Christmas Eve-Eve-Eve Catch-up
Let's start this off with a report on my Dad and our Family Cancer Fight. By and large, we've managed to kick most of the cancer's butt six ways to Sunday — which is AWESOME. However, there are still a couple of small spots that are being boneheaded, and we'll begin taking care of them the first of the year. We were hoping the spots would be an infection of some kind, which would have (potentially) meant Dad's breathing difficulties could be explained away — outside of his already-present asbestosis. But, the biopsy showed cancer, and we'll be praying for healing to get Dad's lungs back to better capacity; it seems the lymphoma or the CHOP chemicals exacerbated the asbestosis, which lead to his breathing getting worse. However, we have hope for healing, because Faith is hope in things not seen — and we have Faith that God can heal the sick. We are, by no means, at the end of the line, thankfully. It's irritating, frustrating, anger-inciting, and sometimes depressing — but we can get through this chapter, too. I have a clear vision of our entire family doing family things together, all in good health. Mom and Dad walking in their garden together, Mom and Dad shopping together, the family vacationing together — Dad completely delivered from his need of supplemental oxygen. Hope in things not seen, my friends.
••••••••
Speaking of cancer, if you're reading this and you're the praying or vibe-sending type, please say some words not only for my Dad, but for the Mom of a good friend of mine. My friend's Mom's name is Liz, and she's fighting a horrible battle with cancer right now, and she too, is in much need or prayer and support. The family is strong, but cancer can quickly make the family weak, emotionally and spiritually. Pray for their strength, and pray for wisdom, and pray for healing, mercy, and compassion.
••••••••
With the above said, there's been another massive change in the Family History: a McCown resigned from the company my Dad helped become the highly respected, front-liner it is in the construction and scaffolding industry. That McCown was me. Yup, as odd as it seems, I've resigned — but I resigned for a wonderful reason: to be available to help my Mom and Dad with anything and everything they need help with. Another great thing about this move is that I'm able to maintain employment at another one of my Dad's companies, where I'll basically be a financial manager of sorts, handling investments, tax issues, etc. This combo will let help with Mom and Dad when needed, as well as help Dad with portions of investment management — so I'll get to go back to working for my Pop.
It's still strange to sever this tie after all these years. Not only that, but our company has been in the family for decades — longer than I've been around — so our company is all I've known. I used to call Dad at work when I just a little kid and talk to his secretary — and 28 years later, I start working with her. All the people that made — and make — the company what it is for all these years. So many memories. So much success. What a blessing it's been to me, my wife, and the entire family — and more importantly, under Dad's compassionate leadership, it's been a blessing to the hundreds of workers that we employ. But, my time is done there. My job description now covers doing whatever Mom and Dad need — and I can't think of a better way to spend who knows how long. Before, it was just Dad I worked for. Now, it's Mom, too — and I love getting to spend more time with both of them.
There are several people I miss seeing already, and it's only been a week — and it's kind of nice to think that there may be a few people missing me, too. Good looks, guys and gals!
••••••••
This move will also let me devote more time to getting my guitar effects — RAILhead Effects — pushed and in publicity more. I'm still selling a couple/few a week after the initial rush — and that's on nothing but word of mouth and some way too short demos on the site. I have a feeling that once I start advertising and get some new demos up, I'll be able to build a fairly consistent amount of the suckers without worrying about getting too busy with my other job.
••••••••
And in speaking of starting things, for those paying extra special attention, I just renewed my REALbasic Professional License. What could that possibly mean...? Hmm...
••••••••
Here's the final result of the homemade Christmas Ornament I mentioned a few posts back — it's a fully working, lighted Christmas tree!
NICE! It's powered with two 2032 cell batteries, and the switch can turn off the lights to preserve batteries (the lights are on in both these shots, but you can't easily see them the first shot).
••••••••
Okay, that's it for now. My Lunesta is to the point of letting me know it really can drop me like an ox if it has to. You got the update and prayer requests for Dad — as well as the one for Liz. You got where I resigned from my position as CIS and HR Manager at Miken Specialties, ltd. You got where I'm working at a new private company as a Financial Manager. And lastly, you got the wicked-cool homemade ornament we made for 2008.
Merry Christmas, everyone. Please never forget that there is a God in Heaven that loves you as you are right now — not as someone "thinks" you should be. He wants you to have a full and abundant life, enjoying the most of what we are offered here on earth — and He wants to lead you toward that abundant life with Jesus, the One who died for our sins because He loves us so much.
"Life is nothing more than emotional and physical ups and downs, mountains and valleys. Our soul and spirit rests at the foot of the cross, which is unmoving. A Christian's Life is a result of how he or she tempers both of those with one another, letting one serve as the counterbalance for the other when needed." — Maury McCown.
Comments:
What’s a REALBasic license? Maybe supposed to be secret, but I’m pretty curious now!
Maury’s speaking in “code.”
Thanks for the kind words. Liz just came back from a 5-day stay at the hospital, to get a mega-dose of chemo. Hopefully this will put us on the mend, as they say ‘round here.
Merry Christmas!
REALbasic the programming language I use for the software I used to write. There’s an ever-so-slight chance I may start coding again, if my schedule begins to open-up more.
Add a Comment:
Syndication: ATOM | RSS 2.0
Everything contained herein is copyright © Maury McCown. Don't tread on me.
This site is gleefully hosted by Media Temple and managed dynamically using ExpressionEngine 1.6.8.
This site has been viewed 2044009 times.
This page was rendered in 4.6165 seconds.
<quote>
And in speaking of starting things, for those paying extra special attention, I just renewed my REALbasic Professional License. What could that possibly mean…? Hmm…
</quote>
I hope this means I’ll get a new intel-ready “PasswordMaster”