BEST URDU POETRY WALPAPERS QUOTES IMAGES

Dad's MRI is stable! All is good, with another MRI in about 4 months.  We are so incredibly blessed and have so much to be thankful for.  Thank you all for being on this journey with us, and thank you for helping us BTHO Brain Cancer!

I looked back and realized it has almost been one month since I last updated everyone- but as I've said before, no news is typically good news! October FLEW by and here we are getting ready for Thanksgiving...and another upcoming MRI.  Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays- from food, family, and, of course, a break from work!- how could you not love this time of year?  Dad has been feeling well, and doing well! Y'all, the blessings have been shown to us in so many ways. I can't believe it's been over 4 years since we found out about Dad's diagnosis.  But as thankful as we are, and as much as we look forward to another Thanksgiving with Dad, the upcoming MRI still lingers in my mind.  For those of you that have experienced upcoming scans- you know the feeling I'm talking about. The gut-wrenching concern, anxiety and overall fear. And as I was looking at my calendar, I couldn't help but see the dreaded "MRI" drawn on a date.  My heart sank.  B...

Today we get to celebrate someone's birthday that has managed to hold this family together throughout the years- especially these last 4 years- and someone who has become everyone's favorite Mutz.  Happy Birthday Mom! I could go on and on about Mom- her dedication, her faith, her determination- but then my post would be pages and pages long, and Mom would call me to tell me how I give her too much credit. (Y'all, I NEVER give her too much credit- if anything she doesn't get enough credit) She's selfless, she's hard headed (usually in a good way!), she's faithful, she's kind, and she's reliable. She goes out of her way to take care of her three girls, and now three grand babies. She does all the things for her grand babies that she would never allow us girls to do growing up- like eating m&ms before dinner, or staying up late to watch tv- or getting EVERY toy out to play with and making the house look like a tornado came through- and maybe my favo...

Today marks Dad's 4 YEAR Cancerversary. Y'all FOUR YEARS!  Statistically, only 7% of Glioblastoma patients live to four years. We are so incredibly lucky. And we are so incredibly blessed.  And as this day comes, it's hard to not take some time to think back on these last four years- four years that have been an absolute roller coaster, with lots of lows- but also some incredible highs.  The day of Dad's seizure, the day of his first MRI result, the day of his surgery, those moments feel like they happened just yesterday- and then I think back to the blur that was the months that followed. The daily chemotherapy & radiation treatments, the alarms set all through the night for Dad to wake up to take his steroid medication, the countless nights where I slept on the couch "just in case" something happened, and the endless talks I had with the man upstairs- I sometimes wonder how we survived it all.  And as much as that feels like just yesterday, it's hard...

Today marks Dad's 63rd birthday, and 3 years & 10 months as a brain cancer survivor! Clearly we have A LOT to be celebrating! Dad is still off of all treatments, as it's been one year since we decided to stop his chemotherapy- one amazing year of Dad not having to take those dreaded chemo pills that made him sick for weeks, one amazing year with MRIs that have shown no signs of cancer, and one amazing year celebrating each little moment in our lives. It's crazy to think when this whole journey started Dad was not yet a "Paw-Paw", and now he's got THREE little ones that he gets to spoil.  Dad's cancer is unpredictable, and we are all too aware that at any moment Dad can show signs of growth or an MRI can show his tumor returning- but we are also all too aware of how LUCKY we are. It's something we do not take lightly, as we appreciate the little things, and celebrate Dad each chance we get.  So as usual, here's my Birthday Letter to the best Dad...

"God promises us pain." Words I keep trying to repeat over and over again.  This week my heart has been so heavy with the news of two brain cancer fighters, both who lost their battle way too early.  I was reconnected with one of these fighters just this year, in January to be exact, with a message that said, "I want to let you know that reading your blogs have really been helping a lot. Especially my parents." Our conversations were fairly constant over these last months, reaching out to ask how treatments were going, letting her know our family was praying so very hard, and just being there to provide some sort of hope for her.  And as much as I tried to constantly lift her spirits and provide her hope, it was really the complete opposite, as each and every conversation left me being reminded that God truly gives his toughest battles to his strongest soldiers. Each conversation reminded me that faith can truly be bigger than any fear.  Her words spoke volumes of h...

It's been 4 months since our last MRI. 4 months?!?  We were spending hours at the Cancer Clinic every two weeks for Avastin treatment and appointments with Dr. Fleener- I have joked before that the Cancer Clinic became our second home- And now, it's been weird not being there for 4 months.  Dad's MRI was GREAT! He is still considered to be in remission, as there is no sign of tumor or any indication that the cancer is back. Y'all, God is very good.  My devotional today was just perfect, as when I'm asked what is our "secret" to Dad's success- my response is always our faith and the amazing power of prayer.  (Oh, and the countless people supporting us on this journey- friends and family, y'all have been AMAZING!) "I broaden the path beneath you so that your ankles do not turn. This shows how intricately I am involved in your life-journey. I know exactly what is before you, and I can alter the path ahead of you to make your way easier. Sometimes...