“…and be with Grandma Sue as she goes through her cancer journey. Please heal her.” These are words I hear my daughter pray almost every day. I’m fairly certain that I haven’t said the word “journey” to her regarding Mom’s diagnosis, but she has definitely picked it up along the way. I get a little catch in my throat every single time. This journey began when Fall was at its full glory. We start the next phase now as Spring is making everything new and fresh again. That seems somehow appropriate, and somehow disturbingly ironic. Mom will have a right, radical mastectomy on May 5th. This surgery will renew her body…

Luke 12:25 tells us that worrying doesn’t add any time to our lives. Is it “natural” to worry? Yes. But, God is telling us right there not to worry.  When He gives us directions, He also gives us tools. This is for ALL of us – not just for those we look at as perfect Christians or for those who have hit rock bottom. ALL of us can ask HIM in the very moment of need. In this case, when the natural choice is to worry, ask for HIM to take that worry, ask HIM how to change your habit from worrying into living freely.  “Who of you by worrying can…

Breaks. We all need them, yet we rarely are given one, nor do we take them very often. But over the past few weeks, our family has been given the gift of a break. If you’ll recall, February started out roaring for Mama. Symptoms were figured out and treated, and life rebounded, but she was still very tired from the harsh treatments and feeling down for two months. When I laid out the planned course of treatment in my last update a few weeks ago I didn’t realize that we were about to experience a well-timed intervention, so now our plan has changed. Mom’s oncologist is a fellow member of my church…

“The Lord’s lovingkindnesses never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:23-24 NASB Today redeemed “chemo day 6” for sure. This whole 4th cycle of Adriamycin & Cytoxan actually has as well. I haven’t sat down to think specifically of the outpouring of prayers my mom and our family has received lately, but if you put 2 and 2 together… The Chemo infusion last Wednesday went very well. She did have to return to the clinic on Thursday for some blood products to give her a boost, but other than that, all was very smooth. She went home (as she insisted) late Thursday afternoon. Appetite has been remarkable, no mouth…

“You keep [her] in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because [she] trusts in you.” Isaiah 26:3 ESV I’m going out on a limb here and guessing that if you have this verse highlighted or committed to memory, it’s because there have been some dark/anxious/valley-filled days along your path. A friend sent it to me last year during a difficult time, and I cannot overstate the impact that single verse has had on my life. I can testify the truth to this “perfect peace” He promises. I can also testify that when your mind wanders for even a moment, that peace can leave and the enemy fills the void…

There. I said it. I suppose it’s official now that the Internet knows. I’ll be using this old blog to post updates.  To get everyone current, here’s the timeline: Two weeks before Thanksgiving mom went to local clinic for visit, while there showed an area of concern to practitioner. Mammogram scheduled for following week.  Week of Thanksgiving, mammogram done. Suspicious area noted, ultrasound and biopsy scheduled in Tupelo for first week of December.  Biopsy and ultrasound done, radiologist felt very certain that the two masses (one 4.5 cm and the other 1.5 – give or take a few tenths) were cancerous, but didn’t see anything in the lymph nodes per…