Sunset view from the hospital
If you missed our Facebook updates, Joshua’s surgery went perfect, the surgeon was very pleased and he’s healing well. Our 5 days in Kecskemét for the surgery were an adventure that might get its own blog post, but he was a trooper and we’re so proud of him. He’s still on a mostly all-liquid diet, though he’s begun to try some mushy stuff like applesauce and mashed potatoes. Joshi really has his father’s patience level and we’re just amazed at his lack of any complaining or grumpiness – it’ll still be many, many weeks before chewing and real food get to happen again. Our summer is low key, with Joshua healing now and really, our whole family needing some down time and summer nothing-ness.
Joshua’s bed at the hospital…none too comfy, so he used pillows for extra cushioning by day 3.
Health-wise – Rachel feels she is finally, totally back to 100% and her pre-April, pre-infection self. Thank you for the continued prayers. Danny also continues to do well, she’s reading up a storm this summer and is looking forward to an American friend visiting for a few days next week. She finishes up her schooling this month and is on track to be all set to re-join her class at ICSB in September. Adding the bits of exercise she needs to has been challenging in the heat we’ve had recently – the break in the weather was a relief in many ways, that is her biggest need now physically – to get her body slowly back to being able to do as much as it should be able to do. We were so proud when she attempted a Basketball Camp held at their school in June, but while her spirit was willing, her body was just not able yet. But her baby steps have taken her so far, and she’s a much healthier, happier individual and leaps above where she was last fall.
Danny (center) at a friend’s house for a class party in June.
Also happening during the last couple weeks has been events around our home in Colorado. Rachel’s cousin and his wife, who have been renting our home, have been house hunting for their own place – and in the midst of a really hard real estate market they found their new home and close on it at the end of this month. So we stepped up our plan making for our house, actually got in touch with the same realtor we used before and were preparing to advertise it to find new renters. We didn’t send out a prayer letter as we meant to, but some of you knew it was all happening. Last week one of Rachel’s best friends in Colorado brought up that her son and a friend were looking to share an apartment…long story short, our two boys and their friend Chase will be renting our house, and are looking for a 4th roommate. We’d appreciate your prayers as this search for that other roommate goes on. But we’re very happy with this set up, as it fills the need and leaves our home available for us when we visit. Let us know if you want details to share with any connections you may have in the Denver area.
We are eagerly looking ahead to Josiah’s visit here, exactly one month from today! He’ll arrive just in time to head off for our family vacation and missions conference in Austria we’ve now been blessed to attend for coming on four years in a row – a new family event that we all love. This year looks to be especially meaningful as Josiah has asked if he can be baptized in Lake Millstatt during the conference – he’d been thinking of when and where to take such a step, and wanted to do it there. Norbert was baptized there in 1992, sometime words fail you in parenting. We’ll also have a week back in Hungary with Siah before he heads back to Colorado, a short visit, but as he’s still in school with no breaks and needing to make up the classes he’ll miss – we’ll take what we can get. Josiah is looking ahead to his graduation from the Colorado Media School in November with an Associates Degree and is pondering his next steps after that.
We are also, already, beginning to look ahead to the fall and our Pastor’s Wives Retreat – Rachel will be in touch with the women and nailing down some dates here soon – we have a pregnancy of one of the wives, plus Rachel’s trip to take Joshua back to CO in September to plan around. Rachel and Joshua will head to Colorado on Sept. 15th and then she’ll come back without him on Oct. 6th. Seems so far away, and yet we know, and Joshua is glad, that time really can move so quickly…but for now, we’re ready to have some slow, lazy days and recuperate from our busy and hospital-filled spring.
The weekend before Joshua’s surgery we were blessed to host a friend from our Bible College days on her way through Budapest with a friend who had never been here before – so we did a whirlwind tour of all the best sights. Here we are with Marilyn atop Castle Hill overlooking the Chain Bridge. 17 years since we’d seen her last, but as with all good friendships, we picked up right where we’d left off.
lakatosfamily 