How to spend the perfect evening

We're getting a respite from the devastation, deep sadness, fear, anger, exhaustion, etc., associated with cancer. We hope it will last a long time. Either way, we're enjoying it. Here's our advice on how you can live for each moment and spend a lovely evening with your family:

4:30 Take kids swimming, watch them love learning the back stroke and swimming underwater like fishies. Do a few laps yourself and bask in filtered sun and perfect temps.

5:15 Come home and be greeted by a delivery from one of the "church ladies," our culinary angels who weekly bring us the most delicious, nutritious feasts. This time it was Debra with a vegetarian dream: spinach pie, green salad, quinoa and bean salad, fresh bread, oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. Watch your Dad's eyes light up as he takes Debra's hand and offers a very heartfelt thanks. Savor this meal together at the table with open windows and gentle breezes. Savor the Martha-Stewart-inspired rhubarb-strawberry pie lovingly made by Linda. (Stand in awe as your Dad eats TWO pieces!)

6:15 Sit on the back deck and watch kids play in the yard. Your kids are in their jammies already. (They opted for jams after swimming, tired from the pool.) Find a toad and gather the cousins -- Char, MJ and Anna -- to watch in wonder. "A toad!" Relish each giggle as said toad hops, gets gently picked up, then pees on MJ's hand. Watch toad hop under the porch to safety.

6:45 Take a walk with the family: Char in stroller being pushed by two big cousins in jammies, Dad and Linda hand-in-hand, your beautiful sis Heather, Scott the caboose. Laugh heartily at Dad's penchant for gas -- hey, at least we're outside! (We blame it on the meds...) Follow winding trials through your neighborhood past veggie gardens, flowers, the call of birds, and suddenly look to the sky at a rainbow-colored hot air balloon floating right above your heads. Hear the kids wonder who's in it, where they're going, how they land ... Continue the walk and watch the balloon's serene journey until it's out of sight.

7:15 Stop at the Koch's house on your way home and chat with sweet neighbors/friends Shelley and Bryan. Watch little Landon and Charlotte show each other their belly buttons. Listen to Dad talk with Bryan about feeling so good and beating this disease. Feel a great warmth wash over you at knowing such lovely people as the Koch family. Say goodnight and be on your way. Walk home arm-in-arm with Bill, Linda on the other side of him as he says, "It's a rose between two thongs!" Oops, he meant "thorns." Have another belly laugh.

7:45 Put kids to bed with no trouble! Take a shower and join family on the back deck to soak in a bit more fresh air then move to the family room where conversation continues and laughs ensue. Read a blog comment to your Dad from a work colleague who he helped during a difficult time. (He wanted to remain anonymous, but somehow she found out.) Admire your Dad's generosity. Laugh some more before you see your Dad's eyes droop and Linda falling asleep at 10. You don't want this evening to end, but you yourself feel the pull of bedtime after a full day. Even in this trying time that may present sorrow or dread down the road, feel grateful God's blessed you and your family.