have a hard time with this. It is just a little ditty that I first knew from the Newsboys and Matt Redman, but we do it often in worship, and every time it seems difficult. I can't help but put myself into the song, but is it a little too close for comfort.

At this time it seems the sun is shining down on us. We are blessed with health, prosperity, and some some stability. And God be praised, and blessed be His Name. But the road has been marked with suffering. I still feel it, and know the possibilities are ever with us. But blessed be His name in all of it.

Ian had his chemo today and everyone is doing very well. Caleb and Ian had a terrific game on Monday. Caleb went 2 for 2 with what should have been an easy triple and a couple of good plays in the field, and Ian went 1 for 1 with a strong single. I asked Ian how the chemo went today, and what he really was excited to talk about was how he got 2 bags potato chips for the 1 dollar he put into the machine. It is the little things in life. All in all things things are good, and God be praised.

Well, some time has passed since my last post, but that is not all bad. We have been to the mountains, done a little skiing and sledding, and had our first winning game on the diamond. We've also had our 18th week PET, CAT, and MRI scans, and things are good.

Ian's doctor had some stern warnings about helmets and sun screen, but the chemo schedule we are on seems to doing it's thing and there is no cancer to be found. We praise God in this, and life seems pretty normal, with the possible exception of the bi-weekly chemo. We will continue on this path for the foreseeable future, but with some comfort and peace.

This weekend here on the coast has been beautiful, with plenty of sun, and the temps have been up to a balmy 75 or 80, so we broke out the shorts and had a really nice time. Personally, I'm still a little concerned about the economy, my job, the family's health, and the downward spiral of capsaicin content in commercially available jalapeno, but we are surviving, and God is providing the Grace to go on.

Yall take care, and if you haven't already, drop me a note, or drop by for a visit.

Which way the wind blows

It's amazing what you can forget...

Kathy and the boys are good. Work is more consuming and worrisome that it should be. All the events in the world around sometimes crowd out what we should be thinking about, or appreciating. We were at a basketball game for Ian on Wednesday. Caleb and I were shooting hoops a bit while the youngun wasn't on court and things were relaxed. Ian went onto the court and we began watching and making small talk with another father. After a while he commented that Ian might have lost a little of the usual defensive mojo that he normally exhibited. And Mojo he normally has, with more energy than our little rat terrier going after a rodent, simply grabbing the ball out of his opponents hands. I commented that yeh, he seemed a little off his game, and wondered what was up.

After a bit more talk, Kathy leans over and whispers a reminder that yes, he should be off a bit, he just had chemo that afternoon. At first I felt some serious guilt that I was a horrible and neglectful father. I mean, what kind of father forgets about his son's day of chemo. After some time it was ok, and I really appreciated how things were going. Being able to forget, or at least put aside, some of the troubles of life is a blessing and a relief. Peace may come when you least expect it. Sometimes it comes in worship, sometimes at a basketball game. Who knew. I hope and pray that it can stay for awhile. And of course, I'll try not to forget these things from now on.

Run on For a Long Time...

Just a short note here to let folks know that things are good. Ian's 12th weeks scans were negative, and we will be moving to a bi-weekly chemo, with a spinal taps on a 6 week schedule. So things are as good as they can be right now, and I am thankful. Next step will be PET, CAT, and MRI's after the next 6 weeks. It seems that without a set protocol, we'll be hanging on these periodic scans and tests, just to see if we are on the right track



If anyone is actually reading this, seeing us at church, school, baseball, or looking at some of the photos below, it is hard to see that there is an issue, and honestly, we are thrilled with that. He has tolerated this weekly chemo in a way that has not been seen before, and we continue with basketball, baseball, skiing and school, and generally being a 8 year old boy. It is pretty amazing when I actually take time to think about it.



You don't run a marathon as a sprint, and it seems we are on an ultra right now. Sometimes the route has us running ridges between clear mountain lakes, and other times times we're pulling our boots out of the mire. Right now we're taking our time, pacing ourselves, enjoying the view, and glad to be alive and in God's care.

Sing for the Day

It was a a busy, busy week, but ended very nicely.

My Dad came out for a visit, Ian had his chemo and spinal tap, Kathy went back to Dallas to visit her Mom who was in the hospital dealing with her own very serious cancer, and I went down to Puerto Rico for work. The day after I get back, we are all together and back in town, and it's time to head off for ski week up in Tahoe.

Thanks to some good friends it all worked out. The boys stayed with those friends and had a great time on the extended sleepover. My Dad survived the chaos, and Kathy's Mom is now out of the hospital and back at home.

After all that, the last few days in the mountains were clearly God-given. Blue skies, good snow, a beautiful Tahoe mountain, and again, good friends. Thursday saw Ian, and his friend Will, take their first ride up on a chair lift and come down the full mountain. They overcame some significant fears, and after a morning of work together, they and their friends were off on their own to enjoy the day. They did great on ski's, but I gotta admit, I know they had a better time just playing in the snow and sledding, which did allow me to have a full day to hammer those slopes, and my knees, into submission.

We get to watch as our children grow, learn, and become their own persons. They each have their own challenges and burdens, but that is all they know, and with love and encouragement, they go on with life with greace and abandon. God be praised. There are even those times that the challenges are not in the forefront of my mind, and I can just enjoy the times of life we have been given

Ian has his 12th week MRI this coming week to see how the treatment is working. His health is good and we are encourage by his strength and attitude.


This thing called cancer has not beaten us, Ian, or his grandmother, and we are thankful. We will keep on keeping on, one day at a time, enjoying the lives we are given,and for the time that we have together. Again, God is good.

Sing for the day
Sing for the moment.
Sing for the rest of your lives

... A Far Green Country

By most measures today was a very good day. My lovely wife came back to us safely after a quick trip back to Dallas. We worshiped together as a family and I watched as my two boys rounded the bases and fielded grounders and fly balls successfully in the warm afternoon sunshine. Now everyone is going to bed tired and satisfied. God be Praised!

We have some new challenges ahead of us in the short term. Kathy's mom is in the hospital, and really only has a very limited time left with us. We will need to explain to Caleb and Ian that their Grandmother has gone on to be with God. That Ian can, and will, survive something similar to what claimed their grandmother. I will also be traveling down to Puerto Rico this week to evaluate a new opportunity.

We covet your prayers, and are sustained by the love and care of God, as expressed by those around us.

The grey rain-curtain of this world rolls back and all changes to silver glass. And then you see it. White shores, and beyond, a far green country under a swift sunrise (Tolkien)

They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. (John's Revelation)

The Waiting is the Hardest Part, or Time is on my Side?

Here's a news flash for everyone: I love BBQ. Really good BBQ. Yes, I know most you would never have guessed, but it is true.

I smoked some pork butts yesterday, to go along with a few briskets from a good Texas brother for the gathering we were having at church for the big game. I got a late start, and didn't get the meat on till about 9am. We went on about the day, with basketball and a good ball throwing and hitting time with Caleb and Ian, and when it came time for dinner, I really wanted to exercise a little chef's perogative and sample the q. But it wasn't time, and I had to wait. That spicy, smoky, heavenly aroma infused the whole neighborhood, but no touching till at least 9pm. 225F cooked to internal temp of about 190F, normally about 12 - 13 hours for me. No exceptions. I had to wait, and wait I did.

Like in the rest of life, good things take time. From the classic 9 month wait, or waiting for that big buck to Really step out into the clear, or the time it takes to make good BBQ, there is not much you can do to rush a really good thing. You wait in peace, take advantage of the time, and believe your wait is not in vain. Even if you think you may explode.

Good Weekend. Good game. Good family, friends. Good BBQ

And God is The good. And in that we rest, we wait, and we live on.

Just another day...

Tomorrow should be a fairly normal day, Tuesday, January 26, 2008 and Ian and I will go in at 6am to Stanford for what should be a routine chemo and and intrathecal (spinal tap). This will be, we think, the 16th or 17th spinal tap he has had. Seems a little strange how routine we take it at times. Someone sticking a needle in your spine, removing a little of the required fluid, and injecting just the right amount of poison. But it is working, and God be praised.

It is day by day, folks, as if it has ever been otherwise. God grants us to the grace to go to work, school, the grocery store, church, the local music venue, shooting range, basketball practice, whatever... and I am thankful.

If story remains the same, he could even go back to school tomorrow, and I will likely go back to work after the procedure. Pretty weird, eh?

Caleb's hair is now officially longer than his mother's, and I think she has taken some offense at this fact. We shall now brace for the ensueing battle for some sort of haircut, and though I now sport a short 3-5 fade, I have a heart for the boy's fate.

Just some recent pics of the troops...

Start it Up

Welcome to the Thomas Family Blotter!

After much thought, delay, and requests, we are now on the web now with updates for the Thomas Family!

We are still enjoying life here in lovely Pacifica, CA. Caleb is in the fifth grade and doing great. Ian is doing really well and enjoying second grade. Kathy is volunteering as much as possible at the boy’s elementary school, Ortega. I am still working with Amgen, and looking over our engineering and construction work in Fremont, South San Francisco, and Seattle, WA.

For those that have been following the progress with Ian:

We are now in month 16 of Ian’s, and our family’s, journey with Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma. As some of you may know, we thought it was gone after the initial 11 months of chemo and radiation, but we found another hot spot on the PET scan at the first reassessment in Nov 08’. This really hurt, and left us without a clear path forward.

Since then we have moved to Stanford’s Children’s hospital, and after much prayer and study, and consults the best doctors and staff around, Ian started on a new experimental chemo about 7 weeks ago. Much to everyone’s joy and thankfulness, the 6th week scans have shown that the new therapy is working, and there has been almost full response. We will continue on this same path for the next 6 weeks and reassess again. If it still shows that it is working, then we then continue it for at least the next year.

Since this is experimental, we really don’t when this will be complete and we can call it done.

Ian has been able to stay in school, and he is doing really well right now, with a lot of energy, and with really low side effects of this chemo. He is looking forward to baseball this year, and did really well in the evaluation a couple weeks ago.

Much is going on outside of our immediate family, but I’ll do that another time. If you’ve come this far, I promise I’ll keep it shorter next time and cover the rest of our lives. Thanks and God Bless