"May the God of HOPE fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, SO THAT you may overflow with HOPE by the power of the Holy Spirit" . Romans 15:13
“Count it all joy, my brothers (and sisters), when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” James 1:2-3
Wow Lord, Wow!!! What a day and crazy couple weeks. Just a quick update here at the beginning of this. Today I had my doctor appointment which started at 7:00am. Now, I was thankful to be able to done and leaving by 11:30am, but I’ve never had a dr appt that early before! Scott drove me and I got my blood draw and then waited on my MRI. Here’s what I realized: don’t drink coffee before you have to get your MRI. I didn’t have to use the bathroom in the middle of it, but I was ready to get up and move around not lay still!
Anyway, being in those machines is unexplainable if you’ve never been in there. You have to decide early that you are doing it and that you can do it….I remind the Lord to hold my hand and help me relax and think of things to think about. When they have your head locked in and you are about 4-5 inches from the top of the cylinder as you lay down, you gotta not be claustrophobic. I’m usually ok, but with a body ready to move today, I admit it was more a struggle today. But, the Lord is so good. We prayed for people, sang songs in my head, ran through Bible verses and thought about things. It’s hard to stay too focused because of the loud booms and noises that go on. After a while they come on over the loud speaker to tell me they are going to send the chemicals into my veins to be able to see what’s happening. You feel a cold drain run up your arm and into your shoulder and then it runs into the rest of your body. They continue to take loud images and then stop everything and pull you out. They told me I was in there for 40 minutes. Longest time….long time.
I am thankful that I didn’t have to push the emergency button to get out and that the Lord gave me what I needed to handle where I was at. When we finished we went up to meet with the nurse and doctor. I was told that my platelet counts were good but my white blood cell count was low but not low enough for them to change plans. As we looked at the two tumor areas…one of the areas was smaller than before (unexpected) and neither area showed activity, which is good. Dr. Ong was pleased with where we are and also told me she and her husband pray for her patients overnight by name. Isn’t that a blessing?! I also got to see one of my soccer player’s grandmas (Mammi), because she works at UAMS. Kate Duncan she was a sweet blessing today to me!
We also had a special special visit from Betty Phillips, from south Arkansas. She came to see me in the waiting room and bring dinner for tonight! All while taking her husband in for a doctor appt. We know her son and family. Listen, when people live in a belief that God doesn’t exist or there’s no way to believe it. I’ve believed, I’ve had faith, I’ve known…. but God has been so good to remind me that He is here and He is lifting me up and holding me. He has filled me with His Hope – which is real and lasts and pulls you through difficulties. I don’t know what He is doing in and through this, but I’ve seen Him do too much that He brings me to tears almost everyday. The calls, text messages, conversations, cards, letters….God touches people and to see Him do it, well it’s AMAZING.
Chemo pills will resume tomorrow night and go for 5 nights. Please pray that I don’t have issues, since it’s Christmas and we are traveling. I also have been told I need to gain about 5 -1o pounds. I feel like I eat all the time already! May have to eat popcorn again every night!
It’s been a good couple of weeks. The kids have enjoyed a lot of the ugly sweater themed things. Sort of funny… Girls have had parties with friends and we will do a party with the high school team tomorrow.
Girls have enjoyed club soccer and with a bit of a break and the start of high school…it’s new things going on. I am very blessed to have such great ladies to train and to be an influence over. Tuesday I got to stop a fight in the Parking lot, while loving on a girl that hit a car. Didn’t know any of the teens, but God is so good to just be given a chance to love on kids. Was very happy too. Also got to see one of my BSF gals – Mary Kate Arrington, who was brining me some veggies and a sweet HOPE ornament and beautiful cross – she got to relive high school life!
Nathan had his Christmas program and he enjoyed himself. He’s going to start piano after Christmas. He’s really enjoying singing and writing. He’s been writing a “novel” about the kids in his class and the made up stuff they do. I think he’s on chapter 8 or 9. Ha! He loves his teacher and looks forward to seeing what he gets to do each day.
Garrett had his last Christmas Band Concert last night. So amazing to see and hear how much better these kids have become over the years. Loved their sweaters and songs. Garrett found out he had gotten a 33 on his last ACT so he is pretty set for college. He was very happy and I know he trusted the Lord to lead him through it.
We are getting ready to leave for Minnesota for part of the Christmas break. We are ready to be cold…maybe not…. but see snow!!!!! We will get to see the 14 cousins who are all under 7! Our kids will be busy…and aunt and uncle will be too!
CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR:
Good sleep
Time to work on some exercises I need to be doing for my hip
To gain some weight
For the Lord to continue to clear up my tumor and make them gone!
Thank you for the prayers and blessings!
He reminds me “Fear Not, Nicole, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, Nicole, you are mine.” Isaiah 43:1
“Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian HOPE, always be ready to explain it.”
1 Peter 3:15
I’ve not written in a bit. I could name a few reasons that seem “ok” reasons, but, honestly I’ve been busy with so much stuff. Which is good but, also CRAZY! I am thankful for the many ways the Lord has reminded me of His Hope and sent me others to LIVE His Hope and encourage me with it!
We are slowing down our club soccer stuff and transitioning slowly into high school soccer. It’s so amazing to believe that after Christmas we go full out with high school expecting season to begin the end of February. We will have games to play in the winter weekends for league and college showcases. It’s amazing to think we are at the time where girls are deciding whether they really want to commit to soccer in college or whether playing now is all they really care about. It’s a huge deal and takes time for players and parents…. and I guess coaches! My high school girls joined me for a Thanksgiving party and we were able to do some shopping for kids in need and do a scavenger hunt at Walmart. Thanks Walmart! They were nice and gave us some coupons to help us out.
One of the exciting things that happened around here lately, was that our football team won state! This was huge. First time ever and obviously Garrett and the girls have friends that play so that makes the games even more thrilling. Fun for me to look out there and know that I coached some of the boys in soccer and then they chose football. It’s been great getting to know these guys again and also to get to know new players that I didn’t know last year. The guys had some good leaders and I enjoyed player game day chats and doing what I can to pour into their lives with their classmates.
One of the many blessings I thank God for is that students tell me prayer requests they have and really get deep when they have things they need to talk about. They want to hear what I have to say and I am a counselor that has been given a classroom….at least that’s how it feels most days! But I am thankful that the Lord has given me an opportunity to minister to so many students. There are so many that are hurting and dealing with so much that it’s heartbreaking. This picture below is from our pep rally before one of the last football games. Garrett is in the back somewhere with the band.
Scott has been busy last weekend and will be this weekend doing the TV broadcast of the football finals. He’s enjoyed it and was a treat to have our own school in the finals. It’s been a while since he has done TV football play by play but, he was born to do it easily so it sounded great.
One of the things we have enjoyed the past couple weeks is our fire pit. I loved being able to sit outside with Scott and the kids that were around and just enjoy the outside. The weather is definitely cooling down around here and making it feel like winter is close. Living without much hair has made the cold, feel colder! I’m always in a hat keeping this head warm.
We are still being blessed by people who come by here to drop off a meal or text me to just remind me that I am being prayed for. I am so thankful for that. People have asked how I am doing and I feel good…different but good. I do what I can to take some oils, take naps in my car and eat healthy. I can tell there’s something going on in my body, but it changes so hard to pinpoint exact things. And before all of this, my body was pretty strong and didn’t change too much! It could be age now too…right?????!!!!!!! I will be heading to the doctors office in a week to check my blood counts…which have been good so far. The following week I get another MRI and have a dr appt.
When we go to Minnesota, we will see my 14 nieces and nephews. Hard to believe there are so many! We will see my newest ones – the baby twin girls. All my nieces and nephews are under the age of 7. So amazing!
Prayer Requests:
Good blood counts the next couple of weeks
Great looks on the MRI that continues to show tumors dead and I’m praying they are gone
Prayers for feeling good during Christmas break as we had to Minnesota to see all of my family. I’ll be taking chemo pills and I am just really praying for good rest while we are gone.
Prayers to know when I should go see someone and ask questions and not just ignore things
BLESSINGS and Take time to really praise and glorify the Lord as we get ready to celebrate His birth and coming to save us! As I mentioned before with my students, we are given opportunities to share the message of Christ…but there’s no easier and better time then at Christmas. God promised to send His son to bring salvation and to save His people from eternal separation from Him. He simply asks us to TRUST Him and put our Faith in Him and all that He has said. May Christmas be about Christ for us!
“Remember your promise to me; it is why only HOPE. Your promise revives me; it comforts me in all my troubles. The proud hold me in utter contempt, but I do not turn away from your instructions. I meditate on your age-old regulations; O Lord, they comfort me.” Psalm 119:49-52
Wayzata High School…..where I graduated from. So great to see and hear from my high school coach, Tony Pesznecker. They play the state tourney in the Vikings home facility. Was always so much fun. They got second in state this year. My freshmen year in high school was his first year to coach a high school program and the school had won hardly any games the years before. He took our team to getting second in state his first year. He has always helped girls improve and made soccer a passion for me. I would love to be half the coach he was for me. It would be interesting to know how many of his players ended up playing in college. I am now starting to have players who want to play in college and I need to help them succeed in their goals, as much as I can. But, more so to love others and be respectable players who work hard. Coach Tony was one of my rays of sunshine growing up and helped me believe that I could play, improve and go to college to play soccer. I will forever be grateful for his sunshine he shared with me every time we were together
In the last week a lot has happened…I enjoy going back to look at the Homecoming pics and feeling good. I am very thankful for how I’m feeling right now.
We are still being blessed by wonderful people who bring us food or make sure this crazy brain lady has food for all of us – through the blessing of others. It is such a blessing that we don’t deserve, but so many of you are using the opportunity to be Christ to our family and we see Him in you. Thank you. Try this bbq if you haven’t yet…it’s good stuff!
I am very thankful for the memories that are just being poured on as we see people and I watch those around me, like my kids, doing different things. Time is flying by. We were very blessed to be able to have a very busy, cold and wet weekend last week! It was fun to go to the Pep Rally for football, watch Garrett play and see one of my teacher friends wearing my shirt at the rally. EVERYTIME….EVERYTIME I see someone wearing my shirt or bracelets, I smile and I know it’s a way for the Lord to remind me and tell me, “I’m here. I’m doing something. Be still and smile. I am with you.” He has reminded me so many times. I pray the message of the shirt that HE is HOPE and when we have Him, we are a WARRIOR no matter what we face or what’s going on.
But, we got to celebrate before all of that even started. It was Garrett’s 18th birthday and Scott and Nathan stayed home to celebrate with him and his friends. The girls missed it because of a soccer tourney. Abbey and Ashton left early with another soccer family but still sent us a picture while they ate David’s Burgers on there way to St. Louis. We were going there for a soccer College Identification camp.
I didn’t leave with the girls because I wanted to stay and celebrate Senior Night with Garrett at the football game. Cannot believe it. I love that he will still hug me in public and doesn’t care what people say or do. He is so hungry to follow the Lord and to lead others and follow older people who are willing to invest in him. Can he really be a senior????
Dad and Garrett
Parents with Senior
I was also blessed that night after I said Goodbye to Garrett so we could leave for St. Louis, to see Brandy Hansberry. She and I worked together for years when I was in student ministry and she was at the same church doing Children’s Ministry. We haven’t seen each other for years and I was hoping to see her because her son plays football for the team we were paying, but as I walked out the gate I was sad that we wouldn’t see each other… until… there she was! What a blessing.
My mother-in-law, Ann drove us halfway and then on to St. Louis. The Lord blessed us with good traffic and getting to the games plenty early. We had some crazy weather for a couple days. It was a blessing to see the girls play. Before the first game even started… I heard a voice that happened to be my cousin Tim yelling for “Nicole Peterson….” Ha! What a sweet little gift to see my two cousin’s families at my game. It was cool, but best game weather wise. Abbey is heading and Ashton is going to shoot and score in that picture.
Was Excited to see a bunch of my shirts again. Don’t always get to see my extended family. So it was a huge blessing to have them come up for the game and lunch. They live in Peoria, IL so not too terrible from St. Louis, but still a drive for them. Very thankful for the hugs and encouragement.
On our way home we got to see Scott’s side of the family about halfway home. Thankful that Bonnie, Ron, Karen and Frank were able to come and visit us at…wait for it….McDonalds! When you hit small towns and want to be near the interstate…your choices are limited. So good to see them there. And….the shirts!
I have been blessed with so many things. So many special people who continue to care for me and encourage me as I battle. I’ve got friends and family who do research on what I should eat and what will help me. And listen…. I’ll try anything. It’s been fun. Carrots are supposed to be healthier for cancer so I have been blessed by Nikki Funk who picks up drinks for me while gone or Trish Humphry who makes me drinks so have to give me energy. Couldn’t do all I’m doing without the extra vitamins.
“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord HIMSELF, is the Rock (sunlight) eternal.” Isaiah 26:3-4
As we drove this weekend, we went from battling rain, foggy skies and then the rays of sun getting a chance to burst through the clouds. When I think about these pictures and all that we saw and went through, weather wise…. it reminded me of our lives…. and the joyous life we get to live when we choose to live with Christ in the center.
There are so many times we would love to just sit in the sun and everything is perfect, just the way we want it. Temp isn’t too high, no chance for rain and the sun just baking on us as a gift. But, we don’t live that way.
I can remember before my diagnosis, I would’ve been considered a healthy person, with nothing at all to go to doctor for. I’d go to the doctor for check-ups or for the flu and it was the only thing going on with me. I was healthy. The sun was out and I was living life volunteering and “doing” for others…. and I loved it. And then one day the rain and storms came in…. the deal is I can either choose to live in the storms or I can choose to pass through the storms while focused on the sun (Son) and living with Him.
Picture from our drive
There are days I admit I’m in the fog. While in the fog I talk to the Lord and really pour my heart to him. As I do that, He begins to lift the fog so I can see the road he has for me a head. I can’t see the end. I don’t know how or where He will take me. But, I can choose. I can choose to allow Him to lead me and to care for me or I can focus on the storms and get to where I feel lost in the fog. God is too good for that. He has been good to bring me students to share Jesus with, His love and His Truth and they ask me and want to know. Listen these kids know I’m not living in the perfect sunshine… according to the world… but, they don’t see me living in the fog and stuck living in the storms, no matter what I have going on. They see me trusting and living and most want to know HOW. It’s the Lord. Everyday the Lord gives me a ray of sunshine to smile about and be amazed by. Don’t let complete sunshine keep you from chasing after the Lord and don’t let heavy storms keep you from chasing after the Lord. Life without the Lord isn’t the same as life with Him. He makes a difference…. He is life.
“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”
2 Corinthians 4:8-9
Continue to pray that tumors are destroyed and not active in their desire to grow and move in my brain.
Pray that I will have continued and extended strength as I continue on my chemo until June.
Pray for me to have more opportunities to share Jesus with others
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south…..Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.” Psalm 107:1-3, 8&9
These two guys are fun to be around. Steve Sullivan came to Bryant High School to do a story on the big football game Friday night, as Bryant is taking on North Little Rock. It’s been a while since I’ve seen Sully and it’s always so great. He has a great personality and loves to smile and laugh. Course Scott and him worked together so we got to know each other well and he even let me hug him, LOL. Coach James has been a blessing to get to know and to share our dreams for BHS and what we would love to see happen and how we could make it happen. I am so thankful for the sweet surprises the Lord offers me to remind me that the Lord brings what we need when we need it. There’s no need to panic or be worried about what to come. We are called to TRUST and give THANKS – and tell our stories to those around us. Then they will have a chance to give THANKS too for all the Lord has done in their lives! What a great day!
Even though we get great days, the week is always crazy? Right? Those of you with teens know how crazy life gets! Obviously the craziness usually revolves around the kids and what they have going on. Scott is still busy with Razorback games so we don’t get to see him or hangout with him as much as we would like on the weekends. But, we have been blessed to have Scott’s mom and dad here helping us out and making sure we get everyone where they need to be.
Last week I showed you guys the pictures of HomeComing Week. It was craziness. Garrett was tired being involved in a lot of it and the girls were busy enjoying it. But, hanging out with friends during it is always fun. The girls loved having their friends over to our house and getting pedicures in the morning. Course Garrett waits until right before it’s time to leave before he’s dressed and ready!
As Scott had to go to the Razorback game, the rest of us drove around town to take pictures and to eat dinner. The girls have a great group of friends and some of them had dates and some of them didn’t. But, they are all good friends.
Nathan sort of had fun. He loved talking to the other moms around and was really happy that we were catching a quick bite with a few of the moms while we waited to pick the girls up after they ate. Garrett was hanging out with his friends and he got home really late. But, his friends are all solid and have a great time when they hangout together.
Nathan had the opportunity on Friday to carry the “game” ball out for the high school game. It was pouring – pouring outside. Everyone was super wet. Nathan ended up really enjoying it after he was not excited about it for a couple weeks. He did really great and I was proud that he was asking questions so he would do it right. Don’t know if it could’ve been wrong!
We’ve started selling these signs to help raise some money for the high school team. The girls are enjoying the fact that they have a bit more free time when they only have soccer to focus on. It’s amazing though, I have no idea how we did it last year!
I always love seeing the girls wearing their Hope Warrior shirts. Sometimes it’s practice, sometimes to school or just around. It makes me smile and helps me focus more.
The girls are super excited to get their letterman jackets! I’m thankful because I guess the girl’s team hasn’t gotten them lately. That makes me a bit sad. Hoping they fit great and they have pride wearing them. I also got more bracelets! So excited. I’m praying people will be excited to wear them and remember that they are representing the Lord and me as we wear them. It’s a great way to remember that people are praying for me and focused on helping me feel great!
I wrote at the top of this Blessings and Prayers. I am thankful…. so thankful for all of the Blessings that I have been given from the Lord and from others around me. People who send me text messages, cards and more. I know how busy you are and every little thing has blessed me a lot. There are so many days where I have to remind myself that I’m “sickish” and that the Lord has picked my life to say something-I do not need to live wondering or down about it. Yes, I would rather just not have dr appts and remembering medication – when I sometimes forget and everything. Life was so easy just coaching and running myself and being with people I love. But, the Lord isn’t surprised by what I’m going through and He also has control of it. I just need to trust him and remember, that He is loving and He chose this suffering for me right now. No suffering I will ever endure will ever be close to what Jesus went through to go on the cross for me. And I am so thankful that He did that for me so I can be with Him one day.
As I begin to get ready for school each day and I spend time in the Word and in prayer, I’m always a bit sad. Sad, because the amount of time I would like to spend, and the focus is less than what it was this summer. Obviously! I had more time and minutes to do what I wanted and where the Lord led me. Right now I’m really praying that I will spend time asking the Lord to help me see more time to spend together so that I will not lose my focus or drive on the Lord. He desires for me to spend time with Him and growing to TRUST and LOVE him more and more. I cannot let my circumstances dictate how I feel or how I live. But, I know I need the Lord to guide me and show me, so that I will never depend on myself going forward.
Please continue to pray these things for me. I truly want to be a follower of Christ that does and lives how he has said. I do not want anything around me to hinder the message of the gospel. There are people who need Jesus and I want them to see Him through me. If what I do is honoring to the Lord, then let it encourage others – let the Lord be known!
Pray that my MRI I am having tomorrow (Thursday) shows the cancer clearing up and almost gone and that the chemo pill I’m taking will be ok on my stomach and my energy. I am finally feeling more energetic and of course there’s a million things I want to be doing and not having the energy is hard for me.
Pray for continual opportunities to share Jesus with others. He has been so good to allow me to testify and love others. He has been so good to me.
What a great memory! The girls and Garrett with my youngest brother Andrew. Life used to be so simple. We talked about nap time, snacks and diapers. Now life is getting ready for college and complex life! Ha!
It’s hard to believe that Garrett is a senior already. It’s been a crazy month of – turn this in, do this, pay for this ect. It makes it harder because I don’t trust my memory – it’s not 100% so I’m always praying, asking Scott, my mother-in-law and my notes will get us to where we need to be. He’s been busy working at Chick-fil-a and keeping up with what goes on at school. He loves being at church and everyone who is in the ministry with him. Hard to believe he will be heading to college next year! Still waiting to finalize that. We are celebrating Homecoming this week and in the second picture….Garrett is set up as Mr. Rogers…was supposed to be someone you enjoyed as a kid.
Abbey and Ashton are busy as 10th graders. They love life! They have been busy with their high school and club team. Course I am coaching both of them, but I love them and the girls on their team. We are planning to head to St.Louis in a few weeks for a tourney. There has been so much rain it’s been crazy to practice and play. It’s been really hard!
The girls are always super busy with friends and creating memories. It’s a new day everyday. We are thankful they have good friends and spend time with them. They are doing good in classes and just love spending time worshiping the Lord – especially in the car…even when they are driving.
Abbey dressed up as Michelle – One of the Full House girls. Supposed to be someone you enjoyed as a kid.
Ashton and Addison dressed as Fun Childhood memory Bob and Larry. Ashton had fun, I think making these!
Sometimes we get together just to take pictures. Then a week or so later it’s 49 degrees!
Abbey was asked to Homecoming at our house after Church Wednesday by Ethan (her guy).
Nathan is in 3rd grade and just growing so much.
He had no desire to try any other sports but, he’s loving tennis so we are glad about that. He goes twice a week and enjoys the kids and the sport. So that’s great. News to us, he competed in the spelling bee and ended up finishing 1st in 3rd grade. He’s not someone who usually likes to be in front of people even though he’s a great little explainer and actor. He loves to sing too! He was embarrassed to say he won. So now he competes again in a month. He was asked to carry the game ball out for Homecoming this Friday. He will walk out with last year’s queen, a girl with special needs. Course, he wasn’t super excited about it either! We also celebrated his 9th birthday party and my parents were here for the weekend so they got to go to the party too. He took the day off and enjoyed time with Scott and his mom Ann.
This fall has been crazy for me. I’ve probably been more tired than I normally am which stinks. But, I finally feel like maybe I’m not as tired as I was. I was very regular at the beginning about sleeping and taking naps. Once school started I had to change when and how I did things. I tried to stay a head and not allow myself to be super tired. What I have figured out is that after chemo and radiation I felt good and then I got really tired. I got myself to take a nap everyday during my lunch to help my body out. It helped some. What has been great the last couple days, I haven’t taken a nap. Yesterday I felt great. Just really praying for the Lord to provide the energy and focus I need. School has occupied some of my thinking and I really needed to go back to the Lord and ask him to help me to stay focused on Him.
It’s harder during the school year to spend as much time with the Lord as I did during the summer. I miss that time. But, I also get to love on and challenge these teens. Just really pray for me to share with the kids and be more and to be focused on what the Lord has for me. That’s my desire.
I was blessed by a student who wrote me a sweet card and got me this coffee mug and lotion. I coached her in soccer when she was little and she has been in my film class. It made me smile. Really made me happy.
I’m about used to my hair ha! The wig has been hard to get used to and my hair is starting to grow back a bit. When I take my wig off it’s funny to see how my hair is underneath. I usually wear it Sunday-Friday and then I take it off and wash it. I’m more used to seeing myself with the wig than without it. My head gets colder too without it! HA!
One of our favorite pizza places is Larry’s pizza. We have enjoyed pizza there for years! We’ve done bday parties and team parties forever there. Mr. Larry has been such a blessing to us and makes sure we get pizza from him. Him and his family have been in our lives for soccer and other things and I have been blessed by him and everyone else in his family. I am so thankful for how they choose to help us and bring us joy. Thanks Guys! Please tell them thank you for us!
The Lord has been so good to me. I’m going to admit, it’s been hard not having the time I love having with Him. Yet, when we choose to spend time with him and choose to praise Him, he will come and love us and teach us. My memory and my focus has been crazy and I can tell my brain isn’t focused like it used to be. When I read the Word, sometimes I don’t remember what I read and sometimes I can’t understand what I’m reading. That’s been hard for me because I look to the Lord and really want Him to teach me and show me his Truths. I’ve found myself more like a child lately. I need to focus on simple Truths and what matters, not necessarily what will grow me or what I can teach. It’s different, but simple is what Truth is. Jesus came to show us love, by choosing to die for me. I deserve death, yet, if I choose to believe and accept what He has done for me, then all the things I’ve done that make me deserve death are taken away from me and Jesus takes my sin and takes them on the cross.
I was in class this morning and one of the kids in my class said a cuss word. I called him up to my desk and asked him about it. I have a different attitude and way that I deal with these things. I told him he needed to do 50 pushups. He didn’t want to. He hurt his knee and he couldn’t do it. I kept telling him he had to pay for what he did. He was trying to blame another kid, so I had that kid come up. This kid was like, I didn’t do anything. It wasn’t me, not my fault.(It was the first kid not his friend.) So I looked at this other kid who wasn’t even involved with the group and I asked him if he would do the 50 pushups for this kid. (now he is a football player) I said we need someone to pay for this. The kid looked at me and the kid and said he would do the the pushups. I asked the kid who said the word if he would let the kid do them. He was very happy to not do them. So after a little bit more conversation, the kid who wasn’t apart of any of it did the 50 pushups to pay for the mistake that was done and pay for it.
As I was talking to these kids. The story of what Jesus did stood out to me. Jesus chose to save me and die for me. I am guilty and I don’t deserve his love or forgiveness. Yet, he gave it to me and took the pain for me. I’m going through hard things. I am. Yet, Jesus chose to DIE for me. To be beaten so that I could be with him forever. He has changed my life today and for eternity. I was thankful for this simple yet foundational reminder this week. I get so caught going forward so much and wanting to know more, I forget to spend time just being thankful and focused on what the Lord chose to do for me and for those who choose to believe what Jesus has done for those who love and believe Him! It’s important for me to celebrate and focus on the HOPE of Christ and be filled with his joy and peace. Pray that this is where I CHOOSE to spend my time and to share this others!
“May the God of HOPE fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with HOPE by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
ROMANS 15:13
Thank you for the love and prayers! Want to thank the families who are still bringing us food and come to talk to us. Nikki Funk has been such a blessing making sure we are where we are supposed to be. Was blessed the other day to get to talk with Darla Self and just laugh a bit together. All these moments bless my heart and make me smile. Thank you!!!!!
I haven’t fully written in a while. The last time I wrote, I wrote a few paragraphs and then got distracted and quit writing. Then I’m sure I moved on with life and that was it. So Lord, don’t let me do that again!
Enjoy this story done by my friend Billy and feel free to share! Please continue to lift us up to prayer – we love you all! If you click on the link above you will see the short video. Hope you enjoy it! #hopewarrior
Jad’n came and visited me a bunch this summer. Even after I got my hair and was a bit swollen! She is going to play college soccer. Very proud of her.
“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”’
2 Corinthians 12:8
How long has it been since I told you all about my life? I feel like forever. It’s been different, and harder than summer was for me. I was thankful for the rest and thankful for feeling so great all summer. Then the beginning of August hit and I started school things and life changed a bit. It got busier and my body got tired.
I have been so blessed to have so many people around me who have prayed for me, written to me and checked on me. I feel so blessed and I needed it. My life has been a bit different the last few weeks. I started school and started ok. But, then I got sick for a couple days, I think with the lower immune system I was getting sick really easily. Which really isn’t me. Last year I didn’t miss one day of school and this year I was already missing school. It’s hard when you are dealing with sickness and your body make you feel weird. But, I was thankful I came out of it with a couple of day before we had to leave for Duke.
Going to Duke was new for Scott and I for lots of reasons, but we were glad we were able to go. They were very organized to have me come in and be a part of what they were doing. I saw 4-5 different people in there which was nice. The new doctor that was there Dina Randezo to see who was very nice and helped me understand what was going on with me. We just hired someone at the doctor’s office here, her name is Shirley Ong and set an appointment coming up who is a Neuro Oncologist . It was nice to meet the people there and let them give us their opinion on what we were doing and how to do what we needed to do best. After we talked to them for a while they told us we were done….the remaining days weren’t needed by the doctors any more. Which was hard to realize. There was nothing else at Duke we needed to do until we got done with a year of chemo.
I am going to be busy taking the chemo pill for 5 days every month. I will also be going in for my MRI every couple months to see how they are seeing what is going on after the radiation and the chemo. We are really praying that as time goes on the shape shrinks and that what the doctors see will be pleasant. Please be praying about that. We don’t need a slow year that doesn’t get cleansing from the Lord and doesn’t give us a huge opportunity to just tell others about the Lord.
We did get to spend a day together while we were near Duke. We were able to look at some places, eat a little food and we enjoyed just being together. Since Scott and I didn’t get to take any trips this summer together, at lease we had a day where we could spend time together and looked at some of the town a bit before we were going to fly home. We went to the chapel on Duke’s campus, looked at the basketball court, we ate lunch on campus, we looked at the old baseball park from the movie “Bull Durham” and we loved seeing all of the sports areas that were there. We finished the night with a movie “Beautifully Broken”. I slept a bunch while I was there and really started sleeping a whole lot more since then.
We were blessed to have my roommate from Mexico who drove over two hours to see us there with her husband and one of their daughters Jane. We had a great time sharing time together and eating at this really old place. We walked around and got ice cream and just loved seeing each other again. Kate had come this summer to see me and visit us. It was such a blessing for us that they would drive and see us again.
I haven’t had a chance to really write too much lately because I have been tired and unable to really be focused when the radiation finished and really made me tired the last few weeks. I am starting to feel better and starting to be able to focus on what is going on with me a little at a time. I used to consider myself someone who could really figure out what I wanted to say and what the Lord desired to say. It’s been harder. I noticed it more this weekend. I had the opportunity to teach Sunday school and I was so excited to start doing it again. My brain was slow and shut off for the few days leading up to teach. I prayed a lot and I was very thankful that the morning of teaching, my brain was at least clearer than normal. It still wasn’t as clear as normal, but the Lord did what He wanted to do and honestly, I just left him in charge. I was thankful….very thankful.
Having started back at school, was harder than I thought. It’s hard when your brain is slower and more tired than it used to be. I have to admit that when I sit in my class and try to teach every day, I felt very behind. It’s hard when I have never been that way and I can’t focus or do what I need to do these things. I am thankful to see the Lord providing for me and continuing to give me everything I need every day. We have been blessed with foods from so many people and people continuing to minister to us. Thank you. I’ve noticed the cards, flowers and gifts have been a constant blessing, because the tiredness is hard to continue to fight against.
Thank you Jennifer Offutt for the beautiful note and flowers. It made my week and I needed some sweet flowers. Thanks girl!
One of the things that has encouraged me and makes me smile, are all the students that come and see me in my office. Especially when it’s my girls and their friends. They are always encouraging me with the shirts to remind me that I have Hope and I am a Warrior. I need that reminder everyday. I had worn all of these bracelets to school one day, and two of them were lost. I thought I may have lost them in the field house and the next day one of the softball girls and one of my soccer girls found them both. What a sweet blessing. It made me happy.
We have been really busy since before school started with club soccer. I have been trying to keep the girls growing and engaged, while my brain is trying to stay caught up with training! It’s so crazy how it’s hard for me to say things I know and I have to think longer to know what I’m trying to say. UGH! Thankfully it’s getting better and the girls and their parents have been super gracious and loving to me. I am grateful for the other coaches that want to pray for me and help me. My team was very giving to give me money for foods, airplane tickets and spending money while we were in Duke. So, So sweet. I am blessed.
It really is hard to believe that we are in school already. I have enjoyed getting to know the new students, but I would ask you to pray that I would I have the energy and focus while I’m at school. I don’t ever want to not give my best to everyone, so it’s challenging when I don’t feel 100%. So just pray that I will let go of having to be perfect or look like I know what I’m doing all the time.
The girls are finally getting more excited about the thought of playing soccer in college. I am really praying that they love the game, work hard, and enjoy the process of learning. This was a picture from going to OBU the day before school started.
Well….. One of the other big things this summer we wanted to do was get some stuff done around the house. We had not done much after we built the house, so we decided to go a head and get some of it done this summer. Well, I passed out right before I found out of my cancer and didn’t think doing home stuff during treatment would be a good idea. So we put it to the side. Until school was about to start again and we really decided we needed to get it done. Oh my. We are thankful for Philip Rye and all he did to help us get it all done. We are glad to be almost done and ready to just rest this fall. Now we have some new things in the house and our house is finally painted again.
I would really like to thank everyone for helping me and praying for me. I need the prayers again a lot as I look at trying to wake up again and get my life on track how the Lord desires to use me. He has been so faithful. I wish I could tell you the million things he’s taught me…But, one of the amazing things the Lord has done for me… this summer as I wrote I was writing a ton on warrior angels. Ok, since school started and the Lord knew my time would be less and I would be more tired, I didn’t read about Warrior Angels anymore. And as I read really felt the Lord desired me to be quiet and to rest in Him. He gave me this passage from 2 Corinthians 12:5-7-10.
I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses.6 Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say,7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Anything that happens is never about me or because of me. The Lord desires to teach me so much and asks and desires me to learn from Him no matter what. And I have to be honest, being busy has made it harder for me to learn from the Lord and to be able to rest. I am choosing to be faithful and give Christ my weaknesses even if it’s not what I would “want.” Thank you to everyone who prays for me and encourages me. I am so thankful in this battle and I need each of you every moment of the day! Thank you Lord for providing for me.
“Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the ocean depths….how precious is your unfailing love, O God!”
Psalm 36:5-7
So hard to believe that we started and finished our first week of school. It seems like I finished treatment and then school started right away! I guess it was close to that anyway! Not how I would’ve planned it out. I had planned to have the whole year all ready to go and tweaking what I wanted to tweak, and then having school start. Meanwhile….I’m tweaking as I go! That’s harder for me…not really how I normally like to operate.
I am thankful I’ve had some pretty good classes and I am starting to get to know some new students. I can tell I am more tired than I normally have been and that the amount of thinking that I’ve been doing is more than what I did all summer…. course isn’t it like that for everyone? I am thankful for the students and teachers who have been so kind to bless me with so much. I am also just beyond blessed by all the people who are bringing meals. It has been so wonderful to visit with people and hug people. We have just loved each visit.
So right before school started, I was able to get a (wig) hair piece. This piece is real hair and needs to be taken care of like all hair. I was blessed to go to the salon and have it put on the Saturday before school started. I was very thankful that we styled it and spent a couple hours there. Tonight I took it off to wash it, oh my. It’s a little more work than I was expecting. It’s going to take a while for me to get used to working with it.
On the left is two days before my seizure and the pic of me on the right is me after I got my hair piece.
Abbey and Ashton have had to drive us to school. Garrett is driving his own car since he has different things going on than we do. The traffic at our school has been pretty heavy before and after as people are getting used to the construction and the craziness at school. The funny part of our lives right now: my mind is a bit crazy, my school is a bit crazy because of the construction and my house is crazy right now. I’m thankful for the help I’m getting from so many people. The girls have done a great job driving me around and it’s so weird to not be able to drive. I feel like I spend a lot of time trying to figure out who is going to drive me one place or another. The hard part, my car is parked up by my classroom and during 7th period I go to soccer which isn’t close to my class. The school has been really great to make sure someone can drive me down to my car. The hard part is after practice…. walking to our car that is far away makes tired players….more tired!
A few weeks ago we finished thinking about the things around our house that needed to get done around here. We have waited a while to get things done and one of our plans this summer had been to get the house past the 12 years we’ve owned it. Since we started the summer with a different plan, we hadn’t done anything to plan for the stuff that needed to get done. We decided to meet with our neighbor to get some stuff done and here we are now, trying to get some stuff repaired and ready for the year and make some updates…only problem is that you are living in chaos. But, I am trying to be thankful as different things get done… because it’s been needed for a long time.
I’ve enjoyed my new club team and my high school girls. During 7th period right now, I get the softball girls and my girls. They also added some PE girls who lost their teacher. So, I have a huge group 7th period. It’s keeping me creative…. I guess. Now that it’s my second year, it’s been so much more fun to hangout with the coaches up there. I have many of them who are praying for me, and I am very blessed by that. It’s so hard to believe as I look at the soccer girls that it’s been a year since we started getting ready for the state tourney. But, here we are. I’m super proud of the girls and ready for them to improve more and to nail it this year. My club girls have been so kind and have just loved being together. I’m blessed to know all these ladies and train them all. They are all so full of love and desire to improve so much. I love that.
We were supposed to have high school tryouts this past Friday, but it rained too much. So now, we will have it this Tuesday. I’m ready to get these tryouts over and get the year started!
I know many of you are following this wondering about my health. I have been really blessed to feel as good as I have felt. However, I think all of the treatment is catching up on me and making me a bit tired and less able to focus. It’s hard to believe that I finished my treatment and then pretty much started school stuff. It’s been a crazy week this week. I had great plans to get everything ready for my classes and have less to plan, but my adventures this summer kept me from being focused on this.
We have been trying to figure out when our MRI would be and what we would do next. Well, we got a call saying my MRI is going to be this Wednesday night at 4:45pm. Please be in prayer for this. I am asking for the internal swelling is down enough for them to see what’s going on and it’s accurate. I am also asking for prayers for wisdom for the doctors and peace for us. We are trusting the Lord that He has healed me already. We have also gotten a call back from Duke about going there the end of the month. Obviously this is a good thing and the people we are set to see there are some of the best. It’s hard for me to think about missing some school and what all I will need to do before I can leave. Please be praying about all of this for me. Safe travels and great wisdom from the doctors. Thank you
Also, please be in prayer for me to be able to manage my time better. This summer was such a blessing to slow down and have time. Now that school has started, we are busy going so many places. The girls are playing less sports, but they are loving the extra time they get to spend and want to spend with their friends. Garrett is busy preparing for college next year, ugh and Nathan is trying to find himself something he really enjoys. Prayers for these kiddos and Scott as we go in for appts and start doing more things again.
ESTHER
One of my favorite people in the Bible is Esther. I love her courageous spirit and her desire to follow the Lord even if it means she would die. She was brought in after King Xerxes had issues with his queen. Women were brought in and were prepared to meet the king with oils and treatments.
Esther was Jewish and the Xerxes decided that Esther was his favorite and announced she was queen over the other previous queen. Things were looking good for Esther. Until, Haman was brought in to work under the king. Haman hated the Jews and did many things to show himself as important and powerful and to get rid of the Jewish people. Esther, got worried about what was happening and she knew that she would need to go see the king and get him to change the laws Haman was introducing. In Esther 4:15-17
15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai:16 “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”
17 So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions.
Esther trusted the Lord and knew that death may be what comes next for her. When You approach the king, the king has all the power and he can decide to have you killed. This wouldn’t be odd. Esther asked his uncle to fast and pray for her and she was at peace with the results. It’s hard to believe that this young lady chose to go against the rules of the kingdom and approach the king without being invited.
As we read on in Chapter 5 ….
On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance.2 When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.
3 Then the king asked, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you.”
The King had grown to love Esther that he allowed her to live. She was brave enough and trusted God enough that no matter what happened going forward, the Lord had Esther right where she was supposed to be.
I love Esther. I love how bold she was and how she was willing to stand against those that wanted to kill her and others. She had everything going for her… but the Jewish people meant a lot to her…she didn’t let the fact that she was good to stop her from standing up for what was going on. I am thankful for that. Thankful that she was willing to be strong when she didn’t know the results. She trusted that God would do what was best. She just knew what needed to happen and went for it.
I hope and pray that we are like that. We don’t read in here about her concerns or fears…only that she asked people to pray and she walked into a tough situation and she trusted the Lord to do what needed to be done. She never wondered or questioned, she just did what needed to be done for the people. I so want to learn to live with my eyes focused on the Lord and others and to not focus on myself every day. Please pray for this for me. As I am feeling more tired and more physically drained, I don’t want that to be my focus. I want others to be my focus. Lord help me do that!
“I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.”
Psalm 34:1
Last week of Summer!!!! This has been a crazy week. I finished treatment late last week… slowed down for the weekend…not really. We decided to get some more stuff organized and put together before school started. It’s been crazy around here. But it’s been a blessed week.
As a teacher, we have these professional development days that we go to before school starts. We started ours on Monday with our open house. I was very thankful to have Tami and Madison Draper and Garrett up there helping put my room together. They did a great job putting up new things on the walls. I have a lot more parents and students come up and some old students came up to say hi.
So on Tuesday we got together with the whole district and got to work together and listen together…and sweat together 🙂 But it was so great to see so many people come up and introduce themselves to me and tell me they were reading this and praying. What a sweet blessings. I got to eat lunch with the ladies on my floor and share our time together.
Wednesday was early and we went to my church to hear from our Super Intendant Karen Walters and then they brought in Kevin Brown who was a great speaker and has a
great heart.
We enjoyed our time…except maybe getting out of the parking lot. Craziness!
Thursday was our last day and we were able to meet together play a fun game and get together with our little group to share struggles and goals we have for the year. I love the ladies and Gent I work by. We all teach different things but, they have always been super encouraging and helpful since I’m the Newby!
When I wasn’t at school I was blessed by so many things this week.
We were blessed by so many visitors and great things this week.
I loved that I got to run my first soccer practice, yeah!!!! Cannot believe it’s time! I love the girls I get to train and just love their personalities and hearts. They have been so wonderful and just love me so well. When I got off the exit, it was so crazy to think for the rest of the summer I turned right at this light for treatment and as I sat here waiting for the light to turn green, I was turning the opposite way again and heading to soccer practice. It was such a great feeling knowing that now I wouldn’t turn right every day, I would get to turn left and train my girls. Love them!
I also got to spend the week seeing so many faces! What a blessing it is to have people stop by the house and bring us food and spend time with us. As usual the people that signed up are wonderful and have been so great to stop and spend time just sharing life with us. We are so thankful for them!
Scott and Ann have been keeping up with my juicing which has been so great. I think it has given me energy and kept me going pretty well. I am thankful for all of the carrots and other veggies we get to drink!
It’s been fun watching the kids together this summer hanging out. I am thankful for all of the games they play and laughing they do. Sometimes they have to remember how to do it! Also thankful for some home remodeling we’ve been able to start. We were planning to get things updated when summer started and then we got a pause…. so now our sweet neighbor Phillip Rye is helping us get some projects done around here.
I’m going to have a new deck for Bible study. This one has worn down and needed to be replaced. So I’m excited for future quiet times with the Lord!
I also got a ton of pics from people who were wearing their HOPE WARRIOR shirts. What a blessing! I have a great extended family who loves to support and cheer each other on whatever we are dealing with! I am very thankful that they took these photos.
My uncle Dick and Aunt Helene with my cousin Mike and Angie and their kids.
My parents and my brothers Andrew and Mike and their wives Meg and Steph and all their kids
My Aunt Becky and Uncle Ron with their oldest son Tyler and wife Mackenzie with their kids!
Thank you everyone for spreading the Word of Hope around us with the shirts. It does make me smile when I see people wearing them. The Lord continues to amaze me!
Some ways to pray for me this first week of school:
Of course lots of energy! Great sleep this week
For us to get out of the house on time in the mornings!
For the week to run smoothly at school for me as I start my second year. For me to be able to be focused on what I am doing
For us to hear from the doctors about scheduling my scans
Continued prayers for taste and sensation in my throat to go away
These sweet flowers were such a blessing to me. I was given two bouquets yesterday and I was just blessed. I am not a flower vase person usually, but through this experience I have cherished each bouquet from every person. How wonderful God is to give us such variety, color and smells. The flowers were a daily hug from those that brought them and a reminder to me that God cares for me more than these flowers and look at how gorgeous they are! I am more valuable than these? Yes I am! We are all different like these flowers and we are all loved by the Lord…but He has given each of us different callings to show His glory to the world… if you are the rose I’ll be the sunflower – goodness He is glorified!
Well yesterday was my last day of Radiation. How in the world did we finish this already? I am so blessed. I remember starting my treatment and thinking the end is so far away… So it’s amazing to see how fast we got here. I am so blessed… Thank you.
I have been surrounded by so many wonderful people. From my treatment team and everyone who has encouraged me during these 31 treatments. In May I never envisioned this as part of my summer. Never imagined that I would be battling cancer so soon in my life. But – here we are.
When I walked back to the back yesterday, I got to hug one my fellow cancer patients John who is 90 years old. He has been so sweet to me and has prayed with me. He was a former fire fighter and I can tell he is wearing down. Please pray for him. He only has a few treatments left. Pray for energy and strength…I am thankful that we will be together for eternity… very thankful for that.
As I headed back I got to say hi to all of my people in the back and head to where I would take off my jewelry and then walk through the doors for my final treatment. I took my hat and sunglasses off and walked over to the table. I got up on the table and laid down and pulled my pink blanket up and adjusted my head so we could put the mask on.
Leslie and Gina put the mask on and turned my music up and said, “last time!” I laid there for a bit listening to my worship music and I started to pray and as I thought about the staff there, tears started to roll down my cheek. Course my next thought was, “am I going to get burned if my tears go the wrong direction…” But God was good and kept my left eye from tearing too much…so I went on praying.
Having been there so many times I knew the movement of the machine and the table and the turns we would take… the number of times the machine would turn on and “shoot me…” When I knew there was only two left and then one… the tears came again. My mask was undone and taken off and it was hard for me to speak. The crew has become so much a part of my life that I am blessed. They were so sweet and got a soccer ball and they all signed it and wrote sweet messages on it. It was a very blessed gift. Love you guys and I am so thankful that we got to journey together through this battle!
No my Radiologist did not shave his head to make me feel better… lol – Thanks Dr. Hardee for making my time here joyful and memorable.
When I finished we took a few family photos and I wanted to get the gifts for the team in the back that were out front. I was in such a mission to get all the stuff and was wondering why no one was quickly moving to get the gifts and cookies…but when I went out of the hallway to grab the stuff WOW. This is what I saw:
Such a great surprise to see all these girls I’ve coached and their families and some of the teens from church and their families. So thankful. I love to coach and I love teens. They are just so amazing. The staff said they had never had so many people out front.
Thankful that these guys were able to come up and give me a hug and so thankful for their parents who have been so supportive through all of my treatments and this time. Love you guys and I know there were others that wanted to be there and I love you too!
I am very thankful for our shirts we had made. The thought and heart behind the shirts are to bring hope to others because of the words on the shirt. I never wanted the shirt to focus on me, I wanted them to point to the Lord because HE IS MY HOPE and HE HAS BEEN MY STRENGTH and SHIELD. I am blessed by so many who desired to support my heart and ordered shirts. We need this Truth in our world…there are so many hurting people.
Nikki and I – She got all these people up there to show their support – THANK YOU!
My Sweet family – Love you guys!
My friend Paige and her sweet little “selfie”
Tammy and Nikki worked hard along with others to get the shirts all organized, mailed and ready to hand out. Thanks guys!
I have been blessed by seeing so many of you wearing your shirts and I hope it gives you an opportunity to share HOPE and to be HOPE to people the Lord will bring into your life. I have been so blessed by sharing my story and His Love with others during this journey. It has been just amazing.
So when we got done seeing everyone who came, I got to go give blood and see my oncologist. Nothing too exciting here. But, basically I am off of radiation and chemo today. Radiation is done. Chemo will continue every 28 days for 5 days. in a row. So basically I am off of my chemo pill until the end August. I will take 1/4 more of mg than I am taking now and then in September I double what I am taking now. I will be asking for prayers as I up the dosage that the Lord just lines my stomach and continues to allow me to feel good. Once I have doubled my dosage I will stay at that level.
Some sweet girls I met from PA in the lab
So when am I getting scans? My scans will be determined by my doctors and will occur somewhere between 4-8 weeks from now. Basically they want my brain to have time to not be swollen and allow all the radiation fragments to do what they were sent in there to do. So please continue to pray that the side effects are not a part of my story and that the swelling goes down and tumors are gone!
I will have follow up appointments in September and continuing to take a couple of my pills but a lot less. So YEAH! We have done some research and have put our name in at Duke and MD Anderson if and when that becomes the next step.
Was so blessed with Great cookies from Robyn Wolf that turned out perfectly for the staff and all those crazy people in the lobby! I think we set a new record on people in the waiting room. My Sister-in-love sent me a sweet and perfect cup – Thanks Cindy and Erik and of course Landyn.
When we finished all our blood work and everything Nikki and I went to go find our friend Elizabeth and her family, I coached her daughter. Her mother was coming up there for for her scan results…so we hung out for awhile and just laughed and shared life. Love visiting with people. I had to put this pic of Nikki in here. She’s going to kill me…but, she has been out looking for scarves for me and this is one of the photos she sent me. What would we do without technology for shopping!!! HA HA!
Some people have asked what I am going to do with my mask. Well, the plan is to bring it to my soccer office as a reminder for me and to keep my players “level headed..” Life could always be different…enjoy the moment and don’t complain. I’m sure they will do what my kids did…they said they didn’t like it too much..ha!
Thank you everyone again for making my last treatment so memorable. The staff enjoyed it and I’m sure the patients there smiled as well. I am a blessed lady!
As I have pressed on in this journey, the Lord has held me and held my head up. It’s not me putting on a show, it’s Him living through me. This has been so important because my kids have been watching me. They have been warriors and stayed focused on the Lord because they have developed a relationship with Him and with Him as their foundation, this time has been a time I have seen Jesus in them. As a parent, there is nothing I want more. I am very thankful. I pray that their faith stays strong and they do not follow the paths of many of the Kings of Judah….
Since i wrote so much already and had such an amazing day yesterday… you would think I would just say that’s it…But without the Word, I’m useless. 🙂
Looking at these kings and how some were hard hearted, some started out following the Lord and then going their own way, and then there were some who chose the Lord their whole lives and the Kingdom and people were trained in the ways of the Lord – and the results were amazing.
One Guy… and sometimes a kid were the ones who would bring great blessings on a kingdom or doom. When we think about who our lives influence… do we consider our conduct to have consequences that could effect generations after us? That’s serious stuff…but, it’s true.
King Hezekiah – you know I love him! In 2 Chronicles 32 and 33 he was busy fortifying walls and preparing the city against the Assyrians. Here’s what he said starting in verse 7…
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him.8 With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people gained confidence from what Hezekiah the king of Judah said.
The Assyrian king sent letters to the people against Hezekiah and their “god” is how he saw the Lord God. God was referred to as a normal god they served – nothing special. This got Hezekiah and Isaiah praying to God… now I have to tell you when I read what came next I was like – “Lord sent this angel to me!”
21 And the Lord sent an angel, who annihilated all the fighting men and the commanders and officers in the camp of the Assyrian king. So he withdrew to his own land in disgrace. And when he went into the temple of his god, some of his sons, his own flesh and blood, cut him down with the sword.
So the arrogant king was killed by his own kids. A king who thought he had it all, had nothing. King Hezekiah became highly respected and many people sent him gifts. But, then something happened….
24 In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. He prayed to the Lord, who answered him and gave him a miraculous sign.25 But Hezekiah’s heart was proud and he did not respond to the kindness shown him; therefore the Lord’s wrath was on him and on Judah and Jerusalem.26 Then Hezekiah repented of the pride of his heart, as did the people of Jerusalem; therefore the Lord’s wrath did not come on them during the days of Hezekiah.
Hezekiah had been living a great life with many blessings from the Lord. Yet when he became ill and the Lord cared for him, he became a proud individual. This should cause us to pause and think… is my heart one that is proud or humbled? No matter what we are facing or going through… a proud heart does not please the Lord. What I love to read though, is that his conviction from his pridefulness changed his direction and he REPENTED! Meaning he sought the Lord’s forgiveness. And Got it.
When we choose to go against the Lord we have a choice to make… continue on and reap the consequences that WILL come or humble ourselves and repent and HE IS FAITHFUL and desires to FORGIVE US! He doesn’t want His people punished or out of His presence. He desires to BE with US and teach us and love us!
What I love is that the Lord loves us and desires to be with us. He doesn’t wake up everyday and wonder how He can ruin our lives. Our response to Him in our Heart and the growth that comes from their into our lives is life changing. King Hezekiah could’ve thrown himself a party and celebrated his victories like HE was the victor, but he humbled himself when he got caught up in the fame and success.
We ALL need to live humbled lives that SCREAM out “we know Jesus and that’s how I can live this way…it’s not me!!!” If you want to see what happens next read about Hezekiah’s son… Manasseh, he started weak and evil, but in the end it says he “finally realized that the Lord alone is God!” He finally realized… it took going into enemy camp and being beat up and humiliated… let us pray that our hearts are never that stone cold that we endure that much before we finally turn to the Lord. But, if that’s where we are… you are NEVER TOO FAR gone to NOT be LOVED by the Lord himself. Reach out to Him and let Him forgive you and fill you. Your life will never be the same.
These girls have always been warriors to me. Kate Duncan’s family made this quilt for me. They let the girls write messages on here for me. I am one blessed coach and person!
If you all will be praying for what I mentioned above that would be great!!!! Blessings Warriors!
What a great memory! The girls and Garrett with my youngest brother Andrew. Life used to be so simple. We talked about nap time, snacks and diapers. Now life is getting ready for college and complex life! Ha!
They have been so wonderful and just love me so well. When I got off the exit, it was so crazy to think for the rest of the summer I turned right at this light for treatment and as I sat here waiting for the light to turn green, I was turning the opposite way again and heading to soccer practice. It was such a great feeling knowing that now I wouldn’t turn right every day, I would get to turn left and train my girls. Love them!
