Normally this space is for news about my business, but sometimes business and personal interfere with each other...

My father, Rev. Roger Pickering, has been admitted to the hospital after a minor heart attack. Fortunately not much damage was done to the heart muscle. He has been scheduled for a quadruple bypass on Monday.

His prognosis is actually very good, especially as his heart muscle had not suffered major damage. If it were not for a nearly 100% blockage in one of the major veins, they might have been able to work with one of the alternatives to a bypass, but since they must bypass that one they will be doing all four.

Understandably, no matter how good the prognosis, the entire family is at a loss. This was very suden. We are all lucky that daddy's heart attck, which is what started this sequence of events, was mild, and did little damage.

Mother is bearing the brunt of this, of course, and both my brother and myself, as well as our spouses, are trying to be available and provide support.

Prayers for his health, and the best possible outcome, are welcome. In addition i am asking that the entire family be added to your prayers, as this is very stressful to us all.

I do hope everyone understands that deliveries, and email response to inquiries, will be delayed.

Thank you for your understanding,

Kirsten Houseknecht