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