"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer" Romans 12:12

I've finally set up the appointments for my 6 month checkup. This Wednesday, Feb 25 I will have my MRI and then will meet with my neurologist to go over the results. The MRI will show if the tumor has grown significantly or not. Based off the other appointments over the last two years we don't think it's growing by a lot (but they say it's growing slowly). However, over the past few months I've noticed changes in my body, leading me to believe that it may be time to go through treatment. My eyesight has definetely changed lately. I started noticing double vision awhile back and lately it has clearly gotten worse and I'm having to wear my glasses more. I don't have much hearing left in my right ear. I normally can hear fine when I'm with a small group of people but in large crowds I'm having troubles hearing clearly - I usually hear sounds, not clear words. Looking through pictures I can also see that my face is changing more. The tumor is hitting nerves that is creating what the doctor's call facial weakness. Migraines have not been a huge issue lately, but I sometimes have pains in my head that last a few seconds where it feels like someone is squeezing my brain...not fun!!

There have definetely been lots of good days with the bad. We are praising God daily for each day he gives us. We are still trusting and believing in a miracle and know that it will be in His time. The doctor's have said that radiation will not take away the tumor, it will only shrink it. But we continue to praise and believe in our big and powerful God.

I will extol the Lord at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
My soul will boast in the Lord;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
Glorify the Lord with me;
let us exalt his name together.
I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
This poor man called and the Lord heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.
Taste and see that the Lord is good;
blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. (Psalm 34:1-8)

Please be praying for us this week and we will be sure to keep you updated after Wednesday. God's blessings!!

Update

For those of you checking this, sorry I haven't posted sooner. I know the last time I wrote I said I'd be setting up my appointments very soon. I'm still not sure when they are. I called my doctor this week and am waiting for a call back this week to get things finalized. I will hopefully have more soon. The MRI and 6 month check up will be in the next few weeks.

Stacie

Thank You!

Just wanted to thank all of you so much for making my birthday last week so much fun! I've had a great time running to the mailbox and reading all your birthday greetings. You should see the huge stack sitting on our table!

When I first found out about the tumor, I would come home from work and the only thing that seemed to encourage me at the time was receiving cards and letters from family, friends, and even people I didn't know. Zac knew how much this meant to me, which is why he made a point of asking you to send birthday cards last week. When we started this blog, we didn't want for it just to be a prayer list, but also to be an encouragement to those who were reading it. My request of you today is that you reach out and encourage someone else you know (not me! I've received my fill for the week!). Maybe you don't get excited about receiving mail yourself, but you have no idea how much it might mean to someone who is hurting. Send a card to someone you know who may be going through a rough time: maybe a friend had a loved one pass away, maybe a family member lost a job, or a coworker is going through a difficulty in a relationship. Cheer the person up with words of encouragement, letting them know you care.

"An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up." Proverbs 12:25

You'll probably be hearing from later this week. My next MRI appointment will be made soon. I'll keep you updated on when that is. Please pray in confidence for a miracle!

Trust the Lord

I've been in a habit every January to read a chapter from the book of Proverbs each day since there are 31 chapters in this book. Throughout the Proverbs, one can see the reward of "trusting in the Lord." Stac and I picked Proverbs 3:5-6 as the banner verses for our blog because they have been an encouragement to our hearts, comfort to our minds, and have repeatedly ministered to our soul in good and bad times.

We have learned over the past years together that trusting in the Lord is fundamental to our relationship with God. If you are like us there are a lot of things in this world that cause us to doubt and to be skeptical, but these verses wipe away any doubt and give us a clarity and direction to place our trust in God, who is Absolute Truth and is 100% reliable. Praise God! The word trust in Hebrew literally means “clinging to” with the idea of setting one’s hope and confidence upon God. The older Stac and I get we have learned to put our trust in God vs. man. We are finding our own understanding is so limited, weak, and subject to a lot of errors.

Everyday seems to be a new day to learn again and build onto what we learned the day before about trusting in the Lord. We figure the more we can learn to acknowledge God in all we say and do, even in the smallest details He will make our paths straight, and lead us where He wants to direct us.

Stac has been experiencing more frequent headaches and noticing more changes in her body and so treatment may soon be upon us. We continue to pray and place our trust in our Lord. We are clinging to the hope that God will heal her, either through a miracle without treatment or a miracle with treatment (since the treatment can only shrink the tumor).

Comfort and Joy

Zac and I have been getting into the Christmas spirit and have enjoyed listening to Christmas songs in recent weeks. Tonight we were listening to God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen. We began reflecting on the words to the song, in particular the chorus "o tidings, of comfort and joy." So often we sing these songs in church but do we really listen to the words? I hate to admit it but we weren't sure what tidings meant...so we looked it up. : ) It means news or report. The author was celebrating the news of the fullest comfort and joy - the birth of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world!!! As we were reflecting, it was hard for us to imagine no hope in our life. Before Jesus' birth, the people of the world had no comfort, no joy from death and sin. They had a list of rules to follow if they wanted to make it to heaven, but continued to sin every day. However, we now celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, our true comfort and true joy who is our only way to eternal life.

God rest ye merry, gentlemen,

Let nothing you dismay,

For Jesus Christ our Savior

Was born upon this day,

To save us all from Satan's power

When we were gone astray.

O tidings of comfort and joy,

Comfort and joy,

O tidings of comfort and joy.

We've included the link to this song. Merry Christmas. And may you know true comfort and joy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWpiFnNBtpE