Mama Bear Upate | 7

"Pressure creates diamonds and fire refines the gold."

trip lee

For those interested in how they can pray and care for mom so well, here is a little of what has been going on:

- After her chemo treatment on Wednesday March 7th sweet Mom was very, very nauseous.  She threw up for the next ten days (she describes it as pregnancy morning sickness mixed with the ache-y "sick" feeling of having the flu.)  Yesterday her doctor was not happy at all that she felt so sick so for mom's second round of chemo they are pulling all the stops.  She'll be on three anti-nasuea medicines.  We would love your prayers that this big-gun game plan works well for mom!

- Mom's bones in her back, rib cage and legs are hurting quite badly.  (Bad enough for mom to mention it... which is pretty bad for her!)  The doctor said that sort of pain is often a side effect of chemo because the medicine is working hard on those spots.  We would much prefer that be the reason for the pain than for it to be more cancer!  But we don't want mom to hurt.  Though, I think she would look incredibly classy with a cane ;)

- She is a rash that is probably a result of her being in the sun too long after chemo ;)  But you can't keep a California girl living in Florida out of the sun for long, can you?! A prescription ointment should do the trick.

After her doctor's appointment yesterday mom and I went to a little taco hut near the hospital that Guy Fieri featured on his show!  It was delicious.  The slogan for on their menu, bumper stickers, t-shirts and signage says "God is never in a hurry. Relax."  Though it may be a surfer dude approach to life, the little sentence spoke to my heart.  Mom and I enjoyed our famous tacos in the outdoor dining room and we took our time.  We relaxed.  It was just good. While, yes, "even in laughter the heart may ache," I am ever surprised at how good it is to do normal things with my mother and family.  Our hearts ache for her, but we feel like we are wide-eyed in wonder with so much joy around us.

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Every text, note, e-mail, gift, meal, and prayer is God walking among us.  Mom received a gift from the Shorey ladies and when she opened it she said "Oh! I love getting gifts that I want but would never buy for myself!"  The beautiful painted teacup and yummy tea bags made her day.  My good friend has a friend who works for John Piper and sent mama a book to enjoy.  She was so blessed. "I don't even know him!" Katie treated the little sisters to a day at Disney before their season passes expired.  They excitedly brought home a new iPhone case for mom with Cinderella's castle in all it's glory on the back.  She still sleeps with the Mickey and Minnie her little Michael boy bought for her while she was in the hospital.  Thank you everyone.  The love for her and us is nearly too much.

"when the Spirit is poured upon us from on high,

the wilderness becomes a fruitful field,

and righteousness abides in the fruitful field.

The effect of righteousness will be peace, 

and the result of righteousness is quietness and trust forever."

isaiah 32:15-18

I think these verses are some of the most beautiful in all of Scripture.  It's easy to think about a field becoming fruitful by us planting good fruit (and of course God waters the seed!), and what you reap you sow, and sow in the good soil, and work diligently.  These things are all true for their context.

But it's quite humbling, happy and relieving to read how God poured out turns wastelands into fruitful gardens.  How it's Him.  His Spirit transforms dead hearts, redeems the desserts of life, tills the dry and weary lands.  When He comes everything is changed.  When He arrives their is life, joy, happiness, quietness, feasting and trust.  He turns clammy hospital rooms into bubbly family rooms.  He turns doctors offices into a girly-girl afternoon.  He brings families that were drifting apart and knits them together.  This is all so good. Thank you for praying!