Friends. We are so happy. Preston’s scans came back today and he is officially NED – “No Evidence of Disease.”

I don’t think either of us were really prepared for the good news – I think we’ve done a miraculous job coping and building walls to prepare ourselves for challenging times that we were braced for the worst.

It is, in fact, not the worst, but rather the best possible outcome from all of this.

Just think – not even a year ago we were here with a devastating diagnosis – you all organized meals for us, and helped pay our bills, and hugged us when we needed it, and prayed all of the time.

And it worked.

We are here, scarred but healed, and breathing a heavy sigh of relief.

Dr. Moore is taking the conservative approach – he will have scans every three months for the time being. But for now we can rest and reflect and find our rhythm again.

I’d also like to share that this has been a wonderful month on the employment front for Preston. He accepted a position at Hudson Mann working to help bring a big project they have started across the finish line. He’s delighted to be working with my cousin Allen and is energized and glad to use his brain for something other than “getting better.”

The last 11 months sucked – but we are so incredibly blessed to be where we are today. Thanks to all of you. As I’ve said before, we’ll be paying it forward for a long time.

This has been a rough week for our country – some days it feels like everyone out there is angry and hateful.

But, friends, that’s just not the case. There is so much love. People are good. Most people are so very lovely.

But something I am going to try to do is love just a little bit more. We all should. Donate more. Hug more. Smile more. Love more.

One of my favorite songs is by Darrell Scott (my favorite songwriter of all time) and Tim O’Brien (a close second.) I leave you with these lyrics as they have brought me some measure of comfort as we watch the world churn around us. I know it’s about a couple, but I think it’s much bigger than that.

I’m so close to you baby but I’m so far away
There’s a silence between us
And there’s so much to say

You’re my strength, you’re my weakness
You’re my faith, you’re my doubt
We gotta meet in the middle
To work this thing out

More love, I can hear our hearts cryin’
More love, I know that’s all we need
More love to flow in between us
To take us and hold us and lift us above
If there’s ever an answer it’s more love

We’re afraid to be idle so we fill up the days
We run on a treadmill
Keep slavin’ away

Until there’s no time for talkin’
About troubles in mind
And the doors are all closed
Between your heart and mine

More love, I can hear our hearts cryin’
More love, I know that’s all we need
More love to flow in between us
To take us and hold us and lift us above
If there’s ever an answer it’s more love

Just look out around you, people fightin’ their wars
They think they’ll be happy
When they settle their scores

Let’s lay down the weapons
That hold us apart
Be still for just a minute
Try to open our hearts

More love, I can hear our hearts cryin’
More love, I know that’s all we need
More love to flow in between us
To take us and hold us and lift us above
If there’s ever an answer it’s more love

So. Friends. Thank you. You have loved us beyond measure. We are grateful.