7 To 10 Days Turned Into 4
My dear friend, Dr. Nat, came for a couple days. A couple days of wonderfulness… good conversations, yummy food cooked by Chef Nat, playing games with small ones, early morning coffee together, book time with Super Nanny Nat, sharing new music finds, and just being.
The letter arrived just before she left, and I ripped it open, a feeling of nausea in my stomach. They weren’t supposed to contact me for 3 more days at the earliest.
It was awesome to be able to tell Nat in person that…
The scan was CLEAR. There is no recurrence. And I am not facing any more scans for another whole year. A year, y’all. It’s all a bit mind-blowing and overwhelming to think they aren’t going to be actively looking for cancer in my body because well, there’s none there!
I feel like I can breathe for the first time in 2 1/2 years.
EXHALE.
Then I breathe in again and steel myself for the months of recovery ahead. I know there will be a lot of trudging. A lot of digging and climbing out of this chasm.
But as weary as my steps will be, each footfall will be a bit lighter knowing the cancer burden is gone.
We are so grateful.
God has brought us through so much. You, my group of blogosphere friends, have bolstered me and encouraged me through your words and prayers. Each comment to remind me of truth and support has lifted me up in ways I can’t even begin to describe. You’ve made your presence known to me and shown me Him.
Thank you for walking in my dark chasm with me, for helping me as I work to climb out, for encouraging me as I’ve been knocked about in ways that hurt abominably. He has shown me Himself and His beauty through you. Here’s to the next phase of my journey–with Him and with you.
(Monica sent me this quote when we heard the news that I was cancer free from the thyroid cancer… and it is perfect. Just perfect.)
Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of - throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.
C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
Moni Kaye said:
So great to hear your voice today and your wonderful news.
Thinking of Psalm 103. “Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits- who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The LORD works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed. . . As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; he wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children- with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts. The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all. Praise the LORD, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word. Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will. Praise the LORD, all his works everywhere in his dominion. Praise the LORD, O my soul.”
Oh, and thinking about heaven and jasper!
I love you.
karen mirabella said:
Thanking God with you for His provision and blessing to you!
natalie said:
Woo hoo. Thanks for a wonderful visit…with a more wonderful ending. Praising God!!!
ginny said:
My family rejoices with you and your loved ones….praise the Lord!!!!!!!!
Ruth W. said:
Thanking God!
Sarah Wingard said:
Glory be to our God! Such wonderful news! Thanks for sharing the quote, too
Marsha said:
Oh my dear far away friend…
Such wonderful… wonderful… news!
He is most assuredly building a palace. And you? You have fulfilled His promise….
… and our daughters will be like pillars, carved to adorn a palace.
You adorn, dear Angie…
You adorn.
Sarah said:
Praise the Lord friend. Celebrating and breathing with you!
Donnetta said:
Oh, Love LOVE that C.S. Lewis quote and the word picture it represents! “You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.”
It helps to bring the “construction” process of my own heart and life into a bit more perspective somehow.
Rejoicing and praising with you!
carly said:
How wonderful!!!! we are rejoicing with you, and thanking our great God.
judieyoung@hotmail.com said:
Dearest Angie,
Our Father is constantly attending our prayers and answering them to His glory. We can truly say together “Those who love salvation, say let Him be magnified.” I am so grateful for this great report. We have walked in victory all the time, walking in Him, clothing ourselves in Christ, fightings within and fears without, but our God is greater than all our fears. If our heart condemns us, HE IS GREATER THAN OUR HEARTS. To God be the GLORY.
Grace abound to you in fullest measure.
Judie
xoxoxo
Kristin said:
I am delighted to hear this news. God HAS BEEN good, God IS good, and God WILL BE good to you. Praise Him!
Jacquie said:
Hallelujah!
OH Ang … I cannot imagine better news! I also cannot imagine better news without our God to praise! What a blessing to give HIM all the glory!
Miss you friend!
love Jacquie
maretta said:
Speechless, but somehow not tearless.
Love you,
maretta
Thelma said:
I’m crying just now with joy! So happy for you to hear that you are free of all this burden! I’m so happy to hear that your struggles and your amazing strength through all of this has been rewarded with such great news. We are so happy for you and for Brian and for the children. Give them all big hugs for us, and now get on with that recovery with a free and joyous mind!