Thankful, yet worried.

Hello friends,

This is a day to remember what the Lord has done for us!  We are grateful for His provision and his mercies and since last year, we have tried to live each day with Thanksgiving. (See this previous post.)

Yet today is a concerning day.  I write this post from a Marriott in Kalamazoo - another day, another hotel.  We came here last night to rest before our family's Thanksgiving dinner today in Gull Lake.  However, Ryan has been having increasingly concerning symptoms, most notably intense pain.  We are not sure why the pain is here.  He has had slight, intermittent pain throughout his whole journey, but not this prolonged and not this severe.  He literally can hardly breathe or move.  We are unsure whether or not this is cancer metastasis, or simply irritation from yesterday's procedure.  We are praying for the latter.  We are also praying for wisdom.

We will keep you posted, but in the meantime - enjoy your Thanksgiving and please pray for us!

Eucharisteo, revisited

A couple of other thoughts: I should have mentioned somewhere in the post besides in the "labels" section that Ryan helped me write a LOT of that last post.  Even though it came from my name, it has his mark all over it.

I've thought of a few more things that I'm thankful for, so continuing on in the same vein as a few days ago...

• I'm thankful that we've both come to decisions on our own that no matter the outcome of this situation, we will stand firm on God's promises and believe that he will provide for every single one of our needs.
• I'm thankful for this blog, for the opportunity to figure out this cancer journey by writing it down, and that people are reading it.
• I'm thankful for our pastors, for their encouragement and their vocal support of us.
• I saw the pile of stuff in Jenny's office today for the rodeo auctions, and I'm thankful for the businesses and individuals that are giving so generously to that end.
• I'm thankful for a well-timed study of Esther that I'm doing with a fabulous group of friends this summer, and for what God has been teaching me through that.  I'm also thankful for the blessing of being able to come to that study occasionally in a million pieces and have those women help put this Humpty Dumpty back together again.
• I'm thankful that it's a beautiful summer, and that we've had the opportunity to enjoy it thoroughly.
• I'm just plain thankful.  I have a lot to be thankful for.  I am a blessed girl.

Okay that is all for now!

Eucharisteo

We are...

Thankful for the hope that we have as followers of Jesus Christ

Thankful for God’s word and how it girds us and encourages us

Thankful for Ryan being virtually symptom-free still after having been diagnosed with stage IV cancer for almost four months

Thankful for powerful anti-nausea medications

Thankful for chemotherapy, despite its ugly side effects

Thankful for the organization and incredible team at Grace Adventures (where Ryan works) and how they have been so understanding and supportive of Ryan having to take time off intermittently

Thankful for our sweet baby boy, Colton Scott

Thankful for each other and a wonderful marriage based on mutual respect and that it is an equal partnership

Thankful for the new outlook that we have on life, for clarity, for re-prioritizing our lives, and for our new attitude of "Living in High Definition"

Thankful for both sets of our parents, who have been married for 29 years (Prudhomme) and almost 40 years (Klotz).  The four of them have been a huge encouragement and support for us.

Thankful for our four brothers, who have all been there for us during this

Thankful for our many friends and family that are supporting us through this...we feel so loved

Thankful for the generosity of friends, family, and strangers

Thankful for our church family, who have rallied around us unbelievably

Thankful that God has a plan and we don’t have the responsibility of working it out

Thankful for God’s provision for us

Thankful for His protection

Thankful for health insurance that covers most of Ryan's treatments

Thankful for friends that are planning two different benefits for us (August 6^th – Rodeo for Ryan and August 28^th – Hart alumni soccer game)

Thankful for our beautiful, peaceful 10 acres, and the privilege of home ownership

Thankful for cars that run pretty well most of the time, despite their advanced age (consequently, we are also very thankful for Mears Service Center and my dad for keeping them running)

Thankful for the Cancer Treatment Center of America and their positive outlook for Ryan’s health in the midst of a deadly cancer.  Very thankful for the intelligent, compassionate staff that work here


Thankful for two ladies who have encouraged us with their successful stories of overcoming this cancer

Thankful for cancer researchers and their tireless work in finding a cure for a terrible disease

Thankful for the opportunities that we’re getting to speak truth into people’s lives

Thankful that people love us enough to do menial tasks for us like cleaning our house, cooking us meals, mowing our lawn, watching our son (well that is not menial, that is super fun), and doing our laundry when things get overwhelming


Thankful for the increased time that we've had to spend together, and that Ryan feels well enough to enjoy things that we like to do together

Thankful that God has blessed Ryan and I with intelligence and a never-say-die sense of determination, as that has been helpful in us getting answers and finding the best treatment course possible for him






Even in the midst of difficulty, there are always blessings.  They may be bittersweet, they may be small, but they are there.  What are you thankful for?