2-9-09

Praise the Lord for all He has done!

We just wanted to give you a quick update. We found out at the beginning of January that we are expecting another wonderful BOY at the end of May. John-Matthew is very excited and gives kisses to the baby quite often:)

We also found out that as we had expected there are more tumors in Matt's brain. We were able to meet with the doctors here at MD Anderson, one of whom we saw 3 years ago during the initial diagnosis. I know it is hard to imagine, but the appointments were so joyful and each time we came out laughing at how amazing the Lord is! He allows these situations for our joy and not our demise! We learned that there are about 11 new tumors that have grown over the past year since Matt's last MRI. After speaking with the doctors here and then getting a second opinion from Johns Hopkins (as was suggested by the doctors at MD Anderson), we have decided that it would be best to go back to Johns Hopkins for a 4th treatment. MD Anderson's radiosurgery machine is not quite as capable of treating the number of tumors Matt has, and the at Hopkins is also omre familiar with Matt (having treated him 3 times previously) and with the current situation.

So in short, we're planning on flying up to the DC area for about a week. We are currently scheduled for February 17th for this treatment. We ask for your prayers over the next few days as we prepare to head up to the District, and for a successful surgery. (If you remember the previous 3, they are non-invasive except for the titanium frame that is screwed into his skull which is used for precise measurements. The recovery time will hopefully be quick, but we will stay in the DC area for the rest of the week to make sure he is able to rest.)

By the way, we updated a few pictures on the website if you would like to take a look. (http://familycoles.googlepages.com)

May the Lord bless you this week with His love.

Matt, Lucy, John-Matthew, and Baby Boy Coles

12-21-08

O Come, O Come Emmanuel!

As we prepare for Christmas this Advent, we are thankfully slowing down slightly with the end of the semester coming soon and many big events coming to a close.

We have just closed on our first house here in Houston!

We are grateful for this gift this Christmas and for this opportunity to serve Christ with a new larger space:) As I was reflecting on this move I have found it very similar to our last two moves, once in DC and finally the move down here. Our first move in DC, I was 5 months pregnant and Matt was undergoing chemotherapy, neither one of us in a state to move down 3 flights of stairs and back up 3 flights into our new apartment. In our last move down to Texas, John-Matthew was 8 months old and we were chasing him every which way (little did we know that would only increase 100% :)) and Matt's side pains had increased dramatically, again not an ideal situation. But in our weaknesses the body of Christ was strengthened by the many many helpers that walked those flights of stairs for us and supported us both on the DC side and down here as we moved in. So I am once again in awe and thanksgiving as we prepare to move again and I am 4 months pregnant, John-Matthew is running:) and Matt is not able to lift as much as he would like without irritating his side (from his initial surgeries)- and in asking for help we were blessed to have so many responses of yes either through babysitting, moving heavy boxes, or helping to organize. In our physical weakness, we have again been uplifted by His body.

As we prepare our new house, as I mentioned, we will be preparing for a new little one to join us and bring much joy to our family and a play buddy for John-Matthew. He/she is due May 28th! We are so excited and blessed by this joyous gift from the Lord.

We are enjoying our job as co-youth ministers at St. Clare's parish in Houston and have been so welcomed by the community and the teens. There are so many programs going on at this parish (what a blessing for these teens!) that it has taken almost the full semester to get a grasp on them, but it has been such a fulfilling job and we learn something new every day. Matt has thoroughly enjoyed being one of the leaders of the weekly bible study for the teens. We have both enjoyed the challenges that have arisen and worked together to solve, and working for the Church has been a wonderful blessing to our family.

John-Matthew is growing into an amazing little boy, he is running full speed everywhere, laughs all the time and most recently has taken to rubbing his belly and saying "Baby"! He loves to read and be read to and is a big helper in taking out dishes from the dishwasher (except for the knives). Right now his favorite phrase is "What's dat?", but also in his repertoire is clock, Jesus, mama, dada, dog, quack, and of course baby.

Matt is doing very well regarding his health, though there are some concerns regarding the tumors in his brain and the functioning of his liver. We are currently looking into the doctors down here at MD Anderson and have a few contacts from our first visit here with his initial diagnosis. He is still proceeding with the natural treatment and diet and has gradually increased in his variety of foods. It was a special treat at thanksgiving to have an avocado, tomato, and lemon salad prepared just for him by my family:). His energy level is great, though recently we have both been a little worn out with all the events taking place. Nevertheless, each day the Lord really refreshes us to serve again. We do continue to ask for prayers of healing if it is the Lord's will and if it will bring us closer to Him.

I am doing well, this pregnancy seems to be easier than the last- or maybe since I am chasing John-Matthew around I don't think about it as much. There have been no cravings and not as much nausea this time around so I am grateful for this. We will have our big ultrasound on January 5th and we look forward to telling you if we're having a boy or a girl.

These past five months in Texas have been a great witness of the love of family. We have seen both our families very often and it has been neat for John-Matthew to be around his grandparents more. We definitely miss our friends in DC and of course the family we left behind there, but have seen the blessings of following God's call here.

May the Christ child bring you great happiness and joy this Christmas,
Matt, Lucy, John-Matthew and Baby Coles

8-18-08

Praise be to Jesus Christ!

As we finished up this school year we pondered what the Lord would call us to next. Matt graduated with the Licentiate in Philosophy (Ph.L.) and completed the coursework for the doctorate. We had decided we would take a break from school at this juncture as we had finished what we came to DC for- the licentiate. We applied for a few positions in the DC area and in Texas, but nothing was working out. The Lord continued to work on our virtue of patience...as He never fails in generosity and in knowing what is best.

So we waited...until July 18th.

With that said, we have moved to Houston, TX to take on a position, together as a couple, as the Coordinators of High School Youth Ministry at St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Church. We are very excited to be working together and serving the Lord in this capacity. You may remember that we worked with St. Anthony's parish up in DC in youth ministry

and loved it.

We have enjoyed our first 3 weeks on the job, we have wonderful people to work with, and the teens are a joy to serve. Please keep this ministry in your prayers- these teens are amazing.

John-Matthew is ten months old today! He has 6 teeth, is a super fast crawler, walks with the help of the sofa, eats anything you put in front of him and still smiles about 95% of his waking hours. He loves the water- the bath, the pool, the beach, - as long as it is wet, he is happy. This week Grammy (Lucy's mom) took him diving under water and he has taken to that quite well. On our latest trip to the beach he crawled straight into the waves, slowing down only to taste the newest shell he'd found. He is such a joy and has transitioned pretty smoothly into life as a southerner.

Matt is doing very well. Through prayers and trust in the Lord, he has great energy, feels good, and he has a nice tan:). He is continuing the all natural regimen he began in February. He eats kefir, flax oil, raw veggies, raw nuts, steamed veggies, cheeses, dried beans of all sorts, brown rice, and plenty of sauerkraut. The Houston climate provides lots of sun which has also been very good for the natural treatment. He has occasional soreness on his right side where his surgery was 2 years ago, especially after doing a lot of lifting or carrying of the cute little boy on that side of his body, but overall the cancer has been stable. We are thankful for the life given each day, and we continue to ask for your prayers. We truly cannot serve without the constant strength given by our Lord through your intercession.

Right now we are living in Nassau Bay, a suburb of Houston on the southeast side. We live about a block away from the water, in a 2/2 apartment. We hope to eventually buy a house, but at the moment we enjoy our location and the luxury of having a pool at the apartments to swim in daily (for those of you in DC, the water is pretty much lukewarm and perfect for swimming!)

We have only been here 3 weeks, but we have managed to see almost every member of our immediate family...what a blessing! This was one of the main reasons we came down to Texas and we are so thankful that our families have been so eager to visit. We have loved seeing them so much.

We definitely miss our friends in DC but praise the Lord for being able to know each of them. Though I never thought I would say we miss the north...it is true, it was a wonderful place to begin our life as a family. We have been surrounded by amazing friends, doctors, religious, priests, and family.

We have posted a few new pictures on our website http://familycoles.googlepages.com of our return to Texas and the lil tike growing up!

Though we will definitely be very busy as we begin this new journey, we would love to hear from you and if you have any prayer requests, we would love to offer them for you. Please pray for us!

Our Lady of the Assumption, pray for us!

Matt, Lucy and John-Matthew