SCOTT hamilton

Update 3

Tess had the ultrasound today and they found more suspect areas from which they took three more biopsies. The doc seemed more cautious than concerned. Hopefully they will have the results back for our consultation on Wednesday. It tore my heart out watching them poke, cut, and cause pain to Tess. But I know it's necessary and I want them to be thorough. Thank you all so much for your prayers and support! We couldn't make it through this without you.

Update 2

We just got the results from the MRI back. They found some stuff in the other breast that they want to to check with an ultrasound. The result of this will determine if other biopsies are needed (more biopsies - YUCK!).

Tess and I have been a little discouraged by this news, but on the way home God laid this verse on my heart:

(2 Cor 12:9-10) But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

The whole way home I was praising God that I am utterly helpless and weak (To be honest the drive didn't start out like that :)).

Dear Frineds and Family

If you do not know yet my beautiful wife has been diagnosed with breast cancer. We appreciate all your prayers and support. I will try to keep updates coming as we navigate this season of life.

1st update: Yesterday she had an MRI to get a better pre-op bead on what needs to be removed and to make sure nothing was missed during the mammogram. Next we have a consultation with the doctor to discuss the operation and post surgery strategy which includes 6 weeks of radioactive laser.

Again thank you so much for your prayers.

Scott

Riding the Bike So Far

It’s getting much more fun. I’m regaining the youthful agility I once had on a two-wheeler. With this comes the temptation to take risks. It won’t be long before I am sporting some road rash.

The hills aren’t so steep. It’s amazing the amount of erosion that takes place in a few short weeks. I’m surprised the Rocky Mountains aren’t the Rocky Plains by now. Oh well I’ll let God worry about that. My first trip time was 64 minutes. Today was a lightning quick 49 minutes.

I received my first middle-finger-of-fellowship today. I guess it was provoked by my palms-up-shoulder-shrug-what-gives gesture. We were on a road with exactly 3 inches of shoulder (no exaggeration). I was splitting the white line and the edge of the blacktop. The guy in the biggie-sized SUV couldn’t wait another 4 seconds to let oncoming traffic by so he could maneuver around me with a little room. Had I swerved just a few inches I’d be missing an elbow right now. He didn’t even slow down. It startled me to the point of me letting out a little *#@!

But alas, I am alive to ride another day . . .

Breaking Up Is Hard To Do

Well today was the second time I rode my bike into work. I decided not to whine and moan sitting at the gas pump, as I do absolutely nothing to change my life style.

 

For now, my goal is to ride to work at least two days a week (22 miles round trip). No, I’m not turning into one of those fanatical tree huggers who worship nature. However, Gen 1:28 does say:

God blessed them:

"Prosper! Reproduce! Fill Earth! Take charge!

Be responsible for fish in the sea and birds in the air,

for every living thing that moves on the face of Earth."

 

There now that I’m done spiritualizing it let me tell you the real reason. $4.06 at the pump today. That’s why. I’m done getting gazumped at the pump.  So I am trying to reduce the $$ strain on my wallet and do a little cardio at the same time.

 

And cardio it is. My first ‘test’ run ended with me at the church facility calling my wife to come rescue me (note to self: don’t do dead lifts at gym day before). This past Tuesday was my first official trip. It wasn’t too bad coming in. I had been doing some ‘training’ on the stationary bike at the gym. Going back home on Tuesday was the killer though (note to self: fill up water bottle and eat something before trip).

 

I know that it’s against the laws of physics but I was going uphill both ways. I was bonking so badly I had to walk the last three blocks to my house. I was hurting in places I haven’t thought about in years (note to self: reconsider dorky looking biker shorts with padding on the ‘bum’ area).

 

“Wow Scott it sounds like a lot of pain. Is it worth it?”

 

You betcha! Spite is a strong motivator. Thumbing my nose at OPEC feels wonderful. It’s empowering to tell OPEC that I want to start “seeing other people”. Hopefully this leads to a complete break up.

Family Vacation 'The End'

We got back home today around 3:45pm. As we drove up everything looked in order. This was only a façade on what lie inside. As we entered the house a pungent aroma slapped us in the face and sucked the oxygen out of our lungs. Let me give you a short back-story clip and give you one guess as to what happened…

The day before we left Penny, our hamster, wasn’t looking so well...

Any guesses…?

This afternoon we buried Penny in the backyard and I mustered all of my parental/pastoring/grief counseling skills and spent some quality time with my girls. There’s a small part of me that will actually miss that rodent Penny.

Thought from today:  “Will we see Penny in heaven?” I would argue to the affirmative.

Family Vacation 4

We visited Bear Country on Friday. It’s a drive-thru zoo where you can observe animals that are native to South Dakota from the safety of your car. I wasn't too impressed. The older I get the less captivated I am with animals in captivity (yes – corning pun intended).

Friday afternoon we went to Beautiful Rushmore Cave. The name didn’t oversell it. It was truly beautiful and a tad dangerous. There was a low hanging mineral composite (rock) that stabbed into the air immediately overhead as people made their way up a steel ladder.  It was aptly named “Headache Rock”. We were all forced to take an oath to call it by name if by chance we were to strike our head against it lest some other profanities would slip out and scorch little ears accompanying the group.

Yes I hit (impaled, lacerated, flayed, bashed) my head. No I didn't keep my promise.

Not to worry moms my select profanities were muffled under my breath.

Here are some pics:

Thought from Friday: The only person to hear my colorful vocabulary was God and he even winced when my impaling on Headache Rock took place.

Family Vacation 3

(The Wi-Fi went down at the hotel so I couldn't post until I got back today)

 Well like I said the rest of the trip was pretty anticlimactic after the helicopter flight on Thursday. Friday we traveled Needles Highway through Custer State Park. It was beautiful but also packed full of people. It seems the older I get the less tolerant of crowds I become. Here are some pics:

 

Thought from Thursday: God’s creation truly reflects his glory.

Family Vacation 2

The rest of the trip is pretty much shot for me. We still haven’t been to Rushmore yet and I’m like, “yeah, yeah…whatever…” It’s all downhill from here. I’m 20 minutes into the movie and I’ve seen all the good stuff. Everything will be anticlimactic after this morning.

This is what I got to do this morning:

It has been a dream since childhood to be a helicopter pilot. I’ve had several failed attempts at pursuing that path and for one reason or another it didn’t happen (I think I know now but that’s a different show). Today I got to experience a helicopter flight from the inside for the first time ever. It was incredible – everything I had imagined and more!

It wasn’t planned and came as a complete surprise. It was as if my heavenly Father planned a surprise gift for me. He and I have been talking about it all day. What a cool dad I have! And here’s the kicker. It went beyond just a cool experience, beyond a dream realized, and became a special memory I get to share with people I love the most.

Here are some more pics then I have to get ready for that boring pyrotechnics show over one of America’s most impressive monuments ... yawn . . . whatever.

Thought from today: Cool things in life are best experienced with people you love.  Thank you family and thank you Dad!

 

Family Vacation 1

After 6+ hours of driving we finally arrived in Custer, SD.  Tomorrow is the big day at Mt. Rushmore to see the fireworks display.  We will likely be joined by 30-50 thousand other people in the park.  It should be interesting, and definitely a once-in-a-life-time event (not for lack of opportunity but willingness).

Highlights from today:

• 1881 Courthouse museum where we saw, among others things, Custer's rifle and flag, a section of a tree that was here when the pilgrims landed, and a gun that was used to shoot a disrderly drunk at one of the town parades (he lived).
• Not too many places accept credit cards - but they do accept personal checks (Hmmmm...).
• Smores at the In-laws' campsite.

Thoughts from today:
SD definitely attracts a 'certain' type of tourist - "An bee-ins dat ahm heer ah gess dat makes me wun a dem."