UPDATE!

Thank you all for your prayers, comments and emails!  Here's what I know....

1.  My brother-in-law made it home.  It's not clear how he got there.  Some of the trains were working while others were totally destroyed.  His home did not see any of the water from the tsunami!  However, he said just about everything he owned was on the floor from the shaking.  He said it will take some time to clean up.
There are rolling blackouts and curfews.  I beg you for your continued prayers for the entire country of Japan!  This tragedy is getting worse everyday.  I think it will be some time before we can truly grasp the devastation that this has caused the entire world. 

2.  My friend suffering from stage 4 melanoma is stable at the moment.  The steroids are doing their job reducing the swelling.  His wife is generously keeping us updated on a Caringbridge site.  He has already had the gamma knife radiation procedure and I think the plan now is to give him regular radiation.  I'm not an expert on brain cancer, but I think the idea behind giving him the radiation is to try to shrink the tumors....or at the very least, keep them from growing.  If you can, please remember Adam and his family in your prayers.

3.  My lymph node is still swollen and still painful, although a lot less than before.  I told myself that if it wasn't better by today, I would call the doctor.  It's a tad bit better, so I'm going to just take it day by day.  Honestly, I just didn't feel like dealing with the doctor today.  I didn't have it in me.

I've got over 1000 (again) posts in my Google Reader....I'm probably going to have to start deleting.  If I haven't commented much...it's just because there has been so much going on around here...here's a peek into my life....

Along with the above 3 things that I've been dealing with....we've managed to get the kids re-enrolled in our parish school for next year.  This is a very sore subject right now and it's something I can barely talk (or write) about without bursting into tears!  In addition to that, Dan has signed us up for Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University!  This class is every Monday for 13 weeks!  There is a lot of reading and homework to do.  And lastly, my trip to Rome for the Beatification of Pope John Paul II is just 46 days away!  I have lots to do.  Since Delta is notorious for losing our luggage.....I'm going to try to fit everything into one carry on!  This will take much creativity and strategic planning.  In looking at our flight information, we may not have much time in New York for exchanging money so I will order the Euros from my bank before hand.

In addition to ALL of that....I'm still trying to live out these Lenten days in a reflective way while still being true to my commitments.  Our family gave up T.V and it has been a challenge...especially in light of the events in Japan.  We've tried to get as much information as we could about things going on near where my brother in law lives, but unfortunately, we have resorted to watching some news coverage.

I blew off school today.  Instead, we spent lots of time outside (around 72 degrees) and we finished up our George Washington read aloud!  A friend loaned us a DVD about St. John Bosco....we will watch this as the week moves forward.

Thank you for praying and for continuing to visit me here at Be Not Afraid!