Thankful for Trials

Thanksgiving this year was spent with Rob's side of the family. This means that little Ellie got to celebrate her first Thanskgiving with her new cousins Marshall and Preston, as well as her older cousins, Addie, Bella and Barrett. (I guess they are all "new cousins" since Ellison is the newest of them all). It was a blast to get the kiddos together.

Thanksgiving this year was also bittersweet. As we (Heather's mom, Aunt Mary and I) went to dinner on Saturday night for Heather's birthday, there was the obvious absence of her dad. Although his physical presence was not there at the table, his spirit definitely joined us as we ventured up to his favorite place to eat, Charlie Newton's.

As we looked to give thanks for all the blessing we have been given, we were at the same time finding it difficult to not ask the question, "Why?" And although this grief is something that is natural, healthy, and indeed necessary, we must not allow the temptation for us to become the victim overcome our ability to give thanks.

Ever since Jim's diagnosis, and more definitely since his passing, I have become much more aware of the presence of cancers in other's lives. For many, it is indeed Cancer that threatens their freedom, happiness, and even life. I hate the fact that this vicious and insidious disease has permeated so many families of those that I love. My heart breaks when I hear of another falling victim, well before there due, leaving family and friends to mourn their loss. Even this past week, as I learned of Pastor Billy Joe Daugherty (Pastor of Victory Christian Center), after only being diagnosed for one month (30 days) (4 weeks), falling victim to lymphoma cancer; I was left shaking my head, asking the question "Why?"

So for us as a family, we gave thanks for the 16 months we had to celebrate life during the battle with Jim's cancer. We gave thanks that we were given as much time as we were; that Jim survived two near death trips to ICU and 6 weeks in the Hospital. We gave thanks that we had received as much encouragement as we did from friends and family. We gave thanks that our Faith had been firmly planted in the Word prior to this trial so that it could withstand the grueling months ahead. We gave thanks that we are loved by God, and nothing we do can change that. We gave thanks that we have the freedom to look to Him, shake our heads, and ask "Why?" without fear of failure. We gave thanks for the beautiful baby girl we received and have fallen so in love with. We gave thanks that we did not, do not, and will not allow cancer to be the headline that defines our story, but rather only a chapter about a trial we overcame.

In James 1: 1-17, James writes about both trial and temptations. "2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.....12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full‑grown, gives birth to death."

As we studied this scripture this past Sunday, the subtle difference between a trial and temptation was highlighted. A trial is used by God to build one's character. Temptation is caused by our own sinful desires and results in tearing us (and or others) down. But also note that both are going to happen. "Whenever you face trials..." and "When tempted..." The scripture does not say "if," but rather it says, "when."

We give thanks for the trial that this cancer has and is putting us through. For we are promised that the testing of our faith develops perseverance, maturity, and inherits the crown of life. However, for many others folks, there is something else that acts as disabling as cancer. Whether it be an addiction, pride, dishonesty, greed or whatever else, "it", like cancer, strips them of their freedom, happiness, and even life. This temptation, unlike a trial, does not come from God, but rather from our own evil desires; desires which become sin and lead to death. Like I mentioned above, my heart breaks for those who are fighting cancer, and likewise, my heart breaks for those that have given into their evil desires handicapping their ability to live a full and abundant life.

As we move from the season of giving thanks into the season of Christmas, I pray that you and I alike, will have hearts that no longer seek selfish and evil desires, but instead may we have hearts of compassion, love and forgiveness.

Granddad

Due to the overwhelming love and affection our little girl gets from her grandmothers (both Grandmommy and KK), it is sometimes hard for Granddad to get some face time. And when he does get the rare opportunity to take her for a little bit, the cameras are usually not around. Therefore, we were excited to get a few pics of the two of them together.

Granddad definitely holds a special role with all his grandchildren. And as the older ones have come to find out, he is the source of ice cream, chocolate milk, and "sweets for breakfast." Ellison and Marshall I am sure will learn this sooner than later. And Heather and I have already decided that some things are better off to just let happen.

Visit with the Waggoners

Over the weekend of the Texas A&M game we were able to go and see some of our dear friends, the Waggoner Family. Kade Waggoner, is Rob's God Son and the entire family has been a great role model for Heather and I for many years. It was the first time that we have seen them since Ellison has been born, so it was fun for the family to love on Ellie. Tony and JJ have taught us so much over the years about parenting, patience, humility, and being Spirit led in all their decisions. With four kiddos, they are constantly "on the go" and spending just a couple of hours with them gives a whole new meaning to multi-task.

We had a blast getting to visit and catch up. Thanks for allowing us to be apart of your lives!

day home with daddy!

So, a few weeks ago, Ellison and Rob had a Saturday at home together. Several of my friends and I volunteered at a Junior League event so all the daddies and their girls came to our house to watch football. Rob is fabulous with Ellison in a way that I admire except in one area... getting her dressed! At times I wonder if he is color blind or just does it to see my reaction! We were anxious for Ellison to grow into her "Dr.Pooper" onesie from her Uncle Jake and Aunt Courtney and since they were coming over that day- it was the perfect opportunity. Just thought these pics were funny of the "coordinating pants" Rob put together. Silly daddy!

bonfire and hayride

A favorite fall tradition since we moved to Tulsa is attending the Lowry's annual bonfire. It is such a fun time to get together with our dear friends and their little ones to prepare for the fall. This fun event is complete with a bonfire, hayride, watching football, and of course, hot dogs and smores! The kids always have such a great time running around their property as well as riding the hayride and seeing the horses. Even Ellison had a good time this year flirting with her little buddy Landon- a match made in heaven! Thanks Lowry's for another fun year... counting down the days until the next one!

Rice Cereal

We have a few weeks under our belt of eating rice cereal- we just have not had time to get the funny pictures up! Ellison was a great sport during our first attempt trying out this new adventure and as you can tell, she was not impressed with my "cooking!" I think Rob makes this same face sometimes when I attempt new meals. She is now a good little eater and we look forward to trying out additional things in the near future. Rob and I were also good sports trying out the cereal as well.

Four month updates:

12 pounds, 14 ounces; 24 inches long

Has recently found her toes and can't get enough of them

Rolling around everywhere

Lots of smiles and laughter (unless there is a camera present!)

Enjoys playing with her monkey "ooie"

Determined to put both hands in her mouth at once

Sleeping wonderfully (she is SO our daughter!)

Bringing us more JOY than we could ever imagine.

our baby bee's

Both Ellison and Petie dressed up as bee's for Halloween- Ellie being a honey bee and Petie being a bumble bee. We were in Norman to celebrate Halloween and instead of trick or treating, everyone just came to us! Aunt Lori and Uncle Steve even surprised Ellison with her very own candy pumpkin (note that she is trying to eat the Kit Kat)! We also made Aunt Sarah come by before her Halloween party to take pictures because she was a bee too! It was great to see everyone. Thanks for making our first Halloween so special!

Pumpkin Patch

With fall being my most favorite time of the year, we of course had to take Ellison and Petie to The Pumpkin Patch. Unfortunately, the wind was blowing at high speeds so Petie stayed in the car and we made our photo session...QUICK! I don't think Ellison knew quite what to think and by the end, she had lost her boots, her bow, and her interest! Regardless, we did want to share a few of the pictures from our first annual trip to the patch with our little pumpkin.

Happy first birthday Campbell!

We had such a great time this weekend attending Campbell Cornwell's first birthday party! Campbell is the daughter of my best friend since I was two, Lauren Cornwell. I can't believe a year has gone by since Campbell's birth but we have enjoyed watching this little angel grow! Lauren and Ben lived in Tulsa up until last May so we got to spend lots of time with their family and miss them dearly. Lauren did a fabulous job preparing for this cupcake themed birthday party including making Campbell's birthday cake which was so cute! It was also a great time to get to see all of Ellison's little friends! Looking forward to many more firsts...

Ellison's first day!

A week ago Monday was a big milestone for our little Ellison- she attended her first day at Riverfield Country Day School. It was supposed to be my first day back at work as well but unfortunately I was at home with the flu. We decided to go ahead and drop her off so I could rest and from what we heard, she did great! Each day the school sends an email update with what the "birds" did. That day, Ellison was the topic of conversation (see below)- so proud! Our original plan was for her to attend the child care facility at St. John were I work. As it got closer to me going back to work, she still did not have a spot. Thanks to our dear friend Emily Walton (and Ellie's Godmother), she got into Riverfield and it has been fabulous! Emily is an employee there and her little ones attend Riverfield as well. We have been so pleased in just the few days she has attended and look forward to Ellison being a "raven" for awhile.

Weekend with friends!

Several weeks ago we had the opportunity to spend lots of time with my dear friends from college. The weekend began with a fun lunch at Saturn Grill followed by shopping in OKC. The following day we celebrated another sooner victory at the Cornwell's. Three of my sorority sisters have babies all within several months of Ellison and it has been so fun to watch these little ones grow together. On Sunday, we hosted a shower for Kinsey and Jared Thomas who are awaiting the arrival of Parker. We are in need of another boy in the group because poor Griffin Garrett is out numbered! Can't wait for Parker to get here!

From left to right: Griffin Garrett, Campbell Cornwell, Cali McConathy, and Ellison Sher

Covenant Community Fallapalooza

In August we participated in our wonderful community's first Fallapalooza! It was a fun event featuring snow cones, a moon bounce, cupcake walk, and most popular... the balloon animal man. We were blessed with the most amazing weather and enjoyed the fall kick-off with many of our dear friends. Covenant holds a very special place in our hearts and the friendships we have developed are priceless! Ellison and her friend Harper wore their matching outfits for the event- they could be sisters! Many of the pictures were taken by the fabulous Alissa Adams. Thanks Alissa for sharing your gift with us!

And yes, Rob finally let me post something on "the blog!"

Boomer Sooner

First off, my apologies for not keeping this blog updated. Obviously we have had some major transitions in our lives, and that also means the face of this blog is changing. So rather than write a really long entry that would cover the past 6-8 weeks, I am going to generate some shorter recaps of what has been going on in the Sher family.

So let's start with the disappointing...Sooner Football. If you know me at all, you know that Sooner Football is one of the few things in life that bring out the best/worst in me. I love it, I hate it, and there is really no in-between. So the fact that we are a mere four points away from being undefeated and in consideration for a national championship does not bode well for this Sooner fan.

However, with the exception of the BYU game, our weekend in Dallas was a great time. Heather's sister, Holly, got engaged and is well into wedding plans by now. It was fun to see the excitement on Holly's face and to celebrate with Darren, his mother, and Steve and Lori Lindsey. While the guys were at the game, Karen, Lori and Heather were training Ellison on how to shop like a professional. Not sure what to think about it all, except, if you look at the picture carefully and read the fine print, it was KK's credit card, so I have no problem with Ellison swiping that. I did have a problem, however, getting all the packages to the car.

As always it was great to see cousin Addison and Uncle Drew and Aunt Jill, as well as cousin Preston and Patrick and Gretchen. It was also a fun surprise to run into our good friends Brian and Sarah Hartsock. Unexpectedly staying at the same hotel, we were able to catch up with the Hartsocks on Friday night (needless to say, I was in a much better mood on Friday night then I was on Saturday night).

So, as you can imagine, after losing the game, and our Heisman Quarterback, I was not a happy camper. However, this year is different; and so will the years to come, I imagine. It's amazing...but, as upset as I was after the BYU game, seeing that precious smile on my little Ellie's face seemed to make it all better. And that shallow illustration of how this little girl brings so much joy pales in comparison to the joy she has brought a family that has suffered so much this past year. Watching the smiles, the laughter and the incomprehensible healing that can come from such a small, but yet perfect, package, gives us breath, once again, to celebrate life and give thanks to our Creator!

A Celebration of Life
Birthdays are for celebrating life, and today was no different. Today would be Jim's 62nd birthday; and as hard as it it to grasp our minds on how different life is now that he is no longer walking day to day with us; we can be comforted knowing that Jim is celebrating in a way that we can only imagine!

I will never understand the pain that my wife, Heather, or her sister, Holly, or mom, Karen, are experiencing. And as a Husband, and Son-in-Law, I wish there was something I could do to help alleviate the sorrow and suffering. However as we heard this past week from our Pastor, Tom Harrison, grief is necessary. It is not a sign of weakness, or a sign of disbelief. Just because you are a believer, doesn't prevent you, or isolate you, from being able to grieve. Just as it is written in Acts 8, verse 2, we see how Godly men mourned deeply for the death of Stephen. Pastor Tom went on to quote Philip Yancey’s Prayer. On page 220: “When I hear a person describe a remarkable escape from an airplane crash, I cannot help thinking about the people who died in the same crash, many of them praying just as fervently. And although I rejoice over reports of miraculous healings, I also remember with a pang the file drawer in my office bulging with stories of those who have not been healed. I do not doubt that God answers prayer. Rather, I struggle with the inconsistency of those apparent answers.”

Although it seems unfair to us that we must now learn how to live our lives without the presence of Jim Hill as the husband, father, and grandfather; it is also important that we remain grounded in what we hold to be true, in what we have our hearts believe in, and where we find our strength.

Tonight, God provided words of affirmation to both Heather and I. As we sat in the midst of thousands of others worshipping alongside one another being led by the Hillsong United Band, our hearts were pierced by the lyrics of a new song. It was a song that neither of us had heard before, and it was as if God was speaking the words directly to our hearts. I have attempted to attach the song/lyrics together in a video format that I created at the bottom of this post (lets keep our fingers crossed it works). I hope that the Spirit will tug at your heart as It did ours tonight.

Little Fishy
This past week we embarked on our first dip in the pool; twice! I am not sure it is recommended for a 7 week old to get in the pool, but when it comes to summer fun, nothing is more important than a sunny soak. We were lucky enough to share this experience with both friends and family. First, we went over to our good friends, Ryan and Joy Hulver's house. Their twin girls, Julia and Olivia (2 year olds) were sweet enough to share their pool with little Ellie. We then came back to Norman for a whole 20 hours, where we went to KK's and swam in the pool with nearly the entire family (minus the San Antonio Kerrs). It was especially fun to have both Preston Ryan and Ellison Kate enjoy their "first swims" together.

We returned home from our short trip for a supper (baby) shower for Craig and Sarah Buchan. We were with the Buchans, Cains, Hulvers, and Weatherholt's until about midnight...and come to find out, less than three hours later, Sarah went into labor. Elizabeth Buchan was born on Sunday, August 16th. CONGRATS BUCHAN FAMILY!

Below I have posted some of the more recent pictures of Ellison. I hope you enjoy them as much as we do.

Daddy's New Mac
So the week Ellison arrived I decided I needed to have a new mac. We had been living on both our desktop and laptops last legs (they are both over 6 years old), so it was due time. So having the new baby come along, I thought it was necessary to make the switch from PC to Mac. This decision was justified by all the video editing I would be doing making "home videos." Well, the first video is complete, although the footage was limited to that of the hospital. We will have to become more mindful of taking some video footage every now and then.

In making the video I quickly learned that our camcorder, that we have had for a couple of years, yet never used, doesn't produce the greatest in video quality. May need to upgrade that soon too! And, of course, making the video small enough to post also reduced the quality. Anyway, here it is; you will want to pause the music on the top left of the blog before playing. Hope you enjoy! I am sure there will be more to come!

Our First Road Trip (A Sweet Home Alabama Wedding)
This past weekend we loaded up the car and headed towards Madisonville, Texas (a suburb of Houston), for the wedding of our good friends Jake and Courtney. I met both Jake and Courtney at the District Attorney's Office, as they are both Assistant D.A.s. Since that time, Jake, Courtney, Heather and I have become dear friends, and have had many fun times together. It has been especially exciting to have both the wedding and Baby Ellison to celebrate these past few weeks.

Since both Heather and I were in the wedding, we recruited the presence of "KK" (Heather's mom, Karen) to come along with us; as well as enlisted the assistance of Brad, Ashley and Hank to house sit and take care of Petie. We rented out a bed and breakfast, "Bunkhouse and Biscuits," and participated in the southern hospitality and festivities.

Our weekend was packed, with the cocktail hours, the rehearsal dinner (which Ellison and KK joined us at), the bridal luncheon, groomsmen skeet shoot, photos, wedding, reception, and Sunday morning brunch (which Ellison and KK joined again), it was a hectic weekend. The reception took place back at Courtney's parent's ranch. It began with a cocktail hour outside served with sweet potato fries and fried okra, and then moved to inside the banquet hall (or satin draped barn). Following the wedding, we rode back to the hotel with Jake and Courtney. It was 1:30 am, and the bride and groom were starving; being that Madisonville practically shuts down at 9:00 pm, the only place open was the new grocery store, Buc-ees (even Taco Bell was closed.) It was quite a sight to see the four of us make our grand entrance into this small town supermarket.



The weekend was fun and full of good company! On the way down we stayed with Heather's Aunt Sharon and Uncle Mike right outside of Dallas. And then on our return, we were able to make a stop and visit cousin Patrick and Gretchen, with their little one, Preston Ryan. Preston is exactly six weeks older than Ellison. The introduction of the two cousins was a sight to see.



We are so blessed to have friends and family to share, celebrate and enjoy our lives with.

2 WEEKS OLD!
It's hard to believe that it has been two weeks. In some regards the time has flown by, as it seems just yesterday we were in the Hospital; however, it also seems nearly impossible to recall what life was like before Ellison was apart of our lives.

This last week I went back to work, and Heather enlisted the help of both her mom and my mom. It was nice to have them here to help ease the transition. But before my return, we spent the Friday having photos taken of Ellison as a one-weeker.

On the 3rd we went to a great fireworks show in Kiefer, OK, (about 5 miles South of Jenks) and Ellison was not bothered by the booms whatsoever. So we may push our luck, and try it again on the 4th. I hope you all have a wonderful and safe 4th of July. Remember our men and women serving our country, and the sacrifices they and their families have made for us. I pray for God's protection and blessings on them!

HOME SWEET HOME


We made it home on Monday evening after nearly five days in the Hospital, and although Ellison spent her last day and half there under the UV lights, we were grateful we did not have to bring those lights home. Our first new challenge (one of many more to come) was the car seat; but all went well, credit given to the car seat safety class we took a few weeks back.

Once we pulled into the drive it was time for Petie (our 3 year old shi tzu) to be introduced to his new sister. He immediately took affection to her, and has been quite the protective sibling since.

Ellie has been an angel since she arrived home. Sleeping well, eating well, and pooping well, it seems that she has all the basics covered. In fact, I was tempted to call this blog entry "Sleeping Beauty," as this kiddo knows how to catch some zzz's. Similarly, as a new daddy, you hear stories from seasoned fathers about the amount of diapers and wipes you will go through, but nothing can really prepare you for the vast amount of "waste" that comes with a newborn! In fact, Wednesday afternoon, I was left alone, for the first time, with Ellie; within 10 minutes of being "in charge" I had changed 3 diapers and Ellison had been moved to 3 different seats.

You will even notice that we made our first Doctor appointment, scheduled for 10:30, on time. Quite a task for the Sher's without a new baby, but even more impressive with Ellie now here.

Heather and I are so thankful to have had "KK" (Heather's mom, Karen) staying with us these past few days. She has been busy busy, preparing meals, cleaning, doing laundry, and allowing us to rest when Ellison rests. However, KK departs on Thursday, and it soon will be just the three of us (only for a little while) as JoePa (Rob's dad) is coming up for a short visit, and Grandmommy (Rob's mom) is scheduled to come and help when I go back to work next week. We are truly blessed and thankful to have grandparents that are so willing to help at a moment's notice.

What a miracle having a newborn in the home is! Witnessing feeding, eyes focusing, weight gain, little yawns, and all the other "firsts" that are around the corner, is so awesome to be a part of. Thanks for sharing in this time with us!

To God be the Glory for giving us Life,
Rob and Heather

Blessed with Friends
Friends are good to have. And like it or not, Ellison has a ton of friends already. I love the fact that we live within a community where we as parents (sounds so weird to say) can have so many friends. But more so, I love the fact that our baby girl is already surrounded by girls and boys that will be able to teach her, play with her, look out for her, love her, and yes, even get her into some trouble.

Looking back over the pictures from the last 36 hours or so, it is amazing how many friends have already stopped by. I apologize if we didn't get a picture of you in the midst of all the chaos of those coming and going. Yet, I give thanks to God, that we can be surrounded by such chaos as there are many that are not blessed with friends like we are.

For those of you that have already visited, THANK YOU SO MUCH! For those that are planning to visit, we cannot wait to see you and brag about our new addition. For those that are separated by too much distance to come, we have loved hearing from you in your voice mails, emails, and text messages.

Below are some of the pictures of our friends and family that have been to the hospital to see us. You will notice that Ellison, as of Sunday morning, had to be placed under the LED Lamp to lower her bilirubin level, which causes jaundice. It was such a disheartening sight to see her helpless body left alone and naked. However, I was so impressed by the genuine interest and concern shown by some of her "new friends." Such compassion, at such young ages, affirms my thankfulness that lil Ellie is surrounded with wonderful new friends.

Sweet Baby Ellie
Even before her first breath, we knew that Ellie Kate would be a sweetie. Therefore, we wanted to make certain that she was in good company in the hospital room. Surrounding her in the room are sweets of all sorts. Whether it is the cake donuts or the lollipop bouquet for her guests, Ellison remains the sweetest of them all.

During our initial hold, I explained to Miss Ellie how blessed she was to have so many folks that would love her. Showered in attention by friends and family, I told Ellie that there was a good chance that after our time together today that I would likely not have the opportunity to be able to hold her for the next few days. I think she understood; however I also think she likes her daddy time.

I also am aware that many of her admirers won't be able to see her for awhile. So please enjoy the slide show of Ellison's first few minutes.

Presenting Ellison Kate Sher
After nearly twelve hours of labor, and over two and half hours of pushing, the critical decision was made to move to Cesarean Section as the vehicle to bring this bundle of joy into our lives.

Being that Heather was dilated to a 4 earlier that day at the Doctor's office, I was certain that the baby was coming soon, and probably that evening. I therefore stayed up until 1:00 A.M, and was still wide eyed awake in bed when Heather's water broke at 1:30.

Upon our arrival at the hospital, Heather was already dilated to a 6. Therefore, we never really contemplated being faced with the emergency C-Section surgery. However, once Heather was fully dilated, it became obvious, over a matter of time, that Ellison simply could not drop any more. With the calm advice of Heather's OBGYN, we agreed that it was time to move into the surgery room.

Any surgery is frightening; especially when considering it affects not only the one you have loved for such a long time, but also your future pride and joy. However, that was not the scariest part of this surgery that I was about to observe. Rather, for me, it was the very real fact, that although I walk into this sterilized room as a husband, I will walk out as a father...that thought was enough to make my heart stop.

So I went in, looking like a dufus, that was a cross between a haz-mat team and the marshmallow man from the movie Ghostbusters. And this was a step up from the fact that when I first got dressed I had both my shoe covers, as well as the white cover-alls, on backwards.

And in a few short minutes, my world was forever changed. At 1:48 P.M., Ellison Kate emerged from her mother's stomach, weighing 6 pounds 13 ounces, measuring 21 inches, taking my breath away at first sight.

Due to the surgery, we will likely be at St. John's until Monday, maybe Tuesday. But that is also time where we can turn our little princess over to the nursery for a few hours each night and get some much needed rest.

What an amazing gift children are. And what a wonderful illustration of how Big, Wonderful, and Awe Inspiring our Creator truly is. I am blessed to have begun this chapter of life.

The Eternal Embrace
Let me first thank each of you for your prayers over the past 16 months. It has been truly joyful to feel the presence of your support and encouragement that came into our lives, and into Jim's.

Wednesday night we received word that Jim's days were numbered, and may even be only hours. After hanging on for another 2 days, and his continued fight throughout the day on Friday, Heather and I made the decision to come to Norman and be by his side. Spending those 4 or 5 hours by his side were terribly difficult, but yet, a blessing that we could see him one last time. As we did, through his exhaustion, Jim gave each of his girls their own individual "love you honey."

We went to bed last night knowing that it was unlikely he would make it to morning. So through our tears we prayed over Jim and let him know how proud we were of his fight and that he could enter the Kingdom with his head held high, being a fighter until the end.

About 1:15AM we were made aware that Jim was taking his last breaths. As he did, Karen, Holly and Heather stood by his side, held his hands, and wrapped him in an abundance of love as he slipped away from our world. He was surrounded by his family, just as he wanted. To see this family chant him on to fight this cancer for many months and then watching them say goodbye, that it was okay to let go, and to take his seat in eternity, was an amazing sight. The trumpets were playing as Jim entered the Kingdom of Heaven at 1:25AM. And from that moment forward we believe that Jim is wrapped in the arms of God, and will live peacefully in this eternal embrace.

Although this clearly was not how Heather and I would have foreseen this being how we spend the days prior to our baby girl's birth; God did provide us with a peace last night. A peace that Jim was no longer in any pain. A peace the Jim now has a front row seat to the delivery. A peace that now our family can focus on the joy of new life; the life of Ellison Kate and the new eternal life of Jim Hill. Knowing that one of the greatest desires of Jim's heart was to meet his granddaughter, we firmly believe, although no longer with us now, Jim is the first to hold his grand baby, and that until her arrival here on earth she is sitting in his lap listening to her grandpa's stories.

Funeral plans are set for Monday morning, here in Norman, at McFarlin United Methodist Church beginning at 11:00 am. A lunch will follow for family members and out of town guests. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that contributions be made on behalf of Jim to the American Cancer Society or Second Chance Animal Sanctuary of Norman (http://www.secondchancenorman.info/default/Default.aspx?tabid=36)

Thanks again for taking this journey with us. Although it is the end of one journey, it is only the beginning of another, and we look forward to sharing that road with you as well!

Rob and Heather Sher

Here Comes Goodbye
These past few days have been full of emotion, confusion, and grace. As we learned that the days of Jim's treatment were behind us, and hospice was to begin, we now know that goodbye is around the corner.

It is not as surprising as it is just brutally real. I mean, being honest with ourselves, we knew 16 months ago that Jim was terminally ill; and at that time we were uncertain he would ever be released from the hospital. Interesting how time and seemingly better health tend to blind you from the inevitable.

However, when faced with the reality of what is to come, and the uncertainty of when it is to come, we find ourselves challenged all over again. Especially considering the circumstances of what is supposed to be the happiest time of our lives and the timing where we are literally just weeks away from the arrival of Baby Sher, we struggle to find God's provision in His timing.

So as we spent both last weekend and this weekend alongside of Jim, we were eager to see his pain subside but were not yet ready to let him go. We know that goodbye is coming, we just don't know exactly when. Difficult conversations about his funeral, and how he has everything in order to take care of Karen are combined with stories of the nursery, and the baby to come.

So as we prepare to say goodbye, we recognize all that will be no longer. Goodbye to years of pain and suffering; goodbye to sleepless nights; goodbye to chemo, radiation and the side effects that follow. Goodbye to the "command center," "policing the area" and telling the boys (Petie and Oggie) to "knock it off."

However, even though we know that goodbye is near, we rest assured knowing that what will remain is the legacy of Jim Hill. A legacy that entails a believer in Christ, a warrior who fought hard the battle against cancer, a man of compassion for humans and animals alike, a mentor, a friend, and a passionate OU fan. So although here comes goodbye, and we prepare ourselves for that exit, we will never forget the father, husband and soon-to-be grandfather that is Jim Hill.

As we prepare for goodbye we covet your prayers. Pray that we remain selfless in our desires for Jim, that his entrance into the Kingdom is one with limited pain and suffering, that we have the faith and trust in the Lord to let go, and that in our own saddness and grief we remember the blessings that God has poured down onto this family, especially the blessing who will be called Ellison Kate Sher.

So goodbye is coming, but only to a temporary chapter, as an eternal one is just beginning. What is "goodbye" for us, is "Welcome Home!" for Jim.

Welcome Baby Sher's Bestest Friends
Even before the arrival of Baby Sher (no, we still do not have a name), she already has two new best friends. These are two very special boys! And I can not wait to see the role they will play in her life.

Being only days apart, these two boys are also cousins to each other. Now, I am only 3 months older than one of my cousins, and only 2 years younger than another, and I know how close we have been throughout our lives; so I can only imagine being only 2 days older; or even 6 weeks older.

But that is the life that Baby Sher will be born into. Welcoming her into the world will be cousin Marshall Crawford Kerr, born May 4th 2009, and cousin Preston Ryan Clark, born May 06, 2009.

Here is Marshall Crawford:

From Babies

And here is Preston Ryan:

From Babies

Welcome boys! We are glad that you are here; safe, healthy, and already growing!

Stop Looking at My Twitter!
Today, at the office, I was asked about Twitter. And you know, had I been asked last week, I would have simply looked at the person inquiring, dumbfounded, and told her that it was probably inappropriate for her to be talking to me about my twitter, and such conversation could possibly be considered sexual harassment.

But to my credit, or discredit, I actually knew what she was talking about, and it had nothing to do with my body. Twitter, I have learned recently, is a micro-blog. (Oh, thanks Rob, that clears it up!) In fact, when one participates in Twitter (known as "tweeting") they are simply answering the question: "What are you doing" in 140 characters or less. You find folks you want to "follow" which consists of getting their updated tweets, and then others choose to follow you. That truly is all it is. So why all the rave?

Well, I can't really explain it. In fact, I was conned into joining by two of my friends just last week while I was in Los Angeles; but ever since then, I cannot seem to pull myself away from the concept. Some of my more recent posts have included:
* "Tonight I embark on my first parenting class...breast feeding 101. I am forecasting a 90% chance of awkward mixed with partly uncomfortable"
* "Getting ready for my basketball game tonight...high-tops, gym shorts, jersey, and ibuprofens"
* "Just arrived at LAX for our midnight flight; who flies this late?"
* "I have now had 4 chikfila sandwiches in 2 days...so i guess the diet is going well"

So shortly after joining, I quickly began thinking, who is going to want to follow me and why do I have this Twitter Account? Seriously, isn't it time for me to grow up? I mean what am I going to write everyday: "At work today," "Still at work," "Heading home from work." Riveting, right?

But then, not a moment too soon, I came across an Oklahoma Bar Association article that spoke about the great potential Twitter can have for professionals if used appropriately. As for the content of the article, well, I basically skimmed it, but just the fact that it was there gave me the confidence I needed to tweet away.

So for all those skeptics, don't knock it until you try it. And for those of you bold enough to join, come follow me on twitter. You never know, you may just catch me being full of twit.

Not Everything You Read on the Internet is True
One of my favorite quotes comes from the American version of "The Office." The goofy and ignorant Regional Manager, Michael Scott, makes the comment about how he loves Wikipedia because anyone can make an entry about anything, therefore it has to be accurate.

The irony in such a statement is that we all, for so many things in life, rely on the internet. In business we can keep an eye on the stock market, participate in on-line banking, and exchange communication through email. For entertainment we can go to ESPN, read blogs, check local movie times, or even download the movie itself. The internet has truly changed the way we approach our day. In fact, with the convenience of online headlines we have witnessed the downfall, and fate, of many newspaper companies. And as I have previously stated on this blog, I am a huge fan of Google.

But such endless amounts of information must be treated with extreme caution. The simple fact that anyone can post information about anything leaves room for vasts amount of misinformation. I warn you of such, as I was recently a victim myself this past weekend.

With Baby Sher's arrival soon approaching it was necessary to get a little paint on the walls of the nursery. When inquiring with Heather as to what color we would paint, she indicated to me that she wanted a diamond pattern placed on the wall, something she referred to as Harlequin Diamonds. Something I had never even heard of, nor knew nothing about.

So the Googler that I am, I went right to the source. I typed in "How to" and "Harlequin Diamonds", of which I got a couple of hits. Trusting the wisdom provided by these sources, I purchased the two colors of paint, and began following the instructions. Quickly I realized, however, these instructions could not be complete, nor accurate...to which I confirmed about 4.5 hours later.

According to the instructions all you needed was your paint, level, and some tape. Well actually, you need a ton of tape, meticulous measurements, and an immense amount of sanity/patience. Moreover, you need a second person, as this task was impossible to do on your own. Luckily I had the help of a good friend, Jake Cain. Jake came over about 2:00, and 4 hours later, we were still working on getting the first diamond laid out. Without boring you with the detail, another 8 hours went by and we finally had the wall taped for the first set of diamonds. Things went much smoother after we figured out what the heck we were doing.

Now of course, I was smart in my approach, as I attempted this monumental task on a weekend that Heather was out of town. She was being pampered by some of Mom's good friends in her first baby shower. Thanks Ms. Drennan, Ms. Quinn, Sarah, Aunt Sharri and Jill for hosting this event! So by Sunday evening, I was able to unveil the results to Heather. I have attached a few pictures for you as well.

I am sure this is only the beginning of the "challenges" that are to come with the arrival of Baby Sher. Good thing for me I can always turn to the Google for all my answers!

An Age of Technology
I have always been a "gadget guy." I love to always stop in at Brookstone and see what is new. I can't tell you how many "bluetooth" products I have purchased and I am always wanting the newest cell phone. I have friends that actually think I have a vested interest in Google because I am always utilizing their newest tools. I have become a High-Definition TV snob, I am addicted to Tivo (have been for years...and Tivo is better than regular old DVR) and I am one of the few, unfortunately for Sharper Image, that actually purchased the iJoy Massage Chair. In fact, just tonight, I bought a gadget allowing you to turn on/off your lamp with the flick of a wireless switch...and it worked!

Technology is impressive, and I am not talking just about the toys.

This past week Heather and I took advantage of the opportunity to get a first glance at Baby Girl Sher. How awesome it was to see the vivid images from the 4d Ultra Sound. We promptly emailed a few of the pics to the grandparents so they could enjoy them as well.

In a not as fun, but just as impressive setting; Heather's dad, via a Pet and CT Scan, became aware that his cancer had spread to a couple of spots in his spine. As a result, Jim immediately began Radiation Treatments this week. Short, but intense, doses of radiation will hopefully reduce these spots and eliminate the pain that he has been suffering in his lower back.

Also taking place this week was Heather's mom completing her last round of chemo. Karen, like Jim, is set to begin radiation, but probably not until the end of this month.

How cool is technology? It can show us glimpses of the future through things like ultrasounds. It can show us what is causing pain in the present, through PET Scans. It can fight vicious diseases like cancer through radiation. It allows us to be able to communicate instantaneously, shop at our fingertips, and predict the weather (well, maybe that's taking it too far.)

But as hip as technology is, we must be careful that it does not become our source of hope. Now, don't get me wrong, I want the radiation to take this cancer by the horns and....but I am not going to just sit back with my fingers crossed. Rather, I believe (and pray) that this radiation will do what the 22 rounds of chemo did not; shrink these tumors. You see I like technology, but my Faith is in God.

We have been overjoyed, that by God's grace and power, the 13 months of chemo therapy prevented the tumors in Jim's body from growing; however, our prayer is bigger than that. We still firmly believe that God's will is for healing, so our expectation is nothing less than for Him to heal Jim and Karen's bodies. I hope you will join with us in that prayer for healing. (Maybe you can set up a prayer reminder via Google Calendar.)

Double Digits
So today Heather informed me she was in her third trimester; and according to the baby clock countdown (courtesy of JoePa) we are within double digit days (99 to go). YIKES! All this to say, this baby is coming whether we are ready or not.

Sure the nursery is not painted, the glider is not covered, the bedding is not made, and the changing table has not been delivered, but those are just details, right. Sure we haven't picked out a name, haven't started shopping for all of those things we will need that we currently don't even know exists, and haven't made the "simple" decisions like stroller or car seat. But us Shers are professional procrastinators; so by our time-line we still have three months before we need to get serious about this "baby stuff". However, one thing that I have managed to get planned, my 2 golf trips and las vegas trip, prior to the delivery. (priorities right?)

On a side note, these past few days have been filled with seeing old friends. Some of Heather's best friends (college roomates) came into town for a girls weekend. Seeing Kinsey, Emily, Lauren and Jamie together was fun; although I was pretty much exiled from the house. Then on Sunday evening, and again on Monday evening, we were able to spend some time with the Waggoner family. Tony and JJ Waggoner have been a couple we have looked up to for many years now and we are honored to be able to be apart of their family. I have truly enjoyed getting to be a God-father to their son, Kade, and equally enjoy seeing the girls. Since we have been in Tulsa much of our relationship has been carried out via email or phone calls. So seeing how grown up Abbie, Kade and Madison have become is quite incredible. And after meeting their newest addition, Jennifer, their adopted daughter, we immediately fell in love with her as well. It's good to have friends!

55 weeks, Valentines Day and Baby's First Sounds

From Tomlin

Baby's First Sounds
So according to Heather, there is a certain point during the pregnancy that the baby becomes capable of hearing the outside world. I am assuming, she being a nurse and all, that Heather knows what she is talking about; however, I tend to also believe, she may tell me such things to make certain that I think before I speak.

In the rare case that what she says is true, we celebrated this milestone of the baby's first days of hearing with a Chris Tomlin concert. What a wonderful way to break in the ol' ear drums. I mean considering the alternative, like Heather singing in her car with some Broadway show tune blaring through the stereo, or my american idol auditions (of which consist of me attempting to sing most the songs as sung by the contestants on the show), I am certain Baby Girl Sher was quite grateful to hear Tomlin.

Happy Valentines!
So this year, being our last Valentines without kiddos, Heather and I decided to do something special for V-Day. Complete with reservations, white linens, candlelit tables, and romantic entertainment, we had a special dinner at one of our favorite restaurants...Chickfila. That's right, there really is nothing better than those chicken nuggets or a classic chickfila sandwich; except when they are served to you by a waitstaff in tuxes! Of course, the night would not have been complete without our picture with the Cow.



One Year Later
It has been over one year since Jim was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer and given only weeks to live. Well, the Drs. were correct, he was very sick, needed immediate surgery, and only had weeks to live; its just that we are at 55 weeks and counting! Go Jim! In celebration, Jim and Karen, Heather and I, sister Holly, and the Hill's best friends, Steve and Lori Lindsey had a delicious meal of food at Charlie Newtons in Nichols Hills. And Jim's cancer enzyme scores continue to decrease, once again hitting an all-time low of less than 275! This makes four consistently decreasing scores; Praise God for working and breaking down this cancer!

From Cancer 1yr

13 growing on 15
It is quite an experience to get our crew of 13 together. Being that brother Chris and his family live in San Antonio, Drew and his family in Coppell, and Heather and I in Tulsa, such a gathering happens only once to a few times a year. And when we are together, it is chaos. Chaos that I wouldn't change for the world. Now add the element of trying to get all of us to smile at the same time, and you are in store for a true challenge. I particularly love the shots of Kristen...her smiles come so naturally, however, just not in front of the camera. So when you capture a genuine smile, you cherish it.

With the arrival of Baby Sher and Baby Kerr we are only a few months away from being a crew of 15. Can't wait for the next time we get together for portrait shots...I imagine it will be something that sitcoms could be made of.

-

It's a GIRL!
So we discovered on Monday that our house is about to be transformed into a castle, where it will house the world's newest princess. I cannot decide if I am more excited or terrified about this news.

I truly had no preference between a boy or girl, I just wanted a healthy beautiful baby. And this remains true; however, how can I, Mr. Budget, overlook the financial obligations that are now in front of me: dance lessons, sweet-sixteen, prom dresses, tanning, sorority, and wedding - YIKES! I guess on the bright side, I can invest the 350 dollar circumcision fee into the stock market.

"Now seriously, Rob," as my wife says (as if the above monetary concerns were not serious); we are ecstatic. And this bit of news is the firing shot that gets the race started. Now we can begin tossing around names, looking at paint (which I learned can only be done after bedding is picked out), so tomorrow we are looking at bedding, and getting the house transformed from the Pottery Barn catalog to Babies R Us...our house is anything but child friendly.

And as you can imagine, our parents are stoked as well. My mom swears that this baby-girl may finally be the one person that can tame my personality and Heather's mom is of course out of control with glee.

And as for an update on Heather's parents, they are doing great! Jim's CEA score (a test that monitors his cancer enzymes) is the lowest it has ever been, and has been consistently decreasing the past few weeks. Karen continues to tolerate her treatment very well. So what do two cancer patients do when things are going so well......take a trip to Vegas! That's right, Jim and Karen went with two of their closest friends to Las Vegas for a week of entertainment. They must have thought Heather and I were too busy, as they failed to extend the invite in our direction. So I guess, Rob's first trip to Vegas will have to wait.

To all of you that have Daddy's little girls, please feel free to leave some advice!

Rob and Heather

2008: Year in Review
So the beginning of 2008 was pretty ordinary, I was a high powered Assistant District Attorney in Tulsa County and Heather was charge nurse at St. John Medical Center. Our lives were not very exciting. But the year of 2008 brought with it many surprises, blessings and challenges. And over the next 12 months, God was about to teach us a lot about ourselves, our faiths, and our love for each other.

In late January I was asked to step into a leadership role with our Community (Sunday school class) and accepted the invitation. Within 2 weeks we learned of Heather’s dad being diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer.

Heather took some time to be in Norman taking care of her family, while I continued my career in the DA’s office. This means for a good part of the year, we were miles apart. During the first 6 months of 2008 I tried 7 jury trials, and obtained a guilty verdict in every single one (that means that I won for you non-Law and Order buffs.) While serving at the DA’s office, Heather and I made some dear friends, Jake and Courtney, who got engaged to be married this year. We have grown remarkably close to them, and continue to enjoy their presence in our lives.

Throughout the year we continued to grow closer to our Covenant Community friends. God was surrounding us with good company; friends that would pray for us; friends that would cry with us. In May, Heather and I, along with 13 others from the class, took a mission trip to the Red Bird Mission in Beverly, Kentucky, located in the Appalachian Mountains. There we were challenged in new ways. Heather and I had both been on plenty of mission trips before, but not one like this. God re-taught us what Grace was that summer; and like the family we were serving, we as children of God tend to take advantage of the blessings God has given to us, rather than being grateful. We have so many great friends that have stemmed from this community and our Asbury church family. We are thankful that God has placed the Waltons, Coopers, Adams, McCants, Meyers, Keifers, as well as the many others in our lives.

Over the 4th of July, my family got to gather together at my parent’s new lake house in Bella Vista, Arkansas. It is rare for all 13 of us to be together, so it was nice to have a place and time that was relaxing. Heather and I also made a trip with my dad and his family to Williamsburg, Virginia.

A special day to remember will be the day that Heather and her sister, Holly, invited 200 of their parent's closest friends to celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary. Hosted by the Hill's good friends, Steve and Lori Lindsey, this was a site that brought tears of joy to everyone's eyes!

The Fall of 2008 didn’t bring much relief for us. We discovered that Heather’s mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. Our dog, who is really our only child, Petie, went into shock and nearly died, and would have died if not for our dear friend Lauren Cornwell. That was a rough couple of weeks, however, we are pleased to say, both Petie and Heather’s mom are doing quite well.

Speaking of the Cornwell’s, Heather’s best friend, Lauren, had her baby in November of 2008, welcome Campbell Cornwell; as did our other good friend, Emily Walton, having her baby in December, Harper Grace. We also are excited to welcome Ty Waldenville, Noah Goodnight and Ella Hartsock into our world. And speaking of babies, Heather and I found out that we were pregnant; and we have 3 tests to prove it! We also were able to celebrate the many pregnancies along with ours, inlcuding my brother Chris and his wife Tanya, as well as cousin Patrick and his wife Gretchen...and we thought the holidays were fun this year!

I am no longer at the DA’s office, but have since accepted a new position with Cimarex Energy here in Tulsa. Cimarex, an oil and gas exploration company, is an excellent company to work for, however, oil and gas have pretty much plummeted since I joined. I hope they don’t hold me responsible.

Of course we had the usual weddings and OU Football to fill our schedules; however we were able to be apart of Kinsey and Jared’s wedding, which was special. We also had our first OU Tailgate, it was a blast!

2009 looks to be a great year! New job, babies, another run at the National Championship, and I was also able to talk my good friend Brad and Ashley into moving to Tulsa, so we are excited about the next 12 months. It will be tiring and it will be hectic; but I am certain that it will be filled with lessons from above, and more importantly, His Grace to cover that in which we mess up.

But we are most excited to tell our story. Just 50 weeks back, this was a story we were not very fond of. It was far from a story we wanted to tell others, as it was hard enough, at the time, to hear for ourselves. However, as Heather's dad continues to defy the odds, and her mom has been declared the "best case scenario" by her doctor, we have a lot to be thankful for! We will live our lives affected by this cancer, but not infected by it. Our lives will continue, as our God continues. We will, through His strength, live strong!


Rob and Heather