Joy and Sorrow

It is amazing to me how you can have both great joy and great sorrow all at the same time. This last weekend Chris came home to go his friend Emily's 18th birthday party. We were so full of joy to see him. He was very tired, the last couple of weeks had been filled with so many activities, more than he had done in the last year probably. We feed him and "babied" him. He looked really good, healthy and excited about school. We give all the praise to our Lord, He has truly blessed our son and answered so many prayers.

But the weekend also had deep sorrow, Joshua, a dear 16 year old young man, that we had met while Chris was getting his treatment had gone to be with the Lord. It is during these times that you have to dig deep and believe that God truly is Good, and that somehow in His sovereignty it all makes sense. The memorial service was so beautiful, God was truly glorified as we worshiped our amazing Lord. Joshua's life was so beautifully remembered, and his love of the Lord was evident. He is having a great time with his God. Please keep his family in your prayers. He leaves a wonderful mom, Pam who loves the Lord, as well as two sisters.

Dreaded this for 18 years

That is how John put it. We took Chris to Cal Poly in San Lous Obispo this weekend. The air there is so clean, the sky so blue. Made us want to move there also. It was fun to be at the campus, the students were all there with their families moving in. Chris' dorm room was much nicer and bigger than we thought. The big encouragement was that Chris' roommate seems to be a very nice young man. He was very anxious to be helpful, and was organized, unlike Chris. We think he will make a good roommate. Chris was excited but unsure how the rooming with a stranger was going to be like. They have a refrigerator filled with drinks and a snack bookcase with all sorts of midnight food items and an XBOX and Wii, so they are set with entertainment.

This week is WOW week, or Week of Welcome. Something Cal Poly has been doing for many many years. Today Chris sent a text to tell us he was going Kayaking, so it will be a week of fun. Just pray that Chris will keep up his strength and not over do it. This week will involve the most exercise he has had in almost a year.

We continue to perservere

Well today John had his scans again. The news was not what we had hoped. Last time there was a significant improvement, but this time it showed that the tumor area was more active, meaning the cancer is trying to come back. John will begin another type of treatment on Monday. The good news of that is that the new treatment is not suppose to make him as sick. They will do it for a month and recheck. Meanwhile we are going to try to get a referral to UCLA. We truly do not want to chase "cures", but we want the God of the Universe to be our divine healer through whatever means He lays before us.

We really are so grateful for all the prayers, we will not give up.

"Do not be lazy. Be like those who have faith and have not given up. They will receive what God has promised them." Hebrews 6:12

We will not surrender anything to the enemy, but will receive what has been promised which we believe is a long life, complete healing and restoration. We are still anticipating and waiting for complete victory, and that victory will for the Glory of the Lord.

Blessings, Dawn