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

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