The Gathering Place Where Family Matters

Update on Karen

Wednesday April 1st.

No fooling! We truly appreciate the very kind expressions of concern from so many people. We are even hearing from people that we have never met. The Lord is so good. We cannot tell you how special we feel as we consider our position in Christ. Then on top of this we remember how blessed we are to be part of the Lord’s family (Ephesians 3:15).

Tonight Karen seems to be more tired than usual. Her voice is weaker this evening also. Today was a drain day and I guess we were both a little discouraged to discover that the drained fluid level is up again. The last few drains she was at 50ml. Then her on her drain two days ago she was at 75ml. Today she was at 100ml. The nurse will be back on Friday. We will be eager to see what her levels are then.

Please pray that she will stay well and strong. These are probably some of the times that her white blood count would be expected to be low. While we don’t want her to live in glass bubble, we do have to be careful.

The ladies from the First Baptist Church of Marilla, New York sent her a beautiful quilt. Karen wraps up in this when she is having chemo therapy. Along with this quilt they sent a tremendous book “Fifty Days of Hope.” Tonight we read about the importance of learning how to wait on the Lord. I have preached about Psalm 27:14 so many times. Now Karen and I are once again living Psalm 27:14. May the Lord bless you richly! I know many of you are living in times of learning how to wait on the Lord as well.

Update and Important Prayer Request

Tuesday Evening March 31, 2015

Karen and I want to say “thank you” so much for your prayers. Many have written to Karen to let her know that they are praying. Your encouragement continues to be such a blessing. How can we ever begin to tell you how much it means to us that you choose to walk along on this journey?

We do have a prayer request tonight. I was speaking with our clinical nurse about a medication question and she mentioned to me that right now typically Karen would be in era where she is least able to fight off a cold or an infection of some kind. With round two of her chemotherapy coming up a week from Friday, we really want her to stay healthy. While she doesn’t have to be in seclusion, we do have to be wise and careful. Thanks for praying with us about this.

You have been praying for us. If you have something on your heart that you would like us to be praying about, we would be delighted. Please send it to us at PastorMJP@aol.com.

Sunday Evening 3/29 Update

Palm Sunday! How awesome and incredible that day must have been to our amazing Lord Jesus. This morning as I held Karen in my arms and prayed with her she softly said, “Every year it just seems to be that my amazement grows greater in thinking of His love for me. Why would He choose me?” Then several hours later we were seated in the congregation of the First Baptist Church of Lagrange, Ohio and our pastor invited us to turn to John 13 which speaks of the Lord’s indescribable love for His people. We are filled with gratitude to the Lord tonight. Let me share just a couple of the blessings of today

• Karen was able to go to church this morning.
• Our pastor was so glad to see her that he especially welcomed her from the platform and reminded the church family that
• Karen has started her chemo treatments and would need to leave before folks shook her hand. She just can’t come in direct contact with colds and flu bugs right now.
• I stood beside my wife remembering what she said about the Lord’s great love earlier in our kitchen. Then we sang with the rest of the congregation about our Father’s love beyond all measure. I cannot begin to tell you what it means to hear my wife’s voice softly singing to the Lord.
• One of our dear families provided lunch for us today. How very thoughtful and how very delicious.
• Our children keep such close contact with us and are such a blessing in many ways.
• We are determined to celebrate every day that the Lord gives us.
• It probably sounds pretty corny but I can honestly say that I love my wife more than ever and never has she been any more beautiful than she is right now.
• The verse, “What time I am afraid I will trust in Thee (Psalm 56:3) is such a blessing to me.
• This afternoon I wrote a little EBook “When the Protector Can’t Protect His Beloved.” This will be available on my website later this week (Lord willing). There are tons of men who know their role of being the protector and they pride themselves in saying things like, “Nobody better break into my house. With the price of ammunition there will be no warning shots. I am the protector!” Then a very serious intruder comes and his wife is diagnosed with cancer and he couldn’t stop it. How does he cope with it? How does he become the caregiver? Hopefully this little EBook will be practical and encouraging.
• We thank the Lord for our many friends who care so deeply for us. We love you and appreciate so much that you have chosen to walk on this journey with us.

Saturday Evening Update

Saturday evenings have always been special to me. I have never wanted to be out and doing things on Saturday evening because I took my responsibilities so seriously on Sunday. I loved being with my family and helping Karen get our children ready for the Lord’s Day. It brings a smile to me even now when I think back of hearing our young children pray “Dear Lord. Please help daddy not to say something wrong. Please help him when he preaches.” I remember hearing one of our children pray something like “I’m glad dad is the one that is speaking. That’s not what I would ever do.” Tomorrow that one who prayed that prayer will be preaching at the First Baptist Church of Wellington, Ohio.

This Saturday evening is so special to me. Karen has had a good day. No not just good. She had a great day. This is the best I have seen my gal in sometime. We drained her pleurX catheter today. After two days she only drained 50ml once again, which is remarkable. She has been able to eat today and her food tasted good. If all continues the same then tomorrow morning she will be able to go to church. Dear friends will save two seats for us on the aisle and we will slip in after everyone else is seated. This will help us to avoid the hearty handshakes and hugs. Yes Saturday evenings are special and this one is really special.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart” (Proverbs 3:5). It’s easy to quote. It’s precious to live. We’re leaning heavily on the Lord. Thank you so much for praying dear friends. In one of my next updates I am going to write to you about “When the Protector Cannot Protect His Beloved.” It will share a little of my heart and will be good for other caregivers. Be watching for it.

It is great to be able to bring you updates on Karen once again. Not too long ago my dear wife said something to me that went like this, “Honey, I know that you love to write. But folks are going to get sick of hearing about me.” That day nearly 1000 people came to the website to check on her. Honestly dear friends Karen and I really do appreciate your outpouring of love and support. We can sense your prayers in ways that you might find hard to believe.

I have a good report for you. Karen is starting to feel better from her first round of chemotherapy a week ago. She has been so sick. Tonight I am thankful that she is doing better. Rejoice with me that she was able to eat better today. Food even tasted good to her today.

It has been a wonderful twenty-four hours. Last night Karen was well enough to slip into our grandson Hunter’s school program. He was the weatherman and did he ever give a convincing weather report. It was a great concert and program. I am so glad that she could go. At this point, unless something happens, she will be going to at least the morning service on Sunday. We do have to be careful about her being in large crowds because along with the cancer cells that are being destroyed, her good cells are also destroyed and she’s very susceptible to colds and the flu. We love you friends and thank you for praying.