A New Year to Come...

"Hope smiles on the THRESHOLD of the year to come, whispering that it will be happier."
-Alfred Lord Tennyson

A recap of 2006 to come soon. May your heart swell with expectation on the future God is already preparing for you, for all of us.

More soon...

Home for Christmas

This just in: dad is being released from the hospital today, as his temperature has finally dropped. He should be home for Christmas, and we are most grateful.

Definitely cause for celebration....

Smiles!

Still fighting...

Dad has a temperature of 100 today, although it went down to 96 last night. They will not let him go home until at least tomorrow. But he is doing OK, and he is not pestering the nurses about sending him home right away. :) He seems to have developed some patience through his ordeal!

Blessings...

Home for Christmas?

Hello all:

Dad has been back in the hospital the last few days with a fever that doesn't want to go down. It topped out at 102 degrees today. All tests have come back negative, and everyone's puzzled as to why dad continues to get these infections.

I'm praying specifically that all will clear soon and that dad will be home for both Christmas Eve and Christmas day. It would be so wonderful to spend this time together as a family...

"I have always thought of Christmas as a good time; a kind, forgiving, generous, pleasant time; a time when men and women seem to open their hearts freely, and so I say, God bless Christmas!" - Charles Dickens

Cancer Marches In

(original poetry from Suzie)

Cancer marches in,
Unbidden,
Insidious,
Unwelcome,
Hidden.

It saps your strength
And leads to visits
With doctors who
Have seen too much
Of its destructive power.

It announces its intentions
With radiation
And chemotherapy
Steroids
And surgery.

And sometimes the cure
Seems worse than the disease.

Although usually unnoticed
Cancer also brings rare gifts.

Time suddenly has value
Though it may be filled with quiet
The gift of presence
Has new meaning

Your loved ones grow more precious

As your body fights and thrashes
Against a growing invader
The spirit may grow stronger
More gracious, resilient, grateful

And small pleasures delight you
And warm arms enfold you
Strangers offer comfort
Long-lost friends appear

The best of times
The worst of times

And you summon your energy
To fight
To do the smallest task
To finish well

However long it lasts

Some may say you’re dying
But the truth is
Aren’t we all

Instead, you are living
Right here in the now

For life is a gift you’re given
Regardless of the pain
It foreshadows a greater reality
It reminds you
Of the ache

To see your Creator
To know as you are known
To clear your clouded eyesight
As you step toward heaven’s throne

So embrace today & tomorrow
With eternity in your heart
Hold things lightly
Hold loved ones dear

Be in this moment
Let your maker know your heart

And you will find solace
Peace that passes understanding
Joy in the morning
Grieving turned to laughter

Until you are whole

Home Sweet Home

Dad was released from the hospital last night and is resting comfortably at home.

A quote I've thought on today:
"One of the secrest of a happy life is continuous small treats."
-Iris Murdoch

When I remember to thank God for things both great and small, my heart expands. I am more at peace, I strive less, I appreciate the things I have more.

Some of the simple things for which I'm grateful:
-the aroma of a sweet almond candle
-the feel of soft yarn as I knit a fluffy scarf
-any kind of dark chocolate
-the daily comfort of God's Words to me in Scripture
-hugs from those who care
-genuine smiles from strangers
-the unfettered laughter of a child
-the exercise of body and mind
-the feel of sleeping in on a rainy, cold day...

...and so much more. I pray you find joy in life's blessings today.

Recovery

Dad's white blood cell count went down to 44 yesterday (after the initial high count of 60). He's still in the hospital, and we're still praying that he'll leave soon, so he can enjoy all the comforts of home.

Peace,
Suzie

Bummer...

"Bummer" is the word one of my coworkers used when I first heard of the severity of dad's cancer. There are times when it seems to sum up my feelings perfectly.

Dad was diagnosed with pneumonia in his right lung this evening. It's hard to see him have to fight so hard for his health. Mercifully, he still has his own hospital room, which allows him a bit of peace in between blood draws from the nurses.

I drove down to Indiana today and will come home tomorrow afternoon.

Another dear friend Martie is in the hospital today as well...her precious baby boy was delivered safely at 10 this morning! A reminder that God is still watching over each life, each day that he has given us.

Until next week...

Dad's Recovery

Dad has now been transferred to a regular room. In fact, he has the room all to himself, which gives him extra rest and peace and quiet.

No word on the white blood cell count yet--although the steroids may cause the elevated count.

He's somewhat uncomfortable from lying on his back, but we're hoping they get him up and about this morning. The doctor also said the 17 stitches in his head will remain there for quite some time.

It looks like I'll be staying home in Michigan this weekend. It's been a terribly crazy week, and I need to get some rest.

That's the update. I leave you with this prayer from St. Francis:

Christ be beside me, Christ be before me, Christ be behind me, King of my heart. Christ be within me, Christ be below me, Christ be above me, never to part.

Christ on my right hand, Christ on my left hand, Christ all around me, shield in the strife. Christ in my sleeping, Christ in my sitting, Christ in my rising, light of my life.

Christ be in all hearts thinking about me, Christ be in all tongues telling of me, Christ be the vision in eyes that see me, In ears that hear me, Christ ever be.

Update...

Although he's feeling OK, Dad's white blood cell count is elevated today, and they are running some tests.

Thanks for interceding on his behalf.

Post-Surgery Report

Dad entered surgery at 1 pm CT yesterday. It took only about an hour and a half, and the neurosurgeon says he came through swimmingly.

Unfortunately, although they told us we would see dad within the hour, it took 6 hours for us to see him. They had no beds in their ICU unit for the longest time, and they refused to let us see him in recovery. He was asking for us, but he was still able to rest during this time.

The mass was completely cut out of his brain--and upon further examination, it was already dead tissue, the cancer cells killed from his radiation treatments. The Dr. feels very confident they removed all of the brain cancer.

Within 3-5 days, he should be home from the hospital and adjusting to his "new normal" once again. Nothing has changed significantly, although he seems to have growing pain from his bone cancer. I'm thankful that they seem to be managing the pain well with prescription painkillers.

He is pleasant and at peace. He actually asked the neurosurgeon if he could pray with him before the brain surgery. :)

Hugs to all of you who continue to lift dad and the whole family up in prayer. Cancer seems to "take and take" a lot of things--but it cannot take our hope and excitement for our eventual heavenly home. Dad said yesterday that "maybe he would just go to heaven." We're so glad he hasn't made the trip yet. But our hearts are assured that when he does leave us, all his pain will vanish, and we will see him again--healthy, vibrant, and whole.

I'm headed back to Michigan this morning...

Traveling Mercies

Please pray for traveling mercies for me this afternoon, as I will leave work at 4:30 to head down to Indiana. Due to snowy conditions, I will likely take an alternate route to avoid the lake effect.

Dad's brain surgery is scheduled for tomorrow at 1 pm CT. So many of you are praying, and I feel your support.

We are comforted by God's unseen presence, as he feels so very near right now. May you experience the same peace and assurance today.

I will update you as soon as I hear the outcome of the surgery. Peace to you...

A bright spot (if you like green)

Amidst the turmoil of the last few months, a small miracle has occurred. I have been published in the bestselling Zondervan Women's Devotional Bible. The Bible, formerly known as "the pink Bible" has been transformed with a funky new green cover.

Not to worry, I didn't alter the text of God's Word--just contributed a few devotionals! :) And yes, it is still published in the NIV. I especially like what they've done with some "30-day" Bible readings on different topics in the back.

See for yourself at a store near you. (This time, you'll actually find my bio in the back. Scary!)