Hello

I have not felt like writting for a while and I will tell you why.

This has been an interesting summer, I am going to be honest here.  I have been grateful that Jeff has not had any new tumors grow – thank you Lord- and I have been grateful that Kayla and Natalie have been having a good summer without the homework madness ( I know you parents can relate!)  But at the same time I have been bummed because the next 10 months are going to be a struggle – no way to get around it.

Nursing school starting next week – which zaps the life out of me, Jeff obviously getting chemo monthly and every 2 months checking to see if there are any new tumors grwoing, and the adjustment of high school for Kayla and middle school for Natalie.  I just kept thinking I have to finish nursing school so I can bring in some money for us. There just didn’t seem to be a heck of a lot to look forward to, so I was having a pity party in my head.

BUT last week as I was visiting my Mom in Arizona (for those of you who don’t know, she has pretty bad dimensia/Alzheimers now) my thinking turned a corner.  She is doing great, even though we couldn’t communicate with each other with words, we laughed and giggled and just loved being together.  So, as I was driving to the airport thanking God for taking good care of her, I realized I was not trusting Him to take care of me and my family!  I was taking all of the burden of the year to come on my shoulders alone.  No wonder I was having a pity party!

Since this revelation, I am reminding myself to surrender to the Lord because I know he is a faithful God who will never leave me and when I get through these next 10 months (even if there are hiccups in the road) He is going to say “See? I told you I would help you get through it!”

All my love,

Julie

Sorry for the delayed update, but here it is for those of you that have not heard. I started my chemo on June 29th as planned, but after a call from my doc asking me to stop the chemo due to a low white blood count and low platelets,  I stopped after only one dose. The same week (July 2) I had my blood drawn again and an MRI. Later the same day (July 2) a call from the doc with the news that my blood counts had gone back up and my MRI was negative for any new tumor growth (praise God!). I was told to resume chemo the following Monday (July 6) which I did and finished my scheduled doses by Thursday night. It was a good week with only minor fatigue this time. Next chemo is scheduled for the first week of August, but will depend on my blood counts the last week of July. I’m feeling great and it is  so great to hear my friends and family are still checking in on me and praying for me all the time. Thank you! In His love, Jeff