6-15-07

Dear Friends and Family,
Happy feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary!
It has now been a full liturgical year (Immaculate Heart feast day onSaturday) and almost a full calendar year since our wedding. The Lord is so good!

Much has taken place since our last update. Most recently, we went in for our major sonogram for baby and the doctors ran a full check on all of thebaby's major organs, bones, head, etc. The scan went well and the doctorsmeasured the baby at 22 weeks and 2 days (moving his due date to October 15th). The beauty of Natural Family Planning is that we had alreadypredicted this date based on the day we know the child was conceived. (Itis great to be aware of things like this before the doctor is:) The office we went to had a nifty television set that enabled us to see the wholescan. During the part where the nurse was trying to find the hands, she said "Look, the baby is giving a thumbs up!" and Matt and I looked at each other, smiled and said, "Gig'em!" And last on the subject of baby, he's a boy!

We had a wonderful visit with family and friends both in Mississippi and inTexas, and it was an honor to be able to celebrate Matt's grandparent's 60th wedding anniversary with them. It was a wonderful last trip out of DCuntil Christmas time, but we are looking forward to the many visitors comingour way this summer and fall.We have posted a few pictures from our trip as well as some sonogram pictures of baby. http://familycoles.googlepages.com

Summer in DC has not quite set in, though if you talk to people from this area they may tell you differently. We haven't had a steady week of anythingabove 90 yet, and today the high is 74. It is humorous meeing people whofeel as if they are going to die of heat when the temperature reaches 90 degrees. Our pastor at our church expressed it in the following way: "All of this heat really encourages me to pray that prayer that comes after theGlory Be in the rosary (fatima prayer)...'Oh my Jesus, forgive us our sins and save us from the fires of hell... I can't even bear this heat, and Idefinitely don't want to feel those flames..." But for us Texans, the Lord is being merciful, especially during this pregnancy, by allowing many cool days as a gift.

Lucy has become a veritable super-mom. In addition to carrying around anever growing, kicking boy, she also takes the metro to work each day aftermass. Then after work we both are back home for dinner and (more recently) putting this apartment in order. At work, Lucy's flexible workplace hasbeen very supportive - especially with the pregnancy that calls for doctorsvisits and an occasional short nap in the afternoon. She's more beautiful than ever; and this first year of our marriage has truly been amazing!

Matt, on his part, is done with classes until September. He's continuing towork on his thesis in hopes of graduating with the Licentiate in December. He is also working full time with the research firm in business ethics. Heis certainly staying very busy, but thankfully is able to do most of hiswork from home and also take the occasional nap as needed. He helped me so much as I transitioned from morning sickness to extreme fatigue setting inat 8pm, always knowing what to get me or just allowing me to rest, and whenall else fails finding me a popsicle.

At the beginning of this month we were reflecting on how it has already been a full year since Matt was diagnosed with cancer and we began theseupdates requesting your prayerful intercession. How blessed we have been tohave your support and love over the past year. The cancer currently does not look too much different from a year ago, which is very pleasing to thedoctors. But though the cancer is somewhat at bay, we still go in fortreatment every three weeks and Matt still so diligently takes daily oral treatments. So we continue to ask for your prayers for strength,perseverance, and faith.

This summer we are looking into the possibility of going to Johns Hopkinsfor another opinion on the possibility of removing parts of the tumor from Matt's lung surgically (It currently is not an option to remove it allbecause there are also metastases in his shoulder, adrenal gland, and in thelining of his right lung). So the surgery, if it is possible, would try to lessen the strain on his body when he receives his treatments.

All is in God's hands, and I am thankful for the positive attitude of lovethat Matt contagiously has and gives to others. In our last appointment with our oncologist, we reminded Dr. Smith that it had been a year since thediagnosis and he said, "Yes, and you have many miles to go." We are blessedwith the doctors we have been given, they are truly an example of the medical field living out the call to serve in a very special way.

And so as we look forward to celebrating this first year of marriage, we are daily reminded of Christ's goodness in our lives, especially in the blessing of new life!

And in the times of difficulty, we have been blessed with the opportunity toparticipate in Christ's redemptive Cross. It is the Christian witness ofthe cross that calls us to "rejoice always."

Please add a few close friends to your prayers: Christine and Jacob as theyprepare for their marriage this weekend- that their marriage will overflowwith God's graces; Robyn Gardner as she begins her christian walk with cancer. We know that your flood of prayers will help them greatly.

May the peace and joy of Jesus be with you.
Matt, Lucy and Baby Coles