Celebrating four March birthdays

March is fruitful month for the Jacobs family. It includes birthdays for Twila, Dwight, Roma and Dorothea (4 of 11). To celebrate the birthdays this year, Tippy (Sylvia) created an awesome gourmet meal with crab filled chicken breast covered with cheese. Roma and Dwight were not able to be there. Here is the group following the memorable meal.Anna Ruth, Twila, Erma, Dorothea, Brad, me in front, Jean in front and Dorothy behind, and Sylvia.

Sandra's passing

(Picture taken February 2008. Sandra is front left)

After fighting cancer for several years, Sandra said goodbye to her family that surrounded her in her hour of passing, just after midnight on Feb. 22, 2010 in her own home in Port Charlotte, Florida. We honor the memory of Sandra who found herself without a husband, the mother of nine children, with no professional training at all for herself. By burying her head in books she became a Registered Nurse, a vocation that she followed up until a few years before her death. She is an amazing woman. I have often pondered the strength of this marvelous woman. Her faith in God, and her determination to raise her children in the best way possible sustained her through the difficult years.

Sandra's body was buried near that of her daughter, Tammy, who died of drowning at age 6.

When the story of Sandra's life is written we will be astonished. She remains a model of self-giving for the sake of her family. All of her children gathered in thanksgiving as she departed this life for her desired rest and home, at peace with her Lord. No one doubted that.

Sandra was born August, 1937, daughter of Willard and Dolly Jacobs. Willard was the first born of the eleven Jacobs children. He and Dolly made their home in Florida for many years.

I will post an obituary when it becomes available.

Don Jacobs

Clarence Jr. fully recovered

In February of last year CJ had a stroke. It resulted in a blood clot on the top of his brain. It sounds greusome, but they peeled back his scalp and cut out the top of his skull like we used to do with pumpkins at Halloween. That enabled them to clean out the clot. They then replaced the top, stapled it firmly and then sewed up the skin. Now look at him! He and Louise are enjoying life in their splendid house in North Fort Myers, Florida. We were so pleased to see them once again.

Vctoria's progress

Clarence and Louise report that Victoria is still in ICU but is much improved.

Praise God for that.

Victoria Jacobs

VICTORIA JACOBS HOSPITALIZED AS A RESULT OF THE TEXAS BUS ACCIDENT.

You may have been seeing or reading reports of the bus accident in Texas that killed 17 people. One of the survivors who ended up in the hospital is Victoria, Clarence and Louise's daughter-in-law. Her husband, John, is presumably with her at the hospital now. Victoria was joining others who were travelling to a worship event.

We trust that she will get well.

Sandra's progress against cancer

Today, August 12, is Sandra's birthday - 71 years old.

Our birthday chat by phone was awesome. As some of you know, her body was weakened by cancer which had metastasized - so she was down to 110 pounds and slipping. It was unfortunate that it took the medical people so long to diagnose her so it was advanced.

She and her family conferred and decided to enter a regime of chemotherapy. I am not sure of the exact dates but as I recall, she began her treatments about two months ago. She has gone through three of the series and experienced only minor symptoms and did not lose her hair!

So last week they did the first test and found that the two larger lumps are showing definite signs of diminishing. Sandra was delighted with the results of that test and is now eager to get on with the rest of the treatment. I think she is somewhere in the middle.

As you know, Sandra is a firm believer in prayer and in the love of the Lord. Your prayers on her behalf in the past are much appreciated and she asks for ongoing prayer for the weeks ahead.

By the way, instead of losing weight in the therapy, she has gained 10 pounds!

Her email address is smc2008@comcast.net

Here is a picture of Lisa and one of her Nubian goats. This article featuring Tourmaline Hill Farm appeared in Oxford Hills Magazine 2008 - 2009 issue. Good going, Lisa!