Gosh, starting these is always so hard. 

This round, Colton did a brain and spine MRI as well as a PET. The combination of all of these things allows doctors to assess the disease throughout his entire body. 

There are no new growths anywhere in his body and his brain MRI remained stable, even when compared with September. Four months of no change. 

This is the best news we can hope for outside of complete, miraculous healing. 

The docs pushed his next scan out 3 months (instead of 2), so next round will be April 3rd where he will do only a brain MRI and see the radiation oncologist. He also graduated to seeing the medical oncologist annually, as long as his brain scans remain stable. He won't do another PET or spinal MRI for another year unless changes in the brain are imaged or he has symptoms suggesting more imaging is necessary. 

He still can't walk in a straight line, has nausea most mornings and headaches more days than he doesn't, but GOD, WE ARE THANKFUL. 

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At the beginning of 2023 when things didn't look so great, I asked his medical oncologist what he would do if he was in our position. Like, how would a medical oncologist, who has seen it all in the cancer world, live his life with the diagnosis that Colton has?

He told us that he would buy a one-way ticket to his home country, spend time with his family, and stop getting scans/treatment. As harsh as that sounds, I was overwhelmingly grateful for his honesty. 

Today, Colton reminded him of this conversation and asked, "With these scans, would you fly back here and live your life?" 

He said yes. 

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"Here's the bottom line. The Christian life, the church, our faith are not about us, they're about Him--His plan, His kingdom, His glory." -- This was the first line in the New Morning Mercies devotional Colton started on January 1st. 

Somewhere in 2023, I knew in my heart that I was praying to Jesus, "Your will be done, but please, as long as it stops hurting me." I knew that's not what He wanted from me. I knew I needed to pray, "Not my will, but Yours be done." I'm so grateful that I worship a father that loves me through my duplicity. Loves me when I doubt. Loves me when I'm angry. Loves me when I'm impatient. Loves me when I hold hate in my heart. 

I'm thankful that I can't get in the way of His plans, and that for now, this is His plan. I'm thankful that this story, this life of ours, has never been out of His hands. Nothing along the way surprised Him. He was never confused in our confusion, He has always remained good, wise, and kind. 

Today, we get to rejoice. We get to experience some answered prayers on this side of heaven. We know that this doesn't mean that the cancer won't ever become active again, but we're not going to live in that fear. We are going to rejoice on the mountaintop today. 

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If you're into music, give Kind by Cory Asbury a listen. 

Much love.