The LORD'S DAY - March 11, 2007

From Robert and Trudy,

To our wonderful Christian brothers and sisters at Bethel Baptist Church in Colfax, Louisiana:

We are so thankful for your support and love today and in these last couple of weeks. Your willingness, indeed, urging to let us be together during the days of hospitalization in Houston is appreciated more than you will ever know (Trudy here: "I need him!"). We have been able to be together through some of the most difficult of experiences . . . and we have also experienced the blessing of some extraordinay times of relief, joy, hope, assurance, and intensified closeness with the Lord. Our Lord made this possible through you . . . we are grateful far beyond what our words can express.

We are praying for you today as you gather for services. Trudy and Robert both, have a deep and abiding appreciation for the times of worship that we experience at Bethel. We pray that all who gather there today will truly cherish this day of worship. "This is the day the Lord hath made, we will rejoice and be glad in it."

To our wonderful family:

Last night, I (Robert) re-read each of the guestbook notes. I noticed that our family is pretty extensive. Trudy's aunt Calvalene is in Italy right now, Robert's niece Tami is in Canada, and from the Atlantic to the Pacific, from deep in Louisiana to Oregon, and dozens of points all over the great USA . . . our families have rallied to our side with love, concern, encouragement, and prayer. On Robert's side, we even have a cousin (Jeffrey Mikeska, son of Mary Jo Shackelford Mikeska) sharing these fine facilities with us here at M. D. Anderson Hospital. Jeffrey has just undergone "Jaw replacement" surgery with steel, bone, and skin graft replacements. Jeffrey is an A.L.L. survivor from when he was diagnosed at 13 months. There have been other major illnesses throughout Jeffrey's life . . . he is truly an inspiration . . . and a survivor.

We have a great family. Trudy's mom, Effie Benoit, our brothers and sisters have been great, great, great. Then, God has blessed us with our great children. Thank you God for Brian and Jessica. Thank you God for Wendy, Kirk, Daniel, Melanie, and Kara.

To our many friends through the years:

We can't tell you how much encouragement it brings to our hearts to see a note from a friend. That you would open up the guestbook and then enter a message . . . that means so much. We hope you never get tired of doing that for we never tire of hearing from you. Your love, support, encouragement, and prayerful concern is . . . "Priceless!"

I know this is long . . . but, truthfully, we could go on and on with expressing our appreciation and heartfelt love.

Love in the Lord,
Robert and Trudy