As we sit here today on chemo treatment #5 of #6 total (PRAISE GOD we only have one more Chemo Day!), I have the rare opportunity to spend time doing things that typically are so hard to do with a little one around. So, I wanted to bring you up to speed on a couple events that we haven't had the chance to post on yet. Know that Jas will more than likely be getting a post up within the next couple days also, since he rarely sleeps on Monday nights - due to the steroids they give him. So stay tuned for an update on how he is doing and this past week.
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| Melinda's Shirt |
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| Kat (left), Melinda (middle), Meg (right) |
So, Kat (stage 4 lung cancer who you've also been praying for) and I went into DC for the day to cheer on Melinda and join her family as she crossed the finish line! What a fun and emotional day it was for us! We were laughing thinking about how crazy it would have been if both of our families would have come. We were glad we opted to make it a Girl's Day. Kat has 3 little kiddos - ages 5, almost 4, and 2. And our Taylor (2.5 yrs), Miss Independent, need I say more? In a crowd of approx 100,000 spectators and 30,000 runners, a stroller just didn't sound like fun to maneuver around!
To the left you will see Melinda crossing the 26 mile marker of the 26.2 mile race waving to us with a smile on her face. I'm sure glad she found us in the crowd or we would have missed her with all the commotion! What a trooper! After the race, she showed us the scriptures that she had written on her legs to help her get her to the finish line. 
A little history here for those who may not be aware. Initially, when Kat first headed to the Cancer Institute, she wrote Philippians 4:13 on her tumor that was giving her problems on her femur. At this time she did not yet know she had cancer. Since then, Jas continued the trend with writing Phil 4:13 on his tumor (Sarcoma) on his leg. Then, he found his own verse he wanted to claim through his cancer trials - Romans 8:28. Doctors, along with many others in the offices, have asked Jas about what he wrote and what that actual scripture was. So it has been an awesome way to witness to the Doctor teams, through both cancers this year! I love how Melinda then took this idea and applied it to something else other than cancer. She's been such an awesome example to us and many others of how to glorify God and witness to others when times are good!
All in all, it was a great day for Kat and I! It was such a special day and we appreciated Melinda's sacrifice and her willingness to run this race for those near and dear to her heart with cancer. It was amazing the conversations that we were able to have with others in DC about God, cancer, nutrition, etc. without us even initiating them. When we were on the metro headed home, another young woman commented on our bracelets we were both wearing that have Phil 4:13 written out on them. (Thanks Jill Kinn - We Love Them!) Kat took hers off and gave the bracelet to her. It made this lady's day and she was just glowing as she said it was one of her favorite verses and had never seen one like it. Then there was another couple that rode with us on the bus to get to the metro. They had experienced cancer in their family, were going through similar steps nutritionally, etc. In both cases we were able to share our stories and how God was blessing both our families through this particular storm. Amazing and it brought us such great joy!As for the Women's Retreat at our church, I sure do appreciate your prayers for all the women involved in the panel discussion that I was part of. More to follow on that soon! Unfortunately, the video camera stopped recording as soon as our time on stage started, so I don't have that video to share with you all. However, I plan to edit my notes that I used into a blog post so you can read my testimony and possibly see the introduction video that they used for our part of the day. Stay tuned!
Well, today is going amazingly well so far! Things are looking good and we are tracking to be home much, much sooner than last week! Can I get a BIG PRAISE GOD? He is so good!
We did also want to mention how grateful we are to those who are participating in the prayer/fasting chain. We had no idea this was already in action but when we learned of it, it brought tears to our eyes to learn of the sacrifice that so many were willing to make for Jason and our family during the last 1.5 weeks of treatment! We continue to be BLOWN AWAY with your love!
Thanks so much for your continued prayers!
Much Love & God Bless!
Meg
