California Here They Come & A Long Overdue Update

Hello Everyone! Blogger is in one of its crazy moods tonight so the pictures are going to be all out of order. It has been so long since I've updated for you, that we are including lots of pictures and at the end, I will include a letter from Mom (Ruth) to update you on Jack's progress and health. Tomorrow morning they are beginning the trek down to California to visit us. My son, D said today, "Mommy, do you want to know how excited I am to see Grandma and Grampa?" His answer, "One Million Percent!" :-)




Jack and Bill... Brother Survivors... or is that Livers? :-)

Jack helping in the garden. This is digging some kind of hole.

In front of the van they rented to come down. (They are bringing us some "stuff"!)

Eating noodles at David's! (We always call it David's so I can't remember the real name! LOL It's the Chinese restaurant in the Fountain District )

Grandma Doris (Jack's Mom) and Jack.

Jack enjoying the sun on a trip to the mail box.

Watch out, here he comes! :-)

Jack with his Bible study Buddies. Sorry Gentlemen, I don't know all your names, or I would label you!

Armed and Dangerous!

Greeting Bill, also a Survivor, on a recent visit at church.

Making Plum sauce.

Picking plums in the yard.

Jack gathering the hazel nuts off the ground.

Driving the tractor in the yard.

Snoozing on Facebook (?) LOL after a long day.

Another tractor shot.

Greeting at church.

Now, I will attempt to paste Ruth's letter in the space below if Blogger isn't too ornery! Okay, Blogger will not accept a paste. Let's see if I can hit the highlights...

Jack had a successful tube replacement (after experiencing significant pain) on September 25th. They used a new type of feeding tube and that has been much more comfortable. The feeding tube must stay in place until Jack is able to eat on his own and maintain weight. This will take awhile and you can remember this in your prayers for him. The doctor also gave him a new kind of pain medication that also helps with increasing his appetite and Jack has been "practicing" for travel, by dining out and trying foods.

The last visit with the chemo oncologist went well. Basically Jack is in "surveillance mode". In other words, "wait and see". No secret cameras watching his every movement as Jack joked! But he will have a scan again in December and they will "scope" him in February. The first two years are critical with stomach cancer.

Slowly Jack and Ruth are re-learning how to live. Much has changed and yet much is the same. They are just figuring out new ways of doing old things, or learning new routines. Please pray for them as they adjust. Sometimes after the crisis is over, that can be the most difficult period in other ways. I haven't experienced Cancer but I do know this to be true in other types of grieving and crisis experiences. Ruth has been encouraged by a verse (which she doesn't know was a favorite of mine that I clung to for several difficult years in the 1990s) lately:

See, now I am doing a new thing; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:19 NIV

So, Mom and Jack ask for your prayers as they travel, especially for Jack's strength. (And I might add his endurance once he is here with the kids!) They are driving a Uhaul down, so graciously to bring two pieces I inherited... an oak veneered roll top desk made by Uncle Ray, which will find a new home in my kitchen, and one of my Aunt's paintings which hung over the fireplace at my Grandma's for years and will do so in our new home as well! Since it was cheaper to get a Uhaul than a van, they are bringing some other things as well (since Jack is so great at finding free/cheap stuff... we gave him a "wish list"). Please pray that they will not have snow in the Siskiyous!

We are really looking forward to sharing our new home with Mom and Jack. It was quite surreal to be excited, making an offer on our first house while Jack was recuperating from major surgery in Seattle. There was such a strange mixture of joy and grief. We will be having Tim's sister and her husband over and enjoying an early Thanksgiving on November 7th. After all we have a LOT to celebrate, especially Jack's LIFE! This will be the first time since being married that I will have celebrated Thanksgiving with my family! I'm very excited.

Thank you all if you read this far and God bless you for your faithfulness to our family. We all love you. And we are so thankful for YOU!!!

Move That Mountain!

Last week I entered a challenge at Faith Sisters using a new collaboration kit on Faith, created by Eva Lindqvist and Emma Moore. I loved this picture of Jack and Chassidy at church after she got another Gold Medal in the Special Olympics. And this picture to me shows the spirit of Jack, the essence of the Jack we know and love. And he is wearing his survivor shirt!

God unfailing mercy and goodness has been heaped upon us with great measure. We are thankful that this last stage of the journey (chemo) is over! Naturally it's hardest on Jack, but it's also hard on Ruth and everyone else who loves him. Jack's chemo doc says he is at the bottom. The good thing about being at the bottom is that you can only go up from there. I am reminded of something Corrie Ten Boom said, that no pit is so deep that God's love is not deeper still. Having survived a concentration camp, Corrie knew whereof she spoke!

So, where do we go from here? Up! Jack is physically weak, but doing well. The doctor says to double the treatment length time and that is how long it takes to be "normal". So, the business at hand is healing and learning how to be a live-er! His lab tests were "remarkably normal" per the M.D. and his scan was clear. Scans will happen periodically for quite some time. The first two years are crucial. Please don't stop praying!

I'll try to keep posted here periodically for those who want to know. THANK YOU! to everyone who visits, comments, prays, encourages, supports and comes alongside Jack and Ruth.

Jack's Treatment Phase 2 Home Stretch

Please join our family in continuing to pray for Jack as he enters the home stretch for this second round of treatment which has included chemo 24/7 and radiation 5 days a week for six weeks. He has just about a week to go. As you know, treatment is not without its side effects and Jack is beginning to feel them. He is weary and waiting on the Lord to lift him up on Eagles' wings! Please pray for not only Jack's healing, but his peace, encouragement and endurance. Ask God to help him keep his eyes fixed on the goal. When he finishes in about a week, he will have some time of recuperation before the next phase of chemo treatments begins.

(Photo courtesy of Laurel Community Baptist Church, layout created using Digizines by Teri's Anastasia kit available at Heritagescrap.com)

From Ruth's Heart... Jack Update

God Answers Prayer… As a child I learned the song about “God answers prayer in the morning, God answers prayer at noon, God answers prayer in the evening, so keep your heart in tune.” Today, I learned it anew.


I have been abiding in Christ and praying without ceasing as I walk this faith journey and both are precious, however, sometimes I need to remember to use our resources, you our prayer warriors. That is what happened on Tuesday. As I was praying and waiting upon the Lord in regards to the role and heady responsibility “I” have happily received from Jack, to serve as his advocate in the medical arena… I suddenly realized that we have prayer warriors, so I quickly shot an e-mail to our church for distribution to our Prayer Chain and Church Staff… then was able to let it go.


By the end of the day our local gastroenterologist’s nurse called me and Jack had 2 appointments scheduled here in Bellingham... this week Friday afternoon he will have a consultation with the Radiation Oncologist and next Wednesday afternoon, 3/4 he will see the Medical Oncologist regarding chemotherapy. Not only did God answer our prayers… but he gave us the doctors that were recommended to us, appointment times that were not only expedient, but the best possible for Ruth’s work schedule… and, and, and… immeasureably more than we can ever ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20).


I was blessed to be able to go home and share the news of God’s answering prayer with Jack who continues to improve daily, gaining strength and enjoying new foods and the “concoctions” that he and sister Kristine have come up with that maximizes his protein intake and nutritional needs as well as providing tasty eating. His spirit is a joy to behold, blessing everyone he comes in contact with. He is the light of my life and the encourager of my heart.


Jack is looking forward to an outing tomorrow to the Senior Center in Lynden to share in his wood carver’s display of their current projects, followed by a visit to see his mother Doris. We are also planning to make an appearance at church on Sunday as we both have greatly missed worship and fellowship with our church family.


Our Daily Bread devotions yesterday were from Ruth 1:15-22, The first part of the passage is familiar and was part of our wedding vows, “urge me not to leave you… where you go, I go…” Later verses speak to Naomi’s faith and knowledge of who was in control of her life and journey through difficult times. She refers to God as the “Almighty” (Shaddai) which in Hebrew indicates God’s sufficiency for any situation… and also as “Lord (Yahweh) which refers to His faithfulness as the loving covenant-keeping God. In the midst of Naomi’s lament (you can supplant my name right here, LOL!) she never lost sight of the fact that her God was capable and faithful. I pray I will continue to “see” my Almighty Lord, El Shaddai Yahweh, in the midst of each day as Step by Step we Follow Him… and that we will daily remember His faithfulness. Again and yet again, God gives us the daily bread of himself that we need for the strength for that day. He promises not to give us more than we can handle, I am learning that what He means is to live in the moment which we can handle, not attempting to look beyond what He has giving for this day… when I do I can quickly become overwhelmed and it becomes more than I can handle, but when I am obedient to His word, it is never more than He knows I can handle. Our devotions ended with this quote drawing me back to Psalm 46:10:


“Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last. – von Schlegel


Once again we thank you for your faithful prayers! We continue to covet them for healing and strength for Jack… wisdom for the oncology doctors in how best to proceed with radiation and chemo therapy… protection against treatment side effects… peace and encouragement for the long haul… and that God will be glorified in it all!


We never cease to be amazed that God in His sovereignty is meeting our needs, as well those of people we love… providing Tim & Theresa’s a new home, contact with Jack’s daughter Ysenia, being with Bruce & Linda as they move to a new duty station in Virginia, and watching over each of our children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, each and every precious one wherever they are.

Jack Update

Hello Everyone, I just wanted to update those who are following (don't be shy, you can comment - Ruth and Jack read here), that Jack's thyroid scan yesterday was NORMAL! Praise God. This means that the surgery is a go for February 6 and that it is safe to put off doing anything with the thyroid for several months. Please continue to pray for God's healing. Jack is feeling well, and while they are human and this is not without its stresses, God has been in every step of the way and we all keep putting one foot in front of the other! :o) Thank you for reading and praying!

Jack Update

Soon I'll be updating the sidebar with newer information. But, for those who were praying for Jack's thyroid testing and consult, Thank You! Everything went well and he had a good doctor visit with a doctor who listened and was thorough. While Jack's thyroid is greatly enlarged and his numbers show that he is slightly "hyper thyroid", he is not having any symptoms of hyperthyroidism which would be dangerous for surgery (Especially increased heart rate - Since my Husband has Graves' Disease, our family is aware of what can happen with hyper thyroidism and we are so thankful Jack's is stable now.) Just for precautionary sake, Jack will be having a thyroid reuptake test next week. This is a simple test and probably the easiest he has had to do so far! Bottom line is, thyroid is still a "back burner" issue and he is good to go for surgery as scheduled.

Thank you for your continued prayers for Jack's healing.

Jack Update

Our family is praising God that He again was in all the details of Jack's visit with the surgeon at Virginia Mason. It should come as no surprise to us that the surgeon is a Christian! It was a busy day with lots to absorb. Some questions have now been answered and some remain.

*Surgery will be February 6, 2009. The praise in this delay is that Jack will be able to be present to speak at Bruce's commissioning in a couple weeks!

Jack asks that we pray for God's will and for wisdom for the surgeon in all the decisions that have to be made. The course of action will be determined by results seen during the surgery.

We are praising God for all that He has done, still recognizing the seriousness of this diagnosis and asked for continued prayers for God's healing hand on Jack. Pray for their strength and peace as they daily walk in this reality.

I will close with verses that have been their daily reminder of His presence in their lives:



4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:4-9, NIV, Bible Gateway)

Jack Update

Yesterday Jack had his ultrasound guided biopsy of his Thyroid nodule, which turns out to be a group of nodules or a goiter. It wasn't the funnest thing he has ever done (ouch!) and was somewhat complicated by the fact that almost all of his thyroid is located under his collar bone. But they had a good radiologist and the biopsy was successful.

What a blessing Jack's primary doctor is! He called today with the good news that the biopsy does not show cancer! The thyroid issues will have to be dealt with by an endocrinologist, but that will probably wait until after surgery.

The next step is Seattle again tomorrow to see the surgeon at Virginia Mason. More news to follow.

Thank you for praying. We all appreciate it!

Jack Update

Thanks everyone for the prayers! Mom (Ruth) and Jack were blessed with a good trip and the details went smoothly. They even had free shuttle service from their hotel to Virginia Mason and back instead of having to take an expensive taxi! I think the theme for the visit was "God is in the details".

We are praising God that the cancer was detected (in the words of the doctor himself), "darn early". The doctors were surprised that it was even detected by the first scoping. During Jack's "esophagogastroduodenoscopy with biopsy and ultrasound" (say that fast three times!), the surgeon who will do Jack's surgery, came in and observed! This was not planned (at least not by the medical staff - another God detail). While it is disappointing that God didn't remove the cancer and we still have some questions unanswered, we are praising God for:



1. Smooth details
2. Kind, cooperative and smart doctors at VM
3. Very early cancer in the first and second layers of stomach lining and only about the size of a quarter.
4. Because it has not spread, he can have surgery without first having chemo or other treatment.
5. No Lymph abnormalities detected!!!
6. No spreading to other organs
7. Jack tolerated the procedure and medications well


Prayer Requests:


1. God's healing
2. Peace, wisdom and discernment
3. Thyroid ultrasound guided needle biopsy on Monday, January 5, 2009
4. Appt with surgeon on January 7, 2009 - traveling mercies, doctor's wisdom, surgery planning
5. Timing of surgery (Jack will be in hospital 5 days)
6. Discernment and wisdom for surgeon who may be able to leave a small portion of Jack's stomach, but because of the location, this may be difficult.
7. Family healing (God knows the details)

Thank you from all of us!

Praying for Jack

Welcome friends and family who are coming for medical and prayer updates on Jack. If you look to the right you will see information on how to keep informed and a prayer list. Please pray as God directs you. At the moment my comment software is not sending me email addresses with comments so if you would like a reply and I don't have your email address, the most direct way is to email me using the address at left or my personal email address if you have it.

First of all, thank you to all my blog readers who have expressed their concern, encouragement and prayers. This has definitely not been the best week or so, but in spite of the sadness, it has been amazing to see God working. They were not even thinking about stomach cancer when they looked. If they had just done the usual ulcer blood tests, they would not have known until the cancer had progressed. Praise God for this as early detection is beneficial in all types of cancer. We will know more after the consult on New Year's Eve.

Ruth and Jack are doing well. Naturally there are moments of grief, but they have felt literally buoyed by the prayers and love of friends and family. God has been guiding them through Scripture to be still and know. (Ps 46:10). They are weary but not crushed and broken. They are waiting on the Lord, seeking His faith and His strength. These are not just empty words - they truly are. Who better to lean on than the Great Physician. Ruth recently came across a great quote she had written in her Bible - Put your chair in the shadow of the cross and you will never have to move it. (Joni Erickson Tada)

Now for the update on Jack's condition.

1. The biopsy on Jack's thyroid nodule was unable to be done because the nodule goes under his collar bone. An ultrasound guided biopsy is scheduled for January 5, 2009. The praise is that this type of nodule is only cancer 5% of the time and even if it is, it grows slowly and is treatable. There is no big rush to take care of this.

2. December 31, 2008, Jack and Ruth will meet with the gastric oncology specialist at Virginia Mason Hospital in Seattle. After their consult with him, he will perform another endoscopy type test on Jack to get a better picture and idea, as well as seeing for himself before deciding on what type of surgery to have.

3. Jack had a great conversation with his primary doctor who was able to answer some questions and explain some of the testing. It appears that the cancer is in very early stages. We will know for certain after the consult, but that is a praise.

On December 12th, Jack and Ruth celebrated their 21st wedding anniversary! Congratulations. Mom also celebrated her birthday but it's not polite to share a lady's age! :o)

THANK YOU again to anyone who is praying! Faith does move mountains!

Go Sell Crazy Somewhere Else, We've Got Enough Here - Or Songs On Sunday For Jack

I saw that title on a scrapbook page. It seemed fitting. Today Jack, this post is for you. Please print it out to read for your encouragement and as a verbal hug, when we are separated by distance. We love you!

Today I did not go to church because I am at the stage of migraine where being near people is difficult, so I wondered what I would write for Songs On Sunday. While my thoughts are focused on praying for Jack and as he will be receiving prayer and anointing for healing of his cancer by the Elders and Pastor Cameron at church, I was encouraged by these things.

The first is a devotional that my friend Margaret at Heritage Yarns, called The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotionals, compiled by Arthur Bennett and published by The Banner of Truth. The following is from page 102, but I am not sure if Blogger will allow the phrasing correctly (Sorry Blogger is not playing nicely, so I can't get it to quit squishing everything together!)

Need of Jesus

Lord Jesus,

I am blind, be thou my light.

ignorant, be though my wisdom,

self-willed, be thou my mind.

Open my ear to grasp quickly thy Spirit's voice,

and delightfully run after his beckoning hand;

Melt my conscience that no hardness remain,

make it alive to evil's slightest touch;

When Satan approaches may I flee to thy wounds,

and there cease to tremble at all alarms.

Be my good shepherd to lead me into the green pastures of thy Word,

and cause me to lie down beside the rivers of its comforts.

Fill me with peace, that no disquieting worldly gales

may ruffle the calm surface of my soul.

Thy cross was upraised to be my refuge,

Thy blood streamed forth to wash me clean.

Thy death occurred to give me a surety,

Thy name is my property to save me,

By thee all heaven is poured into my heart,

but it is too narrow to comprehend thy love.

I was a stranger, an outcast, a slave, a rebel,

but thy cross has brought me near,

has softened my heart,

has made me thy Father's child,

has admitted me to thy family,

has made me joint heir with thyself,

O that I may love thee as thou lovest me,

that I may walk worthy of thee, my Lord,

that I may reflect the image of Heaven's first born.

May I always see thy beauty with the clear eye of faith,

and feel the power of thy Spirit in my heart,

for unless he move mightily in me,

no inward fire will be kindled.

Keep on, Keeping on Brother! :o) No matter the outcome, nor the challenges, keep pressing on toward your upward calling in Christ Jesus!

Jame Owens Collins, a praise, prayer and song warrior, wrote this song, hold on to the Truth!

In heavenly armour we'll enter the land

The battle belongs to the Lord

No weapon that's fashioned against us shall stand

The battle belongs to the Lord

We sing glory and honor

Power and strength to the Lord

(repeat)

The power of darkness comes in like a flood

The battle belongs to the Lord

He's raised up a standard, the power of His blood

The battle belongs to the Lord

When your enemy presses in hard do not fear

The battle belongs to the Lord

Take courage my friend, your redemption is near

The battle belongs to the Lord

Cancer is NOT God's good and perfect will. Cancer is a result of the fall, sin, death, a tool of the enemy. We are reminded not to fear the enemy that hurts or kills our bodies, but to beware of the enemy who steals the soul. We know One who is victorious. Be encouraged by the BRAVE journeys of your sisters, Elaine and Nancy, who have traveled this path before you. Do everything HE calls you to humanly do and leave the rest in His hands. Do not survive - LIVE! Remember Elaine's purple hair! Remember Nancy's "fleas"! Remembered that by His stripes you ARE healed. Live in reality but listen to the TRUTH and His peace, which is beyond measure and comprehension will flood over you and sustain you. Live each moment for Him. We're here to be your cheerleaders, your soggy shoulders, your prayer warriors, your family and your friends. No one has a bigger heart for helping others than you. It's our turn to thank you. We love you!!!! We robustly sing to you:

I heard an old, old story,

How a Savior came from glory,

How He gave His life on Calvary

To save a wretch like me;

I heard about His groaning,

Of His precious blood's atoning,

Then I repented of my sins

And won the victory.

Chorus

O victory in Jesus,

My Savior, forever.

He sought me and bought me

With His redeeming blood;

He loved me ere I knew Him

And all my love is due Him,

He plunged me to victory,

Beneath the cleansing flood.

I heard about His healing,

Of His cleansing pow'r revealing.

How He made the lame to walk again

And caused the blind to see;

And then I cried, "Dear Jesus,Come and heal my broken spirit,"

And somehow Jesus came and bro't

To me the victory.

Chorus

O victory in Jesus,

My Savior, forever.

He sought me and bought me

With His redeeming blood;

He loved me ere I knew Him

And all my love is due Him,

He plunged me to victory,

Beneath the cleansing flood.

I heard about a mansion

He has built for me in glory.

And I heard about the streets of gold

Beyond the crystal sea;

About the angels singing,

And the old redemption story,

And some sweet day I'll sing up there

The song of victory.

Chorus

O victory in Jesus,

My Savior, forever.

He sought me and bought me

With His redeeming blood;

He loved me ere I knew Him

And all my love is due Him,

He plunged me to victory,

Beneath the cleansing flood.

No matter the outcome of your earthly battle (which I hope is also won!), I know the war is already WON. I commit you into His Will with HOPE. I love you Jack.

Astronauts do not like flowers, BUT, aliens do!

These are the conversations that come about when little girls lay aside their dollies and play Mars Mission Legos with their big brother!


Today I needed the laugh.


Last night and today I managed to accomplish eating a whole marionberry pie!


Insomnia is driving me crazy!


I needed the good laugh. Thank you for everyone who wrote and prayed. I am having a lot of problems with blogger and with the comment program that couldn't be resolved after almost two hours working on it. The only place I can see your comments are here on the blog and it no longer gives me the contact information.


The praise is that Jack's scan does not show any spread of the cancer! A Thyroid nodule was discovered however and he will have a needle biopsy next Thursday. Now they are in a waiting game. The ball is in the hands of the surgeons at Virginia Mason Hospital in Seattle, where it has been decided the surgery will take place. We appreciate your continued prayers. Mom said, they really appreciate the prayers and have been "walking in them" as time after time, the pieces have fallen into place.


And today, or I should say yesterday, since we are past midnight, Mom and Jack celebrated their 21st anniversary and Mom's birthday. I have been working hard to get my new digital scrapbooking blog up and running in time to post the cutest little picture of my Mommy as a two year old in the snow. This is one of the layouts that I submitted when I applied to become a Creative Team Member at Heritage Scrap. I'm so excited that I was chosen to join the team. I will be posting heritage layouts there to show off their wonderful kits. I post as Forget Me Nots in the gallery. This is not a paid position but I do have use of the kits to create layouts and that is wonderful for me... to support my habit! :o)


So, Happy Birthday Mom! Happy Anniversary Jack and Mom! We all love you. I hope you like your snow layout!

Prayer Requests

Grandpa, Princess, Boogie and Sunshine

Apple Gate Trail Museum July 2008

Josephine County, Oregon

Please pray for my step Dad Jack. Today he found out that he has stomach cancer. As I write this he is getting ready to have his full body scan to see if the cancer is contained or spread. This test will determine what happens next and whether he can have his stomach removed locally or if goes to Seattle for further testing and specialty doctors.

We are hopeful because he had a clean CT a few months ago. If it is contained, that would be the best possible situation. Well, divine healing would be preferred! :o)

Please pray for Jack, my Mom Ruth and also for comfort for Grandma Doris, Jack's Mom. Everyone is doing as well as can be expected and trusting in the Lord, but obviously this type of diagnosis doesn't come without stress and grief. We all appreciate your prayers. Thank you.