Round Nine in Progress

Loved Ones,

We are happy to report that Round Nine is underway. Ray's white blood cells were fine, platelets a little low, but high enough for chemo. Hooray!

We had a good day. A long wait. But, as part of our effort to pace ourselves and enjoy our life (including chemo!), we brought a movie, and knitting! This will become a part of our routine just like our soup from Au Bon Pain, as movies bring fun and distraction during chemo.

Other parts of our chemo routine include prayer over the chemo and reading a devotional.

Today's reading contained this challenge: “Be willing to follow wherever I lead. Follow me wholeheartedly, with glad anticipation quickening your pace. Though you don't know what lies ahead, I know; and that is enough!” It was followed by this verse: "We live by faith, not by sight." 2 Corithinthians 5:7

What a challenge it can sometimes be to face an uncertain future with glad anticipation! This is only possible with complete trust in God and his goodness and sovreignty. So we will be praying for glad anticipation.

We also pray tonight for Ray's body to stay strong. We would have loved for his platelets to be a little higher as we know that if they are too low, chemo will be delayed next time. So we pray for miraculous healing impact of chemo, full recovery for Ray, and glad anticipation.

Truthfully, glad anticipation is not as difficult of a task as you might think. Even in this circumstance, God's answers to prayer have come fast and furiously. We prayed for our trip today to be smooth. There was no traffic to speak of either there or back. Though we waited, we did so without stress. It was a later appointment so we had time to be with our girls this morning, and we returned before they were in bed. Even more importantly, Ray continues to show miraculous answers to prayer. The progress of the chemo in reducing the cancer is phenomenal. Miraculous you might say! We've prayed for side effects to be lessened. They are. As they were asking him questions today about his side effects, I marveled. And I remembered our prayers about these things.

And so. We thank you for witnessing these answers to prayer with us. We know that our purpose here may be simply to tell this great story.

"And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"
Esther 4:13

not alone and not afraid --
kristin and ray