May 31, 2009

Back again. Sorry I haven't been posting daily like I did at the beginning, but thankfully, there's not a lot to report on. The purpose of this blog was to keep everyone (who cared) about the trials and tribulations of Anne's cancer, and our faith, journey. I could blog every day about things important or interesting to me, but that isn't why I started this thing (with Jenni Sternberg's help).

Well, Anne is doing great, so there hasn't been too much to say about her, other than I love her more than ever--even I couldn't imagine that. She is an incredible trooper. We went to a funeral today (a former collegue and friend [and fellow Mickey Mouse freak] Dr. Nick Koenig passed away this week) and here Anne was asking everyone else how they were doing: "This isn't about me, you know" was what I heard her say the most. We ran in to a bunch of friends she hasn't seen in a while. I'm still amazed at how many people she knows, first of all, and how many have been praying for her. It definitely picks you up.

Tomorrow she'll try again for chemo round #3. Let's all pray that her WBC count is up high enough to be able to get the chemo. Of course, I'd appreciate prayers that she doesn't have any complications during receiving the chemo and for the week or so afterwards as well. My inlaws are still here with us. They wanted to be around while Anne gets the chemo, so they're staying a week longer than they had planned. Thankfully, I was able to come up with a project for my father in law that consumed a bunch of time for him. He did a beautiful and professional job of it and I am forever thankful for that. In the meantime--my clothes are cleaned and pressed, thanks to my mother in law! So how can I complain! The girls are home this weekend, the Wings won the first game against Pittsburgh, and we had a wonderful progressive dinner Friday night with my community group from church. Life is grand. We also went to a fantastic piano recital today--our friend's son, Mike Wechter gave a beautiful concert. With all this kid does, I don't know where he finds time to practice, but he is awesome (as are his parents Dan and Alice--and the other 10 kids). Anne's brother John is back on the surgery schedule in London, Ontario, Canada for this coming Wednesday, so be sure to add him to your prayers.

I started to include a verse from 2Corinthians in the blog today, but decided that the entire passage would be better:

"Praise be to God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort." 2Corinthians 1:3-7.

We have been comforted by all of you who have been praying for us, just as God has comforted us. And I can only hope that someone is comforted by us in return. Our current struggle is a big one, but by the grace of God, and the prayers of all of you, we will get through this with flying colors. I know this because "the Bible tells me so", but also because of the amazing response that Anne has already had to the chemo, with minimal side effects. The comments I hear about how people are responding to this blog are encouraging. If I can use this blog as a witness to the greatness of God and what He does for us, that is wonderful, and well worth it. I have given maybe a small insight to what He has done for me especially, and I would welcome the chance to be able to witness to anyone interested, as I am the true prodigal son, and can't begin to explain how amazing that is.

God Bless,
Tony