High Viscosity

Molasses. Peanut Butter. Sludge. Motor Oil. Honey. Quicksand. 6 feet of snow.


Pick your favorite semi viscous liquid - it doesn't matter. It feels like we are running (Ok, walking), in any one of them.  Some days it feels like we are walking through all of them.


On one hand, we feel like we have come so far — the initial tests, the diagnosis, the doctor shopping, two surgeries, bad news after bad news, reconstruction, starting chemo, hair loss, emotional distress, a million side effects.  Yet on the other, it feels like we have so far to go. Each week the viscosity seems to get thicker and it seems harder to trudge along.


With every chemo treatment, our prayer is that the side effects will lessen, that she will remain strong, and of course that every spec of cancer will be removed. So far, the side effect prayer has not been answered.  Julie has 2 down and 4 to go.  The current regiment has her last treatment on December 22. In the grand scheme of things, thats a little over three months, and we like to say "we can do anything for 3 months". 


Easier said than done, however.


Julie's spirits are good. Her (our) walk with the Lord is strong. Our relationship is closer than it has ever been. And, she is so beautiful - she glows even though she feels awful. Yet, the enemy is on the offensive. It's still easy to get discouraged, and its easy to get stuck in at how hard this really is. But we remain steadfast. God is good. All the time. He has blessed us, and continues to do so in ways we don't understand or deserve.


Julie has been struggling with some side effects - managing the nausea, pain, bad taste in the mouth, gastrointestinal issues, thrown into menopause, susceptibility to infection, bloody noses, tiredness...it takes its toll. They know me by name at Walgreens.


She has so appreciated people reaching out to her through Facebook, email and texting.  Please know she is getting your communications, but she has had some trouble reading and writing on the computer and her phone, so she has not been able to get back to everyone quickly. She loves you all and will do so eventually.


Many of you have asked how the girls are doing. While that is a bit of a complicated question, overall they are doing well. Hannah is fully engaged in school and dance (and loving it). Sarah is  buried in her senior year, preparing college applications and performing in theatre. Tonight is the Homecoming dance (and they even won their football game!). So, overall they are doing well and leading normal, busy lives. Julie is doing all she can to be part of what they have going on, but misses not being able to be fully engaged as their mom. We are all looking forward to that!


Specific prayer requests:

• Please pray for physical strength and elimination of the side effects. This has been quite the struggle.
• Pray for emotional strength
• Pray for courage and determination and against discouragement (for all of us)
• Pray for protection against infection.  It snowed here in CO today. Cold and flu season is upon us and the girls spend 6 hours a day in petri dishes
• Say a prayer of thanksgiving for the blessings the Lord has bestowed upon us with family, friends and angels who have and continue to help us through this journey. 
• Please pray that the Lord will continues to reveal himself to us, walk with us day by  day, hour by hour, minute by minute. 
• Lastly, there have been some particularly large challenges at work. If the Lord puts that on your heart, I'd certainly appreciate praying for his blessings on the work front.

Thanks for all your prayers and support!