Overwhelmed With Blessings

"Overwhelmed with blessings" was the title of the devotional I read yesterday. It really sums up how I feel. God has truly blessed me with a wonderful family and incredible friends. My brothers hosted a benefit dinner for us this past Saturday. I know many of you were there but for those who weren't and those who were, I want you all to know what a blessing it was to me and my family. There were about 250 people. The love and generosity that was given has touched my heart and overwhelmed me. It is still kind of surreal. Some of you have asked if the account is going to remain open. Yes, we are keeping it open for a while for anyone who might be led to donate. Thank you to all who made donations. I really feel blessed and loved my your support. I pray that you would be doubly blessed in return for your generosity and faithfulness.

This has been a good week physically. I'm feeling stronger and am trying to build up my endurance and nutrition in preparation for this last treatment. Please pray it goes well, with no complications. The last treatment is known as the most difficult due to how weak my body is going into it as a result of the previous Chemo treatments. I will be in the hospital for treatments from the 1st through about the 6th. I'm praying its my last inpatient hospitalization and I don't go back in when I'm nutrapenic. :-)

Many of you have asked me how I can be so positive, or not complain about having Leukemia. I have my moments, as we all do, but I always go back to the hope I have in Christ. There is no reason for me to fear life or death. I know that God is in control of all things, including me having Leukemia. I'm not saying he gave me Leukemia, but what I am saying is that He allowed it and is using it in my life for much greater purposes. God has been teaching me so much about himself, myself, and is working in the lives of others through this as well. I have even been able to encourage and minister to others as a result of the Leukemia in ways I never would have been able to. Here's the thing; If I die, I will be in heaven with my savior with no sorrow or fears, etc... He loves my daughters and husband and will take care of them and will use it for their good and His glory as he promises in Romans 8:28-29. However, I do not believe that is God's plan for me at this time. Rather, I believe he has a greater purpose for me to accomplish and that is living out my faith for Him in such a way that it brings others to know Him more. I'm sorry, but you will still be overcome with fear and anxiety about the stresses in your life unless you Know God. I'm not talking about knowing who he is but really knowing Him in a personal relationship like you have with your best friend. Many of you might be stressed out over finances, or raising your kids (teenagers especially) , your health or the health of a loved one, but whatever it may be, there is a God who says to cast ( throw) your burdens on Him, because he loves you. His burden is light. When I hold onto my fears and worries I'm sure to be overcome by them unless I ask God to take them. He promises to help you. He promises to strengthen and give you hope. He promises to protect and defend. He promises all of these things to those who Love Him. When you love God, you put him first. You say, I trust you and will follow you all of my days. You acknowledge that His way is better, He knows better than you. You stop looking at your circumstances from your small perspective and begin to see things from God's point of view, which is a much larger perspective. You begin to see His purposes and your peace that surpasses all understanding guards your heart against doubts and fears and worry. I have referred to many verses from the Bible. 2 Peter 5:7, Phil 4:6-8, Romans 8:28, Jeremiah 29:11, Isaiah 41:10-11, John 15: 5-11. I encourage you to look them up. Memorize them, think on them and let them comfort you or give you a new hope. This is where I find my strength. This is where I get my perspective on life and death and love. This is where I find peace in the midst of a storm or a valley of the shadow of death.

Be Blessed!
Love, Edie

Feeling a little better

Hi Everyone! Thank You for your prayers and support!
It's been a long hard road the last few weeks. I did come home on Tuesday, but I spiked another fever by that afternoon. The good news was that I did not need to go back to the hospital, because I was no longer nutrapenic and less at risk. The bad news was I was still stuck to my bed. I feel like I've been on a short leash and the furthest it reaches is to the bathroom and my bed. My back hurts and my chest is tight when I take a deep breath because my lungs haven't had a chance to fully expand because I've been stuck to my bed. My legs have needed rubbing so they don't clot. My fevers broke on Thursday. The highest it got on Thursday was 99.4 which is not bad. Today has been a good start. No fevers! I might even try venturing out of my house. I really need to walk around to let my lungs recover and gets some circulation going again. I think the hardest part is not being able to get things done and do things with the girls and needing to be so dependent on everyone else.
It has been a frustrating and sometimes scary time, but God is still showing me my issues of control and need to surrender to His will. That being said, I have full confidence in His faithfulness, His provision, and protection of my family, but its a daily reminding myself of the Truth of Who God is and What He promises to do. Its a that moment I can surrender and Know that God is good all the time. Its then that I am reminded that He is in control and I don't need to be, what I need to be is dependant on Him. There are so many unknowns and a variety of mini-crisis going on in my life but I see God at Work and its okay. Most of you know how music is a big part of my life. God uses it often to speak to me. Sara Groves has a song called "He's always been faithful". Its such a beautiful song I wish I knew how to put a link on my blog with that song for you to hear. There's a line in there where she says " this is my anthem, this is my song...." referring to His faithfulness, that is how I feel. I met Sara Groves once. I took Julia to see her in concert on her birthday. We were front row, it was awesome. I had a friend who was sort of related to Sara and we were invited back to meet her. She shared her life verse with Julia which happens to be mine so I have always felt a kindred spirit to Sara, her music really speaks to me. If your now wondering what the verse is, its Isaiah 41:9-10 You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth and called from its remotest parts. And said to you " You are my servant. I have chosen you and not rejected you. Do not fear, for I am with you. Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you. Surely I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
Have a blessed Day!
Love, Edie

Another 'Visit' to Penn

Edie has been at Penn for a few days. She went in Thursday night and needed several pints of blood (since her hemoglobin was at 6) along with a few units of platlettes (since that was at 2). She had some type of infection in her mouth which she said won't go away until her counts come back up. Later in the day, on Saturday, they thought that she might have the shingles. I found out last night that it was not the shingles! She is in a lot of pain and the medication is making her sleepy. She was in a room with a pretty view of the city skyline. She is in another which she was excited about since she has her own microwave and exercise bike (which she commented that she wouldn't be able to use until the nausea went away).

She is hoping to come home on Tuesday to continue the recovery from this round of Chemo. Please keep her and her family in your prayers.
Respectfully, She is in 7008.
Faith