Wednesday, April 14, 2021

Cancer Guest Blog from My Wife

Sorry this is a little long. Several people have asked how I’m doing and where I am at in treatments lately, so I thought I would share a little of where we are at. I haven’t posted an update in awhile because we’ve pretty much just been in between treatments the last 7 weeks and waiting in limbo for what’s next, but now we finally have some direction and a plan. So here’s an update:
🤪🤣🙌🏻
That was the most wonderful news to hear and an answer to prayer, but the scan did reveal two new spots that were considered *slightly* suspicious. I won’t know what they were until after surgery or if it’s gone completely from my lymph node, but I’m trusting and believing in total confidence that they will turn out to be nothing!!
I’m definitely feeling better now and more like myself than when I was on chemo. There’s still the fatigue, cloudy memory at times and normal aches and pains that will take some time to go away. I was describing my current symptoms to one of my nurses the other day and she jokingly said, “Welcome to your 60s!”
My kids think it’s hilarious to feel my “fuzz” that’s starting to grow pretty quickly on my head now, even if I do look like a newborn baby chick. It’s fun, however, to put a wig on once in awhile and watch my three year old’s eyes get big with excitement: “Mommy, your hair grew back!!” That never gets old lol!!
There’s so much more that goes into treating breast cancer than I ever could’ve imagined. I was completely clueless as to how many different kinds and treatment plans there were. The amount of information is quite overwhelming at times. Mine was thankfully caught fairly early but was still considered complex and was very fast growing in the beginning, so I’ve had a pretty aggressive treatment plan. That’s ok because cancer knows it’s not allowed to return!
I had an MRI a couple of weeks ago that showed the cancer we were treating appeared to have a complete pathological response and could not be seen on any image, Praise the Lord!!!!
I’m scheduled for surgery this Friday that I was told would likely take at least 5 hours, and I will be having multiple things done all at once. To say I’m a little nervous is an understatement since this is the part I’ve dreaded the most, but I know God has brought us this far and will continue to see us through it!! I can say without a doubt that He has been with us every step of the way and has shown us His goodness over and over. I would appreciate your prayers that there would be no complications with surgery or the long recovery, for a good pathology report to follow, and especially for my husband and family who will have the hardest job of all as caretakers.
Thank you so much for all of your prayers and encouragement the last few months. They always seem to come at exactly the right times! We are truly blessed with the best friends and family!!
“You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭30:11-12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Sunday, March 21, 2021

Glory!

 

The DEVIL is not in the details.

The GLORY OF GOD is in the details!

"The Lord directs the steps of the godly.
He delights in every detail of their lives."
-Psalm 37:23

Thursday, February 25, 2021

Cancer - Combo blog from Tiffany & Ryan

(Tiffany's Voice) So many emotions today as I got to officially close the chapter on chemo! There were times when it honestly felt like this day would never ever come since the last 4 months have dragged on and on at times, BUT IT DID! It’s over!!!

God is GOOD! While there’s still other treatments that have to happen that I’m not exactly looking forward to (surgery, radiation, etc.), it feels like a big accomplishment to be done with this and one step closer to being completely done with cancer! I’ve been told that I’m strong and brave, and while I try to be those things with all my might, truth be told, I could not have done it on my own. Jesus, who bore the stripes for my healing, and the prayers and support of the many wonderful people in my life have carried me to this point. Thank you to everyone for the prayers, the phone calls, the text messages, the meals, the flowers, the financial support, and for simply being there. WE did it!
🙌🏻
“I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭121:1-2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

(Ryan's Voice) Tears in my eyes as I post this video of such an incredible accomplishment by my amazing wife Tiffany Rose!
Chemotherapy ✅
She kicked its rear!
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. - Romans 15:13


Tuesday, January 5, 2021

Will your boat be empty?

If you are focusing and talking more about Joe Biden and Donald Trump, or Republicans and Democrats, or Georgia and recounts or “religion” and “politics” more than you are focusing and talking about Jesus Christ, His Grace, Sacrifice and Love, I’m afraid that in the midst of your storms, your boat is going to be empty and the words, “Peace, be still!” will be absent.

Monday, December 21, 2020

The Great Conjunction

I’ve seen the debates about what is or isn’t the “real” Christmas star etc, honestly, I simply marvel at God’s creation. I love the cosmos, just mind blowing, one photo below paints the #GreatConjunction as the background of a volcano emitting lava. This caused me to think about seeing beauty and God’s craftsmanship in the middle of disasters and storms. This is something

Tiffany 
and I have been forced to do as she battles cancer, finding beauty, joy and peace in the middle of the storm. So, I guess it boils down to what you see, today, I’m choosing to see God’s beauty in creation, amongst all that is going on in our lives and in the world. Perhaps this verse says it best, “to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.” - Isaiah‬ ‭61:3‬ ‭ESV‬‬

In the ESV, the subheading for these verses is, “The Year of the Lord’s Favor” ...I’ll take it!
* I snagged these photos from the National Weather Service and photographer F. Delargy that really put Saturn and Jupiter on display!

Friday, December 11, 2020

How to handle the wind?

The pessimist complains about the wind.

The optimist expects it to change.

The leader adjusts the sails.

...what are you doing with the wind in your life right now... 

"And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting." - Acts 2:2 ESV