Encouraging Weekend

We had a good weekend at home, spending time with the kids and much of our family. It was good to be able to go to church today and receive so much encouragement from all our brothers and sisters in the Lord.

We just got back to Rochester with Mom and Dad Sauder in preparation for tomorrow morning's surgery. The kids are with Leann's folks for the first part of this week. It went ok leaving them behind but it was really sad when we first got home Friday night trying to explain everything to them. Lexi seems to be taking it pretty hard, I think she can understand more of what is going on. Wesley gets really sad for a while, but then he's off to play again. Whitley seems to be just taking cues from everyone else and cries when she sees the rest of us crying.

We know you will all be prayerful for us tomorrow. Pray for me that I don't fear the pain and unknown's of coming out of surgery. Pray for Leann and Mom and Dad to have calm strength as they wait through it. And pray that Leann can handle the feelings of helplessness she expects to have once surgery is over.

Love,
Derek and Leann