Please Pray

Today I'm humbly asking for your prayers for two very dear friends of ours. They and their families could use some extra strength and comfort and peace right now.

Our amazing 7-year-old friend Brooke recently received news from her scans that her cancer had progressed and filled her bone marrow, and that her body was no longer able to make it's own supply of red and white blood cells and platelets. She then underwent an anxiety-filled week of receiving back her own stem-cells that had been collected years ago. So we are praying for her body to engraft those stem cells, that they will help recover her marrow, and also that they will drive home safely from Michigan to Texas this week--since they just got discharged!

2013--Abigail and Brooke in Michigan for treatment at the same time

Please also pray for my precious little 3-year-old friend Annika...she and her daddy are on their way from the mid-west to Mexico today for 5 days of treatment. Annika's mom has to stay at home for a few reasons, and I'm absolutely positive this is not an easy separation for either of them. Annika's neuroblastoma is also progressing (darn that cancer) and, well, I'm asking you to pray.

For strength, oh, lots of strength: physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually--I don't know of anything so draining as trying to save your child's life. For clarity and guidance in decisions. For peace on the path they are so faithfully enduring. For healing, if it be His will.

Thank you for praying with us.

FAITH.

Sep 1, 2014--storms and light

I know it's been a couple weeks since I wrote, but I wanted to tell those of you who commented on my last post, "thank you." Your love and concern helped ease, in a small way, some of the loneliness. I loved all the comments, including the ones marked 'private' that only I can see as moderator. Thank you. Thank you for mourning with me.

To Damian, who thoughtfully asked about my family, they are doing great. We did start school, but not as fast as AZ did! We are homeschooling with a twist this year--it's with a co-op group called Classical Conversations that's been around for about 15 years nationwide. We meet in town on Mondays with other families and new concepts are presented by trained tutors, then we school at home the rest of the week. It is really great and I absolutely love having my children at home. I love being able to teach them and watch them grow.

My kids love having a dog, and I think Grace reciprocates the feeling. There is always a lot to do around the house. This morning a few of the kids were helping Aaron clean up some VERY over-grown weeds along the house, and my 14-year-old daughter was stung by a yellow jacket, and Aaron was stung 3 times. Farm life.

That same 14-year-old has started her own bread-making business and has a good group of customers. My 13-year-old son does yard work for a neighbor--hard, sweaty work. And my two younger daughters (I don't think I'll ever be able to refer to them as "my youngest") have become each others' best friend.

Today is the first of September. National Childhood Cancer Awareness month. I am having a hard time with September.

In our house we have what we call the "sun room." It is 12x30' room or so, and on two opposites sides of the room, there are TWO sliding glass doors (four total). Lots of sun, and lots of windows to see outside.
A few months ago I stepped into the sun room from the kitchen. A storm had been brewing and on the entire left side of the sky there were clouds with multiple shades of gray; it was very dark and stormy looking in a powerful way. And on my right side, it was brilliant blue with the sun shining behind some white, fluffy clouds. The contrast between the two was stunning. Perhaps the dark storm appeared more menacing in comparison with the light shining right next to it, but it took my breath away. I said to my daughter, "Wow! That is beautiful. It's like my life!" Then we both chuckled a little bit and went on about the day.

And that is really how I feel about my life. It think it's how we all could feel about the world we live in. There are some really sad things, some really horrible things, some really hard things we have to deal with. There is a lot of wickedness. It is stormy. And yet, there is light and happiness. There are some really great things, some really happy things, some joyful and inspiring things that we are blessed with. There is a lot of righteousness.

The thing that brings me the greatest comfort is to know that behind those storm clouds on the left, there was sunshine. There is always Light. Christ is the light and life of the world, and of my life. He allows storms for our growth. He allows storms, and He provides peace.

I invite you to seek Him out for light amidst your storm, whatever it may be.

FAITH.