On Tuesday the sun came out. I told Mark it was high time that he got out of bed and had some fresh air. In eleven days he had only left his hospital room twice for a lap or two around the unit. As far as updates go – that should let you know that he was having quite a miserable time.

We were the only people on the large patio. We found a couple of lounge chairs and enjoyed soaking up some sun. I think it got up to 42 degrees, but the sun felt great and we took off our coats. Mark noticed that if we closed our eyes we could hear the hum of the power from the hospital and it felt as though we were on the deck of a cruise ship.

A cruise was sounding pretty good right then.

So we closed our eyes and talked about cruise locations we would like to experience. Our imaginary cruise was cut short only by the annoyance of the beeping IV pump.

The sun came out again that afternoon as our doctor agreed that we could go home that evening! She was somewhat hesitant, but if she could see how Mark improved as he walked through the doors she might have sent us home a few hours earlier! There’s no place like home!

The illness he was/is battling came before the chemo and they believe is a result of the immunotherapy. Everyone keeps assuring us that the next round of chemo will be much easier, so we have that to look forward to. We just wanted to be sent home because it was practically time for us to return! We report back on the 18th of December.

The biggest change for us is that Mark is now on oxygen. We have a big blue machine in our hallway. It is centrally located and Mark has very long tubing so that he can go anywhere in the house, though he must always be tethered. He also has oxygen tanks so that he can leave the house and he just received an amazing little portable machine which he can wear over his shoulder. His blood counts are very low so he will only leave the house if he must… but now he can do so comfortably and we love it!

I recently discovered this translation in Chapter One of James: Count it all joy when ye fall into many afflictions.

Most of society would disagree with that statement. But now listen to what Peter tells us. “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.

When I discovered the “Count it all JOY” statement I read it over and over. I loved it! It was later that I read Peter saying that a trial can be more precious than gold. For me, it has been the trials in my life that have had the most positive impact in who I am becoming. I look back on them with gratitude. As I practice and work on (and it IS work) having gratitude in the midst of a trial and facing life with faith, I do feel joy.

There was another verse of Scripture, probably in James, that I thought conveyed the ideal message about the topic. When I went back I couldn’t find it. I wonder what other scriptures about joy in affliction we could be sharing?? Most certainly we acknowledge that the past two weeks have been difficult, but both Mark and I marvel together at the many tender mercies we are experiencing. Our gratitude overshadows the struggles – mostly…. Therefore, because I write to remember… the message to my future self is this: Count it all JOY!!