ROBINS NEST NOTES

Nest News from the Hatchlings

Volume 1, Issue 1 April/May 2014
ROBINS NEST NOTES 1

IN THIS ISSUE:
TOP ROBINS
TWEETS pg. 1
HOSPICE
FUNDRAISING
TWITTERINGS
pg 2

MY NEON pg 3
WALK TOWARD
THE FIRE pg 3
TWITTERINGS
FROM THE GREAT
(not so) WHITE
NORTH pg 3
TWITTERS AND
TWEETS pg 4


MARK YOUR
CALENDAR
GRADUATION
MAY 24, 2014
2 P.M. CN CENTRE
PRINCE GEORGE, BC
Joan On a November morning, 2012, as I was getting dressed, I
noticed a marble under the skin of my right breast. I called the doctor for a visit and they
took me right in to examine it. I was sent over to a surgeon and she ordered a
mammogram, then an MRI, CAT scan and a PET scan. It was determined that I did in fact
have stage 2 breast cancer. Surgery was ordered and while in surgery they checked the
lymph nodes under my right arm and found 8 of 13 lymph nodes cancerous, and removed
them. While they were checking all the scans they found my gallbladder was full of stones
and removed it and also found my liver to be in bad shape with Primary Biliary Cirrhosis.
My oncologist started me on Chemo and set me up with a hematologist in Portland for my
cirrhosis. Needless to say Dicks and my schedule changed drastically overnight. We were
driving an hour each way, three to four times each week for most of the next year.
After about five months I was on radiation simultaneously with the Chemo. Because of my
liver disease I couldnt take the types of Chemo they wanted to give me so after doing some
studying and discussing with other oncologists I was put on a combination of two different
Chemo treatments together. So for all of 2013 that was our schedule. At one point in the
Chemo treatments I felt I could not physically endure another treatment, that it might kill
me, and I mentioned that to the oncologist and he said it could and stopped the treatments
for a month until my blood work showed I could handle it again. I have great respect and
appreciation for my whole oncology team. As of the second week in January, 2014, I was
declared cancer free after about every test they could do. PRAISE GOD. I want to thank
everyone who had me on their prayer list. God really does hear and answer prayers. Never
doubt that.
(See TOP ROBINS TWEETS on page 2)
TOP ROBINS TWEETS
by Dick and Joan Robins
The Cats on the Mat
by Marcus Robins
April 22, 2014
When I went out to feed the cat,
I saw 10 kittens on the mat.
I fed the cat,
Put on my hat,
Then on my lap eleven sat.


ROBINS NEST NOTES 2
This year I am celebrating 9 years as a hospice nurse. We have recently built a beautiful new Hanson
Hospice Center (HHC) residence. I have seen the benefits of having a place to go spend your last days if dying at home
is not a possibility or something you wish for. Under certain circumstances, insurance will pay for a short stay at the
hospice house, however, for most people it must be paid for out of pocket. For some people this is not possible. I
have decided to organize a fundraising event and start a fund for people who need this service but can't afford it.
My fundraising event is an approximately 423 mile bike ride from Mackinaw City, Michigan to Stevensville, MI where
the HHC is located. We are organizing through the state Chapter Hospice organization that will also advertise the
event and open it up for other hospice along the route to tag onto the event to raise funds for their own hospices.
Local business and community members will be sponsoring and the ride is open for anyone who wishes to ride some
or all of the distance. The last day of the ride is a 30 mile distance which will include a welcome back cookout on the
grounds of the HHC with local radio and TV coverage. My goal is to raise over $5000 to start the fund. I would like
to make this a new yearly fundraising event. My hope is that several more people will be able to use the services of
the Hanson Hospice House because these funds are available.
HOSPICE FUNDRAISING TWITTERINGS
By Dawn Spoon
Dick - Well you have just read about Joans experience for over the
last year. Mine was not cancer but pain in my right leg caused by a
herniated disc in my back. For me the symptoms started out like a
Charlie horse in my leg, but Charlie never went home. So for 7
months I was a crippled old man. I tried different things, but nothing
helped. Finally I asked for surgery and that fixed it. However, I had
waited so long that some of the nerves down my right leg were
damaged and have not yet come back. I ended up being very weak
and wanting to just do as little as possible. I am finally getting
strength back and hope to get it all before too long.
I have been buying and restoring old Ford tractors to get funds to
help Brandon pay off school loans. Pruning up and thinning small
trees around the farm is keeping me pretty busy now also. This
summer there is a big plan to go to Alaska for about a month
following time in Canada for Heather's graduation. Sure hope to get
to go, there is so much we want to see. Travels should be over by
the end of July or before. We hope everyone has a great summer!

Volume 1, Issue 1 April/May 2014


ROBINS NEST NOTES 3
MY NEON
by Valerie Robins
Here sits my Neon
White and shiny.
My heart proudly beats.
Good friends are we
Through thick and thin
Why dont you run? I cry.
Ive pulled out this,
And pulled out that,
What are these, I wonder.
Engine out and torn apart,
Grease covers me from head to toe,
Hey mom, give me a hug!
Parts over here, parts over there,
I cant find that ornery tool!
Can I remember where these go?
Back together my Neons engine,
Sweet talking her I wonder,
Did I forget anything?
Pat her door, turn the key
Hold my breath, breathe a prayer
A racket fills the air!
Turn off the key, sit and ponder
My Neon sits forlorn.
What did I miss? I wonder.
Hood up, removing parts,
Until the engine she is out.
Pieces scattered here and there.
Elbows deep in engine work
Grease covers me from head to toe.
Hey mom, give me a hug!
Remove this, pop open that
Hold my breath, peer inside
Theres WATER in my oil!
Parts over here, parts over there,
Did a squirrel run off with my tools?
Gently lower the engine in place,
Hold my breath and swear a little.
Attach her various parts in place.
Smashed knuckles bleeding, covered
in grease
I heave a sigh of relief.
My Neon is back together once more.
Volume 1, Issue 1 April/May 2014
WALK TOWARD THE FIRE
by Valerie Robins
Depression is like a raging fire,
All consuming, never quenched.
There's danger in walking toward the fire,
Yet freedom beckons from beyond.
Walk toward the water where safety lies,
No more heat, emotions dead. There's safety in walking toward the water,
Yet destruction beckons from within its depths.
Walk toward the fire, face it's heat,
Fire refines, reveals the gold.
Take my hand and walk with me,
Depression's fire frightens me.
Walk toward the fire head held high,
Fears receding, strength increasing.
Step by step depression decreases,
Persistence wins my fight with fire.
Walk toward the fire and not the water,
Fire burns hot, water destroys.
Find the gold refined by fire,
Depression's fire has been extinguished.


This year has been filled with many up and downs. As I write this, I am less than
a month away from graduation. I am very excited for that. I will have my
Administrative Assistant Certificate. Not a lot to brag about, but by achieving
this I will at least have graduated higher education. When I moved to Prince
George in December of 2012 I wasnt sure what to expect. I was moving 764
miles away from everyone I knew. I was leaving behind my friends, my family,
my support net. While Im not sure it was the best of ideas, I am glad I did it. If
I had stayed in Goldendale Im not sure I would have completed this. All the
same, I am very, very, VERY glad it is almost over. I am looking forward to
starting a new life for Marcus and I. I cannot wait to see what is in store for the
future for my lil man and I. Thank you to everyone who helped make this
newsletter happen. I have enjoyed catching up in all or your lives.
Much love from us to you!

TWITTERINGS FROM THE
GREAT (not so) WHITE NORTH
by Heather Robins

TWITTERS AND TWEETS
by Julie Russell
I love that Heather had this assignment to put
together a family newsletter. What a great way
for us to all get in touch with each other again
and catch up!
Boo Most of you know I have a cat I brought home
from a no-kill shelter in 2011. She had been there 8 or 9
months and no one would adopt her as she was a special-
needs kitty. Her body had rejected her own teeth and the
shelter vet had to pull out all her rotten teeth till she had
no more to pull. Most of you know that about Boo. What
you may not know is how I was led, literally, to get a cat
in the first place and to get Boo in particular.
I had been thinking of, and praying about, getting a cat as a
companion for months, yet I couldnt decide for sure if I
was really ready for one yet. One day I was driving home
past the shelter and had been praying while driving about
the cat situation. As I passed the shelter, I had a strong
impression to turn the car around. I didnt understand
why I would need to do something like that, but slowed
down and turned the car around. I then felt another
strong impression to go to the shelter.
By this time I realized God must have an animal in mind
for me. I asked if I could see their cats. Right away they
asked if I would be interested in a special-needs cat.
Now I was sure the Lord had impressed me to go to the
shelter for a specific reason. They showed me 3 special-
needs cats and ultimately I chose Bacon (that was her
name) and brought her home with me.
Within a few days I began calling her BOO, as I couldnt
very well call her Breakfast Strips or Stripples, and I
didnt want to call her Bacon. The new name matches her
personality well as she is a skittery kittyscared of her
own shadow and hides when anyone comes. She has
calmed down around me, but takes a loooong time
warming up to anyone else. She is a loving kitty who likes
to sleep on my lap and beside me when I go to bed at
night. She is a blessing to be sure and I am thankful to
have her. God provided what I needed at the right time.
FPU Last Sunday I finished a 9-week class called
Financial Peace University by Dave Ramsey and facilitated
by a church in town. It taught me so much about how
God looks at money and how He wants us to manage it.
Very well done! I highly recommend it to any and every
one even those who are comfortable they know what
they need to know about their personal finances.
Andy After more years in school than he wants to
count, Andy is graduating from Walla Walla University
with a degree in Computer Engineering. Graduation is
June 15, starting at 8:30 am. He is looking forward with
much anticipation to being done with school. The biggest
project he has to finish by the end of the year is his Senior
Project, which is an Auto Pilot system for Dans
experimental plane he is building. I shudder when I think
about that project, but we have a powerful God who can
save to the uttermostand I trust that means up in the
air in an experimental airplane, as well as anywhere else.
Still working Although Ive had to cut down on my
work hours (I
finally listened to
the docs who
had been telling
me for two years
it is time to slow
down), I am still
working 8 hours
a week. Its not
much, but it still
gives me a
reason to get
out of the house
and focus on
lightening someone elses day for a couple days a week. I
have grown close to the lady I take care of as Ive been
her Caregiver for over 3 years now.
Sabbath evening worships Two of the last 3
weeks I was invited to church members homes to eat
supper then have sundown worship with them and
friends. Ive missed having family worships and have found
it fills a hole in me that gets filled up when worshipping as
a family. I so enjoy the singing and sharing around the
group and the worship thought of the evening and
knowing the Holy Spirit is within our group as we
worship.
A week ago Sabbath, the worship leader of the evening
handed out index cards and pens/pencils. We were
instructed to write on the card our most felt prayer
need(s) then stick them in a paper bag. We were then
asked to draw out a card from the bag (make sure it
wasnt our own) and pray for the persons request(s)
whose card we drew for the coming week. What a
blessing it was praying for a high school Senior boy that
week that he would pass all his classes and tests to end
the year. I prayed not only for what he wrote down, but
also that God would bless him in his chosen career
(farmer) and that he would be drawn close to his Savior,
etc. What a privilege it is to pray for others.

Volume 1, Issue 1 April/May 2014
Graduation
is June 15,
starting at
8:30 am.