Taylor Homecoming

Loved Ones,

We had a good day at Taylor Homecoming. Ray is feeling a little better. He had a lot of rest and was able to spend some time with new and old friends who are praying for him.

The girls had a great day. They accompanied me to the alumni race in the morning, went swimming in the hotel pool and had some quality time at the park with their Nana and Grandad.

We are so thankful for the many prayers for us.

"Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens." Psalm 68:19

not alone and not afraid --

kristin and ray

A Restful Day

Loved Ones,

Ray had another restful day and by the afternoon he was starting to feel better, getting Nora from the bus and later praying with the girls before bed.

It is never without excitement here however, as I managed to stick myself with the needle after giving Ray his white blood cell shot! This is where I am thankful for Ray's doctor who emailed me and promised me that I would be alright! And I was worried!

We are thankful for your constant prayers and that Ray's body is already on the road to recovery from Round Nine.

"You answer us with awesome deeds of righteousness, O God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas, who formed the mountains by your power, having armed yourself with strength, who stilled the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, and the tumult of the peoples."
Psalm 65:5-7

not alone and not afraid --

kristin and ray

Round Nine Concluded

Loved Ones,

Well if you ever had any question about chemo's impact you would know it today. It is amazing how it is truly like night and day when the chemo hits. Ray slept all day! We are so grateful that he was able to rest.

We are also thankful for the many people who helped us today. Watching the girls so I could help at Nora's Daisy Girl Scout meeting, making lasagna and pie (that Ray actually ate! especially the pie!), assisting us with errands. And most importantly calling and emailing and saying: We are praying!! You are not alone!!

Though it is so hard to watch Ray battle, you aid us in every way.

It was so nice tonight that Ray came down on the couch to sleep so he could be part of movie night with the girls. Just to be near him means a lot.

We are thankful tonight for God's healing hand in the chemo. And for the restful day for Ray. We pray for continued healing and for recovery.

"But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall." Malachi 4:2

not alone and not afraid --

kristin and ray

Round Nine Continues

Loved Ones,

Ray had a good day; we visited with his sister and baby twin boys. (To our girls delight!) The impact of the chemo hit him by this evening so he is pretty tired. And no more White Sox to perk him up! Somehow the debate just isn't a good enough replacement -- however much commentary I provide!

We are hoping for a good night's rest and time to rest tomorrow. And, we are ever thankful for the impact of the chemo.

And your prayers!

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." Hebrews 12:1-3

not alone and not afraid --
kristin and ray

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

Ready for Round 9

Loved Ones,

Ray had a good day. Church, rest, and time for watching the White Sox win!

We are ready for Round 9 of chemo tomorrow! The way our schedule works, every other round we meet only with nurses who administer the chemo, instead of the doctor. Those days tend to go more quickly. Tomorrow is our "nurse-only" day so we are anticipating a shorter day.

Tonight our hearts are full of prayers for God's healing power to be displayed in Round 9 of chemo -- augmenting the medicine to help it eradicate cancer in Ray completely!

We also pray for protection of Ray's healthy cells -- to keep him healthy and to rejuvenate their fight against the cancer cells as well.

We pray for a good day for our girls as they play with their aunt, and for a smooth day in all ways.

"I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them." Isaiah 42: 6, 15

not alone and not afraid --

kristin and ray