PS to yesterday

I just spent some time re-reading a lot of the last blog postings. I know that this started as a way to keep you updated on what was going on cancer-wise, etc. with our family as it is often hard or feels intrusive to ask, and for us to repeat everything numerous times dries out our mouth. :D (If only I could learn to condense!!)

I was a little struck however, that one thing I would like for this to be is somehow an encouragement. Laying in bed last night, I reflected on our friends-how deep and wide our friendships with you have become. How much the Lord has allowed some of our lives to intertwine. I was so thankful. Reflecting lately on relationships, and what God wants from us, I thought that this blog is not really about "the cancer". It is about how much we love you all. How much all of us long to be included. How much potential we have as humans to grow spiritually-closer to God, closer to one another, living up to our potential in every area. Watching Robert get to play ball, Sarah get to learn photography, the other ones grow in every single area of their lives. The creativity in which we have to express joy, gratefulness, love, compassion, peace, forgiveness, even frustrations and learning to grow past those. The myriad of ways we are each given to reflect beauty and life is astounding. I guess I would like to encourage you to live that out to the fullest potential. As we choose to be filled with the spirit of God and create in the ways of our creator, whether it involves writing, athletics, loving service, music, art, even accounting or marketing :D (Pat and Nicole) it is such a blessed gift! Walk in it, revel in it. That is a form of worship. I believe it is pleasing to God. Our thoughts can be turned toward those things that are pure and holy, noble and of good report from those reflected in the morning paper, or from the tough individual circumstances each one of us face. Many of you see our lives right now as a monumental struggle, and to some degree they are. What is more of a struggle for each one of us is how to live each day intentionally, full of purpose and kindness. It would be a shame for the only focus of these postings to be on "the cancer". That would give it such power, which is doesn't deserve. What if the entire focus of my life was this disease, and my life was cut short by some calamity today or tomorrow? I wouldn't want to be known as this cancer victim, but instead by the other things that I've been able to bring to life-not death. Anyway, just needed to ramble some more. Thanks for taking the time. I encourage you today to bask in goodness. The breath of life. Plant flowers (my baby peas are up, as are the tomato starts!) Draw, play or listen to good music, look at the clouds (easy enough), eat good food. Live simply, but fully. Don't let anger, apathy, or anyone else's "downer day" turn yours into one. Choose joy. We love you all so much. Thanks for being a huge part of our lives.
Jeanne