Learning as you go - Life 201

I'm glad you've dropped by the Update on Zack blog. You have probably gotten a confusing note or two from me this week about how to view and/or join this blog. This was not actually a plot to frustrate you. No, this was me trying to figure out a new way of using computers and learning as I go. (To actually join the blog, email me and I'll send you an invitation. It looks like spam, sender is "Blogger invites", but it's the real deal. So click on it and come and add your comments, posts and pictures.)

But life is that way. I mean, I feel sorry for oldest children, like Zack. They are the test subject/guinea pigs for their parents. We usually are too tough on them and expect them to be like short adults. Of course, first kids usually do end up being leaders, right along with only children. For more on this see,

Dr. Kevin Leman's website and click "browse by category." Ken and I went and saw him speak and have several of his books. I have a degree in Psychology and, from personal experience, life and raising kids, I can say with confidence that a lot of it is hooey. But he knows his subject.

Anyway, life. What a deal, huh? Most of it is just dress rehearsal. Oh sure, some things you get used to, like swimming. At first, it's scary having your head under water, not being able to breathe and the water temperature is uncertain, sometimes surprisingly cold. But you learn to hold your breath, move your arms and legs and to judge the water with your toe. I used to get really frustrated with the way life changes all the time. Just when things were going well, I had a great place to live, job, friends - boom, something would change. Good friends would move away, or I would. I hated it. Over time, I learned that life is change. I know this is not earth-shattering news, but it did take a long time for me to accept it. I still like stability - but not boredom. I've even gotten used to, "Hey, hun, what would you say if we I were to put in for a job in ???"

This summer, after Ariel gets out of school, modeling and the pageant; our neice, Melissa, graduates from High School; Zack's friends Matt, Trish and David graduate from their respective schools and military academies; and after Karen and Clyde's daughter, Nicole, gets Married, we are moving to Brisbane, Queensland. I know we'll miss everyone here. The Woodlands is our home now - we've been here almost 10 years. I've never been anywhere 10 years. Also, all our family is here in Texas. But Ken and I have learned over the years to pray not for where we think we want to go, but to pray that God would show us where he wants us to be, so he can use us for the next thing he has for us to do. So many, many wonderful things have just fallen into line for us, great renters for this home, a great new home in Brisbane, a great new church there - when God is behind a move, things just fly.

One change that is harder to get used to is Zack being gone. I mean, I know with confidence where he is, but I have a lot of questions for God when I see Him. I guess the things that help me deal with life's diversions is having a great guide book (the Bible), and great traveling partner (Ken) and all the great family and friends that God has blessed me with. So thank you.


I know this is long, so just post your own thoughts, comments and jump right in, the water's fine.

Read the rest

Zack and his sister Ariel, Sept. 02, on the shore of Loch Ness in Scotland 

Read the rest

Zack at Lake Louise, Fall of 2003 

Read the rest

Please post any stories that you have about Zack

If you knew Zack, or were one of the many who were praying for him, please post any stories that you would like to share. I will screen the stories and may do some editing before they are published for all to see. Remember, we don't want any flaming, swearing, any other uncivilized behavior. Everyone else, welcome and enjoy the blog.

Read the rest

Zack is my son

Zack is my son. This will seem a strange statement to some of those who know us well because Zack is no longer with us on Earth, having lost his battle with Glioblastoma Multiforme on December 27, 2003. In addition, those who know us very well will know that Zack was actually my stepson, although none of us ever thought of it that way. But those two facts don't matter. Zack is my son.

He is as present with our family today as before. We know where he is and we know that we will see him again. The reason that we have this confidence is what this book, Update on Zack, is mostly about. We have this promise because of what Christ did for us on the cross - he gave his life so that we may have life eternal. And because of this wonderful gift of grace, we know that Zack is alive, albeit in spirit form and in Heaven. So you see, he is my son, present tense.

As for the other detail, it matters very little that I did not give birth to Zack. I have been his mother since he was 5 1/2, and I was the one of the two parents, Ken being the other, who got him through his teen years. As anyone who's raised teens knows, you do that, you're his mom. Also, and most importantly, since I came into his life he had always called me Mommy and to him, I was his mom. So close were we that there are folks reading this now, who've known us for years, that all this step stuff is news to. We never thought of ourselves that way and so no one else did either.

Read the rest

Welcome to Update On Zack - the blog

You have found the official blog for "Update on Zack" - the story of Zack Homrighaus and his, and our, journey through brain cancer. Zack was diagnosed with brain cancer at the age of 17, after a church hiking trip to the mountains brought it to light. From the very beginning, we reached out to our friends and family through email - requesting prayer and giving updates on Zack's condition. These emails were also full of the many wonderful things that God was doing in our life, even in the midst of this most awful of times.

Zack's story is one of hope, the triumph of God's love over fear, and a real time diary of the proof of God's intimate concern for all aspects of our life, from the really big things to the seemingly minor ones. I have three reasons for wanting to share this story with folks beyond and above the thousands who have been reading, praying and passing along our Updates. The first is to give Glory to God for all that he did for us, for all the times he lifted us and gave us mini- and not- so- mini-miracles, sending light to us in the darkest of times and reminders of His presence in the good ones. Also, I know that this is a story the world needs to hear. A story of courage, hope and humor. I know the world can draw strength from one 17 year old, who when faced with the unthinkable, carried on with bravery, honesty and humor, and dare I say it, wackiness. The last reason is very selfish, in a way, on my part. I hate cancer. Too many people have been ravaged by it, weakened, if not killed, by it. I feel so very helpless, as if it is an evil that has touched my life over and over, but that I am powerless against. But then, I thought, I'm not so powerless. I can give some of the money from the book to brain cancer research at M. D. Anderson. It may not be much, but it's what I can do where I am right now - which I guess is the best that any of us can hope for. So, Zack and I talked about it, and 15% of all profits from this "Update on Zack" book will go to finding the reasons why brain cancer strikes some people and not others and once the docs know that, they'll find a cure.

So, this is what this blog is for, what it's dedicated to and where it's coming from. I will post the last Update on Zack on this site, when I finish writing it this week. it will also be a place to see how the book is coming along, help with the book by giving me your own stories of Zack, either to share with the blog or to include in the book. This will also be a place that will have links to some of Zack's favorite things and people. It will also have pictures of Zack for those of you who didn't know him personally. I hope you will join us for this new journey.

Read the rest