Joy

Over the past week we have been happier than we've been in a very long time.  Why?  Because we choose joy, gratitude, and thankfulness in the midst of every ugly thing we have to face and we see the beauty, the second chances, and the finish line. We were devastated when our plan was put on hold, but God truly did have our best interest at heart.

Just like that tiny plant pushing toward the sun, our hope has been renewed. After talking with doctors about making plans for Calleigh's future school days, they agreed that the best option for her right now was to be around a small group of kids on a regular basis and that once the flu season is over she can go to school with me. She will have her first day of school and we will get to see her graduate 4k. We get a piece of real life, of normalcy, and we get back a little of what we thought was gone and oh how grateful we are. God has blessed us and rewarded us for remaining faithful and bearing witness to His greatness. Make no mistake, this is not from earthly doctors or our will, but by the grace of our Father. He has held us and continues to hold us through this storm and is bringing us through this fire and we will emerge different, but better by His promise. 

Thankfully, Calleigh did well receiving her third round of chemo in the hospital last week. She had fun and enjoyed putting together a Lego set she picked out the night before we went in. I think that will be our new chemo tradition. 3 down, 6 to go. Please pray for her counts to continue to stay in the safe range and for her and those in close contact with her to remain well. 

Calleigh starts daycare Friday. Pray that her excitement continues, that she feels comfortable, and that she has fun, like any four year old should. 2015 will be a year of celebration. 

1. A fifth birthday next month!!

2. A first and last day of k4. 

3. Starting Kindergarten. 

4. More post-graduate work for me. 

5. Time with family. 

6. A ten year wedding anniversary. 

7. Summer. 

8. The end of chemo!!!  (We will have a party this year and every year as her second birthday). 

9. A make a wish trip. 

10. Disney!!

Can you make a list?  Can you find joy in the everyday?  If not, ask us how. It starts with Jesus. 

New Year, Fresh Start

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas.  We were very busy but took some much needed time to spend together with family and just the three of us.  I think everyone was much more at ease after receiving the good news from her pathology report.  We actually got two weeks off from the doctor during break and Calleigh had a two week break from therapy.  I just let her rest.  She works so hard everyday I felt like she deserved time to rest and continue to heal.  Calleigh had a big Christmas.  I don't think Santa realized how much he had brought her until he unpacked it from his sleigh.  Her favorite Christmas gifts were Wonderheart CareBear and Hungry Hungry hippos.  She's enjoyed playing with Play-Doh and princess legos since Christmas.

We were all ready to say goodbye to 2014.  This has been the hardest year of our entire lives.  I hate this year with a passion.  I grieve. every. single. day for what it did to Calleigh.  But I also celebrate how our faith in God is stronger, our marriage is stronger, and our commitment to beating this fight is resolute.  With all hopes our chemo journey will end this year in the fall.  

Calleigh will go into the hospital next Monday for her 3rd round of chemo.  This will be the first B round she will get.  She will be in the hospital for at least three days.  Please pray for her that she remains calm and for us that we can comfort her and keep her entertained.  She gets tired of staying there and wants to be home.  Please also continue to pray that this posterior fossa syndrome will be resolved this year.  I am claiming that she can be fully restored and I am drawing a big circle around her issues and giving them to God.  

We read this Sunday and it is so true.  He goes before us in all things and will make a path.  I know we would not be here and most definitely Calleigh would not be here without the grace of God.  He has his angels surrounding her and carrying her through.
Please continue to pray for us as we get back into the routine of school and then for Lance as he begins traveling again in February.  Please pray also for us all to remain healthy, but especially Calleigh so that she is not compromised more than necessary.  Happy New Year!