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Showing posts from August, 2016

Quick Dad Update 8/31/2016

It's with such a heavy heart that I make this post, but as each of you have celebrated during the good times with Dad's cancer battle, you've each also helped pray with us throughout the bad- and right now, we are asking for lots of prayers. We are noticing some changes to Dad and we are concerned this is the result of the cancer returning. We have moved up our next MRI with hopes of knowing what exactly is going on so we can figure out our next steps.  Right now, God's plan doesn't seem exactly perfect, but if I've learned anything these last 3 years, it's that His plan is always perfect, sometimes it just takes a while to see it fululy. Re-reading this devotional today in hopes my soul is filled with calmness and hope in whatever journey is ahead. "Follow me one step at a time. That is all I require of you. You see huge mountains looming, and you start wondering how you're going to scale those heights...But you don't know what will happen toda...

Happy Birthday Dad! 8/18/2016

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Today we celebrate the birthday of one of my favorite people, someone who has experienced joy and heartache, celebrations and defeats- but throughout it all has had a smile on his face, and such strong faith running through his soul. I can't put into words how incredibly proud I am to call this man my Dad. Throughout the years he's supported me 100%- from the many hours on the softball field, to volleyball games, and FCCLA events, and not to mention those years in college- he's always questioned my choices with good intentions, provided advice when my heart needed it the most, and has loved me throughout it all.  Each day I see fight and determination in his eyes, as he fights each day to not only beat cancer (as that's just a bi-product of his attitude) but he fights to live life to the fullest, to continue to smile through the pain, and make each of us proud. I learned so quickly just three short years ago that life is in fact short, and I also learned very quickly th...

We Went With Our Heart. Dad Update 8/11/2016

From phone calls, text messages, Facebook messages, emails, and those of you who stopped any of us to share that you've been praying for us, and with us, in making our big decision in Dad's treatment plan- thank you! That little blog post that shared some of my emotions of fear, anxiety and concern received over 700 views. I can't even begin to put into words what it means to know that we have so many people following our story and continuing on this journey with us one step at a time.  I'm not sure if my head and my heart will ever be on the same page when it comes to the treatment options for Dad, but what I do know is that I had a chance to have a one on one conversation with Dad- just me and him. And I asked him, flat out asked him what HE wanted to do- and he said he would do whatever we thought was best. And I stopped him and again asked, 'No Dad, what do YOU want?" And he wanted a break from the treatment . And that was my moment of clarity. For so long ...

Head and Heart. Dad Update 8/1/2016

In just a few short days, we will have reached 34 months in our battle against brain cancer. And I would be lying if I said that brain cancer hasn't been a pretty big mountain in our lives these last 34 months- one that we have tried so hard to move, just inch my inch. Inch by Inch-because I truly do believe we've been assigned this mountain to prove to others that it CAN be moved.  But sometimes the mountain feels impossible to move, sometimes the weight of our own anxiety, stress, fear and sadness weighs the mountain down more than we can imagine. And this weight was so very clear to me this weekend. Sunday I helped Mom clean out the bathroom, as my parents decided to re-do the bathroom/shower to make it easier for both my Dad, and my Mom. But as we cleaned out cabinet by cabinet, we came across the medicine cabinet- one with empty chemotherapy bottles (I would guess at least 30 bottles), and my heart sank.  My mind went back to Thursday night when I received a phone call fr...