Update on Ron Again

Ron went home to be with the Lord tonight around 8:00 pm. Another friend Bill, went home yesterday. It has been a very hard week. Please keep these families in prayer. One was an accidental shooting and the other was just a long work of labor. I don't believe Ron ever came out of the coma. When they called me at 6:00 they said that they only gave him two hours. I could hear the grief in their voices.

Love you all!

Wanted You To Know

This past Sunday I was asked to give the "Good News" about my continuing healing at Always In His Presence Ministries. God has been so good to me. I'm not even sure what all I said, but when I looked around many people were wiping their eyes. I had written out like 7 pages of things I thought needed to be said but when I got up there, they went out the window and I just spoke spontaneously from my Spirit. The people in this church have prayed and prayed and supported us so well. We have decided to attend this church. The ladies in this church are the ones that have written the dramas and music that we take into the prisons.

I just received an invitation from a Spanish Church in Canada to give my testimony. It's so important to do that. We don't have a passport but will have to get one. This Church has been so supportive of us. They are the ones that came to the Migrant Ministry we did in Adrian for 4 years. They sing and preach in the Migrant's language and believe me, we saw many souls saved during those 4 years as a result of their ministry.

Also I have been invited into a Hungarian Church that has taken us on like we can't even believe. They pray and pray for us. I haven't been given a date to come in there yet, but it will be in God's timing. I just know that I need to be ready when the time comes.

There is another church we call the Rock and Roll Church the Pastor sent word that he wanted me to give my testimony on video. Not sure when that one will happen either but God knows.

Now a prayer request for my neighbor - I'm not sure of any of the details but his wife sent me an email and said that their dog bit her husband's thumb off. They were able to reattach it but it will never be 100%. This was a dog that I never thought was anything but sweet. They did put the dog to sleep.

Red Letter Day!

As you know, it has been a tough couple of years for us. Actually it has been 3 years, but the 1st one wasn't so bad, with the exception of the ugly word cancer and all of the surprise and fear that goes with it. The reason the 1st wasn't so bad we thought everything was taken care of. Unfortunately, it wasn't. The doctor gave me the wrong medicine. Of course it wasn't the doctor that I have now.

So today I went to get the Avastan that I get on Thursdays. The port I have has not been working properly for the last 3 weeks, so I kind of had a panic attack at home. I was in the tub and didn't have the strength to get out. Thank God I waited until Barry got home so he could help me out. I have to say that was the 1st time I have cried, but it was so hard. I realized I was nervous over the port because if it did not work today, I would have to have a test to make sure it was in the the proper place and if it wasn't I would have to have it replaced, which meant a minor surgery.

I got there and the blood came flowing out quickly. Thank the Lord. Then I had to know if the blood levels were good enough for the Avastan, they were fine. I got the Avastan. Today was the last day that I had any appointments and I was out of some of the medicine. Debbie, his office assistant, said you really need to see him. I said I am so tired I don't think I can hold my eyes open long enough to sit there. Sometimes it is hours. Debbie loves us so much, she put us in right away. God's favor.

The doctor walked in the room shortly and shook our hands. How are you doing, he asked me. He said you look good and I see that you are wiggling your feet. That's a good thing. He checked my eyes and asked how I was walking and then checked the strength of my legs two different times and then said you are strong. He then had me lay down and he checked the liver. He was elated at how good I am doing. He said you are doing amazingly well. He also told us after checking to see if I was having headaches and so on he checked my eyes to make sure there was nothing there. He said the brain tumors are no longer an issue because they are gone.

He looked at Debbie and told her, this lady is going to make it. Translation: You shall live and not die and declare the works of the Lord. Psalms 118:17 (KJV). I didn't die, I lived and now I am telling the world what God did. Psalms 118:17 (The Message Bible)

Just last week even though I already knew I said to Barry, it would just be so good to have this healing validated. The Lord told me that he had already validated it, but still it is such a good thing to hear it from the doctor. Look what the Lord has done!

Update on Ron

Today I had to have my Avastan and while I was getting it, one of the nurses ask us how he was doing. We hadn't really heard. Barry went up to see him and he was being put on life support. He said there was so much activity in that room, as you can imagine. Apparently one of his lungs collapsed and because of his condition they decided to put him on life support. Carolyn is a mess, who wouldn't be? They have been going through this for 3 years now. I don't believe it has been this severe, as far as life support.

While I was sitting getting the medicine, Ron's sister walked in my room. She is exhausted with the whole thing too. She is the one that gave him the bone marrow transplant. They are also going to put him on dialysis when he is able.

She looked at me today and said I can't do this again. I lost my sister, my brother and my dad because of sugar and dialysis. Please pray for her too, if you don't mind.

If you would like to send them a word of encouragement please email me and I will give you their address. realbusygranny@yahoo.com Please put in the subject line: Ron or address in case I don't know who you are.

Thank you all so much for caring. God bless. Love you!

Love and appreciate you so very, very much.

"Little" Miracles - Is There Any Such Thing?

I guess we have to figure that out for ourselves. For me, EVERYTHING is huge. I had been looking for a book called Healed of Cancer by Dodie Osteen. It is out of print and even when I called Lakewood, they didn't have it.

When we went to dinner with Mary Ann and George, she had breast cancer, I believe it was 9 years ago now. She is completely cancer free. Thank you, Jesus. Anyway, we discussed the book and she said that she used that book constantly. She thought she might have one somewhere.

Monday around noon or so, I was sitting at the table eating and it was bright and sunny outside. Had all of the blinds up and the front door open. I saw Pazzetta coming up my walk way. I was expecting her. She was very surprised that I knew she was coming. I was so not surprised. She lost my phone number and didn't really know exactly where we lived. She had been here a few times but just was unsure where we lived.

Anyway, guess what she brought me? Healed of Cancer by Dodie Osteen. I opened the bag and started crying. I told her that this is a miracle...and explained the story to her. She said she had never heard of the book before but felt in her Spirit to pick it up. Isn't God so good to me?

As soon as she left I read the entire little book and it has helped me SO much!

Thank you Pazzetta for listening and thank you Holy Spirit for speaking!

The "T" Man

Gracie

Bella

The "T" Man

Bear has been working 12 hours a day for the last little while. He wanted to go to breakfast when he got off today at 11. We started going to breakfast and he said you want to pick up "T" man today? I said sure. Kate was with her dad's family this weekend.


When Bear called Am, T was so happy to go. Sure I'm hungry he said. We picked him up and he was just the best. We had such a good time with him. He told his gramps that he wanted to come home with us but Bear told him that he had to go to bed cause he had to get up for work by 6 pm. It was near 1:00 by then.


He then asked me if he could stay with me and I told him I thought I might go shopping, however, I wore out before we got home.


We took him to the drug store with us and they had remote cars there. He was happy to go show his dad what he got. He is such a doll!


After we took him home, our niece Danielle, came to get him and Bella, along with Gracie to go to the park. It was a beautiful day today.


Anyway, apparently at the park some girls were making fun of Gracie. These little ones were about 5 and had NO parents with them.


Tristin is such a protector...like his dad...remember him and Gracie are both only 3. Doesn't that seem young to be a protector like that? Tristin apparently picked up a tree branch and started chasing the girls with it. He was pretty mad I guess.

Breakfast Yesterday!

Yesterday, one of Bear's cousins called and we decided to go out to breakfast. She and her husband and daughter and son-in-law were all going to join us. Bear has one aunt and uncle that has 5 kids and now their kids have kids and so on. It is a wonderful family and I am so glad that I am part of it.

Anyway when we got there all of the older kids were there. It was such a nice surprise I could hardly believe it. We all love each other so much but just don't hardly get together. Everyone has their own family and grandchildren and when we all did get together the last time there were well over 100 of us. We had to rent a hall.

We decided that we will do this breakfast once a month. It could definitely grow with each month. What a fun time we had. We laughed alot and just had a great time. Thank you Lord for a great family!

Update Again!

I didn't really mention much in the blog yesterday about the problem accessing my port. They just couldn't get ANY blood to come out. It has never happened before and so they gave me two different viles of medicine. It is call TPA to dissolve any blood clots or any sheeting around the port. They told me if I didn't have a blood flow today that I would have to have a test to see what was going on with the port, and most likely they would have to take the port out and put a new one in. Thank God the blood return was great today. I didn't have to have any other thing except the anti-body. Isn't God good?

When we got there one of the ladies came and told us that Ronnie was in total renal failure (kidney) and that it wasn't looking good for him. Bear went up to pray for him while I took the medicine. There was a doctor up there and so Bear told them he would come back. He went back in a little while and our Dr. had been there. Apparently another doctor had been over medicating him. Our Dr. took him right off of it. Bear said Ronnie was much better today. Thank the Lord.

Barry had decided that he needed to know about their salvation so he ask both Ron and Carolyn about their souls. They said that they had made their peace with God and all was well with their souls. Bear told him he wouldn't be a very good friend if he didn't ask. They seemed grateful.

Please keep them in prayer, they have been through so much...we want and expect life for him too!

Good News!

Once again, I am so amazed at the love of God in my life.

Today I had to go to the cancer center to have my last radiation treatment. There were 15 total. When I got there, they said you won't ever have to wear this mask again...good thing..the steroids were making it very tight. When I got up off of the table they presented me with certificate that said go and have some fun now that you don't have to be here everyday. You know, sometimes its the little things that count so much.

Then I had to have my blood tested so that tomorrow I can get the anti-body again. One of the most special ladies at the Cancer Center came to me to tell me that our friend, Ron, was back in the hospital. She really wasn't supposed to but she knows we are good friends with them. Immediately Barry wanted to go pray. We aren't sure of this man's soul. He grew up in church, but we're not sure about his salvation. He is having a very hard time breathing.

They had a hard time getting a blood return on me, and as yet, still haven't gotten it through the port, so one of the nurses told me to go up to see him if we wanted to.

When we got up there, the nurses were all friendly asking us just what we were doing and we told them we were going to visit Ronnie. When we got in his room, we told him and his wife that we would not be staying there long. We just came to pray and encourage them. We prayed and Carolyn said that she felt so much better. She needed it.

We told her that we would leave now and she asked us if we had seen Dr. Momin. We said no. She said he just left their room. When we got to the nurses station we could hear his voice. He seemed shocked for just a minute, then he said to me...I had forgotten how good you could look. Then he looked at Barry and said, see, didn't I tell you she was gonna be alright?

Talk about encouraging words! He could have easily said nothing or something negative.

Then, I think I have said this before on my blog, but if not, here goes. God help us to do something today that will impact eternity.

Talking with Dr. Momin, was my very favorite nurse Katie. I also think I mentioned that she is 26 and our daughter, Amber, is 26 too. Both of them are very sweet and always smiling, so Katie kind of became like "a second daughter" to me.

The last time I was in the hospital Katie and her mom are both Oncology Nurses, but her Mom doesn't practice at Oakwood where I go, just Katie. Anyway, Katie came to me one day and said that her Mom was going for a breast biopsy and Katie was naturally worried. Barry and I asked her if we could pray for her and her Mom. She was thrilled. Apparently we were the only ones that asked her that question. She reached her sweet hands out and we prayed. The biopsy seemed to take forever to come back and by the time it did, I had been released from the hospital. I didn't think to give Katie my number or get hers, but I did plenty of praying and was very concerned.

Last week when I had to go to get my anti-body who was my nurse but Katie. Now I have never seen Katie anywhere but the 5th floor, so it was a great surprise and then she turned out to be my nurse. She told us the biopsy had turned out fine and thanked us many times for the prayer.

Today, however, for whatever reason...just a God thing, as Dr. Momin and Katie were at the nurses desk, Katie looked kind of surprised to see us there and then all of the sudden, she introduced us to her Mom. Her Mom got tears in her eyes and said thank you so much for praying for me. We believe we did impact eternity today...Dr. Momin was all smiles. He seemed happy that we had prayed and of course Katie and her Mom were ecstatic, as were we.

God always gives us opportunities to do something for Him if we will just look.

This morning I wanted blackberry pancakes and so we went to Cracker Barrel. We were sitting at our table by the window and I looked at Barry and said that little old man looks so lost. Barry said with tears running down his face, I have been praying for him. Now if you know Bear, you will know that he has such a tender heart that it is easy for him to cry..it's God coming out of him.

This morning I was putting on my make up and my phone rang. It was a friend that we haven't seen or heard from probably in at least 8 months. I answered and she asked if we would like to go to dinner. We accepted and had a wonderful time and she topped it off by giving us a loaf of Amish bread that she made this morning.

God is so good to us. I will ALWAYS be amazed at his goodness!

I Thessalonians 1:11 - 12 - Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Dinner Last Night

We were invited to dinner by our friends, Mary Ann and George last night. It was such a wonderful dinner. If you know Mary Ann, she laughs all of the time and it was great medicine for me. I came home telling Barry I need to laugh more. God is so good to me.

The food was very good but the Company was much better. I am so thankful for the variety of friends and family that care so much. It has been totally overwhelming.

Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like family.

Proverbs 18:24 (The Message Bible)

Thank you Lord for so many friends!

He's Able

I just got a phone call from one of our former inmate ladies. She's been out of prison for probably 4 years now.

She said that "Papa" had put me on her mind and she wanted to know how I was doing. I told her that they have given me a death sentence, but that Jesus is still the Healer of my body. I told her that there is no need to give her any details because that would not glorify God. She agreed with me.

Then she started singing the song that the Lord put on her heart for me.

He's able. He's able. I know my Lord is able. I know my Lord is able to carry me through.
He's able. He's able. I know my Lord is able. I know my Lord is able to carry me through.

For He has healed the brokenhearted and He set the captive free. He made the lame to walk again and He caused the blind to see.

He's able. He's able. I know my Lord is able. I know my Lord is able to carry me through.
He's able. He's able. I know my Lord is able. I know my Lord is able to carry me through.


What a wonderful surprise that God would lay me on someone's heart that I haven't heard from in probably about a year. God is so full of surprises. I am so blessed!

It's Time!

1. It's time to thank the Lord for all He has done and is doing for me.
2. It's time to thank you for praying for our family throughout this crisis time.
3. It's time for us to know that God is really doing something so very special in our lives and get excited about it.
4. It's time to connect with old friends.
5. It's time for us to go gather the Harvest of Souls that are out there waiting for us.
6. It's time for us to minister the healing of Jesus Christ to people that are suffering.

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; surely he bore our sorrows and joys and by his stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53:5 - and the words to the song.

Yesterday I had to get my blood tested and found out today that everything looked good. I went in today to get the chemo treatment and found out that I didn't have to have chemo for at least one month. Isn't that exciting? I have to have radiation until next Wednesday and believe that will be over at that time. God has been so good to me that I can hardly believe it! I am so thankful.

If you are one of the people that have brought food or had us over to your house for dinner, we thank you so much. It has been such a blessing to us. We appreciate it more than you could possibly know.

We are going to attempt to get my strength back a little now too and I am going to try to start cooking a little and working around the house. What a blessing that is. I am still not as strong as I want to be, but I will be there!

Hudsyn

Am just called and Hudsyn's cultures came back negative. Thank you Jesus and thank you all for your prayers!

Hudsyn Again

Am called last night and said that the cultures still wouldn't be back until around 6pm tonight. She threw up one more time and that kind of concerned the medical staff. Otherwise she is doing great.

We will update as soon as we know something else.

STOMP! STOMP! STOMP!

Love you all!

Hudsyn's 2nd update

Am called a little bit ago and told us that Hudsyn is now eating very good. She is taking 4 ounces every 3 hours. She is resting well. They are waiting for the cultures regarding meningitis to come back which should be about 6 pm tomorrow. Apparently they were checking for several different things.

They said it could just be a virus. We are believing for it to be nothing! God is good. STOMP! STOMP! STOMP!

Hudsyn's latest update

Chad and Am just called and they have to leave her at the hospital for 48 hours from 7:00 pm tonight. They would not even let either of them stay with her. They did a spinal tap and are rehydrating her. They did say that it could be something simple. We are standing on God's Word for complete healing for her and believe God will bring it to pass soon. Will update little blubs like this as soon as we know more.

Alao, we have another prayer request if you don't mind. One of our former church families moved to Atlanta a few months back. We got a call today that Ray had a terrible heart attack. The doctor told Marcie that he needs a miracle. He is in a coma and not responding to anyone or anything. Please ask God for that miracle for this family too. Thank you all again.

Hudsyn Again!

We need to have prayer for Hudsyn. They just called and have taken her to children's hospital downtown Detroit. They say she is dehydrated and are going to check for spinal meningitis. Please pray for her and the rest of our family. We are SO sick of all of this. BY HIS STRIPES!!!!!!!! Indeed!

This Weekend

After radiation on Friday Barry and I took off for parts unknown. We like doing that, but it has been a long time since I was able to, so it felt so good. He had four days off and it was the 1st time we could coordinate that and me not being in the hospital and feeling strong enough to go somewhere.

We were just gonna go to some Apple Orchards out toward Romeo, but when we got there, there just wasn't much there. We went to one of the parks out there and I have to say it was really hot and disappointing.

From there we decided to see how far it was to Port Huron to the Blue Water Bridge, we had never been there. It was so blue and so beautiful. If you are unfamiliar with this Bridge it separates America from Canada. We also have one in Detroit that separates the two countries.

We were getting ready to leave there when Barry's brother called and asked what we were doing. We told him and he told us to take a trip around the Thumb and since we weren't far, we did that too. Lots of lake property. Although we love looking at it, we wouldn't want to live on the water that much.

There were NO bathrooms anywhere, no little towns with Mickey D's or anything else. It was getting to be about 6:30 and we were getting hungry and tired.

We finally come to this town called Port Austin and our friend, Roberta, calls and knew just where we were. She told us about this little place to eat called "The Bank". Apparently it had been a bank at one time and they turned it into a restaurant. Just one of those little bonuses God gives us along the way. It was so quaint and it had excellent food.

At that point, I was hoping we could find a hotel, even though it wasn't in our plans to stay. We wound up having to buy stuff for the evening and next day. We stayed in Bad Axe. It was just a Holiday Inn Express, but oh, so comfortable. It was about 17 miles from the restaurant. Didn't take too long, just unfamiliar territory, but that was ok.

Saturday we decided that we weren't that far from Frankenmuth and went over there. We didn't do much shopping but I felt like going to a Yankee Candle shop and they had a lot of buy 1 get 1 free stuff, so Barry bought me an Am a little fall scene that holds candles and of course makes your house smell so good. Am and I both love fall things. He then proceeded to buy her a Harvest Candle. Nothing like it in the fall with the weather being 90 degrees...oh my!

Then we went down to buy Hudsyn her Christmas stocking at Bronner's. It is SO cute. She's so tiny!

Ok, Something's Been Bugging Me!

Tell me if I am out of line or acting ridiculous or what....

Last week we got a phone call from a friend that said her aunt died. She had brain cancer. According to her, this aunt and I were doing pretty much the same things with chemo and so on.

When I called her to give my sympathies, I asked what happened, maybe my ignorance, but she proceeded to tell me every little detail up to how she turned dark before dying. Hospice said...........and it was....not the Word says.

I have already talked to one of you about this and you said that I must not be with her. I can't afford for my spirit to get upset over this, but now it seems to keep happening. Should I have Barry talk to her???

Am I missing something here or would you expect these things to "weigh" on me.

Yesterday morning she called to tell Barry that another lady had passed from cancer that we knew pretty well.

Don't get me wrong, I feel really bad that these ladies passed. I would so much rather they were healed and I believed for healing for them.

I guess that I am just asking for some sensitivity to this whole mess here. I am standing strong, but I am still human.

Can anyone weigh in here on what you think.

Still make sure that you read my next post. God is doing some awesome things in MY life! Praise His Holy Name!

Radiation and some GOOD News!

I feel like Spider Man in that mask....only for a few minutes though.

I have now had 5 radiation treaments and so far, bless the Lord, I am doing fine. Today the Radiologist met with Bear and me and asked me a few questions, like how are you feeling, any side effects, etc. No pain.

He said to us that there are 3 tumors on my brain and he expects the smallest one to completely shrink. He only knows what he can know. I believe they will all be gone.

Friday night the Oncologist met with us (I just got out of the hospital yesterday after 2 weeks) and he told us when he sent me for the ultrasound of the tumors in my belly that the Euro-gynecologist actually had a panic attack when he saw the size of the tumors. I asked Bear did he think he was kidding when he said that. Bear didn't think he was kidding either. The Euro-G said that I needed to call another doctor in immediately to have surgery. My doctor said no surgery.

That is why he put me right in the hospital 2 1/2 weeks ago and gave me a constant infusion of chemo for 46 hours. That was tough. I was sick but the tumors did shrink and I am not in any pain.

Tomorrow after radiation at 10:15 I have to have another round of anti-body. I believe I will be home somewhere around 2:00 PM...HOPEFULLY! A lot of times it's the waiting game and it gets frustrating.

Anyway my understanding of all of this is that I have way outlived what they expected.

Whether or not you like him, I have been listening to some healing tapes during the night from Pastor Rod Parsley. They are called At The Cross. He takes me back go the Garden of Eden and how there was never supposed to be sickness in this world. It was a perfect world when God created it and then of course...Adam and Eve or it could have been Bear & Arlene...that would be a tough one to have hanging over you for eternity.

Anyway, these messages have been so simple, just the plain gospel. They have ministered over and over to me. I told Bear I will never be the same.

Pastor Parsley said why do you want to wait until you go to Heaven to be healed...there's no sickness there anyway? Makes sense to me. He also said don't get in the middle of this fight and give up...I'm on the brink of a miracle! I can't give up now! God is so good to me.

Bear and I were sitting at dinner tonight and my phone rang. It was an unfamiliar number and sometimes I don't answer those until I get a message. I just picked it up and could not believe who was on the other end of the phone. It was a Bible College Student from Pastor Parsley's. He said he was just calling to thank us for the support and asked if I had any prayer requests.

I told him that I had been diagnosed with cancer (I never say I have cancer, it doesn't own me). I told him how I had been listening and so very blessed by what Pastor Parsley had to say...just the simple Gospel and how much it means to me. He prayed for me...I gave him a few good tidbits from the doctor and he said he was writing them down as we spoke. When he was finished he didn't ask for a donation or anything just prayed, wrote and hung up.

I have to say we have supported Pastor Parsley for a good while now and NEVER have I had them call me just to pray. This was the perfect day.

I wanted to update and am finally able to work my fingers again pretty good.

The physical therapist was so pleased with how I was walking up and down the stairs that she said she doesn't need to see me anymore.

I am looking for all of the good news that can possibly come out of this thing yet. I know that God has a work for us to do together and I'm not about to give up or in to the devil.

I told the College Student that I am beginning to put the testimony together of everything God is and has done and I would email it to them as the progression keeps getting better. He said please do.

We feel that this is something people need to hear...it's not just something we need to or can keep to ourselves. I do believe if I kept this to myself, God would not be happy with me. He's done so much for me, how could or why would I want to keep it? People need to know that God is MY healer!

I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your prayers. I am very strong MOST of the time, but there are times, I just need to know someone is praying. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you for all of the cards, flowers, dinners, gifts and emails. You could never, ever know how much they mean to me.

I have begun to make a list of everyone that I know is praying for me and pray for you too. I am sure I am so consumed with what is going on here that sometimes I don't pray for you like I should.

We have some friends at "The River" in North Carolina and we were listening to their streaming faith video and they ministered tremendously to us also. We are so blessed to be living in this day and age.

Looking forward to blogging with you for many, many years to come, Healed, Whole and Proclaiming Jesus to the World!

New Baby

Gramps (Bear) & Hudsyn
L to R - Tristin, Dad, Bella, Kaitlynne, Hudsyn & Amber
Hudsyn & Granny (Me)

I had asked Pat to kind of update you guys on what is going on with us. Life has changed and our family has enlarged. I am so blessed to be able to be here for this very important milestone. Hudsyn LaRen Fultz arrived here on Friday evening @ 10:14 pm. She weighed 6 lbs. 11 oz. She is precious, of course.

Since I was already in the hospital, I asked the doctor to write out orders that I could be at the delivery..he did. It was only 5 hours from beginning to end.

The previous Monday I got out of the hospital and I began experiencing weakness in my left leg, so that I would have to pick it up to go down my steps. Barry called the doctor and sent me in through ER. They discovered brain tumors...not exactly what you want to hear. They said multiple. Perhaps I am the eternal optimist but when I hear multiple, I was thinking lots and lots. Of course, one is too many! There were only 3. I was put right back in the hospital and radiation began on Thursday. The tumors have already begun to shrink in the brain. I will have another 11 radiation treatments to the brain but he expects them to shrink especially with the other medicine that he is giving me. I, on the other hand, expect them to shrink and be completely gone. He can only know what he knows. He sees from the medical perspective, where I am looking through God's perspective.

There is much more to say, but it takes me a long time to type right now. I have to get the dexterity back in my hand. The Physical Therapist met with me today and said that my foot is doing so well that she won't need to meet with me anymore. Thank the Lord!

Remember: BY HIS STRIPES!!!!

Thank you all for your prayers. We surely can't pay for them and only Eternity will tell the tale. God bless. Love you all!

Peace

Philippians4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding,

shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

This is a picture that I took in Pigeon Forge this past Spring. To me, it speaks so much peace.

I know in the midst of this mess we are going through that it doesn't make sense but I have so much peace. I am so thankful for that peace too. Don't get me wrong...there are times, however, for the most part I am just so positive that God is healing me and taking so much care of me that it is incredible.

I have to say that during the times of the chemo...not so much. It is so hard, but once it is over, I am able to live in that peace.

I still have to go back to some of the old songs that talk about peace.

Peace, peace, wonderful peace, coming down from the Father above. Sweep over my Spirit forever I pray in fathomless billows of love.

He is our Peace, that has broken down every wall. He is our Peace. He is our Peace.

He is our Peace, that has broken down every wall. He is our Peace. He is our Peace.

Cast all your cares on Him, for He careth for you. He is our Peace. He is our Peace.

Then there is the really old song that says that there will be Peace in the Valley...this is without a doubt the Valley....then comes the Peace.

I am sure that there are some of the newer songs that speak of Peace also, but I can't think of them right now.

Thank you Jesus for your Peace in my life.

If you happen to wonder what you can specifically pray for right now for me, I am having quite a bit of pain in my right side. I mentioned it to the doctor and he said it is because the tumors on the lungs have grown. Please pray with us that they will shrink again.

Actually a friend came in to my hospital room last week and was praying and she said that the Lord showed her the tumors everywhere become clear. Just clear. They were gone.

Update Again!

I went in the hospital from the day after Labor Day until the following Sunday. The Oncologist decided once again to do chemo but knows that I have to go into the hospital because the dosage is more than many can take. He told us that one time he ordered chemo for me the Pharmacist called 3 times to verify the amount because it was so large.

Anyway we were at the Cancer Center today and the doctor asked me how I felt, I told him that I felt pretty good. He asked me if I was having different kind of pain for this or that and I told him no. He then asked me if I had back pain and I said yes. He said that is from the Nupregen (sp). shots that they have been giving me. Those shots are for building my blood levels. Well, as you can imagine that made me feel better.

Since he gave me the chemo at the hospital the pain almost completely stopped in the abdomen. It was so bad before the chemo that if we went over a bump in the road, I would have to hold my stomach because of it.

He told me today that I will be hospitalized again next Thursday and will begin chemo again. When we asked him how long I will be in the hospital he said don't even ask....and smiled. He told us to go do anything we wanted for the next week and live life to its fullest. I have to tell you I felt like a "bird let out of a cage".

I am striving to learn to remember that I am to listen to what God says and not man. The doctor without a doubt, is an awesome man and says that he can't understand why people don't recognize that God has given him the ability to help heal people. He recognizes that it is not him, but it is God. That is awesome!

Again, I apologize for not updating you guys sooner but I really haven't felt like it. I have hardly checked my emails or anything. I just haven't been up to it.

We both SO appreciate your prayers, concern and love.

Please remember us in prayer next Thursday again as I enter this very hard zone...not what I want to do but I do want to live and declare the works of the Lord.

Thank you all that have visited me at the hospital, the cards, the phone calls, the flowers, oh my goodness. Barry and I were talking today about the incredible feeling of being overwhelmed from so many people being so kind.

By the way, if you come to the hospital to see me my name is listed as Nora Wilburn at Oakwood in Dearborn.

If people with cancer have blood levels that are below a certain level, they are not allowed to have flowers, fresh fruit, fresh vegetables. The reason for that is the pesticide levels that may have been sprayed on them could cause you to get very sick. I would assume most of you don't know that because I surely didn't!

STOMP! STOMP! STOMP!

More News!

First of all, let me apologize for not blogging sooner. I absolutely have not been up to it. Since Tuesday night I have been in bed non-stop in quite a bit of pain.

We went to the new doctor on Tuesday afternoon and we really liked him. We were both nervous because 2 doctors and several nurses said that he's very difficult to get along with. It surely didn't seem to be that way to us. We were thankful.

What he said was that there are multiple masses in my abdomen and pelvis. I thought (hoped) that they were cysts, however, he said that I am too old to have cysts.

He was going to take all of my tests downtown to Karmanos. He has a particular radiologist that he is confident of reading them.

He says we have two options: 1: surgery - or leave them. He prefers not to have to do surgery, but in my opinion, I don't believe these things can stay here. Lots of pain in my abdomen.

We asked him if I have surgery doesn't that mean that as soon as you would open me up wouldn't that mean it spreads when the air touches it. That is a myth he said. What really happens is that once you cut on someone it opens up entire new blood supplies to the cancer. So myth or not, it doesn't sound good at all.

I have to meet again with the Oncologist on Thursday. Barry & I aren't sure I will make it that long until I would have to have something done.

If you were one of the 29 people that came to our house on Monday to pray, thank you. If you prayed where you were. Thank you. It was an awesome move of God.

My appetite is not anything like it used to be but I am sure that the doctor will put me on that stuff again.

Now even though they are giving me doom and gloom, I am still expecting healing! Remember BY HIS STRIPES. STOMP!!!!! STOMP!!!!! STOMP!!!!!

Love you all! Will write again when I am up to it.

Something New!

Something new has come up. I posted that I haven't been feeling very well and now we know why. My stomach has been hurting for a little while, but because it has masked itself as a UTI we couldn't possibly have been ready for what it really was. I began bleeding along with this UTI and it really wasn't bad at all, I just figured it was part of the UTI, it was not red blood, kind of brown. Not so!

The Uro-gynecologist called me late on Wednesday and said that they could get me in on Thursday at 11 am. Ok, we couldn't seem to get a referral because my primary care doctor didn't know the reason Dr. Momin wanted to send me there. Finally at 10:40 yesterday morning I found out that the referral was ok'd.

I got into this doctor and he was so nice. What was better for me is that my sister's daughter-in-law's sister works there. That made me comfortable, well at least as comfortable as I could be.

We weren't there long and the doctor came in. He told me he was gonna put this probe in me and see what was going on. I wanted to tell him that I didn't need him to check my tonsils. I mean that thing seemed so long. As he was probing I was yelling. He pulled out the probe (finally) and said that there was too much blood and fluid. The blood was red. Not good. He sent me downstairs immediately to have an gyn-ultrasound. ANOTHER probe. That was didn't hurt. The lady was very gentle. They sent us right back upstairs to the doctor. We were there only about 15 minutes and the doctor called us back in. He had already called my Oncologist and informed him what he found.

They found multiple tumors with the largest one being 13.9cm. Barry asked him how big that is and he said for two of his fingers it is 3cm. He said it is the size of a cantaloupe. He also said that it HAS to come out immediately. He also said the lining of my uterus is quite thickened. Not a good thing either. He said my Oncologist was waiting for me across the street...off we went. Oh yeah, one of the first things he did say is that it is not definitely cancer, although suspicious. He must have told us that at least 3 times...how encouraging!

The Oncologist said first of all, this is not definitely cancer...he told us that a few times also. He said that it could be cysts. I have to have a CAT scan on Tuesday morning at 7:00 am. Then I will possibly see the surgeon on Thursday. They are going to call me with that. I will probably have surgery the next week, if not next week.

I just got off the phone with the Cancer Center to see if I had to go get blood and no, I don't. My platelet counts were good. The doctor was concerned that I may have lost so much blood that I would need a couple of units of blood today but thank the Lord, I don't! That would have taken at least 6 hours. I didn't think I lost that much blood but what seems like a little to me may have been a lot!

Although it doesn't sound good, that is when God can and does work in these situations.

Do we understand this...absolutely not. Are we still gonna stand strong...absolutely!

What we are asking is for everyone to join us in prayer. If you can join us on Monday night before I have to have the CAT Scan on Tuesday morning, that would be wonderful.

Another thing is that I have gotten several PET Scans and Barry asked the Oncologist if this showed up in the last PET Scan which was July 3rd. Nothing was there at that time. I can't believe I could grow a cantaloupe that quickly!!!

Love and appreciate you all and all of your prayers!

By His Stripes....Indeed!

The Joy of the Lord!

Tristin (T)


Kaitlynne (K)


Bella


Gracie

1. Knowing that I belong to the Lord Jesus Christ and that his angels surround me. What a wonderful Savior!

2. Having the best husband possible for me. Now don't get me wrong, he's not perfect for someone else, just me!

3. Bear being blessed with a wonderful job that pays well and has wonderful benefits. You just can't outgive God.

4. Having a family that loves me. Am and Chad. Thank God. Many families have no relationship at all.

5. Now comes the best...the grandkids. Kaitlynne (K) has always been special to me. She's our 1st and so that makes her special. She loves reading. She's pretty calm most of the time.

6. Then comes Tristin (T) what an absolute joy! He's a handful but a wonderful handful. I wouldn't change anything about him.

7. Bella - her smiles absolutely lite up my life. How could you not just love her. I love when she talks her gibberish to you. She will look you straight in the eyes and tell you something VERY important I am sure.

8. Then comes Hudsyn...hurry, hurry, hurry. Not really, but we can't wait. She's gonna be loved more than she can even imagine...if you imagine stuff like that in the womb.

9. Gracie - she is so pretty and such a little tomboy/princess. I don't see her near as often as I do the others but she is precious to me.

It's been a rough week or two for me and I was telling Bear the other day that everything that we get to do is like a milestone to me.

We got a new car this week...that was an important milestone.

The kids came over last night..that felt great, except that I didn't feel so good.

We are planning to get away for a couple of days and that too is a milestone.

The baby will be born in early October (8) and then Dani's birthday is the 10th, K's is the 11th she will be 8.

At the end of October we are going to Gatlinburg for the kids to enjoy Halloween down there. They decorate so beautifully. We are all excited about it too.

November is T's birthday. He will be 4. December will be Gracie's birthday, she will be 4 also.

Then comes Christmas...what an exciting time. Christmas is SO fun with little ones. It's fun explaining Christ's birth to them also because they are like little sponges. They soak up EVERYTHING you tell them!

Thank you Lord for your Joy!

The Joy of the Lord is my Strength!!! Nehemiah 8:10

Just In Case Your Were Wondering

I apologize for not blogging sooner, but I just haven't had the energy and didn't think I had anything interesting to say, so, here goes...

I went in Wednesday to get my blood tested for the treatment on Thursday. When I got there yesterday I told the ladies that I thought I had another Urinary Tract Infection. They looked at the numbers on my blood test and agreed. My appointment was 9 am, so we were sure we would be out of there by 11:30---wrong!

This time when they paged the doctor he called right back and said to give me another hour's worth of anti-biotic. They did. I was finished at 11:20. Hurray! When he called into the cancer center to see what they wanted, he told them to tell me to wait right there that he would be in to see me.

Well, he didn't get in there until nearly 4 pm. You talk about tiring! The good thing is that there were two families that I have grown up with at church. We have all been married 29 years, our mom's all died 20 years ago...lots in common. While that certainly isn't an ideal situation, because that means everyone has something seriously wrong with them, it was great to spend time with them...ok, not that much time. Even that long got really boring! Actually, one of my friends was getting her blood tested because her blood is so low...I haven't been able to get in touch with her since we left, so I don't know what her results were.

I guess I don't understand all of the time we had to spend there. Usually people in the Cancer Center are sick and surely don't feel like waiting that long. Thank God he is a good doctor!

Anyway, we he FINALLY got there, he read the blood test reports and didn't seem to think that the blood levels were high enough for this to be an infection. He wanted me to go see a
Uro-gynecologist. I called that doctor and can't get in until September 4th. What a long time to keep hurting. I am going to see if Am's doctors have one of those Specialist in their office. Well, Am checked with her doctor and they recommended the same doctor that my doctor did. She said they told her he is phenomenol.

The doctor also took me off of all medications until we can find out what is going on. No more Erbitux either.

Thank you all for your continued prayers. BY HIS STRIPES!!!!

Food

Ok, we are sitting here at the Cancer Center waiting to get this infusion of Erbitux. Apparently Dr. Momin forgot to write the complete order for the drug, so we wait. There is a call into him currently. I don't know if he forgot or if he didn't write it until he found out about the blood tests.


As I was writing this the nurse just walked in and said she still hasn't heard from the doctor but that my CBC came back and it was good. She said as a matter of fact, it is good enough to frame...thank the Lord. That means the infection is gone. Now we just wait. It is 2:10 and we were supposed to be done by noon, but now we are still 2 hours away...it gets pretty frustrating! Apparently the pharmacy hasn't sent the anti-body yet.


Anyway, while we were sitting here, Barry was looking on the Internet on his computer and he said hum...I said what and he said I was looking at some chicken to smoke. I started laughing at him. I told him that all he thinks about lately is food. You see, he bought himself a smoker back a couple of months ago and he uses it alot! I mean a whole lot! The food tastes so good! He loves it. He loves to barbecue and he loves to cook and NOW he loves to smoke...food.


So far he has smoked a turkey; smoked ribs (several times), a brisket, a pork butt and hamburgers. Being that I don't particularly care for meat, it's not a big deal to me. He is getting ready to try some chicken; pork chops, some steaks and jerky. He's so brave. So far the only thing he didn't care for and took an enormous amount of time, was the pork butt. He made pulled pork out of it.


If you have smoked anything lately (besides your smoker, Duane, let us know and maybe Barry will try it!


Hungry yet?

He Knew Me, Yet He Loved Me!

Sometimes I can feel so selfish if things aren't going my way and certainly for the last while now, they haven't been. I was saying last night at Life Group that I have always been able to have anything I wanted pretty much. God has been better to me than I have been to myself.

I have a wonderful husband, daughter and son-in-law and grandkids (even if Tristin did take my wig off today and laughed). He's so funny!

I have felt as if most days lately that I haven't been very good to God. I realized that as I was praying, I wasn't praying sometimes, I was ordering Him what to do. The audacity of me! I didn't mean to, but when I stop and think about it that is how I feel. I have apologized to God for that and I am moving on. I could feel condemned over it for a long time, but that wouldn't get me anywhere. Instead of asking Him to heal a certain area I would say I need this healed.

I want to make sure that even though I am going t-h-r-o-u-g-h this time in the valley that I will still walk up that mountain and be who God wants me to be.

There's another old song that Ronnie Hinson wrote that always touches my heart and it says:

I’m not on an ego trip,

I’m nothing on my own

I make mistakes I often slip,

just common flesh and bones

But I'll prove someday, just why I say, I’m of a special kind

For when He was on the cross, I was on His mind.

FOR HE KNEW ME, YET HE LOVED ME (That's so amazing in itself)

He whose glory makes the heavens shine.

So unworthy of such mercy.

Yet when He was on the cross, I was on His mind.

Health Update!

I haven't felt very good maybe the last three or four days and just couldn't figure out what it was. I am trying to learn to take cues from my body. I haven't had a fever and have kept going but just felt kind of yucky.

Today I went to begin the new routine of Erbitux. It is something that I don't want to do, but am sure it is needed. I weighed myself at the Cancer Center and found I lost another pound since last Thursday. I haven't had much of an appetite this week. Then I discovered why.

I believe that I have another Urinary Tract Infection. They checked for that and didn't have the results when I left. My White Blood Count was 15.4, which indicate infection. I also have been coughing some and ask the doctor about that. He sent me for a chest x-ray and I don't have the results of that yet either.

He could not give me the Erbitux today because of the infection. He did however, give me an hour worth of antibiotic. He also gave me a prescription for the next 10 days for the infection.

He does want me to come back next Thursday to begin the Erbitux.

I may get a call tomorrow from the doctor's office and maybe not, just depending on what the x-rays show and what the urine test shows. I don't think they will call if he has given me the right antibiotic. So many now are specific to what is wrong with you.

You know, I am so excited to hear Cancer Free!!! I am so ready too.

Love you all!

BY HIS STRIPES!!!

His Eye Is On The Sparrow - Lyrics and History

Before I start this post...I want to say, Happy Birthday, Aid!! Love you!

This song truly says it all, for any possible thing that we could be going through. If that little bitty sparrow is so important to Him, how much more are we--He shed His precious blood and took all of those stripes on his body just for us.


Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heaven and home,When Jesus is my portion? My constant friend is He:His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

I sing because I'm happy,I sing because I'm free,For His eye is on the sparrow,And I know He watches me.

"Let not your heart be troubled," His tender word I hear,And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see;His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

I sing because I'm happy,I sing because I'm free,For His eye is on the sparrow,And I know He watches me.

Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise,When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies,I draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free;His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

I sing because I'm happy,I sing because I'm free,For His eye is on the sparrow,And I know He watches me.
_________________________________________________________

Words by Civilla D. Martin, 1905- Music Charles H. Gabriel, 1905
Civilla Martin wrote:"Early in the spring of 1905, my husband and I were sojourning in Elmira, New York. We contracted a deep friendship for a couple by the name of Mr. and Mrs. Doolittle, true saints of God. Mrs. Doolittle had been bedridden for nigh twenty years. Her husband was an incurable cripple who had to propel himself to and from his business in a wheel chair. Despite their afflictions, they lived happy Christian lives, bringing inspiration and comfort to all who knew them. One day while we were visiting with the Doolittles, my husband commented on their bright hopefulness and asked them for the secret of it. Mrs. Doolittle's reply was simple: "His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me." The beauty of this simple expression of boundless faith gripped the hearts and fired the imagination of Dr. Martin and me. The hymn "His Eye Is on the Sparrow" was the outcome of that experience."The next day she mailed the poem to Charles Gabriel, who supplied the music. Singer Ethel Waters so loved this song that she used its name as the title for her autobiography.

Matthew 6:26 says: Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?