My Cancer Journey - Part 3: The Lord’s Intervention

On Friday, September 21^st, one week after the first initial mammogram, I got a call from the surgeon’s office and had an appointment set up to see her the following Wednesday.

As I finally decided to share this information with all my friends on Facebook, MANY responded and said they would be praying. I really don’t like all the drama that Facebook can produce, and am not comfortable with sharing a lot of personal details on my page; but, I felt it was important to let others know what was going on. No one knows how to pray for you, or give you needed support (and maybe even some helplful advice from those who have gone before you) unless you let them know what is going on. I didn't want to go through this alone, so I chose to speak out and received blessed responses of prayers, well-wishes, and encouragement (which was something I had talked about in THIS POST last year about 10 ways to encourage others via Social Media.)

Two of my friends recommended I NOT get a needle biopsy because they believed there was a risk of releasing cancer cells into the bloodstream. After doing my research and consulting with my husband, we decided to forego the needle (or core) biopsy, if possible, and ask instead for a lumpectomy (a complete removal of the lump and the surrounding tissues). I believe the Lord intervened through these two friends, for reasons of which you will find out in another post.

Then, here’s the next part of the Lord’s intervention... On Tuesday morning, the day before I was supposed to go see the surgeon, I got a call from my husband while he was at work. He had been talking to one of the employees who used to work at the hospital, and she recommended I change surgeons. I was rather upset about this news coming to me on the day before my appointment. It was frustrating because, changing surgeons meant I had to WAIT even longer to be given the information I needed about this lump! But, on the other hand, I totally believed the Lord was looking out for me, and I HAD to trust that everything was going to happen in HIS timing.

Ecc. 3:11 - He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end.

I changed surgeons and waited to be scheduled for an appointment with him. He came highly recommended and very experienced in his field. Finally, the call came and I was scheduled to see him on Monday, October 1^st. 

At this point, waiting for results and appointments had become a little easier as time had gone by. It all still sort of freaked me out a bit, thinking about what the final results could be, and I still wished things could have happened sooner than they did, but I knew the Lord was at work in me. I was learning more and more each day how to fully trust in Him.

Proverbs 3:5-6 - Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.
 

My Cancer Journey - Part 2: Waiting for Results

At my more advanced mammogram session, they took at least 5 more pictures of the right side. Wow, that was uncomfortable! Then, they did the ultrasound - thankfully painless! During the ultrasound, the tech was quiet as she did her work. I occasionally took a peek at the screen, and noticed the black image where the lump was located. It was sort of round but maybe a bit lumpy, and also had sort of like a tail on it. I wasn’t sure what to think, but was just hoping it was only a cyst. "Please, God, just let it be a cyst!" My mother had a lump when she was in her 40's, and it turned out to be benign, so that was what I was hoping for in myself as well. They said the tests would be read that same day by the Radiologist, and the results would be sent to my doctors. I was told I would hear from them the next day. Time to wait...

I did not receive that phone call on Wednesday. More waiting...

I mentioned the tests on a "Moms Praying" page on Facebook, knowing that the ladies on there would be praying for me. One of the members (Lori) commented and said she was praying for good results. While writing the comment, she accidentally misspelled "good" and wrote the word "god." I know it wasn’t an intentional thing on her part, but believe it was intentional on God’s part. It came across as "Praying for [God] results!" Isn’t that so true... Whatever the results ended up being, I knew the Lord had control and that nothing would happen to me out of His perfect will for my life.

On Thursday afternoon, the call finally came in from my doctor’s office. The radiology report said there was indeterminate calcifications around what looked to be a fluid-filled cyst. Further testing was recommended, so I was referred to a surgeon for an ultrasound needle biopsy. Once again, I had to WAIT for the surgeon’s office to call me to set up the appointment. But, since I at least received some information and knew the right steps were being taken, I was a little more at ease at this point. I was told the calcifications could possibly just be related to the cystic lesion and could be benign, so there was no need to panic. We were just moving forward, one step at a time, to determine what it was and make the best plan of action.

I felt the Lord’s presence as he held my hand for comfort and peace, and I continued to serve him while I waited...



My Cancer Journey - Part 1: Finding A Lump

For quite some time now, the door to any truly "personal" blog writing, on my part, has been closed. I’m not exactly sure why, although I’m beginning to think it was partly due to my needing to focus my energies on the needs of my family, as well as refocusing my thoughts on growing closer to the Lord and learning a few things from Him.

After praying about it, I feel the Lord is opening the door again to my writing, so that I can share with you about a journey my family and I have been on since September 2012 - My Cancer Journey. While my story may not be relevant to all of you reading this, my prayer is that it will be helpful to at least a few (including myself, because writing can be very therapeutic). But, please know that its not just a story about the Big C, but rather about my Lord and how HE has been there holding my hand the entire time. In that sense, it can be relevant to anyone who is undergoing any kind of personal struggle. So, feel free to follow along as I share this journey with you...

Our newest life journey began in mid September. It was a Wednesday morning and, for whatever reason, I decided to do a lump check in my breast. I had not been doing regular self-checks, and the last time I remember it being done was by my gynecologist at least a year prior. I remember she had not felt anything unusual at that time, so I decided to forego the recommended yearly mammogram. As time went by, I received at least two reminders that it was time for my mammogram. I still ignored them. But, then, I found the lump. It was actually more like a thickened area on the upper portion on the right side. It didn’t feel right, whatever it was. So, I decided to go ahead and schedule my next mammogram. It took me two days to finally get the nerve to call, and they were able to get me in that same day.

It was just a routine mammogram screening, although it was not fun to be squished in a machine. However, the hardest part came next with waiting for the results. Since it was done on a Friday, I had to wait over the weekend. They did not call on Monday either, but finally called on Tuesday. They said they wanted me to come back in for more pictures of the right side, as well as for an ultrasound. They didn’t want to alarm me, but just wanted to get a better look at the lump. They happened to have an opening for that same afternoon, so I took it. I dropped the kids off with friends and headed in for a 1:30 appointment. Honestly, that call freaked me out at first. It’s normal, I guess, to think the worst. But, it was really too soon to know anything. So, I chose to "cast" all my anxieties on the Lord...


1Peter 5:6-7 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you. (NASB)







LINKED UP WITH:
Missional Women - Faith Filled Fridays

BOOK REVIEW: What Your Husband Isn't Telling You

I have had some health problems recently, so this book review of  What Your Husband Isn’t Telling You (by David Murrow) is actually 2 months overdue. But, I wanted to go ahead and follow through with my commitment to read it and review it...

PART 1 of the the book gives a history of how men have been providers and protector since the beginning of time, and talks about how this has made them thrive. Then, it talks about how the world has become so gender equal that many men are no longer feeling needed. On page 46, the author says, "Our gender-blind society has left men no way to define themselves as uniquely male."

PART 2-4 of the book covers things like:

• how men’s brains work differently
• the effects of Testosterone in men
• what most men like from women
• men’s needs

FYI:  I read several parts from this section to my husband to get his "take" on it, and he DID agree with most of what the author discussed here.

PART 5 is mainly about HOW A WOMAN CAN HELP her husband - physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Not everything in this section completely applied to me, but this was really the most helpful part of the entire book. For me personally, it gave good reminders that my husband is different than me, but that we ARE still a team; and treating my teammate (or, rather, my soulmate) with love, respect, kindness, and honor - appreciating him and his differences, and even smiling at him every once in awhile - can make a huge difference in how the "game" is played out.

Wives, if your husband has not been communicating with you too well, or you just want some insight into what he may be thinking and why (even if just out of curiosity), this book could be a good one for you to consider picking up. It couldn't hurt, and it might even help.

NOTE:  I received this book free for review from Bethany House Publishers, and I have expressed my own opinions.

Top 10 Posts from 2012

Starting at #10, here are the "He Holds My Right Hand" Top 10 Posts from 2012...


#10 - WAYS TO ENCOURAGE #9: Random Acts Of Kindness
 
#9 - WAYS TO ENCOURAGE #5: Ten Ideas for Social Networking 
 
#8 - WE'VE BEEN A FAMILY FOR 20 YEARS
 
#7 - INTERVIEW:  Mukkove Johnson - Christian Author 
 
#6 - WAYS TO ENCOURAGE #4:  Invite Someone Over 
 
#5 - FOCUSING ON THE POSITIVE IN OUR CHILDREN 
 
#4 - WAYS TO ENCOURAGE #7:  Send A Care Package 
 
#3 - UNDERSTANDING AUTISM 
 
#2 - MINISTRY FOCUS: Medical Teams International 
 
#1 - BOOK REVIEW: Cleaning House by Kay Wills Wyma 
 

Happy New Year, Everyone! Thanks for reading!







 

MINISTRY FOCUS: Russian Ministries

Peter Deyneka Russian Ministries  is NOT a traditional missionary-sending agency. It's an international, evangelical mission organization that is there to help people in Russia (and all of the former Soviet Union) to grow and reach deep into their communities. The ministry evangelizes and equips Next Generation leaders to become light in the darkness, and bring hope to areas where situations seem hopeless.

How can you make a difference? 

(1)  Support the work of Russian Ministries through your daily prayers. You can check the website for a LIST of prayer requests. There is at least one listed for each day of the week.

(2)  Join their RAPID RESPONSE TEAM. Rapid Response Team Members receive up-to-the-minute information in their e-mail inbox, timely prayer requests and practical ways to make a difference in the lives of post-Soviet people. There is no cost to join the team and you can leave at any time.

(3)  Make a monetary DONATION.  This ministry relies on the gifts of people, churches and Christian groups for their outreach to the former Soviet Union. Gifts given in the United States or Canada are tax-deductible.

(4)  EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES are also available to those who are interested. There is an office located in Wheaton, IL, as well as in Canada.  

MINISTRY FOCUS: Your Story Hour

 

UPDATE 1-6-2013:  A friend of mine directed me to several links pertaining to "Your Story Hour" products and, after reading through the information, I feel it is important to mention that this organization is owned and operated by Seventh-Day Adventists. They do not admit to using SDA theology in their recordings. However, intenitional or not, there are times when it does present itself. While some of their stories are basic history dramatizations, and some are just stories with good morals, there are many that also intertwine the Bible with the writings of Ellen G. White, a woman who the Seventh-Day Adventists believe to be inspired by God as a prophet (even though her teachings do not match up with Biblical teachings). For more information, take a look at THIS BLOG POST by Andy Naselli. (Scroll down the page to read all the comments posted by former SDA church members.) In my opinion, if parents are serious about wanting to raise biblically literate children without causing unnecessary confusion, then I would suggest being very careful about introducing them to "Your Story Hour" and other SDA-affiliated ministries.

 

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ORIGINAL POST:

 



YOUR STORY HOUR with Aunt Carole and Uncle Dan is "a global, non-profit, interfaith Christian educational organization working with children, youth and families of all denominations." Since 1949, their main vehicle for reaching children has been their radio broadcasts of character building stories.

Children can be inspired to make sound choices by exposure to dramatized stories evidencing the positive results of developing character traits such as honesty, integrity, courage and faith. Your Story Hour exists to provide children with this exposure.

Thousands of entertaining STORIES can be purchased on the website. Or, you can listen to full episodes of the most recent broadcasts for FREE at ONEPLACE.COM.

Other options for our children include: 

CLUBHOUSE MAGAZINE - available online for FREE - a colorful magazine filled with stories, jokes, puzzles and quizzes. Read it online, or print it out.

ADVENTURES IN THE HOLY BIBLE - 52 Online Bible lessons with quizzes, also available FREE to children.

THE RAVEN & THE RING - a FREE printable coloring book to go along with the story of "The Raven and the Ring," which can be listened to at no charge. My children and I recently listened to this story about how a poor family chose honesty over provisions, and how God provided for their needs. We all enjoyed it.

 

"You Can’t Make Me" Revised Edition, by Cynthia Ulrich Tobias (Book Review)

Cynthia Ulrich Tobias has revised her book “You Can’t Make Me (But I Can Be Persuaded).” I never read the original version, so I can’t really compare; but I can at least tell you what I know about this newer version.

The book defines what a strong-willed child (SWC) is, and includes a checklist to help you determine just how much strong will is prevalent in your child (or yourself). We ALL have strong will. However, some of us rarely use it, and others find it impossible not to use. This book is specifically geared towards the latter - towards those kids who refuse to budge, even when given an ultimatum. It discusses how your SWC thinks, and gives practical suggestions on how to motivate him, while still keeping peace in the home.

My husband and I have a 9-year-old son who is somewhat in the middle of the strong-will spectrum. We know he has a healthy dose of it, but we have learned he will generally get on board with our expectations if we approach him the right way. This book helped solidify that the most important thing is to respect our son as a person who has his own thoughts and ideas, while still remaining consistent with our own expectations and not backing down on consequences when the line is crossed. We are still in the learning process and don’t pretend to have it all figured out, but we have realized there are battles worth fighting (and winning), and others that are not. Finding a good balance is the key.

With that in mind, the overall theme of the book seems to be encouraging good relationships with our SWC (and with ALL of our children, for that matter.) Without a good relationship, our authority over our children won’t mean a single thing. The author (who is also a SWC) says:

"It’s not authority strong-willed children have trouble with – it’s how the authority is communicated. If you put your finger in my face and tell me I have no choice, you’ve already lost the battle... However, if I know you value and respect me, we can build a relationship that can result in my voluntarily submitting to your authority.” (Page 120)

So.... if you are dealing with a SWC, or just need more suggestions on how to effectively motivate your children to be the best they can be without yelling and pointing fingers at them all the time, I would recommend picking up this book. It doesn't have ALL the answers; but, it can help by providing some helpful suggestions to frustrated parents, grandparents, and teachers. 

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for review purposes only.

MINISTRY FOCUS: EvanTell

EvanTell  helps believers in Jesus Christ to "overcome the two biggest challenges in evangelism – (1) fear, and (2) not knowing how – so that they can go and have an immediate and eternal impact for the Kingdom."

Their website offers various resources, including FREE online evangelism training courses in personal evangelism, children’s evangelism, and workplace evangelism. Each course has 4 sessions, and each session lasts 15-20 minutes. The sessions include animation, narration, and video, as well as interactive exercises. They will help equip you to share the gospel clearly and simply whenever the opportunity arrises.  

MINISTRY FOCUS: Breath of Life Online Ministry

Breath of Life Online Ministry is a Christian site, run by Schuler Murdock, which offers FREE screensavers, greeting cards and graphics downloads.

Mr. Murdock is using this ministry to share the message of God's love by providing a place of  "inspiration and encouragement on the internet." He takes this outreach very seriously as he believes "something as simple as a screensaver or a picture can have an awesome, permanent impact on a life."

This is a non-profit, non-commercial venture. However, contributions are welcome, and they will be used to make improvements to the ministry.

Here is a sample of one of the many wallpaper choices on this site. I like this one because it goes along with the theme of this blog; but be sure to TAKE A LOOK at them all! While you are there, you can also find Bible Study tools, links to other Christian ministry sites, and inspirational music on various topics.