Regressing Tumor

Now this is the confidence that we have in Him; that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He Hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

1 John 5: 14-15


Marc had his second chemotherapy treatment today and met with his doctor. His doctor was impressed that Marc had been off of pain medication for over a week. His blood cell counts -- both red and white -- were up and stable. His weight went up a pound during his treatment (hooray!). And, from his examination he was encouraged that the tumor is regressing! The cancer cells are responding to treatment and the cancer is noticeably shrinking!

We are by no means out of the woods; however, we are encouraged by our appointment today. We have prayed specifically for these cells to respond to treatment...and they have. In fact, many of the things we have asked you all to pray for have been answered as we have asked (see Marc is Home; A Most Memorable St. Patrick's Day). Elo hit it on the head today -- she compared God's gracious answers to prayer like our daily bread. He isn't giving us everything all at once...he is doling out what we need on a daily basis and it sustains us. Today we are more than full from his provision...our cup overflows again.

We are excited to share this initial news. We are so incredibly grateful for the many prayers on our behalf and the wonderful support you have given us. We really believe that any progress or healing that Marc is experiencing is due to God's great mercy. We are grateful to Him today and give him all the glory and credit for these blessings.

So, for the next two days the routine will be the same. He is at home with his pump, taking the remainder of his chemo. He will be disconnected on Thursday and will have twelve days off to feel "normal." We really enjoy the stretches when we don't have to see the doctor or endure treatments!

In the meantime, I will continue to post about all you amazing friends and family that have completely overwhelmed us with your generosity and love -- there are a lot of neat stories and it will take a long time to spotlight you all! This has been a fun exercise in counting our many blessings. We hope these stories serve to encourage you all.

Please continue to pray that...

• Marc's treatment remains effective and tumors continue to shrink (or disappear!)
• His appetite remains good and he can continue to gain back the weight he lost in the hospital
• His energy would increase. His red blood cell count is looking better than it has in weeks and we are hopeful that his energy will increase soon.
• My grandmother will continue to stabilize -- her pain is a major concern right now, as is her pneumonia

With love and gratitude...

The Gift of Knowledge

This is Elo and Roger (and yes, that is a guy with an accordion in the background....but that's a story for a different day). We met Elo and Roger through our church Growth Group years ago. We have considered them dear friends ever since. Though life and circumstances change, we have always managed to come back together for Bible study. They have been gracious enough to host our group for several years and this year volunteered to be our leaders.

Elo and Roger have been an incredible blessing to us over the years. In recent weeks we have appreciated their insights as doctors. Both have been able to help us better understand Marc's cancer. They have asked helpful questions and shed light on many of the issues surrounding his treatment. Their willingness to share their knowledge has helped alleviate a lot of confusion and uncertainty.

Their knowledge isn't limited to the medical field. They also know full well what it means to have friends with cancer. I remember a couple of years ago seeing Elo crying during worship at church. She told me that her best friend, Armida, had been diagnosed with metastatic cancer in her bone. The prognosis wasn't good. She was a wife and mom of two. The whole situation hit me hard. Not only could I identify as a mom with Armida, but the fact that she was such a dear person to Elo made it incredibly personal. To this day I have never met Armida, but I think her often and feel a tremendous connection to her. We prayed diligently for her in her weeks of treatment. We prayed for a miracle; for a great mercy. After just a few weeks of treatment, Armida's cancer was no longer visible on her scans. To this day she is cancer free. There is never a day that I don't think of God's great mercy on us by healing Armida. Now, more than ever, I think of her battle against cancer as a great source of hope. Elo reminds me constantly that there are no absolutes in this fight and that there is always hope. There are miracles....She should know. She helped me see one.

Elo and Roger have been a huge source of comfort to Marc and me. They were gracious enough to host a large group of family and friends at their home to pray for Marc. I was overwhelmed that so many would show up on a Saturday afternoon to simply pray over us. This was a beautiful and humbling experience -- one I am not likely ever to forget. I can't thank these two enough for suggesting the idea and sacrificing their Saturday to host us.

Roger and Elo, thank you for being committed friends. Thank you for the wisdom and knowledge you share and the grace with which you share it. Your knowledge and experience have helped us so much in the past few weeks. Thank you for making us ask the hard questions and encouraging us with messages of hope and love. I appreciate all the time you have sacrificed for us -- visiting us in the hospital, watching the kids, opening your home to all of us. We are blessed to call you friends.

With love and gratitude...

The Gift of Diligence

This is Dave and Karen. If it hadn't been for Dave I would not have met Marc. Dave was my Sunday school teacher all those years ago when I met Marc. It was through his group that we met each other and many of the friends that have been so supportive during this time.

Dave is probably one of the most diligent people I have ever met. He is conscientious and hard working at everything he does. And I'm not just talking about work....I'm talking about his relationships -- those with God, his family, and his friends. He takes his relationships very seriously and works incredibly hard at making them work. He studies, he thinks, and he puts in tremendous time and energy into serving.

When he married Karen several years ago, he found someone just as diligent and committed as himself. Marc and I have been so delighted to see how Dave and Karen have blessed each other and how well they work together as a couple. We have benefited immensely from their marriage and their friendship.

At any time we have experienced hard times, Dave and Karen are there. Dave has been present at the hospital and the chemo clinic, distracting both Marc and me. As we have had physical needs, he has been delighted to help -- my lawn mower is running again! Dave is also great at just hanging out, arguing politics, discussing theology, and asking questions. We have learned a lot from his knowledge and experience.

In the same way Karen is consistently present, helping with meals, encouraging me with truth, watching my kids. She is sensitive and compassionate, always considering others before herself. She also has some helpful life experiences that help her identify with what we are going through right now. I have found it sobering and yet encouraging to know that our struggles aren't all that unique -- many of our friends and loved ones have stories of sorrow and hope to share. We aren't alone.

Thank you, Dave and Karen, for diligently pursuing our friendship. We are grateful for all the effort and energy you put into helping us and being present in our hour of need!

With love and gratitude...

The Gift of Family

To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven...
Ecclesiastes 3:1

This is my Grandma Irene at her 90th birthday party last September. I like this picture because it's pretty typical of how you could find her on any given day -- laughing and usually with a grandchild in her arms. Grandma is an energetic, determined woman. She is full of life and faith. She is passionate about her family and has been a powerhouse of a matriarch. She has prayed for her family diligently over the years, watching as we have grown up, married, and had children of our own. I am fairly certain that this woman has prayed for me every single day of my life.

She and Marc share an uncommon bond these days. A few weeks before Marc was diagnosed with his cancer, Grandma was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. They have somewhat similar cancers, share the same doctors, and the same family. Needless to say, Grandma knows exactly what Marc is going through.

While Marc is feeling better -- his pain is gone to the point that he doesn't take pain meds, his nausea is gone, and he is resuming his normal activities -- Grandma has grown worse. Her pain has escalated, she has contracted pneumonia, and the cancer has now spread to her liver. From a human standpoint, it appears that her fight is nearing its end and she will be going home soon. And, she is okay with that.

I marveled last night at how, once again, our family has come together to support each other. We stood around her hospital bed, held hands and prayed for her and for each other. We have been blessed with a loving and faithful family. It seems like life has heaped up a lot of sadness and uncertainty on our family in recent weeks. Part of me wonders how much more grief we can all take, but then I remember how much of a blessing these experiences have been. God has a purpose for this season in our life. We may not see it now, but there are good reasons for our suffering. I have started to see them already: Compassion, mended relationships, love, and refined faith, have all grown out of so much pain and uncertainty.

My family continues to struggle with grief over both Marc's and Grandma's illnesses. The physical and emotional demands are tremendous on everyone at this time. I find courage and strength, though, in our family and our shared faith. Thank you to all of our family members that have supported us and been such huge help during this time. Thank you for the prayers and the love. A family that loves each other and serves each other is a beautiful thing to watch.

Please join us in praying that...

• Grandma's doctors and nurses can keep her pain under control
• Her pneumonia would resolve itself and that she can return home to rest
• Her family would find comfort and peace during this time
• Her caretakers would not become exhausted and overwhelmed with her care
• Wisdom for the family to know how to direct and manage her care after the hospital
• Marc would continue to enjoy being pain free, hungry, and energetic
• That Marc's chemotherapy is effective and that his cancer is cured

Thank you for your continued prayers and support during this increasingly difficult time. With love and gratitude....

The Gift of Loyalty

This is Melanie and her wonderful husband, Steve. Mel has been my dear friend for over 25 years! Our lives have often taken different paths, but we have always managed to stay in touch. In recent years our childhood friendship has matured and expanded to include our kids and our husbands. Steve' s friendship has been a tremendous blessing to Marc over the years. We couldn't be more grateful to have this couple and their kids in our lives. These are not just friends...they are family.

Mel and Steve have the uncommon gift of loyalty. Steve is the guy that will always show up to help and does it with zero fanfare. He is a good and upright man that takes great care of his family and friends. In the same way, I can always count on Mel. She is the person I can call at midnight in an emergency. I called her two years ago when we had our house fire and she was there in record time to help house the kids. When Marc had to go to the hospital last week she came out and watched the kids for the night. The next day she stayed on with the kids and fielded the phone calls that were pouring in from family and friends. She is the first to volunteer to help and stays until the storm passes. Her willingness to help makes the impossible situation seem tolerable.

Thank you, Mel and Steve, for your many years of friendship. A lot of life has happened in that time, and it is so comforting to know that in the good times and bad that you are there. Thank you for your willingness to help with meals, logistics, and our kids. Most of all, thank you for your encouragement and love. You have both been a comfort to me and to Marc during this time. Your commitment to each other, to your family, and to your friends, is a rare and beautiful quality in the world today.

With love and gratitude....

The Gift of Spontaneity

This is Jessica. I have had the pleasure of knowing Jess for about eight years. Jess is a wife and super-mom of four really neat kids. When she isn't on the go doing stuff for her kids and friends, she works as a nurse. She is also a devoted aunt to her niece, Kamelah, who is in the midst of winning her battle against leukemia. This is a busy woman that knows on a very personal level our fears and challenges.

Jess was one of the first to offer help in the midst of our crisis. Despite having four kids of her own, she has willingly taken on our four at any time we need her...and makes it look easy. Jess keeps me sane during the week by making me coffee and giving me a place that I can vent, fall apart, and hear some words from someone that understands. She has a brilliant wit, a heart of gold, and a spontaneous spirit.

It was the spontaneous spirit that put her on my porch at 8:30 this morning. Surprise! She brought her espresso machine, a dozen doughnuts, her kids, and....a rack of barbecue ribs for Marc from McGraw's (ribs are the only food that has consistently sounded good to him during his treatment). We had a lovely breakfast party -- the kids played and we had a great time visiting. What a treat! Thank you, my friend!

Jess has the amazing gift of spontaneity. She is able to drop anything at any time to help a friend in need. She is also great fun -- her ability to prioritize and not sweat the small stuff allows her to embrace the fun opportunities. She is an inspiration to me. I tend to be more rigid and she has helped me recognize the costs and pitfalls of too much structure. She gets me out of my Rainman mentality! She is a dear friend and a wonderful example to me.

Thank you, Jess, for all you have done and continue to do for me, for Marc, and for the kids. Your friendship has kept me grounded during the uncertain times. I am so grateful to you. Thank you for going to all the work to get your family here this morning just to surprise us and make us laugh. You gave us cause to forget our troubles and face the day with a smile.

With love and gratitude....

Marc...

We have been blessed dearly with good friends and family. I plan to start sharing about some of the wonderful ways we have been encouraged over the last few weeks in upcoming posts. Today, though, I want to say thank you to the man at the center of it all...my husband. Of all the people that have prayed, encouraged, shared, and served, it is his grace has helped me the most. Watching this quiet, humble man go through this misery has been inspiring to me. He is truly my hero. He doesn't complain. He isn't bitter. He shows no fear. When he is down, he prays. His faith is amazing. He remains more concerned about others than himself. He takes his treatment and is resolute about doing all he needs to do to get better. Without his courage and leadership, I would still be falling apart. I am blessed with far more than I deserve.

Thank you for joining me in praying for Marc and for supporting our family during this time. I look forward to sharing some of your stories in upcoming days.

With love and gratitude...

This Day

I was picking up the house today and finally got around to dusting. As I was wiping down some pictures I felt a huge sadness. We have a collage on our wall that I have filled over the years with family photos -- just random snippets of life caught in black and white. I pass by those pictures every day and I don't really look at them anymore...they are just part of the usual dust-ables sitting in our house. Today was different...I studied the photos hard. Each picture was a snapshot of more carefree times: A trip to the lake, Sophia as a newborn, the boys kissing Julia, the boys laughing and hugging. My heart ached to be back in those times when we were oblivious to the chaos of cancer. I realized I didn't know how happy I was then. I wasn't thankful enough during those peaceful, happier days. Oh, to be back there again!

I continued to pick up the house, my attitude becoming darker by the minute. An old song I learned as a little girl in Sunday School started echoing in my head....

This is the day the Lord has made;
I will rejoice and be glad in it.
(adapted from Psalm 118)

I started thinking back on all those "better" times and felt guilty about not being as glad or thankful in them as I should have been. Each day always presents its own problems, frustrations, or worries, preventing me from just being happy and grateful in the present moment.

I then realized that today was no exception. I'm being consumed by my worries and problems today and not rejoicing and being glad. This is the day the Lord has made...it's mine and I have much to be thankful for. I need to learn from the old pictures that there is joy in each day we are given. That includes this one. I don't dare miss it. I dare not regret taking for granted the comforts and provisions of this day that God made especially for me and my family.

In the spirit of rejoicing, I want to be thankful for a few things...

• Our faith. Nothing else can sustain us.
• Meals provided by friends and family. We are grateful.
• Phone calls, emails, and blog comments. We are encouraged.
• The horses being well cared for by Jesse and Van. We are relieved.
• Marc's nausea going away. An answer to prayer.
• Short term disability. One less worry.
• Marc's employer. They care and have been overwhelmingly supportive.
• Our kids. They give us purpose and make us smile every day.
• Energy. I have been able to keep up with Marc and my family's needs.
• Spring Break. We are able to slow down, sleep in, and catch our breath from the last month.
• Great health care coverage. Humbling to know that all of his care and prescriptions are covered.
• Marc's doctors. They are working hard to make him better.
• Our friends and family in the medical field. It's a comfort to have clarification, translation, and alternative interpretation on the information we have received from the doctors.

The list could go on and on. That's the point. To be glad in today takes a grateful heart. We must give thanks for all the goodness we receive, especially in our times of trouble. I would encourage you to see past your troubles today and focus on the day the Lord has made for you and what you can do to rejoice and be glad in it. Don't miss it!

After all that, you are probably wondering how Marc is doing. He is hanging in there. He was able to go to church last night and not get too fatigued. He was craving ribs for dinner, so afterwards we went out for barbecue with Dave and Karen and all the kids. His nausea is obviously gone because he ate his entire meal! Today he is experiencing some soreness in his abdomen, but nothing like it has been previously. I would just ask that you would pray with me that the pain would go away again. We were so excited for yesterday -- his pain was gone, there was no nausea, and his energy was up. We would love more of those days!

Thank you for visiting me at this place today. I can't tell you what it means that friends and family check this site regularly to see how we are doing and to pray for us. God is gracious each and every day. I anticipate that this week there won't be much to report as Marc doesn't have appointments or treatments scheduled. I'm hoping to use this place during that time to share how God is using you all to bless us. We have some really neat stories that encourage us and will hopefully encourage you.

With love and gratitude...

The Day the County Came to Pray

I hit the door late yesterday and I was scrambling the minute I walked in. The kids went in a million different loud directions and I was trying to unload the car and figure out dinner. As I hurried upstairs to check on Marc I heard a car in the driveway. Annoyed, I looked out the window and saw a Clackamas County truck parked out front. There was a loud bang on the door and I scrambled downstairs to answer it before it woke Marc. The gentleman outside must have been startled by my harried and very annoyed appearance because he took two steps back. "I'm here to do your final electrical inspection," he announced. Of course. "For what !?!" I demanded. My eyebrows must have knitted furiously because he looked afraid. Apparently when we had the house repairs done for the house fire (crisis of 2007) the electrician hadn't called in for a final inspection. The county has been trying to catch up on old files and it was our turn. Of course. It had to be this week. Why not?

So, I let the man in and he quickly checked the outlet and casually asked why this was such a bad time. I gave him a curt.."my husband has cancer and he started chemo this week" explanation. I also gave him the please-don't-ask-me-anymore-questions look. He didn't pick up on that and asked several more prying questions. Finally, he went to the garage, checked the breaker box and, to my great relief, gave me my approved inspection sheet and headed for the door. Suddenly he stopped and asked. "Could I pray for you?" I about fell over and nodded. He proceeded to pray for Marc, for me, for our family, doctors, friends, and home. I was without words. I finally managed to tell him he had been a blessing that day and then he was gone. Of course. It had to be this week. Why not?

God continues to provide us with nudges of comfort these days and it comes at the perfect times in the most creative ways. I was ashamed that I hadn't been more gracious to our county inspector. God had sent him to my door that day to remind us that even in the least obvious people and places, he has us covered. We are surrounded near and far with people who genuinely care. We have people praying for us from Peru, to Germany, to the Clackamas County Permit Office. We are in awe of His provision in our lives.

Yesterday Marc took himself to the clinic to have his pump unhooked and then went to lunch with a friend. My tendency is to want to take him to all of his appointments and be helpful, but I'm learning to let him be the boss of his own care. I have to trust that he knows when he is feeling well enough to do things on his own. Helicoptor wife needs to stay parked at home once in awhile and not hover around hubby like an invalid. Lessons to learn...

Today we went to see his oncologist. This has been a harder day for Marc. The great appetite he had is gone and the nausea is setting in. The pain is staying away and he continues to look better, but feeling sick all the time is discouraging. Dr. Chang was seeing the positive change in his appearance as well and was happy to see color back in his face. He gave Marc some anti-nausea pills, which do appear to be helping this afternoon. We discussed the sudden change in his pain level and he was dubious that the cancer would respond so fast. In his opinion he thought it was more a reaction to pain killers, steroids, and the continued healing from his biopsy. I was somewhat deflated. I wanted him to tell us that was a good sign and that we should be encouraged. We talked a little more and then he examined Marc's abdomen. He felt around the tumor area and gave us a surprised look. He said, "you know, it actually feels better than it did." He seemed a bit perplexed by that and hurriedly wrote some notes. I don't know, but I'm thinking that's good.

We don't have any appointments until the 31st. He has chemo again that day. We have some things to pray for in the meantime...

Please pray that:

• Marc's nausea will decrease and he can resume eating a healthy diet.
• The pain stays away and that the cancer is, indeed, responding to treatment.
• His energy level improves. He is really fatigued.
• On a home front note....Whatever is wrong with our water pump is an easy fix. We are having problems with it and just don't have the mental energy right now to deal with fixing it. Unfortunately, not having water is not an option. Ahhh...the tyranny of the urgent....

Thank you for all the comments and emails. If posting comments is not working on your computer, do not hesitate to email us. We are still checking and responding to emails, but sometimes it takes a couple of days.

With much love and gratitude....

Cup Overflowing

I prayed a simple prayer yesterday as Marc started his treatment. I prayed that his treatment would not only be effective, but that we would see quickly that the cancer is responding. I don't know what I had hoped to see....until I saw it. God encouraged us this morning. After weeks of pain he woke up feeling better this morning. The pain in his right side is gone and the pain in his left side lessened. He felt better. We don't know what it means exactly, but the fact that the only thing that has changed has been his chemotherapy is encouraging to us. I felt my simple prayer had been answered in a very clear and quick way.

Marc has had another good day with treatment. He ate well today and enjoyed not hurting. He looks much better -- the color is back in his face and the circles under his eyes are gone. He suffers from fatigue, but we expected that. Tomorrow he will go in to have his pump unhooked and he will be free until the 31st. We are looking forward to spring break with the kids and maybe, just maybe, not shadowing the door of a clinic or hospital. That would be a huge blessing and a total change of routine for us!

I had the chance to go to Bible study this morning. We have been studying Romans and today we were discussing Romans 12. For those you reading our blog that may not have a Bible background, this chapter teaches about serving God with spiritual gifts. It speaks to being of one body and serving each other. We belong to each other just as every body part belongs to the whole body. We have never felt that more than we have in the last month. This body has served us with more gifts than we ever thought possible. It is a beautiful thing to watch!

The other image that has come to mind in the last couple of days has been the cup overflowing. I understand this image so well now. I see my cup filling up with prayers, meals for my family, acts of service, offers for babysitting, encouragement, grace, and love. I can't take it all in fast enough and my cup is literally overflowing with good things "pressed down, shaken together, and running over." This is God's love hailing down on us in a tangible way. He has not just met our needs right now, but has given to us in excess. Thank you to all of you who have and continue to give to us. Through your gifts we have felt abundantly blessed and we are able to face this time with great peace and comfort. You have no idea how big of a deal that is!

Thank you for your continued prayers. I know I say that in every email and every posting, but I can't say thank you enough. We are excited to report back that we are encouraged and feel that those prayers are being answered in a very visible way.

With love and gratitude...

A Most Memorable St. Patrick's Day!

This morning started out to be a tough day. Marc's pain was up and just riding in the car was excruciating. The emotional aspect of today was hard, too. After 28 days of being poked, prodded, scanned, scoped, x-rayed, purged and hospitalized, we were finally doing something about his cancer. Up until today everything was about diagnosing what he had. So, it was
with great relief and gratitude that he was starting chemotherapy today.

I just have to say that my hubby is a stud. He handled his treatment beautifully -- even polishing off a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and some almonds for lunch while taking his treatment. He got in the car afterwards and ate a homemade cinnamon roll (thanks, Sheila!) . Needless to say the nausea and ill side effects haven't been a factor yet. For this we are tremendously grateful!

Over the next 46 hours he will be at home taking the remainder of his treatment. He has a portable pump that delivers his chemotherapy until Thursday. He will go in Thursday morning and have it removed and will be good to go for another 12 days. The best part is that it all fits neatly in our schedule for our kids and school. The less disruption for them right now, the better. God is good! We are beginning to achieve a new "normal."

I want to say a special thanks to Jennifer for taking Julia today and for making another amazing meal. Many thanks to Sheila for spontaneously taking Sophia so that I could hang out with Marc all day at the clinic. The cinnamon rolls were awesome, too -- Marc is enjoying them immensely. Thanks, Dave, for keeping us company at the clinic and for treating me to lunch. It was nice to get out for a breath of non-hospital air.

We are encouraged that today was the start of something good. We have hope...

Psalm 41

1 Blessed is he who considers the poor,
The Lord will deliver him in time of
trouble.
2 The Lord will preserve him and keep him
alive,
And he will be blessed on the earth;
You will not deliver him to the will of his
enemies.
3The Lord will strengthen him on his bed of
illness;
You will sustain him on his sickbed.

Please continue to pray that this treatment is highly effective and that these tumors respond. Pray for Marc's strength and health in the coming weeks -- his body is going to get worn down a bit with this and keeping healthy is key. Pray that the side effects will stay away. It's nice to see him to continue with a healthy appetite.

With love and gratitude...

Marc is Home

I never saw myself as a potential blogger, but here I am. Just another indication that life doesn't always go as I envisioned it. Never say never.

I have tried to keep everyone up to date on Marc's progress; however, I'm finding that I have so many names to add to my email list that I just can't keep up. So, the blogspot has hopefully become the solution. My goal is that this will allow everyone that would like the opportunity to keep up with Marc and his treatment informed.

Today Marc was released from the hospital. He was finally able to have the barium test that they had been trying to do for three days. We don't have results from those images yet, but we anticipate the doctor will update us tomorrow. Anyhow, he is home and filling up on favorite foods. After a day and a half of liquid diet he was eager to eat something solid. He is also looking forward to a night of uninterrupted sleep. Hospitals are less than conducive for rest!

Tomorrow is his first day of chemotherapy. They changed his regimen from two hours in the clinic and 22 out, to six hours in the clinic and two days of treatment at home on a pump. He will go back in on the third day and have them unhook his pump. He will then be "off" for twelve days. We are grateful that tomorrow will be his first day on the road to recovery!

We remain ever grateful for all of the prayers and support. We feel like we are out of the crisis mode that has had us scrambling for a month and into more of a routine. Unfortunately routines can become a grind and I anticipate that there are a lot of weary days ahead. We are praying for stamina along with healing for Marc and for our little family. We are also praying for stamina for our support group. Those that have committed to helping us with kids and projects are at risk of burning out, too. We are already witnessing the effects of this emotional and physical roller coaster on our loved ones.

Things to pray for and be thankful for:

PRAY THAT...

• Marc will respond well to treatment and the side effects are minimal. We would love a miraculous healing :)
• The kids will settle down. They had a rough weekend and we are experiencing some BIG emotions.
• I am able to maintain health and stamina. I'm doing great right now and would like to stay that way. I need to be a lot of things to my husband and family right now.
• Our support network of friends and families does not get too overwhelmed. We couldn't do this without the help of many hands.

BE THANKFUL THAT...

• Marc is feeling better and his pain is under control.
• Marc's employer has been so kind and generous. Their help and support has given us peace about a lot of financial issues surrounding Marc's treatment.
• Jesse Moore was willing to take our horses off our hands for awhile. This was a huge answer to prayer.
• We appear to have a wonderful and respected oncologist. He has been a blessing and we feel very comfortable with him.

I will try to be at this place again tomorrow and update you on how his treatment went. Given his great attitude and strong spirit, I anticipate good things. Thank you to all of you who have chosen to pray for us and support us. We are grateful.