A BIG, HUGE, humble Thank you!

I was reminded this past Sunday as we were singing the song "Amazed" how much God really loves me.  I was struggling with that honestly. I KNOW He does, but I wasn't feeling it. I went up to the steps at the front of our church to pray. To ask God to flood me with His love.   The words of the song say that God dances over us when we are unaware. We might never hear the sound but He is most definitely there. Can you just see Him hovering over us! Sometimes I just sit in complete numbness and wait.(That is the word God is giving to me lately!) I don't feel anything. I just have to know. I have to choose to believe. I have to trust in His unfailing promises. He does amaze me in so many ways. I just have to open my eyes to see.  Like my cherry blossom tree blooming for the first time this year as I was sitting in my chair recovering after the first few weeks of surgery. Like my son walking by himself for the 1st time during my recovery.  Like experiencing the deep love and commitment of friends and family. Like having my precious daughters wake up in the middle of the night and say "I love you mommy, more than the stars!".

Somehow just saying "Thanks" doesn't seem like quite enough to all who have helped us in the past few weeks! I think the biggest thing is the prayer cover we have experienced.  I have never felt or realized for myself the tangible power of prayer in such a mighty way. We have had so many people tell us they are praying. We have received many cards, e-mails, and messages on facebook telling us we are being prayed for. I love getting those!  I realized the other day how this covering of prayer has kept me out of some very deep pits that I could have fallen into. When I could not pray for myself, when I didn't know how to pray, I had the mighty praying warriors of God doing that. What a humbling revelation! So I say thank you. Keep praying!

We have also received so many meals that were a TREMENDOUS help to us.  We were so blessed by how much love and time people put into the meals they brought. It was such a huge burden lifted off of us. Thank you!

It has also been so helpful to have my best friend, and my family help with keeping my house clean and the laundry done. It is amazing how much energy this requires and I just don't have it right now!

Another big help has been with taking Adrianna to and from school.  Wow...I am so grateful for this.  It is quite a feat for me to get all 3 kids in the car 2x per day! I have also appreciated the many times people have just picked up the kids for the afternoon or taken them over night. I am still trying to figure out what to put my energy into since I have a limited amount each day!

To my dear husband of 10 years!: Part of me is so sorry that you have to sacrifice so many things because of this. I know you so willingly do it without complaint. I am daily blessed by your serving heart and your desire to provide for us in so many ways. Thank you for loving me despite this and being by my side.

If I missed someone, please know that whatever ways you show us love, it is so appreciated. This has been a growing area for me since it is hard for me to accept help. Especially when this journey is so long. I have been so encouraged to see God's people surround us and love on us. I don't think we have experienced it to this magnitude before. You are honoring God through your love to us and I am so grateful.

Continued prayer.....
Becky:  I am getting used to a new normal. I feel completely exhausted most of the time where I can't even move my legs or arms sometimes! I have frequent migraine type headaches and sometimes complete numbness of my arms and fingers.  It is sometimes hard to accept this even though it is only for a short time in the big scheme of things. I just need to rest in the Lord and wait.  My surgical site is healing on the outside very well. It just gets sore if I do too much or move too much a certain way. Pray for continued healing. I have my 1st blood test this coming Thursday and I am REALLY praying that my thyroid levels are where they need to be right now so that I can have the radiation next week!  The only downside is that the 27th is our 10th Anniversary! Please pray that the level is were it needs to be on Thursday. Also pray that I would remain positive and joyful for our kids. I want to focus on what I can do with them, not on what I can't do.  They need to know and see the healing hand of God and I want to believe that too!

Shawn:  That his offering to God would be pleasing and the best he can give.  That he would finish out these last few weeks of school with wisdom and a good attitude. And that he would be a patient daddy and husband. (This is his request!)

Adrianna: She is doing better with all that is happening right now. I think she really internalized everything and some of what she was feeling was coming out in little comments here and there. She seems more calm and secure about it and I want to continue to reassure her.

Eliza: She is entering the whiny "PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO ME" phase!  It is very draining sometimes and I really want to be consistent and love her through this at her level.

Caleb: He is just a delight to me right now and I want to keep that atmosphere in our home.

Continuing on the journey......