In Christ Alone our Hope is Found

It is kind of early. The time I would be making sure everyone is out of bed, that their beds are made, breakfast had and teeth brushed. Instead I am sitting here at the counter with a computer and a little crazy girl in her highchair eating her yogurt. They are gone. All of them except Pippa and myself. The family is first off to Ken's school. Ken has an exam this morning and it is not worth the driving for him to come home after. School is already 40 minutes in the right direction. So the kids will play some games and read some books in the library for a little over an hour. Then it is off to Pennings Family hotel night. We usually all go to Niagara Falls together as an extended family, but this time I am staying home with Grace. She is so much work and a water park doesn't actually sound all that appealing with her. She would like it for an hour out of the 12, but the rest......Also, the rooms are for 5 only. Really? We don't want to get another room. Crazy. I h...

I have had so many things that happen throughout the week that I think are funny or that I want to remember. I always want to write them down to remember, but never have time. This time, I am just going to do it. Tuesday was an exam prep/marking day for Ken. So he was home and we had to be quiet. I had planned ahead and let the kids do some school the night before, so we could have an easy school day and maybe go out to give Ken some quiet. So we first went to the library. I am so thankful it's open again. It was closed for 6 months for renos. (I am not sure where the millions went though. It is cheerful and things are moved around. but it's not "WOW". I think we built it up too much in our mind.)  Anyways, we were there browsing and I just love watching Siah pick his books. He looks at the pictures on the front, then sits down on the floor and browses it before picking it. Next time we go, we need spend a few hours there. It is peaceful and they have to be quie...

This week's verse is Ephesians 6:14-15 14  Stand therefore,  having fastened on the belt of truth, and  having put on the breastplate of righteousness,  15  and,  as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. I am not doing as well as I should be. I want this, but I am not putting the work I need into it. I have to get back on track!!!!

I called our case manager Barb today (I am cheater and call very early, instead of waiting for our follow up appointment in two weeks.) to see if the prelim results for Micah's MRI were in. It was, and she said that it looks good. IT LOOKS GOOD!!!!!  That pretty much means that it is clear. She just can't say that until it's official. There is a crazy small chance that it's not clear and that they change that report. I really don't know how that would happen though. So, as far as I am concerned, Micah just had another clear scan. Hmmm. I am excited and thankful. I am crying and laughing. I am hopeful for the future and starting to let myself think that Micah could grow up. I don't really know what to do next. We have been living in a bit of a bubble for a few weeks. We have been walking softly and not planning anything, past hearing the results. I may say this every time, but every clear scan amazes me even more at what God has done in our family. ...

Yesterday was a hard day. I am not saying that it didn't hurt and that we aren't wondering about results, but I have a better perspective now. As time goes by, I am getting soft. Yesterday was so tough for Micah and I. But I almost feel bad taking it so hard. In the years we were in the middle of the battle, a scan like that or a treatment day like that was hard. But those kinds of tears were part of our daily life. That sadness was so small compared to the big decisions and concerns we had for Micah then. I remember those days, but I can hardly fathom that hurt day after day.  It is amazing what you get used to and the strength and grace the Lord gives for that kind of journey. It has been a reminder to me to keep praying for all those who are in treatment, have stopped treatment and for those families who have lost or are losing their children. Micah and I had a chat last night before bed. I was thankful for that. It has really hit me that he is getting older. With age an...

Usually I write a post saying that the scan is done and went very well. This time I can say that the scan is done, but it didn't go well at all. We pretty much ran down the hospital halls to make it to MRI/CT by 9:30am. Since the new part of the hospital has been built, I haven't quite gotten the hang of the layout. (O:  Micah took off his jeans and put on some goofy hospital pants. We waited and waited and waited. They came out and told us that they were running late because a little girl was having a hard time. So we walked to find a family we know, whose son was having surgery today. I so wanted to hug the mom and tell her that we are praying. We couldn't find them. Then we went to PMDU to go to Art Therapy, but it was closed, so we grabbed some cards to play while we waited. They were 1.5 hours behind. I was not at all angry. It happens. It is the nature of the hospital. I am sure the people doing the scans would like to have things running on time if it was up to t...

Eee, I am one day late! Sorry. This is kind of nice because we are one week behind our kids in Sunday School! So it is a bit of review for me! (O: Ephesians 6:12-13 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

I have wanted to write all week, but this week has just slipped by. We are all back into routine. It was hard to let my Ken go on Monday morning. He is my most favorite person ever and I just want him to be home with me. We will be great retired people! (O: We had a great week of school. It has been a while since I can say that. We were struggling before Christmas. I am thankful we had a break and that I could look at school with new and refreshed eyes. It is truly a blessing. Micah's scan day is coming quickly. His scan is Wednesday morning at 9:30. Wednesday is gym day and piano day. So the other kids will be home with my sister , Tori and will go to piano and then my mom will take them to gymnastics. Micah and I will meet them there in London. It is a bit of a morning out for Micah and I. I am trying to look at it that way anyways. I am so thankful for scans, machines, doctors, nurses, techs, The Cancer Society and Childcan ....ect. They have all played such an important par...

Howdy memory people! This week's verse is Ephesians 6:10-11 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.  Have a great week! (O:

Our God of miracles and grace has blessed Micah with 10 years. Today is his birthday and we are praising Him for this gift. These are all the words I have today.

Lately Grace and I have been up between 2 and 4 each morning. She has such a full nose that it is running down the back of her throat and she coughing and choking through the night. The sleeping isn't really happening. Last night, the new paper man was standing on my front deck as I came into the kitchen at about 3:30 am with Grace in my arms. It scared the kaboodles out of me. When I heard the clunk of the paper in the mailbox, I sighed very loud with relief. I am not fabulous with going outside in the dark and things like that, but I have been on edge in an extra sort of way. Our nephew gave us,  The Day Satan Called by Bill Scott , to read.  You may ask, "Hey lady, why are you reading a book like that?"  It is scary?  Oh indeed, it is!  Did I lose sleep? FOR SURE!! But I also think that it is very relevant. It is something I have always been very aware of. Angels and demons are very real. They are present in our lives. I think that sometimes in our...

9 yrs 51 wks! (O: Last week, we went to the Children's Museum in London. We didn't go because we love it. We went because we bought a groupon that gave us a year family membership for 40$. This membership also gets us into the Science Center in Toronto. Woo Hoo. That is so amazing. We are hoping to go this week still! Even though it is a little young for most of the kids. We still made it a family outing and had a good time! When I look at my kids in pictures, I really see how big they are getting. I did take about 50 pictures. I had a hard time choosing. I down loaded 35 of them onto this post, but decided that was a bit much! (O: 7 3/4 years. 5 3/4 years. (I just realized writing his age that he is same age as when Micah was diagnosed. He is so little.) I couldn't get a picture here and it drove me crazy. I tried for way too long to get one here! Truth be told, I have always wanted to get pics beside each other. It saves space so the post isn...

I am so sorry. I just realized I missed 2 weeks. I guess I could try to rationalize that they were actually Christmas holidays from memory work. But it is not true. I forgot! So here we start a new year. I have a renewed commitment to work a little harder and be more diligent. So here is the new verse. I took a pic of it, since I was putting pictures in this post anyways! (O: That was easy! I think I may learn this one in the NKJV. It is a little odd to me in the ESV. I have long struggled with getting into the Bible. I seem to be always looking for new devotionals, when really it is discipline that I need. I saw this cool, cool, cool book at this bookstore ( PRTS ).  They have them for every book of the Bible. Shorter books are put together. I think it was 10$ or maybe 12$. That is not bad. Here is what the inside looks like. It is a little longer, but I cropped the people I am praying for. So, instead of just reading, you are writing out the verses you are read...