As summer days give way to fall we are still here. We are still in the “cancer days” as the teens and I refer to it as. Hospital stays, clinic visits, regular blood draws, PT, vitamin infusions. It’s all still there.
We have embraced a new normal of balancing school planning, laundry, dishes, house maintenance, Jesse’s work, my work, our work together, ministry work, and so much more while the hospital becomes our home away from home. Family celebrations, birthdays, holidays come as they do and we celebrate when we can, were we can, appreciating the sweet moments of family togetherness all the more. Jackson leaves for college in less than a week, heading back to Ave Maria University for his senior year of college before entering the Domincans of the Eastern Province next summer (God willing). Sam withdrew from a NET second year in order to be present here, to help us, and to serve the Church in our community instead. Mary will be the first of our children to get her driver’s license before the age of 18.
The cancer hovers over it all threatening to crush us if we let it. But we don’t. God doesn’t. We focus on HIM first, eachother second, and ourselves last while balancing necessary self care of vitamins, doctor visits, healthy diets, and spiritual care. Our friends and community continue to hold us up, pray for us, bring us meals and care for our monetary needs as we navigate what life has become. We choose not to look too far ahead. The what ifs, what might be. The cancer has a mind of its own and to try and guess what the outcome will be would be crazy making. We trust in God’s providence. As Fr. John Riccardo says again and again “God isn’t anxious”. He knows the outcome and He isn’t afraid so we choose not to be either. Whatever the outcome we are not afraid.
Thank you, friends, for your continued support. Currently on the calendar we have chemotherapy until mid October. Then scans, and scans again three months after that, again and again.
Please continue to pray for us as we pray for you.
"Be still and know that I am God"
Psalm 46:10
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