Finally Home! This is a song by Mercy Me that I have listened to daily since we left Birmingham. I told Kendall and Dylan that I was going to play this song every day until we were able to return home. Even so much as I downloaded it to my cell phone and made it my ring tone. Something to give me extra incentive to bring Kendall home. And as of this writing, we will be coming home on Wednesday. Although it will be just for the weekend, it's still a much needed trip home. Kendall is doing well enough that the doctor said to go. Kendall is still really tired but I don't think I could keep her here any longer. She is ready to see her family and friends and of course...Chase. Her blood counts are still low but they are starting to climb slowly.
Looking forward to the rest of this week...I can already see that the week is going to be nonstop. It's something Tammy and I can't wait to tackle. A little break from the daily trips to the hospital, especially for Kendall. I just hope that she is able to enjoy the next few days without any complications or any fever. We are going to try and leave all of that here in Houston.
We are so thankful and blessed to all of our family and friends who have taken time out of their life to think of Kendall and greatly appreciate everything you have done for us. Tonight I wanted to give a special thank you to all of Kendall's friends. People that she goes to school with, grew up with and shares her lifes experiences with. I read through the bible looking for something to lift you up....to remind you that someone is always there for you....and to renew your strength and faith , just as you have done for Kendall. The verse tonight is for you and I pray that it finds a place in your heart...........
Isaiah 40:29-31
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
A Child' s Eye
No one can mistake the love in a child's eyes. Children are no doubt the work of God. No matter what they do, we will always love them. No matter how old the children become, we are all children of God and I can only imagine what He sees when he looks at us. As tired as I may become. As homesick as I may get. As depressed and sad as I am that this is happening to Kendall.....I see so much love in her eyes every time I look at her. Her eyes tell the whole story. And that is the reason I believe has changed my life. I can see God through her. Shining and smiling so brite that I believe children are Gods greatest treasure.
As we sat in the living room of the apartment today we talked about what we were going to do when we get home. Hug family and friends...and the dogs and catch up on the past 6-8 weeks of their lifes. Of course this all depends on good reports tomorrow from the doctor. Kendall said she wasn't going to even start packing until she was cleared. We are all trying to down play a little bit. Don't won't to seem too anxious...but we are all ready.
Kendall's fever stayed down today and she has felt ok. We didn't want to do anything to chance making her fever going up. Me and Tammy sanitized the apartment one last time before the weekend trip home and washed up all the clothes...you know just in case.
Reading tonight, I came across this prayer. I took these two verses out to share as they seemed to make me think more about things. To be... "filled to the measure of all the fullness of God" is where I want to be. I have never been the man of God that I have wanted to be. I can tell the confidence in a man that has "that fullness". It is something that I want to fill up on.
The other part... "is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine" is such a blessing to know that God is here to answer our prayers...all our prayers. We just need to pray.
Ephesians 3:19-20
and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,
As we sat in the living room of the apartment today we talked about what we were going to do when we get home. Hug family and friends...and the dogs and catch up on the past 6-8 weeks of their lifes. Of course this all depends on good reports tomorrow from the doctor. Kendall said she wasn't going to even start packing until she was cleared. We are all trying to down play a little bit. Don't won't to seem too anxious...but we are all ready.
Kendall's fever stayed down today and she has felt ok. We didn't want to do anything to chance making her fever going up. Me and Tammy sanitized the apartment one last time before the weekend trip home and washed up all the clothes...you know just in case.
Reading tonight, I came across this prayer. I took these two verses out to share as they seemed to make me think more about things. To be... "filled to the measure of all the fullness of God" is where I want to be. I have never been the man of God that I have wanted to be. I can tell the confidence in a man that has "that fullness". It is something that I want to fill up on.
The other part... "is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine" is such a blessing to know that God is here to answer our prayers...all our prayers. We just need to pray.
Ephesians 3:19-20
and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,
Sunday, September 27, 2009
What Do You Think About
Thinking good thoughts, thinking about what is the right thing to do and thanking God for the chance to do all of this. Trying to be a little upbeat tonight as I write this. Another day in the journey with Kendall almost complete. We were a little sad today as we had to take Emily to the airport. We so enjoyed her being able to spend time with Kendall. They had such a good time but it seemed to go by really fast. But just a few more days until we are able to spend time at our home. Kendall is still trying to catch a fever. I'm just glad it's not getting to high. I spring into action when it goes above 99 degrees . Call it paranoid, but now is not the time to get a fever. We don't have to go to the doctor until Tuesday, so not much planned for tomorrow.
We talked to Dylan today and he was in better spirits about his arm. We will have to take him to the doctor this week to find out whether or not his arm is broke.
I hope this verse finds its way into your day tomorrow. Not only does it have 4:8 in it, it also has "whatever" in it. Everywhere I look, I find verses that seem to put meaning into my life. Hard to imagine that so few words have such an impact on my life.
Word of God, I hear you.
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
We talked to Dylan today and he was in better spirits about his arm. We will have to take him to the doctor this week to find out whether or not his arm is broke.
I hope this verse finds its way into your day tomorrow. Not only does it have 4:8 in it, it also has "whatever" in it. Everywhere I look, I find verses that seem to put meaning into my life. Hard to imagine that so few words have such an impact on my life.
Word of God, I hear you.
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Pile It On
These last couple of days, I have struggled to not think about the past 6 weeks or so. Kendall has done good for the most part. There were a couple of times that her fever went up and we were on pins and needles. Kendall still seems really tired to me but she doesn't want us to think she is. Her and Emily and Tammy have laughed and talked all week. I kinda feel left out because I often find myself being on the tail end of a conversation. And then we received a call Friday night that Dylan may have broke his arm at the football game. Dylan helps out Coach Myric on the sidelines during the High School football game and this happened right before the game. My mother ended up taking him to Childrens Hospital emergency room. The doctors couldn't say whether or not it was broken because of the swelling. But they put him in a cast so he couldn't move it. It is the same arm that he broke last year when he played youth football at Gardendale.
With all of this going on and several other issues, not pertaining to Kendall, I once again become overwhelmed. I have spread my arms as far as they can go. I will continue to stand my ground and fight this as long as I can. But how much can I accomplish from so far away. At times I feel so vulnerable to the surroundings. Today, even though things seemed to be going smooth, I looked into the bible to find help to accomplish all these things. To give me guidance to make it through each and every day.
Kendall is so looking forward to her trip home next week. She has already been planning what to do each day. Hopefully this can renew her already amazing strength to finish the treatments without any problems.
Psalm 18:2
The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.
He is my shield and the horn [a] of my salvation, my stronghold.
With all of this going on and several other issues, not pertaining to Kendall, I once again become overwhelmed. I have spread my arms as far as they can go. I will continue to stand my ground and fight this as long as I can. But how much can I accomplish from so far away. At times I feel so vulnerable to the surroundings. Today, even though things seemed to be going smooth, I looked into the bible to find help to accomplish all these things. To give me guidance to make it through each and every day.
Kendall is so looking forward to her trip home next week. She has already been planning what to do each day. Hopefully this can renew her already amazing strength to finish the treatments without any problems.
Psalm 18:2
The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.
He is my shield and the horn [a] of my salvation, my stronghold.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
How Great Is Your Love
Fever comes and fever goes. Well, we did not have to go to the emergency room today. Kendall's fever dropped about 3:00am this morning. Although it did go up and down all day but never reach the bad temperature. She was a little more upbeat today. We tried to get her to do something to get her moving around a little bit. So the girls went to get a pedicure. Tammy said Kendall had a good time. I did not go, I let that be a girls day out. They all came back feeling refreshed and smiling. That was our only outing for the day. Kendall's temperature starting to rise again so we made it watching tv and resting in the apartment. We managed to drop the temperature one more time and it hasn't been back. Let's hope it stays away.
It seemed like any show we watched today was dealing with some type of cancer. I don't know if it is that we are more aware of it now or what. Some times we can watch them and other times we change the channel. This far into her treatment and I still have tears pouring out of my eyes when I think about what is going on with her. How much it has affected her, our family, our friends. I'm supposed to be tough. Doesn't take much to bring me to my knees. I look around my new, temporary housing and I do mean temporary, and see so many people dealing with the same issues that I today deal with. How do they do it every day. How can I do it every day. I am beginning to realize your life is what you make of it and the choices that you make....now. The choices made now will forever change my life. I just pray that they are the right choices. The choices that will give me the strength to care for my family and keep us together.
I've been working on some new pictures to post. These pictures are very hard for me to post but Kendall wanted me to post them. She has so much courage and strength in herself and her faith that I feel like she also wants to share with you. Her smile is the only contagious thing about her. When you look at these pictures you will see the smile of angel. So bright that it would light up Gardendale and beyond.
Job 29:24
When I smiled at them, they scarcely believed it; the light of my face was precious to them.
It seemed like any show we watched today was dealing with some type of cancer. I don't know if it is that we are more aware of it now or what. Some times we can watch them and other times we change the channel. This far into her treatment and I still have tears pouring out of my eyes when I think about what is going on with her. How much it has affected her, our family, our friends. I'm supposed to be tough. Doesn't take much to bring me to my knees. I look around my new, temporary housing and I do mean temporary, and see so many people dealing with the same issues that I today deal with. How do they do it every day. How can I do it every day. I am beginning to realize your life is what you make of it and the choices that you make....now. The choices made now will forever change my life. I just pray that they are the right choices. The choices that will give me the strength to care for my family and keep us together.
I've been working on some new pictures to post. These pictures are very hard for me to post but Kendall wanted me to post them. She has so much courage and strength in herself and her faith that I feel like she also wants to share with you. Her smile is the only contagious thing about her. When you look at these pictures you will see the smile of angel. So bright that it would light up Gardendale and beyond.
Job 29:24
When I smiled at them, they scarcely believed it; the light of my face was precious to them.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
The Number "48"
It's funny how sometimes people become attached to different things throughout their lifetime. One of them I want to tell you about today is the number 48. To some, it's just another number. But to me it has special meaning. I first came across the number almost twenty years ago when I was hired at Gardendale Police Department. My "call" number, is 48. From there it kind of took off and began to pop up everywhere. Part of the number in our address is 48. And Kendall's softball number is 48. She took that number very earlier in her softball years. She carried it all through little league, high school and now in college . I feel like at least a part of me is always with her to protect her. And now I also look at it as the 4th day of the 8th month when we found out something was wrong with her. Go figure.
Kendall hasn't felt good today. I could tell it in her eyes this morning. I went to take her temperature and we talked as we usually do but she kept taking the thermometer out of her mouth. After a couple of times I finally got a good reading. It was 99.1. Not to bad but it steadily made a climb up throughout the day. She has taken it easy today and making sure she is drinking plenty of water. But now it's high enough that we may have to make an emergency trip run. Anytime it gets to 101, they advised us to go to the ER because of her blood counts being so low. It's not there yet and I hope that it will start to go down now. But we are close. I will keep a check on her all night to make sure the fever stays down.
So tonight while I'm looking through bible verses I found one that seemed to apply for today. Then I happened to look at the number. 48. Go figure.
Luke 8:48
Then he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace."
Kendall hasn't felt good today. I could tell it in her eyes this morning. I went to take her temperature and we talked as we usually do but she kept taking the thermometer out of her mouth. After a couple of times I finally got a good reading. It was 99.1. Not to bad but it steadily made a climb up throughout the day. She has taken it easy today and making sure she is drinking plenty of water. But now it's high enough that we may have to make an emergency trip run. Anytime it gets to 101, they advised us to go to the ER because of her blood counts being so low. It's not there yet and I hope that it will start to go down now. But we are close. I will keep a check on her all night to make sure the fever stays down.
So tonight while I'm looking through bible verses I found one that seemed to apply for today. Then I happened to look at the number. 48. Go figure.
Luke 8:48
Then he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace."
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
What's Around This Corner
A day of healthcare at its best. Sometimes you just know what to expect...but you just hope for it not to happen. Another 12 hour day in the books. First thing this morning, 8:00am, Kendall was having blood taken at the hospital. We assumed her counts were going to be low...but they were REALLY low. The doctor ordered platelets as well as 2 units of blood. And we had a Lumbar Puncture to go. Emily wanted to see first hand Kendall's fun filled day of excitement at the hospital. Me and Tammy let Emily hang out with Kendall while we went to the big lobby to sit in the big comfortable chairs. I'll give you one guess what they were doing when I went to check on them. That's right...sleeping. Both of them sound asleep with a blanket pulled over their heads. I don't think the day phased Emily any. Not much excitement at all. Just laying around in the bed.
We talked to the physician's assistant about Kendall's treatment and still everything is going as scheduled. She was a little surprised that Kendall hasn't been more tired than she has due to her blood counts being low. Other than that, we are trying to stay calm about making our brief trip home next week. Just to be sure everything goes well.
With all of that being said, I'm going to turn in early to get a good nights sleep. Neither me or Tammy slept any last night. We both were just thinking about the upcoming events with Kendall and her treatment. What to expect next and trying to explore and research all the possibilities of the next big step. Sounds alot like homework. I'm expecting to make an A.
Ephesians 3:12
In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.
We talked to the physician's assistant about Kendall's treatment and still everything is going as scheduled. She was a little surprised that Kendall hasn't been more tired than she has due to her blood counts being low. Other than that, we are trying to stay calm about making our brief trip home next week. Just to be sure everything goes well.
With all of that being said, I'm going to turn in early to get a good nights sleep. Neither me or Tammy slept any last night. We both were just thinking about the upcoming events with Kendall and her treatment. What to expect next and trying to explore and research all the possibilities of the next big step. Sounds alot like homework. I'm expecting to make an A.
Ephesians 3:12
In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.
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