Good Evening All,

It has been over 5 months now since I last sent out an update on Dad. First, all of our family would like to thank you again for your love and support and for your faithful prayers for Dad! Know that you are all loved very much! My last update was centered around a CT scan and consultation with the doctor that brought very good news at the time. Because Dad was feeling so well during that time, he was able to go on the spring bear hunt with Lang, Jake, and I. We had an awesome time and spent a week in some of the most beautiful country that God created, the Snake River country in Northeast Oregon. We also kept Dad very busy in July going on a number of "Day Trip" outings, in lieu of our normal Hinkle Family Camping Trip, including biking at Minto Brown Park in Salem, hiking at the Cascade Streamwatch Trail, a trip to the Oregon Coast and Jet Boating on the Rogue River out of Grants Pass!

And on June 20 Dad celebrated his 79th birthday!

We definitely have been busy making treasured memories! We are so very blessed! God is Good!!

At around the end of that busy, memory making season, there have been some pretty significant changes in Dad's condition. He has not had a great appetite and therefore he has lost a substantial amount of weight (approximately 38 lbs. total). As a result he is quite a bit weaker, has poor balance and moves pretty slowly. His pain also increased quite a bit so Dad, Mom, sister Trina and my daughter Ashley went for a visit with the oncologist on 9/9. At that visit the discovered that, because Dad was no longer seeking treatment (chemo, radiation, etc.) that his only option was to seek assistance from Hospice. Last Sunday 9/13, we met with Hospice and got Dad signed up and in their care. They were immediately able to supply stronger medication and on a more frequent schedule to combat the increased and significant pain that Dad is experiencing. This regimen has allowed Dad to "stay on top of the pain" better. He is still not sleeping very well so we are hopeful that the increased medication will allow him to experience that soon.

My sister, Trina, stayed with Dad and Mom for a couple of weeks and helped get things set up with the Hospice folks, did a lot of yard work, and helped Mom out a lot around the house before just recently returning to her home in California.

My brother Lang and his wife Candi also just spent the last 4 days with Dad and Mom helping them out as well.

My brother Scot will be arriving tomorrow, Monday 9/21, to stay for an extended period and help them out. 

Thank you all again for the Love, Kindness, Friendship and Prayers for my Dad and Mom in these most trying times. When ALL seems Hopeless remember that Jesus is our Hope! When we feel faithless our God is ALWAYS faithful!

Psalm 18:1-3

1 "I love You, O Lord, my strength."

2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

3 I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, And I am saved from my enemies.

If you would like to come by and visit Dad, please prearrange that and communicate through Mom as she will be able to let you know if it is a good time to visit.

We love you and appreciate you. I will try to send another update soon.

We Are in His Grip,

Craig