Loved Ones,
We had another good day today. We had fun with the kids and Ray took Nora to her last swimming lesson.
Ray's appetite is getting better and better. The next few days should be good ones for gaining weight! He's usually able to bulk up to get back to where he started at the last chemo cycle. So we'll be working hard on that.
Ray's doctor has ok'd our going up to the lake with Ray's family for a few days. Hooray! The kids are out of their minds with joy. No swimming in the lake for Ray, but he can have fun watching the kids. And, I've got a cooler full of fresh fruit and vegetables!
We leave Saturday morning and we'll return Tuesday afternoon just in time for Chemo Round 5 on Wednesday morning. We're not sure about email capability from White Lake so it's likely our next email will be on Tuesday night.
We so appreciate your prayers. In the joyful moments, we are so glad for those who share our joy. In the harder moments, our burden is lifted by those who are making sure we are not alone in our prayers! And we feel all the more hopeful because of this.
"May those who fear you rejoice when they see me, for I have put my hope in your word.
Psalm 119:74
not alone and not afraid --
kristin and ray
Friday, July 25, 2008
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Another Good Day
Loved Ones,
Another good day. Ray gained weight! He's starting to turn the corner on appetite. Great news!
We had visitors today and Ray and I had the wonderful treat of watching a movie together! That was really nice.
We're all so tired! So it's off to bed!
"Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; his love endures forever."
Psalm 118:1
not alone and not afraid --
kristin and ray
Another good day. Ray gained weight! He's starting to turn the corner on appetite. Great news!
We had visitors today and Ray and I had the wonderful treat of watching a movie together! That was really nice.
We're all so tired! So it's off to bed!
"Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; his love endures forever."
Psalm 118:1
not alone and not afraid --
kristin and ray
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Walks of Faith
Loved Ones,
It was another good day. Ray is building energy by going on short walks. We read a study that 15 minutes in the sun (Vitamin D) is great for stomach cancer, so the walks have two benefits. Hooray!
Nora taught us soccer games in the backyard and it was wonderful to play with the girls together.
Cancer has a funny side effect. It focuses your time and energy on the most important things: faith, family, friends... We feel truly blessed that our energy right now is being spent in the very best of ways. It makes for very rewarding days. And, there is no better focus for Ray's restoration!
We feel so positive about how Ray is doing! We won't have concrete feedback on that very often aside from labs on chemo days so it will be a walk of faith until his next scan. But that is ok! We have faith!! And this just keeps renewing our prayers!
"Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; burst into song, O mountains! For the Lord comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones. But Zion said, "The LORD has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me." "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!"
Isaiah 49:13-15
not alone and not afraid --
kristin and ray
It was another good day. Ray is building energy by going on short walks. We read a study that 15 minutes in the sun (Vitamin D) is great for stomach cancer, so the walks have two benefits. Hooray!
Nora taught us soccer games in the backyard and it was wonderful to play with the girls together.
Cancer has a funny side effect. It focuses your time and energy on the most important things: faith, family, friends... We feel truly blessed that our energy right now is being spent in the very best of ways. It makes for very rewarding days. And, there is no better focus for Ray's restoration!
We feel so positive about how Ray is doing! We won't have concrete feedback on that very often aside from labs on chemo days so it will be a walk of faith until his next scan. But that is ok! We have faith!! And this just keeps renewing our prayers!
"Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; burst into song, O mountains! For the Lord comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones. But Zion said, "The LORD has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me." "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!"
Isaiah 49:13-15
not alone and not afraid --
kristin and ray
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
A Summer Day
Loved Ones,
It was a good day today. We went on a little walk and Ray came with the girls and I to a local park. We packed a lunch and the girls had a great time.
Ray continues to have pretty good energy. He's revitalized by naps when he gets tired. The metallic taste is still pretty strong but he is eating and his weight is maintaining.
We ate dinner together as a family, which is always a wonderful treat, and followed this with a screening of the movie Dumbo.
It was a summer day that felt like a summer day.
"...I fear no harm for you are at my side; your rod and staff give me courage." Psalm 23:4
not alone and not afraid --
kristin and ray
It was a good day today. We went on a little walk and Ray came with the girls and I to a local park. We packed a lunch and the girls had a great time.
Ray continues to have pretty good energy. He's revitalized by naps when he gets tired. The metallic taste is still pretty strong but he is eating and his weight is maintaining.
We ate dinner together as a family, which is always a wonderful treat, and followed this with a screening of the movie Dumbo.
It was a summer day that felt like a summer day.
"...I fear no harm for you are at my side; your rod and staff give me courage." Psalm 23:4
not alone and not afraid --
kristin and ray
Monday, July 21, 2008
Thankfullness
Loved Ones,
It was a surprisingly good day today for Ray. His energy has really been better this time around. (It's the prayers!) His appetite is picking up a little and he is really trying!
We had a nice day with the girls also. Tonight the little girls were in bed and Nora and Ray and I played a game. Ray kept being silly and Nora kept calling him a "weird dude." Is she a 5 year old teenager or what? It was incredibly sweet to observe.
We are thankful for a couple of things today. Number one, doctors, all doctors, from general practice to oncology, that are coming into play for us. We greatly appreciate their wisdom, guidance and care. Number two, Ray's work. Ray's boss, his wife, and Ray's work colleagues have been wonderfully supportive work-wise and personally. We are so thankful for them also.
And, we are always thankful for your prayers. A group of neighbors is praying for us right now. If we do not praise, the rocks themselves will cry out and thus I say, we praise the Lord daily for the strength and support we receive from the litany of saints (yes all of you!!!) praying for us. We are so very thankful for each of you.
"And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge -- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:17-19
not alone and not afraid --
kristin and ray
It was a surprisingly good day today for Ray. His energy has really been better this time around. (It's the prayers!) His appetite is picking up a little and he is really trying!
We had a nice day with the girls also. Tonight the little girls were in bed and Nora and Ray and I played a game. Ray kept being silly and Nora kept calling him a "weird dude." Is she a 5 year old teenager or what? It was incredibly sweet to observe.
We are thankful for a couple of things today. Number one, doctors, all doctors, from general practice to oncology, that are coming into play for us. We greatly appreciate their wisdom, guidance and care. Number two, Ray's work. Ray's boss, his wife, and Ray's work colleagues have been wonderfully supportive work-wise and personally. We are so thankful for them also.
And, we are always thankful for your prayers. A group of neighbors is praying for us right now. If we do not praise, the rocks themselves will cry out and thus I say, we praise the Lord daily for the strength and support we receive from the litany of saints (yes all of you!!!) praying for us. We are so very thankful for each of you.
"And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge -- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:17-19
not alone and not afraid --
kristin and ray
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Angels
Loved Ones,
Ray's family and I started our day at a mass in Ray's honor at the Chapel of the Holy Name Cathedral. Arranged by a friend, we were so glad to have that time in prayer for Ray. Though he was not able to come, he was there in spirit!
This chemo cycle seems to have hit Ray's appetite the hardest, but Ray has had more energy than other Sundays. It is nice that he is not so tired. He was able to play with us on the swingset and play with the girls downstairs a little bit.
We are going to work hard on Ray's nutrition this week and perhaps have additional IV fluids early in the week.
However, we are not discouraged about Ray's appetite, hoping that it is a result of all of the miraculous work going on in his GI tract!! No room for food with the battle raging!
This verse from my Grandma really encouraged us today.
"For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone."
Psalm 91:11
not alone and not afraid --
kristin and ray
Ray's family and I started our day at a mass in Ray's honor at the Chapel of the Holy Name Cathedral. Arranged by a friend, we were so glad to have that time in prayer for Ray. Though he was not able to come, he was there in spirit!
This chemo cycle seems to have hit Ray's appetite the hardest, but Ray has had more energy than other Sundays. It is nice that he is not so tired. He was able to play with us on the swingset and play with the girls downstairs a little bit.
We are going to work hard on Ray's nutrition this week and perhaps have additional IV fluids early in the week.
However, we are not discouraged about Ray's appetite, hoping that it is a result of all of the miraculous work going on in his GI tract!! No room for food with the battle raging!
This verse from my Grandma really encouraged us today.
"For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone."
Psalm 91:11
not alone and not afraid --
kristin and ray
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