We are rejoicing in the good news we received this week. God has been gracious - the stem cell transplant was successful and Tim's cancer is in remission! Praise the Lord! The prayers of so many have been answered. He is feeling on top of the world right now and back to a full work schedule. The doctors will continue to monitor him over the next several months, but it was a huge blessing to hear that he is in remission. Now, our prayer is that the cancer stays in remission and he continues to feel as well as he does right now.
We are busy preparing for the arrival of our new assistant pastor and his family - it is so good to say "our assistant pastor." We are excited and honored to have Matt and Julie Fitch joining us at Community Baptist Church to help take our church to the next level. We have so many plans and are grateful that they are willing to partner with us to reach our community with the Gospel and help strengthen and support our CBC family. We are looking forward to exciting days ahead.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
I hope you run through the rain!
My dad sent me this story. I don't know if it is true, but it is certainly poignant.
A little girl had been shopping with her Mom in Target. She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful red haired, freckle faced image of innocence.
It was pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the top of rain gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the earth it has no time to flow down the spout. We all stood there, under the awning, just inside the door of the Target. We waited, some patiently, others irritated because nature messed up their hurried day.
I am always mesmerized by rainfall. I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world. Memories of running, splashing so carefree as a child came pouring in as a welcome reprieve from the worries of my day. Her little voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we were all caught in. "Mom let's run through the rain," she said.
"What?" Mom asked.
"Let's run through the rain!" She repeated.
"No, honey. We'll wait until it slows down a bit," Mom replied.
This young child waited a minute and repeated: "Mom, let's run through the rain!"
"We'll get soaked if we do," Mom said.
"No, we won't, Mom. That's not what you said this morning," the young girl said as she tugged at her Mom's arm.
"This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?"
"Don't you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, 'If God can get us through this, he can get us through anything!' "
The entire crowd stopped dead silent. I'm sure you couldn't hear anything but the rain. We all stood silently. No one left. Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say.
Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly. Some might even ignore what was said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child's life. A time when innocent trust can be nurtured so that it will bloom into faith.
"Honey, you are absolutely right. Let's run through the rain. If GOD let's us get wet, well maybe we just need washing!" Mom said.
Then off they ran. We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they darted past the cars and yes, through the puddles. They got soaked.
They were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars. And yes, I did. I ran. I got wet. I needed washing.
Circumstances or people can take away your material possessions, they can take away your money, and they can take away your health. But no one can ever take away your precious memories...So, don't forget to make time and take the opportunities to make memories every day.
To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven.
I HOPE YOU STILL TAKE THE TIME TO RUN THROUGH THE RAIN.
-Author Unknown
A little girl had been shopping with her Mom in Target. She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful red haired, freckle faced image of innocence.
It was pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the top of rain gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the earth it has no time to flow down the spout. We all stood there, under the awning, just inside the door of the Target. We waited, some patiently, others irritated because nature messed up their hurried day.
I am always mesmerized by rainfall. I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world. Memories of running, splashing so carefree as a child came pouring in as a welcome reprieve from the worries of my day. Her little voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we were all caught in. "Mom let's run through the rain," she said.
"What?" Mom asked.
"Let's run through the rain!" She repeated.
"No, honey. We'll wait until it slows down a bit," Mom replied.
This young child waited a minute and repeated: "Mom, let's run through the rain!"
"We'll get soaked if we do," Mom said.
"No, we won't, Mom. That's not what you said this morning," the young girl said as she tugged at her Mom's arm.
"This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?"
"Don't you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, 'If God can get us through this, he can get us through anything!' "
The entire crowd stopped dead silent. I'm sure you couldn't hear anything but the rain. We all stood silently. No one left. Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say.
Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly. Some might even ignore what was said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child's life. A time when innocent trust can be nurtured so that it will bloom into faith.
"Honey, you are absolutely right. Let's run through the rain. If GOD let's us get wet, well maybe we just need washing!" Mom said.
Then off they ran. We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they darted past the cars and yes, through the puddles. They got soaked.
They were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars. And yes, I did. I ran. I got wet. I needed washing.
Circumstances or people can take away your material possessions, they can take away your money, and they can take away your health. But no one can ever take away your precious memories...So, don't forget to make time and take the opportunities to make memories every day.
To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven.
I HOPE YOU STILL TAKE THE TIME TO RUN THROUGH THE RAIN.
-Author Unknown
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
A Busy Summer
Tim is feeling great and is so happy to be back at church and working again. He says he feels better than he has in over a year! We know that he would not have done so well throughout the treatment were it not for the prayers of 100's of people all over the country. We are humbled by the support and love we have received and grateful to have been included in your prayers.
Little Attorney...?
Tim has an appointment next week to have some testing done. These tests should tell us whether the cancer has gone into remission. We are resting in the Lord as we await those results and will post as soon as we know something.
Our family is keeping me very busy this summer - Matthew is at The Wilds of New England camp this week. He has been working hard with his lawn business and earned a nice break this week at camp. Michael sliced his finger and had to have 4 stitches yesterday. He's going to be fine, but enjoying the extra attention. McKayla is running a fever again (now on day 2) and is not feeling well. She is very sad to be missing Vacation Bibe School this week. Mark is continuing to practice his negotiating skills on me. He is a little attorney and can worm his way out of pretty much anything! We call him our little Einstein since he is such a "brainiac"! ☺
Our family is keeping me very busy this summer - Matthew is at The Wilds of New England camp this week. He has been working hard with his lawn business and earned a nice break this week at camp. Michael sliced his finger and had to have 4 stitches yesterday. He's going to be fine, but enjoying the extra attention. McKayla is running a fever again (now on day 2) and is not feeling well. She is very sad to be missing Vacation Bibe School this week. Mark is continuing to practice his negotiating skills on me. He is a little attorney and can worm his way out of pretty much anything! We call him our little Einstein since he is such a "brainiac"! ☺
Since there's not much to post about Tim, I thought I'd share some adorable pictures with you. I finally had a chance to have Mark's K-5 graduation pictures made. Isn't he cute!!!
Little graduate
Little Attorney...?
Little Preacher...?
Hurray! I'm done!
Hurray! I'm done!
Sunday, July 11, 2010
He's Back!
Tim was back at church today and preached a great message on "Great Faith" from Matthew 15. He was very excited to be there and everyone was glad to see him. People were asking me how I felt to have him come back to church so much earlier than expected. I was VERY glad to have my husband there and I am not at all surprised that he was there. You can't keep Tim down for long! God has been gracious and allowed him to recover in good time. He is almost back to 100% (minus the hair ☺) and I can't keep him still any longer! It was a good day for our family to all go to church together, and it was good for our church to have their pastor back in business.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Heat Wave
It is HOT here in Connecticut and has been all week. It is forecasted to stay that way until Sunday. Tim says that one good thing about not having any hair is that it helps keep him cool. I don't plan on going "on the shinny side" to find out about that. :) For you Southerners who are enjoying your central air conditioning during this heat wave... be thankful! Many homes and small businesses here in New England do NOT have central air - including our own home. It has been at or close to 100 for the last 3 days and it is like walking into an oven to go into one of our rooms that do not have a window unit. Fall can't come soon enough for this transplanted Southerner!
Grandma Zac was here for a week and we had a nice time with her. She is always a big help with the laundry when she is here and the kids love to play Uno and Skipbo with her and just enjoy spending time with her. We were all sad to see her go back to Pennsylvania, but since she is only 3 hours away, we hope we will see her again soon!
Tim has made a positive turn in his recovery and is doing really well. His strength and stamina are returning and he is feeling great! His taste is still not back to normal, but it is getting better. He is chomping at the bit to preach and I have a feeling it may happen this Sunday...stay tuned.
Grandma Zac was here for a week and we had a nice time with her. She is always a big help with the laundry when she is here and the kids love to play Uno and Skipbo with her and just enjoy spending time with her. We were all sad to see her go back to Pennsylvania, but since she is only 3 hours away, we hope we will see her again soon!
Tim has made a positive turn in his recovery and is doing really well. His strength and stamina are returning and he is feeling great! His taste is still not back to normal, but it is getting better. He is chomping at the bit to preach and I have a feeling it may happen this Sunday...stay tuned.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
How I’m Doing...
First of all, I want to thank all of the countless people who are praying for me and sending me notes of encouragement. I really do not feel that I would be doing as well as I am without the prayers and strength I have received from God’s people.
It is coming up on a month since my treatment began. As you can see I have lost all of my hair, but unlike Samson, I am gaining strength instead of losing it. (Sorry for the comparison. I know there really is no comparison.) I continue experience weakness and fatigue during the day. I have learned to take an afternoon nap and go to bed early. This seems to help. It makes me feel like an old man sometimes, but maybe I am. Any of you senior saints out there take an afternoon nap? Please pray that my full strength will return soon.
Slowly, but surely, my taste and my appetite are returning. I have lost about 10 pounds simply because I do not want to eat much since nothing tastes just right. I eat anyway just because I need to.
So what do I do during the day? I try to find something productive every day to occupy my time and make me useful. Today, I painted a door. It took an hour or so. That’s about all I can do physically today. I have also been preparing messages, doctrinal essays, and counseling ministry guidelines. This work for the church is very satisfying for me. Also, I have read a large book, and some have given me CD’s for my listening pleasure. Besides that, I take care of the pool, pay some bills, go for walks, and yes- nap.
There is always a nap.
Rest is good, but I hope to get back to church sooner than later. With God’s help and your prayers I will. Keep holding me up.
It is coming up on a month since my treatment began. As you can see I have lost all of my hair, but unlike Samson, I am gaining strength instead of losing it. (Sorry for the comparison. I know there really is no comparison.) I continue experience weakness and fatigue during the day. I have learned to take an afternoon nap and go to bed early. This seems to help. It makes me feel like an old man sometimes, but maybe I am. Any of you senior saints out there take an afternoon nap? Please pray that my full strength will return soon.
Slowly, but surely, my taste and my appetite are returning. I have lost about 10 pounds simply because I do not want to eat much since nothing tastes just right. I eat anyway just because I need to.
So what do I do during the day? I try to find something productive every day to occupy my time and make me useful. Today, I painted a door. It took an hour or so. That’s about all I can do physically today. I have also been preparing messages, doctrinal essays, and counseling ministry guidelines. This work for the church is very satisfying for me. Also, I have read a large book, and some have given me CD’s for my listening pleasure. Besides that, I take care of the pool, pay some bills, go for walks, and yes- nap.
There is always a nap.
Rest is good, but I hope to get back to church sooner than later. With God’s help and your prayers I will. Keep holding me up.
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