December 9, 2005

Hello...

So I just got home from the 2nd treatment of the new round of chemo. It hasn't been as bad as the first round at all- yeah!!! I was tired for a couple of days last week but otherwise was fine. Next week I will double up the treatments so that I don't have to deal with chemo Christmas weekend- another yeah!!! I had a port, (a semi-permanent vein access), put in my arm on Wed. this week. My veins are tiny and being stuck multiple times every time I went in was getting painful and old. Even while putting in the port one of my veins collapsed and they had to start all over. That is still pretty sore but I keep getting told I'll appreciate it in the long run... we'll see...

One praise I forgot to share with some of my prayer warriors is a check we received from our insurance company. They have a "critical claim check" they issue to people who have things like cancer. The check matched exactly for our co-pay/deductible for the 2005 year. Thank you God!!! That is a huge weight off of Tim, and me too.

I'm sure you all are incredibly busy preparing for Christmas. I was reminded in a fresh way this week that this gift God gave us is an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, will not fade away and is reserved for us in heaven. This gift of baby Jesus, so vulnerable and tiny, grew to be a man that became the ultimate sacrifice for us when He died on the cross. Because of that sacrifice I, and anyone who believes in Him, can have this perfect peace I have experienced these last few months. Remember as you celebrate this season that God is there for you, He doesn't promise we won't have to walk through fire, but... He does promise to be there to hold your hand. He does promise to love you unconditionally. He does promise He will always be with you. And He does promise you an indescribable joy and an eternity with Him. He loves us so much. Many of you know this already, for which I am grateful. If you don't please consider what I'm saying. I'm not perfect, I don't know it all, but I do know the God who is and who does...

Lots of love to you all...
Linnea