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!