One Month in...

Well everyone. I hope today's addition meets the level of writing criteria you've been accustomed to, as I'm writing this one and Val has the night off... grin.

I have been hesitant to write in this blog for I suppose unknown reasons. I mean... I know why, but don't know how to express why I am hesitant. I am humbled by all the support. I mean truly humbled. I feel maybe as if, if I write the blog people will think I am trying to gain popularity, sympathy or somehow drawing attention to myself. It is hard to put into words. So let me just move on.

First off I really want to thank everyone, with all my heart, for every moment of time you have thought about us. Every prayer, the food, the positive feedback, the facebook pages, the messages and especially the encouragement. I can't tell you how much we appreciate it.

It was a month ago last night that we found out the diagnosis. One month. We have gone through so much in a month already that the cancer diagnosis seems so long ago.

As I sat waiting with my friend Bill on Wednesday for my chemo pump change, I couldn't help but notice a man laying on his bed all alone. Val mentioned she saw others alone when we were there last week as well, but this guy was different. He just laid there staring at the ceiling or looking through his charts restlessly. He didn't have any magazines, books, any friends or family there with him. I couldn't help to think... he had no hope. Obviously I have no way to know this, but I really felt that you could just see it in his eyes. He had no hope... What a statement. I can't imagine going through this without hope.

We are trusting the Lord and asking for his blessing everyday for healing, wisdom, grace and strength... everyday. Everyday brings us new hope...everyday brings us closer to him and when we feel and see what is happening in the house we know we have it. I mean people ask me how are you feeling today (100 times a day they ask...lol) I now say that I haven't felt this good in ten years! I have hope. No matter the result, we have hope. I have been saying lately that I wouldn't have signed up for this assignment, but am I somehow blessed that he chose me. He has brought us back to a heart of worship and a place we let slowly slide away, as our lives started to become comfortable years ago. We all have 'situations' and I encourage you to seek the Lord's hope for your situation.

Yesterday I stayed on my feet all day with visitors, and running errands with my friend Guy. We went out for lunch actually! I was a little nervous about that, as my food intake & swallowing can be very finicky, and sometimes food causes chest spasms for me that are painful... and in public settings can be awkward. So not wanting to put my friend in a situation like that, I was hesitant to eat out. When I expressed my concern he just laughed without hesitation and said he long ago stopped worrying about what people thought of him and let's go! Had a great afternoon. Then I went to watch the Clarke Road boys hockey game at Argyle against South. A nice and much needed 4-1 victory! The boys played well. I heard that the boys basketball team also played a great game against MTS as well and attribute both teams turn around this week to personal accountability. I mean...I saw the first games earlier this week and ouch...great job boys!

In the evening I went to the healing room down off of Adelaide street upon the invite from a new friend I met through Mike Hoy. Dan is a cancer survivor and said that the room helped his recovery and thought I might benefit from it. As the couple prayed for me I just concentrated on the Lord. I have had people pray over me before but was still not really sure what to expect. I concentrated on the Lord and the couple prayed. They prayed for healing, they prayed for protection, they prayed for a peace unlike any other. Well when I left the room, Mike said well,that took a while... 20 minutes? I looked at the clock and couldn't believe it. I thought I was in there for maybe 5 minutes and when I came out I thought...well now what? So peace. A peace like no other.

Then last night I stayed up till my eyes were falling shut and thought... finally...sleep! But oh no. No sleep yet. I was up again all night! I have to drink a lot of water during chemo so I was either up using the bathroom or just plain uncomfortable. It is annoying but yet understandable, the patterns just get all messed up. It just is hard to get you head wrapped around it. So I was up early Friday am and doing some things around here, including writing this post. I am going to play some pool with friends later to get me on my feet again.

Thank you all again for the prayers and support. We could not do this without all the encouragement. Please also remember the terrible situation in Haiti and the unrest there. We are still comfortable here in our lives and sometimes when we are going through difficulties it is easy to forget...someone, somewhere always has it tougher.

Thanks again,
Dave