(sent out April 17th, 2013)
This has been a very hard day, following another hard night. I started the day planting myself firmly on the rock. This was my verse.Ps 61.1-4Hear my cry, O God;Attend to my prayer.From the end of the earth I will cry to You,
When my heart is overwhelmed;
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
For You have been a shelter for me,
A strong tower from the enemy.
I will abide in Your tabernacle forever;
I will trust in the shelter of Your wings.
We have received amazing love and support through all of this, people coming with hugs, phone calls of love and support, meals, ice cream J, advise and even mowing our yard.
Joe has been amazingly cheerful through all of this. He is increasingly delusional because of the ammonia backing up in his body but has turned that into funny comments, staying positive and sweet through everything. What an amazing man I am married to, and what an amazing healing God has done in his heart. He is barely lucid now. We opted to keep him home for this last stage as that was his wish. We have him on strong medications to ease the pain and nausea and take shifts watching over him. Praise the Lord He sent Katrina to us. Please pray for a smooth passing.
Thank you.
Teri
(Joe passed onto heaven later on on this day)
(sent out originally April 13, 2013)
On March 19th we found out that Joe's bladder cancer had metastasized all over his body. We spent the rest of the week in the hospital getting his pain and nausea issues under control.
We brought him home and put hospice in place. He has been stable but still fighting nausea. This last Tuesday he took a sharp turn for the worst. We found that a lot of things were out of wack but the most significant is that the cancer has now grown into the bowels and closed them off. It is inoperable. He is reasonably stable now and at home on hospice care. We are told that it is a few days to a couple of weeks or so till he goes home to meet Jesus.
Through this journey God has met our needs at every turn. We are very sad but at great peace. This is the passage that God gave us during this last stay in the hospital right before we found out there was nothing more they could do.
Ps 116:I love the Lord, for He hears my voice;He hears my cry for mercy.Because He turns His ear to me,I will call on Him as long as I live.The cords of death entangle me,the anguish of the grave comes over me;I am overcome by distress and sorrow.
Then I call on the name of the Lord:“Lord, save me!”The Lord is gracious and righteous;our God is full of compassion.The Lord protects the unwary;when I am brought low, He saves me.Return to your rest, my soul,for the Lord has been good to you.For you, Lord, have delivered me from death,my eyes from tears,my feet from stumbling,that I may walk before the Lordin the land of the living. Precious in the sight of the Lordis the death of his faithful servants.Truly I am your servant, Lord;I serve you just as my mother did;you have freed me from my chains."
My niece Katrina is here from Spokane for two weeks, having arrived one day before we found all this out and has been a God send, helping with shopping and meals and Brenna. We covet your prayers.
Teri
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(sent out originally March 23rd )
We know that God is all powerful and is intently --- involved in --- concerned with --- focused on --- every aspect of our lives. We know that from passages such as Psalms 139:
“…You know everything about me… when I sit down or stand up… my thoughts… when I travel and when I rest… what I am going to say even before I say it. You go before me and follow me and place Your hand of blessing upon my head” (vs 1-6)
We know that we are the apple of His eye, or more accurately in the original language, we are the pupil or intense focus of His eye. So why are we surprised when He plans things ahead of time for our comfort and encouragement.
This was our devotion the second day after we found out about Joe’s cancer metastasizing.
(from Jesus Calling, March 21st)
“Trust Me and Don’t be afraid, for I am your Strength and Song. Think what it means to have Me as your Strength. I spoke the universe into existence, My Power is absolutely unlimited! Human weakness, consecrated to Me, is like a magnet, drawing My Power into your neediness. However, fear can block the flow of My Strength into you. Instead of trying to fight your fears, concentrate on trusting Me. When you relate to me in Confident trust, there is no limit to how much I can strengthen you.
Remember that I am also your Song. I want you to share My Joy, living in conscious awareness of My Presence. Rejoice as we journey together toward heaven; join Me in singing My Song. “
Isaiah 12:2-3
“See, God has come to save me. I will trust in Him and not be afraid.
The Lord God is my strength and my song;
He has given me victory.
With Joy you will drink deeply from the fountain of salvation!”
Ps 21:6
“You have endowed him with eternal blessings, and given him the joy of Your presence.
That same day, which was Wed, one of Joe's nurses from past hospital stays found out he was in and came by and encouraged us, saying we are all family and we all hurt together. He prayed with us an awesome encouraging prayer and gave us his phone number, offering to drive out to Longview (from Shreveport, an hour’s drive) any time we need him. How awesome is that.
Thursday and Friday were harder with a very irritating roommate who talked non-stop but the doctors and nurses were awesome.
Joe is home now, resting well and feeling better now that they have the pain under control. We see the hospice nurse this afternoon.
If you want to come and visit, please feel free. He loves visitors. Please come to the back door. Call him to let him know you’re coming so he doesn’t try and rush out of bed. Afternoons are generally better for him.
253-228-5044
Thank you for all your continuing prayers and love and comfort.
Love
Teri
