Loss of Hair

This morning mom came down stairs in a panic…her hair was coming out by the handfuls. She had to take a few moments to let the tears fall. Even as I witnessed mom upset; her compassion shinned through as she talked about Aunt Anne and her cancer, wishing she could have done more for her.

Mom cheered up when Mike, Jackie, Lexi and Trent came to visit. Mike shared a few brain teasers with us and made everyone laugh. He tripped all of us a time or two! Lexi and Trent are so cute! Jackie you’re a good mommy!

Tonight mom got a call from her friend Tracy, she has a surprised for mom, I can’t wait to share it you! I also had an opportunity to talk to her. Both of her parents have passed away. It always amazes me how God works; he puts people in our path that have experienced the same thing or close to it. Look for ways to share. It’s so important to be encouraged by others and prayer is powerful, we all need prayer.

Mom has her second chemo treatment tomorrow…

Matthew 18:20 Where two or more are gathered together because they are mine, I am there among them.

Humility

What a day…

A little crazy, a little backwards…anyway that’s what I was doing when I got stuck in the snow going reverse in a friend’s long and winding driveway at night.

So it’s dark and it just freshly snowed and it was the first time I was even in their driveway but I thought I could do it. Well…to my humility I needed to be rescued.

I got to thinking on the way home; I am a good driver. As a matter of fact I can drive in reverse pretty good! Not to boast, really! I was mortified.

So I’m talking to God on the way home...and He showed me what I needed. Sometimes we’ve done something so many times that we think we can do it well and without help but without God we are nothing. The fact that it was at night reminds me that in the darkness we can stumble and fall. Jesus is the light. I think God intended for me to get stuck to show me that I need to take the more humble road. When we are humble; we don’t have selfish motives; there’s no room for conceit or pride. Humility gives us an opportunity to grow.

John 8:12 "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life

Romans 1-2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual[a] act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.


So you think that would be it today but no…we had a gas leak in one of our furnaces and about 2 hours later the gas guy knocked at our door to tell us our meter outside had a break. So we had the windows open and the heat shut off while it was being fixed. Thank you Jesus for keeping us safe.

The best part of our day was traveling to Tracy’s baby shower that was put on by Aunt Sharon and Nicole. It was really nice, they did a wonderful job!

Mom is doing good…her hair has started to fall out due to chemo. Her scalp is tender and hurts to the touch. She picked out a beautiful wig. It looks really nice. I know that losing her hair has been difficult. I wanted to shave my head in support but mom was not in agreement. Wouldn’t that be fun though if we all shaved our heads for her?

So the day is finally over…Goodnight!

Pictures at the baby shower

Pictures taken February 11, 2009

Endurance

Endurance

It’s easy to give up and sometimes temptation gets the best of us but hopefully we hold on to what is true and we never get tired of doing good and what is right in God’s sight.
As I watch my mother go through cancer and chemo where her body is failing her, I pray for her to press on in her faith. I see her body worn out and weary with exhaustion and I know that when your body is weak it’s more difficult to be spiritually strong. So I pray for endurance. I pray for my mother and for our family to stand on God’s word, to seek His promises and speak out His truth. I pray that our thoughts will be of one sound and one mind. I understand that we will have challenging days, already we have faced so many. But let us continue to give praise to our Father! My request as you pray for mom is that you pray for me too; first as a daughter of the King and second as a daughter of a woman whom in these last few months I’ve come to admire; her inner strength and beauty has been a gift to me.

When I wake in the morning and when I go to sleep I have been asking God “What can I do to change for you Lord?” If I am diligent in my obedience to God; that will help me as a Christian, wife, mother, daughter, friend, a member of a great church, a leader, a neighbor and so on…If I endure... then I will be encouraged to carry on, sometimes through suffering but there is a blessing when our faith remains strong. So what ever you are going through, what ever you are facing, whatever seems to unbearable, remember that God gives you the strength to endure. Suffering allows God to work in us.

It’s been 4 days since mom’s first chemo treatment. She’s having some minor side effects but for the most part she is doing well. Will you stand firm with me for healing over my mom and for endurance in her spiritual walk with Jesus. Thank you and bless you!

Thank you for your comments, e-mails and letters. Something so simple means so much to mom.

Please listen to this song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaHmiFaX_pk&feature=channel_page

Galatians 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
1 Peter 4:13 But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
Hebrews 3:14 We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first
James 1:12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

First Day of Chemo

Today was mom’s first day of chemo…

I pray for a healing touch from our heavenly Father, just one touch of His glory to rain down upon His child. I thank God for His Sovereignty. God has total control over His creation. He knows all things…He knows my mothers weaknesses and will make her stronger in her obedience to Him. I pray that as her body is fragile her spirit is strong in the name of Jesus. I don’t questions God’s plan in my mom’s illness, what I want to know is how can I glorify God through this experience. I see His goodness and I can’t help but feel blessed, like today when I was praying for mom at the cancer center and a heard a sweet soft voice like and angel say “Yes Jesus” and I felt the power of Jesus and the room was filled with His Spirit. When we finished praying I looked over to see the nurse on her knees holding mom’s hand. It was such a tender moment and I thank God for giving us the gift of new friendships.

Mom and I shared our devotional and bible time as she was receiving her treatment, may the truth of His words and the spirit in which I spoke bring freedom to those who were listening, whether that have been the people to the left or right or those working in the facility. May the seeds be planted!

Mom is feeling pretty good, she is a little light headed and dizzy but she doesn’t feel nauseous. Praise the Lord!

Mom tried on some wigs as she was waiting, when I walk in I had to do a double take and then I realized it was mom. My heart breaks for her because I know that this will probably be the most difficult for her. I will be setting up an appointment for her to get a fitted wig, the nurse told us in about 2 weeks her hair will start falling out and it will come out in large amounts.

Everyone at the cancer center is so nice…they made mom feel better.

Mom has God’s mighty power to help her through this, miracles happen to those who believe!

2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

Isaiah 40:29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

Ephesians 6:10-12 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Surgery

Tomorrow morning mom will have her surgery. She will have a port placed under her skin in order to put the chemo in and other medicines and even get her blood drawn.

If you would like to check out what procedure, go to: http://www.portadvantage.com/

The cancer center wanted to start her on chemo this Friday, but mom is leaving to go back home to get her taxes done and lucky for Lucky; he is going to get a hair cut! So they are calling us tomorrow to set up her first chemo therapy treatment.

I know that this time will be a testimony of faith and trust in Jesus. She will have to rely on Him for strength, courage, rest and healing. I pray that this will be a time where mom will be able to draw even closer to Him and that her walk will become more intimate. (please listen to link)

1 Peter 4:13 But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

James 1:12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

Last Saturday Aunt Sharon brought mom to see Todd, Shirley and Jaden. Here are some pictures fro her visit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoaH0I9UwLIbe.com/watch?v=aoaH0I9UwLI