Anchored In The Storm

Yesterday between doctors appointments I sat in a restaurant with Sewell eating a delicious grilled vegetable sandwich on whole wheat bread, fighting back tears of gratitude. It feels like I have been on this journey for a year and yet it has only been a little over 3 months. I remember the day I received the call from my doctor telling me I had cancer. I was shocked, numb and overwhelmed with the prospect of trying to figure out what to do. I knew very little about breast cancer and had no idea what questions to ask a doctor. I had just finished my appointment with a nutritionist and I was able to ask many questions and totally understood everything he talked to me about! I am eating and loving foods I never thought I would like. I no longer walk by cookies and cakes and feel sad and deprived. Carrot juice is something I look forward to drinking every day. I am feeling more rested than I probably ever have in my adult life. In the midst of the most stressful season I have walked through I am learning to get rid of stress and let peace reside in my heart on a daily basis. I am not afraid, confused or hopeless. I am enjoying a greater love with my husband than anyone should get to experience in a lifetime. And I owe it all to cancer. Thank you God for blessing me so richly!

As I look back I have truly learned the most profound and yet simple truth. When God sends the storm He wants us to cling to Jesus who is sitting in the boat with us. He is our life preserver. His word is our anchor. I have chosen to trust His promises to me. Just this morning I was again reading all the verse cards that have been given to me. Everyone one of them has come to pass. He has been my fortress, my rock, my refuge and my personal bravery. He has shown His great power in helping me, He has directed my path and has kept me in perfect peace. I could write pages of promises I have stood on and have come to pass.

Each day I have chosen to look at God and not the storm. The disciple Peter has been my example. When God called him out of the storm, he did not sink as long as he kept his eyes on Jesus. It was only when he looked at the magnitude of the waves that he began to be pulled under by them. It is a choice that you and I must make. Look at your circumstances and you will be overwhelmed with fear and panic. Look at Jesus and you will know a peace that passes any human understanding.

During my lifeguard training this summer we had to demonstrate to our instructor what to do if a drowning swimmer tries to grab us while we are attempting to rescue them. I thought of how panic in our own lives causes us to flail and thrash and grab for anything to save us. And yet God is the only one who can rescue us. He wants us to calmly and quietly reach out to Him and allow Him to pull us to shore. He will throw His word for us to hold on to. Grab it with all your strength. It will calm the storm raging in your heart.

I was celebrating a great lab report yesterday. My nutritionist said there are only small leaks in my boat that can easily be fixed! My triglycerides were 40. Normal is below 200. These are the chemical form in which most fats exist in food as well as the body. They can be made in the body from carbohydrates. My cholesterol dropped from 179 to 138. My estrogen levels were normal even though cancer is a hormone driven disease. But the most exciting thing to me were my lower than normal liver enzymes. Since the liver is the processing center for all toxins in the body it is good indicator of health. My liver is super clean and not diseased! YEAH! Let's toast with another glass of carrot juice which has been a major player in detoxifying my liver and the rest of my cells. I was also told I have a high level of white blood cells. My body is starting to become a leaner, cleaner, cancer fighting machine!

I also had a bone density test yesterday and should get the results of that soon. Now I need to make a few adjustments in my nutrition program and ride my exercise bike more to raise my HDL (good) cholesterol! I will continue eating what I have been. I was asked last night what I crave the most and I honestly couldn't think of anything. That truly is a miracle!

Please continue to pray for direction concerning Tamoxifen which is a drug they want me to take to prevent the cancer from coming back. It has some potential serious side affects. I also need wisdom about doing IV Vitamin C therapy. Our 21 year old daughterAshley may be facing surgery to remove a ganglion from her wrist in 2 weeks. Pray she can find God's peace and comfort since it will require her being off work during this time.

I am off to pack my salad for lunch and get ready for school. Thank you for rejoicing with me and taking the time to read the novel I wrote! God is so good. How can I say it in a paragraph?