Dear praying friends and family,

Thank you for helping us with your prayers (and tender words, yummy meals, and thoughtful gifts!)!

Here’s the latest:

• Port Installation 12/28: I experienced Emmanuel – God with us! You might recall that I was totally freaked out about getting the port. But when the time came, I felt peace. Also, the nurse started my IV with one stick – no bruising! – best IV start yet. Thankful. (Having a port still freaks me out, but my mantra is: My port is my buddy. And it sure made chemo a whole lot easier!)
• First Chemo 12/29: Whole process was about 3 hours. Tim and Jacqui sat beside me. Kind of weird, but we sort of photo-journalled the experience on Facebook. Jacqui read and prayed from His Princess Warrior, a book I had given her when she faced fierce battle years ago. Thankful for no nausea!! Instead, the side-effects feel like a fever – body aches, queasiness, fatigue, and slow thinking. In addition, my mouth is dry and tastes metallic, lips tingle. Although I’m not myself, I’m not out of my mind crazy and sick – looking for Jesus to come take me – like I was 28 years ago.
• Neulasta 12/31: This shot stimulates my white blood cell production. Thankful I haven’t experienced the often reported excruciating bone pain; however, I feel my marrow complaining.
• Back to Work 1/8: My oncologist has flip-flopped and now says work is the “best thing for me” – if I can manage it and stay infection free. Thankful Jacqui is still on break and will help me Friday.
• Family and Friends: Tim and John have had extended time off work; Zach and Jacqui have been on break from school. Loved ones (and strangers!) have sent encouragement and help.
• Pray:
  • Thanks and praise for minimal side-effects, skilled medical team, and loving support; there is more to life than a “happy and healthy” New Year – God promises to use all things for good, fruitfulness even in a year of drought, and His power is made perfect in weakness (infirmity!!); and we gain a heart of wisdom as we recognize how fleeting this life is.
  • Ask for continued mercy and healing – death to all cancer cells and shield to all healthy cells. Pray for me and everyone around me to have eyes to see and hearts to understand who God is – more and more – and to know we are dearly loved more than we know anything.

When God loves through His people, I am experiencing comfort in two very real ways:
1. Physical Realm. Many are helping us in very practical ways. I’m tearing thinking of all the beauty and kindness given. Thank you.
2. Spiritual Realm. Although supernatural and unseen, the spiritual greatly affects my daily life. Encouragement and prayer helps me see with the mind of Christ and to believe what He says over what I feel. Life-giving.

Two truths I’m dwelling on. Will you pray for me to live in them more and more?

• “In quietness and trust is your strength.” Isaiah 30:15
• “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Thanking God for you!

Becky (His.Princess.Warrior.)
“He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.” (2 Cor 1:10-11)