Yes, and her name is Sarah Beth whose eagle (actually Solara) is landing there in early September where she will begin her life as a nurse practitioner working at MD Anderson Hospital. Sarah Beth will be there for at least a year and likely longer as she focuses her energies on becoming an expert in pediatric oncology at one of the nation's top hospitals. Sarah has found it hard to leave central Florida and so many friends, but she is excited about what the big-city hospital, not to mention a new city church, holds for her and she is very glad that her friend, Catherine Gartzke, is only a few hours away in Big D. We continue to be amazed and thrilled with what God has wrought from Sarah's experiences in her own battle and win over leukemia, but this major change for her is only one of the big news items in what has proven to be yet another summer of change for our family.
Another major adjustment came on Father's Day when Beth's mother, Ginny Proctor (aka Nan), was hit by a stroke in the middle of the night. The stroke left her paralyzed on her left side and the tests that she underwent also revealed a mass on her kidney. As she sought recovery in hospitals in Melbourne, Orlando and Sarasota she has dealt with infections, bed sores, contagious diseases, and all the general slings and arrows of our medical system. But she has battled. She is mentally sharp, speaks well, and is rehabbing to regain use of her limbs. So many have joined us in prayer, and we continue to request of our heavenly Father that her recovery may allow her to return home someday to her condo in West Melbourne. But, between now and then, there is much more rehab and a possible surgery to remove a kidney. So, we pray and wait and cheer her on. Nan will begin discussions on Sept. 8 with a team of specialists from Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, to determine the fate of the mass on her kidney. Beth and her siblings continue to cycle in for a week or two at a time to assist Nan in her recovery. It has been quite a summer of seeing God at work.
We have been praying for some time now that Hannah Ruth would be able to go from part-time to full-time in her position as Assistant Youth Director of Lakeside Presbyterian Church in Brandon, Mississippi. That prayer was answered with a "yes" just about a week ago; thus Hannah will be able to retire from her restaurant job and focus her energies on discipleship ministry with several young ladies in her youth group. Meanwhile, she has also relocated to a lovely home nearer her work place with another twenty-something gal who holds a similar position in a sister church. We are, with Hannah, thankful for this provision. Hannah continues to delight all of us with her photography expertise, especially filming our sweet grandbaby Lylah at every new and exciting development of her young life. Hannah has also recently been requested to handle all of the photography for her first wedding, that of a friend and fellow team missionary to Ireland.
Speaking of Lylah, our precious little girl has had her first birthday, complete with a ballerina theme, and is keeping her parents and grandparents, along with her aunties, proud and happy. At every turn with her, especially since she looks so much like our own "babies", we are reminded of the happy days that seem like yesterday, spent reveling in the joys and delights of parenting young children. Lylah's daddy, although he has preached several times at Faith Church Brookhaven, has been recorded for posterity, and we had the privilege of hearing his first sermon from the book of Colossians. That is a book that even his dad, in over 30 years of pastoral ministry, has not preached through yet; so the boy is opening up some new Hendley pathways through scripture. Lylah's mommy has not only proven to be a great mom, but is now also entering the realms of women's and youth ministry bible study leadership this fall. The Faith Church family continually reminds us on our visits how grateful they are to have Andrew, Meredith, and Lylah on board!
The Pennsylvania Hendleys continue to enjoy life at North Park Church, where we have the privilege of seeing God at work on a daily/weekly basis to show Himself strong on behalf of His people. It is such a joy to be in this place! We continue to see friends from Florida cycle up this way, most recently Art Wimer, and the Jonathan Ingrahams (30 min north at Geneva College) as well as Erin Middleton's family (her mom lives up here). Sharon has a very busy schedule of college courses and work at Loafers, but carved out time to help us speerhead some community gatherings in our little townhome area, that we hope may turn into a fall evangelistic bible study. She was also blessed to be able to spend a great week at Joni and Friends Family Retreat, south of Pittsburgh, along with her mom, seeing God do more than we could imagine at western PA's inaugural family retreat. Beth has become quite the traveler, spending much of the last few months in Florida with her Mom as well as excursions with Dan to Colorado (for the EPC General Assembly) and Lylassippi. She will be back down in Sarasota in mid September, not only to assist, but also to celebrate Nan's 75th birthday. The Lord has been so gracious to get us to this place after this eventful summer!
So, we are excited about the Fall, about our children's new adventures, about Nan's recovery, about what the Lord will do in our churches & in our country, and about what the Florida Gators will accomplish with a handsome young Ocala boy playing quarterback.
