~Thankful Thursday~

You thrill me, Lord, with all you have done for me! I sing for joy because of what you have done.

Psalm 92:4 NLT

For More Thankful Thursday, visit Lynn at Spiritually Unequal Marriage.

Have a "Thankful Thursday!

Cheryl

Update

I guess I forgot to come back and put the information here about Jan's visit at MD Anderson this week. I posted for her on her blog and on FB, but forgot about here.

So, here is the GREAT NEWS:

I've talked to Jan and Mom a few times today. Jan had the staples taken out and was able to see the MRI which was done after surgery a couple of weeks ago. Clear. The tumors are gone. Jan said, "God is Great!"

They were also able to see her oncologist and get the newest treatment plan in the works. She will be on a "drip" chemo (Avastin) this time, but she will be able to do her treatment here in Oklahoma. She also gets somewhat of a break and only goes to MD Anderson every 2 months for testing. She will not start the new treatment for 2 more weeks so as to allow complete healing. She is feeling great.

Avastin has just recently been FDA approved in the treatment of GBM and is showing great results. Dr. Gilbert informed them of the side effects, which are around 5%.

Jan wanted me to relay that as far back as she can remember she has been praying for God to take the tumors away. She just never thought it would be through surgery.

Please join us in praising God for these great results.

It was awesome to hear the joy in Jan's voice when I talked to her after getting this report!

Have a great weekend!

Cheryl

~Prayer & Praise~

Jan returns to MD Anderson this week to follow up with the surgeon and hopefully the pathology results will have returned and she can get started on the next phase. She is feeling really good, especially since she is not on treatment. She has done fantastic since her surgery. Thanks for all your prayers!

All I've done lately is making jewelry. I've started a new blog for the jewelry. I've been talking with a little boutique near my house. They are going to a weekend trade show (like in Canton, Texas), but this one is in McKinney, Texas this next weekend and they are taking my jewelry with other items in their boutique. They are working to get into Canton weekend trade show as well. I'm pretty excited, but cautious as well.

Have a great Monday!!

Cheryl

A good friend sent the following to me last week after Jan's surgery. I've pulled some interesting parts out of it.

EXCELLENCE...

I have come to realize over the years that our minute might be long or short depending on what God is doing with us at the time. I have been in a moment where I was sure God stopped the universe for a reason that goes beyond anything my human mind could ever comprehend and when I look back on those moments I am reminded of the story of Joshua where God held up the sun to help Joshua claim a victory. I am sure it was an amazing miracle to observe for Joshua and a reminder that the God we serve has the power to hold up the sun and guide us to victory every single day of our life.

I believe that if God does that for one He will always do it for someone else don't you? I am referring to those moments where we may encounter someone who is experiencing a battle of some sort and it seems that God stops time just for us to help heal a heart or win the battle like Joshua. I believe we encounter moments like this all day long but we make a decision to give or walk away to be defeated or have victory. God continues to show that His will is always victorious if we will only be faithful and obedient to what He places on our hearts.

We will never understand the mysteries of God until we get to heaven but we can embrace those everyday moments where He is extending an invitation for us to experience His hand in an extraordinary way when we are willing to continue to serve others and fight for people and love.

I hope at this moment as you listen to my heart that you will truly open yours and ask yourself am I ready for an “extraordinary moment?”

Pretty powerful, huh? Wow. I am continually reminded that we serve a God of victory and He wants us to walk victoriously every single day of our life.

God works in mysterious ways but this is for sure… He brings people together for His purposes and whatever man may perceive as big or small it doesn't matter because when Gods hand is on something he will multiply it just like he did the loaf of bread. I am sure the little boy who gave Jesus his fish and bread could have never "imagined" the "extraordinary moment" when it was multiplied to feed thousands. We can never ignore the little things because that is when God does His greatest work. We can never despise our weakest moments because that is when God is always at His best in us. We don't have to know how God will multiply the bread we just have to know the HE can and HE will.

I hope you enjoyed this!

Cheryl

~God At Work~

A week ago today Jan was having brain surgery. God has truly been at work. She is doing fantastic. So good for her body to have a chance to rebound with this time off treatment. She is in a good place with having all the visible cancer GONE! She has handled this all so gracefully. It is awesome to see God at work.

The pathology results should be back any day now. Jan will return to see the surgeon on July 15, next week, as well as her oncologist. Please join us in praying for her next treatment plan, as well as complete healing!!

~Happy Independence Day~

Just a quick note, Jan is home. I saw her yesterday and she is doing great. I heard some funny funny stories of things she said the first day. I'll share one:

Soon after coming out of recovery, she motioned for Mom to come closer to her. She thanked Mom for going with them, for helping her out with meals, and all the things Mom has done for her and Gerald. Mom asked if she would have done the same if the roles were reversed. Mom said she thought for a minute and then said, "yes she would feed her dog food." Jan can be rather witty and it appears more so after she comes out of anesthesia.

We are so thankful God answered our prayers this week, as well as over the last 20 months.

Have a great 4th, and be careful!!

Cheryl

~News~

It looks like Jan will be released from the hospital today. They will then have to travel from Houston to Oklahoma. Mom said she has done very well.

Please pray for safe travels and continue to pray for the next step and that she can beat this nasty disease.

Thanks again for all the prayers, comments, love, and friendship.

Have a safe and blessed weekend.

Cheryl

~New Day~

Gerald just called and Jan had a very restful night. She had morphine for a headache about 7:00 last night, but since then she has only had Tylenol. She had a couple of episodes of getting sick from the anesthesia, but has had breakfast this morning.

The surgeon has just been in and said he got all of the tumor. He has looked at the MRI she had last night and it looks great. It is looking like she will come home Friday. She has called her boys this morning and talked to them, so I know they are thrilled.

The nursing staff is in with her now and they are going to take her catheter out, which will thrill her as she wanted it out yesterday.

Thank you all for all your prayers, comments, love and support.