This was a really hard surgery guys, so he is in a lot of pain right now and he isn’t getting much rest.  He was asked to get up today and do a lap around the ward.  Our overachiever did *4* laps!  Not bad for someone who just had their guts ripped out, right?   We all know he is a strong guy…but this is going to be a very tough time for him.  He is going to want to be strong and protect us from his pain and his emotions.   But I don’t think this is the time for any of us to wear our “polite” “public” faces.   It is ok to be scared, sad, angry, frustrated or whatever the heck we feel right now.   Life is way too precious and short to be anything less than transparent, honest and *real* with the people we love.   Real love requires real honesty …and the bravery to allow others to see us as we really are.  Warts, tumors, poop and all!  

      Let me share something with you that I hope brings you some comfort, as it comforted me. 

Doug is my bestest buddy as well as my friend.   And I had a really bad night in the beginning of this journey.  I was scared and couldn’t sleep…and I was laying there crying in my bed.   And this is what the Lord impressed upon me.   He is the author of our lives.  He knows our story from the beginning to the end and everything in between.  None of this is a surprise for Him!  He has set the number of our days from before we were born.   And even though I tend to jump from Alpha to Zeta and skip everything in between? The number of days that Doug has left is no different than what it ever was…it is just that we are getting to this part of his story.  And God is with us…right now as He has always been.  We can’t live in the past, guys.   Those days are gone. And we can’t live in the future either…it is yet to be.  We live in the here and now…and we need to savor each moment of it.  We need to laugh often…and loudly.  We need to love…and love honestly.  We need to laugh or sing, cry or weep.  Because *right now* is our life!

      Before I close for the night, I want you to know this.    Know  that you all are so very, very precious.  To Doug, the family and most of all…to the One who created us.   Be kind to yourself.   Be kind to each other.  And may the Lord our Father bless you abundantly with His peace and comfort.  He loves us more than words can say!

         Much love from Doug’s older ( over protective, yet still adorable) older sister,

                                                                                                           Alisa  ( Ali)