Making Changes

Well, this entry needs to be quick, but I just wanted to let you all know that we finally procured an appointment with the oncologist.  It is scheduled for May 13... which seems far away.  We won't be able to get a body scan to determine if the cancer has spread until we see the oncologist.  So, we still won't know the staging (how aggressive the cancer is) of the Hodgkins.  I realized that by the time he has a scan and it is read, it will have been over a month since his biopsy.  Seems like a long time doing nothing... therefore, we made some decisions this past weekend.

We met with a dear sister in Christ from our church this past Friday.  She has been a cancer survivor for 35 years!  She shared some information and encouragement with us.  It was a joy to talk with her.  After our discussion, Scott and I decided that there were immediate changes we could make in our lives while we wait for his appointment. 

 

We decided to go vegetarian.  No, we're not joining PETA, we just trying to eat more organic foods and limit his intake of meat and toxins.  We're also going to be juicing carrots and greens, in order to flush his system and provide a cleanse.  This tumor in his lymph node has alerted us to the fact that his lymphatic, blood, liver, and intestine probably need a good cleaning as they have been overwhelmed by toxins. 

 

I'm feeling overwhelmed, as it means a lot more work in the kitchen for me... and a lot more creativity.  If you know me, you'll understand that I'm not the most creative person when it comes to food.  When I find a recipe that works, I usually never go about changing it!  

We ran the numbers and decided that we will need to purchase about 70# of carrots per week!  Now, you can all pick yourselves off the floor because you fell off your chair laughing at that visual, I won't look quite that comical leaving the grocery store.  I can buy carrots at Costco in 10# bags... so I'll only need 7 bags per week.  At least I'm not leaving Costco with 7 flats of toilet paper!

That said, we are wanting to take steps to get Scott healthy again while we wait to see the oncologist.  I am reminded in 1 Corinthians 3:16-17:

"Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?  If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple"

It just reminds me that we should have high standards for how we treat our bodies... not only nutritionally but emotionally, psychologically, physically, spiritually, mentally... all those and more.  I think that the Lord wants so much more for us than we want for ourselves, and if we would look at how we treat ourselves, we might find cause for the Lord to discipline us.  I'm not just writing about how we eat, but what we think, say, do, watch, wish for, etc.  I'm being challenged right now to treat this temple of God, and my husband's temple of God, the best that I possibly can.  I know I can't do this by my own measure of strength... it takes reliance on the Lord. 

We watched "Facing the Giants" yesterday... the two little boys love it, and they play "Facing the Giants" after the movie.  For those of you not familiar, it is a movie put out by a church in Georgia about a high school football team.  Revival was sparked in the heart of the coach and ultimately to the team and the community... which is how revival starts anyway.  The theme in the movie is that, "Nothing is impossible with God".

  

As I look at the amount of work, juggling, planning, and preparing food, as well as all the regular duties with the kids, school, etc. that I have, I realize that I face a huge task.  I am remembering that Matthew 19:26 says, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible".  On my own this would be insurmountable, but with God I'm pretty sure that he will enable me to overcome and to "walk on the heights".

Please pray that:

1. God would provide miraculous healing and that all who see it would believe and be in awe.

2. That we would fall passionately in love with Christ.

3. That I would not become overwhelmed with food prep and that the Lord would give me strength.

4. That our kids will understand why we are doing this, and will be gracious and cooperative.

Well, I guess this wasn't as short as I thought it would be!  Thanks for all your prayers.  We feel truly blessed!

Our Journey with Cancer

"Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope.  Because of the LORD's great love, we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  I say to myself, 'The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.' " (Lamentations 3:21-24) 

Well, I'm starting this blog to record this path the Lord is allowing us to walk.  I want you, our family and friends, to be able to use this to journey along with us.  If you are reading this, you are probably already aware that Scott has been diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma.  The last week has been an emotional one for us and our children.  We have asked many questions of the Lord, but we always come back to the fact that the Lord loves us and he sees everything, while we only see a minute portion.  While I wish we didn't have to travel this road, I am looking forward to seeing how the Lord uses this in our life and in the lives of others.  This isn't what I would have chosen for us or for our children.  However, Scott reminded me that the Lord might be using this in a powerful way to develop our children into something even greater than we ever anticipated... and in us individually as well.  Obviously the Lord feels we need to go through this trial and testing of our faith.  1 Peter 1 and James remind me of why we go through trials.

I don't have anything new to report as of yet.  Currently, I have been spending the day trying to get Scott in to an oncologist and trying to update everyone on the biopsy report.  I gave a full report to his liver doctor and I received a referral to the oncologist from them.  I still have to obtain copies of the CT scan, biopsy, and pathology report.  I told a friend that if I had a nickel for every time I heard "press 1 for more options" these past two days...  Hopefully we can get an appointment soon.  Scott will need to get a scan of his whole body to determine if the cancer has spread any farther than that one lymph node.  

I was able to spend some time last night and then this morning with various dear friends.  It has been good for me to be able to talk and receive encouragement from them.  I have to admit that this road looks long and I find myself feeling weary before we even begin.  Please pray that I will not grow weary, that I will be able to keep life "normal" for my children, and that I would serve Scott with a joyful heart.

If you would like to pray for us, here are a few other things to get you started :) :

1. We are praying with faith that the Lord would completely and miraculously heal Scott, and that all who see it and hear of it would be in awe of our God.

2. Pray that we would make the priorities the priorities.

3. That our children would openly discuss everything with us, and that the Lord would lead them gently through this while their character is built and refined.

4. That we would fall deeply in love with our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

I was reminded recently of a trial in my own life, that after I went through and came out on the other side of the fire, the Lord bestowed blessing on my life and gave me a baby girl (Aspen).  I held my blessing in my arms almost a year after that trial.  What a picture for me to hold in my mind as I look ahead to this trial.  Thanks for praying.. we love you all!