Walking on water miracles

A topic has reared it head in my life lately and I feel compelled to share it with you, who I feel I know just because you read about my life.  

I went to Gilda's Club this past Monday night.  It is an organization that supports the whole family through a cancer diagnosis.  Jadyn and Bryn began a 10-week support group and I went to an adult version as well.  Next week, Jake will attend one for family of a cancer survivor during the same time.  It was a good time for all.  Bryn, especially, has been asking how long until Monday so she can go back!  We are waiting to see if the teen program will start back up for Katelyn's age bracket.  If so, that will be two Tuesday's a month.  I will be excited to share how that goes with you.    

Well, there was a man in my group, Billy, (the only male by the way) who stated that his lung cancer is in remission and he knows it will not return because he is praying for it.  

Herin lies my problem. I prayed too that my cancer would be gone for good when the doctors first said it was gone back in September of 2005.  When it came back on my very next scan in November of that year, I was pretty mad.  Why had God not answered my prayers and the prayers of so many?  Will he answer Billy's prayer?  Why do some people die of cancer before they get a chance to even fight?  Why do some people find cancer at Stage I and eliminate it for the rest of their lives?  Why did he choose to heal me in September only for it to come back 3 months later?  I DON'T KNOW!!

But God has shown me so much since November of '05.  He has shown me that what I know about my cancer and the impact it will have on eternity is but a blade of grass in a field without end.  It sounds trite, but I take comfort in knowing that God knows the end of my story, and he knows why I am going through each trial.  Just knowing that someone knows is enough for me.  It's like having your best friend say that they have read the end of the tear-jearker book you're reading and it ends out okay.  I can go ahead and finish reading...  

He has shown me that I am right where He wants me.  I did not do something wrong or am not out of His will.  I did not eat the wrong thing, or someone did not pray enough.  I am in a storm, but it is a storm that I rest comfortably in because of who is with me in the midst of it.  I recently read, from my BSF class, in Matthew 14 how Jesus had sent his disciples in a boat to go on before him.  He would catch up later.  A storm hit, and Jesus came as promised, walking on water to meet them.  Jesus sent them into the storm.  He knew it was coming, he knew they were on mission with him, and yet he sent them into the storm anyway.  He also let them see one of the greatest miracles during the storm, Jesus defying nature and walking on water.  God knows the storm I am in right now.  In fact, he gave it to me to walk through. Not by myself. He gave me family and friends and so much support, and he gave me himself.  He speaks to me through the Bible and through the Holy Spirit, and in so many other ways.  He is with me in the storm too.   I am expecting to see a miracle in my storm too.  

But, I guess what is different about me and Billy is that I don't know for sure that my miracle from God will be my healing from cancer.  I know one day, I will not have to deal with cancer anymore.  But, if he chooses not to heal me of cancer on this earth, I have come to be okay with that. Don't get me wrong.  I have not, nor will I ever, give up the fight.  I desperately want to be healed completely.  I believe God can do that anytime through medicine, through surgery, or through a complete unexplained miracle.  But, I also am experiencing God's goodness and faithfulness all the time.  My hip is feeling better, I don't limp as much.  I am on a great chemo that has given me a break from feeling sick.  Even my hair is growing back!

But, I have to remember that around the corner just might be a hurt back, or the chemo I am on that does not make me sick is not working.  Will I thank God then?  Will that be okay too?  YES! I will.  I cling to the promises God has given me.  Two of my favorites are in the book of Jeremiah.  In the Message, it is written in Jeremiah 29:11, "I know what I am doing.  I have it all planned out-- plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for." and then Jeremiah 33:3 in the NIV says "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."

So, I think it is awesome Billy believes that his cancer will not return.  I pray that for him too.  I pray that my cancer goes away too.  It is reality for me that my cancer did return.  It is reality for me that I have a friend in the hospital right now battling for her life.  But the one reality we all have is that a loving God knows the storm we are in, he carefully places us there, and promises to walk on water to be with us along the way.  

(sorry for the long post)

Jess

January, starts the year off right!

Well, January has brought from the Kaylor family:
--Plenty of cold weather--so much that I had to go buy some new pants for all!
--Jadyn was fabulous as 'January' in the Calendar Girls act in the talent show
--Katelyn's first final exams in junior high--she did very well!
--Another loose tooth for Jadyn--I pulled this one too!
--Bryn learned to blow her nose--this might not seem like much, but blowing "in" is easier. We have a whole new world, and a clearer nose!
--Jadyn has started Basketball at the Y--so cute
--Katelyn has finished Basketball at Boles-so fast
--Jake's sister, Sarah with James and sweet baby, Vanessa visit!
--Visit to zoo with aunt Sarah
--I have finished my 3rd round of Ixempra with so few side effects--yea!
--Katelyn went to a Kaleidoscope dance
--Grandma Cindy came to visit from Oregon!
--Bowling and dinner at Magic Time Machine with Grandma Cindy

Funny story of the month:) Katelyn asked me for a cell phone again. I said, "Now Katelyn who would you call?" (She is not a big phone talker). She said, "MOM! I would not talk to anyone!" She said this as if it was SO obvious that cell phones are not for talking, Duh-texting!!

Another story... while at the zoo last weekend, we saw a huge eagle spreading its wings out for an indefinite amount of time. The entire time we were there, it was like this (see picture below). I asked Bryn what she thought the bird was doing, she said without hesitation, "I think he's praising God!" We all thought it was so precious and Bryn does not like the extra attention, so she quickly said, "or he could be stretching!" I told her I loved her thoughts. This week, it has been brought up quite a few times. She'll say, "remember that bird that was praising God?" I don't think I will ever forget!!

And, now for a few pictures...

Jadyn's "before" picture for her hair getting ready for the talent show.



And "after"...with all those curls.



Here she is all gussied up with a good friend in the Calendar Girls (she was September!)



At the Zoo with our 5 plus Jake's sister Sarah, James, and their baby Vanessa (16 months).



Don't you love baby Vanessa's sunglasses!





The famous eagle.



Katelyn getting ready for a dance. She would not let me take any more pictures. Next time, I'm taking them anyway!!



Jadyn and Bryn getting their toes done by mom. We set up a "spa day"!



Bryn, ever the snuggle-bug with Mom.


Jadyn playing Basketball.



Jadyn with Grandma Cindy.



We went to the Magic Time Machine for dinner while Cindy was in town. Cinderella was out waitress!





We also went bowling with Cindy. All the girls played by themselves and did great. Katie even got 3 strikes. I think all that Wii Bowling has payed off.








Love to you all,
Jess

Happy New Year!

Hi all! I hope you are having a fabulous New Year. I put a few new songs in my music player above, including one of my new favorites, "Psalm 40". Try it out!

Since I last blogged, I have had my second chemo round of Ixempra. It has been a great drug for me, once again. Some days, I feel more tired than I think I should. However, a few naps later, and a few meals out instead of in, and I am back on track. Lately, my hip is giving me a few more issues. I have not been taking my pain patches as consistently as I should, I guess because I have been feeling good. That might be the issue entirely, but I would still covet your prayers that my hip would feel better.

Beautiful girls...




Jadyn is about to be in her first school talent show act this Saturday. We have had several rehearsals and they have done so great! They are dancing to the song, Calendar Girls. Here's a group picture (minus "December" who was sick).



Here are the girls in line at the Cheesecake Factory for dinner. I have found that I love this restaurant, but it is not entirely kid friendly. For one thing, even though the menu is a spiral bound 50 page book, there is NO kid's menu. Are they nuts!!??



PoPo gave the girl's a train set. We set it up, and they were giddy with excitement that it actually worked! When I stopped them from playing and told them I was going to take their picture, they quickly looked up and went into a perfectly posed position in a nano-second. I think they are quite used to getting their picture taken!