“We Are So Blessed!”

Karen’s Update for August 6th, 2015

What a wonderful, wonderful week it has been for Karen and me. We have so enjoyed having family being with us along with very dear friends who drove nearly twenty hours one way to come and see us. All during this time we have received some precious cards reminding us that we are not alone on the journey. Our son-in-law bought cookies and left a very encouraging note with Scripture reminding us of God’s incredible power. Then the lab results came back.

I’ll tell you about the lab results in a moment. We are in touch with dozens of people who are in every stage of cancer and every situation of life. You and I share something in common with every single one of these dear people. What do we share in common? It is the very real truth that we are on a journey that is filled with a mixture of joy and sorrow, happiness and hurts, as well as mountain tops and valleys. Here are a couple of things I am thinking about right now in my stage of life.

1. I need to remember that God’s Word never returns to Him void. Hence I can absolutely trust it and I must obey it (Isaiah 55:11).

2. I need to picture the Shepherd’s hands. He holds His people in His hands and nothing can pluck us out of His hands (John 10:28).

3. I need to learn to consistently praise Him. My situation will constantly change. Our great and awesome God never will change. Therefore I must focus on Him and praise Him (Psalm 108:1).

4. I need to determine to build my life on the Lord Jesus Christ. He truly is the only safe and secure foundation (Matthew 7:24-29).

Oh yes, the labs. What a day. Karen and I walked with the spread sheet from the Cancer Center’s lab to the office of the clinical research nurse. She looked at the spread sheet and then looked at Karen as she said, “Your numbers are absolutely excellent. You are incredible!” We walked to the car about an hour later, held hands and had a little praise service. Tomorrow at 10:00 she will meet with one of the oncologists and then a short time later she will receive the absolute maximum chemo maintenance she can receive for her weight.

Now we pray that this chemo will fight, fight, fight the mass. We thank you so very much for your partnership as we walk along this section of the journey of a lifetime. It is great having you along with us on the journey. Much love from us both.

PS. Karen wants me to tell you that in spite of the chemotherapy and its effects, she soundly beat me in Scrabble by using all of her letters on a double word score. Like the nurse said, “She is incredible!”