Monday, September 13, 2010

Running the Race with Jesus ...

Monday, September 13, 2010
Running the Race with Jesus ...

Yep, running this marathon with Jesus as absolute leader and my amazing family cheering us on. There are no words to tell you how blessed I have been being surrounded by my incredibly loving family and friends. This journey has been filled with blessings because of Richard, Meredith, Megan, Jesse, Kevin, Makenzie, Carson, Slade and my amazing girlfriends (they are so fun). We are on the downhill side of the race ... coming into the finish line!!!!!!! Woo Hoo Jesus!

I finished 12 treatments last week and started the 1st of 4 new treatments today. When I got to MDA med center early this morning, I felt a bit anxious ... anticipating what these new drugs might do. I sat in my car before going in, prayed, sang a few praise and worship songs ... giving HIM all of this ... giving HIM deep heartfelt emotion of thanksgiving ... giving Him all my praise and all I am. When I walked thru the doors it felt surreal- almost blurry. I'm telling you, God was there in my presence. He literally carried me from one test to the next, carried me thru the door to meet with my oncologist. The entire time I was there I was floating thru ... with a serentity and peace and joy that was filled with the most quiet tender emotion. It was the sweetest feeling of being encapsulated in HIS safe, strong, loving arms ... the cancer world around me was not even visible to my eyes.

Thank you Lord for loving me so much, thank you for taking such good care of me and thank you for sharing today with me in such a real, hands on way. I trust in YOU Lord ... I trust in YOU.
I Love You.

First round of 4 is behind us. My oncologist prepared me for a rough week ahead ... but lets see what the GREAT PHYSICIAN has in store! Whatever my week ends up being ... I'm good with it. Knowing with every fiber of my being that the Lords will and plan is absolute perfection. If you take a moment this week to pray ... I would be so honored and thankful to be covered in your prayers. And please pray for my family, as they need strength and prayer also.

It is so interesting the multitude of emotions a human goes thru when you are faced with a trial like this. For me, the hardest part has been watching my sweet family having to walk this trial alongside of me. I cry alot when I think of them ... their selfless acts, their love for me, their unwavering faith if something doesn't go like we prayed for, their funny jokes and continual laughter, their gentle and genuine care for me. They have truly been the hands and feet of Jesus ... and I stand humbled and in awe at how blessed I am to call them "my family". Jesus has and continues to make us all better people thru this marathon, this race of life. I pray He never stops chipping away in making us more like Him.

I have learned one very amazing truth (I've learned a whole lot more than one amazing thing in this but for now here's a huge truth I've learned), "The Lord loves me so much, He allowed this in my life because he wants to make me better. He wants me to completely trust Him and listen to His plans for me. He wants me to be more like Him." Thats a big love to allow this cancer walk, and I am thankful to listen to Him, learn what He has for my life and prayerfully and humbly hear Him and come before His throne in obedience. I want to serve Him- whatever He is calling me to be or to do. Guess He decided, she's a hard headed one ... should I allow cancer and year journey or ... hit her over the head with a large falling boulder? Kinda glad I got Choice A!!!!!

My family's theme song is Jesus, Your My Healer ... we listen to it with such a trusting faith in Jesus ... for He is everything. Precious Meredith has it posted on her incredible blog today. If you have a minute, visit her post today (love that child so much) and click on this song at the bottom of todays post. Her blog is sweettfamily.blogspot.com.

Thankful for YOU. Thankful for my church family. Thankful for Ronnie's Sunday morning sermons, Thankful for my dad and my siblings, Thankful for my amazing girlfriends, Thankful for my son in laws, Thankful for my blessed grandbabies, Thankful for my undeserved, cherished, amazing daughters, Thankful for my sweet husband who sweetly and lovingly endures it all, but most of all I am Thankful for Jesus ... the Great Physician ... My Healer ... My everything.

Love you so very much,
Jill

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

race for the cure update

Hello sweet friends & family... (Meredith posting)

I wanted to touch base as many of you have had trouble signing up/donating to the Race for the Cure team. I am providing some (hopefully) easy and detailed instructions to sign up or sponsor the team. Please feel free to email me or call with any questions. Thank you all so very much for your eagerness to be a part of this special day!

To sign up to race/donate...

    1. Visit www.komen-houston.org --> from there you will select from the horizontal menu of pink tabs along the top of the site: you want to choose the tab that says Komen Race for the Cure.

    2. Hover over this tab and you will see a drop down menu to select from.

    Choose Register. Then choose Join a Team.

    3. You will be redirected to a page that allows you to Join a team, create a team, etc. You want to scroll to the box that allows you to search for an existing team. In the box type “Jesus” as your search criteria and leave the Team Division unselected. Our team, Jesus, My Healer should be the only result you get— select the team by clicking on the pink team name.

    4. From there you will see a roster of those already signed up. To join the team, you will click the pink Join Team text at the top of the list.

    5. You will then choose from a list of Participation Options; most of you will fall under the Adult category. Make your selections and move to the next step.

    6. As you complete the Registration Form you will be asked to select which event you are planning on joining— we are doing the Family Walk & Kids.From there you should be able to complete payment information and be signed up to participate!


    ***IF YOU ARE SIMPLY TRYING TO DONATE, NOT SIGN UP TO RACE— follow steps 1-3.
    When you arrive at the team page with the roster, you will also see a “thermometer” that has the team’s fundraising status. Above that meter you can click to Donate to Jesus... My Healer. The steps to donate/sponsor are very simple from there.

    Thank you all again for your generosity, your encouragement and your enthusiasm!

    We are so blessed by each and every one of you.

    A little update on my mom... She completed her 11th of 12 weekly chemotherapy treatments on Monday. She will have her last of the 12 on Tuesday of this coming week. On September 13th she begins a series of 4 intense rounds of chemotherapy, each 3 weeks apart. These are the final 4 treatments in her cancer walk, but are supposed to be the toughest. If you would continue to bless her with continued prayers for strength, comfort, healing and peace as she finishes this journey we would be so grateful. In so many ways this walk has been a blessing to my mom and in turn to our family. But, at the end of the day, it’s cancer and chemotherapy and it’s JUST NOT FUN! She has some difficult days and we are ready for her to be relieved of cancer treatments and all that comes with it.

    She’s been AMAZING through it all, such a Godly example to us all of walking

    with unshakable faith, grace, strength and dignity.

    I hope that you and yours are well...

    We look forward to seeing so many of you on October 2nd.

    Love & Blessings,
    The Greer’s, The Tichenor’s & The Goforth’s
    Richard, Jill, Meredith, Kevin, Carson, Slade, Megan, Jesse & Makenzie

Keep up with my mom’s journey: http://jillgreerpsalm302.blogspot.com

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Faith, Answered Prayer and Low Blood Counts!

Yesterday was chemo #7 and once again, God showed up and showed us His amazing love and who is really in control! I get butterflies in my tummy, tears in my eyes and my soul swells with a huge smile when I think about yesterday at MDA. Starting my day at 6:45 with blood work, we discovered my white counts were a bit low. Chemo was delayed until they could determine if my counts were in a safe range. Peacefully we waited, we prayed and I knew without any doubt God was at work! And in His amazing glory my count had to be at least 1.0 to do chemo ... came back at 1.1!!! So chemo #7 is behind us. Thank you sweet Jesus, My amazing Healer.

This season of my life is good ... SO good in the quiet, still lessons the King of Kings is laying upon me. Faith, good 'ol blind faith has been a lesson I would not trade.
"But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold."
Job 23:10 (Ya think Job has a lesson in a faith walk for me? Yep ... )

So I ponder ... with great awe ...
Would we like to know exactly what God is doing? Would we want to pull aside the veil and see the end from the beginning? Would we like to know the way that He is taking with us in this walk? I’m learning if we did, and if we could see, would we have FAITH to believe and accept God’s perfect way? If we could understand all of God’s dealings, we would not need faith. We would not fall before His throne in complete trusted faith that He is Our Great Healer, perfect in ALL things. Its been a blessing and test to walk this walk in solid, promised, loving, great faith. Faith in Our Father, a faith that if not exercised will not grow and a faith that if not tried will never be strong!

God knows what He is doing, He knows the plan He has for me. In the midst of some ucky moments, there is incredible comfort. Comfort not in the fact that I know the reason and the answer for all that God has in this ... but in the truth that God completely knows what He is doing. And I am so thankful for that assurance. "He knows that way I take" - sweet!

Faith, so many answered prayers (and some unanswered, some answered different than we asked) and low blood counts. To God be the Glory in every perfect detail of this journey. Use this Lord to grow your kingdom and bring new souls to your throne of glory.

Praying for my white blood counts to jump up, praying for Julie Whaley, praying for the man at MDA who was so very sick yesterday (broke my heart into pieces), praying for my sweet family and praying for all of you.

Jesus, perfect in everyway ...
Jill

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Race for the Cure

Hello friends & family, it's Meredith again!

Race for the Cure 2010 Registration is now open!
We would love for you to join our family’s team:
Jesus ... My Healer

We will be racing in honor of my beautiful, amazingly strong mom Jill Greer, who is in the middle of treatment for breast cancer and our precious Grandma BK (Karen Penrod) who fought and beat breast cancer nearly five years ago. We are so thankful for the amazing medical care available to them and the healing power of our sweet Jesus. Racing for the Cure seems to be the least we can do to commemorate and honor their courageous battles with breast cancer. We would love to honor or include anyone you know and love that has fought breast cancer as well, just let us know who all we’re walking for.

If you’re up for it, we’d be honored to have you walk, run, or SLEEP in for the Cure with us on Saturday, October 2nd. That’s right... If running isn’t your thing, or if you live far away but want to be there in spirit, SLEEP IN for the cure. Instead of receiving a race t-shirt, you will get a pillowcase and can dream sweet dreams for us all while we go run around the city!

Either way, you can visit this link here to register.
You’ll want to select “Join an Existing Team”
Our team name is Jesus ... My Healer
(if you search "Jesus", you will see our team come up, with Jill Greer as our Captain)
We will be racing in the Family & Kids group-- don't worry we'll have walkers, joggers, runners, old and young!

Please feel free to pass this information along to your friends and family as well, the more the merrier!
You will receive an official Race for the Cure t-shirt when you register. We are planning on having custom shirts made— if you would like one of those, you can contact me with your t-shirt size. We anticipate them being no more than $10 per person.

Thanks so much for considering being a part of this special day with our family!
Love and blessings to you all,
Meredith

Questions? Contact me...
thetichenorfamily {at} gmail {dot} com

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

I owe everyone a huge THANK YOU ...

Hello friends and family! This blog post is my heart-felt out pouring to Thank YOU.

I now know that God has allowed this trial in my life and my families lives. I am convinced that the Lord loves me so much, He allowed this in my life. He's allowed it to teach me some amazing things. I am listening and approaching His throne with humbleness and a thankful heart. Yes ... HE loves me this much!

I am doing good ... finished my 6th chemo treatment yesterday. Have 6 more of this particular chemo, then I have 4 more treatments of a hum-dinger ... one potent doozie ... so they say. But this blog is for YOU ... to thank you for all the love, support, PRAYERS, food, cards, hugs, calls, emails ... words can't express our gratitude. So this is to you ... my thank you:

Thank YOU my amazing friends and loved ones!!! How do I even thank you for your sweet, precious, wonderful , loving tender care over me and my family? Words cannot thank you enough for the warmth you have covered us with. We are so incredibly blessed by your love and outreach during this time of trial, BUT also this time of incredible blessing and joy!

YES … this has been a time of huge blessings. My life and my families lives have never been so covered in prayer, love and honor because of YOU. Above your servant heart, we thank you for being the hands and feet of Jesus. We thank you for your prayers. We thank you for loving us in such a huge, amazing way! While this walk is not what one would hope for … I would not trade the grand lessons I have witnessed thru your loving spirit and generous outpouring upon my life and my families lives. Thank you seems so small, so insincere. There are no words to adequately express the thankfulness within my soul for all you have done for me and my family. I am truly learning one more facet of Gods amazing love, blessings and riches through your loving kindness and through your hands that have washed our feet during this time of need, healing and renewal. Thank you from deep within my soul and from the bottom of my heart.

I have prayed, asking our Lord and Savior to make this a spiritual journey, not a medical journey. And as HE would be so perfect and so amazing … it has been just that! A season filled with HIS love, blessings and teaching largely because of YOU! God has truly shined HIS precious, loving face upon us. He has taken incredible care of us and used YOU to bless us immeasurably more than we deserve. Thank you my sweet friend.

I will be a better servant because of you. Because of your tender acts of kindness … I continue to learn what it means to love people. I pray God will continue to use this time to make me more like HIM, and to love and serve others as you have loved and served me and my family.
You may never know the magnitude of how you have blessed our lives. But Jesus knows, and HE is smiling upon you and will heap blessings over you because you have loved us in such am amazing, Christ-centered way. Again, I say thank you. A day does not pass that we are so incredibly blessed with Gods richest joy and perfect care.

This walk is because of HIS glory and HIS perfect plan. I rejoice and am glad in it! I pray He will use this to better His kingdom … because of YOU. Jesus came as a servant. Greatness comes from serving and what a mighty servant you have been. “The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted”. Matthew 23:11-12

Undeservingly and humbly filled with appreciation, joy and thanksgiving …
I Love you with The Love of the Lord,
Jill

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Feelin a little skip in my step and ALOT of being THANKFUL!

Greater Things are yet to come … Greater things are still to be done in the city …

I woke up at 1:30 am … singing a song with a joy in my heart and a skip in my beat! Wide awake I laid there singing, “For all that You’ve done I will Thank You … for all that You’re going to do … for all that You promised and all that YOU are … Jesus will carry me thru … Jesus I THANK YOU!”

I have been on a passionate, emotional outburst of Thanksgiving to God the past several days. I could explode with a desire to give Him all the Thanks that He so richly deserves. My thank you’s seem so inadequate for all that He has done in this clumsy little walk we blindly, but faithfully are walking. I will continue to wreak havoc upon Jesus’s ears and sing Him songs of praise and thanksgiving! And I will fall on my knees rejoicing with prayers of thanksgiving and adoration for his mighty hand that is carrying us, sustaining us, filling us with peace and joy and healing us!

“I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” Matthew 18:14

There it is … ask and it will be given to you! My family, friends, loved ones, sisters, brothers in Christ and complete strangers have prayed, we met with the elders on March 28th for prayer and anointing for healing, we pray with the nurses that administer Chemo to me each week, and I can’t go anywhere inside or outside of my home that someone doesn’t bless my heart and soul saying, we are praying for you- my prayer group is praying for you … what a covering of blessed, amazing, wonderful prayer lifted to the heavens covering this cancer (no wait it’s a … HEALING walk)! This is GOOD, SO GOOD. God Almighty is hearing, watching, listening to His precious children reaching out in love and praying for a family in need. You are fulfilling His command to pray for one another … we are a family in need, peacefully receiving ever prayer, every act of kindness and every hug filled with HIS love. Thank you … for all that you’ve done, this family thanks you.

Chemo started last Monday. It went well. Really well! With great trepidation we started our morning in prayer, got to the waiting area at MDA … and God was holding open the door waiting for us to arrive. I was so peaceful. So relaxed. So fine. Ready to get this show on the road. I can honestly say I physically felt “the peace that surpasses all understanding” come over my body- that scripture physically came alive in me. I had complete peace, and if the Lord isn’t amazing enough … I even had a joy within me! Felt it … physically within my soul. Talk about fun- that is about at the top of the fun chart!! MDA is an amazing place, they take great care of their patients with respect, joy and love. They are gooooood people, another gift from above. Day One of chemo went good. Had a very good week- a few days that were not completely “all me and my energy level” … but a blessed, thankful, very good week.

Chemo #2 was today! With 14 more to go! And guess where today’s treatment and the next 14 treatments will be? This little place 3 miles from my house in Sugar Land called MD Anderson Cancer Center located at St. Lukes Hospital in Sugar Land!! Just opened less than a year ago … it’s beautiful, clean and so convenient. A huge THANK YOU Jesus for this amazing gift. I prayed this morning early for the nurse that I would spend the afternoon with. Gaynor, Megan and I prayed with her (hand in hand) before she administered my chemo … and what a peaceful, great time with Harolina my nurse we had! Had a pretty good evening- and came home to one amazing meal from one amazing family from church. I am praying my week will be strong, healthy and a week I can serve Jesus and others. I pray as I get out of bed each morning Jesus will be my everything- all day, all week. I pray for strength to love my husband with energy and joy, I pray I will be able to play with sweet Carson and Slade, and embrace my daughters in anything they need. I pray I can continue to exercise (very important in this journey) and will be able to eat and nourish this temple God created- “ME”!!!

As I sit here at 3:15 am … my heart is heavy and prayers are confident, constant and bold for Julie Whaley and her precious family. Please cover this family with your prayers and your love. Julie and I are twins! We are both walking this “Healing Walk” … not really two girlfriends having a morning stroll down the beach but something the Lord has allowed in our lives. Julie has had a tough week … lift her up and know that God is her healer. Be confident in your prayers for her … HE wants His children healed and serving His kingdom. This is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have ask of Him. Whatever Julie’s need is (or whatever your need is right now), we can find the promise in the Word of God. God’s will is His Word. Read 1 John 5:14-15 – BE CONFIDENT IN YOUR PRAYERS FOR JULIE, ETHAN AND THEIR PRECIOUS DAUGHTERS. I love you sweet Julie.

This week I will let HIS thoughts burst freely upon me … stimulating abundant Life … that I can serve and love His people. Jesus is the way and the truth and the life. As I follow Him, He will lead me to new paths in ways I have never imagined. I don’t worry about what is on the road ahead. I continue to seek my security in knowing Jesus more, the ONE who died to set you and me free! Hip Hip Hooooray!!!

Thank you my amazing family, friends, loved ones … this healing walk would not be the same without you. I love hearing from you … you lift me up!

“For all that You’ve done I will Thank You … for all that You’re going to do … for all that You promised and all that YOU are … Jesus will carry me thru … Jesus I THANK YOU!”

“AND I SOOO THANK YOU TOO!!!”
Because of HIM we are blessed … Jill

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Thankful, and ready to go!

Hello everyone! It's been awhile since I have updated the blog. Here is a quick peek into whats ahead for me and my precious, loving family.

But first ... did you hear about the newest and greatest gift God brought to us last Saturday? Oh boy ... He out did it this time. Slade Greer Tichenor was born June 12th at 3:02 ... weighing in at 8lbs, 6oz! He is perfect and beautiful. AND ... Richard and I got to keep Carson for several days. We had a ball ... I love that little guy so very much. Meredith, Kevin, Carson and Slade are all doing great! Thank you Lord for growing our little family! And thank you Mer and Kev for bringing us another precious grandson. Love this SO MUCH!!

I completed radiation with flying colors. Felt great, plenty of energy and the staff at MDA was amazing. One more "thank you Lord" ... you take such good care of us!

I went to MDA Friday (yesterday) to complete a minor surgery to install the chemo port. All went well ... we were in and out of there in no time! While I awaited this surgery, there was one thing on mind ...

"Jill ... learn to laugh at yourself more freely. Don't take yourself or your circumtances so seriously. Relax and know that I am God with you. If I continue to desire His will above all else, life becomes much less threating. Laughter lightens your load and lifts your heart into heavenly places. Kinda like a parent delights in the laughter of their children ... The Lord delights in hearing his children's laughter. I am not going to miss the Joy of His Presence by carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders. For it is written in the book of life:Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me. My yoke is comfortable and pleasant; My burden is light and easily borne!" Amen and Amen!!!

Next step in this journey is Chemo ... for 6 months. We start on Monday ... I am a bit anxious, but ready. The Good Lord is bringing peace to me and my family as this long journey begins. I pray this chemo walk will bring a more still, quiet Jill. A child of God that needs to slow down and be still before His throne. I know God is calling me to something for His kingdom ... and I don't want to miss it! Jill, Seek His Face with a teachable spirit. Come into HIS Presence with thanksgiving, desiring to be transformed. HOW EXCITING IS THAT!!! CAN'T WAIT FOR HIS PLAN TO BE REVEALED!!

Your prayers mean everything to us, if your looking for prayer requests I have a few:
1. Pray boldly for Richard .... he has been amazing thru this journey- pray for strength for him, that God teaches him something special thru this, and that our marriage and love for each other explodes with passion for His kingdom.
2. Pray for our girls ... pray for peace and God's will in this. They are the most amazing girls ... I stand in awe at what God gave to us.
3. I could use a bolt of prayer as I begin Chemo. I pray the side effects won't stop me from living life and loving people!

We have witnessed tremendous blessings during this walk that started in January. Can't wait to see what else HE has in store for us! Thank you, thank you, thank you for loving me and my family like you have. You have touched our lives in a most special way. Our Lord and Savior is working in you .... His face is shining upon you and bringing Him glory in all you do.

Exceptionally blessed,
Jill