LILLIAN EDITH TAYLOR

Gordon and my new daughter, Lillian Edith Taylor, share the same birthday of September 2nd. (There was even talk about naming her Gordina! Not seriously, sorry, Gordon!) I feel blessed and happy and honored that she share a special day with a man such as Gordon. I hope that she grows up strong and kind like her "Uncle Gordie" I know that the cancer has not been for a minute easy on Gordon but the strength that he shows in the face of it all is amazing. When Gordon and Rosie found out that Lilly was to be born on September 2nd, Gordon asked to come to the hospital to visit on his birthday. The Sieber family did come that day but due to circumstances they were not able to stay. The next morning Gordon came alone to visit his "Birthday Girl". We love Gordon and his family. And continue to lift him up in prayer. From, Jana Taylor

SANTA BARBARA

LOOK OUT TO THE OCEAN

It’s been a few days. Rosi and I drove up to Santa Barbara for a little getaway, after getting some encouraging words from Dr. O’Day. They have a new experimental drug that has relatively few side effects, and I will be signing the consent forms next week. I don’t have all the info on it in front of me at the moment, but will give some more details on it soon. It’s the first of its kind for melanoma, and has shown some promise. I’m excited about it. Getting back to the trip, Santa Barbara is really special. There are angels all over the place. I could feel it, and anyone who needs some inspiration should go sit in front of the mission there, and look out to the ocean, and after you get past your emotional upheaval, you will feel your creativity moving, and a sense of belonging, even if you have never been there. We brought Peer with us. He was a total gentleman, and had as much fun as we did. We took photos, I’m sure Kevin will post them. We stayed one night in a hotel, and two nights with a beautiful couple who are the parents of our friends and neighbors, Liz and Brian. It was their idea that we go up, and I’m so glad we listened. It was fun, relaxing, and beautiful. Well, that’s it for now, God bless you all. I’ll write again soon.

Gordon

DOGS ARE GOOD

oYesterday, I went in for some more scans. They had me drink this smoothie that contains a contrasting agent. Then they scanned me.

Today I am going in for the results. I’m nervous now that I’m writing about it, but how can anybody understand what I’m going through if I’m not saying to them how I feel.

I went to the park today with Rosi, Ari and Mason. It was nice out, but Ari was not feeling well, and I’ve been a little worried about her. We played a little frisbee, and Masy went on the swings for awhile. It was good to get out.

Our neighbor Liz offered to take care of Mason while Rosi and I go to Santa Barbara for the weekend. She even helped us find a hotel that will accept dogs. So we are taking Peer. I hear that we can take him out on the beaches there.

We will be respecting the laws and clean up after him. It should be very nice. I really can’t wait! It’s really difficult to take a dog anywhere these days, unless you have a very small one; then you can go anywhere. Get a Labrador and you can’t go anywhere! Leash laws are very strict, and understandably so; people abuse freedoms and ruin it for everyone. I have witnessed some things that I myself, a dog owner, cannot understand.

It’s a privilege to keep a dog and it carries with it huge responsibilities just like caring for a child in so many way. Dogs are good and have so many beautiful qualities, and the rewards for dealing will all of the responsibilities far outweigh the hassles!

Playing fetch with Peer on a Santa Barbara beach is gonna be AWESOME!

I am going to let Rosi take 1,000 photos..........:)

STANDING IN THE GAP

BY JESUS’ STRIPES, MY HUSBAND WAS ALREADY HEALED!
(There is nothing wrong with believing the Word of a God who NEVER lies.)

Dear Spiritual Family,

I have nothing to complain about, not having my blood Venezuelan family here. You guys have done and are doing much more than they could ever do in a situation like this. Your support does not come from blood or flesh but from the Indescribable Love of God among you. And by the way, I am not going to fight you guys any more about taking your help. I am going to take your help in any way you offer it to us.

My Pastor has told me of the many times your eyes have been filled with tears regarding Gordi’s health. I am sorry that you are with us in this Emotional Roller Coaster. I understand and know in my heart that it is not fair when sometimes things are good and sometimes things are not so good, or when things look good but they are worse than they have ever been. TAKE COURAGE BROTHERS AND SISTERS! Your tears and worries are not in vain. Our congregation will witness the miracle to be soon manifested. We believe in the same God that split the Red Sea for his children when they were escaping from the Egyptians. He is the same yesterday, today, and forevermore.

Thank you for standing in the gap for me many times. I honestly feel sometimes that I want to give up…but your prayers are the ones that keep me going. Not to forget what the Word of God says in Ephesians 6:11-13 “Put on all the armor that God gives, so you can defend yourself against the devil’s tricks. We are not fighting against humans. We are fighting against forces and authorities and against rulers of darkness and powers in the spiritual world. So put on all the armor that God gives. Then when that evil day comes, you will be able to defend yourself. And when the battle is over, you will still be sanding firm.”

Your encouragement and agreement in the Healing Power of God is taking us from Glory to Glory. We are firm in the Rock that is Higher than us, and in our God who promises on Isaiah 42: 2-3. “When you cross deep rivers, I will be with you, and you won’t drown.
When you walk through fire, you won’t be burned or scorched by the flames.”

From the time the doctors told me Gordon had less than a year to live, since that time he qualified for a miracle. I DARE TO BELIEVE THAT MY GOD IS ALREADY WORKING A MIRACLE IN MY HUSBAND; NOT ONLY ON HIS BODY, but also in his spirit, soul, mind, emotions, feelings, and heart. Our God is an Awesome God. I have Irrepressible Hope. Please, help me keep it up!

Blessings and much Love,
Rosie

IT'S HELPING ME

Tomorrow, I’ll be finished with this round of Radiation Treatments. 10 days! I got up 10 days in a row, and went in for less than 15 minutes of treatment and not much else. I would exit the Cedars Sinai Medical building, get the LA Times, and get into Rev. Kev’s (my pastor) car and come home. Ari, my daughter, would come sometimes, and she kept me company.

Ana Maria anointed my whole family today, and maybe even my dog. She was like a… well… I don’t know, but her mission was clearly one of a determined nature, and I still feel her concern, hope and sisterly love, here in our home. I have a really good feeling right now, and it’s that feeling I’ve felt many times at my church (Marina Christian Fellowship - MCF). God’s out pouring of love from His Kingdom through the prayers of everyone there at MCF and many other places; too many to list! I’m so much more aware of the benefits of these prayers now. I only hope I can reciprocate somehow. I can feel the power behind the prayers leveled at me. I would never hesitate to pray for someone far away or for someone I don’t know if asked because I know it helps. It’s helping me.
Thank you & God Bless
Gordon

I'M GOING TO LISTEN TO MY BODY

Hi, it’s me. I made it through another day of radiation, and I’m feeling a little weak, and a little frustrated. I feel like I should be doing so much, but am afraid to; don’t want to aggravate anything, and don’t want to hear anyone telling me that I shouldn’t have been trying to do so much. I’m a “get up early, go to bed late, gotta get it done” kind of guy, and this is tough, not being that guy. I’m gonna listen to my body though, this time, and save everybody a little stress. Ana Marie felt it would be wise to come to our house and anoint my family. I agree, but please excuse the mess!

Friday will be the last day of radiation. Please keep my determination to finish it without too much complaint in your thoughts. The discomfort is a path I can’t avoid. Knowing you are all there helps me and I walk upright, despite it.

My mom is teaching Ari and me to play cribbage. It’s an English game I believe, and it consists of a board with little holes, creating little paths that you follow with little pegs. A deck of cards is dealt out to 2 or 3 players, and you get points by creating sets of 15. It’s a little complex for the mathematically challenged, like me, but I’m getting it. It’s fun. OK, I’ll write again tomorrow. Bye

VEGAS??

OK, we had a very challenging experience last Friday, with Mason being the focus of a medical emergency. We as a family handled it very well, but it had an impact on us individually, and I am feeling an additional something, maybe shock, or something like it. Watching a little person in that state is something so hard, because it’s not a scene in a movie that you can turn your head away from, or even choose not to watch to begin with. This was my son, Rosie’s boy, Ari’s brother. It was scary. God was with us, though, and we bared it without too much complaint, I hope. Pastor Kevin and Jennifer were there too, helping us, and spoiling Arianna. We are fortunate and somehow eternally grateful. Kevin took me to my treatment today, and we talked about how we could smuggle my dog into a hotel in Vegas. Kevin thinks we can pull it off, but I don’t want to act like a blind man all weekend. Anyway, Vegas might be fun, although a crazy place in my opinion. We will have to see what my treatment schedule will allow, and my wife. Bye for now. -Gordon

STARBUCKS

Gorden is starting another week of Radiation treatment. Tomorrow he has a doctors appointment to see if the pelvic bone is healing, I’m a little concerned about it because of the way he was running around Friday night. He seemed to be down today going a little stir crazy. Here's my mind going again.. I asked him “You want to go to Las Vegas for your birthday?” (Is that wrong for a pastor asking that?) (LOL) He was all excited. Does any one want to go to VEGAS?

Pastor Kevin

UPDATE ON MASON

Mason was released Friday night at 10:30 p.m. The doctors thought it might have been a mild case of strep throat. All of the family had a good night of sleep. I saw Rosie and Mason at the church today and Mason seems to be doing well.

Pastor Kevin

MASON IN THE HOSPTAL

This evening I received a phone call from Rosie saying “Mason is having seizure - please pray” then she hung up. Oh come on this can’t be happening!! Jennifer and I arrived at their house, just after the paramedics took Mason and Rosie to the hospital. Poor Gordon was in tears and Arianna’s eyes were swollen. We held hands and prayed for Mason and I could tell Gordon was going crazy being home so we packed up and loaded the car and headed to Saint John’s hospital in Santa Monica. My prayer was “Come on God cut this family a break.” When we arrived at the hospital the doctors said Mason had a high fever and that’s what caused the seizure. They are doing test to find the cause of the fever and seizure. We left Gordon at the hospital with Mason and Rosie and took Arianna to dinner and to our home. So now we are watching “punked” and waiting for a phone call that they are ready to come home. Please pray that Gordon will get rest and that Mason will fully recover as well. This must be very hard on a two year old.
Pastor Kevin

I DON'T WANT TO WORRY PEOPLE

Well, I’ll tell ya, this cancer is a hard road, but I’m not giving up. I had just finished a 7 week protocol of interleukin 18, an experimental drug, and was getting back into a routine of work. Carpentry as you know is kind of a passion of mine, and I was working with a gentleman named Lucien out in Glendale installing some doors. I was high from the experience; feeling productive and creative, and happy because I was once again contributing to my household, when over the weekend I fractured my pelvis while doing some household chores. It’s a long story, and the details of how it happened exactly are a little hard to explain, but now I’m being treated for that with some radiation. It’s hard, but everyone is being supportive. I don’t want to worry people, but I want to do what I love, and that hurts, that I may have to someday let go of this work, completely. It’s just that it’s so sudden, and I’m so much not ready to surrender to a degenerative disease. Amen’s all around.

Pray when you can, and I will keep my chin up when I can.

Thank you and God bless all of you.
Gordon and family

HOW CAN YOU PRAY?

- For the family, just keep us in prayer so we can stay in God’s perfect will even when we are going through the valley of the shadow of death. Please keep my amazing friend/neighbor Maria Pla with her two girls in your prayers. They live two houses down. Maria is always lending us her shoulder to cry on, sometimes cooking for us at least once a week, helping us with Mason, and helping us always to keep a great attitude.

- I know our pastors have been unbelievably supportive. I would like to ask for your prayers as I know Gordon sometimes talks to them, especially to Pastor Kevin. Please cover them in prayers since they are always in contact and he is the person who is mostly taking Gordon to the treatments while I work.
Rosie

HOW CAN I HELP ROSIE?

There is a place that is called, “Make a Wish”, it is The Angel Fund 707) 442 2993 AND The Fairy God Mother Foundation fairygodmother.org Teph 773) 388 1160 for terminally ill people. I was told to call this place for Gordi, but I felt this was not my place to do it. If someone could call them and find out how that works, it would be nice to make one of Gordie’s wishes come true with their help. You might need his actual health condition in writing. Please let me know. I would like some help with my papers, especially with medical paperwork and medical billing. And as many of you know, if I can just get some assistance with paperwork in general, it will also be of a great help. I need to find out resources, funds, or governmet assistance to pay part of medical bills and to pay for part of Mason’s Child Care. I know I qualify because of the household income but I just need to somehow find the resources by making phone calls, following up, sending proof of current situation. - Rosie..

HOW CAN YOU HELP GORDON?

MEALS. Due to the intensive radiation treatment in his Pelvic Bone, Gordi has a new type of diet for two weeks (until the 22 of August). This diet could contain anything that does not make his diarrhea worst. No lactose, yes low fat yogurt, yes lactaid milk, no caffeine, no raw vegetables or fruits, no beans, no prunes, no lentils, no meats, (chicken, turkey, salmon, mahi-mahi, or catfish is okay), no fry, no sardines, white rice, peeled potatoes or pasta with light sauce, no wheat products,
YES he can have decaffeinated tea, ginger ale, chicken broth, chicken noodle soup, skinless chicken, eggs, low fat lactose free yogurt, diluted fruit juices, (except grape) and bake apple, cooked asparagus, green beans, carrots, tomato juice, peeled and seeded tomatoes, cooked zucchini and mushrooms, Cream of wheat, oatmeal, cornflakes, rice krispies, cherrios, sherbet yogurt, angel food cake, vanilla wafers margarine, salt, vinegar and mustard.
- COSTCO. Paper towels, bottled water (Costco brand), Pellegrino, Water gallon, Soy milk, Pictures in the picture section (under “T” Terui Mark), diapers size 4 (these are for Mason – NOT FOR GORDON), English muffins, Regular Muffins (please get the combination of lemon puppy seed, walnut, and blueberry), corn unsalted tortilla chips, granola energy bar, avocado, a cooked chicken, bread with rosmary or olive from La Brea Bakery – it comes two loaves in one bag, dry swifters, vanilla wafers.

A CARD OF ENCOUREMENT

Please send them to:
Gordon and Rosario Sieber
11828 Beatrice Street
Culver City CA 90230

GORDON'S CANCER IS SO LIMITED

It can't cripple love

It can't shatter hope

It can't corrode faith

It can't eat away peace

It can't destroy confidence

It can't kill friendship

It can't shut out memories

It can't silence courage

It can't invade the soul

It can't reduce eternal life

It can't quench the Spirits

It can't lessen the power of the resurrection.

I love you dad

Daddy,
I love you very much and I hope that you don't have worried thoughts when they put you under that medication for the surgery. Just think about how I'll be praying for you and as long as we trust in God, He will take care of us. I looked up a couple of scriptures with my mom's help that would best relate to the situation. I hope it helps you to think positive.
Love,
Arianna

Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety onto Him because He cares for you.
Psalm 52:8 I trust in God's unfailing love forever and ever.
Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord. "Plans to prosper you, not harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."

Sunday August 07, 2005

I said during both services that I was planning on lying in bed with Gordon after church and I am a man of my word. Gordon’s spirits were good this afternoon. He is very grateful to be home with his family. As you know his caner is spreading quickly. Tomorrow morning Gordon will be starting radiation on his pelvic bone to try to get the cancer off the bone so that it can heal. During our conversations we laugh and we share tears especially when we talk about Arianna(12) and Mason (2). Please check this blog and pray for the Lord to heal Gordon’s body. He has not given up, he fighting as much as he can and also trusting the Lord for complete healing.
God bless
Pastor Kevin

Angels

It is at the cross of Jesus that all of our pain and sorow is washed away and we are made new. Gordon, may God's angels surround you and give your heart and spirit peace and strength. You are not alone during this time!

love you,
pastor ruben

Sunday August 7, 2005

Pastor Kevin shared with the church that MCF would create aplace to read and communicate with Gordon, well here it is! Through this blog we will have the forum to say hello, share our prayers and send our love to Gordon and Rosie.

Blessings,
pastor Ruben