More questions answered and more to follow

Has anyone suggested that you should not do chemo? 

Yes. More than once. No one in our family has. At least, not in a conversation with us.😊  But, a few friends or acquaintances have. Usually though, when Stew is actually in that conversation, he just smiles and says, "I hope you are never in the position of having to make the decision." That to me is called grace.

How do you feel about others recommending no chemo to you?

At first, it surprised us because it was known we had already prayerfully made the decision. It is a difficult place to be when someone makes that recommendation. Especially if it is shared with the idea that God only brings healing through a natural route, chemo only kills, or chemo is not God's plan. Somehow that thought process immediately puts Stew's decision to have chemo in the "you are wrong and not following God" category. 

Stew says so little and is so accepting, but recently he said to me with a wry half smile, "So, Deb, if what I am prayerfully doing doesn't work, then since I have taken chemo it is my fault that God doesn't heal me? I hope not. That is not the God I know." 

Have you received a lot of suggestions as to things to do to be healed, and if so, how do you feel about that?

Yes, we have. For us, suggested helps and information are appreciated for the most part. A lot of it depends on timing, good communication, and the relationship. An active caring relationship is an important and necessary backdrop to informational sharing when you are fighting each day to live. Otherwise the person with cancer can easily feel like a project to be fixed. Actually, that is probably true in anything people face.

We know though that most suggestions or opinions shared are coming from a sincere desire to be helpful, and help solve what seems-to-be-at-the-time a possibly unsolvable disease. They come from a place of caring. 

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Well, we have a new "normal" in our life right now. It includes 4 Imbruvica capsules each morning, and a pray, wait, and see holding pattern.  There are not as many labs being taken, or tests being run. 

And, we have approximately two weeks between appointments.

It sounds like a good thing, doesn't it? Yet, for some reason it now seems as if we are facing a greater unknown. We don't have a check once or twice each week to see how Stew is doing, or to monitor his process. All we have are the symptoms he is experiencing. It is another step of "we walk by faith, not by sight." And, even though the changes are an adjustment, walking by faith in our Father truly is a more anchored safe place to be. He is faithful and loves Stew more than anyone else can. Remembering His truth helps to keep the fear that tries to attack at bay.

Stew and I have been so wanting to see "autumn" in all its splendor.  It is not something you can do much of where we live, so we made a short 2 hour drive to East Texas with hopes of at least a small glimpse. A glimpse is all we saw, but it certainly was a sweet one to our West Virginia hearts.

A few pictures are included below.

Giving heartfelt thanks for you in our lives, and the many kindnesses of the Father seen in our days.

Stew and Deb

Faces to the Wall

So glad Amy and kids joined us for the first night and day.

Next year maybe we will be able to launch that canoe together into the water. One of many things to look forward to when Stew is healed. Hope alive.

Fall beginning. Seasons changing.

Early morning time with the Father.