Tag: Supportive

Extra, Extra

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© jb katke

Read all about it! Have you heard to the news recently?

A young mother has made the national news. Her story can prompt some head-scratching and possibly controversy.

You may find the following offensive, but it is real. Before I go any further, let’s agree there are places in this world that do not offer choices.

Last year a young woman was diagnosed with brain cancer, and she was pregnant.

Her cancer doctors told her what she must do to beat this. To use the best treatments, she must abort the baby. We all want a doctor that will give us the answer to our illnesses. Generally, we trust them because they know more than the average person.

However, this young mom didn’t agree with her doctor. I do not know what her obstetrician may have said.

Many may question her decision. She already had a two-year old child—can’t that be enough? But she determined not to have the abortion. I’m aware of only two women that have faced this dilemma. Both of them based their decision on their faith.

Abortion would not fall in line with their spiritual beliefs. Jesus has never endorsed abortion. He was and is, a giver of life, not a taker.

To some, this woman may have been incredibly brave. To others, foolish. But here is her logic—

“My baby has nothing to do the cancer, killing her would not take the cancer away.”

Next month her baby daughter will celebrate her first birthday.

Watching her interview on television, I noted the woman looked the picture of health. None of us know if she will be cured or how long she will live, but all of us will at some point die.

It’s the choices we make while breathing that make all the difference in the world.

As I write, she is currently out of state, undergoing treatment with different doctors. What kind, I do not know. But this I feel, she had a choice of life or death and today it appears life has won for both mother and child.

As far as her appearance is concerned, looks are deceiving. We cannot possibly know what others are going through, but the journey is real. It is not for me to say whether I agree with this womans decision or not, but I do commend her for living her faith.

Let’s just support each other as we each travel our own path.

The Perfect Husband

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Dave sunning 3[2898]                                                                © jb katke

Can you define the perfect husband?

When my girls were teenagers they could sum it up in a single word. Rich.

My definition of the perfect husband has changed through the years. I didn’t think about it when I got married. My list came into existence when our first child was born. I should have married a pediatrician. He could have answered my endless questions and known just what to do in child raising.

Fathers Day is approaching, so I focus on Dave, the father of my children. As the years stacked up I was glad to have married a man that can fix anything. Anything. But then I got to wishing he would stop with the constructive criticism. I found he wasn’t so handy at emotional issues.

Our first home shrank after purchase. We moved in as a family of three but grew to five. Even completely rebuilding the upstairs, it still left us wanting more space. But it definitely improved the salability of the home. I was truly grateful for his skill.

We shared several lean years when he did much of our automotive maintenance. He knew how to do a lot, then I found out he didn’t like it too much. Shoot, we couldn’t afford all our car repairs! So I was glad he was at least willing to tackle some.

His career was in machine maintenance at a check printing company. So many of the plants were closing that it made moving away from the only home we knew necessary. Both of our hearts ached at the division it created in our family. But he faced the hardship in order to continue providing for us.

He retired at a young age which required further employment. By now his skills had become well known to friends. It led to his starting a home business in remodeling. He was a man in demand. I was so proud to his expertise until he was a little too busy to make what I deemed necessary for our home!

When friends found themselves out of work, Dave offered for them to join him, making it a win/win for all. My man has a good heart. After several surgeries, he needed a helping hand. Friends stepped up, even though construction was out of their wheelhouse, and came to his aid. He knows how to make and keep good friends.

Our life together has not always been perfect. But I have come to the point of realization Dave is perfect for me. He balances me as no other can. He is a man full of wisdom and I appreciate being able to bounce thoughts off him. Sometimes he wonders where I come up with stuff, but its all good, we keep each other on our toes.

Dave has supported me while I looked for myself. That’s what women of the 70’s did. They felt the need to be someone more than wife and mother. Deep inside, we know we are made for a unique purpose. Many left home, but I stayed and kept looking in the cracks and crevices until I found me.

The thing is we more than like each other, we love each other. Staying together just made sense.  But I’ve saved the best for last. He recognized his need for Jesus and together we have included him in our marriage. Our life together has never been so good!