Our Day

Loved Ones,

In honor of Ray, his mom and sisters and I (and my little Maggie) went to church today for a mass.

The mass included this prayer:

Glorious St. Paul,
Most zealous Apostle,
Martyr for the love of Christ,
Give us a deep faith,
A steadfast hope,
A burning love for our Lord

So that we can proclaim with you
"It is no longer I who live,
But Christ who lives in me."

How truly appropriate a prayer for Ray. One who died to himself, but LIVES ON in Christ.

I am so thankful for his example.

Daily I fail at this endeavor, but I do believe that the answer to fears of cancer, fears of death, fears of loss, is not to say that this will not occur. But rather, to know that it can, and to cling to our hope in Christ. Our hope that Christ has overcome the world.

My husband overcame the world and cancer.

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33

not alone and not afraid --

kristin

Loved Ones,

The Tuesday after Memorial Day, May 27th, was the day it all changed for us. Ray stayed home from work and the doctor called to say he wanted to go over Ray's tests.

The girls and Ray planted flowers and I tried not to think about my fears.

When they told us about the cancer in Ray's liver we were so unaware of cancer that we just didn't know what that even meant. I heard my ears ringing as I realized that I had just heard the words I feared. Ray simply said, God will not give us more than we can handle.

We reached out with hope to friends to help us navigate. And others to pray. We started collecting survivor stories and miracles. We prayed that God, who is bigger than cancer, would beat this thing.

We knew our world had changed. We didn't know how much.

I thought of Ray so often today. Thinking of that day. Thinking of him in heaven.

We are so grateful for your prayers today and always.

"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. 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 3:14-19

not alone and not afraid --

kristin