Another day down. Slow improvement for Tara. Her abdominal drain was finally pulled out today. Up until yesterday her belly was draining about a liter per day. That slowed down to about twenty percent. We are told that is a good sign, hopefully meaning the chemotherapy is doing its job on the cancer.
Tara wonders if her strength will ever return. I think she knows it will, but she has had so little energy these last few days. As her doctor said, she should feel like a truck ran over her for some time yet. The surgery was extensive (and thorough) and because they felt her body could take it they started chemo several weeks earlier than on normal patients. While exhausting, this is the best possible situation we could have.
We had a great evening as a family. Another dinner provided by a friend. Bible study around the table with a challenge to memorize Romans 8:38-39 this week. Then wrestle (fight) with my son, while we listened to a CD story of “gentle Jesus”. I had to go ice my fat lip from a good shot I took. Cuddle with one of the girls. Conversations with the others. Then a bedroom movie with my bride.
You know, life isn’t so bad. What else could we want?
Perspectives From The Tree Tops 
Tara, try not to be too impatient to get your energy back. Your body is actually working very hard. Sit back and enjoy being waited on hand and foot. Before you know it, you’ll be feeling healthy again and have all those daily responsibilities … the cooking, the cleaning, the running around. Enjoy this time of rest.
I’ve been thinking a lot about Sabbaths lately. There is the obvious 7th day of the week Sabbath, but God designed so many more periods of rest, and in our modern society, we’ve managed to thwart just about every one. God designed us to rest when the sun went down. Now we have electric lights and the sun never goes down. God designed us to rest during the winter, but we buzz over to our heated offices in our heated cars and we just keep going at the same hectic pace. God even commanded the Israelites to give the land rest every 7th year. He promised to provide enough in the 6th year to last through the time of harvest in the 8th year. I wonder if and how He would honor it if we followed these periods of rest that He prescribed for those ancient peoples.
I think this time is meant to be a Sabbath for you. Rest in it.
Jennifer
This is a very sincere sentiment after reading this. YAY!!!! That’s all I can say…YAY!!!! We all know who’s hands this is in so we know to whom the glory goes. Praise you Lord! It’s hard not to keep writing so I’ll say it again “YAY!!”
Having that drain taken out will do wonders! One more step forward! 🙂
Sounds like a wonderful evening. We continue to uphold you in our prayers.
Tara, I know what it literally feels like to have a truck run over you…not fun! We are praying for strength for you Tara! The Lord woke me up to pray for you in the night. In fact, I know I am not the only one who is waking up and praying for you… Keep your eyes on Him that can keep you.
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26
Psalm 42:1-5
As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, my God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God?
My tears have been my food
day and night,
while people say to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”
These things I remember
as I pour out my soul:
how I used to go to the house of God
under the protection of the Mighty One
with shouts of joy and praise
among the festive throng.
Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.
We are so thankful for you and I am especially thankful that God gave you as wife and best friend to Jay (and selfishly speaking as sis-in-law to me and Dean, and aunt to our kids). LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Great stuff every day, Jay. Your comments yesterday match so well with my men’s class lesson for this week. Col 2:6-8. In particular how you demonstrate the “overflowing thankfulness,” from being rooted in faith in Christ.
I love the fat lip part. I’ve gotten a few of those myself over the years, mostly while trying to hold our ridgeback still while getting her nails cut. The Lab we had before wasn’t any better. So what movie did you watch? It’s good to hear about the normal things in your life. I continue to pray for Tara for healing and strength. It’s probably just as well that she has no energy or she would be up and overdoing. I speak from experience. It’s hard for a mom to sit back and be waited on, even when it’s necessary. Tell her to enjoy the down time because it won’t last. It’s a great time to spend extra time in the word, listen to music, read a good book uninterrupted, etc. There can be blessings in the midst of illness. I discovered this a few years ago when I severly strained my hamstring. It was months before I walked normally and the idea of falling and reinjuring it scares me to death. I did get a lot of time in the word, listened to CDs that still had the shrink wrap on them and read lots of good books. Give yourself time to heal Tara. God already has the schedule mapped out for you. Your family and friends will take care of you just as you would us, if the situation were reversed. I love you all. Take this time and be still and know God for who He is.
Psalm 46:10-11
It’s good to hear you are experiencing “normalcy” while still in the middle of the battle. I think of manna and how that’s what the Israelites needed rather than “the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost–also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic” (Numbers 11:5) they craved. God’s provision was sufficient for them and it is sufficient for us.
“‘Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!'”
~ Matthew 7:9-11
“I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
~ Philippians 4:10-13
Jay and Lewis wrestling while listening to “Gentle Jesus” cd, I love this!