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This evening I'd like to just take a few minutes of your time and ask if you would join my family in prayer. It's been a week of excitement and a start to new adventures and also a week of great sadness. If you feel led, would you please remember these in your prayers?
Tonight, probably as I am typing this post, my sister and her family board a plane that will take them to Prague where they will be serving as missionaries. They are so excited as they begin this new journey. And, while we will miss them while they are away, we are so very excited for them, as well, and very proud of them as they follow the Lord's calling into missions.
On a much sadder note, my uncle passed away late last night. This followed a long summer full of a number of medical issues, not the least of these being pancreatic cancer. If you would please keep my aunt in your prayers, along with the rest of the family. As well, many of us will be traveling next week for his memorial service.
Through it all, we will continue to praise the Lord. We know and are so thankful that He is here with us and will guide our days... regardless of whether they are filled with excitement and laughter or with sadness and grief. How truly blessed we are to serve a God that we are able to praise regardless of the storms we face!
We appreciate all your prayers... they mean more than you will ever know. Love you all!
Earlier this week I decided, along with my mother and sister, to make a trip to Northwest Arkansas to spend some time with my aunt and uncle. Over the course of the summer my uncle has been hospitalized 3-4 times, has had at least 2 surgeries, has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, has undergone one chemo treatment and almost lost his life more than once.
At this time, we don't know what lies ahead or the length of time we have left with him. Due to the fact that his body has not yet recovered from all that it has been thru in the last few months and diabetes that they have struggled to keep under control, the one chemo treatment he had just about did him in. The doctors have decided there will be no more chemo unless he can build up his strength quite a bit more than it is now. They are not sure he can reach that point and, in the meantime, the cancer is left to grow.
It was so good to see him today. At this time he is doing well... particularly considering that where he was just one week ago was very scary.
My grandmother also lives close by and we were able to bring her over for awhile, as well. We were able to take my aunt out to lunch and have a great visit with her. We have had a good day... one filled with laughter and smiles, along with tears.
Many would say it was a bittersweet day. And, I guess in many ways it was. However, at the same time, I see it as a very good day. Yes, my uncle's health is not good. Yes, we don't know how much longer we will have him here on earth with us. And, yes, my aunt is struggling so very much.
At the same time, we were able to be together as a family. We were able to laugh together and we were able to cry a bit together, too. We had a great visit with my uncle who is up and about, he is laughing and he is determined to beat this thing that has taken hold of his body. More than once today I could see and feel God's presence. He is and will continue to be with them throughout this journey... regardless of where it ends.
You prayers over the last few months are appreciated more than I can find the words to express. I'm so thankful for each of you and for your prayers and the concern you have expressed over the last few months. I love you all!
UPDATE LATE WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON:
So much to be thankful for this evening as my uncle came thru the procedure and transport just fine this morning. When Mom called me earlier today, he had been awake and talking for a bit of time... even laughing a bit as he was still loopy from the anesthesia. She said the laughter in his room was so nice after the last few days having been so tense... particularly for my aunt.
From here, the doctors are going to let him take a few weeks to recover from all his body has been thru these last couple of weeks and then proceed with treatment for the cancer. And, let me tell you, his body has really been thru alot. The doctor told my aunt that during this time they have given him about 30 units of blood... can you even imagine?!
Thank you all again for your prayers!!
Over the weekend, I asked that you remember my uncle in your prayers. Today I wanted to share with you an update and ask for your continued prayers.
He has been recovering well from his surgery over the weekend. However, today they are performing a procedure that can be very dangerous. They need to go in and seal off the artery that was bleeding so much earlier. In addition to the procedure itself being dangerous, they also must move him to a nearby hospital for this procedure. There is fear that he may begin bleeding again during transport.
Additionally, the biopsy results have come back and he does have pancreatic cancer. He has a long road ahead of him as he will begin treatments for that once he recovers from all his body has been thru over the last couple of weeks.
As I had mentioned earlier, my parents are there with them as well as several other family members and their own friends. I am so thankful they are not alone! And, on top of all of the people that are with them, we know God is with them and for that I couldn't be anymore thankful.
I thank you again for any and all prayers. You are some of the best prayer partners out there!
"For where two or more are gathered together in My Name, I am there in the midst of them." Matthew 18: 19-20
I'd like to take a moment this afternoon to ask your prayers for two dear family members. They are both so very special to us -- we love them dearly and desire so much for them to make it through this difficult time in their lives. If you feel led to pray for them, I ask that you pray that God would heal their bodies. However, I would also ask you to pray that they would feel God's presence in their lives in a very special and very real way. A way in which they could never deny His presence and His love for them. I so want them to feel God's presence in such a way that they could do nothing but want to feel that presence with them each and every day.
My father-in-law has recently been diagnosed with cancer. Unfortunately, this is not his first time to go down this road. Shortly after I met Jeff about 15 years ago, his father was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Disease. Several years later it was liver cancer, followed by colin cancer, and lung cancer. Each time he has gone thru rounds of chemotherapy and each time made a full recovery. Almost two years ago he passed that magical three year timeframe where they declared him cancer free. However, about 6 weeks ago they found a tumor on his spine that was determined to be cancer. Last week he started radiation treatments that will last about 8 weeks. Neither my father-in-law or mother-in-law speaks of their feelings much in times like this, but I know it wears heavy on them and they could BOTH use our prayers.
My uncle is also in need of prayers this afternoon. Last week he was diagnosed and treated for a bleeding ulcer. While it was very serious for a period of time, the doctors were able to treat him he was back home after a brief hospital stay. However, yesterday he collapsed at home and was rushed back to the hospital. Early this morning, my aunt was called to the hospital as things had become quite serious... so much so that she had a police escort to get her there quickly. The ulcer had begun bleeding into his small intestine and, at that time, they had been unable to stop the bleeding. Since then, he has been through surgery where they were able to bring a stop to the bleeding. However, while in surgery the doctor felt it necessary to do a biopsy for pancreatic cancer. At this time, we are waiting to see how he recovers from the surgery and awaiting the biopsy results. Also, this has been incredibly difficult for my aunt (as one would expect) and she is so fearful that he will not make it through this. I know she could use prayers during this time, as well.
In closing, I would also ask that you say a prayer for my parents as they are traveling today from Minnesota to Arkansas to be with my aunt (this is my mom's younger sister). It is a long drive for them and, of course, they are worried as they travel. They are keeping in touch with all of us (my aunt and also updates to my sisters and I and other family members) via cell phone as they travel.
I thank you in advance for any prayers you may say for my family. I feel so privileged to know that I can ask this of any of you that read here regularly and know you will bring these requests before the Lord.
I love you all and will keep you updated.
Hello... It is so good to be back after a little holiday break from blogging! I've missed you guys and have so enjoyed spending some time this afternoon catching up with some of you. As the week progresses I hope to make it around so to say 'Hi' and Happy New Year to each of you, my bloggy buddies.
We had a GREAT Christmas! Very special time spent with family both near and those further away celebrating our time together and the birth of our Savior. We spent a very relaxing and wonderful Christmas Eve at home, just the four of us, as our special day together. Christmas Day was spent with my in-laws where we shared laughter, great food, and enjoyed gift giving. The day after we jumped in the car and traveled to Missouri for some more special time with my family. We were so fortunate to be able to spend several days there and enjoyed more of the same with laughter, good food, time "catching up" and just hanging out together.
This year was special for us as we were spending the last Christmas for a couple of years with my youngest sister and her family. Later this year they will be leaving to serve as missionaries in Prague. I was able to help her set up their own blog for sharing their work and family happenings while they are away. I've asked her if I can share it with all of you and received a hearty 'Yes!' I'll plan to share that later this week.
As with all things, the holidays pass way too quickly and we get back into the daily "stuff" and other occurrences more faster than we would sometimes choose. Tomorrow morning we'll be taking our youngest, Abby, in for an outpatient surgical procedure to correct the vertical muscle movement in her eyes. Shortly before she turned two we discovered her eyes crossing and that she was very farsighted. She has been in glasses since that time and also had a surgical procedure to correct the horizontal muscle movement in her eyes. All went fine with that and now, two year later, the doctor feels we need to go again to correct her vertical muscle movement. We don't expect any complications (and are so very thankful it is nothing more serious than this), but all the same would love to have her covered in prayer.... prayer for no unexpected complications and for a quick and smooth recovery for her. We will be checking in about 7:30am New Year's Eve, with the procedure beginning about 8:30am and should be heading home within a few hours after that. Any prayers during this time would be much appreciated by all of us!
In closing, I pray that each of you has a fun and exciting New Year's Eve followed by a New Year full of many blessings from our Lord!
