Photo Essay
The Huerta Family & Friends at

TASTE OF CHICAGO

THE JOURNEY BEGINS

Rob & Chris

Phylis & Teresa

Roger, Janette & Abby


ON THE TRAIN

Rob with M and M

Christy with M2

Janette & Abby

Brad & Rachel

ARRIVAL

Phylis & M1


CHICAGO ART INSTITUTE
Thank God for Art Institute membership.
It makes a much better potty break than those awful porta-potty things at the Taste!!
And a pretty dandy background for photos, too!

Janette & Roger with Abigail & M2

Phylis and Christy strolling and eating. (The purpose of the day!)

Teresa poses with Chicago's "Tin Man"

Janette's first taste of Chicago Style Hot Dog

Delicious Pizza!

Isn't she sweet??

Who doesn't love chocolate?

YUMMY!!

Phylis & Teresa

Buckingham Fountain
sparkled in the afternoon sun

Tired girls pose
squinting in the
bright sun

First day crowd increased
as the afternoon wore on

A good time was had by all!
Yep that's me with the gigantic purse!!
And the neon sunburned neck!
THE END

Mariners

Proof positive from our day on Lake Geneva. I'm chomping on a pear while piloting the boat. Captain Teresa handles the boat with ease!

:)

Ancient History
The Iguana Factor
Or
The Amazing Levitating Powers of "Uncle Bob"

This iguana is five-feet,
(and the man is just an innocent bystander -- unrelated to the characters in the story!)
the iguana in the following story was only about 3 and half feet!

The story told through a series of e-mails (with minimal editing for clarification).

Randy to Kenny:

. . . Good thing I keep reptiles or nobody would remember me! Speaking of reptiles, don't ever get uncle Bobby going about a small encounter he had at our house in Long Beach with one of my little iguanas. I think it was a significant emotional event that might have sent him into the clergy.

*********

Kenny to Bob:

Uncle Bob, Is there something I need to know here about a reptilian encounter????

*********

Bob to Kenny:

What Randy is talking about is the “iguana” factor. Phylis and I had only been married about 4-5 months and were living in Menlo Park, California. We decided to take a weekend to visit our family in Long Beach. At that time, Randy had two iguana pets. I have never liked iguanas and was a bit leery of them. At feeding time, Randy pulled the iguanas out of their cage and set them on the floor. I asked Randy if they were aggressive—he said: “No way!” They refused to eat, all the while staring at me. I was standing by the door of his bedroom. I thought it would calm them down if I sat on the corner of the bed. The one kept “eyeing” me. Suddenly, the one that had been eyeing me, arched it’s back and hissed (like a cat) and lunged at me with its claws fully stretched! I responded in that same instant, by whispering a Grandma Adela saying: “la sangre de Cristo”---and miraculously jumped off the bed and landed on my tush on the floor. The iguana landed on the bed but found that I was gone---he was surprised; I was surprised as well that he didn’t get me.

In the process of clerginess, I was well on my way there—it just taught me that more things than not do tend to attack!

There you have it!

P.S. (I still don’t trust iguanas!)

**********

Randy to Kenny:

Clearly he has a better grasp of the details that led up to his exit from my bedroom. All I remember is someone looking more like Spiderman than my uncle. I was extremely impressed with his evasive maneuvering!

************

Phylis adds her two cents:

Kenny, Don’t let Randy fool you. That wasn’t a “small encounter”! I was standing in the door of the room watching with my mouth open!! That iguana had SOME claws. When Randy picked it up off the bed, the thing had its claws in the bed (All the way through to the mattress) and he had to set it down and extricate it claw by claw from the bed in order to leave the mattress still on the bed.

Things learned: I already knew I didn’t want to be in the room with a 3-foot iguana. I learned that Bob can move much faster than I ever realized. He leaped(?) from a sitting position and landed on the floor in a split-second. It was really quite amazing. - PJDH

********

Kenny to all and Sundry:

The more details I get on this, the funner it gets!

*********

Phylis final remarks:

You’re right, Kenny. This one is a story worthy of re-telling—and one I had totally forgotten. Add in Randy’s “Spiderman” comment and it reaches epic proportions!! I can hardly wait to hear you tell this one at the reunion!!!

********

I had forgotten this little episode until I was reminded by Bob's nephew. I thought it might brighten your day to read about "Uncle Bob" and his amazing levitating powers.

PJDH

Finally, the dogs are under control -- the purse is still straying!
Remind me not to carry a purse the next time I'm in charge of two sixty pound dogs.

Abigail and Cleopatra, who almost pulled me into the lake, and me, trying to hang on to my purse AND two dogs!

Rod getting the boat ready while Teresa, Abigail and Cleopatra watch, sort of.

Teresa dogsitting while we load the truck

Having Fun

It's been a busy couple of days. Yesterday Teresa and I went to Lake Geneva and spent the day on a boat with Maureen and Rod. Oh, and Cleopatra and Abigail, too! Cleopatra and Abigail are yellow labs who flunked out of obedience school. They are beautiful and loving, but a tad rambunctions. It was an wonderful, exciting day for all of us. I don't have the pictures on the boat, yet. (Teresa and I debuted as pilots!) But here are some shots getting the boat -- and the dogs -- ready for the ride. Have a great day!

Brad, Rachel and the girls at Tyler Creek

Bob and Bismarck

Phylis and Teresa

Brad and Rachel

Christy and M2

Rob with M and M

Brad and the girls exploring and searching for crawfish

M and M at The Creek

Me with the girls at The Creek -- just takin' it easy.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY
(Father's Day at the Huertas)

The Promises of God

Anybody else wonder about how long it takes for God to fulfill His promises? Do you weary of doing the right thing and wondering when the reward will come? I refuse to believe that I'm the only one! I found a comforting scripture in Jeremiah yesterday:

Jeremiah 31

11 For the LORD will ransom Jacob
and redeem them from the hand of those stronger than they.

12 They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion;
they will rejoice in the bounty of the LORD—
the grain, the new wine and the oil,
the young of the flocks and herds.
They will be like a well-watered garden,
and they will sorrow no more.

13 Then maidens will dance and be glad,
young men and old as well.
I will turn their mourning into gladness;
I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.

14 I will satisfy the priests with abundance,
and my people will be filled with my bounty,"
declares the LORD.

15 This is what the LORD says:
"A voice is heard in Ramah,
mourning and great weeping,
Rachel weeping for her children
and refusing to be comforted,
because her children are no more."

16 This is what the LORD says:
"Restrain your voice from weeping
and your eyes from tears,
for your work will be rewarded,"
declares the LORD.
"They will return from the land of the enemy.

17 So there is hope for your future,"
declares the LORD.
"Your children will return to their own land

God promises hope for the future. His promises are sure and true!! I believe!

PJ

TIPS TO GOOD HEALTH

18 Proven Stress Reducers

1. Don’t rely on your memory. Write down appointments, when to pick up the laundry, when library books are due, etc.

2. Get up 15 minutes earlier in the morning so you don’t start the day feeling frazzled.

3. Keep a duplicate car key in your wallet.

4. An instant cure for most stress: 30 minutes of brisk walking or other aerobic exercise.

5. Resolve to be tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant with the weak and erring, for sometime in life you will have been all of these.

6. Say “No, thank you” to extra projects you don’t have the time or energy for.

7. Set up contingency plans--just in case, “If either of us is delayed,” “If we get separated in the Mall, here’s what we’ll do…”

8. Put brain in gear before opening mouth. Before saying anything, ask yourself if what you are about to say is 1 True, 2) Kind, and 3) Necessary.

9. Stop worrying, If something concerns you, do something about it. If you can’t do anything about it, let it go.

10. For every one thing that goes wrong, there are 50 to 100 blessings. Count them.

11. Learn to live one day at a time.

12. Every day, do at least one thing you really enjoy.

13. Don’t sweat the small stuff.

14. Laugh!

15. Remember that the best things in life aren’t things.

16. Add an ounce of love to everything you do.

17. If an unpleasant task faces you, do it early in the day and get it over with.

18. Do one thing at a time.

Source unknown

Are We Having Fun Yet?
Yesterday, at the park
Marilyn and I (me: no make-up but with hair!)

January after a church service
Marilyn and I (Me: wig over bald head)

Our grandkids -- Mine and Marilyn's
(I was interrupting their movie -- thus, the "Cheese" smiles)

Mattea and Mikaela at Festival Park

The girls and I after Mikaela's dance Recital
(Love the little Sailor!)

I think I look a lot better now (Better = less ill!) than in January, in spite of the very short hair (Which I do NOT like). My eyes look healthier, I'm less swollen and my color is much better. I'm getting there, in terms of health.

This was a very busy weekend with Mikaela's recital Friday night -- the same night Marilyn and her girls and grandsons arrived. Then Saturday we played at the park, roller skated, and went to Saturday night Spanish service. Sunday after church and dinner we went to the pool. Monday we played in the park, then with water pistols and later went to Festival Park.

Marilyn and her tribe are on the way home....here we have an ice cream festival tonight. "Make your own Sunday". We handed out 125 coupons for free ice cream. (Church activity...not just our family!!) Are we having fun yet????

Enough!
PJ

UPDATE

I've been really busy...as you can see, I'm having fun as well. My sister and her girls and grandsons were here -- longer than they intended as a bit of a problem with the car ensued. We had a great time at any rate. We went skating, swimming, played at Festival Park and various and sundry other things.

To prove that I'm actually on skates, you can see my picture -- with my two nieces and with Rachel and my granddaughters in the background. Due to low light, the pics are just a tad bit (or more) fuzzy.

I see the oncologist tomorrow to check on bone density results and progress of hormone therapy. More later.

PJ

My beautiful granddaughters -- don't you wish your kitchen counter had such a decoration???

Here are Teresa and I at a wedding reception. My hair is even longer now and this was only 10 days ago! I've been wearing it "Au Natural". It looks a bit like Sigourney Weaver's when it grew out from "Alien 3". I think I look healthier now, less puffiness in the face.

More updates

At least my update is good news. All stitches are removed from the last reconstruction and the surgeon doesn't want to see me for a month. That's good news. I see the oncologist next week so those visits aren't over. BUT....hormone therapy is a far cry from chemotherapy. I'm experiencing no negative side effects from it. He says this protocol will cut by 50% the chances of re-occurrence. That puts me in a good range, statistically speaking.

Physically, I'm feeling much better. I have more strength and energy than before. Even a couple of busy stressful days consecutively, don't actually put me in bed anymore. I need to keep the pace slow for the most part -- but then slow just isn't me. So I run full speed ahead until I can't anymore, then I rest. Works for me!!

I do need to slow down a bit and work on that book some more though. I really want to get it finished before I return to work. It will take some doing.

Not so much else to report. The girls are great and are enjoying Teresa. More about that later. I had to add some girl pictures.

UPDATE
Danny Huerta

Bob's brother, Danny, continues recuperating from open heart surgery. He's had some difficulties and has had an additional procedure. Today they were not able to accomplish what they set out to do and will try again next week. Pray for his complete recovery.

NEWS

Please pray for Della (Blunt) Conover's family

Della Fern Blunt Conover died as she lived, quietly without much ado surrounded by immediate family at 10:20 a.m. Tuesday, June 5, 2007.

A Note from Calvin
June 8, 2007

Today I buried my lifelong friend, wife, love and all other things that were good to me. It feels like I also buried part of my insides today also.

To those that are unaware, Della had a massive cerebral hemorrhage this past Sunday afternoon after lunch. She was unaware of her pain after only a short while and for that I am so thankful. She died this past Tuesday at 10:20 in the morning officially. To us, here family, she was gone quite a bit earlier but was still able to breathe a bit with the help of a machine. It seemed like I was tearing my guts out to tell the doctor to shut off the breathing machine. She had a heartbeat for only a few minutes after that and she was gone.

I am sorry for not letting everyone know sooner but it has been such a mess around here.

Love and regards to all,

Calvin Conover

June 4, 2007

(Note from Calvin)

Phylis just a short note to let you know that Della had a cerebral hemorrhage this Sunday afternoon about 2 pm. She had asked me to go take some photos of her flowers that were in bloom and when I came back inside, not longer than 10 minutes, it had happened. She was sitting in her chair with the light off and saying repeatedly, “Oh God, please make it stop hurting”. That was all she could say at all and after 5 minutes or so she couldn’t even do that. She is now in Kansas University Medical Center and the doctors say there is nothing to be done. They said the blood place was about the size of a softball and so they are just waiting to see if she survives. They said 6 to 12 hours would likely let them know.

She has stated repeatedly that she is sure of her future and for that I am thankful. I am writing this from my son’s home in Kansas City tonight. Please remember her in prayer that she will go in peaceful rest if that is God’s will. - Calvin Conover.

FINAL REST

RE: Joe Guerrero

To all of the people of God,

It is with great personal sorrow and yet Godly celebration that we announce the passing of Assoc. Pastor Joe Guerrero. Associate Pastor of Evangelism for High Praises International Ministries.

He departed this life and started a new one this morning, Wednesday, May 30 at 7:15am.

The homegoing celebrations will be held this Sunday, June 3 at 5:00pm at the Smith-Corcoran Funeral Home located at 6150 North Cicero Ave., Chicago, IL.
60646.

In lieu of sending flowers, both Pastor Joe and the family have requested that financial donations be made to a fund established for the creation of a ministry center in Nigeria, West Africa in his honor. Offerings can be made at the funeral or sent directly to the ministry office at 3943 West Irving Park Rd., Chicago, Illinois, 60618.

Please make checks payable to High Praises Missions and note Pastor Hope in the memo. If you have any questions please feel free to call the church at 773-267-7971.

We thank you all for the prayers for his family and church!

There will also be a second service in Bastrop, Texas.
Viewing will be at:
Newby-Jones Funeral Home
209 North Ave. C
Elgin, Texas
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
6pm - 9pm

Homegoing Services will be:
Thursday, June 7, 2007
Pentecostals of Bastrop
1902 Chestnut
Bastrop, Texas
11:00am

At the request of Pastor Joe and his family, in lieu of flowers, a fund has been established in his honor to forward the building of a ministry/outreach center in Nigeria, West Africa. Donations can be sent to High Praises International Ministries, 3943 W. Irving Park, Chicago, IL, 60618. Please include Pastor Joe's name in the memo.

Apostle Erik D. Wise
Founder/Senior Pastor
High Praises International Ministries
Chicago, IL USA

UPDATE

I find I'm not getting to blog as often as before. Teresa has been here since the beginning of May. Jaime left the 15th and she stayed. I glanced at my blogs and don't see where I've mentioned them -- except the pictures of Chicago. Probably I'm overlooking my own writing! Honestly, my memory still works on a "some-timers" basis. I'm blaming it on chemotherapy effects and the effect of anesthesia, multiple sessions in the last year and a half. But, maybe it's just old age!!!

Anyway, even though having someone visit is great, and...she helps me with everything. It would seem that with the work divided I'd have more free time, but that isn't so. I'm not sure if I'm just finding more to do -- or working more slowly -- or something!! The upshot is, less time to blog and work on my computer. My book is absolutely nowhere at this moment. I really need to get hopping on that too!

Doctors' appointments continue. I had thought that the therapy for cancer was over -- but no, there's a few more steps apparently. Not as rigorous as previous ones, but still requiring frequent doctor visits. I'll be so glad when this is over. I started hormone therapy this week. And...did a few more tests to see what else is needed. He's doing an iron study with my blood panel this week to try to determine where the persistent anemia comes from. The hormone therapy has been determined to be an addition deterrent to a re-occurrence. The odds are that following hormone therapy, chances of a re-occurrence drop another 50%. So onward and upward. It's all about beating the odds. After the colonoscopy was over, the hemotologist told me he was concerned about colon cancer, that it sometimes works in concert with the breast cancer. Thankfully, in my case it did not!! The colon was good other than a small bleeder and a couple of pollups.

So. The release did not come yet, but the treatments are much more tolerable. For that I'm thanking God. Having Teresa here reminds me how fortunate we are in so many aspects of American life, including advanced medical treatment!!

More later.

PJDH

Post-surgery Update

Feeling better than I expected after surgery yesterday. I came home about 1 pm and slept most of the afternoon. In the evening I just sat around and chatted with various people or worked my Suduku (ever tried those??? They can be addicting!!) I didn't eat much, but that's to be expected. The Dr. said only eat if I were hungry. He gave me antibiotic (just a precaution) and two kinds of pain meds. I'm only taking the one for "mild" pain. I really can't tolerate the heavy stuff. And I'm not really in pain...only discomfort...ergo, the mild one makes sense.

But this morning I had a good Mexican breakfast: Beans and rice!! Sure tasted good.

Teresa is still with me. I feel just a tad guilty this morning; she's cleaning the house while I'm on my computer. (Obviously I don't feel guilty enough to get up from here!!) My justification is that she's happy doing it...And I won't let her do anything heavy. We've been doing one project or another together every day, but today I'm not up to anything much. We need to get out our pictures and start albums...probably tomorrow..No, Margaret is here tomorrow...Okay, next week...or over the Memorial Day Weekend.

This sounds more like a note to someone who can read my mind than a public blog...oh, well. I'll try to be more substantive in my next blog. Must be the pain meds.

I am getting sleepy. Probably time for my morning nap. :)

PJ

Breast Cancer Survivor!!
Health Update

All tests have come back good. My blood counts are now up to normal and I'm feeling better. Actually, I'm feeling better than I have in more than a year. However...(Always a however or a but!) Wednesday I have surgery again. This one should be the last one. They're finishing the reconstruction and taking out the port. It will take me a few weeks to recuperate completely, but the doctor says he can probably release me in June. So...this long journey is nearly over, and I am so happy!!!

I've put in an application to teach summer school. I don't know if there will be any openings or not, but it's time to get back to work...soon!!

PJDH

Here we are with Jaime & Teresa in Chicago last week. We took a ride on the Chicago River and Lake Michigan.

(Left to right: Phylis, Bob, Jaime, Teresa)

Health Update

Not much is new. I'm still not up to full strength. I go for a couple of days now before I have to have a day to do nothing but rest. However, my blood counts are holding in the healthy range: hemoglobin is at 13.8 which is very good. Chemotherapy is over; Iron infusions are over. All that remains is surgery to finish reconstruction and to remove the port -- that's scheduled for the 23rd of May -- next week. Some additional blood panels are being run to determine which, if any, hormone therapy I might need.

Damage still continuing includes perpetual sinusitis, neuropathy in hands and feet, no eyebrows or eyelashes, AND my hair is coming back in light brown, not red. It is starting to curl now. At first it was straight. Maybe the red will come back too. If not, there's always Clairol!

Blessings.

PJDH

I love this picture of M. She's at the point in which she becomes very uncomfortable and realizes it's too late to go back and she's afraid to go ahead. The expression on her face is priceless.

It reminds me so much of those times when I'm unsure of what to do -- it's too late to go back and I'm not sure how to proceed. God brings us to those points to build faith in us. Those times when we must trust his goodness and mercy because that's the only thing we have left. They are not comfortable times, but they are growing times.

Psalms 20:6-9

6 Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed; he answers him from his holy heaven with the saving power of his right hand. 7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. 8 They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm. 9 O Lord, save the king! Answer us when we call!

I'm right there with M ; where I need to be is with David, "I rise up and stand firm."
But like the loving grandmother (me) who talked M down from her fearful perch, God is right there coaching me through situations in which I have "bitten off more than I can chew". (To borrow an idiom from my childhood) God is faithful.

PJ

Pastor Joe (Sarge) Guerrero

I received the following email from a friend, Pastor Erik Wise and I wanted to ask for your prayers for Joe Guerrero and his family. I included the picture to give you a visual of whom you are praying for. A family, a real family just like yours. But for the grace of God. . .

PJDHuerta

To all off the wonderful prayer warriors:

I wanted to give you an update on the condition of Pastor Joe "Sarge"
Guerrero our Associate Pastor of Outreach and Evangelism.

As of Sunday morning his kidney have completely shut down. They cannot explain why and are working fervently to find the reason. They went in on Monday to insert a catheter in order to start dialysis treatments and punctured one of the cancer tumors, it immediately engulfed his body. The cancer had already been detected in the bone and was progressing rapidly. As of today, he is undergoing daily dialysis treatments and we are not sure that doing radiation or chemo will effect the cancer at all. Doctors say less than 30% chance of it working. To quote the doctor, "he is riddled with disease". They are not giving us any good news.

We hear the doctors, but we know the great physician. We covet your prayers and we will keep you posted regularly. He is in the VA Hospital in North Chicago, IL. Please use this email or call the church for updates. We have removed the phone from his room as he needs to rest. I hope you all understand!

Thank you for your prayers!!

Caught in HIS awesome grip~
Apostle Erik D. Wise
Founder/Senior Pastor
High Praises International Ministries
Chicago USA

Jaime, Teresa, Phylis and Bob

Life Goes On

I worked today -- if you can call it work. I went to a seminar. My strength is still not back to normal though. I came home after the seminar and took a nap. And tonight I'm resting -- not doing much. And I have another seminar on Friday. However, after the procedure on May 23rd, I should have time to heal over the summer. I'm looking forward to that!! In the meantime, I have a classroom to pack up next week. That will take several days, but Teresa will help me with that, so it shouldn't be such a problem.

And...there's another service on Saturday night.

Jaime goes home on Tuesday. I think Teresa and I can scale back the activities and get some things accomplished without me burning the candle at both ends.

Here's to balanced living!!

PJDH

Health Update
Chemotherapy Over

Officially chemotherapy is finished. I did the last iron infusion last week -- and my hemoglobin is now in the normal range, at 13. (Normal is 12-18) During the colonoscopy, the doctor cauterized the bleeder and removed a couple of pollups. The next step is surgery to complete reconstruction, removed the expander and put in the permanent implant. AND...I get to remove the port....at least I think so. The oncologist will give his final approval on Monday. But in the meantime, surgery is scheduled for the 23rd of May for both procedures.

The remaining difficulty is with the remaining neuropathy in hands and feet. Feet especially are a bit problematic. After walking so far today, I can really feel it. The allergic reaction I had back in December damaged nerves in my hands and feet. The hands are not as bad. It just feels like I have gloves on all the time. The outer layer of skin has no feeling. (I burned myself on an oven shelf the other day and felt no pain. On a bit of heat.) My feet are worse. The three middle toes on both feet are basically asleep. My feet swell easily and then are still and not very flexible. So sometimes getting up it's a bit like walking with clogs on -- no bending. (It's not noisy though!)

So...overall, I'm doing well!

PJDH

News

It's been awhile. I've had all I can do to keep up with things. First: friends arrived from Ecuador on the 29th of April. They've been here nine days now and it's been a whirlwind. Last Thursday we went to Chicago, visited the Hancock Observatory and took a ride on the Chicago River. Then today we did the museum thing: The John G. Shedd Acquarium and Oceanarium, and the Art Museum. It was a lot of walking...I'm going to soak my feet in just a few minutes. I barely made it back to the car.