The year was 2014 and cancer seemed to be rampant among my children. I was sharing some of my thoughts with my friend Nina and decided I should keep a blog. We sat in her office and tried to come up with a name for my blog. Something that would express everything that I was trying to share. This blog is a result, but almost ten years later I have never memorized the name. It is ridiculous. How must I appear when I tell someone about it and they ask for the name and I just shrug my shoulders. Embarrassing!

As I completed those final paragraphs of my latest post I kept looking to the top of my screen and seeing the word, “Learning.” It was no accident that this is the first word in my title. From quite a young age I have recognized the learning that has taken place in my life, particularly from difficult experiences. This is also the basis by which I have learned to feel gratitude, even in the midst of a trial.

Blah, blah, blah. I wrote this post a couple weeks ago – focused on how I am always learning and relearning how to deal with negative thoughts. I just deleted the bulk of it… I will keep the next two paragraphs and then end with an update for everyone. Also – I like the image that I found for this post because the person is perplexed but then finds a way out. Not only with the help of a friend, but with a backpack… I didn’t read the article but I wonder if this backpack represents experience? The helper friend also has a backpack of experience. And when he is out he is on higher ground…

I very much dislike video games, but we did allow the kids to have a Wii as long as the games got them off the couch and interacting. We used to play some sort of game that was an obstacle course. I was never very good at it, much to my children’s delight. Anyway, you had to jump through hoops and across chasms and walk on wobbly platforms – all the while dodging balls or other obstacles. The children were much better than I was because once they were knocked down they would just try again and again, learning the best way across and how to face each challenge. I did better when they were coaching me along the way, “Watch out!” or, “Jump now Mom!”

They had LEARNED the game and they were helping me as I struggled along the way. I have LEARNED a lot in my life and been able to sometimes help others. I am forever getting help from friends and others who have LEARNED their own lessons and been willing to share with me.

Now – for an update we have good and bad news.

The good news is this – a couple weeks ago Mark’s leg pain was really getting to him. By the end of the day he was moaning and groaning with each movement. Saturday night he could hardly sleep. It was Monday afternoon when he realized that he had not been experiencing any pain for a day or two. The pain was gone. It was then that we realized that we had just come from the day of fasting on Sunday and that many had been praying and fasting for him. We count this a miracle and we continue to give thanks and pray for all of you who pray for us. It is making a difference. Prayer is real!

The bad news is this – Mark spent the weekend in the hospital. The immunotherapy is not working and we knew they would probably begin chemo on Friday but they want to begin today. He will be hospitalized for the next 3-5 days and come home with an oxygen tank. There is much more to the story which I will share soon. Prayer is real and I wanted our friends to know that we are again in great need of your prayers. I promise to give more details soon.