Thank you Father for seeing us through this past week. Thank you also for the hope for better days. Thank you all for your continued prayers and support.

Last week was a busy week. I was able to get Theresa in for an Orthopedic evaluation on Monday and he confirmed by suspicion she had developed a frozen shoulder in the opposite side of the radiation treatments. No one knows why this occurs, but is more common in women >50 years old. The prognosis is good, but it may take many more months for the pain to settle down. She will get an injection into the joint a week from tomorrow, so hopefully that will calm the pain down. These are known to cause more pain at night, making it hard to sleep, which is what is going on. Friday saw the end of Theresa’s 32 doses of radiation. Yea! That was a grueling schedule for her. The effects of radiation will continue to develop over the next 6 weeks and then start to heal. The skin is very sore. Theresa has been an incredible trooper. She found the staff at the radiation oncology office in Olympia to be outstanding, sensitive and of great support. She brought them cookies on her last day. We celebrated her last day of radiation with cake and flowers. Theresa is getting deep tissue massage as that seems to help with the intensity of the pain, TENs unit helps temporarily. She has been taking some meds to help, one makes her sleepy, so she is taking a nap right now. I am hoping for more good days as we get further away from radiation and only having to go in every 3 weeks for Herceptin until summer. Theresa is enjoying having wavy short hair that is pretty thick, compared to her thinner long straight hair she has always had. The waves will probably disappear in time.

Hope is huge. Hope for better days, for tomorrow, for life without pain and suffering. Yes these have been very difficult days. God’s promises are true though. Our experience echo’s the testimonies of others of God’s faithfulness, help and nearness as we walk through this “valley of the shadow of death”. Yes there are scars, stretch marks, bending but not breaking. You don’t come out of this as you came in. You are forever changed, and for good for those who rest in the Savior’s arms. Pruning, molding and refining are not fun processes. Learning to accept, submit, obey, and have a grateful thankful heart through it is what is needed. God is good all the time and it has nothing to do with our circumstances. As we all know, God is to be praised in both the good and bad times. He draws us. Breath Him in, drink the living water – let it fill you, satisfy you.

As we close in on a year, in December, of when this saga began, I am without words on how grateful I am to have my bride still beside me. Her beauty, her life radiates through the struggles and pain. In having to trust and let go, her faith has developed a depth that is palpable and sure. A faith that knows, that relies on, that has a solid foundation solidified by struggles and difficulties. Be encouraged! “Trust and obey for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus, than to Trust and obey.”

We covet your continued prayers, for quick healing and reduction of her pain. Have a good week.