After two years of COVID restrictions and almost a year of cancer treatments, 2022 was a welcomed change.  Perhaps it was the best year of my life.  Why you may ask?  I think that I can really appreciate the beauty of a “normal” day.  I love the sun shining and the ability to move my body in health while playing pickleball or stretching out in a yoga class.  I love the simplicity of going to the grocery store and planning a fresh meal.  I cherish having friends gathered around my table as we share a meal and fellowship together.

This year was filled with amazing highlights.  Traveling to Roma and Napoli with Monica Udell.  Serving in Ukraine with Samaritan’s Purse.  Two months in Boston caring for our precious granddaughter, Ada and living in Beacon Hill thanks to the generous Bilazarian family.  A trip to Alaska in August.  It truly was the best summer of my life.  Then their was Dad’s 89th birthday celebration in New Hampshire in October.  Bob spending a total of three months in Ukraine this year.  A week at Operation Christmas Child processing center in Atlanta in November.  Two weeks in early December in Boston for an early Christmas celebration.  What a whirlwind!

And always in the background is the monitoring of my health.  I have regular checkups at Florida Cancer Specialists with Dr. Hussein and his great team.  I have checkups at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa as well.  Due to recent pain in my hip, I had to have a bone scan.  “Scanxiety” is real- it’s the anxiety surrounding a scan as it searches for cancer’s reappearance.  I had the scan on December 13 and then the  call on the 14th saying that I needed a follow up MRI to look at a suspicious area in my lumbar region. Butterflies of fear started fluttering in my belly- that familiar, terrible feel of fear.  But I am ready for these waves now. I have been learning to ride the waves and not let them pull me under.  Faith is like a muscle and it needs to be worked to grow strong.  Trusting God in the waiting- it took nearly two weeks to determine that the questionable area was not cancer, but just a messed up lumbar area.  I was very happy to find out that I have two bulging discs, stenosis, facet degenerative disease, etc.  But no Cancer, thank you!

A favorite book this year was Tim Keller’s “Walking with God Through Pain and Suffering.”  I now appreciate the results in my life that come about through suffering.  I don’t think that I could ever achieve the depth of my faith without going through the trials of the past four years.  When life threatening illness strips away so many things that you value, what are you left with?  What do you hold onto?  Where do you go?  To the cross.  To the One who willingly suffered for our good.  I cling to Jesus and his promises.  I know that this life is temporary and much shorter than anyone anticipates. Life can change in a flash.  

Today we celebrated the journey of my my father-in-law, Ron Reading, into his heavenly home.  A life well lived by someone who looked forward to his eternal home.  I, along with his large family, will miss him very much.  It’s another reminder that this life is very fleeting.  

Peace and Health in this New Year!

Valerie

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”  -Romans 15:13

“Teach us how short our lives are so that we can become wise.”  -Psalms‬ ‭90:12‬ ‭