Finished!!! Round 6 of 6, 18 weeks of full-force, curative chemotherapy, is in the books. I celebrated with a nice bowl of pasta and meat sauce, which gave my chemo-dominated taste buds a "sorry, no seats available for you" message.  Back to the high protein, low-carb regimen tomorrow, but golly gee, that pasta was gooooood.

Lots lays ahead:

• Medically speaking: Radiology assessment will be done and plan laid out, plus monthly maintenance meds through next February to prevent any further cancerous growth. (My medical team and those who have walked this route before me have assured that this next phase is like a cakewalk compared to chemotherapy);
• Congregationally Focused: The usual stuff of weekly worship and preaching, VBS, two weddings, and prepping for other Summer-Fall transitional ministry season ahead at Grace;
• Videotaping a segment on Legacy Giving for a video series being produced by the NALC Living and Giving Stewardship Team. 
• Leading the North American Lutheran Seminary's Development Committee in debriefing our May 2019 Seminary Appeal -- Thanks to all who donated! -- and preparing for future fund development in behalf of the Seminary of the North American Lutheran Church.  
• NALC Nexxus Institute at Grand View University, Des Moines -- Pastor is going along with two fine young women of Grace who are among the attendees selected. 
• 50th anniversary of FFA Washington DC Leadership Conference -- kicking off the Braasch Family's endowment that will help underwrite this premiere youth leadership event into the next 50 years and beyond. 
• Getting ready for a full and exciting NALC "Lutheran Week" in Indianapolis Aug. 5-9. May the Church known as the NALC come together in one maturing mind of holy wisdom, courageous discernment, and decision-making that honors, balances and implements all four NALC Core Values: Christ-centered, Mission-Driven, Traditionally-grounded and Congregationally-Focused. 
• Maintaining the physical, mental and spiritual balance, 24/7/365, that's needed to live with and beyond cancer. Ora et labora! Pray and Work! Get away to rest and relax with Jesus, just as he did and instructed his first disciples to do, but also call upon his precious name and holy wisdom, in the moment and over time, wherever his call leads. Jesus has already completed the hard, necessary, salvific work of the Cross, once, for all. In carrying our own crosses, as his body and individually as members of it, we're given the privilege of pointing others along the way to Jesus AND being constantly pointed, drawn back, to balance, shalom, to rest in and with Christ, incarnate, crucified risen and returning. 

I continue to thank God for your prayerful encouragement, even occasional admonishments (!) and willingness to walk me through cancer. You all are James 5:16b People -- "The fervent prayers of the righteous are powerful and effective" -and they have been so beneficial in the hardest of moments as well as on the better days.

May it be well with your souls, as it surely is with mine.

In Christ, 
Cathi