Meet My Sister

Just wanted you all to meet the person you are praying for...

the person I am proud to call my Sister~

This is Missy with her husband Doug,

daughter Lauren,

and son Caleb.

It was taken at Lauren's first birthday party in 2006.

Mom and Missy

Mom's birthday, July '06

Never Underestimate My Jesus

I really enjoyed a phone conversation I had with my sister tonight--she never ceases to amaze me! She was telling me all about her PET scan experience, including the injecting of the slightly scarey, radioactive element before the scan. The nurse asked her if she could set a radio to a station she would enjoy. Missy asked for a Christian music station that she really enjoys, but to no avail, as there was too much static. The nurse then told her she would probably like a CD that they had available there of a mix of Christian contemporary songs. The nurse set up the CD, helped get Miss comfortable, then left.

Then Missy told me how silly she must have looked from that point on. She said that many songs were so encouraging to her, that she was lying there with a smile on her face for much of the time. She said her favorite was a song she hadn't heard before called "Never Underestimate My Jesus."

Well, Sis, I found it for ya...I hope this is the one. Turn up your speaker because it's playing right now too! Enjoy... love you!

Never Underestimate My Jesus

by Reliant K

Am I at the point of no improvement?

What of the death I still dwell in?

I try to excel, but I feel no movement.

Can I be free of this unreleasable sin?

Never underestimate my Jesus.

You're telling me that there's no hope.

I'm telling you, you're wrong.

Never underestimate my Jesus.

When the world around you crumbles,

he will be strong.He will be strong.

I throw up my hands."Oh, the impossibilities."

Frustrated and tired,where do I go from here?

Now I'm searching for the confidence I've lost so willingly.

Overcoming these obstacles is overcoming my fears.

I think I can't, I think I can't.

But, I think you can, I think you can.

I think I can't, I think I can't.

But, I think you can, I think you can.

Gather my insufficiencies and place them in your hands.

Place them in your hands.

Place them in your hands

Melissa, My Sister

This post is shared with you with a prayerful heart, with an expectant heart...knowing that our God heals. We found out April 14th that my sister does in fact have lymphoma. She has non-hodgkin's lymphoma, specifically the large b cell type. The grade is intermediate, meaning between low and aggressive. We won't know the stage until she has her PET scan soon. We are hoping that it will be localized in just one area, making it easier to treat. Her chemo treatments are already scheduled for May 6th. I'm planning to take a week from school on May 16 to see her, and I can't wait! Talking on the phone just doesn't cut it right now.

Have I already mentioned how awesome she is?? I know I have...tons of times. She is the strongest one right now out of all of us. In fact, she was concerned about me in how I was doing...knowing how far I am from everything. Can you believe that?? For those of you who know her, I'm sure you can. She's at such peace right now...she describes it as feeling that God is holding her high above the waves below, and she's not lettin' go.

Please...I'm asking all of you right now... pray with me. It doesn't matter if you are a stranger or close friend. Please just pray that the chemo treatments will be completely effective. Please pray that the lymphoma will be in an early stage. Please pray that Missy and Doug will continue to feel themselves tight in His grasp right now. Thanks to any and all of you who are willing to do this!!!

"Hear my cry, Oh God; listen to my prayer.

From the ends of the earth I call to you,

when my heart is overwhelmed...

Lead me to the rock that is higher than I."

Little Sis, God will keep you high on the rock. Sometimes we still feel a splash from a wave, or even one that knocks us down....but our Heavenly Father will pick us back up and keep our feet planted there. And if we look out in the distance past the storm, we can see the sun waiting for us beyond the clouds. I love you!

Hope On...

"For we were saved in this hope.

But hope that is seen is not hope.

For why does one still hope for what he sees?

But if we hope for what we do not see,

we eagerly wait for it with perseverance."

~Romans 8:24-25

Sisters

My two best friends in the world are my sisters. In my mind and heart, we three have always been, and we three will always be. Michelle and I are 6 years apart, and Missy and I are almost 2 years apart. There is a special bond that is very unique to sisters. We still tell secrets, and I can trust them with things that I would tell no one else. They have both laughed endlessly with me, cried with me, prayed with me; and while we are blessed with many priceless friendships--it just doesn't compare.

When we were little and were caught bickering or fighting, Dad would make us hug each other. Yep, that's right...we were forced to hug. Little did Dad know that I was pinching Missy's arm really hard where he couldn't see. He would always tell us how one day we could be living far apart from each other, like his own siblings...and that we needed to love each other and our times together. Of course, I wanted to roll my eyes at that. Now, as I'm 8 hours away from Missy and 10 hours away from Michelle, I realize even more what a treasure they both are. Our times together now are that much more awesome, and we don't take those get-togethers for granted. Yes, we've had our moments as all sisters do, but we will always be just that...

Sisters.

Surgery Update

My sister Melissa came through the surgery really well yesterday. She is a very strong person with an even incredibly stronger faith in God. They did get most of the tumor and sent it to Mayo Clinic for more testing. Please pray that all news will be good. I would sooo appreciate that, and I know she would too. They will find out within 3-7 days... so that would be Friday, at the earliest, or sometime next week. Thank you for your prayers!!

Words of Encouragement

I heard these verses and this quote this weekend, specifically the night of our due date, and wanted to share them with all of you too. I hope it can bring some comfort and encouragement to anyone out there who may be needing it. It was such great timing for me... they could not have been more perfect for what I needed to hear. May you be blessed by them too.

"We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves, but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us. On Him we have set our hope that He will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many."
~2 Corinthians 1:8-11

"God does not leave us comfortless, but we have to be in dire need of comfort to know the truth of His promise. It is in time of calamity... in days and nights of sorrow and trouble that the presence, the sufficiency, and the sympathy of God grow very sure and very wonderful. Then we find out that the grace of God is sufficient for all our needs, for every problem and for every difficulty, for every broken heart, and for every human sorrow."
~Peter Marshall (1902-1949)

My Sister's Surgery

My sister Melissa will be having surgery this Tuesday morning to remove the tumor they found. So far the news has been that it's benign, but Mayo wanted more tissue to do more testing. The drs decided that surgery is the best way to go right now. Because the tumor is located between her lung and heart, they will be going in through the sternum... just as they would for open-heart surgery. For those who want to, please pray that it goes well, and that the news continues to be good. Thank you!

*Her surgery is scheduled for 7:30 am tomorrow. I wish so badly I could be there with her, but
she is 8 hours away from me. I love you, Little Miss, and will be praying for you all day!!!