Once more an Oma

** First, breaking news from Kelowna! Christine and Mark Hartwick celebrate the birth of their daughter Sophia Claire early Friday morning, January 18. Mother and baby are both doing great, and dad is well enough to spread the good news. **

Teresa is thrilled, of course – the roster of grandchildren is now up to 15! She’s also glad to be feeling well enough to enjoy the glad event. It’s been a good week on the health front, with no significant discomfort, pain, or nausea. In anticipation of little Sophia’s arrival, Teresa even took up knitting again. Currently taking shape on the needles is a lovely little white sweater.

Admiring her flowers - some last quite a while

Mom wants to thank her church community and small group for sending so many thoughtful tokens of their love over the past weeks. When the doorbell chimes these days, there’s a good chance that we’ll open the door to a smiling member of Teresa’s church who bears flowers or a card. These gestures are so touching, so greatly appreciated. John enjoys answering the doorbell for these deliveries also; it’s far more pleasant than having to blow off a sales person who’s pushing some kind of energy savings plan.

Teresa wants you all to know how much she appreciates your prayers on her behalf, since it’s not always easy to pray for someone over the long haul. Some people become discouraged when a prayer isn’t answered quickly, and then give up that particular prayer thread. Now that she’s feeling better, Teresa asks if you could please pray that this treatment will prove successful, that God will remove the cancer from her body permanently. And of course your supportive phone calls and e-mails always provide a welcome uplift.

Teresa's amaryllis bloomed just in time to welcome baby Sophia

If she keeps feeling well, Teresa is considering a weekend pass on January 26-27 to spend a couple of days at home when daughter Marian and her husband Lee plan to visit from Ottawa. This would be the first time in six weeks that Teresa has spent a night in her own home, certainly some kind of milestone.