tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52242566841565664722024-02-20T02:21:02.365-06:00All Things In LifeLisa Mangold Kosmoskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10603221509192243107noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5224256684156566472.post-85824580913657860872017-05-16T12:41:00.001-05:002017-05-16T12:41:07.297-05:00A Time to Keep Silent, A Time to Speak<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">Call it a curse, call it a blessing - but every time I set out to do something I ask my self, "Why?" "Why would I do this or why would I do that?" Looking back, that's precisely how I started my blogging journey three years ago.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><em><strong>"When I first heard of blogging, I initially thought "Why would anyone do that?" It reminds me of when I was young and first exposed to the process involved in having children. I remember saying, </strong></em></span><a href="http://livingallthingsinlife.blogspot.com/2014/04/its-like-giving-birth.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><em><strong>"Why would anyone do that!"</strong></em></span></a><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><em><strong> </strong></em></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-weight: normal;"><em><strong> </strong></em></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-size: large; font-weight: normal;"><em><strong>I have lived long enough to get answers in both cases. However, giving birth to a blog several years ago still makes me feel like I did when I was handed my first born and sent home to figure it all out."</strong></em></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;"></span></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: large;">Just like parenting, there's been a lot of trial and error, but there's also been great information and great mentors that have influenced me along the way. I will be forever grateful to those who impacted our family's parenting process. Today, I am thankful for those who have been influencing me as a person and as a writer.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC4fDtMiQpvs9vrNIolcNwfbFMhgsetVMPeqAq816NLyjaG8bI56mc6USAuVgG1rZn74I93DFzaYfoid-9NtchyphenhyphenpPEwqeReh07SjzFRlO8Ux6Hv6mSCZY8xNFy7ibNxnntjoM4u1fGqFgS/s1600/2017+Books.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC4fDtMiQpvs9vrNIolcNwfbFMhgsetVMPeqAq816NLyjaG8bI56mc6USAuVgG1rZn74I93DFzaYfoid-9NtchyphenhyphenpPEwqeReh07SjzFRlO8Ux6Hv6mSCZY8xNFy7ibNxnntjoM4u1fGqFgS/s400/2017+Books.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</span><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: large;">Also as a parent, I admit that there were days I questioned my purpose and my influence, but no matter what came our family's way, God's Word and good mentors helped me find the bravery, the courage and the heart to move forward.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWk7GntWTKVjlXyA_7dcmXswV4ErNc38_ssmJOHqfmeltjRtx83VoKolITxDuDudjRj4T1h9PeM6ONV4IbToQvAfIDUUgQtIQUK3ZbliE6iQX7hf6iIAoxt9ze2vBqCnnSZ9JK52UL9PY0/s1600/Wizard+of+Oz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWk7GntWTKVjlXyA_7dcmXswV4ErNc38_ssmJOHqfmeltjRtx83VoKolITxDuDudjRj4T1h9PeM6ONV4IbToQvAfIDUUgQtIQUK3ZbliE6iQX7hf6iIAoxt9ze2vBqCnnSZ9JK52UL9PY0/s400/Wizard+of+Oz.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: large;">As a writer, I have questioned my purpose and my influence as well. For a season, I chose to keep those thoughts to myself. And although I knew where to find the bravery, the courage and the heart, I still chose to keep silent.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;">For those of you who know me really well, I have followed Christ from a young age and have held close to my heart the verses from Ecclesiastes 3:1-8:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;"><em>For everything there is a season, </em></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;"><em>and a time for every matter under heaven:</em></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;"><em>. . . a time to keep silence, and a time to speak . . </em></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;">The choice to keep silent can be the result of a lack of courage or it can be the result of applied wisdom. Only the one making the choice will truly know. I can't say what is was that has happened, but it was made clear to me that it is no longer a time to keep silent, but it is a time to speak. It is my prayer that any future words serve to be a blessing!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;">Blessings,<br />Lisa</span></div>
Lisa Mangold Kosmoskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10603221509192243107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5224256684156566472.post-79206722018632112802016-09-26T22:27:00.000-05:002016-09-26T22:27:18.669-05:00A Time to Remember<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Today marks the anniversary of a day that I am sure no one in our family will ever forget. Another year has passed since we lost the head of our household - a beloved husband and father of three teens. As I thought of what I could possibly say to give remembrance, I found that I could not say it any better than I did <a href="http://livingallthingsinlife.blogspot.com/2014/09/a-time-for-everything.html" target="_blank">the week that Ken left us</a> here on earth to live eternally in the presence of our Lord. I decided to share some favorite family pictures and a re-post from the day that changed our lives forever.</i></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Blessings, Lisa </i></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG0nYHhGeMydsy_r57wDCr1oxwr-Ii3d6i-1hYYkDoeSSMQvptzOPusKzf87ydKLqN4DfRkldOClXaLLuddXR4soxSZ2QglDPF-3bdVU8-2mYnhlKqHYgy-8Fb2_lUpNwnAr2qXq22ks33/s1600/Ken+%2526+Family+2001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG0nYHhGeMydsy_r57wDCr1oxwr-Ii3d6i-1hYYkDoeSSMQvptzOPusKzf87ydKLqN4DfRkldOClXaLLuddXR4soxSZ2QglDPF-3bdVU8-2mYnhlKqHYgy-8Fb2_lUpNwnAr2qXq22ks33/s320/Ken+%2526+Family+2001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq7tOgg-mff26huls2VrW-KDr6lfvXrY17gcgSVyTgvp5_rU93RIfE6x1sWQcvKi5N-L021Ax209QnZmn7Pe3K60BBYN6ki0QtYwE_xtLb-JlO_rlWgfkJBXG1fAKYXoNbKu-OCmTX39qu/s1600/Ken+%2526+Alyssa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq7tOgg-mff26huls2VrW-KDr6lfvXrY17gcgSVyTgvp5_rU93RIfE6x1sWQcvKi5N-L021Ax209QnZmn7Pe3K60BBYN6ki0QtYwE_xtLb-JlO_rlWgfkJBXG1fAKYXoNbKu-OCmTX39qu/s320/Ken+%2526+Alyssa.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH6whaQgb_FyB8IBJ4WVBTL85YLVbOgGaP4COmZ8u8THY5SturZ11kH8tw7eaYlO2sY0jSmAElKXmVA9rTU_iONmC-OiKCE5W73SzZ_-4LGpejHKnLNUm1sDz5_rxaSEuNEQtYFF8w-_1O/s1600/Ken+%2526+John.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH6whaQgb_FyB8IBJ4WVBTL85YLVbOgGaP4COmZ8u8THY5SturZ11kH8tw7eaYlO2sY0jSmAElKXmVA9rTU_iONmC-OiKCE5W73SzZ_-4LGpejHKnLNUm1sDz5_rxaSEuNEQtYFF8w-_1O/s320/Ken+%2526+John.jpg" width="219" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6nBkOGubUg8t-Ys4Y8awK-B_TiAIf57gmOF34gQnqm6PB8JXoXie8upPwXUrY942Y_9rrOsfCcosbZeS4QDWFN-ybJkAexgRsT1nrHeo7ZK9lTGqVoI2MDtOtAo9lUZ5SW-lphIal68je/s1600/Ken+%2526+Aleena+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6nBkOGubUg8t-Ys4Y8awK-B_TiAIf57gmOF34gQnqm6PB8JXoXie8upPwXUrY942Y_9rrOsfCcosbZeS4QDWFN-ybJkAexgRsT1nrHeo7ZK9lTGqVoI2MDtOtAo9lUZ5SW-lphIal68je/s320/Ken+%2526+Aleena+crop.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;"><i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><span class="verse v1 highlighted" data-highlight-color="#f3f315" data-usfm="ECC.3.1"><span class="content">Thank you, Lord, for introducing me to Ken. Because of him I h<span class="_c24 _50f4">ave had the opportunity to live an amazing
life! He was my best friend of my youth. We attended
the same high school, got married, finished college together and
then lived in a variety of wonderful</span></span></span></span></span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;"><i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><span class="verse v1 highlighted" data-highlight-color="#f3f315" data-usfm="ECC.3.1"><span class="content"><span class="_c24 _50f4">places in IL, MO, MI, TX and WI.</span></span></span></span></span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;"><i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><span class="verse v1 highlighted" data-highlight-color="#f3f315" data-usfm="ECC.3.1"><span class="content"><span class="_c24 _50f4">Ken
was lead into the ministry which took us to the other side of the world
and back. He served churches in Almaty, Kazakstan; Townsend, WI; </span></span></span></span></span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;"><i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><span class="verse v1 highlighted" data-highlight-color="#f3f315" data-usfm="ECC.3.1"><span class="content"><span class="_c24 _50f4">Washburn, IL and LaRose, IL. </span></span></span></span></span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;"><i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><span class="verse v1 highlighted" data-highlight-color="#f3f315" data-usfm="ECC.3.1"><span class="content"><span class="_c24 _50f4">We were blessed with 25 years of marriage and three great
children. </span></span></span></span></span></i></span><span style="color: blue;"><i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><span class="verse v1 highlighted" data-highlight-color="#f3f315" data-usfm="ECC.3.1"><span class="content"><span class="_c24 _50f4"><span style="color: blue;"><i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><span class="verse v1 highlighted" data-highlight-color="#f3f315" data-usfm="ECC.3.1"><span class="content"><span class="_c24 _50f4">He imparted wisdom and truth unto them and through them, his legacy will definitely live on!</span></span></span></span></span></i></span> </span></span></span></span></span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;"><i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><span class="verse v1 highlighted" data-highlight-color="#f3f315" data-usfm="ECC.3.1"><span class="content"><span class="_c24 _50f4">This
week we said "See you later" to a wonderful husband, father, pastor,
and friend. Words cannot express the impact that his knowledge and
wisdom has had on so many people all across the world. </span></span></span></span></span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;"><i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><span class="verse v1 highlighted" data-highlight-color="#f3f315" data-usfm="ECC.3.1"><span class="content"><span class="_c24 _50f4">He will be missed but never forgotten. </span></span></span></span></span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;"><i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><span class="verse v1 highlighted" data-highlight-color="#f3f315" data-usfm="ECC.3.1"><span class="content"><span class="_c24 _50f4">We
are comforted knowing that his faith was in his Lord and Savior, Jesus
Christ. We are comforted knowing that he fought the good fight,
finished the race, and kept the faith. His body has been healed and he
lives eternally in God's presence. </span> </span></span></span></span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red;"><i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><span class="verse v1 highlighted" data-highlight-color="#f3f315" data-usfm="ECC.3.1"><span class="content">"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:</span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><span class="verse v2 highlighted" data-highlight-color="#f3f315" data-usfm="ECC.3.2"><span class="content"> </span></span></span></span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red;"><i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><span class="verse v2 highlighted" data-highlight-color="#f3f315" data-usfm="ECC.3.2"><span class="content">time to be born, and a time to die. . ."</span></span></span></span></i></span></div>
Lisa Mangold Kosmoskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10603221509192243107noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5224256684156566472.post-24890584221064567762015-12-12T11:38:00.000-06:002015-12-12T17:18:17.372-06:00A Very Hard Post To Share - Please Pray<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is a very hard post to share because I care very much about this family. It is also hard to share because our family knows first hand the pain, sorrow and uncertainties that come with a diagnosis of cancer.</span></span></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Diana and "Her Hero" have been family friends for the past several years and they are truly in need of prayers right now. Diana is a wonderful wife, mother, friend and "blogging friend" to many people. She has a witty way of sharing experiences of life, yet she also cares deeply for others and often rallies prayer warriors on others behalf through her blog. She has been there for our family and we have received the <a href="http://thenanadiana.blogspot.com/2014/04/prayer-request-updates-and-annoucement.html" target="_blank">blessings from the prayers</a> that she has rallied for us. </span></span></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am sharing the link to her blog post below and ask you to pray for her dear husband who was recently diagnosed with a fast growing cancer. </span></span></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://thenanadiana.blogspot.com/2015/12/a-very-hard-post-to-write-please-pray.html" target="_blank">A Very Hard Post To Write - Please Pray For Us - My Hero Has Cancer</a></span></b></span></span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">He is a strong man of faith ready to take on this battle! N</span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">ow it's time to rally the prayers for his healing and recovery. So if you can, please pray for a Christmas time miracle! </span></span></span></i></div>
<br>
<div class="post-header">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiN8rl3F1paJJjVxOxkKkZhTt6AKQjp3Sl8wWEYL1fqWTkIwEi_lX7h08JzHd12lPTtiCYfPprjGMc0ziDBjOsYVj3J8rP_KiGmknpGn0Nw5LSVP2ln55yhjMOo6fH4GjXwGjG4jaoCCM8/s1600/20151121_114526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiN8rl3F1paJJjVxOxkKkZhTt6AKQjp3Sl8wWEYL1fqWTkIwEi_lX7h08JzHd12lPTtiCYfPprjGMc0ziDBjOsYVj3J8rP_KiGmknpGn0Nw5LSVP2ln55yhjMOo6fH4GjXwGjG4jaoCCM8/s640/20151121_114526.jpg"> </a> </div>Lisa Mangold Kosmoskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10603221509192243107noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5224256684156566472.post-41899992252765243162015-03-26T15:33:00.000-05:002015-03-26T15:33:26.099-05:00The Work of Grief<div dir="ltr">
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I was given a book by my mother about grieving just after Ken had passed away. I am a firm believer in being a student and actively learning each day. This book became a great resource for developing a better understanding of what our family has been going through. So far I have learned that there is no set way to grieve, that it will be different for everyone and that there is "work" involved in grieving.</span></span></i><br />
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRTqdrV54BK4dLUleJISo2v6EoCZHOC33_VQ7SjlPoZxnm3as5paYxNjyhdDzW_3FMXovNZEQJmGKMv0I1WxfUWxH3qasN6eBMp9s1fZ9GKcZ5cgc7UePcU264Bocmt1ABixOboX78J6kl/s1600/Sunset+Fall.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRTqdrV54BK4dLUleJISo2v6EoCZHOC33_VQ7SjlPoZxnm3as5paYxNjyhdDzW_3FMXovNZEQJmGKMv0I1WxfUWxH3qasN6eBMp9s1fZ9GKcZ5cgc7UePcU264Bocmt1ABixOboX78J6kl/s1600/Sunset+Fall.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I thought I'd share that we have each been grieving in our own way and as the days pass by, many things DO get better. I believe each of us will gain strength from the things we have experienced and learned during this time. I also believe that strength gained will be used to serve others in our own special way.</span></span></i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwqY-H5jh2pO8oc9wck0zwTV-I5qjf26ht9UXCJveAq44ji_XMHGRgrO0rrOWdA_VbrmdzPuKqr-YIzLDkQFlSy5Atsa5Vd2B6SGRt1PxPVC5J0WmckfeNOer8MaVARoDuKWnGssDimYpH/s1600/Birds+Soaring.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwqY-H5jh2pO8oc9wck0zwTV-I5qjf26ht9UXCJveAq44ji_XMHGRgrO0rrOWdA_VbrmdzPuKqr-YIzLDkQFlSy5Atsa5Vd2B6SGRt1PxPVC5J0WmckfeNOer8MaVARoDuKWnGssDimYpH/s1600/Birds+Soaring.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></span></i></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I have yet to do all of the "work" of grieving but I have gotten past many difficult things. Some of this "work" is emotional - as emotions emerge at unexpected times. Some is physical - especially as I begin to sort things and downsize. Some is logistical - or what I now refer to as the paperWORK of grief. So if I haven't written yet, called or came by to visit - it is because I'm still working on bringing closure to many things and taking time to envision new dreams. </span></span></i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS2CYW53gQnP3d1zNemix5CZF3SsjPjcEciqsSvJPHYHfs1JRu3VTljBDixQF56zxM-iPVJV2Y1INVN_cTz3vOqfBqeSSnMNHj69w7bRIPV-dPVpmjsbY37zo97lIIImODlB_V00QYvLR3/s1600/Light+Coming+Through.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS2CYW53gQnP3d1zNemix5CZF3SsjPjcEciqsSvJPHYHfs1JRu3VTljBDixQF56zxM-iPVJV2Y1INVN_cTz3vOqfBqeSSnMNHj69w7bRIPV-dPVpmjsbY37zo97lIIImODlB_V00QYvLR3/s1600/Light+Coming+Through.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span></span></i></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Today marks six months since Ken passed away so I thought I'd update my Blogger online profile. Here's how it now reads:</span></span></i><br />
</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: purple;"></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>I am a Christian, was a wife but still a mom. Although I loved my career
as a Recreational Therapist, I have been blessed to be a stay-at-home
mom for the past nineteen years. It's been a privilege to home-school our children for most of their
education. My late-husband was a pastor who was great at
teaching people of all ages. He definitely left a legacy, especially
in my life. Because of what he taught me, I seek to make a difference
in people's lives by sharing resources, wisdom and encouragement!</i></span></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></i>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjEIYZqlXy9we48ubrDQdHnlTM0ubkHZ444pFRuOEGd9CQD9J08KXptODpXt8SQcYiv-Nrg0WP6daK-Zg-KzktayA0fCY9lruC8b8vEitRv-j2raEBgLFhGFuYLf5AUWKINAq3d_3K9vhB/s1600/Blue+Skies.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjEIYZqlXy9we48ubrDQdHnlTM0ubkHZ444pFRuOEGd9CQD9J08KXptODpXt8SQcYiv-Nrg0WP6daK-Zg-KzktayA0fCY9lruC8b8vEitRv-j2raEBgLFhGFuYLf5AUWKINAq3d_3K9vhB/s1600/Blue+Skies.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></i>
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span></span></i></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">What a blessing to have been lead and taught by someone who knew what it meant to leave a legacy! I look forward to getting back to the "work" of leaving a legacy even though it may always be intertwined with the "work" of grief. </span></span></i><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I truly look forward to reconnecting with many of you as I write. I look forward to crossing paths when we can but as always, I look forward to encouraging each other through our words and prayers! </span></span></i><br />
</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Blessings ~ Lisa</span></span></i></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
Lisa Mangold Kosmoskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10603221509192243107noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5224256684156566472.post-33515214337895094532015-03-25T22:13:00.001-05:002015-03-25T22:13:33.951-05:00Signs of Spring<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">In every place there seems to be different things that are considered the signs of spring. Growing up I remember hearing people say that spring is near when the first Robin would appear.</span></span></span></i></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">For ten years our family lived in Wisconsin. One thing we loved about living in Wisconsin was the winter wonderland of fun so it became a family tradition for the kids to build a snowman. </span></span></span></i></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpT8mZAmpQoexhAIJQfxWJlXHP110UoQTTBnVxadoZVpxxtB8kOkOUHUxgtV5CTZFtB46A-KpMFcxyTJUVxMZGgkG_fYpp782WMkZ-QpaysT9mG55yubiFBVSyhZ8FwFA4l4PoisBlp4Sk/s1600/2005+Winter+033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpT8mZAmpQoexhAIJQfxWJlXHP110UoQTTBnVxadoZVpxxtB8kOkOUHUxgtV5CTZFtB46A-KpMFcxyTJUVxMZGgkG_fYpp782WMkZ-QpaysT9mG55yubiFBVSyhZ8FwFA4l4PoisBlp4Sk/s1600/2005+Winter+033.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></span></span></span></i></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<i><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></i></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span></span></i></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The past two winters we have lived in Illinois. I think we must have brought some of the winter wonderland with us because both winters have had more snow than usual. Once again the kids built a snowman. </span></span></span></i></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjOXwxxSOIfgHgisupYBLPEqPxheIuz7xSzPvROiz4Zdow4vRt-ECDsEdbH8KePW39k8_HsqS5WljKx_54Eq5wnAJyN98hQuRkrx6oGEd2uKLxrAe_IZA2pJgpaXGkU3Wsgw3QfhZ1qhyphenhyphen3/s1600/2015-02-07+12.41.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjOXwxxSOIfgHgisupYBLPEqPxheIuz7xSzPvROiz4Zdow4vRt-ECDsEdbH8KePW39k8_HsqS5WljKx_54Eq5wnAJyN98hQuRkrx6oGEd2uKLxrAe_IZA2pJgpaXGkU3Wsgw3QfhZ1qhyphenhyphen3/s1600/2015-02-07+12.41.24.jpg" height="371" width="400" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">As you can see "Little kids, little snowman. Big kids, BIG snowman! "</span></span></span></i></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #38761d;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Getting back to the signs of spring . . .</span></span></i></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #38761d;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #38761d;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyAT8JVnhwTPncaecNfHGjlQyKHUAMr7gFUvnWaYHLei2R6aXVFx3MYWqdBo2XZYNhCblOmEsm9QB3cNo1rKZeDu-E3OC7s7zQw70qcv8hpUoZ9yFPJJ2Wn4QWHfLJ3DgW7wp3p0oAwhpk/s1600/20150312_090706.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyAT8JVnhwTPncaecNfHGjlQyKHUAMr7gFUvnWaYHLei2R6aXVFx3MYWqdBo2XZYNhCblOmEsm9QB3cNo1rKZeDu-E3OC7s7zQw70qcv8hpUoZ9yFPJJ2Wn4QWHfLJ3DgW7wp3p0oAwhpk/s1600/20150312_090706.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #38761d;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #38761d;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">. . . spring is felt when the snowman begins to melt! </span></span></i></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #38761d;">What are your signs of spring? Is it here, is it near or will it ever appear? </span></span></span></span></i></div>
Lisa Mangold Kosmoskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10603221509192243107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5224256684156566472.post-49356744692214043162015-01-01T09:48:00.000-06:002015-01-02T09:05:13.193-06:00Planning to Have the Best Year<div dir="ltr">
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Today is THE day! Today is the day many of us reflect, review and resolve to make next year the best year ever, or at the very least, better than last year. I personally had a love-hate relationship with this time of year for many years. </span></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYWsXde6910iU2anNlOOamNGJhRZyAnx9yQcELWI1Mgxokru-gXPgNkFHRfxdDSNcBDe5CsyLgyXQBkrBfMuhIp6MzleBbXDYQuBdKjFN2yrA0ElYmmOa7hEYK_EseMCVwEhjifDDtx7Vc/s1600/0448_by_aj333photography-d4zzhtm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYWsXde6910iU2anNlOOamNGJhRZyAnx9yQcELWI1Mgxokru-gXPgNkFHRfxdDSNcBDe5CsyLgyXQBkrBfMuhIp6MzleBbXDYQuBdKjFN2yrA0ElYmmOa7hEYK_EseMCVwEhjifDDtx7Vc/s1600/0448_by_aj333photography-d4zzhtm.jpg" height="277" width="400" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I LOVED this time of year for setting goals and having the opportunity to do things better. I HATED the feeling of failing that came just weeks later. So, I simply looked for more occasions throughout the year to "start over". Then I wouldn't feel like a complete failure for not doing what I aimed to do because I gave myself a second chance with each "start over". I found that I could START OVER on my birthday, on the first day of the church year and on the first day of the month. I could even START OVER on the first day of the week. As I continued this love-hate relationship between my actions and my feelings, I recognized that only the TRUTH would set me free of this crazy thinking cycle.</span></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">By remembering daily WHOSE I am, I can review each day and be thankful for my blessings, be aware of my faults, be sorry for my sins and rest in the assurance that Christ paid the price so I can start over each day a new day no matter how I felt about what I accomplished that day! As a redeemed child of God, I am never a failure.</span></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqTLmT3-Qg-NRwBa4Sgq0hBqJ-8lObTiKc3BUJn375H2evyxDibFm50_NFpSLfWvw8kc4WdckHE4beqSbbIWJugcEyRIPvS3YEw4vggPia3xodZWUMFeJHIdLK3_IQUFv4HoxQaD77Jjn8/s1600/Rainbow+Double.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqTLmT3-Qg-NRwBa4Sgq0hBqJ-8lObTiKc3BUJn375H2evyxDibFm50_NFpSLfWvw8kc4WdckHE4beqSbbIWJugcEyRIPvS3YEw4vggPia3xodZWUMFeJHIdLK3_IQUFv4HoxQaD77Jjn8/s1600/Rainbow+Double.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I also learned that the setting of regular goals with completion dates, with motivating rewards, a weekly review plus a daily plan of action was the way to stay on track with the earthly tasks of life. I continue to learn better ways to achieve the things that I want/need to do. My failure or success in action is just that and I can choose to take the steps in the right direction each day.</span></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now I have grown to love the "START OVER" that each day offers but I still love this time of year for major reflection and goal setting. I hope you come to love and appreciate the opportunity each new day brings and that you plan to make this your best year! </span></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">TODAY is the day! </span></span></span></span></div>
Lisa Mangold Kosmoskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10603221509192243107noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5224256684156566472.post-26586049705419325482014-12-27T22:03:00.000-06:002014-12-27T22:03:44.743-06:00A Time to Celebrate<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Much has happened this year to have our family take pause and notice just how precious life is, but I am sure we are not the only ones. What in your life has lead you to pause a moment and take note? </span></span></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuksHQtQyQ1x0B1nbchFhZRQZ7IwFXV-vhP6_Jd1UZGbiy1BfQ8qGfEf3vHThjJD30iWVj6ushdiM1gL15JoD2xIdI-Qo8hncwAfQVhQxccLfbAkN5Ia3cmWiplPrOYWb2yucyWUyc_cN1/s1600/Blog+Take+Time+&+Notice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuksHQtQyQ1x0B1nbchFhZRQZ7IwFXV-vhP6_Jd1UZGbiy1BfQ8qGfEf3vHThjJD30iWVj6ushdiM1gL15JoD2xIdI-Qo8hncwAfQVhQxccLfbAkN5Ia3cmWiplPrOYWb2yucyWUyc_cN1/s1600/Blog+Take+Time+&+Notice.jpg" height="400" width="260" /></a></span></span></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Even though this was our most difficult year as a family, it was a year that showed us God's loving kindness through so many people. We are all still processing our loss as we move forward in life without Ken. Many unexpected things have needed tending to. Many undone projects still need addressed. I will admit that nothing has gone as planned, if you can actually plan out such a time as this. Then the holidays came quickly as we passed by Ken's (would be) 45th birthday, Thanksgiving and now Christmas. </span></span></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Even though it is a time of readjustment, no matter what has gone on in our lives - Christmas is always a time to pause and take note of the promises of God. It is always a time to celebrate! </span></span></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Fzu7wVefFhayt04I2BVKXDrc6MynuhnA_wpNk7cVk_itgYlf2EWenXRyTh_4M5-xiAlW5M8ak-cZU5qOhPXoOiZ8mgOz85jo3xibAK2TaNXpDdyrSks-9OmBpUeEUsW5XJiX5Xi4CQfe/s1600/2014+Christmas+Family.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Fzu7wVefFhayt04I2BVKXDrc6MynuhnA_wpNk7cVk_itgYlf2EWenXRyTh_4M5-xiAlW5M8ak-cZU5qOhPXoOiZ8mgOz85jo3xibAK2TaNXpDdyrSks-9OmBpUeEUsW5XJiX5Xi4CQfe/s1600/2014+Christmas+Family.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> With that said, we hope you had a Merry Christmas!</span></span></span></i></div>
Lisa Mangold Kosmoskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10603221509192243107noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5224256684156566472.post-54473299916872018032014-10-31T20:23:00.000-05:002014-10-31T20:23:29.310-05:00Life Goes On<div dir="ltr">
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Today is a day in which our culture celebrates the myths and fears that surround death. Some of the cultural traditions are fun and some are down-right scary. Although we can claim to have had some fun on All Hallows' Eve, our family grew to be fairly indifferent to the celebrations going on around us on this day. In fact, it never crossed my mind to purchase candy this year so we are sitting at home with the porch lights OFF! </span></span></i></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">On the eve of All Saints Day, when many are celebrating the uncertainty that surrounds death, I thought I would write a little about the certainty that comes to those who have faithfully departed in Christ. About a month ago we said "see you later" to my life-long friend and husband of twenty-five years. Because of the long term nature of Ken's health problems our family had many opportunities to face reality and to prepare for closure. We actually considered that part of his illness to be a blessing through the years.</span></span></i></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIT7PYyRIswkTNAxxJkgTMVx9nC83FldE9WYxNsmXfgewGLOKjhFll8DhI4x5_KJFORyQOppjj2SG6cFQ9ESmVdLZ-zxbeHGMq0ArNcYVAGKdFDYS011JvVA_4YI8QQRxcqWX1xyR2O_ux/s1600/Funeral+Rose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIT7PYyRIswkTNAxxJkgTMVx9nC83FldE9WYxNsmXfgewGLOKjhFll8DhI4x5_KJFORyQOppjj2SG6cFQ9ESmVdLZ-zxbeHGMq0ArNcYVAGKdFDYS011JvVA_4YI8QQRxcqWX1xyR2O_ux/s1600/Funeral+Rose.jpg" height="400" width="313" /></a></i></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></i></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ken had survived liver cancer in 2006 by receiving a <a href="http://livingallthingsinlife.blogspot.com/2014/07/a-second-chance-at-life-part-1-call.html" target="_blank">life-saving liver transplant</a>. Throughout 2014 his transplanted liver had been slowly failing and we knew that it was a matter of time before it had completely failed. Even though Ken was <a href="http://livingallthingsinlife.blogspot.com/2014/06/journey-from-transplant-to-transplant_18.html" target="_blank">diagnosed with a rare liver disease</a> in 1989 he lived a life much better than the doctors ever expected. Because of this diagnosis we learned to live a life that kept the truly important things in the forefront. We learned to say the things that were really important to each other and to our children. Ken wrote each child a letter before his passing yet there was nothing written that wasn't said at some time. He did the same for me and I now have in writing letters that highlighted the years of spoken words.</span></span></i></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">About a week before Ken died he asked me to have our children, parents and pastors meet with him at the hospital. He had struggled that day with a lot of pain and wanted this opportunity to speak some final words to his loved ones while his mind was clear. He spoke with us all as a group assuring us of his conviction and faith in Jesus Christ. He spoke individually to each of us assuring us of his personal love. We then ended the night with bible readings and a service to accommodate the dying. </span></span></i></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-2maPwLG1knK-9h69PJ9loqV35jeJv9rAkk7GzGhY37QOx-fuUz9GmemNr2uagccX7mmoMiKnOaWJs2p9klu2zOWvUFcl8fH2sx1v47OxIlKs_7gAoQd45PgSKUfqs03CFuwA10t6rb_p/s1600/Butterflies.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-2maPwLG1knK-9h69PJ9loqV35jeJv9rAkk7GzGhY37QOx-fuUz9GmemNr2uagccX7mmoMiKnOaWJs2p9klu2zOWvUFcl8fH2sx1v47OxIlKs_7gAoQd45PgSKUfqs03CFuwA10t6rb_p/s1600/Butterflies.jpeg" height="400" width="313" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">As a final act of love and closure for us all, Ken also planned the entire funeral. He typed out the worship service, he chose all of the Bible readings and all of the hymns. I think it was so well done it was ready for printing once the church secretary had added in the day of death along with the name of the Pastor officiating the service. The funeral service ended with this verse from 2 Timothy 4:7 -</span></span></i></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"> </span></span></span></i></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;">"I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith." </span></span></span></i></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">As he planned the service with a specific message in mind, this verse alone left us all with a final message. Although life goes on, we were being encouraged to stay focused on the finish line of this earthly race so that life will go on eternally for us all, like it did for him. </span></span></i></div>
Lisa Mangold Kosmoskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10603221509192243107noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5224256684156566472.post-78355473042299112312014-09-27T22:26:00.001-05:002014-09-27T22:26:23.553-05:00A Time for Everything<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL3XKZn0VKKBO9xW3xhIMIlzOlYQYNDnIIl7XDr9Jmorel_ii4baeK8AyjMhNRVjjXV3zaKljg685FuxxQ6uPJnbfPEodbqZ1aHC8YDwBZGD7Hu0IsqGAOt23C4oDfkwGwThqr-ru4Qt-9/s1600/Ken.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL3XKZn0VKKBO9xW3xhIMIlzOlYQYNDnIIl7XDr9Jmorel_ii4baeK8AyjMhNRVjjXV3zaKljg685FuxxQ6uPJnbfPEodbqZ1aHC8YDwBZGD7Hu0IsqGAOt23C4oDfkwGwThqr-ru4Qt-9/s1600/Ken.jpg" height="400" width="286" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><span class="verse v1 highlighted" data-highlight-color="#f3f315" data-usfm="ECC.3.1"><span class="content">Thank you, Lord, for introducing me to Ken. Because of him I h<span class="_c24 _50f4">ave had the opportunity to live an amazing
life! He was my best friend of my youth. We attended
the same high school, got married, finished college together and
then lived in a variety of wonderful</span></span></span></span></span></i></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><span class="verse v1 highlighted" data-highlight-color="#f3f315" data-usfm="ECC.3.1"><span class="content"><span class="_c24 _50f4">places in IL, MO, MI, TX and WI.</span></span></span></span></span></i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><span class="verse v1 highlighted" data-highlight-color="#f3f315" data-usfm="ECC.3.1"><span class="content"><span class="_c24 _50f4">Ken
was lead into the ministry which took us to the other side of the world and back. He served churches in Almaty, Kazakstan; Townsend, WI; </span></span></span></span></span></i></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><span class="verse v1 highlighted" data-highlight-color="#f3f315" data-usfm="ECC.3.1"><span class="content"><span class="_c24 _50f4">Washburn, IL and LaRose, IL. </span></span></span></span></span></i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><span class="verse v1 highlighted" data-highlight-color="#f3f315" data-usfm="ECC.3.1"><span class="content"><span class="_c24 _50f4">We were blessed with 25 years of marriage and three great
children. </span></span></span></span></span></i></span><span style="color: blue;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><span class="verse v1 highlighted" data-highlight-color="#f3f315" data-usfm="ECC.3.1"><span class="content"><span class="_c24 _50f4"><span style="color: blue;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><span class="verse v1 highlighted" data-highlight-color="#f3f315" data-usfm="ECC.3.1"><span class="content"><span class="_c24 _50f4">He imparted wisdom and truth unto them and through them, his legacy will definitely live on!</span></span></span></span></span></i></span> </span></span></span></span></span></i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><span class="verse v1 highlighted" data-highlight-color="#f3f315" data-usfm="ECC.3.1"><span class="content"><span class="_c24 _50f4">This week we said "See you later" to a wonderful husband, father, pastor, and friend. Words cannot express the impact that his knowledge and wisdom has had on so many people all across the world. </span></span></span></span></span></i></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><span class="verse v1 highlighted" data-highlight-color="#f3f315" data-usfm="ECC.3.1"><span class="content"><span class="_c24 _50f4">He will be missed but never forgotten. </span></span></span></span></span></i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><span class="verse v1 highlighted" data-highlight-color="#f3f315" data-usfm="ECC.3.1"><span class="content"><span class="_c24 _50f4">We are comforted knowing that his faith was in his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We are comforted knowing that he fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith. His body has been healed and he lives eternally in God's presence. </span> </span></span></span></span></i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><span class="verse v1 highlighted" data-highlight-color="#f3f315" data-usfm="ECC.3.1"><span class="content">"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:</span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><span class="verse v2 highlighted" data-highlight-color="#f3f315" data-usfm="ECC.3.2"><span class="content"> </span></span></span></span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><span class="verse v2 highlighted" data-highlight-color="#f3f315" data-usfm="ECC.3.2"><span class="content">time to be born, and a time to die. . ."</span></span></span></span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><span class="verse v2 highlighted" data-highlight-color="#f3f315" data-usfm="ECC.3.2"><span class="content"><br /></span></span></span></span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span class="verse v2 highlighted" data-highlight-color="#f3f315" data-usfm="ECC.3.2"><span class="content"><br /></span></span></span></div>
Lisa Mangold Kosmoskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10603221509192243107noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5224256684156566472.post-57738666066888704342014-09-24T22:36:00.001-05:002014-09-24T22:36:40.790-05:00A Time for Comfort<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Do you know people who must have all of the details before making a decision? It sure can be annoying when you are waiting for THAT person to decide so you can get on with whatever you were deciding about - especially if it is Friday night and you are trying to decide what to do, where to eat or what movie to watch! </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Well, I am normally that kind of person - one who collects information so I can make an informed decision. This makes total sense to me and many others with a similar personality, but I can also admit to making several VERY naive decisions in my life. I did not have ALL of the information before getting married, but I did it anyway. I did not have ALL of the information before having children, but had them anyway.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ5pdYmqgDIgtxXBluka5-b-5dlvmNvu9Kn-dudsQrEVFomEoPULFJkWwn5xXy0iRlVutufMPKjk15a0v75jU7e7sPOSRt0CFSBrovK8TKJycGPn-0E62G_1mY2UKoxnEIcZEBH3c1iFQi/s1600/Cubs+Game+026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ5pdYmqgDIgtxXBluka5-b-5dlvmNvu9Kn-dudsQrEVFomEoPULFJkWwn5xXy0iRlVutufMPKjk15a0v75jU7e7sPOSRt0CFSBrovK8TKJycGPn-0E62G_1mY2UKoxnEIcZEBH3c1iFQi/s1600/Cubs+Game+026.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">This week I made another naive decision. I had a general idea of what hospice was but found there was not time to gather ALL of the information. We knew that Ken's health was failing fast, that he was not going to be able to fight for a liver transplant any longer so we decided to learn more about hospice services. In less than two days, I met with three different hospice representatives. I learned that hospice services can be offered in the hospital, in a nursing home, in a special hospice home or in your own home. I naively chose our own home. We home school, so why not do hospice at home too?</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have always said that home school is not for everyone. I can honestly say the same about hospice care in the home. It is not for everyone. Shortly after we got home from the hospital, a hospice nurse met us at our home to make sure we had everything we needed. Ken was very tired and went to bed. He got up a few times in the night but by the next morning he was unable to get up any more. I was overwhelmed with his care wondering if this naive decision was a very good one. I did not have ALL of the information but am doing it anyway.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Just like getting married or having children, I have found that hospice care in the home is very similar. Marriage and giving birth were definitely overwhelming at some point. Both being married and raising children involved a learning process throughout each stage. There is also no way to be married or to raise children without selfless acts of love and service to another person. The past two days have been very difficult but our whole family is learning as we go. The process of passing has begun and everyone in our family is finding ways to serve, love and care for Ken. We will learn through each stage, for however long that we need to learn.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXuHa-01Pq0NUh58TSTrfmaAjORc9wSL2CT_6SL4eFy-iM6gicNc5CYMz8GXXkCBW3NDzxaeU7JPIGiQxg5T7mofC_Iuy2rz0HOsFVdUm4OMsDYZ6T7oyNpdzgQJN3ZA7TZ02GjfQHSrBv/s1600/Lake+Sunset+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXuHa-01Pq0NUh58TSTrfmaAjORc9wSL2CT_6SL4eFy-iM6gicNc5CYMz8GXXkCBW3NDzxaeU7JPIGiQxg5T7mofC_Iuy2rz0HOsFVdUm4OMsDYZ6T7oyNpdzgQJN3ZA7TZ02GjfQHSrBv/s1600/Lake+Sunset+1.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We already have so many people to thank for being there for us, for setting up meals, for listening, for encouraging us and <a href="http://thenanadiana.blogspot.com/2014/09/prayers-of-different-kind-desperately.html" target="_blank">for praying</a>. We appreciate it all very much!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<br />Lisa Mangold Kosmoskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10603221509192243107noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5224256684156566472.post-62483370555890591852014-09-22T03:36:00.000-05:002014-09-22T03:36:05.099-05:00The Greatest Tool of All<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Although my husband is a pastor, I am not claiming that what you read
next will be the greatest analogy or that I will have the best
theological explanation for what I am about to say but it was on my mind
to open up that tool box and show you a little of what was inside. </span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz7j0k_MTQBCtY8rA4TuX8mOocBhCD5eQXcXpwRH5TifH-QF2HcB45s7MFYrgMP5PAuYMZBQaNRbKD-IOpUhLec2nCSEY32hj2coSEdu6UiBCtzpUMh3vYIIxss5dtF7YWrz3o8nkgOAxb/s1600/Tool+Box+Cracked.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz7j0k_MTQBCtY8rA4TuX8mOocBhCD5eQXcXpwRH5TifH-QF2HcB45s7MFYrgMP5PAuYMZBQaNRbKD-IOpUhLec2nCSEY32hj2coSEdu6UiBCtzpUMh3vYIIxss5dtF7YWrz3o8nkgOAxb/s1600/Tool+Box+Cracked.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We
are <a href="http://livingallthingsinlife.blogspot.com/2014/09/how-do-you-it.html" target="_blank">under a lot of stress right now</a> as we think about all that life is
and all that life is not. And there are tools in our toolbox that
truly help us get through each and every day. These tools come in all
shapes and sizes but have helped us live a life of purpose and a life of
peace. I believe many of the tools are meant to be shared and talked
about. That is one of the purposes of this blog - to write about ALL
THINGS IN LIFE as we are LIVING them, to talk about the tools that we
have been given and been using, hoping that it helps you live the life
you were meant to live! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Most
of the time we have a smile and a sense of peace about all that we have
been through in this life and all that we must still go through. Yet
there are times, like right now, when it feels like the burden is too
heavy to carry and the pain is too much to bear. That's when we open up
our tool box and use what is in there to get us through. </span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC3_9XMYDko3s8gJiWxqsD-zYLQNwGrdkiJV1GtKGe_VoSnjRgNFs2M6m2QZLqWa0s0hvZhdBFlbLuXMkNhBSpGAjAZUEZ61FWmzXmKyhwWfeYqPpp5GQXNQVUOc4oEbd92j6qjVWHFNib/s1600/Tool+Box+Opened.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC3_9XMYDko3s8gJiWxqsD-zYLQNwGrdkiJV1GtKGe_VoSnjRgNFs2M6m2QZLqWa0s0hvZhdBFlbLuXMkNhBSpGAjAZUEZ61FWmzXmKyhwWfeYqPpp5GQXNQVUOc4oEbd92j6qjVWHFNib/s1600/Tool+Box+Opened.jpg" height="321" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
greatest tool of all in our "<i>tool box of life</i>" is God's Word which was a tool given to us as a
gift. I was very blessed to have found this tool in my tool box
because my parents placed it there when they placed me in the hand's of
God through Holy Baptism. That gift was shared with Ken many years
later and he too began to access this tool in his daily life. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We had to learn how to use this tool but as we learned to use it we grew as friends, we grew in marriage and we grew in life with this
being the greatest tool of all! This tool is the one that brings us
comfort when we are stressed, that breaks us when we are needing fixed
and that fixes us when we are broken. It is also capable of making all
of the adjustments necessary to get us back on course and point us in
the right direction if we were to get lost. It is the foundational tool
through which all other tools are made.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKbTDs_tVKO-RZGrIGnru1qj1IksjUvQaR4BaVzXxX6sO_-p6Hzg8BgvhYadgp0wp5g6l10ml_UoxBzyGt4sAmg9Ovsq8QhVxdx2mF9GSlvsJspjrMV8E3ThEJn2hXxEbzbauWMy8Ppq4L/s1600/God's+Word.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKbTDs_tVKO-RZGrIGnru1qj1IksjUvQaR4BaVzXxX6sO_-p6Hzg8BgvhYadgp0wp5g6l10ml_UoxBzyGt4sAmg9Ovsq8QhVxdx2mF9GSlvsJspjrMV8E3ThEJn2hXxEbzbauWMy8Ppq4L/s1600/God's%2BWord.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">It is our
prayer that <a href="https://www.youversion.com/" target="_blank">God's Word</a> is in your life too - serving you, fixing you
and comforting you as you experience ALL THINGS IN your LIFE.</span></span>Lisa Mangold Kosmoskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10603221509192243107noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5224256684156566472.post-80218802746505354712014-09-20T07:35:00.001-05:002014-09-21T20:04:18.561-05:00How Do You Do It?<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">After spending the past two months at home, Ken was readmitted to the hospital. Due to the concerns and symptoms it was decided that going to a local hospital in Peoria was best for Ken and our family. Our goal is to get several things back under control so that he can return home soon.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><a href="http://livingallthingsinlife.blogspot.com/2014/04/meet-mangolds.html" target="_blank">Our family</a> has been through some good times and some "not so good" times, especially during <a href="http://livingallthingsinlife.blogspot.com/2014/06/journey-from-transplant-to-transplant_18.html" target="_blank">the past eight years</a>. A question that I have been asked often this week is "How do you do it?" or put another way, "How do you live with all of this stress and still smile?"</span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL-0DrsMDhRA69xYnyp84__x2ZnjH4sJMClX1AW8tjYpOVrJZXqFRVLESq5Ia9ogY5RyBhuf-X0TevsDoqnfz9oQDQGACIItjLqDhyphenhyphenJ38bCBcNzVk2Lwe0VsmigJW9zeq_2-l3tVR1fITw/s1600/2013+Christmas+Ken+&+Lisa.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL-0DrsMDhRA69xYnyp84__x2ZnjH4sJMClX1AW8tjYpOVrJZXqFRVLESq5Ia9ogY5RyBhuf-X0TevsDoqnfz9oQDQGACIItjLqDhyphenhyphenJ38bCBcNzVk2Lwe0VsmigJW9zeq_2-l3tVR1fITw/s1600/2013+Christmas+Ken+&+Lisa.JPG" height="280" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> In reality, we have been married 25 years . . . </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA0sW68Bz3uY4cn5fjKIWsX_KKTVdWZr45siXjiWCampC4Eeu5IHvNkRj85308qhOMXzx_K2Bf45tsyDmJmu1WKKurIqX7j2BZNQMKSOUfo9osxbuafvI_TCGC_ikWPznKoKMt5tBgsvOd/s1600/Ken+&+Lisa+-+Benefit+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA0sW68Bz3uY4cn5fjKIWsX_KKTVdWZr45siXjiWCampC4Eeu5IHvNkRj85308qhOMXzx_K2Bf45tsyDmJmu1WKKurIqX7j2BZNQMKSOUfo9osxbuafvI_TCGC_ikWPznKoKMt5tBgsvOd/s1600/Ken+&+Lisa+-+Benefit+2.jpg" height="361" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">. . . for better and for worse and for more worse!</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUvDDyZJHMqJjB0fETrbFwmelmlA2mVrTSS3Aw-prfWU_WsShyAShyphenhyphennbYqmj_Whm1faUrgxaE5o6Dm8-TOFgnPrOrnSl7QZRgoR4SJFWJJlpH3_9onwf-i2_ov-QZvoTv0uUaTxqSh5mzU/s1600/2012+Family+Photo++Three+Teens.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUvDDyZJHMqJjB0fETrbFwmelmlA2mVrTSS3Aw-prfWU_WsShyAShyphenhyphennbYqmj_Whm1faUrgxaE5o6Dm8-TOFgnPrOrnSl7QZRgoR4SJFWJJlpH3_9onwf-i2_ov-QZvoTv0uUaTxqSh5mzU/s1600/2012+Family+Photo++Three+Teens.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We have talented kids that appear to be well adjusted!</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqfXrCYJoK3KyLpqSRiTR6dSKmFEihJS9SDgdKTYcMvkIuJo5AeulFpKS7HdGUCXD40JYab6VkKGI2jS37IvumjYb6dgtJi7K4I7Dc3W3fI8xXtJLOpjLVGqePot3fHhWbtJRaAZUh10kA/s1600/Toolbox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqfXrCYJoK3KyLpqSRiTR6dSKmFEihJS9SDgdKTYcMvkIuJo5AeulFpKS7HdGUCXD40JYab6VkKGI2jS37IvumjYb6dgtJi7K4I7Dc3W3fI8xXtJLOpjLVGqePot3fHhWbtJRaAZUh10kA/s1600/Toolbox.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Yet this week we face the reality that Ken's chronic illness is really a terminal situation. So, yes, there is a lot of stress! Yes, there are decisions to be made. BUT yes, thanks to God, there are tools in our "<i>toolbox of life</i>" that have helped us all cope with the stress. Next time I will show you what is in our tool box!</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />Lisa Mangold Kosmoskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10603221509192243107noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5224256684156566472.post-90909822072457537292014-09-05T23:33:00.001-05:002014-09-05T23:39:02.324-05:00The Mystery is SOMEWHAT Reavealed!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">In an <a href="http://livingallthingsinlife.blogspot.com/2014/06/this-mystery-needs-no-solving.html" target="_blank">earlier post</a>, I shared that our son was invited to participate in a "<i>Mystery Mission Trip</i>." We have taught our kids that it is important to serve others so it was not a surprise that our son was excited about going on a trip with his track coach even though he did not know WHERE he was going or WHO he was going with!</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The leaders of this trip work through
Youth For Christ and none of the youth knew where they would be traveling to. They just knew their group would be going SOMEWHERE to do SOMETHING. The YFC leaders wanted to instill upon
this group that serving is more about the people than the
place. </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR8yNQIiyQshztTn9sYoerFA5sAJF4Az-Y2f3iNncXXy1gglDm1bW5YuLKf4CRgerzO-stDWwXoqvPFjAKAYzrRz8cDWO5AVfSJaf3c8oNfuZJU_kilAeeXcu1hhRMLkw4yowzsfuPtwBd/s1600/YFC+Mission+Trip+Group+Photo+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR8yNQIiyQshztTn9sYoerFA5sAJF4Az-Y2f3iNncXXy1gglDm1bW5YuLKf4CRgerzO-stDWwXoqvPFjAKAYzrRz8cDWO5AVfSJaf3c8oNfuZJU_kilAeeXcu1hhRMLkw4yowzsfuPtwBd/s1600/YFC+Mission+Trip+Group+Photo+2.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Our son joined this smaller group from a town nearby. They headed south to meet up with a couple of other youth groups from Central Illinois. </span></span>This was the first mystery revealed ~ several groups would work together for the entire week SOMEWHERE. </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_MRIWhIU8ibkg_w4Lv51ybM8_46J5gC1xJ8WdKq1VRdTpWQHWUIIFo_qBUFnihQUHUnNxu46uDfgb39v512OoHnrzMaWE_9HRFyRpisNPA8XGep6TVVOe7dNVAeGv2c4aA17cg-7U3JKk/s1600/YFC+Mission+Trip+Day+4+Group.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_MRIWhIU8ibkg_w4Lv51ybM8_46J5gC1xJ8WdKq1VRdTpWQHWUIIFo_qBUFnihQUHUnNxu46uDfgb39v512OoHnrzMaWE_9HRFyRpisNPA8XGep6TVVOe7dNVAeGv2c4aA17cg-7U3JKk/s1600/YFC+Mission+Trip+Day+4+Group.jpg" height="266" width="400" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I asked our son where they went for the week and as it turns out - he still has no idea where they went! He just knows they went SOMEWHERE down south and did SOMEWORK. So, here he is with a <b>shovel</b> in his hand. I would say this looks like evidence of hard work!</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4L135kROWFu2ggbwN-XP-FJVKGxuhjvUPfJWOLJpTwczQ-y0P1Zt_CyXt3BMQszrmSMLks0NpaGlW-3YLListR2-USzmPxY0-OqUl-feMNOm_WudPKYqGA7_9Y_U6l64XQhXCMoAqbIaG/s1600/YFC+Mission+Trip+Day+5+John+Digging.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4L135kROWFu2ggbwN-XP-FJVKGxuhjvUPfJWOLJpTwczQ-y0P1Zt_CyXt3BMQszrmSMLks0NpaGlW-3YLListR2-USzmPxY0-OqUl-feMNOm_WudPKYqGA7_9Y_U6l64XQhXCMoAqbIaG/s1600/YFC+Mission+Trip+Day+5+John+Digging.jpg" height="266" width="400" /> </a></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Here he is with a <b>rake</b>. </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"How do we get him to do this at home?</span></span></i>"</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyciFarEy7YShwVBw9pHKg9_x9yfsf3VE8ZxwqRFyB9_izjdH3LcAsEOhZgnSpd1FJkRreJ1Qcncalih8saBnBXsh6oP-SfHxWT1e8dLHE4llN-NCFy8UiY4jV2u_d9O1xfPH_ltOmzAil/s1600/YFC+Mission+Trip+Day+4+John+working+on+garden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyciFarEy7YShwVBw9pHKg9_x9yfsf3VE8ZxwqRFyB9_izjdH3LcAsEOhZgnSpd1FJkRreJ1Qcncalih8saBnBXsh6oP-SfHxWT1e8dLHE4llN-NCFy8UiY4jV2u_d9O1xfPH_ltOmzAil/s1600/YFC+Mission+Trip+Day+4+John+working+on+garden.jpg" height="266" width="400" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">In addition to working, there was a historical lesson based upon where the group was for that day. These lessons took place in museums, parks and homes. It looks like they also had SOMEFUN!</span></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5jLvjT6Qcu4IyOi-ZPL2u_rRDCwGOfa0YUjjMW-9G8wZEl9ENHzg1QrtiT5Tpqh9vdcge0UohN2wUNJ_vqLpJGhcFeapXZVX-bYnO8A-hd1wUnKmfeDaR-pJTUJ40VG4M3koVIZAJgAx4/s1600/YFC+Mission+Trip+Day+4+John+Water.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5jLvjT6Qcu4IyOi-ZPL2u_rRDCwGOfa0YUjjMW-9G8wZEl9ENHzg1QrtiT5Tpqh9vdcge0UohN2wUNJ_vqLpJGhcFeapXZVX-bYnO8A-hd1wUnKmfeDaR-pJTUJ40VG4M3koVIZAJgAx4/s1600/YFC+Mission+Trip+Day+4+John+Water.jpg" height="223" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">We did hear many stories from our son and I SOMEWHAT figured out where they went by visiting the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/14456141766/" target="_blank">Metamora Campus Life Facebook Page</a>. There are several hundred pictures posted here by Christian Papach, one of the leaders who happens to be an outstanding photographer. I am very thankful to have a better understanding of the trip through Christian's pictures and appreciate his permission to post a few here. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">It seems that many friendships were formed and
many things were learned as these youth experienced history lessons,
life lessons, teamwork and the blessing of serving others. Perhaps SOMEDAY we will find out exactly where they went!</span></span>
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-Sup8h-fAnLg%2FVAMjebNRiTI%2FAAAAAAAAA7U%2FEXImYfher7g%2Fs1600%2FYFC%252BMission%252BTrip%252BDay%252B5%252BJohn%252BDigging.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4L135kROWFu2ggbwN-XP-FJVKGxuhjvUPfJWOLJpTwczQ-y0P1Zt_CyXt3BMQszrmSMLks0NpaGlW-3YLListR2-USzmPxY0-OqUl-feMNOm_WudPKYqGA7_9Y_U6l64XQhXCMoAqbIaG/s1600/YFC+Mission+Trip+Day+5+John+Digging.jpg" -->Lisa Mangold Kosmoskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10603221509192243107noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5224256684156566472.post-41554389450242374412014-08-28T23:53:00.003-05:002014-08-28T23:53:45.010-05:00A Third Chance at Life?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPpKx9_CUr9YSK0sA6_eMSVu4ifCFJ1yCvUR9KDlx1DwatJxYILQHRJfGAKEoVRwrgIkPzPpMRCxbu5Pisj6PQzHtJ3WGeG145NH9FxeVYRzojY6mtIPpsrll88sncEwAbA_ellhbqfp7e/s1600/All+Things.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPpKx9_CUr9YSK0sA6_eMSVu4ifCFJ1yCvUR9KDlx1DwatJxYILQHRJfGAKEoVRwrgIkPzPpMRCxbu5Pisj6PQzHtJ3WGeG145NH9FxeVYRzojY6mtIPpsrll88sncEwAbA_ellhbqfp7e/s1600/All+Things.jpg" height="87" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">When this<a href="http://livingallthingsinlife.blogspot.com/2014/04/meet-mangolds.html" target="_blank"> blog was started</a> earlier this year, I stated that it would include a variety of articles fitting the theme "All Things In Life". A variety of topics will be coming in the near future, but today I will give another update on how Ken has been doing.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I wrote last month about Ken's "<i>second chance at life</i>" in two parts: <a href="http://livingallthingsinlife.blogspot.com/2014/07/a-second-chance-at-life-part-1-call.html" target="_blank">Part One</a> and <a href="http://livingallthingsinlife.blogspot.com/2014/07/a-second-chance-at-life-part-2-surgery.html" target="_blank">Part Two</a> because his first liver transplant in 2006 took place over the course of two days. Now he waits for a second transplant which we have referred to as a "<i>third chance at life</i>". Based on all that has happened during the past eight years, this really could be considered his fifth or sixth chance at life but then it would sound like we were talking about the neighborhood alley cat! </span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2u0tPB5LhksORSEkkkuZFO01B5tOB4iwcTNYH-OqXc5ldJcagSf8FfmhL-7ACwUqLdn6F5ew0RhVZRrsXEQfVL8i8LJnJm_cfK9Hze0llosnkunp1VjjRbONMzxIip9D0OG78OwhZ-C1K/s1600/Alyssa's+Tiger.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2u0tPB5LhksORSEkkkuZFO01B5tOB4iwcTNYH-OqXc5ldJcagSf8FfmhL-7ACwUqLdn6F5ew0RhVZRrsXEQfVL8i8LJnJm_cfK9Hze0llosnkunp1VjjRbONMzxIip9D0OG78OwhZ-C1K/s1600/Alyssa's%2BTiger.JPG" height="327" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">A second transplant is something that we never expected to be an option. The reason it is an option now is because Ken's liver is failing from a liver disease known as </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;">primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). The first transplant was necessary because the PSC had advanced into a form of liver cancer that was detected very early. This time the PSC has lead to end stage liver disease. The best way to describe end stage liver disease is to imagine taking one of these every day . . . </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibwdeokfUkiGWFJtFzTBnrApxGqIDeTPRVjFZdytRmU7N1fQox5xySgG3NEgTo7iHEJHaDyZKjRK89MKtkDVMYAL4jtMBphhZL7uqnQuhWnh1VxTYtxYo8fKhnLTkFXZNoPGyM3yuGW-zp/s1600/Roller+Coaster+Upsidedown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibwdeokfUkiGWFJtFzTBnrApxGqIDeTPRVjFZdytRmU7N1fQox5xySgG3NEgTo7iHEJHaDyZKjRK89MKtkDVMYAL4jtMBphhZL7uqnQuhWnh1VxTYtxYo8fKhnLTkFXZNoPGyM3yuGW-zp/s1600/Roller+Coaster+Upsidedown.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have never known anyone to be told multiple times that they did not have long to live but now I walk this path once again with my life-long friend and husband of 25 years. What does one do when they are told such news? Do they really <b>feel</b> like going sky diving or Rocky Mountain climbing? The first time Ken was told that he would not live long without a liver transplant, he was 36 years old and looked very healthy. The diagnosis did not line up with any symptoms because there were none. Although he could have gone, there was no time for sky diving when you are in need of cancer treatments. Very quickly you do not <b>feel</b> like doing anything.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgxvj8vZYdTK06WJ-OuZfBHfb69BGPTdDo5Xe76fQ94TF-pi6oDdqOqdBBEfYY07RTfLbj_iuqDiWfrfXwgVUL5OLOMNyxtXsYmtYRjAb_EYPkyfd4SbM94takt9RHBPCEyvjka-eUcRT8/s1600/Skydive.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgxvj8vZYdTK06WJ-OuZfBHfb69BGPTdDo5Xe76fQ94TF-pi6oDdqOqdBBEfYY07RTfLbj_iuqDiWfrfXwgVUL5OLOMNyxtXsYmtYRjAb_EYPkyfd4SbM94takt9RHBPCEyvjka-eUcRT8/s1600/Skydive.png" height="215" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ken is now in need of a second liver transplant because his liver has been failing all year. He has been in the hospital more than home in 2014, but right now he has been home for about five weeks without a reason to go back to the hospital. We have learned to manage many things at home and do receive weekly visits from a home health nurse. Ken is very limited on how long he can be on his feet so falling from the sky is not an option. However, we were told by a local doctor that he has never seen anyone with a liver this bad be able to be upright at all. That perspective helps us appreciate the littlest of things.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;">A failing liver brings on many daily challenges so w</span></span></span>e must take each day as it comes. We really do not know what the future will bring. Like we told our children when they were 6, 9 and 11, "Daddy will either receive another chance at life, or he will receive eternal life." Now they are 14, 18 and 20 and while the circumstances may seem a little different the message is still the same. </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><i><br /></i></span></span>Lisa Mangold Kosmoskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10603221509192243107noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5224256684156566472.post-84101711464041016662014-07-31T23:57:00.001-05:002014-08-09T10:40:21.420-05:00A Second Chance at Life: Part 2 - "The Surgery"<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">As I recall the events that lead up to the liver transplant in 2006, I am amazed at how
slowly the day progressed. Prior to that
day I imagined a phone call interrupting the normal flow of family life, followed
by a mad rush out of the house into the van.
I could see us flying down the country roads onto the highway making
great time as we drove across the state of Wisconsin, only to be stopped briefly by an empathetic state trooper who so
kindly gave us a police escort the rest of the way. I expected a quick good-bye
at the hospital as they rushed Ken off to surgery to receive the transplant.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsv5fQmQXft3Or0HYE8YdBbH5jPEqsXeZYuC3XM_U3Z6qJtPlWxNSnv86WZDeeABOGSKCK9xeeR5UP8aywMDtxOSLY56Wy71m0IWydgs3ZkTnE2bd-SV_wI09Ay8aikSI5vXqoednR6RcL/s1600/June+Import+136.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsv5fQmQXft3Or0HYE8YdBbH5jPEqsXeZYuC3XM_U3Z6qJtPlWxNSnv86WZDeeABOGSKCK9xeeR5UP8aywMDtxOSLY56Wy71m0IWydgs3ZkTnE2bd-SV_wI09Ay8aikSI5vXqoednR6RcL/s1600/June+Import+136.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Instead, we received the first call from the transplant coordinator at 3am, followed by a second call at 6am
on July 30<sup>th</sup>. We knew that Ken was in the top five on the transplant list so we already had most of our bags packed for the call, much like we did when expecting our children to be born. Even though most things were ready to go we did not go back to bed after receiving the first call. Once we got confirmation to start driving to the hospital we got in the van and headed south.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">It was a rainy morning so logic set in and I decided to drive the speed limit because it made no sense to become an organ donor on the way to receive a transplant! We made it to Oshkosh by 8am and the EAA Airventure traffic on the road was minimal, so we passed by the thousands of campers with no problem.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">We arrived to the hospital by 10am. We were met there by several family members and friends. Then we hurried up and waited. Ken was actually the fifth transplant of the day so he was taken at 5pm into the surgery. We waited in the surgical family room all night. Around 2 am on July 31, I received a phone call from the operating room that the transplant had just taken place! So this is the day that actually marks the eighth year anniversary of Ken's first liver transplant.</span></span>Lisa Mangold Kosmoskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10603221509192243107noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5224256684156566472.post-20317859038748401572014-07-30T15:40:00.001-05:002014-07-30T21:31:40.316-05:00A Second Chance at Life: Part 1 - "The Call"<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The next two days represent an unusual anniversary for Ken but I decided to share this story in memory of the events that took place eight years ago.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://livingallthingsinlife.blogspot.com/2014/05/life-on-list.html" target="_blank">Ken was diagnosed with a liver disease</a> known as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primary_sclerosing_cholangitis" target="_blank"><i>primary sclerosing cholangitis</i></a>
in the Spring of 1989. This diagnosis came about a year after he had
graduated from high school and just weeks before we got married. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKWxwdCR5LnOSlIwYoxVKXTboe_GIUaHpGPZUuWRsZPN-JoOJHNdz34kSbqk2bGZgNkb3ajHOVUewMAJnuQTS-3OC5T65TgcgLQwJz5yNxZE-5gKo1qUnZVCIjcWnQwbJumjYoPtCX04uA/s1600/Anniversary+17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKWxwdCR5LnOSlIwYoxVKXTboe_GIUaHpGPZUuWRsZPN-JoOJHNdz34kSbqk2bGZgNkb3ajHOVUewMAJnuQTS-3OC5T65TgcgLQwJz5yNxZE-5gKo1qUnZVCIjcWnQwbJumjYoPtCX04uA/s1600/Anniversary+17.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a> </span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">N</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">early 17 years after the original diagnosis, Ken was then diagnosed with </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cholangiocarcinoma" target="_blank">cholangiocarcinoma</a> - a type of liver cancer in the biliary tree. About 10-15% of people diagnosed with PSC will also be diagnosed with bile duct cancer, which is normally fatal within six months.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">In the 1990's, <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.org/medical-professionals/clinical-updates/digestive-diseases/new-options-patients-bile-duct-cancer" target="_blank">Mayo Clinic developed a protocol</a> that would open the door for liver transplantation for some people diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma. Otherwise, this door was not an option for this aggressive type of cancer. Ken began the "Mayo Protocol" at the beginning of 2006. He had to receive aggressive radiation treatments as well as oral chemotherapy for about two months. He then underwent </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">exploratory surgery to check for metastases before being placed on the liver transplant list. This surgery showed no spread of the liver cancer, but did reveal a type of kidney cancer. (A story for another day.) Ken was officially placed on the list and continued to receive chemotherapy while waiting for a transplant. According to the protocol, the liver transplant needed to occur by the end of the sixth month of the protocol. Ken was granted exception points for his <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model_for_End-Stage_Liver_Disease" target="_blank">MELD</a> score in order to increase his chance of receiving a transplant in time.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">On the last day of the six month of this protocol, we received a phone call from Ken's transplant coordinator that a liver may be available for him. This call came at 3am but we were asked to wait for another call before actually driving to the hospital. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Interestingly, we had prayed that Ken NOT receive a call for the transplant on this weekend. We had a guest from out of state so we were hoping to enjoy the weekend visiting with her. We also did not want to be caught up in the traffic from the EAA Fly-In in Oshkosh. By 6am we had received a second phone call telling us to drive the four hours to Madison for a probable transplant. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">As it turned out, it was a huge blessing to have a guest at this time because we were able to leave the kids at home. Ken said good-bye to each one knowing that he may not see them until after the transplant. They were 12, 11 and 7 years old on this day. </span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPk_LrfNNeWm9wsj0OQKDN9FSRmnDAv-HWcjJEx7BLQj70F6z4VuskrbzAtU7YWLxvSPT8RmHFl9tXLSIfPzTG8jhcE89NzMLEtdPMKvvisQjHNRJ3nZJ-ASz1TmhqxiQfpjosavX-nyR1/s1600/2006+Kids+at+Madison.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPk_LrfNNeWm9wsj0OQKDN9FSRmnDAv-HWcjJEx7BLQj70F6z4VuskrbzAtU7YWLxvSPT8RmHFl9tXLSIfPzTG8jhcE89NzMLEtdPMKvvisQjHNRJ3nZJ-ASz1TmhqxiQfpjosavX-nyR1/s1600/2006+Kids+at+Madison.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We did not know anything about the donor for Ken's first transplant for nearly two years. In 2008 we did receive a letter from a wife who had lost her husband tragically in a motorcycle accident on July 30, 2006. On this day we remember the gift that this man gave to our family by being an organ donor. Because of his gift, Ken received a second chance at life.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
Lisa Mangold Kosmoskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10603221509192243107noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5224256684156566472.post-65228572427600488882014-07-29T20:07:00.001-05:002014-07-29T21:17:51.719-05:00Are You Having Safe Fun?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]-->
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]--><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Ken officially spent the first half of July in the
hospital. We expected the last trip back to Madison to be a short one
designed to tweak his electrolyte imbalance, but it turned into a
week long stay. We were then home a handful of days before needing to go to a local hospital, which resulted in another week long stay away from home. As we hung out at the UW Transplant Unit during the 4th of July weekend, we could not help but notice the greatly increased helicopter activity!</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMOgwZKnmkNs64OQYl8E0sO343e9j4nuAb5t84sLbWluRe0bb2mBPZytdbkQq7LeyMU5Q7aFQz7uY25lJRXpjwZIu-8meGc7dKTojm_dGDAEU3EYqWHshjWPb4enATrmt6FirBUWEyUZpE/s1600/UW+Helecopter.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMOgwZKnmkNs64OQYl8E0sO343e9j4nuAb5t84sLbWluRe0bb2mBPZytdbkQq7LeyMU5Q7aFQz7uY25lJRXpjwZIu-8meGc7dKTojm_dGDAEU3EYqWHshjWPb4enATrmt6FirBUWEyUZpE/s1600/UW+Helecopter.png" height="318" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: large;">While
we do not know the reasons for all of the helicopter landings, we do
know that a lot of people were NOT having safe fun. We also
know that there is a strong correlation between the increased travel to
Wisconsin in the summer and the number of transplants that occur during
this time. </span><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: large;">As
I finished up this post we heard another helicopter landing on the pad
nearby. That makes it more than a dozen landings so far today. We sure
hope you all are having SAFE FUN this summer!</span></div>
Lisa Mangold Kosmoskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10603221509192243107noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5224256684156566472.post-84178035525547283602014-06-28T22:46:00.001-05:002014-08-31T08:13:28.307-05:00This Mystery Needs No Solving!<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Our son was invited to participate in a "Mystery Mission" trip. This means that the youth attending the trip had no idea where they were going or what they would be doing! They were simply asked if they were willing to give a week of their time to serve. If so, then they were given a packing list and the dates they'd be gone. As you can see, he packed his "guns"!</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3dXVzBz0KgdVk0lXGu1czH55yRvEYnOPcssuim6pVkofrPRQ52zBH_XSKtrSKkSu8TlJPvg4VlDAZ6UQcGp61Ov0RtzF0p3tryMhHnQm8pCW3960meyeodkqLhQzc6dm5w7MJlBJY9pS7/s1600/John+Muscles.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3dXVzBz0KgdVk0lXGu1czH55yRvEYnOPcssuim6pVkofrPRQ52zBH_XSKtrSKkSu8TlJPvg4VlDAZ6UQcGp61Ov0RtzF0p3tryMhHnQm8pCW3960meyeodkqLhQzc6dm5w7MJlBJY9pS7/s1600/John+Muscles.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Not only did our son not know where he was going, he didn't really know who he was going with. We look forward to hearing all of his stories very soon and I look forward to sharing more about this "mystery" trip when he returns. For now, I ask that you pray for the safety of the group as they finish their week of service unto others and as they travel home. </span></span></div>
Lisa Mangold Kosmoskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10603221509192243107noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5224256684156566472.post-71069731836280028352014-06-21T16:33:00.001-05:002014-06-22T14:05:36.258-05:00Thanking a Community<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I recently shared <a href="http://livingallthingsinlife.blogspot.com/2014/06/journey-from-transplant-to-transplant_18.html" target="_blank">some of the details</a> of Ken's journey from the diagnoses of PSC to surviving cancer to how he is doing now. There have been many ups and downs in this journey but our perspective is that God is using these things to teach us life-lessons and to mold us for His purpose. Sometimes we talk to our kids about these life-lessons and sometimes these life-lessons just hit us and leave us speechless.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBNVWwh7MjEUeY0dPTpNNt-IZ4i0OEJEmJbG6DwvdBmOL2IhUL-frK9duM3K7MMskiaAC7cG7yuBBHQIzIel5-Z32rsatSuC7lU7hCMmEbpDNrj_CzY-SwBqh2Nxple6YL93augTk0Qyj-/s1600/20140413_151453.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBNVWwh7MjEUeY0dPTpNNt-IZ4i0OEJEmJbG6DwvdBmOL2IhUL-frK9duM3K7MMskiaAC7cG7yuBBHQIzIel5-Z32rsatSuC7lU7hCMmEbpDNrj_CzY-SwBqh2Nxple6YL93augTk0Qyj-/s640/20140413_151453.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">A recent life-lesson is related to the role of community in our lives. Think about these examples of community: church, bowling league, Weight Watchers, the local bar, Facebook, your home town. I firmly believe the communities that we participate in can have the power to destroy our lives or have the power to be a blessing in our lives.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The power of community was recently demonstrated on a huge level in our lives a couple of weeks ago and it was a blessing! Our church decided to host a fish fry and traditional auction in honor of their pastor and as a way to help offset the travel and medical costs. Their effort was joined by many from surrounding churches as well as the general community. Many people attended which tells me a lot of people really like beer-battered fish or a lot of people really care. I believe it is mostly the latter which was very humbling for our family.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: start;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheUwOTLmogQO7XiATrxvn38jICCFPWE5pyQx-eiGd2bMB29okR0kWGgHl7-k9Ig_GDVlQ-XNOlYeZQfC1dJuyXUXMhsGyP6jbOOlqO5CQmmUS7Y_fToAVOIEzkYUFQKoUDyqLpo6186hSw/s1600/20140607_162011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheUwOTLmogQO7XiATrxvn38jICCFPWE5pyQx-eiGd2bMB29okR0kWGgHl7-k9Ig_GDVlQ-XNOlYeZQfC1dJuyXUXMhsGyP6jbOOlqO5CQmmUS7Y_fToAVOIEzkYUFQKoUDyqLpo6186hSw/s640/20140607_162011.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: start;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We would like to personally thank everyone involved but I believe the outpouring of love from this community has gone beyond any list of names that we could have been given. Please know that we truly appreciate all that was done! </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: start;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The care and compassion spoke volumes to Ken as he now knows we are not alone in this journey. This was a huge blessing! The care and compassion also spoke volumes to our children. I know that because of THIS life-lesson they will duplicate the efforts ten-fold throughout their lives as they will seek to pay forward this example in the years to come!</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: start;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: start;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilLhhZoONCx2Sq3RFxgU4uhUlAGJvqI_mu950kIqYY82I1fP_Bzaystm7MN-p_cemPYUHNHZDl9yV6wpocZVTvsAzrQMBLttNbdqxvCoUPKxBF27ND1zszoqre95U7GMel0FBXnVjhaWhs/s1600/IMG_525271892370614.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilLhhZoONCx2Sq3RFxgU4uhUlAGJvqI_mu950kIqYY82I1fP_Bzaystm7MN-p_cemPYUHNHZDl9yV6wpocZVTvsAzrQMBLttNbdqxvCoUPKxBF27ND1zszoqre95U7GMel0FBXnVjhaWhs/s640/IMG_525271892370614.jpeg" height="301" width="400" /></a></div>
Lisa Mangold Kosmoskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10603221509192243107noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5224256684156566472.post-55666997852647315772014-06-18T23:26:00.001-05:002014-06-19T07:13:09.376-05:00Journey from Transplant to Transplant<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I wrote most of this post while on the transplant unit since Ken was readmitted earlier this week. He was released to go home today so I now finish this in the comfort of our home! </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I first blogged <a href="http://livingallthingsinlife.blogspot.com/2014/05/we-know-one-who-knows.html" target="_blank">here</a> about when this journey started and <a href="http://livingallthingsinlife.blogspot.com/2014/04/everyone-has-story-to-tell.html" target="_blank">here</a> about the past six months. This will be the one time that I will fill in the gaps on the history of Ken's illness. It's a history that has been with us for the past 25 years but we have not let it stop us from living out our purpose! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5y2_emn93XRPvWW7kHQp9UmDtuCv4_4bY-KH8ncwMy_okCe4Az7hJgshqSNQTSjUuKcoyd7YkZxr8E8DMTo8fDp46fS5rqGnCjqlSFgwFJ2ezYOmm_JLYk2hOt0yiVZjOgbmr72qj7hdI/s1600/1998+Ordination+Pastor+Burdick+&+Ken.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5y2_emn93XRPvWW7kHQp9UmDtuCv4_4bY-KH8ncwMy_okCe4Az7hJgshqSNQTSjUuKcoyd7YkZxr8E8DMTo8fDp46fS5rqGnCjqlSFgwFJ2ezYOmm_JLYk2hOt0yiVZjOgbmr72qj7hdI/s1600/1998+Ordination+Pastor+Burdick+&+Ken.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I only share this to answer any questions that people may have, to guide our prayers and to hopefully help others who struggle in some way. Perhaps it will help some to know they are not alone in their struggles. Maybe it will help others to know that things in their lives are not really all that bad. I have been reminded often that "<i>it is not what happens to us in life that matters but how we choose to respond that makes the difference</i>."</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>1985 - 1987</b> If Ken where to tell the story he would probably say it started sometime in high school. He was an outstanding track and cross country runner but had experienced some unexplained fatigue from time to time. A blood test revealed elevated liver enzymes which could have been due to a muscle disorder or a liver problem. Due to his age and competitive running, the doctors ran a battery of tests that ruled out a muscle disorder. The symptoms seemed to have cleared up so no additional tests were ordered. Ken graduated high school in 1987 and then proceeded to attend basic training and tech school for the Air National Guard.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>1987 - 1989</b> After tech school, Ken returned to the central Illinois area to work. He started college, joined the indoor track team, met his monthly obligation with the Peoria Air National Guard and planned to get married at the end of his freshman year. Symptoms surfaced in the Spring of 1989 which lead to a diagnosis of ulcerative colitis (a colon disease) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (a liver disease). Even though the prognosis was not great we still got married in May.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>July 1989</b> Continued weight loss and a high fever landed Ken in an ER, followed by a surgery to remove his gall bladder. This surgery confirmed the diagnosis of PSC and a recommendation was made to get a second opinion at Mayo Clinic.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>October 1989</b> While both of us were full time students, we were able to take a week off of school for testing at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. Both autoimmune diseases were confirmed to be present. There were no known cures for either disease and very few treatment options at the time.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>1990 - April 1995</b> Ken's liver enzyme numbers had returned to normal. The main struggle with his health at this time was due to flare-ups from the ulcerative colitis. Long term use of steroids became ineffective and the symptoms could no longer be managed with medications.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>April 1995</b> Six years after the diagnosis of ulcerative colitis and 6 months after the birth of our daughter, Ken had to have surgery to remove the entire colon. He was a student at Concordia Seminary in St Louis and had to take six months off of school in order to have three major surgeries to remove the colon and to create an internal pouch. </span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip4xxj9eTUn9stgwtKRprqQeQH1AWlPdjqkhXO6KY0WlR71LjRTMeHvN3S5xOm2qILpdYOIH3XKMao-j44tib4mwTQis3epPkZrLwzTksleRXLxLgTEQ-nPx7NgUOWS-UsolnQbnd7BIY0/s1600/Ken+and+Alyssa+1995.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip4xxj9eTUn9stgwtKRprqQeQH1AWlPdjqkhXO6KY0WlR71LjRTMeHvN3S5xOm2qILpdYOIH3XKMao-j44tib4mwTQis3epPkZrLwzTksleRXLxLgTEQ-nPx7NgUOWS-UsolnQbnd7BIY0/s1600/Ken+and+Alyssa+1995.jpg" height="400" width="277" /></a></span></span></div>
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>May 1999</b> For most of the ten years following the initial diagnosis of PSC, Ken's liver enzymes remained within normal limits. In May 1999, Ken hit a point in which he was not feeling well and blood tests revealed elevated liver enzymes again. We were living in Almaty, Kazakhstan at the time and it was determined that we should return to the United States in order to have the status of the liver disease re-evaluated. Since PSC is so unpredictable it was recommended that we remain living in the US in the event that Ken would need additional medical attention. Months after returning to the US, the liver enzymes returned to normal. </span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjukHAKpI0SUrVK5EtO3MJUsnBC5-EwAeYMDwhaRUIc7-eUWN5nI6hHm-1B6KYausBmr_uk5ODQA9rWRWK_GhK9SOlIDytU2LjYtr4AA93BpfP17grj9OF4V2QeNFdQJFYUcHZnsOJZwjb_/s1600/Worship+Ken+at+House+Church.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjukHAKpI0SUrVK5EtO3MJUsnBC5-EwAeYMDwhaRUIc7-eUWN5nI6hHm-1B6KYausBmr_uk5ODQA9rWRWK_GhK9SOlIDytU2LjYtr4AA93BpfP17grj9OF4V2QeNFdQJFYUcHZnsOJZwjb_/s1600/Worship+Ken+at+House+Church.jpg" height="290" width="400" /></a></div>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>October 2004</b> We had moved to the state of Wisconsin ealier in the year so Ken needed to find a new liver specialist to monitor his liver enzymes although they had been close to normal for the previous four years. Following this initial visit of routine blood tests and an MRI, Ken's new doctor from Green Bay referred him to UW Madison because he had discovered two masses in his liver. Biopsies revealed that these masses were not cancer. However, the liver specialist indicated that it was not a matter of IF but WHEN this scar tissue from the PSC would lead to cancer. Ken was then scheduled for a routine liver biopsy every three months until cancer was detected. </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>December 2004, April 2005, July 2005</b> Three additional liver biopsies were all considered benign but there appeared to be a progression toward the development of abnormal cells.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>October 2005</b> Ken was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma - a type of bile duct cancer. It was recommended that he participate in the "Mayo Protocol" which involved radiation treatments, chemotherapy, exploratory surgery and liver transplantation as the only way to survive this type of cancer.</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBGOlZlqUT15MaD4DkbTAasBaKtVxi-zuJ_Q41UD23MrywvbtAI07L4FcZ7MkeCJbhYjfFItw0142-B5tRD3Nzde9yPLX8TC-7rrrO2o-ovpBqnrr7gNsV_1yoX8w259DkqOXDimMvBwT1/s1600/Family+Portrait+2006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBGOlZlqUT15MaD4DkbTAasBaKtVxi-zuJ_Q41UD23MrywvbtAI07L4FcZ7MkeCJbhYjfFItw0142-B5tRD3Nzde9yPLX8TC-7rrrO2o-ovpBqnrr7gNsV_1yoX8w259DkqOXDimMvBwT1/s1600/Family+Portrait+2006.JPG" height="400" width="276" /></a></span></span></div>
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>January 2006</b> Ken started radiation treatments and chemotherapy under the direction of the UW Madison Liver Transplant team.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>March 2006</b> Exploratory surgery </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">showed that a
spot on his kidney was renal cell carcinoma so half of that kidney had to be removed during this surgery. The finding of kidney cancer was unexpected and unrelated to the liver cancer. This surgery also confirmed that the bile duct cancer had not spread to the lymph nodes so Ken could remain on the liver transplant list!</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>July 31, 2006</b> Ken received the life-saving liver transplant at UW Hospital in Madison from a man who died in a motorcycle accident.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>February 2007</b> Following a very rough recovery time, Ken eventually returned to work as the head pastor of the church he had been serving in Wisconsin.</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI7WBQoB1HJLmbWOlX7SKEofilzu2pnlOhlKrrpj663luBY78r9IC-S8KWiHdGAM7ovKDD12Zp3QsnKCNe6iUkeXXyqgHKbPEkZ3u_TTOy33EQ38iigrk7woKqvgzcs1FB28w9O2AnvALN/s1600/Wisconsin+Wedding.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI7WBQoB1HJLmbWOlX7SKEofilzu2pnlOhlKrrpj663luBY78r9IC-S8KWiHdGAM7ovKDD12Zp3QsnKCNe6iUkeXXyqgHKbPEkZ3u_TTOy33EQ38iigrk7woKqvgzcs1FB28w9O2AnvALN/s1600/Wisconsin+Wedding.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>August - December 2007</b> Unexplained, yet severe pain lead to hospitalization in December. Many tests were done looking for a cause of the severe abdominal pain but nothing could be found.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>January 2008</b> A massive bleeding ulcer was finally discovered. Later it was determined that the ulcer was a result of the intense radiation treatments. It was recommended that Ken be evaluated for surgery to remove the ulcer. Surgery was scheduled and then cancelled because it was unlikely that Ken would survive the surgery. He was then referred to specialists to continue managing the severe pain.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>July 2008</b> Pain management options reached a dangerous and potentially lethal level so surgery was rescheduled to remove the massive ulcer. It was determined that the risks of treating the pain were greater than the risk of dying in surgery. This surgery was incredibly difficult and lead to the accidental cutting of a duct in the pancreas. This lead to a series of complications that represented the beginning of an even rougher road. The pancreatic leak lead to a drain tube - which lead to a fistulla - which lead to many serious pancreatic infections, the placement of a central line for nutrition, and hundreds of days in the hospital over the next two years.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDqLVdFZzX1qcfrKVbZu1MMZmFBe9HvGaVJy1gibNoR8pg0iGAn5seSS302iBff_8ioxC2ne96xKvzhd7sDFOF1VdjPOLddvU0D2n8ZCUj9gtjdTBVUbGfcXw0wdUijC40Zl2tsRak-AHR/s1600/Ken+%2526+Lisa+in+front+of+Capitol+Madison+WI.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDqLVdFZzX1qcfrKVbZu1MMZmFBe9HvGaVJy1gibNoR8pg0iGAn5seSS302iBff_8ioxC2ne96xKvzhd7sDFOF1VdjPOLddvU0D2n8ZCUj9gtjdTBVUbGfcXw0wdUijC40Zl2tsRak-AHR/s1600/Ken+%2526+Lisa+in+front+of+Capitol+Madison+WI.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>January 2010</b> Surgery was scheduled to try to repair the pancreatic leak. This surgery was cancelled because the surgeon believed that Ken would not survive the surgery due to the history of severe infections.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>July 2010</b> Surgery to repair the pancreatic leak was rescheduled by a different surgeon. This surgery was successful and over time the number of pancreatic infections decreased from monthly to just a few per year.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">December </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">2011 - December 2013</span></span></b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> Ken </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">averaged about six hospitalizations each of these years but still made improvements in the quality of his daily life. He was able to pursue hobbies, help with homeschooling and eventually serve as a guest preacher and Bible study teacher. In February 2013, Ken was called to serve as a pastor on a part-time basis in Central Illinois so our family made the move from Wisconsin back to Illinois. </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>January 2014 - June 2014</b> Ken began to have one infection after another which required multiple hospitalizations. So far he has been in the hospital in Madison more than 125 days this year. We know that his transplanted liver is failing from an aggressive re-occurrence of PSC. He was placed on the liver transplant list and is currently waiting for a second liver transplant. </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">As I finish this, I'm thinking this is still a brief overview although it does not look like one! Many details and stories are left out but I figure if you read this far it is because you wanted to know the story. I still hope that sharing this helps in some way. When </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I write more in the future, I pray that the real help comes through the life lessons learned and the encouragement that we can offer to those in any circumstance.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">As we continue down this path we really do know the end of this story. It is the same ending for every one in our family. Our prayer for you is that you too know the end of your story! </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<i><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span class="selected">For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, </span><span class="verse-num" id="v45008039-1"></span><span class="">nor
height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to
separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. </span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Romans 8:38-39 </span></span></span></i></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
Lisa Mangold Kosmoskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10603221509192243107noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5224256684156566472.post-16812611719138216792014-06-15T17:29:00.002-05:002014-06-15T17:29:59.177-05:00Hapy Father's Day<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Before giving an update I decided to post a picture that is bound to make you all smile. Anytime I am in need of a smile, I open up a file of favorite photos and this one get's me one every time. </span></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6B_RsQP9pOxE9iVzpPK-2hdEaCh52DPHUVtMAu2wu3RGv9p9dDT6DTe3-cJ-1AkA6xnYMzzJ16nqAPIOHBNr6j0KOl5M_MY6GrYmDjyssFs3Fo2i834_tCEuiy5XjSmmDYHpdEOflrSOH/s1600/2005+Christmas+Little+Angels.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6B_RsQP9pOxE9iVzpPK-2hdEaCh52DPHUVtMAu2wu3RGv9p9dDT6DTe3-cJ-1AkA6xnYMzzJ16nqAPIOHBNr6j0KOl5M_MY6GrYmDjyssFs3Fo2i834_tCEuiy5XjSmmDYHpdEOflrSOH/s1600/2005+Christmas+Little+Angels.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">These are our three PK's - AKA "little angels". PK is short for THE Pastor's Kids. I am sure you all know some PK's and I bet they are all "little angels" just like ours!</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">All kidding aside, I wanted to post something for Father's Day. I know this day can be bitter-sweet for many people, fathers and children alike. I think we all have experienced a time where our earthly fathers have let us down as well as a time that makes us proud to call him "dad". I'm also sure there are many fathers that feel like they could have done more for their children at different phases in their lives and some who have sacrificed much for the success of their family. Some have great earthly fathers while others do not even know who their father is. Some have great memories with their dad while others have no memories at all. I am thankful that our children have had mostly great memories with their dad. I often remind them that despite the fact that he has had so many health problems, they have more great moments with their dad than most have in a lifetime.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ7Mg2eixZUBOsckkG-0W3fza-chktiot0ou9hVf6hFVPUShOEWviutiQD7iArGIHpfAPTamtN7fXzWfAuIO3opvBPwcyMKh1d2lJ3iNS6z-eZo42mHALjbJU_k0SFZI-qbqarI_FF1xmc/s1600/Cubs+Game+026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ7Mg2eixZUBOsckkG-0W3fza-chktiot0ou9hVf6hFVPUShOEWviutiQD7iArGIHpfAPTamtN7fXzWfAuIO3opvBPwcyMKh1d2lJ3iNS6z-eZo42mHALjbJU_k0SFZI-qbqarI_FF1xmc/s1600/Cubs+Game+026.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I know there are so many situations and scenarios that could describe the modern day father-child relationship. No matter the father or the memory - one great thing to remember on a day like this is that we all have a perfect Father in heaven who will not let us down, who will always be there and who sacrificed it all for each of us to live eternally with Him! </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmFJKYYB3_fL3zZjtgUDrxBhj5JVU5xc_M8PcXEmLEbsAsmVa-c8CcPdryXPSmHgqR0SFDztqVqqUyBpkyHQiaTWNUvlKBJ8tWNWr43Nd_joQwKu1k4CiIR2UC5L_CU2e9MHSIooghoWrd/s1600/Ken+&+Girls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmFJKYYB3_fL3zZjtgUDrxBhj5JVU5xc_M8PcXEmLEbsAsmVa-c8CcPdryXPSmHgqR0SFDztqVqqUyBpkyHQiaTWNUvlKBJ8tWNWr43Nd_joQwKu1k4CiIR2UC5L_CU2e9MHSIooghoWrd/s1600/Ken+&+Girls.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I admit that we could use a smile on this Father's Day. A week ago, Ken was re-admitted to the hospital so we were hoping that he would be able to be home for Father's Day. We actually made it home Friday night but he got very ill this morning so we had to return to the hospital. The doctors are rechecking all of the usual things and he is now resting comfortably in his room. It was not the Father's Day that was planned but God willing, we know that we can pick another day and make it just as special! </span></span></div>
Lisa Mangold Kosmoskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10603221509192243107noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5224256684156566472.post-87035407025617466212014-06-05T18:58:00.000-05:002014-06-07T13:46:32.390-05:00No Place Like Home<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Today finds our family home together doing what people do when they are at home . . .</span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8UR30Ta8ntTCA2LjZEO3Q4TMzZNYGTieEHD6Kqq7LmyHD4ctjsYyWZ4XAqZ7EoXGNtXlpxUVPYcedcIZGfv9AxqKS4_buTed85zt0vdV1VjDHnNJQdtgn6fx-R2gUF1DsVBv4CX66MT70/s1600/Garage+Sale+Bookcases.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8UR30Ta8ntTCA2LjZEO3Q4TMzZNYGTieEHD6Kqq7LmyHD4ctjsYyWZ4XAqZ7EoXGNtXlpxUVPYcedcIZGfv9AxqKS4_buTed85zt0vdV1VjDHnNJQdtgn6fx-R2gUF1DsVBv4CX66MT70/s1600/Garage+Sale+Bookcases.jpg" height="297" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Last fall </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I started organizing for a garage sale </span></span>and had placed all of the books for sale on an older book case. Since Ken has been in the hospital so much, I had not been able to have the sale so I decided to take advantage of being home and returned to the garage sale project. The first thing I did was remove the bins of non-sale items from the garage BUT I forgot that the bookcase was being supported by storage bins!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjaebeSm6LuUCt3poq64pjInxcwpIuLpAlB-0hG9WrR7giZeSdXR1QRRrg3w42Hm3RPuffPE9lDKBqzfcK1FEkoxUd1TpZN5EQRIazMjEAFHMTOCB1_fmUV1gghCh3gE2iRsINpjZjvmvO/s1600/Sale+Now+Sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjaebeSm6LuUCt3poq64pjInxcwpIuLpAlB-0hG9WrR7giZeSdXR1QRRrg3w42Hm3RPuffPE9lDKBqzfcK1FEkoxUd1TpZN5EQRIazMjEAFHMTOCB1_fmUV1gghCh3gE2iRsINpjZjvmvO/s1600/Sale+Now+Sign.jpg" height="252" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Since Ken's health has been unpredictable for many years there are times it has been difficult to plan very many things very far in advance. When it comes to garage sales, I just wait for others in the area to have a sale, then I put out MY sign. Here's what the sign looks like when you cannot predict the future!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRGRbxG_xaKHx544RNqxI9wsLVRknF8m9PBPmrgQ-ioMVrBrFsJ1IdRPEVUdSFm3PSeg9lUaJGc3Hx3_jin7CQ5Rs6WZrNR8QIQ-cz2Gfic2r0QePO7dEenjALq9iHQtDffL-ELx0zVYFw/s1600/Pipe+Spraying.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRGRbxG_xaKHx544RNqxI9wsLVRknF8m9PBPmrgQ-ioMVrBrFsJ1IdRPEVUdSFm3PSeg9lUaJGc3Hx3_jin7CQ5Rs6WZrNR8QIQ-cz2Gfic2r0QePO7dEenjALq9iHQtDffL-ELx0zVYFw/s1600/Pipe+Spraying.jpg" height="210" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I had spent the morning organizing for the sale, stopped to see a friend and then was going to shop for groceries. While visiting, my friend encouraged me to open up the sale that night since others in the area were doing the same. I decided grocery shopping could wait so I returned home to gather a few more things to sell. Upon entering the basement I felt a spray of water across my face. One of the pipes had sprung a leak and shot water for eight feet across the basement and made a lot of things very wet!</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHhy-50bkezVXbkGRiY-ZpdhCP_tDxmE9iEMpS3Ia7RcG_ERYRrEkFTOi3V4T_8nFYE0Wh0TsDThnnzkyURu3Jz_tWey61qWewnjydxYwDNU4h7EF8Z1LGl9l8R4PuUp_wCsz3MCb2Z8fD/s1600/Pipe+Duct+taped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHhy-50bkezVXbkGRiY-ZpdhCP_tDxmE9iEMpS3Ia7RcG_ERYRrEkFTOi3V4T_8nFYE0Wh0TsDThnnzkyURu3Jz_tWey61qWewnjydxYwDNU4h7EF8Z1LGl9l8R4PuUp_wCsz3MCb2Z8fD/s1600/Pipe+Duct+taped.jpg" height="400" width="236" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I had to call another friend to learn how to shut off the water. (<i>Thank God for great friends!</i>) In the meantime, my son grabbed the duct tape. At least he slowed down the leak! Once the pipe was fixed correctly by the local plumber, I decided to forgo setting up the sale so I could spend the evening cleaning up the basement. I think I did what any other woman would do - I STARTED dinner, STARTED jotting down ideas for the blog and STARTED thinking about how I was going to get the all the wet things dry!</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh24_YwwuRm5_xj9vrI-nUDdJqrXecfdJ1Tzx_GUfderuG8sgIpNay5y2O9G3Vgtdz1EawdjGjeyNgp2a0NQbmeMP0xpHxVTsPruIgjxYdzFIuMD2MhuCR8dXMykcpyncZA7aWdczMDCEbw/s1600/Burnt+Veggies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh24_YwwuRm5_xj9vrI-nUDdJqrXecfdJ1Tzx_GUfderuG8sgIpNay5y2O9G3Vgtdz1EawdjGjeyNgp2a0NQbmeMP0xpHxVTsPruIgjxYdzFIuMD2MhuCR8dXMykcpyncZA7aWdczMDCEbw/s1600/Burnt+Veggies.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I must have STARTED too many things because now I have a pan of burnt veggies! I'm STARTING to think it is not all that bad being away from home, however, something inside me makes me believe there's truly <i>no place like home</i>!</span></span>Lisa Mangold Kosmoskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10603221509192243107noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5224256684156566472.post-5782525007480632662014-05-25T19:24:00.002-05:002014-05-25T19:24:24.197-05:00Where Else?<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Where else but Madison, Wisconsin can you experience three seasons in one month?</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">On May Day there was snow.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzNZfgp-y6BH0b4oSS4UxA9QgiNZDsJQVh-5btrABPMZT83c0UqvMv0Zoy38gxiW_ZJWRRB92-lZw8qiMwvYxk5psytjsEPyWMXIHaV7ROlu09S1NPG6z1O3IQKDCrTHIjAJM2UN1fHTwN/s1600/Woods+snow.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzNZfgp-y6BH0b4oSS4UxA9QgiNZDsJQVh-5btrABPMZT83c0UqvMv0Zoy38gxiW_ZJWRRB92-lZw8qiMwvYxk5psytjsEPyWMXIHaV7ROlu09S1NPG6z1O3IQKDCrTHIjAJM2UN1fHTwN/s1600/Woods+snow.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">On Cinco De Mayo there was bare ground.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5LvdU77otePQc4w4dDu58O1gasDxm3qWViIDJ9Jte0Xw9LkWEkgnhvnl8z48q7MeQD6HNCExvR9U0rElXrA6TiWigVTpFi1ZSWxCNxz9fKzhK1c5R5sbY38hLymkgVuO2N-YCvOOfFucY/s1600/Woods+Bare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5LvdU77otePQc4w4dDu58O1gasDxm3qWViIDJ9Jte0Xw9LkWEkgnhvnl8z48q7MeQD6HNCExvR9U0rElXrA6TiWigVTpFi1ZSWxCNxz9fKzhK1c5R5sbY38hLymkgVuO2N-YCvOOfFucY/s1600/Woods+Bare.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">On Memorial Day it looks like spring is finally here!</span></span> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXZ4KBib8TmpMrbmWi5Ok59t7zt0HyxBQrXfMZ51sJePcEK3m-5JBOPaw7QQTRFLeCNpksycELnwFAFxOVqSoR1Emq5_yKw8ADnKshanbiyDWiIKLMb5Hofkz4Qke3hVJkcYRI9H1NKe7b/s1600/Woods+Flowered.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXZ4KBib8TmpMrbmWi5Ok59t7zt0HyxBQrXfMZ51sJePcEK3m-5JBOPaw7QQTRFLeCNpksycELnwFAFxOVqSoR1Emq5_yKw8ADnKshanbiyDWiIKLMb5Hofkz4Qke3hVJkcYRI9H1NKe7b/s1600/Woods+Flowered.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
<div class="s1" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="background-color: white;"><span class="heading"></span></span></b></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">For ten years we lived four hours north of Madison. Here's what the four seasons looked like up there.</span></span></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9RBGZqH5wvMp0yBpXF2DLulxyb2c-icjC57APsFyvuL9762k0FQk5DQ0Z3ERWoqR5WfAOT0xOsER-PKOLNkeRMlnCe9bhfkVm4r9WDtK2U096X-U82-gpqNNVm0Fru65IV_VmP8eL2MUl/s1600/WI+WInter+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9RBGZqH5wvMp0yBpXF2DLulxyb2c-icjC57APsFyvuL9762k0FQk5DQ0Z3ERWoqR5WfAOT0xOsER-PKOLNkeRMlnCe9bhfkVm4r9WDtK2U096X-U82-gpqNNVm0Fru65IV_VmP8eL2MUl/s1600/WI+WInter+2.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></i></div>
<br />
<i><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">WINTER (made complete with a snowman!) . . .</span></span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></i>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMAZdFHoVGXm_PGb5YGuQ3-g3Z0MFS4VQDj49jhyu5GZ0DXAMrgqnrN5w501lJUqPWL5unv3nDGQXHLKH2oqPdcmuhW1x9TPVYwv1Us6dXaNoTm4oZdXR23-xWWbY4-4o_N6FH5F7nt-uK/s1600/WI+Spring.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMAZdFHoVGXm_PGb5YGuQ3-g3Z0MFS4VQDj49jhyu5GZ0DXAMrgqnrN5w501lJUqPWL5unv3nDGQXHLKH2oqPdcmuhW1x9TPVYwv1Us6dXaNoTm4oZdXR23-xWWbY4-4o_N6FH5F7nt-uK/s1600/WI+Spring.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></span></span></i></div>
<br />
<i><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">SPRING (makes finding Easter Eggs pretty easy!) . . .</span></span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></i>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2CWM34R_EqxsiOKaAktO57EOlm92fwKuOcZHw-oK04e_Fu-A6m_Rx0_laLJ0rhSj84RegV4mMTPg_S8HCK6J3TU7VLwEx4u6JlM7jQ3EYvw8xr5ZoqhuT4BExi1wObBfUc7eg7UIq3PDL/s1600/WI+Summer.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2CWM34R_EqxsiOKaAktO57EOlm92fwKuOcZHw-oK04e_Fu-A6m_Rx0_laLJ0rhSj84RegV4mMTPg_S8HCK6J3TU7VLwEx4u6JlM7jQ3EYvw8xr5ZoqhuT4BExi1wObBfUc7eg7UIq3PDL/s1600/WI+Summer.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></span></span></span></i></div>
<br />
<i><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">SUMMER (the kids are going to "get" me for making this one public!) . . .</span></span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></i>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAACiiIxMjzLFc8ZOW1f3Q4Jl1u0nLTgdB6QxDDAoQiGbxoE1klj7F2E1hOVZf4TbbIzNGQwrDZDHlbXa_I8AAJA03cbwZP35kGlJGiRCVoUbcS3EiPDcQpvWlMP4YJ9ZMWc3MPt52s7ms/s1600/WI+Fall.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAACiiIxMjzLFc8ZOW1f3Q4Jl1u0nLTgdB6QxDDAoQiGbxoE1klj7F2E1hOVZf4TbbIzNGQwrDZDHlbXa_I8AAJA03cbwZP35kGlJGiRCVoUbcS3EiPDcQpvWlMP4YJ9ZMWc3MPt52s7ms/s1600/WI+Fall.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></span></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<i><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> . . . and FALL (when you never leave the house without your orange vest!)</span></span></span></i></div>
</div>
Lisa Mangold Kosmoskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10603221509192243107noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5224256684156566472.post-6047530618575425802014-05-23T11:23:00.001-05:002014-05-23T11:23:16.137-05:00MAY . . . I Go Home?<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">As I begin this post I will just share that Ken had to return to the hospital yesterday. We were very excited to leave the transplant unit the evening of our 25th Anniversary. We did enjoy a nice dinner with our youngest daughter before making the three hour drive. Due to complications with the liver it was not a very good day at home so I took him back for care that we are not equipped to offer.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">He has now spent close to 100 days in the hospital this year. His MELD score has increased some as the liver is declining on a weekly basis. It seems
that there is a cycle of events that keeps him at the hospital ranging from
fevers, to fluid build up, to blood transfusions . . . We just
can't get him free of needing his "partner on wheels".</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDxJxPgKREKZQrhNS63UzyYWfYAj-9GSRY9ndcF_Nn00LRvcjnILie5lqMluf_bUuImgG2j1yiLqxbQcef7zWY5HeIrkL0nFGPJtfzDdxFA7cHmYPnv5CLHdDAjeUNtdRWmNk2hl7p6inV/s1600/IV+pole.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDxJxPgKREKZQrhNS63UzyYWfYAj-9GSRY9ndcF_Nn00LRvcjnILie5lqMluf_bUuImgG2j1yiLqxbQcef7zWY5HeIrkL0nFGPJtfzDdxFA7cHmYPnv5CLHdDAjeUNtdRWmNk2hl7p6inV/s1600/IV+pole.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Earlier this month we expressed to the doctors that MAY was a busy and special month for our family. Ken wanted to make sure I had a nice Mother's Day. </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikRlqYskMuppN_NmkRNsTXdAo0EXrOIMVvzZ47hk_tNLEZjH6C7Vun6QCaPhcSIT_7JTlNeiTaCbtbfK1w8anoS2S59GChFeD_nvkjZdwgRXFMOveg_vlQ7OpvmMa1Mn3q_ektEpCKs10z/s1600/Mother's+Day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikRlqYskMuppN_NmkRNsTXdAo0EXrOIMVvzZ47hk_tNLEZjH6C7Vun6QCaPhcSIT_7JTlNeiTaCbtbfK1w8anoS2S59GChFeD_nvkjZdwgRXFMOveg_vlQ7OpvmMa1Mn3q_ektEpCKs10z/s1600/Mother's+Day.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">He wanted to see our son get ready for prom. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE9mTlOO6WQTpu-kcgbSGH_TW5HjjTPY4g-PrbT6886ti6lJgcY-KcmYO2U0e54vz6fXN-dmwQNHpPpTCGPCL8CHJpsGcaUVRGOhbwFZiOySiLxuWZIoT-wM5maTfFrC3afDSzSetv3tQO/s1600/Prom+John+and+the+girls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE9mTlOO6WQTpu-kcgbSGH_TW5HjjTPY4g-PrbT6886ti6lJgcY-KcmYO2U0e54vz6fXN-dmwQNHpPpTCGPCL8CHJpsGcaUVRGOhbwFZiOySiLxuWZIoT-wM5maTfFrC3afDSzSetv3tQO/s1600/Prom+John+and+the+girls.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> He wanted to be home for our anniversary.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdxUiGw68ddbBYTEjPO66ldC0G0-ZhrXJ3qk98Tv1RP5kXNC1szO7fumB6IcQQTnza2OL_UHefEuICpiNfvXsynpy26xg7Lyk8rPR6JmxvbUloarPk0FCYKbssZWEym3HluEbwW7vYAFl0/s1600/Anniversary+Napkins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdxUiGw68ddbBYTEjPO66ldC0G0-ZhrXJ3qk98Tv1RP5kXNC1szO7fumB6IcQQTnza2OL_UHefEuICpiNfvXsynpy26xg7Lyk8rPR6JmxvbUloarPk0FCYKbssZWEym3HluEbwW7vYAFl0/s1600/Anniversary+Napkins.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">He wanted to see our son qualify for the state track meet.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK2KP4fSKTyLHmjA3w8bPKXUaGuxyuxYwPjzC-Ikiq4BtDWa2KVdXju20Ck1vZCDNn1pC_JCqV5ndoRVUv0y0jP5ZmMgeK1Z6YPvXXIpLWTJsTMlLaCXn90BRhSy-eJvgRPO1kHqgZzIdg/s1600/John+Track+Meet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK2KP4fSKTyLHmjA3w8bPKXUaGuxyuxYwPjzC-Ikiq4BtDWa2KVdXju20Ck1vZCDNn1pC_JCqV5ndoRVUv0y0jP5ZmMgeK1Z6YPvXXIpLWTJsTMlLaCXn90BRhSy-eJvgRPO1kHqgZzIdg/s1600/John+Track+Meet.jpg" height="400" width="335" /></a></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> He wanted to be home for my birthday.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDnlld6AkrJ9iVM8huksfH6LXCUkxxPYEdptRHBx4XfSjy8mERAV4pTIPVm6dL5-dHs7QWIc5zbhUdv1bY4YzqtPCYRvKJsmKQtyTCWBJS7UXWvOJKGwBJdq2_TBsWf6ubl9iCRP1zAnqB/s1600/Anniversary+Birthday+Cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDnlld6AkrJ9iVM8huksfH6LXCUkxxPYEdptRHBx4XfSjy8mERAV4pTIPVm6dL5-dHs7QWIc5zbhUdv1bY4YzqtPCYRvKJsmKQtyTCWBJS7UXWvOJKGwBJdq2_TBsWf6ubl9iCRP1zAnqB/s1600/Anniversary+Birthday+Cake.jpg" height="212" width="320" /> </a></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> I'm not sure why it's not working out to be home to be a part of these things, but thanks to technology we are doing our best to bring these special moments to him.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">May is not over so MAYbe he will get to come home soon. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>Lisa Mangold Kosmoskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10603221509192243107noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5224256684156566472.post-73335592184564784192014-05-20T21:01:00.000-05:002014-05-20T21:01:07.138-05:00Today's the Day!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Today's the day! Twenty-five years ago I married my best friend! </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQ6MG_eUezErxx6eCBfFGI47v8csmSy29q_6hbVP5OqnHryGG0-YtrOZ1tbglR-wLgBvvp4qr-oywKColEypTHlE_EGayaBpwtAQPfhYIym-yxZaKiPH5j00EF7VsBLZRkmuWkx7yXtfk/s1600/Wedding+pic+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQ6MG_eUezErxx6eCBfFGI47v8csmSy29q_6hbVP5OqnHryGG0-YtrOZ1tbglR-wLgBvvp4qr-oywKColEypTHlE_EGayaBpwtAQPfhYIym-yxZaKiPH5j00EF7VsBLZRkmuWkx7yXtfk/s1600/Wedding+pic+1.jpg" height="278" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Thank you to everyone who helped us celebrate our
anniversary this past Saturday. Don't worry if you couldn't join us in
person. Neither could Ken!</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPriO4_Jog3S4TNzIq2i62Jj1181U3SoEpS9m90jIoJGezeQKC05n_N8qi-V0Qhkzu944CIzLClzW9-gjasigS_qjWUTdykvROCq0ZCPVenbt9Ih5Y2YMAi59pc9c1x1VSJTWFQlbfjbR0/s1600/ladies-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPriO4_Jog3S4TNzIq2i62Jj1181U3SoEpS9m90jIoJGezeQKC05n_N8qi-V0Qhkzu944CIzLClzW9-gjasigS_qjWUTdykvROCq0ZCPVenbt9Ih5Y2YMAi59pc9c1x1VSJTWFQlbfjbR0/s1600/ladies-2.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span></span><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">A big THANK YOU to my Mom and sister for making it a very special day.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI6_Ise49ccX1Hv80VQQFxouXSNOPnLdE-1aIS0spjiI0ca6sdqiGNfwGibTne-BhchJp1a1U5p11XQ4hZ25_Lc0Bh-2hcMlsQFsnNx2Vuk_FRCXtwzN_CiSg4JhMILkE1mfXEYCD9JkkU/s1600/party__27__by_wittea-d7j2wrz-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI6_Ise49ccX1Hv80VQQFxouXSNOPnLdE-1aIS0spjiI0ca6sdqiGNfwGibTne-BhchJp1a1U5p11XQ4hZ25_Lc0Bh-2hcMlsQFsnNx2Vuk_FRCXtwzN_CiSg4JhMILkE1mfXEYCD9JkkU/s1600/party__27__by_wittea-d7j2wrz-1.jpg" height="270" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Thank you to our children for being the "blessings" that the Bible says you are supposed to be. </span></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxLSk_PLAKjjTpPw1I6Oz5RZVu0zV4gJRpnwht3C3JacHZk-wiIkOhj1Day0drzvJwYt6RAHYHlUxpHvnWn1qfGobrFm2RfaU3-QEp47FHtt7pCDuNZVC-jB6KvXaiXsVqNk6T5p1w41jy/s1600/20140520_195812.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxLSk_PLAKjjTpPw1I6Oz5RZVu0zV4gJRpnwht3C3JacHZk-wiIkOhj1Day0drzvJwYt6RAHYHlUxpHvnWn1qfGobrFm2RfaU3-QEp47FHtt7pCDuNZVC-jB6KvXaiXsVqNk6T5p1w41jy/s1600/20140520_195812.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And after three more weeks of hospital food, it was decided that today was a good day for Ken to go home! </span></span></div>
Lisa Mangold Kosmoskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10603221509192243107noreply@blogger.com11