Put On a Shelf

Not long ago, I was talking with a friend who I hadn't been in touch with for a while.  She was asking about my ministries and how they were going through my cancer journey.  I explained, I had to stop them and than I felt like I was put on a shelf.  Her reaction was beautiful and so needed at that point.  It came out of her mouth so quickly, it was clear the Holy Spirit had spoken through her.  She said, "Carrie, precious treasures are put on a shelf.  You are God's precious treasure."  Wow, just wow.  Indeed, that is where were put our precious treasures.  Nothing says they can't come down off that shelf to be used again, right?  Those words were beautiful to me.

So Many Miracles

"Your ways, God, are holy.  What god is as great as our God? You are the God who performs          miracles; you display your power amongst peoples."  Psalm 77:13-14

I meant to post this long ago.  There have been many amazing things through this cancer journey.  I never want to forget how God has been there for me.  How He's preserved me, for I don't know what, but I'm listening.

A few years back, through prayer, Bob and I decided we wanted to get qualified with a specific agency to hit the mission field.  Honestly, the process was painful and long, and yet, it taught me so much and challenged me!  The time came to talk about where we might want to go.  Many suggestions came up and we just weren't feeling the Spirit lead us.  Don't know why, just weren't feeling led, but thought we may end up in a country in Africa.  Then the news came.  I had cancer.  We knew then, that God was preserving me for something.  Had we been over there, I'm certain I would have waited TOO long to see a doctor.  I likely would not have survived.

We were so blessed to be given the absolute best doctor anyone could imagine.  Rave reviews from other doctors and patients.

We were blessed to have a dear friend who's an MD help us get in to see the oncologist practically the next day.  A gift.

In surgery, she expected to find the tumor affecting my bowels and thought she'd have to remove some of it...she didn't!!

While getting my port in, I met a woman who had just gotten her port for the same cancer, stage 3C.  I made a call and asked for help locating her.  She lives right here in our county and we became fast friends.  We are each others' prayer warriors and sounding boards.  A gift.

My first chemo was a disaster.  I think I rank it as perhaps the worst day of my life.  I had a serious allergic reaction, but here I am.  Preserved again.

The family time God gifted us, particularly last summer when we had a wonderful vacation at the Jolli Lodge in Leland, has been so very special.  My heart explodes with love for my family.

During my scan, which gave me another miracle, REMISSION, led to the finding of several

Pulmonary embolisms.  Had that not been found, I could have died.  I was put on blood thinners.  Praise God they were seen on the scan!

And through this whole process, my kidney remains in pretty good shape, considering.  I am beyond blessed.

God has shown me so much and of course I don't know what's in store, but our relationship has become more worshipful than ever before.  Oh how I love Him.

MY LAST CHEMO!

 It was September 13.  A bit tougher than the rest.  More nauseous and taste buds effected, but 3 weeks later, all improved.  Have started my maintenance infusions (no NEW side effects as I've been on this one through chemo-whew).  Am putting off the other maintenance drug that has all the same side effects as chemo til have my bucket list trip!  Just takes away some of the joy of ending chemo knowing this is coming, BUT I will be on a lower dose due to having one kidney and perhaps my side effects won't be so bad!  Thankful.

IN LOVING MEMORY

We haven’t lived in Michigan since we left in February of 1992.  Wow, we’ve been gone almost as long as we lived there!!  With home forever feeling like Michigan, because that’s where we were born and raised, it sort of left us without a place where we would be buried one day.  In the meantime, we ended up choosing cremation for Rachel and I’ve chosen it for myself one day.  

There is something pretty cool about visiting a cemetery and seeing the history, but since this doesn’t make sense for us, we’ve decided on a Family Memorial Bench, something that can always be present at one of our decendents’ homes.  We’ve chosen to place it for now next to Rachel’s Pink Memorial Garden.  IN LOVING MEMORY OF OUR LEGACY.

EL FINITO!!!!