Answered Prayers

Loved Ones,

What a good day!

After the last couple of days we thought we'd see more of the same, but Ray had a much better day than we expected.

First, he did not lose weight! Our first answer to prayer. No nausea and he was able to eat, more and more each meal.

And, we just had a great day. I was able to take Nora and her carpool to her soccer camp which was great and NORMAL! Ray sang the girls to sleep. The first time in a month!!! Oh the joy. Truly. For all.

Ray's color looks good and we can't wait to hear the results of his labs taken today. We are just praying and praying. Every cell! Every drop of blood! Cancer free!!

And, we continue to pray for freedom from fear and anxiety. I realized today that those are completely different things. With the fears, they are so out of our control that we are just giving them to God. With the anxiety, it is more little things -- will the chemo spill in the house? did I just wash my hands before I gave him that drink? did I unhook that IV right? will he get an infection? So then we think they are in our control. And thus the worry. Whatever the worry it steals our joy.

We wanted to share something with you about the impact of prayer. On Saturday night when we prayed, we felt immediate peace. Today we got an email that 114 luminaries were lit for Ray that night as a part of the Sangamon County Illinois Relay for Life with the American Cancer Society. We find no coincidence that those prayers helped to answer our prayers.

Tonight as we prayed together, we knew our neighbors were praying. Each time, this strengthens our prayers together -- knowing that we are praying in chorus, in unison with those of you.

A few weeks before this all occurred, I was in church and I prayed that God would strengthen the faith of our family. As I prayed it I got scared. I wanted to take it back, put conditions on it and tell God, only through easy ways!

But God heard my prayer and he is answering it. Tonight we prayed that the lessons we learn from this be burned on our hearts forever. It is truly in these times that we learn we must trust wholly in Christ.

These scriptures from when Paul was in prison fearing for his life spoke to us about the trust that comes from these times and the power of the prayers of others.

"But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God... He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. 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 Corinthians 1:9-11

not alone and not afraid --

kristin and ray