It's raining outside...but sunny inside.

Why are these people smiling? SECRETS REVEALED! Read on... (Wow. That almost sounds like a promo for a new book release!)

Waking up at noon today, I soon became aware of the sound of raindrops dancing gently on the roof. Usually I wake around 6:30am, but I didn't crawl into bed (or should I say fall into bed) until 2:00am this morning. Had a long day yesterday.

Last night our company provided our typical audio-visual services for the annual fundraising banquet for a local crisis pregnancy center. I think this was possibly the 10th year in a row for that client. Last night, most of the work was performed by a team headed up by my good friend and IT/AV expert, Andrew Bower. Andrew has been a real God-send over the past few years in assisting me in my profession - before and after surgery. If you recall, Andrew was the cameraman in the operating room at Stanford during the entire surgical procedure.

At this stage of the game, I pretty much sit and point (they call it 'directing'). People have been telling me that I've needed to act in that capacity for some time now, but for those of us who like to micro-manage things, you understand that's like telling a dog not to scratch when he has fleas. ( That analogy came to mind, I'm certain, because I love dogs, and secondly, there was a huge AKC dog show at the fairgrounds adjacent to our event last night... and I'm bummed because I didn't get a chance to go over there to see all my 'friends' ) :-(

Anyway, back to the reason I felt compelled to type this entry today... the Rain. The weather in Yuba City, California where we live is quite nice most of the year - pretty dry between June and October. When it does start to rain, I tend to get a bit melancholy. Today, that 'pitter patter' on the back porch roof put me in a writing mood.

A sidenote, if you'll allow me... As I sit here at my office computer, there must be a football game on the TV this afternoon, because I can hear alternate outbursts of excitement and cursing through my open window from our new neighbors across the street. They used to live in Oakland, and don't quite understand our sensitivity to noise on our quiet little street. Just now, his favored team got a touchdown. How do you think I know that? Uh, huh, you got it right. (I think he even scared away the birds for a while with that one! )

I'll try to focus here, so I can tell you what's on my heart (Back to the Future):

Life...and life abundantly. That's how I describe my immediate family: Beckie, Rachel & Trevor with Vida (pronounced Vii-da, not Vee-da) and Jenna and Sam with Leonardo in the house. They are all the sunshine in my life.


Leonardo Ezekiel Tunes was our first grandchild born to Jenna and Sam... a chip of the old block.

He's smiling in this pose, but for the first year, I could probably count on one hand the number of times I actually witnessed a genuine goofy toothless smile. Leo is Mr. Analytical... Mr. Engineer. At almost three years old he'll sit with Grampa Ken and Mimi, tirelessly putting together a relatively difficult picture puzzle -and won't give up until the project is complete.



Then came Vida LaRue Lincoln, born to Rachel and Trevor. Vida was smiling in the delivery room. (Well, almost). This shot is typical of her personality. I can't begin to tell you how those two little people - Leo and Vida - have affected my outlook on life and my ability to cope with the harsh realities of life each day. And as far as Mimi (Beckie) is concerned, nothing comes close to her devotion to them. Grandkids are simply the best medicine in God's pharmacy.



Finally, my hero, Rachel. In the face of probably having a full hysterectomy at 33 years of age, this young woman is smiling! That's what I call TRUST. Trusting that God knows her intimately and will not forsake her, even in the face of malignant cancer .

It's now three months later, Rachel is going back to work tomorrow, starting radiation for the next 5 weeks, moving in with Trevor's family in San Diego for a while, and possibly facing chemotherapy after that. And she is still smiling! You go, girl. IMHO when a positive attitude can no longer sustain a person, God shows up with his bucket of Grace.

To read about some amazing miracles surrounding Vida's arrival into this world, go to Rachel's blog - Ra Ra's Everyday.blogspot.com http://www.raraseveryday.blogspot.com/

And, on top of all that, Jenna and Sam have another bun in the oven, due to arrive in March 2011. Her name is Tesla. She'll be grandchild #3... whoopee! (that's easy for you to say, grandpa Ken) Jenna and Sam have been -and continue to be - a light in the darkness to everyone they come in contact with. What a blessing they are to us.

That's why even though it's raining outside, the sun is shining in my heart.

Love you guys,
kw