How Beautiful

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. Romans 5:6-11

As you may have noticed, I've added a new song for you to listen to. The song is "How Beautiful" by Twila Paris. It's often played at weddings, so I think I always assumed that it was about the bride and the groom. But today I heard it and really listened to the words. It actually talks about how beautiful Christ is. He laid down His life for us. He took all our sins. He made the ultimate sacrifice. And how beautiful is the body of Christ, the children of God who give and forgive. And how beautiful is the one who waits for heaven, who glows with the promise of heaven.

How beautiful is Christ! I pray that each one of you reading this knows how beautiful He is!!! Because we were unable to follow all of God's commands and therefore sinned against God, God sent his son, Jesus Christ, as a sacrifice. Christ gave his life on the cross, so in exchange, we could live for eternity. All we have to do is ask God for forgiveness and accept his son into our hearts as our Lord and Savior. How beautiful it is to know that we'll be heaven one day.

And how beautiful is the body of Christ - those of us who have believed in Christ. Zac and I have experienced the beauty and love of so many of you over the past few months. You have loved us and cared for us. You have encouraged us and prayed for us. You are truly beautiful.

Please read the words below and let them sink in. How beautiful is Christ and what he has done for us. May you know that and live that out each day. May you accept the beauty of what he's done for you.

How beautiful the hands that served

the wine and the bread and the sons of the earth.

How beautiful the feet that walked

the long dusty roads and the hill to the cross.

How beautiful. How beautiful.

How beautiful is the body of Christ.

How beautiful the heart that bled,

that took all my sin and bore it instead.

How beautiful the tender eyes

that choose to forgive and never despise.

How beautiful. How beautiful.

How beautiful is the body of Christ.

And as He laid down His life

we offer this sacrifice

that we will live just as he died:

willing to pay the price, willing to pay the price.

How beautiful the radient bride

who waits for her Groom with His light in her eyes.

How beautiful when humble hearts give

the fruit of pure lives so that others may live.

How beautiful. How beautiful.

How beautiful is the body of Christ.

How beautiful the feet that bring

the sound of good news and the love of the King.

How beautiful the hands that serve

the wine and the bread and the sons of the earth.

How beautiful. How beautiful.

How beautiful is the body of Christ.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

2 Corinthians 5:16-18

Sorry for the lack of updates lately! There hasn't really been much to report...so no news is good news I guess. Thanks to all who have left comments or emailed us regarding my mask. We've had lots of fun reading them and plan on using some of the ideas over the next few months. Pictures to come!! Please keep sending us your ideas!!

We've updated the prayer requests just a bit as things improve slightly. One of those is my hearing. Although I still have the ringing and loss of hearing in the right ear, the extreme sensitivity I was experiencing has been healed. Please continue to pray with us...not only do we want to shrink the tumor, but let's shrink the prayer list!

I've dealt with so many side effects and different illnesses over the past few months. If it's not the nausea, it's blurry vision. If it's not hair loss, it's hearing loss. I've then had to deal with extreme allergies and a sinus infection in the past couple weeks. Zac and I often just look at each other and laugh. It's sometimes all we can do. But our strength is renewed each day as we remember that this life is only temporary. We look forward, with joy, to the life we'll live in eternity. No more sorrow. No more pain. I pray that you have that same hope and that you've fixed your eyes on CHRIST and what is eternal.

The Mask...

Praise the LORD. Praise the LORD from the heavens, praise him in the heights above. Praise him, all his angels, praise him, all his heavenly hosts. Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars. Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies. Let them praise the name of the LORD, for he commanded and they were created.
Psalm 148:1-5

It's time for a fun post!! So on my last day of radiation, one of the girls asked me, "Would you like to take your mask with you?" What? Are you kidding me? Why would I want to remember something like that? My response with a laugh was: "Only so I can burn it." She laughed, handed it to me, and said her goodbyes. So now I'm stuck with this beloved mask.

Zac and I thought it would be fun to have all of our blog followers help us decide what to do with the lovely mask. It can be a fun and clever way to destroy it. Or maybe a funny way to display it. Or any other clever thing you can think of (no offense will be taken - all ideas welcome!) I've included a picture of me wearing the mask and also a picture of what I got to bring home. We know you're creative, so give us your ideas. Click on the "comment" link below. If you're technically challenged, email me your ideas at stacieranee@hotmail.com. We want to hear from you!!! We'll give you a few weeks before we decide the winner. Have fun!!

First MRI Update

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 5:10-11

Well, we made it through a long morning of appointments and are back in Ankeny. We hit the road at 6AM and started with an MRI first thing when we got to Iowa City. I then headed to my oncologist where we had to wait two hours!!! But Zac and I made it fun and tried to keep each other awake by making up games in the exam room. Our last stop was with my radiation oncologist before heading home.

Now for the news you've been waiting for. There has been no growth in the tumor. The treatment itself could have caused it to grow - so PRAISE THE LORD that it didn't! The tumor is, in fact, about the same size, and perhaps slightly smaller. We were able to see the scans and to our untrained eyes, we felt it looked smaller, but then, we're no doctors! They were optimistic that there had been no new growth and that it may be slightly smaller. With all this said, they see no need to continue with chemo for right now. This leaves things open for the future - if needed, I would have the chemo available as a treatment option down the road.

Please continue to pray for my vision and hearing. The hearing problems I'm having could possibly be damage from the radiation as two of the radiation beams were right above my ears. I don't go back for my next MRI/app't until November, unless the hearing and vision get worse. Praise God for the MRI report today and please keep praying with us for the pray requests listed at the side. We continue to pray for a big miracle, from our big God - that the tumor will be gone. He has provided for us, protected us, encouraged us, loved us, guided us....and we know there's so much more in store.

Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way.

Hebrews 13:18

Just wanted to post an update tonight with some current prayer requests. I had been feeling pretty good the past few weeks, as far as strength and energy level. However, I still need your prayers for my vision. I am struggling with blurry vision and we'll see what the doctors have to say when I have my check-up this Wednesday. I'm also noticing hearing changes. My ears have been super sensitive the past month. Different noises make me cringe as they instantly hurt my ears. The ringing is still noticable and I haven't noticed that I can hear any better, only that they hurt from certain noises.

My vision and hearing have been the two main issues. However, these two things have been applified the past couple days as I've come down with a bad head cold and sore throat. My ears are doing crazy things because of the cold, which is creating balance issues. And every time I cough, it instantly hurts my head. I've also been having slight breathing issues through all of this.

I have my one-month MRI this Wednesday, the 19th, followed my several doctor appointments. Please pray for a good report! We will definitely keep you posted on how it goes.