Random thankful thoughts
So to be honest, it was a tough day on this cancer journey with Dad. Maybe because it was day 21 of hospital. More because for any of you that have been a journey of a health crisis you know.. it is a roller coaster ride. There are highs and lows. Last week was some pretty significant highs which led to some rough lows. We were told a miracle had happened and Dad was in chemical remission way quicker then they ever thought. We rejoiced. Then talk of going home began. We rejoiced. Then two days later: actually results of bone marrow biopsy didn’t show this at all… showed still at square one. Then told this weekend Dad would probably go home monday. Today is monday dads doc says actually need several more weeks on phase I of this very intense aggressive treatment regimen to treat this very rare intense leukemia .. so weeks more needed here in hospital. The month of April was kindof thrown out there.
Wow.
Alot to swallow
today was a tough day watching my dad suffer .. alot.
So I want to do something. I want to practice coming alive in the small things … practicing what I preach. I want to give thanks. So here are some things I am thankful for (not in any particular order just whatever happens to come to mind)
1) I am so thankful for the big shower here at erlanger hospital. It has great water pressure. It makes me come alive. However it is hilarious the washcloth/towel situation. Its’ hard to tell difference and tonight I am pretty sure I dried off with the rug
2)comfy sweatpants and the friends that bring them
3) playing games with mom here in hospital room and the friends that brought the games
4)white chocolate pretzels
5) nurses who love their patients and are the hands and feet of Jesus
6)laughter.. there is always reasons to laugh even in the hardest times
7) the people at my parents church Ooltewah United Methodist who have done an incredible job of keeping us fed here and for those at shelter church that have encouraged and supported us
8) my precious niece hope and her spunky 5 month old self
9) how in love my parents are. How they truly live out for me the marriage commitment of in good times and in bad.. they are mushy gooshy even here in hospital
10) walking down the halls of erlanger and greeting half the nurses and docs and cleaning people, and starbucks employees with hugs like old friends
11) smiley face ballons
12) springtime is coming
13) the smell of clean laundry and the person who bought me laundry detergent so I could go home today and wash my mom’s clothes
14) coffee.. every bit of it.. every kind shape and form. even the coffee made by the leukemia patient getting a blood transfusion
15) I have the most incredible family in the world
16) the beautiful body of Christ
17) the sound track in my mind of praise songs that plays throughout this journey to carry me
18) Gods powerful word that Doesn’t change, doesn’t fail.. is TRUE in good times and bad
19) wonderful amazing awesome friends and the ways God has given them to me
20) in particular my friends from Two rivers who have astounded me with their love during this time
21) that I have a bike rack and a beautiful purple bike and whenever life slows down I can ride it
22) that I have the biggest conference our ministry has put on this year this weekend.. and I have such an amazing board of directors they have completely taken over all the details
23) That my God does more then I can ask or imagine
24) for my friend TJ who has probably been our biggest prayer warrior through this journey
25) that my dad’s hospital room is big and nice .. and that there is a cute little dining area with refrigerator and microwave outside his room .. what a gift from the Lord
26) for beef jerky and pretzel flip crackers
27) for the devotion book streams in the desert
28) for new friends that are family now like Robin Casey
29) for watching my awesome friend Kyle get a job on the oncology floor as a nurse
30)that God carries us when we cannot walk…..
There I will stop at 30.. i could keep going but I will stop there.
Now what are you thankful for?
I am just so thankful for you friend…and that I have the honor of praying for you and your dad through this time. {{Hugs}}
Love your list. Love it, love it, love it. It just made me smile, especially #1. Goodness, that is so something I would do. (And probably have!) 🙂
I'm thankful for so much…for my little family, for my amazing friends, both (in)RL and online, for my Father and how He truly can do so much more than we ask or imagine. For the way, like you said, He carries us. For answered prayers and for lessons learned in times of waiting.
For smaller things, too…like coffee 🙂 and chocolate and a thinking-of-you text from a friend.
Lots to be thankful for, and you, my friend, are definitely on my list! Prayers and hugs…thank you for this encouragement today! 🙂
A close father-daughter is really God given and made for each side to bless the other. I'm thankful that despite what your family is going through, you chose to cling on to the cross. And He will bring you peace in your soul despite the 'tornado' of emotions.
<3 hugs!