Fervent prayer needed, please!

My niece is supposed to go into surgery in just 4.5 hours, if her cough that suddenly showed up yesterday doesn't necessitate postponement. This tumor looks so daunting on the MRI. PLEASE PRAY for the surgeon's and assistants' hands and wisdom and guidance! Please also pray that Eloise will have minimal pain or discomfort and no emotional/mental trauma from the experience. It will be a fairly extensive surgery, moving organs aside and trying to avoid any nerves or vital structures, and will require a long recovery - 7-12 days in the hospital as well as ongoing physical therapy to teach her to compensate for the back muscle that will have to be cut out (because it's intertwined with the tumor). And of course, please also pray for peace for Katie and Calvin and the grandparents and all the other people who love this little winsome munchkin and would change places with her in a heartbeat. I'm blessed in that I get to sleep through the hours of waiting. (There are occasional bonuses to being on the opposite side of the world! Otherwise, it's just HARD at a time like this.) I'll try to remember to update ASAP tomorrow.

This photo, below, was taken my last day in Dallas. I flew out that afternoon (*sniff*). I'm holding Elo, and my other niece is on my sister-in-law's lap. It was so special to see the little girls together - they adore each other and are only a few weeks apart in age. And it was delightful to get to be with my sweet, fun sister-in-law, as well as my parents and Katie. (I know North Texas area ladies will recognize The Dove's Nest in Waxahachie!)

 

Meanwhile, back in PNG:

Buidling LEGO with our honorary "sixth quint," a close friend from school.

Daddy's new fire pit

Isaac's new haircut . . . scary! I'm usually the one who cuts hair - using scissors - but Gavin and Isaac got too desperate to wait for my return and buzzed it instead. :)

Gavin tried to get the kids into good working order before I returned:

At last, after 2.5 weeks, Mom is home!

Welcoming the plane!

I'd never been away from my kids longer than a week before. It was SO good to see them! They made me cards, even!

Happily reunited, not forgetting the dog. :)