Jesus, You're My Healer!

Guest post from Meredith again...

Hello precious friends, family, and blog readers!

I wanted to give a little update on my mom since her surgery a week ago. No surprise to any of us-- she came through the surgery like a champion, kept telling us all "she was fine," and insisted on going about her days as normally as possible. We would all quietly rejoice when we'd find her napping, going to bed really early, or allowing my Dad, Megan or I to do something she'd normally do herself. She's an incredibly strong woman, she epitomizes Proverbs 31.

Today, she had an appointment at MD Anderson for a scan to view the spacers put in during last week's surgery in preparation for her radiation port to be put in tomorrow. She'll go in around 10am and will be put under for this surgical procedure. It is our understanding that she will begin radiation on Thursday, but that is subject to change pending the results from the pathology report, which she will also receive tomorrow.

You all have been so gracious, so generous, so encouraging and we are so blessed by you. Please continue to pray for my precious mom. Here are some specific prayers that you can lift up on her behalf...

• Continued prayers for her physically-- for her to be cancer free, completely healed, rejuvenated, cleansed, and stronger.
• Prayers for her emotionally-- in my own words, I can only imagine the weight of constant visits to a hospital, appointment after appointment, procedure after procedure... coupled with the physical discomfort and pain. Please pray for her strength, for her comfort, for her spirit. Please ask the Lord to calm her and be a peaceful presence as she returns to MD Anderson tomorrow.
• Pray over the pathology report. Her surgeon seemed confident that her lymph nodes were clear of cancer and that she successfully removed the entire cancerous tumor and got clear margins. Please boldly pray that this is the same news received tomorrow. This confirmation will make for a much more tolerable road as far as treatment goes.
• Continue to pray for the medical team that works on her-- give them strength, clarity, wisdom, steady hands, patience... let them give her the utmost care.
• Continue to pray for my Dad-- he's been incredible thus far. I can only imagine that as their 29th wedding anniversary draws near, they are counting each other as greater blessings than they ever have before. Please pray for his continued strength, support, communication, caregiving, comfort, and peace.

And, I just want to share a beautiful song that has been an anthem for our family since we got the news of my mom's diagnosis-- Healer done by Kari Jobe. You can click that link to listen to it... here are the beautiful words...

You hold my every moment

You calm my raging seas

You walk with me through fire

And heal all my disease

I trust in You

I trust in You

I believe You're my Healer

I believe You are all I need

I believe You're my Portion

I believe You're more than enough for me

Jesus You're all I need

You hold my every moment

You calm my raging seas

You walk with me through fire

And heal all my disease

I trust in You

I trust in You

I believe You're my Healer

I believe You are all I need

I believe You're my Portion

I believe You're more than enough for me

Jesus You're all I need

Nothing is impossible for You

Nothing is impossible for You

Nothing is impossible for You

You hold my world in Your hands

I believe You're my Healer

I believe You are all I need

I believe You're my Portion

I believe You're more than enough for me

Jesus You're all I need

Thank you, thank you, thank you for your continued prayer. We will update as the week progresses. Lots of love and blessings to each and every one of you!

And to our sweet mommy--

"Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all."

Proverbs 31:29

Immeasurably More! (Guest Post by Meredith)

All praises be to the King of Kings, for the Lord our God, HE IS WONDERFUL!

This is Meredith, Jill's oldest daughter...

I have maintained for years and years that my mother is an incredible woman that truly is a cut above the rest. She's physically beautiful, she's outwardly one of the most vivacious, engaging, adorable people you could ever wish to meet... she is full of joy, full of love, full of encouragement. She has a servant's heart, an unshakable faith, and as of yesterday... A CANCER FREE BODY.

Our day at MD Anderson started bright and early. My parent's, along with my mom's sister Teri, arrived shortly before six o'clock in the morning. My sister's and I arrived about 7 o'clock... all prepared for her surgery to begin around 8am. Her surgeon decided when she arrived that morning to re-administer the radioactive dye that she'd had injected Friday morning-- the dye has to "permeate," spread around, do its thing for at least an hour... so she was told they'd call her back around 10:30am to get things started. At 11am, they finally called her back again, and we were told that the surgery officially began at 12:41pm. We expected the surgery to last a minimum of 2.5 hours-- so we headed to grab lunch in the building, then came back to wait... at 2:45pm, her surgeon came over to our family in the waiting room, "Greer?" We all about leapt from our chairs... she went on to tell us that my mom had come out of the surgery beautifully, that she'd gotten clear margins and was able to remove the tumor entirely, as well as a portion of the muscle near the tumor just to be thorough... and then came the news we were all waiting for, she said that the lymph nodes LOOKED CLEAR, CANCER FREE!! The official pathology report will tell the exact findings, and we'll have that a week from today... but her precious surgeon seemed very confident that the lymph nodes were clear and cancer free. WHAT A MIGHTY GOD WE SERVE!!! A short while later, we were allowed to visit my mom, one at a time... she looked amazing! She was so precious, so grateful for the news... so relieved that the cancer had been taken out of her body... it was a long, long day but by quarter til five, we were wheeling her down to the car, ready to go home!

This morning, I called her to check in and my goodness, she sounded incredible! She's such a fighter, such a trooper! She's filled with relief and thanksgiving that the surgery is behind her and was a success. She's resting at home, but is doing remarkably well. My sisters and I are taking turns "babysitting" so my dad can go back to work.

A huge thank you to those of you that stopped by the hospital yesterday to encourage our family. It was a precious blessing. We'll never forget your faces in that waiting room. Thank you as well to those of you that are bringing meals to my parents this week-- another huge service that they appreciate so much. And, on behalf of my mom, thank you for the cards, the texts/emails/calls, the gifts, the flowers, the outpouring of generosity and love you've showered over her. Most of all, THANK YOU for answering the call to be prayer warriors on her behalf. God has heard and we are so thankful for what He has done and what He continues to do. You have all been the hands and the feet of Jesus for my mom, for our family... and it truly is immeasurably more than all we could ask or imagine.

We all love and thank you!

Richard, Meredith, Megan & Makenzie

Easter is a time of Celebration ... Jesus is Risen!

Easter is a time of humble rejoicing and celebration because of Jesus Christ. UP FROM THE GRAVE HE AROSE, HALLELUJAH CHRIST AROSE!!! Being faced with illness is a time of celebration too! Thank you Jesus for your example as you walked on this earth. Hearing the words from a Doctor on Feb. 18th, "this is not good, I don't have good news" (nothing like softening the blow a bit!!) ... basking in Jesus and celebrating Him is where I want to be. "My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him. He alone is my Rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will never be shaken." Psalm 62

Where did the Easter Bunny come from and how can he hop from one house to the next hiding eggs? I don't know how he does it, but this Easter ... the bunny absolutely hopped on by to my house.

I have never been so amazed, astonished, touched, blessed and loved! I woke up Sunday morning to 400+ Pink Eggs in my front yard!!!

Every single egg has a pink note from so many of you! My family and I are touched to the core of our being by the love, notes, scriptures, encouragement and even humor!!

It is Wednesday and I still have 2 large bags of eggs to open and savor ... cherishing every word on every sheet of pink paper. Words simply cannot express how YOU have touched us. The root of this loving gesture is the Lord ... He used my sweet BFFE, Gaynor to spearhead. Those of you who know Gaynor ... knows that God can give her a task and she will complete it with the utmost of love and perfection. She has an unselfish gift of making a human feel so warm and loved. She chased you down with pink papers and spent countless weeks to complete this most amazing gift of love from so many special people across this land! Thank you Jesus, thank you Gaynor and thank YOU ... for making this an Easter I will cherish forever and ever. As I quietly open pink plastic eggs and read the tender notes ...

I stand in awe and rejoice at what the Lord is doing thru His people! "He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me; for THERE WERE MANY WITH ME!" Psalm 55:18. Thank you for being there sweet people for me and my family.

"I will sing to the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the Lord." Psalm 33:14.

Last week was a week of Dr. appts. and a plan has been laid before us. Thank you merciful Jesus. We will continue to know "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou may prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospeth. 3 John 2. God's highest wish is for us to be well ... mostly in our soul, but even in our physical body. On April 19th at 2:00 I will have surgery to remove the tumor. Recover for about a week and begin radiation. Our prayers are many, but a few big ones are:

1) my lymph nodes are cancer free

2) one test we are waiting for will determine if I can take chemo orally (1 pill/day for 5 years) ... that's what I would love Gods plan to be (remember Jill ... God's plan, not yours!). If this is not the plan ... it will be chemo for 6 months with some not so fun side effects!

3) surgery goes as planned ... and they find no surprises!

Real quick, I have to tell you about Alma ... the EKG nurse at MD Anderson. I was in her office getting my EKG test. She asked me if I was a Christian. I shouted with joy ... YES! I LOVE JESUS! She put in a CD from the christian group Hillsong during my EKG. She then held my hands and prayed the most passionate and bold prayer over me. She was a scripture quoting prayer warrior. It was powerful! Let's all say a prayer for Alma ... she is soon going on her first mission trip to Honduras. If the people of Honduras only knew that Alma was coming ... Wow ... she will touch lives there just as she is doing at MD Anderson. Thank you Alma for your witness and confidence in Our Lord and Savior! I will come see you soon!!

My feeble words seem so inadequate and unappreciative ... but I cannot express our Thanks for being who you are in this journey. The outpouring of love has been unbelievable. You have shown me and my family "the love of the Lord." For that, we are so very grateful. I ask God daily to make me a better servant and lover of people ... every person who crosses my path and my heart let me love better. Thank you for showing me and teaching me. Jesus is smiling on you ... a super proud Father indeed!

With sincere love ... Jill