Oma's Visit

Mike's Mom has been visiting since Tuesday. She lives in Texas and flew into Tri Cities. She has not booked her return trip yet and that will be based on David's hospital stay. We are scheduled to return Sunday night to check in at clinic Monday morning. We will try again to see if his levels are high enough for chemo. I am so thankful that we got this reprieve to beef him up literally and it allows me a chance to cheer on my boy in our tournament and help out. I am also thrilled at the idea of spending some time with our Hornet basketball family.
Oma and Hope reading princess stories.

Oma brought Hope this pink cowgirl hat with a tiara on it and look who is wearing it! He is truly "sexy and he knows it" in this hat!

Oma is a great cook. She made some meatballs tonight that were awesome! Here she is cooking brownies with the kiddos. David loves a good brownie these days!!

The best part of baking brownies is licking the spoon! I opted for the calories of the batter over the worry of eating the batter. He has been eating so much this week!

Look at that sweet brownie face! Bring on the scales Monday because this boy is obsessed with brownies and Oma keeps making the Ghiradelli double chocolate ones! Yummo!

Oh this picture makes me want to cry happy tears. I am conviced that Kyle and Hope were made specifically to be David's siblings. Here is sweet Hope Madeline tenderly wiping the chocolate from David's face.

My parents neighbors, the Dishons dropped this HUGE bag full of pop tabs off at my parent's house this week. Can you believe all these pop tabs? Kyle's eyes lit up when he saw these. We cannot wait until he can deliver these in person. We hear that lots of the schools and businesses are collecting these. The Ronald McDonald house thanks you so much!!

I am praying hard about this idea of local Moms teaming up to bless children in our area. I have heard from several of you that are interested in being a "Mom on a mission" During this upcoming stay I plan to work on a preliminary email to get the ball rolling.

We feel so blessed to be apart of this community and have been blown away by the generosity and love we have received. It is our desire to give back to this wonderful place. After reading the book Crazy Love I have also been inspired to get the ball rolling on a mission project here locally that literally takes the scripture reference of "love that neighbor as thyself" and putting into action using some of the best resources in this area that I know-Moms! More details coming.....:)

Good night from home. We are excited to host this tournament tomorrow and support kids doing something they love-playing hoops! Good night!

You Deliver Me

So today was not quite the day we had anticipated. I thought this afternoon I would be blogging from 7 central but instead I am resting comfortably on our bed at home. Mike and his Mom took David to Charlottesville last night for the 9 a.m. clinic visit today. I took Kyle to school and then was heading down the interstate to meet them.

Mike called me around Roanoke and told me to turn around. David's neutraphils were too low for chemo. They needed to be 750 and they were only in the 500's. To me that means that the last five day reigmen was too much for him since it has taken so long for his counts to return to normal. Poor buddy. So we are all home and now that means that I can help in the basketball tournament. Kyle was so excited that I picked him up from school and that I get to watch him play this weekend.

This is one of those times that you just say "okay this is part of the plan" and do not stress or question. The great Physician is in charge and we are so thankful. We are to return Monday morning to try again.

So I am thrilled to get to be with our basketball family this weekend and cheer on our boys:) Our team is hosting a big tournament with another girls team to raise money for our teams. Kyle is thrilled at the idea of spending a whole weekend in the gym playing hoops and watching other teams play.

I heard this song today from an old CD that I had made last year. I have loved this song always, but it has such meaning to me now. I am so thankful that our God can deliver us. I also love that line in the song about the line between who I am and who I want to be. God has used this nightmare to show me that I have been guilty of putting "things" and "stuff" between us.

Lately I have struggled with insomnia. It has been the strangest thing, but I have used that time to read and pray. One night up late God put an exciting vision in my mind that I have been pondering. I am so excited about the idea of teaming up with some great Mom friends to love our neighbors and serve our God right here in our town. Exciting stuff that I am praying about how God wants this to be done. I have some amazing friends who have lots of gifts and talents that we could pool for the benefit of God's glory here in town. I have chill bumps thinking of it!!! More details coming soon and if you are a local friend be ready to be a "Mom on a Mission"

So enjoy this Selah video:) I love their music so much and this is one of my favorite songs! Enjoy!

Glimpses of His Glory

Today has been fantastic. Truly fantastic. Yes, David still is battling cancer, but today I have personally witnessed some amazing moments.

It all started yesterday. If you have been around me any this week you would know from all the tears and snot that have been flying this week that it has been a rough couple of days on this Momma. I bawled in Walmart, I cried at Little League sign-ups, and I cried so hard cuddling David the other night that tears were rolling down his bald head. The normalcy of our sweet David returning has been awesome, but so sad because we know this upturn is only temporary. Tomorrow morning his port will be re-accessed and he will be bombarded with etopicide and cyclophosphomide. (Medical folks please do not judge me based on my spelling)! :)

Then, yesterday when I was at a pretty stressed out moment and full of self-pity I received a facebook message from an old college sorority sister and roommate. She lost her mother during our senior year of college and she shared with me that I helped her through that rough time. She in turn just helped rally sorority sisters on our behalf. God knew I was struggling and prompted her sincere and sweet message that made me smile. Encouragement when I needed it most is a true glimpse of His glory.

Today in a spontaneous manner I got to have lunch with two sweet friends who have been a rock for me. We talked about David's cancer some, but we caught up on life. One of the hardest parts of fighting this Goliath has been being separated from friends. A care free catch-up with some friends is a true glimpse of His glory.

This evening I had a date with my ten year old and little girl. We met some friends out for pizza and then came home and snuggled in my bed and watched Courageous the movie. (IT IS A MUST SEE). When it was over we talked about being a Godly man and the moment overwhelmed me. I love that my kyle is open to talking about Jesus in his life. Hope fell asleep during the movie, so it gave me and Kyle time to talk about being a courageous man of God. Spending time talking about Jesus and His love is a true glimpse of His glory.

Then a dear friend stopped over for a few minutes to chat. Because of some life circumstances in her life she is spending more time with God and making her relationship with him a top priority. We had a wonderful and sincere heart to heart. She is someone that I value and treasure in my life and I am so glad that God prompted her to come see me. It was the sweetest hug I have received in a while. Courage and honesty between good friends is a true glimpse of His glory.

Today I have thought about all the changes in our family since the nightmare began. I hate cancer and I hate this nightmare, but God has used this awful journey to tender our hearts, open up dialogue for his Glory and to see that our life is so much bigger than what is in front of us. I also think it is God-planned that I read the book Crazy Love and saw Courageous in the same week. I am so thankful that our God is big enough to use the nightmare so we as mere mortals can see his amazing glory.

I have been so emotional this week not necessarily over sadness about cancer, but tears of gratitude for my Savior. His glory and handiwork are so evident during times when we are so scared and lost. When we are in the darkest valleys of our life is when His glory is most brillant. I have goosebumps thinking about this. I am so thankful that my life is being changed for the better.

I have prayed so hard lately that I will be the friend, wife, mother, blogger, teacher, and christian that God wants me to be. I pray that despite my sin and flaws that Jesus knows that I am appreciative of the beautiful glimpses of Glory during this scary nightmare.