Oh Happy Day!

God’s amazing little surprises (this will bless you)

Grains of Sand Magnified  Just beautiful!

 

The Most Powerful Rendition of “Amazing Grace” You Will Probably Ever Hear!

(Click the image to view video)

Praise!

After 10 long days, hubby is home from the hospital.  We will know when Chemo starts once we see the oncologist in January, but we know he’ll take it every 2 weeks for 6 months.  Everyone is glad to have him home for Christmas.  Prognosis is very good.  Thanks so much, to everyone who has been praying for us!  I’ll likely not be doing as much posting for a while, with kids and hubby all home and only one computer, and besides all that, I’m pretty tired.  But we are praising God that the doctor he saw last week had the presence of mind to do the CBC which led to finding the tumor when we did.   The doctors and nurses were all absolutely the very best and took such great care of him, and went out of their way to make sure we had all the information we needed, and to encourage us.  We are so grateful and looking forward to celebrating a simple Christmas at home together.

On a personal note

If you have been with me here at Servehiminthewaiting for a while, you know that the foundation of the blog is faith in the Lord Jesus, and my personal experience of walking with Him as my Lord and Savior through day-to-day life.  I am prone to break away from all the news from time to time just to chit-chat a little about life, and whatever the Lord is teaching me at the moment.  Usually through circumstances.  And as far as “circumstances” go, I feel safe in saying 2012 has been a record year for our family, (read about it in my early archives back in March through June) however I think that a huge number of other people can say the very same thing right now.  If you’re not going through something really big yourself, someone in your immediate circle is, probably several someones.

From the end of 2011 to June of this year, my own health took a very bad turn with medical conditions I already had, exacerbating to a new level so significant as to have us looking for yet another possible diagnosis like auto-immune disorders.  What causes a flare like that is yet a mystery for doctors, but Fibromyalgia plus Narcolepsy with Cataplexy, plus arthritis and back problems and Bipolar, toss in a very immoderate “re-do” of our basement as a teenage hang-out place for the boys, 2 deaths in the past 3 months of a very dear friend and neighbor and then of my Dad, and this week’s news feels like it’s simply the “next thing” because that is life and it’s just how it is now.  God never promised us a rose garden.  He promised we would have trouble and trials and tribulations.

My husband had not been feeling well for a few months.  We both figured after the stress we’ve had, he was “just run down” as we say here in the South.  A few weeks ago he had what he thought was a stomach bug, which has been going around.  He also noticed when he raked leaves he was getting awful short of breath with not a whole lot of  exertion.   He has also been having restless leg issues at night, that have kept him awake or at least from getting a really restful night.  It is nearly impossible to get this man to make a doctor’s appointment, but when he left work early on Tuesday, I sent him straight back out the door to the local Doc-in-the-Box (Patient First).

The doctor there was on his toes.  He drew a basic CBC and discovered his Hemoglobin was low.  Dangerously low.  So off to the E.R., which became an admission, followed by 2 days of various unpleasant preps and tests, which led to the diagnosis of Colon Cancer we got on the same day as that horrible school shooting. A day like that after a year like that is enough to break a person, but thank our good God, He carries us, holds us up, and takes us through.

You’d think as a former hospice/oncology nurse with GI experience, I’d be scared to death.  I know the statistics.  I know the treatment.

But God!

I have not had one twinge of fear thus far.  And here is the crazy part.  I know what shock and dissociating feel like, because as a survivor of sexual assault,  I have experienced shock.  That is not what this is.  It is peace.  That peace the Bible talks about, you know, the one that surpasses all understanding.

When he first came back from the final test where they found the tumor, his nurse was dreading speaking to me, she later said.  She is a new nurse, young, expecting her second baby, and it was the day of the elementary school shooting.  It was too much.  She had been told by the reporting nurse from endoscopy how large the tumor was.  (The word “massive” was used.) But when she told me, I just said, “ok, that’s all I need to know right now, thank you.”  We waited a very long time to hear from the doctor himself, and he didn’t mince words.  “This is serious, I want to keep you here, and lets get this thing taken care of”.  My husband was a little shocky the first day that we found out there was a tumor, but it was another 24 hours before we had tht in-depth discussion with the surgeon and knew all there was to know.  Including pictures.  By that time, my husband had also entered into that peace which comes when Christian brothers and sisters are praying for you.

We will not know until after surgery, in which they remove 8 inches of his colon, what the “bottom line prognosis” is.  They will take lymph nodes.  The tumor is 2-3 years old already.  And is right by the liver.  Thankfully there does not seem to be any liver involvement at this point.  All histology/pathology should be in by midweek this week.

Our boys, 16 and 14, are taking it like the troupers they are, and our family and church are all aware and praying, and we know they are there for us.  Garrett and I are watching for what good things God is preparing to bring out of this because that is what He promises; that all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purposes.

We realize the most serious implications and possibilities, and we know that God is sufficient no matter the outcome.  But we believe we are fixing to see God do something amazing in our lives and through this.  Again, no matter the outcome.  Because if the Lord takes my husband home, though it would be hard, though it would be terribly painful, I know that I know, it will be okay.  He will take care of us.  And oh how happy I would be for my husband.  Jealous, yeah, like when my Dad died, that he too will have seen Jesus face to face.  But I will have the Holy Spirit Comforter here with me and the boys. So it’ll be okay because Jehovah Jirah is my provider and His grace is sufficient.  Praise God in the good, praise Him in the bad, praise His Holy Name because He is worthy of that praise.

So of course, we ask for your continued prayers.  Pray for the doctors and nurses, that God, our Great Physician, will use them as His own hands to perform the surgery.  That His wisdom will be in them, and that God’s will be done.  Pray for me that I will keep sleeping well, keep clear-headed, and have the stamina I need to keep up with things around home while he recoups, and pray for the process of filing the proper paperwork with his job, and all insurances will cover things as they are supposed to, including (Praise the Lord) short-term disability, as he will be out of work until sometime in January.

And if you happen to be reading this, and do not know the Lord as your Savior, I want you to know that this is the kind of God I serve.  He is mighty and powerful and loving, and righteous.  There are tabs above my blog-stream that will tell you more about how you can know Him too.

 

 

 

Silent Night, Celtic style with Lindsey Stirling

Just pause and think upon Jesus a minute!

The Amazing Artistry of God!

http://youtu.be/6v2L2UGZJAM  Link Shared by Lyn Leahz.  (Thanks Lyn!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXT38GS1Hrw&feature=endscreen&NR=1

Glory Break!!! Praise the God of Wonders!

Mt. Ranier, a Shadow on Clouds

Moon Bridge in Dahu Park, Taipei

 

 

 

World’s Edge

Fractal patterns in dried out desert rivers

 

Adaptive roots in the concrete jungle

 

The Hamilton Pool Nature Preserve

The stunning Green Vine Snake (He’s pretty and he knows it!)

Most Incredible Aurora of 2012

Striking artistry of multiple takeoffs at Hannover Airport

Serenity Now

ROTFL

My Greatest Earthly Treasures, Safe in God’s Hands

A sweeter nature you could not find on God’s Earth

He takes joy in my need of him,

and pleasure in serving me

And humble pride in providing for his family.

He fixes our coffee every morning,

and insists on bringing me my first cup.

He has always been willing to help out

around the house, and with the kids.

No such thing as “your job, my job”

A great dad!

When he gives me gifts he gets excited as a little boy

At the anticipation that I should be pleased

So very gentle and un-assuming

Always considerate and solicitous

He puts gas in my car

And fixes my medicine at night

And when I am not well, he gives and gives all he has

So I can save my strength for getting better.

When I am gone, he misses me terribly and can’t sleep well

And eagerly welcomes me home with kisses and smiles

He fusses and worries over the kids like a “mother hen”

And has the patience of Job.

My heart overflows with gratitude

For this man God has given me to share my life.

Our love, and camaraderie are hard-won and fought-for, purified in the furnace of trials

and very much prayed-over, and we are foremost the best of friends.

I love him best when I see him

Sitting in the sleepy morning lamp-light

With Bible open on his lap

And eyes closed in prayer.

For if there is one prayer for me which I know my Father hears, it is that prayer of my husband.

We have, by God’s gracious generosity, two phenomenal sons, at which we never cease to wonder.

God Himself only, knows how He selected us for His blessed gift

Of the honor and privilege of administering the bringing-up and nurturing of two such delightful beings.

           (Name Banners courtesy MyHebrewName.com)

“Son of my right hand” and “God has remembered” and also “in remembrance of the Lord”

is the meaning of the first-born’s name.

He is….

Soft and spare of speech

Introspective

Serious of responsibility

Endowed of self-motivation

Subtle and self-deprecating of humor

Quick of learning

Observant

Wise beyond his years

Uninhibited of confidence

Practical of action

Quick to forgive

Measured and determined

Loyal and consistent

Gifted artist and born-musician

Compassionate

“Has his wits about him”

          ***

            

 
“Laughter” and “Gift from God”

is the meaning of the name of the younger

He is…

Highly perceptive and empathetic of others

Extremely articulate

Not easily impressed nor swayed

Intrinsically funny and droll, sharp of wit

Complex and multi-faceted

Innovative and resourceful

Keen of intellect

Analytical

Possessing of a stalwart sense of justice

Entertaining and spontaneous of play

Methodical and systematic of work

Consistently inconsistent

Strong of conviction

Original

Gifted artist and mimic

We take no credit for what God has made them.  We handed them back the very day they were delivered, dedicated to Him, and bestowed with strong names which we fully expected them to grow into and live up to by God’s grace.  In only a few more years, if the Lord tarries, they will be launching out.  We pray they find God’s individual design and plan for their lives, and live to glorify Him in whatever they do.  We pray God will not allow them to suffer for our insufficiencies, and that He would make up where we have lacked, and asked that He would take them from us and to His own bosom, if that is what it takes to keep Satan from having them.  Our contribution consisted mostly of lots of love, lots of prayer, and pizza.  We hug them often, talk until they tire of hearing our voices, pray over them and let them go in God’s hand.  We fuss and bicker like any family does, but we do not part with issues unresolved and “I love you’s” left un-spoken.  From the time they were born, knowing how our elders always said “they grow up so fast, enjoy them while you can”, we did so!  When they became teens, needing a little space to branch out, we allowed it, but mama still hugs and ”smooches on them “when their friends aren’t around, and they still let me.  Dad still wrestles, but now instead of reminding the older child that he is older and stronger than the younger child I have to remind hubby that teenager is younger and more lithe than he.  But they love their dad, and they love mama too.   What’s best is, they even seem to like us pretty well!

We have everything we need, and the Lord at the head.  This joy that I have didn’t come from this world, and this world can’t take it away.  Whether these loved ones are here, elsewhere in the world, or even taken away in death, I will always know where they are; In God’s hands!

There is no greater peace.