Ruth added a nice entry on her blog for promotion of the family farm... http://familyfarmexperience.blogspot.com/ I borrowed this wonderful family shot to start my brief sharing today. It has been busy around here getting taking care of loose ends after being gone for 3 weeks. Pat is building a new shop this summer so there is a lot of figuring out for that. John is gone leading a boys retreat/camp put on by the diocese. I was picking up in the front room and came across the journal we kept while John went through his brain cancer journey 5 years ago. I wondered if there was anything that happened on this day, and if so what it would have been... I know that any of my kids that are reading this, and I don't have much to worry about there... are groaning right now. I am told that I need to get past this and go forward with my life. I am sorry, but this is too big and important to forget and go forward. I know that John has this same reaction to being told that he needs to work through what happened so that he can "be happy" and no longer be stuck as a guy who survived brain cancer.
Borrowing another one from Ruth - she has invested in one of those nice cameras, and just informed me that she will start entering pictures in open class. Stick a fork in me - I am done!
The three toddlers in this are crying, ducking out the picture crying or looking upset and about to cry... the younger and older are manageable.
On this day 5 years ago we had met with the doctors in U of M about blood brain barrier chemo, which terrified us. We called some world renowned doctors to ask them if they thought this was the route to take. Both Mayo and Drake told us they would not do that, and we made an appointment to go to Mayo the next day and meet Dr Brian O'Neil for the first time! John says that this was a huge point in his journey of changing paths as we beseeched the Holy Spirit to guide us down the right path. Pat's request of the Lord was to have one or more persons, who was able to survive this - we found Lora Kesselhon - http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/lorakesselhon She is about 10 years older than John and a year ahead of him in cancer free! She gave us hope and continues to do that for us! She was pregnant with her daughter, Ruth, while fighting the battle for her life against PCNSL!
I borrowed this picture from her CB site... As she wrote in her last entry..."Ruth will always be a living testimony, look at her shine!" I was also interested to read that she is going to write a book this year, too! The title - As Water Gone By - Job 11:16: "You will surely forget your trouble, recalling it only As Waters Gone By." Wow! That is truly the case here... I here John saying over and over that he did not have pain and really did not suffer from what he recalls of his journey called Cancer/healing. I know that Lora is a strong Christian, and much like John she speaks and has touched many with her journey and healing and the healthy little girl, who was in her womb during the first terrifying part of her battle! Now look at her and she truly is a living testament! How can Lora ever just let the water go by when she watches her grow and share her light with the world?
How I would love to have the two of them get together and compare notes and give each other support. That is one thing that John has lacked - a support group!
Another great one from Ruth's blog today! This fills me with fond memories - most especially of how cool it was there! We are getting into the hot and humids here!
Dearest Lord, should I just leave behind all we were blessed with 5 years ago?... the way you came to our aid and answered our prayers to show us the path and someone, who had conquered this horror - PCNSL cancer! It is wondrous to have the reminder of those great men in the field of lymphoma and cancer, who were your voice in showing us to take a different path! How do you ever get past the knowledge that you have been touched by the finger of God and your prayers have been answered? Do you not shout from the rooftops over and over without end that the Lord is not dead - He is surely alive and well and still working and walking with us on our journeys of LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT! Not only that but He is taking us up in his loving and forgiving arms and carrying us when we are weak and afraid in the midst of the storm. "When we are weak is when we need Jesus and turn to Him." Little Sister Hallel reminded me shortly after my hip replacement. I want to be weak always, Lord, because I want you and need you and want to die to self so that you may live in me! Jesus, there is something greater than Jonah and Solomon here! You are LOVE, You are LIFE, You are LIGHT! Jesus, we trust in YOU. Amen and Hallelujah
Bless-bless, Barbara Luke
"Well, my prayer warrior friends from all over the world, over the last 5 years, I have met some of you in grocery stores, Target, the Lake walk, and everywhere in between. You have prayed for my family and blessed us and God more than we will know until Heaven. I hope that the comfort I have received has comforted you and caused you to trust in the One who is most Trustworthy. "
Lora Kesselhon on her caringbridge site, and also these words could have come from John and his family very easily!
Longing for this refreshment today!
God's not dead - Newsboys
Casting Crowns - Praise Him in the storm
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