The difference is I know I’m not alone and that it is for my overall gain and His glory. 

Don’t you just love it when He refers to us as “beloved” or “my child”? It is so personal. So intimate. Just as our relationship with Jesus should be.

Lots of life has happened since I last wrote an entry. 

Surgery went really well, and my surgeon was actually able to close up any pockets or voids internally where fluid could potentially fill back up, so I actually awoke without any drains, much to the dismay of the nurses.  After 6 days in the hospital, I came home with a newly installed PICC line and a change in antibiotics, which we’re hopeful will do the trick. 

Surgery was more aggressive this time than I imagined, but I’m all in if that’s what it takes to knock out this infection. Even though Infectious Disease (ID) said that’s not possible and we just have to suppress it, we know God is still in the miracle business. A good 14” incision right above where my largest scar was is my latest body beautification — from my left side, to my spine, and then continued down a bit.

We are all believing God is going to remove ALL of the infection. Post op appointment is scheduled for this Thursday. Can’t wait for these staples to come out!

Chris and I had our traditional meal with Dad and Angie the night before the surgery. It’s a sucky reason to have the tradition, but it’s also the part of any of my surgeries we enjoy the most.

In true fashion, Chris was with me every step of the way. I’m so blessed to have him as my husband, care giver, and best friend.

I was encouraged, wisely, to take the remainder of the week off from work to heal and rest, and I am glad I listened because my body needed lots of it. It feels good to be back to work and productive again. 

I’ve had the opportunity since this last surgery to join the amazing worship singers at our new church, with the first being the weekend of resurrection day — starting with Good Friday. Four short days after getting home from the hospital, God gave me the strength to walk up the steps (with help) to join this amazing group on stage, and on Sunday, sing in two services. After a great lunch with Eli and Storm, nap time…and boy did my body nap. 

I can’t express what joy I felt being able to worship my Lord in song!!! 

It isn’t lost on me what a miracle it is that my body had the capacity to stand, walk up stairs, and be on stage — while using full lung and diaphragm capacity for two hours — a week after an aggressive surgery where a quarter of my waist line was severed. No extra pain meds were needed either. That is God. 

Unfortunately, we’ve also experienced two deaths of loved ones. One was a friend from college who was a fraternity brother of Chris’s. The other, a fellow cancer warrior whose name I’ve mentioned here asking for prayer. 

Sybil has won the war and is now home and whole. Now I ask you for prayer for her best friend, care partner, and husband, Chris.  

I’ve also learned that survivor guilt is real. So many have experienced it, yet it’s rarely discussed. Why are some of the cancer warriors taken while others remain? I don’t have an answer, but that question sat heavy on my heart hearing about Sybil’s passing while seated in a restaurant in Knoxville following Adam’s service. It also hit me last year at the passing of Garrett, who battled Sarcoma, like me. 

I don’t know why. But I trust that God does and has a plan. These devastating pains of life and questions aren’t foreign to Him. He comforts in the midst of them and provides opportunities for us to shoulder these burdens together. Laughing while sharing memories always helps. 

Side note: Bless the waitress who quietly brought me a handful of cocktail napkins when she saw me crying. Funny note: Chris looked at her as she dropped them off and said, “it wasn’t my fault”. Ha! He can always make me laugh. 🥹

Thank you for your continued prayers. They are more precious than gold to us.

One last  B I G  bit of news… 

Our family is in the midst of experiencing great change as we are stepping out in BOLD FAITH in many areas, but primarily this:  Chris resigned from his job at Ivy Academy. While we still love and support the school, we’ll be doing so now as parents.

After much prayer and fasting, Chris has resigned so that he can focus his attention on family and the farm. He wants to be there for me in all things, and let’s face it, I need a lot of support from a medical standpoint with appointments and such that are difficult to be fully present for when you’re also trying to manage a lot of responsibility that doesn’t stop. Additionally, our goal is to move to our property and get the farmland productive so that we may have a working timber (and more) farm.

We are so excited about this change, but would love your prayers for protection for our family as we work to be obedient to His direction in full faith.

All my love. ❤️