Thanksgiving Update. 11/20/2017

I looked back and realized it has almost been one month since I last updated everyone- but as I've said before, no news is typically good news!

October FLEW by and here we are getting ready for Thanksgiving...and another upcoming MRI. 

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays- from food, family, and, of course, a break from work!- how could you not love this time of year? 

Dad has been feeling well, and doing well! Y'all, the blessings have been shown to us in so many ways. I can't believe it's been over 4 years since we found out about Dad's diagnosis. 

But as thankful as we are, and as much as we look forward to another Thanksgiving with Dad, the upcoming MRI still lingers in my mind. 

For those of you that have experienced upcoming scans- you know the feeling I'm talking about. The gut-wrenching concern, anxiety and overall fear. And as I was looking at my calendar, I couldn't help but see the dreaded "MRI" drawn on a date. 

My heart sank. 

But I'm reminded once again about not fearing bad news. I'm reminded once again to live in the moment. 

"Trust Me, beloved. Every time you have an anxious, fearful thought, you need to take multiple looks at Me. Speak My Name to remind yourself I am near, ready to help you."

First, let me say that was NOT the devotional I read this morning or the one I planned to reference in this post, but I turned to that page on accident and starting typing those words- then realizing that's not the verse I wanted! Clearly, there is no accident in that at all! Those are words I SO badly needed to hear this morning, and in this VERY moment. Trust Me. 

But here is the devotional that really spoke to me this morning: 

"Let me teach you how to spend more of your time in the present. The future, as most people conceptualize it, does not really exist. When you gaze into your tomorrows, making predictions, you are simply exercising your imagination. I alone have access to what is "not yet" because I am not limited by time."

This whole anxiety and fear, and trusting, has been such a HUGE struggle for me these last 4 years. And it goes into so many aspects of your life, from planning trips (what if Dad isn't doing well?), to making sure you have cell phone service at all time (you know, just in case Dad has another seizure)...as if I didn't have anxiety to begin with, throw in cancer- and man, it's been a constant struggle.

But my prayer, and my focus, this Thanksgiving is to really focus on the present. To focus on friends & family, to focus on the time we have with one another, and to focus on how blessed we really are- regardless of the upcoming MRI. 

We wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving- and we ask for continued prayers at our upcoming MRI.

Thank you all, and thanks for helping us BTHO Brain Cancer!