So we were keeping this on the down-low, but now that it's over.... We decided to let you all know that Jeff had open heart surgery this past Friday. He had a genetic abnormality that caused an aortic aneurysm to develop. He's such a healthy, active guy that having this come to light was really out-of-the-blue... We found out about it only a week or so after we got back from our honeymoon.
It was discovered by accident ~ Jeff had a couple tests done for something else going on, and one of those tests showed this aneurysm, which was large enough to be in the "danger" zone. Normally these aneurysms don't have any symptoms, so what a blessing it was that it was discovered! Had it not been discovered in time, it could have ruptured, and that most likely would have been fatal. We are so thankful to God for bringing it to light.
And the surgery was successful! Risks were very low going into it, but of course open heart surgery IS open heart surgery; the aneurysm was cut out and a Dacron tube was grafted in; it all went very smoothly. The surgeon, Dr. Speir, was wonderful, as was all the staff... Jeff was well taken care of. It was done at Inova Heart & Vascular Institute at Inova Fairfax Hospital. Overall we just couldn't have asked for a better experience, and Jeff is doing the best he could be at this point. Thank God! And many thanks to all those of you who knew about it and lifted us up in prayer.
We've got a long road of recovery ahead of us. Jeff came home today (yay!) and isn't allowed to drive for 6 weeks, and so he'll be taking at least that much time off of work. But we are so relieved that the surgery is behind us, and things will only get better from here!
Monday, September 28, 2009
Monday, September 21, 2009
Saturday Soccer and Sunday Drive
Kiff's team won 5-0!
Too beautiful a day to sit inside.
The rest of the shots here were at the cemetery at Ketoctin Baptist Church just outside Purcellville. I love walking through cemeteries. Reminds me of the smallness of my own existence.
Too beautiful a day to sit inside.
The rest of the shots here were at the cemetery at Ketoctin Baptist Church just outside Purcellville. I love walking through cemeteries. Reminds me of the smallness of my own existence.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Recent Cooking Ventures
Well, it's nothing spectacular, but it's definitely fun. I made carrot cake which came out well, I thought! I mistakenly sent a bunch of carrot heads and peelings through the garbage disposal... They didn't get ground finely enough and ended up accumulating in the pipe below, which made the sink drain back up.... Jeff had to take it apart to get the gunk out. Yuck! No more carrot peelings down OUR drain. But I think the cake was worth it. :)
Here I am making homemake pizza dough, which came out great! I was excited. So excited that I forgot to take a picture of the final product before it was devoured. (Oops.)
And this is what I often see as I am preparing dinner. I think Allie must want to learn to cook. (Either that or she likes the bits of food I throw her way in the process. Yes, I spoil her. But look at her face and tell me you wouldn't do the same thing!)
Jeff and I are doing well, although we are going through a bit of a difficult time regarding a health concern; but it's drawing us closer together, and in the midst of it there are many reasons to be thankful. Please pray for strength and grace for us.
Other than that, we're off to a good start at the beginning of the school year. Kiff has begun her senior year, and on top of that she's got a part-time job, piano lessons, and soccer. Busy busy! Phil is also busy with a full-time job on top of a few courses at the local community college.
And we are getting settled in our new church, which is such a relief to me! Two Sundays ago was the first of the new Sunday School classes that just started up, and I went to one for women called "Becoming a Titus 2 Woman." (We're going through the Martha Peace book by the same name.) WHAT a refreshing time this was for me!! It seems like forever since I've been able to build relationships with other godly women, and I'm finally in a group of women among whom I feel at home. They remind me a bit of the ladies at the VMI Chapel - just wonderful, sweet women of God, of all ages, devoted to learning and growing and supporting each other in the process. I am thrilled to be a part of this class! Afterward several ladies engaged me in conversation and made me feel so welcome and at home; I love them already!
Also, word got out that I used to be involved in music ministry... The worship leader got a hold of me and is bringing me on board in October! I'm so thrilled!! I wasn't expecting to have the opportunity to serve in their ministry so quickly! I'm especially excited because I greatly appreciate this worship leader's spirit. He's genuine and humble and loves to truly worship instead of put on a show. He's the kind of leader I can respect. One thing I especially like about the way he does things is that he chooses two hymns or so to sing every Sunday, mixing them in with the more contemporary songs. He also often explains a bit about the hymns - their origin and meaning and such. I LOVE hymns... They are so rich, and I think it's a shame how they've fallen by the wayside in many churches today. Modern music has its place, I suppose, but let's not forget the songs of the saints who have gone before us!
Oh, and can you believe Federer lost??!? Wow, Del Potro!! Excited for him, and for Kim Clijsters too!
Here I am making homemake pizza dough, which came out great! I was excited. So excited that I forgot to take a picture of the final product before it was devoured. (Oops.)
And this is what I often see as I am preparing dinner. I think Allie must want to learn to cook. (Either that or she likes the bits of food I throw her way in the process. Yes, I spoil her. But look at her face and tell me you wouldn't do the same thing!)
Jeff and I are doing well, although we are going through a bit of a difficult time regarding a health concern; but it's drawing us closer together, and in the midst of it there are many reasons to be thankful. Please pray for strength and grace for us.Other than that, we're off to a good start at the beginning of the school year. Kiff has begun her senior year, and on top of that she's got a part-time job, piano lessons, and soccer. Busy busy! Phil is also busy with a full-time job on top of a few courses at the local community college.
And we are getting settled in our new church, which is such a relief to me! Two Sundays ago was the first of the new Sunday School classes that just started up, and I went to one for women called "Becoming a Titus 2 Woman." (We're going through the Martha Peace book by the same name.) WHAT a refreshing time this was for me!! It seems like forever since I've been able to build relationships with other godly women, and I'm finally in a group of women among whom I feel at home. They remind me a bit of the ladies at the VMI Chapel - just wonderful, sweet women of God, of all ages, devoted to learning and growing and supporting each other in the process. I am thrilled to be a part of this class! Afterward several ladies engaged me in conversation and made me feel so welcome and at home; I love them already!
Also, word got out that I used to be involved in music ministry... The worship leader got a hold of me and is bringing me on board in October! I'm so thrilled!! I wasn't expecting to have the opportunity to serve in their ministry so quickly! I'm especially excited because I greatly appreciate this worship leader's spirit. He's genuine and humble and loves to truly worship instead of put on a show. He's the kind of leader I can respect. One thing I especially like about the way he does things is that he chooses two hymns or so to sing every Sunday, mixing them in with the more contemporary songs. He also often explains a bit about the hymns - their origin and meaning and such. I LOVE hymns... They are so rich, and I think it's a shame how they've fallen by the wayside in many churches today. Modern music has its place, I suppose, but let's not forget the songs of the saints who have gone before us!
Oh, and can you believe Federer lost??!? Wow, Del Potro!! Excited for him, and for Kim Clijsters too!
Friday, September 11, 2009
US Open
One of the fun things about marriage is how melding together brings new interests to each partner... I used to be somewhat of a tennis fan when I was a pre-teen, but over the years I'd lost interest. Jeff, however, is an avid fan as well as a talented player. So for these few weeks - those in which the tennis world turns its attention toward the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, NY - the Case household is no exception.
I didn't even really know about the US Open. I mean, I had heard of it, of course, but I didn't know much. At the beginning of the tournament, when Jeff told me that this is the one time in the year when the TV would be on every night, I thought, "Okay, well, this is his thing; whatever...."
I've been converted.
I just can't stop watching. Rafael Nadal, the Spanish bull, fighting it out with (and triumphing over) upstart Frenchman Gael Monfils.... Young Melanie Oudin from Marietta, GA, rising from obscurity to beat three-time Grand Slam Singles champion, Maria Sharapova.... And, of course, Roger Federer blowing his way through match after match on his way to the top.... It's all so fascinating!
Even the scoring system... Jeff laughs that it's so convoluted because it was designed by the British. But learning the scoring system alone gave me new appreciation and admiration for the game, making it that much more entertaining to watch.
Tonight the two matches on the radar are Rafael Nadal vs. Fernando Gonzalez (they have to complete their rained-out game from last night), and Kim Clijsters vs. Serena Williams. Too bad I have somewhere to be at 7:30!! Guess who will be trying to get home as soon as possible to catch anything she can afterward....
I didn't even really know about the US Open. I mean, I had heard of it, of course, but I didn't know much. At the beginning of the tournament, when Jeff told me that this is the one time in the year when the TV would be on every night, I thought, "Okay, well, this is his thing; whatever...."
I've been converted.
I just can't stop watching. Rafael Nadal, the Spanish bull, fighting it out with (and triumphing over) upstart Frenchman Gael Monfils.... Young Melanie Oudin from Marietta, GA, rising from obscurity to beat three-time Grand Slam Singles champion, Maria Sharapova.... And, of course, Roger Federer blowing his way through match after match on his way to the top.... It's all so fascinating!
Even the scoring system... Jeff laughs that it's so convoluted because it was designed by the British. But learning the scoring system alone gave me new appreciation and admiration for the game, making it that much more entertaining to watch.
Tonight the two matches on the radar are Rafael Nadal vs. Fernando Gonzalez (they have to complete their rained-out game from last night), and Kim Clijsters vs. Serena Williams. Too bad I have somewhere to be at 7:30!! Guess who will be trying to get home as soon as possible to catch anything she can afterward....
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