If you know ANYTHING about the McFarland clan, especially Ronnie and Donnie, absolutely everything is a song.  Some random thought you say out loud, or part of your sentence, turns into a song.  Even Scott Sutherland seems to have this disease!  I must say, it tends to make us all smile.

So today is the 57th birthday of Donnie and Ronnie.  Natural identical twins are so special.  Not only do they look alike, but their mannerisms are alike . . . like the way they lift one eye brow . . . or the way they move their hands to tell a story.  One thing I have always noticed about Donnie is that he laughs really hard at Ronnie, and this laugh is so distinct and hard, I can always tell when he is talking to Ronnie on the phone.  They both think the other one is hilarious.  All the family knows where I’m coming from on this one.  Both of them are “cut ups” and “pranksters”!!

So today, they got to spend their birthday together as usual.  It has always been a tradition that the four of us (Ronnie & Darlene and Donnie & me) celebrate their birthdays (and mine) together.  It was especially great that it could happen this year.

Many thanks to our precious families for allowing “the boys” this time together!!!

It was a very, very special day.  Donnie received many gifts and cards from loving family and precious friends, and many well-wishes on FaceBook.  We are overwhelmed and honored.  Several people also gave Ronnie cards . . . friends and family of ours that he does not even know . . . HOW NICE!  Of course, Connie made them a beautiful cake, too!

Donnie rests in the bed a lot, as it is a very comfortable place for him to be.  We sit around the bed and visit with him for hours.  Sometimes he eats a meal there, and sometimes he feels like eating at the table.  He typically does not eat very much, but tonight we got him his favorite salmon meal from Longhorn Steakhouse, and he ate a normal amount of food.  That’s the first time he has done that in a month.  It certainly made me feel good!

When you find yourself in a challenging place in your life, it certainly is uplifting to be around the people that love you.  Ronnie and Darlene made his life more enjoyable today for sure.  I haven’t heard him laugh like he did tonight for several weeks.  Good medicine!!!

Tomorrow more very special family is coming to see him.  We are so grateful for the love and support our family gives us.  We would truly be lost without them.

We will be going to get IV fluids again on Monday, and possibly chemo on Wednesday, depending on how strong Donnie is by then.  If you would like to visit next week, you might want to text me to see if it would be a good time.  Also, check the blog, as I will try to keep it updated regarding good times to visit.  With Donnie, things change drastically in a short period of time, so it is hard to plan to see him.  Just know that it is his desire to see the people he cares about, but finds himself not up to visitors a lot of the time.

Our hearts are so full of gratitude for all of you who pour your love out to us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  God bless you all for ministering to us in our time of need 🙂