 What's the deal with the black & white saddle shoes?  Click here for the story of our farm in Greene County, Iowa. Here's looking at life at Simple Serenity Farm  We've had very little snow so far this winter. Saturday morning, January 14, brought a reminder of just how pretty a light snow can be. Just over an inch fell in the wee hours, and the countryside was beautiful at wake-up time. Click here for larger format Earlier photos in this series
Iowa Hall of Pride Sam's Barber Shop Douglas T. Bates III, Attorney KMA Radio's ''Chuck & Don Show'' The Monks of New Melleray Abbey RELATED LINKS About Offenburger.com Biographies Want to Reprint? Want Updates? ARCHIVES Chuck Offenburger's columns Christie Vilsack's columns Carla Offenburger's columns Carla's book reviews Guest Columns Life at Offenburgers' Simple Serenity Farm --2003-2005 --2006-Now Our Iowa News Digest Along Our Way 
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| Archives: Living with Cancer
Here are the archived updates for "Living with Cancer".
Update for December 21, 2011 “Each time that I lose a friend to cancer or heart disease, I wonder how I would be able to handle a devastating diagnosis such as the ‘stage four’ news that you had to bear two years ago. Your positive approach is such an inspiration, and I know that I will carry your message with me as I get closer to the time when I, too, will have to confront a life threatening situation.”Update for April 11, 2011 “We live on the floodplain of the Mississippi River. Each day that passes moves us closer to major flooding, so up until now, I’ve been issuing this karma, ‘April, take your time in coming.’ But hearing the good news that your February was hospital-free, and that March and April are going nicely, I’m going to change my tune. Bring it on!”Update for March 4, 2011 “Glad you two are on the mend after a long, long battle.”Update for February 3, 2011 ''You look pretty cute with the bald head and as you know, I am kind of used to looking at another bald head for so many years.''Update for January 19, 2011 “We pray that 2011 will be ‘The year of Offenburgers,’ although the end of 2010 wasn’t bad!” TO VIEW ERIC HANSON’S JANUARY 18 KCCI-TV NEWS STORY ABOUT CHUCK, CLICK HERE.Update for December 12, 2010 “We are happy for you both as it sounds like everything is going very good. Hope to see you soon, maybe you’ll even need a hair trim one of these days.”Update for November 18, 2010 “In the meantime, I am thinking of you and Carla, saying my Hail Marys, and crossing my fingers and toes.” Update for November 4, 2010 “Chuck, you have always been full of it. I did not know it was stem cells.”Update for October 20, 2010 “Great news and excellent timing, Chuck (about getting to do the stem cells harvest and transplant sooner rather than later)! It IS harvest season, ya know!” Update for Octoberr 7, 2010 “I read your articles in the Iowa Farm Bureau’s ’Family Living’ magazine and read the recent one about the battle you and your wife have both been fighting with cancer. Just wanted to let you know an old Army buddy is concerned and praying for a victory for both of you in this struggle. I know you will both win, but the sooner the better.”Update for September 23, 2010 “If you need things done around the house – cleaning, mowing, getting prepared for winter – don''t hesitate to let me know. If you need those burn piles taken care of, I could do that, too. Almost lit the town on fire last fall for the homecoming bonfire.”Update for September 7, 2010 “Carla, if you were standing here I’d hug you. This is such a ton of stress and scheduling for anyone but then add that you are recouping yourself and it is nearly overwhelming. Yet here you are forging ahead.”Update for August 25, 2010 “If the sedative makes normal people balmy, I wonder what it’s going to do to you since you have been balmy ever since I’ve known you, except for the last days of your first two marriages.”Update for August 17, 2010 “Just keep taking each day as it comes and you’ll be on the other side of this soon. One of my favorite sayings: ’When there’s no way out, there’s still a way through.’ ”Update for July 27, 2010 “These lives that everyone takes for granted are so fragile. We are all just one diagnosis from what so many are going through every day.”Update for July 13, 2010 “Carla’s columns – and yours – give hope to all who have suffered through and with cancer, or love those who are going through the experience. God bless you.”Update for June 30, 2010 “...with your strength, will power, faith, love of God and each other, these 'wars' can and will be won.” Update for June 17, 2010 You have been given a calling, even though you did not ask for it. No doubt you would rather have a different calling that doesn’t involve health issues, but we don’t choose our callings, do we?Update for May 11, 2010 “Damn! Heck! Mercy! Shucks! And any other expletive my strict Methodist upbringing allows me to use!”Update for February 23, 2010 ''The Lord will overshadow you, and you will find refuge under his wings.''Update for January 24, 2010 “Isn’t it amazing what prayers will do for you and how you feel and look at things? I just cannot understand how people can go through life without God and prayers. We will continue to say them for the both of you.”Update for January 5, 2010 “You wrote, ‘The lesson of it would have been that we all should live in the moment, all the time, enjoying every experience to the fullest’ This is the best thought, and one we all ought to wake up with each and every morning, and remind ourselves of it throughout the day.”Update for December 23, 2009 “I think all your friends should shave their heads in solidarity with you. For some of us, it wouldn't be that much different.”Update for December 15, 2009 “I think you could look pretty cool bald. It is certainly in style now. I know your faith is strong and the love and prayers of your many, many friends and family will carry you during the coming weeks.”Update for December 2, 2009 “I don’t think you’re allowed to be in the cancer chemo club if you haven’t lost your hair, so when you lose it now, at least you’ll be ‘official.’ ”Update for Wednesday, November 18, 2009 “During Thanksgiving, I was preparing for the worst when my son entered the bedroom and closed the door. He started talking about Ephesians 6: 10-18, which speaks of the armor of God and the protection it provides. That night I gave everything up to God and accepted his will. Today I am working again, healthy and thankful to my Savior.”Update for November 2, 2009 “You can add Muslim prayers to your long list of Christian prayers. Hey, don’t we figure, every bit counts? You never know who’s listening on any particular day.”Update for Thursday, October 15, 2009 “Recently I learned you and I have something in common. In late April, I had several biopsies and a surgery to identify a ‘gooey’ mass in my left upper abdomen. It sounds like our chemo routines are similar. I start my fourth round soon, and will do six in all. Hang in there. I am convinced we will be better people and closer to God at the end of this experience.”Update for Friday, October 2, 2009 “You have mentioned how after you are diagnosed with cancer, then you become much more aware of how many people have it, or had it. It’s like when you buy a car – and then notice every other person has a silver Merc. I’ve had friends in recent years go through similar things.”Update for September 21, 2009 “Oh, great lover of fight songs that you are, what’s your cancer fight song?”Update for September 9, 2009 “I went to UCLA Medical Center, where I found the most wonderful doctor who reassured me that this was a do-able problem and with the right attitude, I would be a survivor. I made peace with the Lord and told Him that I was putting my life in His hands as well as the talents of the doctors. I never doubted anything from that point on.”Update for September 2, 2009 “Our mutual friend Al Hubbard e-mailed me a while back about your diagnosis, so I went to your Internet site this morning and, from looking at it, you don’t look so sick to me! What a blaze of life, which I should have expected.”Update for August 25, 2009 “I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma in July, 2007. Gratefully, I’m in remission. One of my daily prayers is the Serenity Prayer because it says it all. Good luck with your treatment and recovery!”Update for August 10, 2009 ''Heard you caught the cancer. If it's true, not to worry. A tumor was found in my throat a year ago. Modern medical measures eradicated it... I'm sure others are telling you this, but it may bear repeating: Focus on things you will accomplish when it's over; daydream about the things you MUST live for.''Update for Monday, August 3, 2009 ''I just wanted to tell you that the time I was on chemo was probably the most peaceful time of my life, and I guess I wouldn't trade that for anything. The little things didn't irk me, and yet it was the little things that meant so much to me. I enjoyed the beauty of each day, and the friends and family around me.''
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