no test more than we cannot pass

Peter wrote to the Church at Corinth and said it this way, "No trial has overtaken you that is not faced by others. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tried beyond what you are able to bear, but with the trial will also provide a way out so that you may be able to endure it." This is something I believe and was the first thing I grabbed onto as Truth the very day this gauntlet began. (1 Cor 10:13)

And I shake my head and wonder how the heck I'm going to get through this.

I'm not. Well, not alone anyway. ;)

The news from Josh and Joanie was uplifting. The details came in steadily that I'd become an uncle to a little baby boy. After holding him and spending time with him, Joanie and Josh named him Simon. Calls here and there to my folks and Josh gave me little boosts all weekend. Monday arrived and Life kicked back into gear.

My assistant, the guy I really really needed and was so happy to have finally brought onboard and begun sharing work with, gave me his two weeks notice yesterday. I really couldn't blame him. He'd been actively seeking an assignment when I came calling. Through a breach of proper notice, he was offered a contingency job elsewhere but still within the company. It would have been, like a broken record, a shorter commute and more money for him, just like my first guy. He got bullied into staying on my task, if you ask me honestly. So hearing that he would now be leaving for a new company altogether came as absolutely no surprise.

I issued a tactfully muted 'I told you so' to my management as I now have to interview more candidates less than a week before the pressure cooker starts. I have back to back to back classes needing full support all the way through the first week of July. I'll be off the chemo halfway through it, but also finishing the chemo half way through it... ifyaknowwhatImean [/Vern]

But this isn't more than I can handle. Um, yeah. Thanks for that. ;)

The truth is, when my last assistant was here, or rather the lazy bum who was sitting at his desk, I was doing all of the work. It was getting done on just my limited hours and with my somewhat rusty skills and cloudy head. Yeah, I'm feeling the chemo more and more as we go, but I am done with round three on Wednesday and halfway through the forest. It might be tough, but I'm not scared... I honestly think I could live without an assistant. It's not like I'll have much free time to train anyone until July any way. I need to be very discerning in the next few days as I am or am not able to interview new peeps.

Shifting gears completely, please say a little prayer for me as I've been in touch with the Cancer Center at NIH. My loving neighbor Melissa sent me a news article on a series of trials for a new procedure aimed at treating inoperable liver cancer; specifically that which has spread from other tumors. I drilled through and found the NIH links and left a voicemail today to see if my case is one they may need volunteers for.

It doesn't sound too scary, but it also doesn't sound like a breeze. I'm also concerned that it may cost me a fortune. That would suck because I feel very strongly that these trials may be a way I can do something good by helping the research along and maybe giving someone else a better chance in the future. My guess is that they'll want my history, yadda yadda, and we'll go from there.

- Sco