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October
21, 1999
We
can do all things through
Christ Who strengthens us!!
This newsletter will certainly be different than the last letter
we sent out. But before the current news, we give God the glory
for everything He is doing in our lives. On September 30th I had
surgery for a solid sizable mass' in my abdomen and it was
colon cancer with a tumor about the size of my fist and spread pretty
much every where. In the midst of it all, the Lord has blessed me
with so much peace and joy. Yes, I've grieved with Gary from time
to time and I definitely have my bad days, but the peace is loud
and overwhelming sometimes. Gary and my family really need your
prayers more than ever as they learn to accept what is happening.
Our church family has stepped up to the plate and batted home runs
with visits, food, prayers and all manner of support. My whole family
came running and my sister from Colorado Springs was able to stay
with me for a couple of weeks and then my mom came for a week. We've
got a close friend coming in today to stay for a couple of days
as well.
Anyway, I'm back to work for half days starting this week and Gary
and I have told my boss/best friend that she'll need to look for
someone full-time before tax season starts. As time goes by, I'm
not real confident of how much help I'd really be. My oncologist
gave us 3 options to consider. I could go back on chemotherapy like
I was; I could try a chemotherapy pill that has side effects too
or we could watch and wait. The weird thing is my cancer is not
measurable, so the Cancer Institute wouldn't accept me for experimental
testing until the cancer is such that it would show more in my blood
tests or on the CT scan. All of that to say that we're right back
where we started 2 1/2 years ago just trusting and waiting on the
Lord. We
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Please
take time to smell the roses every day...
...and hug those you love!
...and
maybe even some you don't.....
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don't
regret for a moment getting off the chemo this summer because we
were able to live. I even got to sing a solo in church on Oct. 17th
to convince those that needed it that though the storm rages all
around, if you know Him, it is well with your soul. I know I've
said this before, but this cancer has given us many blessings. We
have so many new friends and prayer warrior support that it amazes
me. To think I was worried before we moved whether or not God lived
in Ponca City! ha Our Sunday School teachers opened up a guest home
they have for my family to stay at and loaded it with food as well.
Our pastor came by several times to pray with us.
More
and More Blessings......
My
boss/best friend came by sometimes 3 times a day to check on us.
Flowers, food, goodies, prayers. You know the Word says He will
fill your cup to overflowing and He has certainly done that for
us. We are so humbled, as we were with my first surgery, by the
outpouring of love and prayers. Even the hospital staff from the
surgeons to housekeeping were wonderful to us. We received a visit
from a pastor and his wife from our church in Lubbock (out of their
way on the way to Branson) and they brought wonderful cards from
our friends there. Then we even got one in the mail signed by just
about everyone on staff there ... it was great! Matthew 25:40 says
it all: 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least
of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
Another
one of my favorite passages is Revelation 21:3-4: "Now the
dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will
be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.
He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death
or mourning or crying or pain for the old order of things has passed
away." Enuf said?
We
love you all!!
Gary and Jo
P.S.
Please be in prayer for our financial need as well - thanks!
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