This last week we saw the start of Royal’s baseball and celebrated the rite of spring with hope unwarranted yet present again.

The news on the Real Estate side is also hopeful. Sales of resale homes are up, interest rates are holding on and new home sales are showing isolated better demand.

Our family focus continues to be on the treatment of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma by our oldest grandson. A regimen of chemo, familiar to some of you, has begun. The prognosis is good. Michael is 15 years old, lives in Papillion Nebraska. Our daughter Kathryn, son-in-law Matt, and two siblings, Emily, 17, and Oliver 8 months, have made the adjustment along with Michael to the state of uncertainty, concern and regimens appropriate.

In so many ways, the family and their community have reached out to them to offer financial and emotional support. A K State walk for life has dedicated a luminary; a corporate challenge at State Street Financial has recognized Michael.

Kathy said a soccer team who competed against Michael’s team over the years made a significant financial and card acknowledgement to them. She was not even aware they knew Michael much less of his personal challenge. She wondered if the tables were reversed would she and Michael’s team have responded in kind or realized how meaningful that gesture was to her, Michael and the rest of the family.

We know this; our strengths and our weaknesses are deeply moved by how we reach out to each other. Barb and I wish to thank those in the Kansas City area who initiated a prayer effort and the gift of a prayer shawl made and presented to Michael visibly reflecting the time given in prayer on his behalf.

So in turn we say to those of you who have family members or experience with this, we extend our prayer in your behalf in the belief that the process of prayer gives comfort and healing grace in time of need.

So hope is appropriate this spring. BLESSINGS are in great abundance throughout; the best to all of you and your families.

God bless our service men and women.