Are you Experiencing Winter or Christmas?

Today is December 21^st which is the official beginning of the Winter Solstice.  This day typically brings colder weather and less sunlight.  It ushers in the Winter Season. 

On Sunday we were discussing the 400 years of silence from God between the time period of the Old Testament and the New Testament.  Did you realize there was 400 years when God was silent?  Before these years God spoke mainly through prophets, angels, signs, visions, dreams and even a rare donkey.  But there was a day when He became silent.  For 400 years there was nothing.  The seasons continued to change but there was no Word from the Lord.

Then in Luke 1:11 and angel appeared to Zacharias.  The first words from the messenger were, “Do not be afraid.”  Can you imagine what Zacharias was thinking?  Here was a messenger from God.   I’m guessing he had been told these stories of God from his family, and I imagine he had read these stories himself since he had been chosen to perform the priestly duties of burning incense in the temple. But here in the temple, on this day, was the angel--Gabriel standing before him, giving him a Word from God.  The angel told him that he and his wife would have a baby.  That their son would bring joy and gladness.  He would be great in the sight of the Lord and would turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. 

The Silence was over.  And we now know that the Lord was orchestrating the best plan ever—Christmas!  The time when Jesus would be born and enter this world as a tiny baby.  The beginning of His redemption plan for all of mankind. 

So I have to ask you—are you experiencing winter or Christmas?

Are you living in silence from God?  Or Are you living in the wonder of the miracle of Christmas?

We have been choosing to celebrate this miracle all Christmas season.  We have been using the book, “Unwrapping the Names of Jesus” to keep our focus on Jesus this season.  (And even though we are behind—It has helped us to look to at all the many different aspects of who Jesus is to us.)  We have been choosing to have joy and peace. 

Then yesterday—we got our own personal message from the Lord in the form of test results.  We found out yesterday that my CA 125(cancer marker) was normal.  We were also told that the nodule that was found in September “has not grown any bigger”.  The MRI also showed the rest of my body cancer free.  (As I’m typing this—I still have a big ole goofy grin on my face.) 

Yall, the Lord is very much at work and answering prayers!  He is not silent!  Praise the Name of Jehovah-Rapha –the God who heals!

Let me encourage you today to seek after the True Meaning of Christmas!  Don’t experience Winter—experience Christmas!

Love and Hugs!

Julie

Christmas Stockings are Finished!

4 months ...

the amount of time I have been sewing, quilting, piecing, crafting, creating new Christmas stockings.

The tradition of using a Stocking is said to originate in the early 1800's.   Tradition says that St. Nicholas heard about sisters who were very poor and he decided to give them money.  Apparently he threw bags of gold down the fireplace and it landed in the girls stockings that were drying by the fireplace.  

I like this story--whether it's true or not--because can you imagine finding a bag of gold in your stockings?  What excitement that would bring! 

Our family's stockings usually have small gifts like socks, gift cards, chocolate candy and usually an orange(can't remember why an orange--this tradition came from Ben's side of the family). 😉

But I am so excited to finally be finished with these creations, I decided to share them.

Enjoy!

Do you feel it? The Excitement of Fall

Do you feel it?  Cooler weather, a crispness to the morning, leaves falling, pumpkin decorations, pumpkin pie flavored coffee, pumpkin bread, Fall has come!

And I love it!  I love this season when I can raise the windows, air out the house, decorate the front porch (I'd be lying if I said the house😁), and have a fire in the fire pit.

This is one of my favorite times of the year.  The building up to THE holiday season.  

This is the little lull before full on Craziness!

And really--Hallmark Channel--you have made my season--Christmas movies are now on!  (All of my sons and my husband are groaning outloud!)  But I'm an equal opportunity kind of girl--I watch spy/thriller/shoot em' up movies and college football right there with my men.  They really can't complain too loudly.

Do you want to know what also happens this time of the year?

BUSYNESS!  Parties, celebrations, church functions, family get-togethers, and for us--November is a birthday month for 4 of us in the Agee family.

Already this season, I have found myself putting accomplishing "things" before digging deep into some Bible study.  I'm not saying you have to legalistically study deeply everyday, but you know when you are starting to miss out on the deep fellowship with Jesus.  You realize that you've only been giving the Lord a few moments to your day, and its been a while since you really sat and meditated on what you are learning from the Word.

So let me encourage you and myself to not let the busyness of the upcoming season creep in without you knowing it.  Let me encourage you now to make a plan of what you are going to do to not let this happen.

I decided to start this study by Lysa TerKeurst called, "Finding I AM".  

  
I also bought this book, Unwrapping the Names of Jesus" by Asheritah Ciuciu for the advent season.  I would say it's geared towards older kids and teens.  But each week it gives suggestions on ways to reach out to others and share some Christmas Love.  I do know this, if you don't plan ahead these things won't happen.

Just a few ideas to keep your focus on the true meaning of the upcoming season.

Just keeping it real!

Julie

When "Realness" Hits

I was having a weak moment this morning.

Basically--I was in the "God I am tired of this camp."

I was tired of being stuck at home, I was tired of feeling alone, and I was tired of running to the bathroom because my tummy is still not cooperating.

I was weary.  

Truthfully--I realized today--I was Jealous.  

That's right.  Facebook is my foe.  All those pictures of vacations, trips out shopping, trips to the beach --Y'all--I was undone.  This had been building.  Yesterday I was upset because I couldn't go to church or Sunday School, and then I missed out on a family get together because I didn't think I would do anything but run to the bathroom.  (I had based that on the morning I had been having--no less that 10 trips between 9:00 am - 12:00 noon.)  And yes, we went shopping on Friday, but we also spent our day devising plans of where the public restrooms were and how quickly I could get to them.

The tears have been silently falling all morning.

And then in the back of my brain, since I'm being so terribly honest,  is the fear that I really may die in the near future.  If this nodule is growing, then ...

So forgive my humanness.  It had stolen my joy for a little bit.  I can't help it--it sometimes happens.

Oh, but Jesus.

He doesn't let me wallow for long.

My sister called, she let me talk it out, she prayed for me, and then I went to the Word.

My scriptures today was Psalm 56.

And there I was--just like David--feeling like I was being attacked from all sides.  

Feeling lonely, facing the unknowns, overwhelmed.

Verses 3 and 4 hit me so hard.  I had been looking at my circumstances, instead of trusting that the Lord is bigger than all my problems.   Psalm 56:3-4 says--"When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You. In God, whose word I praise, In God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid.  What can mere man do to me?"

Then verse 8. "You have taken account of my wanderings; put my tears in Your bottle.  Are they not in Your book?"    You can't tell me these verses don't just make you sit still and pause.  He puts MY TEARS in  HIS bottle and His book.  This is my God who knows me so well to know that I will have bad mornings, that I will take my eyes off of His plan, and look at my circumstances, that I will feel alone, instead of remembering that He is with me and never leaves me.  He has a bottle and a book for our tears.  

The end of verses 9-12 says, "This I know, that God is for me. In God, whose word I praise, In God I have put my trust, I shall not be afraid,  What can man do to me?  Your vows are binding upon me, O God; I will render thank offerings to You."

How humbling.  The Lord knows our humanness--he knows we will have times of sorrow.  Here he gives us a way to overcome it--give Him "Thanks" offerings.  

So here are a few of my "Thanks" Offerings:

Thank you Lord for being with me--always.
Thank you Lord for collecting my tears in your bottle.
Thank you Lord for numbering my days.
Thank you Lord for my family.
Thank you Lord for good friends.
Thank you Lord for cards of encouragement.
Thank you Lord for your Word.
Thank you Lord for good legs that get me to the bathroom. 😉
Thank you Lord for your redemption plan of salvation.
Thank you Lord for letting me come to you when I am weak.

What is your "Thanks Offering" today?  Please share so we can be thankful too.

Julie

Test Results 9/28/18

We just left Mayo and stopped for a bite to eat at Chipotle.  So while I devour a chicken bowl, I’ll pass on the news we were given today.  First things first, my CA 125 marker number was a 9.  That is an awesome number.  So yes, we are celebrating that.  The only other piece of news is that they did find a 1.2 cm nodule in my right pelvic area that was not present at the scans in July.  They do not know if it is cancerous and just said we would watch it.  We are scheduled to go back at the end of December for more scans.  So that’s our news.

We are choosing to believe that God is not caught off guard by this nodule—cancerous or not.  And that finding it has not shortened or lengthened the number of days that I’ve been given.  We hold firm to the truth that God is bigger than anything that may happen in my body.  We trust in Him!

Today we are choosing to have “fun” shopping and hanging out before we head back home.  (I put the fun there for Ben’s benefit.) He’d rather mow the grass than shop, but well a girl is in the city so she must shop a little bit.  😃

God Worked in a Really Cool Way!

First Alma

So last week I got a text from a friend who asked me if I was ready to give my testimony of how God has been at work in our lives with this journey we are on.  I said I would love to speak.  You see--I told God when I went into remission that I would share about how faithful he has been to us.  What I didn't realize is that it would be 6 weeks after my colostomy reversal.  But God was so faithful--no tummy troubles.  A big thanks to those who prayed about this with me!

So last night I had the sincere pleasure to speak to the ladies at First Baptist Church in Alma, Georgia.  We laughed and got teary eyed, but more than anything we got to talk about how we can trust the Lord no matter what we are going through. 

And do you want to know another sweet blessing?  I felt like the Lord used this time to help me process this whole journey.  I know that I feel stronger about the fact that God is not finished with me yet.  I'm trusting in him to keep me alive so I can serve him however he wants me to. 

It was such a enjoyable evening--the FBC Ladies prepared a fabulous dinner, and they were such sweet sisters in Christ--y'all blessed me tremendously.

I got to meet some new friends, some that I had only met via Facebook, visit with my WooHoo sisters, and even had a friend from our new church at Altamaha Baptist join us.

Sweet card and gift from First Alma

Gift from my WooHoo Sisters

What a wonderful night of fellowship with First Alma!  Thanks for having me over!

In Him, 

Julie 

Don't Shrink Back!

“Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. For, "Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him." But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10:35-39‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Look at the part that says, “but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.”

 All I could think was that I don’t want to be the one who shrinks back. I want my faith to be strong and doubt proof. Today I’m choosing to keep my focus on believing in the truths from God. 

I am loved by God.

He has a plan for my life.

He is working good in this situation.

He will heal me, either on Earth or in Heaven.

He is working in ways behind the scenes in ways I can not even imagine.

He is good and faithful.

He does not change. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever!

Keep your faith strong—do not shrink back!

In Him,

Julie

When the “Re” gets kicked out of Remission

Yesterday we met with our doctors at Mayo.  My Gynecological Oncologist decided to re-run the biopsy samples from my surgery because it was so unusual to have positive wash and a negative biopsy.  The revised results were that 2 of the 8 biopsies did in fact test positive for microscopic cancer cells.  At this stage I do not have any tumors, but I do have these cells in my pelvic area.

So like us, I’m sure your immediate thought is to ask, “So what does that mean?”

Both doctors told us that medically we would no longer be fighting for a cure, only trying to extend life.  It is so unusual to catch a re-occurrence before it develops into some type of tumor.  Therefore, they don’t have any data or expectations as to life expectancy without treatment.

The Tumor Board did come up with a plan of action.  They suggested that I have a procedure in 4 weeks where they would basically open me back up, warm up some chemo, put it into my pelvis area, leave it in for 90 minutes and then remove it. This would be in attempt to kill these cells.  The problem with this treatment is that I could be sick anywhere from 1 to 4 months with chemo symptoms.   It could also cause kidney and liver problems and it may cause me to become septic.  Also, there is no guarantee or even any scientific data that suggests how long or even if it would extend life.  Ben and I have great peace with saying, “No” to this treatment.

We talked in great detail with our oncologist about the desire to have quality of days, not quantity of days.  Ben shared with her about us not having fear of death because of our relationship with Jesus, but that we felt like the solution for the heated chemo may leave me worse than I am now.   She acknowledged our faith and said that she believed there was a higher power that could control this if it wanted to control it.   We know this higher power, his name is Jesus.  If he chooses, he can tell this cancer to leave my body and it will.

So this is what we are choosing to do.  We are choosing to live life with complete trust in Jesus.  We are going to try a radical eating plan that we have been researching.  Basically, for 90 days I will only eat fruits and vegetables and eat nothing made by man.  So if food has been processed in any way, I will not eat it.  No cans, no preservatives, nothing, nada.  I will be juicing some of these foods, cooking some of them, and making smoothies.

We will give the results to God.  We will also be using some of the organic essential oils in addition to eating this way.  My verse today was Philippians 4:16, “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory and Christ Jesus.”  How fitting for the day—the Lord will supply my every need.  We have been reading about this plan since last September, and yesterday he announced his program would be free for 10 days in the month of August.  Don’t tell me that God doesn’t orchestrate things with perfect timing.

We are also choosing to live life with great purpose.  We want to spend whatever days we have serving Jesus, spending time with family and friends and having fun in the process.

We realize that God may choose to heal me by taking me on to Heaven, but we know this—it will be on His time table.  It will be on the day that he ordained before the foundations of the world were even laid.   

Now, back to the title—When the “RE” gets kicked out of Remission.  What do we do?  We stay on Mission with God.  We keep trusting in Him, we keep our faith in Him, and we keep looking to him for wisdom. 

I’ve had several people ask what they can do.  I actually have some ideas.

1. Pray, keep the prayers going to God.  Three very specific things you can pray about: (1) complete healing, (2) wisdom and discernment as we filter through the vast amount of information available about this approach to healing, and (3) for the doctors to come to know Jesus in the way we know him.
2. Come visit!  I’m having to stay close to home while I’m healing from surgery.  One of the most important things I need to not do is become isolated.  Also, laughter is supposed to help promote good health.
3. Redeem the moments in your own lives.  Not one of us are promised another day – make sure every day gives God the glory he deserves.

We thank you for your prayers and encouraging letter, calls, notes, etc.  God has already done a lot of miracles and we are confident that he is not done yet.

Love y'all,

Julie and Ben

Tumor Board Today

Today is the day my doctors are taking my case before the Tumor Board.   I must be quite the unusual case, this is the second time since we began this journey that my case has made it's way to the Tumor Board at Mayo.  😏

We are so thankful for the minds and intellect that God created to be apart of this group that meets together to discuss the hard cases.  I'm praying that God will help these men and women to think of the best plan possible for my body.  

Of course my body will not be ready for any plan until it heals after surgery.  I'm so grateful that one of my doctors thinks we should just sit still until that happens.  

Hopefully on Friday when I go to Mayo for a post op visit and staples removal they will share exactly what they are thinking about.

We are still focusing on the good things:
      1-Our newest grand baby, due in December, will be named Hailey Rose.
      2-Our girls are going back to school for a new year.
      3-We are settled in our home and enjoying each other.
      4-Thankful that there are not any tumors or cancer that can be seen with the naked eye.  Even though there was microscopic cells found in the pelvic area, we are praying that the Lord will limit the growth to these cells and that they will be unable to grow into tumors.

Prayers--
      1- For our visit on Friday, that my body will heal enough to attend the doctors appointments without embarrassing moments.
      2-For the doctors to not rush into a decision, but that they will think outside the box. I do not want anymore weekly chemo.
      
Thank you for walking this journey with us.  We are so grateful for your prayers and the love yall give to us.

We know we are not walking alone, the Lord is with us!

We love yall,

Julie

Day 6 Post Surgery 7/25/18

This morning I decided to sit on the front porch swing, drink coffee, and enjoy the beautiful creation surrounding me.  As I was arranging the pillows on the swing, I noticed movement.  I quickly glanced again and saw one of those green tree frogs firmly attached to my pillow.  I picked up the pillow only to have it jump on to the swing.  The more I coerced it to flee, the more possessive of my swing it became.  I’d like to say I won the battle, but I gave it the swing and I settled down in my Cracker Barrel rocking chair on the other end of the porch—I decided it was a day to be nice and share the porch. 

I wanted to be outside because I believe my front porch is my new favorite room in our house.  It’s peaceful (when said frog is not around) and we have beautiful trees surrounding it.  I wanted to be outside and in a good peaceful place because I had to make some phone calls that I didn’t really want to make.  It’s never fun being the messenger of news that you would rather not be true.

So let me just dive in and explain what the doctor told us yesterday.

As we were being dismissed from the hospital, the doctor told me of the results of a typical test that they do when they take biopsies.  He said that one of the tests they normally run is a perinatal wash.  Basically, they put sterile saline solution into my pelvic area, take a sample, let stuff settle (that is my translation), and then they screen the stuff that settled at the bottom.  He let us know that the stuff that settled was positive for microscopic cancer cells.  I asked him to explain what that means.  He said he honestly did not know what that meant for us.  He did say that this combination of positive wash but negative biopsies was not common.  He let me know that he would be taking this to the Tumor Board at Mayo next Wednesday, August 1^st.  We go for a follow up visit on August 3^rd to get staples out and find out what the Tumor Board thinks.  I told them to think hard and way outside of the box because I do not plan to repeat the chemo process.  My sweet oncologist called last night to talk about the findings, she agreed with our gynecologist oncologist that this is not a normal case.  She said, “You’ve got us with our head in our hands.” 

And yall—that is all we know—which basically means we know nothing!

But guess what?  I Know the one who does know.  I Know the one who spoke the world into being.  I Know the one who created my body with a redundant sigmoid colon. I Know the one who knows my name. I Know the one who orchestrated my surgery at this exact time to find these microscopic cancer cells.  I Know Him.  I Know Jesus.

Our family certainly wasn’t expecting that news, but we still trust in Him to guide our days.  This morning one of the verses I found in my Bible study was Psalm 9:10  “Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.  Because we do know Him, we trust Him no matter what news we receive.”

One of the last things my doctor told me was to celebrate the good.  Yall—that is what we are doing.  I am home from a very difficult surgery and recovering without a bag!  My body is slowing learning how to function.  I’m not in the hospital—I’m with family.  The Lord is watching out for us!

Ways that you can specifically pray:

1-That God would help the doctors to think way outside the box. 

2- That God would get the glory in this.

3-  That my immunity would be strong enough to kill these microscopic cells.

4- That our girls will settle into this new school year and learn what God wants them to learn.  (Hannah starts 8^th grade at Martha Puckett Middle School on August 2^nd.  Leighanne starts at South Georgia College on August 10^th.  Sara begins her new semester at College Pines on August 20^th.)

5- That our focus will be on enjoying everday we have together. 

We love you all!

In Him whom is able,

Julie

Update Day 4 Post Surgery (7/23/2018)

Day 4 post surgery. 7/23/18 Just found out I'm not going home today. It's ok--they are just being extra cautious. They are going to run some extra tests because I've had a messed up tummy today. (Not unusual for this type of surgery.)

I did get great news from Dr. Robertson, all of the random biopsies he took during surgery came back completely negative for cancer. Y'all--we were all so excited! He said that was a great sign.

Looks like the healing may take a while, but when we are in a good place, we'd love to share our story of God's faithfulness. I just can't list all the amazing things God has done on our behalf.

Julie

Update (7/22/2018)

Today was another tired and sore day for Julie, but better than yesterday.  Dr. Dinh came in this morning and said that everything continues to look very good with labs, Julie's activity, etc.  He changed her diet back to regular so she can now eat "anything" she wants, though there are some obvious things you want to stay away from when your digestive system is raw so she is taking it slow and easy with what she eats.  Dr Dinh felt like there was a real good chance that she will get to go home tomorrow, but he said Dr. Robertson will be back and it will be his call.  We have (and will repeat tomorrow) asked that they be very conservative and not discharge us too early.  However, all of the things we really wanted to happen before we were comfortable going home have pretty much happened.  Her hemoglobin is low.  If it is lower tomorrow we will ask more questions, but Dr. Dinh felt like it would be fairly stable.

Update (7/21/2018) and Something Special that God Started over 48 years ago!

I just realized I never posted an update yesterday.  Julie continues to do well.  She was moved to a regular diet, but it was a misunderstanding between the doctors and the nurses so she ate a little mashed potatoes and grits and got moved back to clear liquids diet.  They just want to be very conservative since she had so many problems last surgery.  The doctor even said that the surgery was so perfect that he couldn't hardly believe it.

Julie has been up walking multiple times today even without a walker.  She is doing really good.  Today has been a harder day with more pain, tiredness, etc., but the doctor had already warned us that today and tomorrow we should expect that then it will start to get better.  They have moved her off of the push-button pain meds and onto an as-needed oral, but that also means she stays sleepy more of the time (also a good thing because she needs rest).

Now for a special story of how God works..........

The surgeon had told me this, but it didn't fully register until I read his report on the surgery and looked up what it meant..... Julie was born with a "redundant sigmoid colon".  This basically means that the very last segment (the sigmoid) of her colon was about twice as long as normal.  This typically causes a lot of constipation and can even cause the colon to get twisted and cause a surgical emergency (though most people that have it don't have to treat it), but in Julie's case it means when they re-connected the sigmoid to the rectum there was plenty of colon to do its job as normal.  What does all of this mean?  It means that there is a real good probability that Julie will not have a problem with short gut syndrome.  She has had a section of her small intestines removed and that will cause her to have to adapt how and what she eats somewhat, but the sigmoid is key is things behaving as normal.  So...... when God was forming Julie's body, He knew she would have to have the sigmoid removed due to a tumor and he gave her an extra one then so she wouldn't be without at this time in her life.  Just more evidence that you can (and should!) trust God with your life and your eternity!

Surgery Update (7/19/2018)

It has been a long day, but a very good day.  We had to be at Mayo at 6:00am today to check in for the surgery.  Dr. Robertson came in a few minutes before 7:30am and went over the last few things and then they had Julie back in the operating room shortly afterwards.  I received a notice from the desk that the actual surgery began at 8:25am.  Dr. Robertson had scheduled the OR for 8 hours, but before the surgery he said he thought it would take around 4 hours.  Around 11:25am the team called out to the desk to notify me that the surgery was going well and it would be about another hour, so I quickly went down to the cafeteria to grab a bite to eat.  Around 1:30pm, Dr. Robertson had completed the surgery and came out to talk with me while his team was completing the clean up, etc.  I don't remember all of the details, but there were three basic criteria that he was looking for to be able to reconnect the colon and he said all three of them were better than good (almost perfect).  While he was inside of her he was also looking for any signs of potential cancer and said he did not find any.  He did take a few random biopsies, but he said nothing looked like it could be cancer.  He did have a little scar tissue to cut away, but even that was better than he expected.  He said she did really good and we really couldn't ask for a better scenario for this surgery.  At 3:40pm, they were moving Julie from recovery to a regular room (woo hoo -- no ICU required this time) and we could go up to see her around 4pm.  When we walked in at 4pm she was eating jello and looked great.  Their goal is to start her on solid foods tonight and to have her up walking tonight as well.  We are expected to be in the hospital for 4 to 7 days.  As I write this she is on the self-administered push-button pain meds and is getting good rest.

Thanks to everyone for all of your prayers throughout this whole journey.  God has been amazing in the way He has worked and we are so grateful.  Your prayers, notes of encouragement, visits, etc. have been amazing as well.

To the Glory of God!

Ben

Good News Report (7/13/2018)

Good news report!
This was taken yesterday outside of Mayo. My sisters Karen and Sheryl joined me for a long day of tests and appointments. I began the day with an ECG (heart), then bloodwork, next an urinalysis, then an 90 minute MRI, then a CT scan, next we snuck out for lunch, and finally we saw the doctor. 
Here's the news: They did not find any evidence of tumors, and my CA125 marker was 9. I have been given the thumbs up for surgery to reverse my colostomy on July 19th. 

Challenges/Prayer Requests: 

1. He may open me up and discover that my body is not able to be reversed. 
2. Due to the amount of blood loss at the last surgery, he is expecting to find scar tissue. This may cause my surgery to be up to 8 hours long. 
3. He will be looking for cancer while he is inside. 
4. Pray for my body to able to heal and recover afterwards. We are looking at 3-10 days in the hospital and up to 6 weeks recovery.

Y'all, I am so ready! Pray for my caretakers!

Best Valentine's Ever!!!

So I know some of you are thinking that my husband made some grand romantic gesture.

But that's not it. (Actually, this man has shown me love with every appointment we go to, by keeping up with all my meds, when every few days he helps me change out my colostomy bag, by running for a cold washcloth everytime I was sick to my stomach, and when he prayed for me throughout.)

I KNOW I AM LOVED!

No, our gift that made this the best Valentine's Day came in the form of words from our Oncologist.  These are the words he said today, "After reviewing your CT Scan and your CA 125 numbers, you are officially in REMISSION."

Can you hardly stand it???  God is so good to us.  We are so thrilled!

So what does that mean?? Well it means that no more cancer cells or tumors were detected in scans, blood work, and other tests.

We will be checking every 3 months for a few years.

Now for the crazy news ...
They drained 5.2 liters from my body today.  Yes, that's more than last time.  So the Oncologist and surgeon believe it is due to my lack of lymph nodes.  (23 were removed from my abdomen/pelvic area.)

That does mean that my colostomy reconnection will be delayed until they come up with a plan, OR MY BODY HEALS ITSELF. (I put that in caps because I'd love for that to happen!)

So while we are on cloud 9,000,000 with remission, I still have some healing to go!

But just for a moment, I'm going to need you to give a little bit of praise to Jesus!  Because yall, he has been faithful.  Will you join me in that tonight?

Love,

Julie