Journal entry by Debi Habern —
Dear family and friends,
The last few months have been challenging to say the least. On December 29, I tested positive for Covid and was in the hospital for six days. Even after being released from the hospital, it took me another week to begin to feel better and back to normal. On January 7, my precious mother, at the age of 100, went home to be with the Lord. She passed away peacefully in her cottage at Lake Forest Good Samaritan Village. A month later, on February 2, my husband, Richard, passed away after a long battle with Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD), which is a form of dementia. I was in Houston beginning my 5th round of chemo when I received the call. I wish that I could have been with him but my 5th round of chemo had already been postponed for ten days because my doctor felt like I needed more time to recover from Covid. Our son, John, was at his dad's side and Richard passed away peacefully in his sleep. Though they will be missed on this earth, both my mother and Richard knew Christ as their Savior and are both made whole again and are in the presence of God. We had a memorial service for Richard on March 5 and are planning a service for my mother in the spring.
I continue to be so grateful for all of the prayer support, the sweet text messages and emails, and the many cards and letters. I wish I could thank each of you personally. The Lord has used them to encourage me, to comfort me, and to let me know that I am not alone on my journey. So many times a text or phone call, a card or letter will come just when I need a little or sometimes a big boost. God is good to us that way, isn't He?
Though I have finished all six rounds of chemo, I leave this afternoon to return to MD Anderson for the first of two additional treatments. These two treatments are being done as a precaution to make sure there are no Lymphoma cells hiding in my brain. Both of these treatments will require a 2-3 day stay in the hospital. I will return to MD Anderson in three weeks for the second treatment. I would appreciate continued prayers over this treatment. I am not sure what to expect in the way of side effects but I'm trusting the Lord to carry me through as He has been so faithful to do thus far.
As many of you know, I love music and I particularly love the old hymns that I grew up singing in church standing next to my parents and my siblings. Throughout my journey with cancer, I have noticed that on many days the words to a hymn will pop into my mind and I will find myself singing and be comforted by the words. A few weeks ago, the hymn "Day by Day" came to my mind. I haven't sung this hymn in years but the words were as clear to me as if I were ten years old and standing next to my mother and hearing her beautiful alto voice. The words are so comforting to me. In these uncertain times in which we are living, we need to be reminded often that God is with us day by day through our trials. Even though we may feel things are spinning out of control (and many things ARE out of our control) but He sovereignly reigns over all that occurs. He loves us and as the hymn says we are His children and His treasure. We only see a few of the puzzle pieces at a time but he sees the whole puzzle completed. I hope you will take a few minutes more to read that words to this beautiful hymn and I pray you will be comforted by them wherever you are in your journey through this life. I am so thankful for each of you and for your faithful encouragement and prayers. May God richly bless you today.
With a thankful heart,
Debi
Day by day, and with each passing moment,
Strength I find to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father's wise bestowment,
I've not cause for worry or for fear.
He, whose heart is kind beyond all measure,
Gives unto each day what He deems best,
Lovingly its part of pain and pleasure, Mingling toil with peace and rest.
Every day the Lord Himself is near me,
With a special mercy for each hour;
All my cares He fain would bear and cheer me.
He whose name is Counselor and Power.
The protection of His child and treasure
Is a charge that on Himself He laid;
As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,
This the pledge to me He made.
Help me then, in every tribulation,
So to trust They promises, O Lord,
That I lose not faith's sweet consolation,
Offered me within Thy holy Word.
Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,
E'er to take, as from a father's hand,
One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,
Till I reach the promised land.
The last few months have been challenging to say the least. On December 29, I tested positive for Covid and was in the hospital for six days. Even after being released from the hospital, it took me another week to begin to feel better and back to normal. On January 7, my precious mother, at the age of 100, went home to be with the Lord. She passed away peacefully in her cottage at Lake Forest Good Samaritan Village. A month later, on February 2, my husband, Richard, passed away after a long battle with Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD), which is a form of dementia. I was in Houston beginning my 5th round of chemo when I received the call. I wish that I could have been with him but my 5th round of chemo had already been postponed for ten days because my doctor felt like I needed more time to recover from Covid. Our son, John, was at his dad's side and Richard passed away peacefully in his sleep. Though they will be missed on this earth, both my mother and Richard knew Christ as their Savior and are both made whole again and are in the presence of God. We had a memorial service for Richard on March 5 and are planning a service for my mother in the spring.
I continue to be so grateful for all of the prayer support, the sweet text messages and emails, and the many cards and letters. I wish I could thank each of you personally. The Lord has used them to encourage me, to comfort me, and to let me know that I am not alone on my journey. So many times a text or phone call, a card or letter will come just when I need a little or sometimes a big boost. God is good to us that way, isn't He?
Though I have finished all six rounds of chemo, I leave this afternoon to return to MD Anderson for the first of two additional treatments. These two treatments are being done as a precaution to make sure there are no Lymphoma cells hiding in my brain. Both of these treatments will require a 2-3 day stay in the hospital. I will return to MD Anderson in three weeks for the second treatment. I would appreciate continued prayers over this treatment. I am not sure what to expect in the way of side effects but I'm trusting the Lord to carry me through as He has been so faithful to do thus far.
As many of you know, I love music and I particularly love the old hymns that I grew up singing in church standing next to my parents and my siblings. Throughout my journey with cancer, I have noticed that on many days the words to a hymn will pop into my mind and I will find myself singing and be comforted by the words. A few weeks ago, the hymn "Day by Day" came to my mind. I haven't sung this hymn in years but the words were as clear to me as if I were ten years old and standing next to my mother and hearing her beautiful alto voice. The words are so comforting to me. In these uncertain times in which we are living, we need to be reminded often that God is with us day by day through our trials. Even though we may feel things are spinning out of control (and many things ARE out of our control) but He sovereignly reigns over all that occurs. He loves us and as the hymn says we are His children and His treasure. We only see a few of the puzzle pieces at a time but he sees the whole puzzle completed. I hope you will take a few minutes more to read that words to this beautiful hymn and I pray you will be comforted by them wherever you are in your journey through this life. I am so thankful for each of you and for your faithful encouragement and prayers. May God richly bless you today.
With a thankful heart,
Debi
Day by day, and with each passing moment,
Strength I find to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father's wise bestowment,
I've not cause for worry or for fear.
He, whose heart is kind beyond all measure,
Gives unto each day what He deems best,
Lovingly its part of pain and pleasure, Mingling toil with peace and rest.
Every day the Lord Himself is near me,
With a special mercy for each hour;
All my cares He fain would bear and cheer me.
He whose name is Counselor and Power.
The protection of His child and treasure
Is a charge that on Himself He laid;
As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,
This the pledge to me He made.
Help me then, in every tribulation,
So to trust They promises, O Lord,
That I lose not faith's sweet consolation,
Offered me within Thy holy Word.
Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,
E'er to take, as from a father's hand,
One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,
Till I reach the promised land.
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