Happy 10th Birthday JP

Happy Birthday Buddy!

 

You have brought sunshine, joy, and happiness to this family when you entered the world 10 years ago.

 

 

Every year that passes we are amazed at the young man God is making you.  Your smile is infectious.  Your loyalty to your friends and your desire to do what is right is  is admirable.

 

You are a loving and caring little brother to Shelby and a protective, playful brother to Sadie.

 

Without you our family would be incomplete and we thank the Lord that he saw fit to bless us with you!

 

We love you and happy birthday!



Here's the Thing

Here's the thing about cancer that no one can fully explain to you or that you can prepare yourself for....

 

About 6 years ago we started on a journey of cancer with my mom.  She found out she had cancer, but fortunately at the time it was an easy fix...remove the cancer and do a few quick rounds of radiation, badda bing, badda boom-so long cancer and stay out!

 

End of story or so we thought.....

 

Early 2016-Mom develops a cough.  No big deal, people get coughs all the time.  Plus it was cold season and we were also moving into allergy season.  Easy fix...take some cold medicine...not so much, well okay-let's try the allergy medicine...still coughing-Argh!!!

 

End of July, mom has her yearly appointment with her oncologist.  Everything checked out great, but oh wait, you see, I have this cough and have tried all the usual remedies.  Dr. says that it probably is nothing but given that her previous cancer had been known to settle in the lungs next she does a chest x-ray to be sure.  Normally if this was going to happen it would happen within 2-3 years of original diagnosis so we were confident it would be clear and maybe mom just had some crazy infection.

 

August comes around and we head to Charleston for a CT scan as the x-ray did show something not quite right.  Still, trying to be optimistic we go the infection route...biopsy done on two of the nodules...results...

 

But here's the thing about cancer....

MOM'S CANCER IS BACK

 

Ok, no big deal, she beat it before and was cancer free.  Let's just take it out again.  Wait, what, no...that isn't possible.  Well, this sucks!!  Our hope is to shrink it with chemo-1 treatment every 3 weeks for 6 rounds.  Maybe it will go into remission and that would be great.

 

Mom's last chemo treatment was the Monday before Christmas.  It was timed quite nicely as she had enough time to start to feel better in order to enjoy all the family festivities of the day.

 

Two days before New Year-ct scan to see what we can see...

 

Results yesterday-all nodules have shrunk.  EVERY SINGLE ONE!  Chemo is working....

 

BUT here's the thing with cancer...

The treatment can be just as terrible as the disease itself

. 

The side effects were starting to take their toll on mom and now we wait. 

 

 We wait for three months until her next ct scan. 

 

We wait in prayer and in hope and in faith that no matter what God is in control and working out His divine plan.  These have been the hardest months-many days of tears and fears and questioning why-but through it all God is has been faithful to give us what we need with each new challenge.

 

Here's the thing about caner...

It might be the silent killer.

It does destroy lives on this earth.

It is a strong foe to contend with...

BUT-

God is bigger and we will not fear because He is Lord of All!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

I wonder what it is that makes everyone consider years past, future goals and change at the end of every year.  Maybe it is because a period of time is coming to a close according to the human calendar?  Or maybe something entirely different.  Christmas and New Year brings a lot of emotions to many different people.  For me, there is always a mixture of emotions...Joy over celebrating my saviors birth, excitement over a new year with new possibilities, frustration over goals not met, sadness over lost opportunity, wonder of what will be, comfort that no matter what God is in control...and the list goes on and on.

 

We try to hold certain traditions at Christmas to commemorate the birth of Jesus and celebrate our family.  One of the favorites is brunch with Santa.  Every year we take pictures and every year it is amazing to look back and see the growth of the children.  Shelby has finally overcome her fear of the jolly old man.  She won't sit on his lap, who can blame her...she is 12 after all, but she doesn't mind being in the same room as him. 

 

Back in the day Dove Street lights were actually on Dove Street and they were amazing!! One of my family traditions was to drive down to see the lights and every year it seemed that the lights got bigger and better.  Well, as the years have gone on the lights got to be too much for the little beach street so now they put up the "Dove Street" lights at Shelter Cove. We took the children this year and it was so much fun to see the excitement and delight in Sadie as we walked down the street.  She would skip from tree to tree and then call out the color of the lights on the tree.  It tickled us pink to watch her and listen to her.

 





 

This is another picture that has changed so much over the years.  Sadie was being camera shy Christmas Eve so she wasn't in the picture this year, but can I tell you...these children are growing up and growing up fast!!!  We have been taking Christmas Eve pictures with the Alberts since JP was in diapers. 

 

As I reflect on this past year it is amazing to think of how much things have changed.  Some changes were exciting to watch and be a part of, some changes were tough to grow through and some changes are still being played out into the new year.  Whatever happens we know that in all things God will work out His perfect plan for His glory and for that I am thankful.

 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!