Happy Birthday Lar! 8/18/2017

Today marks Dad's 63rd birthday, and 3 years & 10 months as a brain cancer survivor! Clearly we have A LOT to be celebrating!

Dad is still off of all treatments, as it's been one year since we decided to stop his chemotherapy- one amazing year of Dad not having to take those dreaded chemo pills that made him sick for weeks, one amazing year with MRIs that have shown no signs of cancer, and one amazing year celebrating each little moment in our lives. It's crazy to think when this whole journey started Dad was not yet a "Paw-Paw", and now he's got THREE little ones that he gets to spoil. 

Dad's cancer is unpredictable, and we are all too aware that at any moment Dad can show signs of growth or an MRI can show his tumor returning- but we are also all too aware of how LUCKY we are. It's something we do not take lightly, as we appreciate the little things, and celebrate Dad each chance we get. 

So as usual, here's my Birthday Letter to the best Daddy in the world. 

Dad, 

Today we celebrate your 63rd birthday. And on this day, I thought I would share with you my birthday wishes to you:

Dad, I wish for there to many more birthdays for us to celebrate- as Luke, Hallie & Reid have so much to learn from you as they get older. Don't worry, you can start the stories with "This one time your Aunt Stevie...", as I know I'm a good example of what NOT to do a lot of the time. 

Dad, I wish for you to try and grasp the true impact you've made on this crazy world- as your brain cancer fight has inspired so many others, especially me. 

Dad, I wish for you to know how proud we all are of you- through the most difficult times in your life,  you've managed to smile, push forward, and never complain. 

And Dad, my final wish is that you continue to enjoy each day- that you never let your cancer journey define you, instead take cancer as just a chapter in your amazing book of life. 

Wishing you many more birthdays!

Whitney

Y'all, as I write this letter I could have never imagined in October of 2013 getting to celebrate Dad's 63rd birthday- but this just proves that God's plan is so much bigger than cancer. It just proves that we serve a pretty amazing God, one that has "designed us to walk through this world in trusting dependence on Him. He lovingly go before us and opens up the way, carefully preparing the path we will follow. He removes many dangers and obstacles from the road ahead, and helps us handle the difficulties that remain."

Knowing that life is all too short, knowing that we are truly the lucky ones in this battle against cancer, knowing all these things makes birthdays just a little bit sweeter. Hugging Dad extra tight today, and celebrating him a little bit more on this special day. 

Finding Purpose In Pain. 8/2/2017

"God promises us pain."

Words I keep trying to repeat over and over again. 

This week my heart has been so heavy with the news of two brain cancer fighters, both who lost their battle way too early. 

I was reconnected with one of these fighters just this year, in January to be exact, with a message that said, "I want to let you know that reading your blogs have really been helping a lot. Especially my parents."

Our conversations were fairly constant over these last months, reaching out to ask how treatments were going, letting her know our family was praying so very hard, and just being there to provide some sort of hope for her. 

And as much as I tried to constantly lift her spirits and provide her hope, it was really the complete opposite, as each and every conversation left me being reminded that God truly gives his toughest battles to his strongest soldiers. Each conversation reminded me that faith can truly be bigger than any fear. 

Her words spoke volumes of her attitude, strength and faith, as here are just a few words from our conversations over the last few months:

"I have been blessed with amazing doctors, my family and friends have been so amazing through everything."

"Things are going well other than that. Trying to stay healthy and find joy in the little things...It's great to hear that your dad is doing SO well!..."

"We are all gonna beat it together! And your family has, and will continue, to be in our prayers as well!"

Each time, each conversation had me thinking- wow, I hope a little bit of her strength, her faith, and her will to fight rubs off on me so I can help Dad through his battle.  

You know, so many people go through this world- living day by day, not truly understanding how important each and every moment really is, never really making a great impact on this world. And yet, here was this young lady, making such a HUGE impact in her short time here. Impacting others through her fight.

Matt Chandler, a pastor in Dallas and a brain cancer survivor, has said "Suffering. Difficulty. It should surprise no one." And while this is true, I just wish it didn't hurt so bad. 

Asking for a few extra prayers as two families battle through the suffering after the fight is over- the suffering of losing their loved one to this terrible disease. We continue to hope and pray for a cure so no family has to experience the pain of losing someone to cancer. 

I'll be hugging Dad a little bit tighter, and I'll make sure I soak up those precious moments with him a little bit more- I'm once again reminded that life is all too short.