the overflow and a brief update…

Its the day after a trip to Vanderbilt.  It has been a week packed with activity, so I’m happy to sit down and prop my feet up with a cup of tea while I write for a few moments.

Its New Country Roses, the china pattern, that is, my new cup I’m sipping from.  and it is pink.  with lovely roses and gold gilds the edges of the cup and saucer.  It is a new gift from my husband, with a promise attached.

Eleven months ago we began a pretty daunting journey.  And I’ll tell you the truth here:  I wasn’t sure I could make it.  I didn’t know God’s plan.  There are days now when I’m sure I do, and days when I’m convinced I don’t.  One thing I do know?  This journey has kept me humbly relying on the Lord.

Yesterday we stopped at the mall to stretch our legs before we headed home.  And I kept saying to Michael, “I need a marker for today.- something that says we made it!  The first leg of the journey is done!”  That’s not to say we don’t have a hundred more roads to go, it just means we’ve made it this far.  And I need to take notice, for the days when I forget how far we’ve come.

So, while I was staring at the sale rack of Tommy Hilfiger shirts from last season, Michael texted me to come to the home department.  He said he had selected a marker for me. Of course, I didn’t know if he was joking or not, because that’s just how Michael is.  I had no idea what to expect.

You know this about me, maybe:  I collect tea cups with their saucers from family and friends.  Kind of like a hall of fame in my kitchen.  Women who have gone on before me – who have done amazing things, mostly unnoticed, serving their families, their churches, their communities and best of all, Jesus.  One special set is my own Grandma Brubacher’s – the pattern, Old Country Roses.

Anyway, there he stood by the display – Old Country roses, scattered around with the New Country Roses in between.  I swallowed back my tears, because of course I understood right away.    He had chosen a marker.  The perfect reminder:  Not only have we made it, there is much more grace for the coming journey, for every need.  It is the perfect cup to add to my collection.

I’m grateful to the point of bursting for all that the Heavenly Father continues to do in my heart.  May His love and mercy overflow to every part of my life – and maybe even splash onto yours!  That is my prayer for this coming year!

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Okay, friends!  Here is the update for you on the situation as I know it:

Yesterday we saw my doctor at Vanderbilt.  He was very positive about the general prospect of how well my lesions are healing and about my prognosis.  I was bummed to find out I need to complete another round of steroid treatments for eight weeks.  They generally just leave me in a bit of a fog.   But, after that, if everything looks fairly good, I don’t need to back to see him for another year.

My next appointment is next January.

Of course, there is always this problem that I can get more spots at any time, and there’s no secure preventative treatment at this point.  But, for now, all is well and there do not appear to be any more spots brewing.

I would only ask that you pray that my two current smaller persistent spots respond to this treatment.  And that my fog and skin discomfort will be minimal.

Thank you my dear friends!  You give me so much courage.  I take heart knowing so many loved ones are praying for me!

love, Melody.