Good morning, dear family and friends. I felt I should do one final post to update you on how Paul is doing. His last CT scan was done on December 22, and we met with the oncologist on the 29th. NED—no evidence of disease. Everything looked good. Paul had an endoscopy dilation yesterday, and the doctor scoped all the way through the stomach and beyond. Everything looked great. WE ARE SO GRATEFUL, and very mindful of WHO has brought Paul through this cancer.
I was thinking this morning about this journey. It’s now been two weeks shy of fifteen months. The One who created the heavens and the earth has been with us day by day by day…through treatments, surgery, hospital stays, pain, fears, joys, times of discouragement, and times of incredible encouragement…and He’s used YOU over and over again.
Paul will always have challenges, but he’s come so far, and continues to grow stronger. On our way into church this past Sunday, we ran into someone that hadn’t seen Paul in awhile. She said, “You look so healthy!!!” And he does. He’s a lot thinner (35 pounds), with a full, CURLY head of hair, and STILL sporting the goatee. It’s in his coloring, his vitality, his strength—he really does look healthy.
So where do we go from here? We will continue to take life ONE DAY AT A TIME, for it is a gift. After going through all these months of Paul’s illness and recovery, I’ve thought a lot about the fact that there are so many things that are not important anymore. So many things that don’t even make the list. We’ve been forever changed, and I mean that in a positive way. Life is precious. And there is a God in heaven who is indescribably dear, ONE that cares about every single thing that concerns us. And He never leaves us alone.
Hebrews 11:1 (The Message Bible) THE FUNDAMENTAL FACT OF EXISTENCE IS THAT THIS TRUST IN GOD, THIS FAITH, IS THE FIRM FOUNDATION UNDER EVERYTHING THAT MAKES LIFE WORTH LIVING. IT’S OUR HANDLE ON WHAT WE CAN’T SEE.
Paul and I are leaving on a business/vacation trip on Friday. We’re going to Hawaii! Sticking our toes in the sand, watching sunsets, reflecting on all that’s good…these are a few of the things we look forward to doing.
We will be forever grateful for your prayers, hugs, notes, and encouragement in countless ways. We couldn’t have done it without you. GOD USED YOU to touch our hearts. What a blessing. Isn’t that what He tells us is important. To love Him with all our hearts, and to love others. In fact, He says it’s the MOST IMPORTANT thing. He desires to use you and me to be His hands and feet in a world that is touched by hardships, sorrows, pain, suffering, and need.
So, I encourage you to keep on loving, reaching out, encouraging. Keep on being WILLING to be used to bless another that God brings along your path. May 2009 be a year that you are more aware than ever of how much God loves YOU and CARES about every single thing that concerns YOU.
Love in Christ,
Diana
