Joyful suffering

One of the minor sufferings that life calls some of us to endure: my kids haven't seen their mom for eleven days and won't for another dozen. This makes life a little rough around the edges that are normally smoothed by her, and makes the table feel emptier than just one person's absence. They also miss their sister. Each of the kids brings a different personality to the family and its hard to adjust when one part is missing.
Nevertheless, I'm enjoying the concentrated time with the other three. I get to home school the boys on some days (with help from friends on other days), and review homework with Lydia in the evenings and on weekends. We're also spending available evenings together watching the memorable Christmas movies, A Christmas Story being my personal favorite. We're being supplied with excellent meals from friends and neighbors so, all things considered, the suffering is minimized.
Telephone reports from Houston have been positive. Biz has spent the last two days (except for morning appointments) working for Charlsie Pogue at her office. If any of you have had Biz working for you, you know that she excels as a helper--very conscientious and proactive. The opportunity (and the money she's making) has been a boost. It's been many days since she passed the "tired of appointments" threshold, so now she just accepts them. I once asked a young Israeli if he was taking English classes because his school required it, or because he wanted to. He said, "Oh no, I want to. If I didn't, they'd make me." Preference has no bearing upon the subject at this point.
Deb and Biz attended a little church in Houston on Sunday, Christ Evangelical Presbyterian Church, only about 500 people. Compared to some of the mega-churches available in the area (even some good ones) it was an intimate setting. I was able to listen to the sermons on the internet and think the pastor does a great job (biblically-centered and doctrinally-faithful, and interesting to boot). Some people in the congregation reached out to the girls and plan to have them over to make Christmas cookies. It seems that CEPC may be a good respite for the extended stay.
I'm continually asked--and I do not mind at all--if there is anything people can do to help. Aside from being terrible at delegation (and asking), I really can't think of any physical need we have. Only prayer. Thanks to the generosity of MANY, and especially to the Lord who worked in each one's heart, I have even been able to write checks as the hospital bills come due. This was one of my early prayer requests, and the Lord has provided.
Treatment begins on Monday.
Counting down the days until we're together.
Considering each trial pure joy because we see our Savior in it.