Pray, Pray, Pray

Last Thursday, May 27th , we received some news that is both frightening and shocking to us.

I have always wondered how people face trials that are so difficult. I think to myself, how do they deal with it? I know the answer: God and God alone. Just a year ago when we lost Josianne, GOD was the one who carried us through. I know that God's grace and mercy are poured out upon us when we need it. Even though I know these truths, when bad news is laid upon you, it still rocks you and shakes your world... At least that's what happens to me. Then I am met by God's grace and mercy...once I get my focus back on Him and off of the problem.

Back to last Thursday...

Through a random stream of events, we found out that Greg has prostate cancer. Cancer: that has to be one of the scariest words to me. I hate that word, and everything that goes with it. I am thankful that it has been found, but unsure and scared for the future. Who wouldn't be? I'm just being very real. I trust God and his plans, but that doesn't mean that my feeble mind and heart struggle to accept things that are difficult.

The plan:

We have a week full of doctor's appointments. Please pray for us and our children, I really don't think they will know the severity of everything right now, but we will have to inform them to some degree.

On June 3rd, Greg has a CT scan and bone scan. Our prayer is that the cancer is confined to the prostate, we will know after the scans. Until then, we both fear the unknown. Pray with us for confinement of the cancer and that peace would be so overwhelming. On Monday, the 7th, we meet with the surgeon. He will go over all of the scans and will give us more direction. As of now, if confined to the prostate, the options are surgery or chemo. We are blessed to live so close to St. Louis, therefore, we are at the heart of a major medical hub. There's a surgeon at Barnes Jewish Washington University who performs a robotic surgery removing the prostate; this surgery is less evasive and recovery is much quicker in comparison to the old school prostatectomy. There are many more details to fall into place, please pray that all would go as quick as possible. Greg is ready to finish this chapter in his life; I am too. I feel as though the last 5 days have been so long. It's as though we are walking under a cloud. Other moments, we are busy eating up life, and doing fun things...just like normal. All with the cancer word now in our lives. Did I mention that I hate that word?

Last night, as I closed a day of family fun as we celebrated Memorial Day, these verses were part of my devotion (thank you God for your perfect timing). Again, please pray for us; Thank you...as I know you will be lifting us up as we are standing in the need of prayer.

"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let if be afraid." John 14:27

"You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for YAH, the Lord is everlasting strength." Isaiah 26: 3,4

Please Pray

This is my dear friend Michele. After Greg and I married, I moved to be with him in Spokane, Washington; we were stationed at Fairchild Air Force Base. I met Michele after a year of living there. Wish I'd met her sooner. We instantly bonded, and have had a friendship that is so very precious to me. Greg and I spent so much time with her and her husband Jim and their three children. They were our family. I remember when we moved from there to Florida, Michele and I just sobbed at goodbye. We have actually been together 4 times since then. We traveled to Washington once to see them, and Michele has been to see me three times. The last time I saw her was when I went home in February of this year. She came to my parent's house and stayed for a week. It's that kind of friendship where we may not talk for months at a time, but when we do catch up, we pick up as if it were yesterday. She is very sweet and kind and generous and loving.

Michele told me today that her Mom, Jon Ella, has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Please join me in praying for JonElla, she is a sweet lady who loves the Lord. She has endured many storms throughout her life, and she knows that God is faithful to His own. We would like to see her healed and know that God can heal her. Michele and her Mom are very close; it's all very heartbreaking and difficult for her to see her dear Mom suffer. I thank you dear friends for your prayers.