I really dislike cancer

It's been a tough year for our family.

The Lord has overwhelmingly provided and blessed us after finding out about my MIL, Janet's diagnosis of Ovarian Cancer in February. It is still something that we are dealing with but she is doing great and not currently getting chemo.

On the morning of Thanksgiving Day, we got news that my 74 year old Grandpa Joe has probable Pancreatic Cancer. My grandpa is honestly the most amazing Christian man that I know. If I was to pick one adjective to describe him it would be selfless. He is the man that would give the shirt off his back if he thought you needed it more. He is a hard worker. He is quiet and soft spoken a lot of the time, but my favorite thing about him is when you play cards with him. He becomes a spit-fire. Bryan and I have had many late night games with my parents and grandparents and I love that time that we have had with them. I have enjoyed getting to know him as an adult because I feel like I appreciate all of his amazing qualities so much more.

My Grandpa Joe with Hudson

No one deserves cancer less than he does. On top of that news, this past Sunday he suffered what would have been a massive stroke had my uncles not have been there with him to get the medical treatment he needed promptly. He had some left sided weakness and some loss of vision on his left side. He was life flighted to a hospital about an hour away from where my grandparents live in Missouri. Bryan and I, along with almost all the rest of my family, drove to be with them on Sunday night. He has stabilized from the stroke now. We are just waiting on all of the results of his CT scans and biopsies to know what we are dealing with. Most likely it is cancer, probably Pancreatic cancer, and we know it is widespread. Bryan and I had to come home to go back to work and take care of Hudson but my parents and uncles are still with my grandparents at the hospital. It sucks getting updates through text messages and phone calls when the nurse in me wants to be there to get answers and make sure he is getting adequate care... and the granddaughter in me just wants to be there, to be there.

I guess I am just sharing this to tell you that my heart is hurting. It hurts to see someone that you love go through this. It hurts to see how it is impacting my grandma, my dad and my uncles. It hurts to be vulnerable. It hurts to realize that life is short and time with our loved ones is precious... but I am comforted in knowing that my grandpa is an amazing Christian man and has hope in life after this world.

So if you would please say a prayer for my family in the coming days and weeks... and for the doctors and nurses taking care of my grandpa, I would greatly appreciate it. Our hearts are heavy but our hope is still in the Lord.

"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and my burden is light." -Matthew 11:28-30

I have been loving the words to this song... first with my gall bladder ordeal and now with this. I love how sometimes when you don't have the words to say or express your feelings, worship can fill the void.



"The sun comes up, 
It's a new day dawning. 
It's time to sing your song again. 
What ever may pass and whatever lies before me,
Let me be singing when the evening comes.

Bless the Lord oh my soul,
Oh my soul,
Worship his holy name.
Sing like never before,
Oh my soul,
I worship your holy name.

You're rich in love and you're slow to anger, 

Your name is great and your heart is kind. 

For all your goodness I will keep on singing, 

10,000 reasons for my heart to find.

And on that day when my strength is failing, 

The end draws near and my time has come, 

Still my soul will sing your praise unending, 

10,000 years and then forever more.

Bless the Lord oh my soul, Oh my soul,
Worship his holy name.
Sing like never before,
Oh my soul,
I worship your holy name.

-Matt Redman "10000 Reasons"