Cycle 1, Week 1

Praises and Prayers For Cycle 1 Week 1

There are so many praises this week, I pray I don’t leave any out. I feel they need to be listed so as not to miss any of them.

Praises

The day following the first treatment was good until midday.
Friday Joy felt well enough for a two hour outing.
Joy was able to challenge a few fears regarding treatment and conquer them.
Willingness of church family to help with meals has continued to be a blessing.
Family members continue to show their love by helping whenever and wherever needed.
Mammogram & ultrasound reports cause no immediate concern.
Joy's Dad was given a room in the local hospital, his pneumonia is clearing up, and he could possibly be coming home soon.
Being able to 'let go and let God', even when the surrender is difficult.
We both were able to return our desire to attend She Speaks this year to the Lord, trusting He knows what is best for us.
Discovering the mouthwash process was not as complicated as originally thought.
Joy was able to go to her son’s birthday party for a short time Sunday and be with her family.
Energy to go for a drive on Monday, visiting Joy's previous home, touring the quaint little village.
Praise for a beautiful weather day today and fun at the lake enjoying God's creation and the gift of each breath.

Prayers

There are still issues with surgery recovery (ie: strength, stamina, swelling, breathing)
Praying the projected side effects of chemo ie: nausea, fatigue, achiness, loss of appetite, mouth sores, etc... stay away.
For understanding and acceptance of this season in both our lives.
I (Diane ) will leave on Thursday (tomorrow) . Pray for a safe journey and easy-as-possible good bye for both of us. (side note: Air Canada went on strike this morning. Joy thinks this could be an answer to prayer..smile)
Returning to each of our lives and adjusting is always difficult following these visits.
When Joy as the CT scan, please pray that Joy's lymph nodes won't be enlarged so that radiation will not be required.
Please continue to pray for my (Diane) mother. She is still in intensive care (see the side bar for her update).

I am reminded writing these praises and prayer requests that nothing ever happens to us without first passing through the permissive Hand of our Heavenly Father. It may not be what we would define as "good", but God can use it for our good. Many tragedies have taken place on the earth that have yielded beauty. Ruins burned beyond human recognition, yet still we can rise from the ashes with our Heavenly Father.

The passage of scripture that keeps coming back to both Joy and I this week is Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.

"There is a time for everything and a season for very activity under the heavens; a time to be born and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to uproot; a time to kill and a time to heal; a time to tear down and a time to build; a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance; a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them; a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to search and a time to give up; a time to keep and a time to throw away; a time to tear and a time to mend; a time to be silent and a time to speak; a time to love and a time to hate; a time for war and a time for peace."

What season is your life currently living? The Heavenly Father knows the exact time for your season to begin and end. Just because there is "a time for every season," God’s time frame doesn’t always line up with ours. Even when seasons hurt the deepest they can bring the greatest victories for Christ. Know that He sees you, knows you and loves you deeply. This is the day the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Standing in the gap with "Faith",
Diane, "Hope"

PS. Hi all...this is Joy, aka "Faith". I just want to add a brief note to this post Diane has written. She would never say this, and will probably wish I didn't, but I just have to share with you what a blessing it has been these past two weeks to have her here with me. I have lacked for nothing. She has been by my side, anticipating my every need and knowing instinctively what to do to ease my discomfort and minister to my heart. She has quietly moved about the house doing routine tasks...filling my water glass (I'm a sponge), preparing meals for my family and I, responding to my every request. There were a couple of days after my treatment when I just needed to know I wasn't alone as I experienced the chemo's effect working through my body, and she would sit silently beside me. Every now and then I would feel her hand just rest on my back as she would check to make sure I was doing ok. I know this trip has not be easy on her, especially physically and emotionally, yet she has put her own needs aside, sacrificing for me because of love. I cannot thank the Lord enough for the timing of her visit. She is a friend in a million and I'm so blessed to call her my best friend. Thanks kiddo. Love you tons. Cherishing each moment we shared and holding on to precious memories until we're together again. May God richly bless you for the blessing you have been to me. HUGS

Dear Friends....please pray for Diane and her family.  I just received an email that her mom passed away.  My heart is broken.  Diane did not make it home in time to see her mom.  I can't help but feel that if she hadn't been here she would have been with her mom.  Again, I do not understand God's timing, but we will continue to trust Him.  Yes, we are both in difficult "seasons".  Please pray the Lord will be her peace at this time.  Pray for her as she continues to be a testimony to all those in her family and circle of friends.  Pray for her heart in this loss and for God to be her strength through the days ahead.  May He grant her a peace that is beyond our understanding.  Love ya my friend so very much, and wishing I could be there now for you.

HUGS, HUGS, HUGS!!!