Looking for a family friendly way to get the kids involved with GIVING? Check out this link to Operation Christmas Child! You can pack a shoe box gift for the prize of a pizza.  Have fun while also bringing a little piece of joy to a child in poverty this holiday season.

https://www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/pack-a-shoe-box/

When the days are really full and Justin is sick over too many pills. This is when I really want to hide under the covers with Oreos and a good book.

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified. Isaiah 61:1-3

Justin has a lifetime membership to Give Kids the World Village, where we went, in May, for his Make A Wish trip. Our hotel is about fifteen minutes from the village. Justin fondly remembered the breakfast buffet (of all things)  as we came through the Orlando airport and he said it was like “retracing our steps for my wish trip.”

So we went. We had breakfast and “visited” Justin’s star which will hang “forever” among 140,000 others in the “galaxy of hope.”

We are at the World Center Marriott where Jeff will be speaking at the ARMA conference. Association of Records Management Administrators. Or as we are calling it: the nerd conference.

I regretted not bringing Michael and Nicky for about five seconds until I saw another family with three boys in the airport. They were in a full on tackle football pile up by the luggage claim.

Justin seems to be over the stomach bug and back to his normal ups and down. Or waves of feeling sick as he calls it.

Justin snapped a picture of us before dinner “for your anniversary, mom.” Yes, we had a belated steak dinner, which was lovely until Justin crashed into one of his waves.

I am continually amazed at how God takes our muddled lives and pulls bits of good from the mess.

Me: Justin, we are going to creatively reinvent school for you again this year.

Him: Okay. That’s good mom. You know, I don’t think you know how it feels to have cancer. I never really feel GOOD but sometimes I feel more sick than just the constant not feeling good and it comes in waves.

He didn’t say it with any disrespect. He was trying to explain his daily reality and he is right. I DON’T know. But I am trying to understand.

He happily trotted off to gym class yesterday. We came home, got school work done and he napped the rest of the afternoon. This morning, I write from my mini van while Justin takes art class.

Two dinners have landed on our kitchen table that I did not have to cook. There is another coming today. For me, this is Christmas morning. A very special thank you to Mom, Alyssa and Rachel.

Yesterday was our anniversary. Jeff steam-cleaned the carpets. This is the best gift ever when you have a kid on chemo and a stomach virus making its ugly rounds.

Thank you for continued support, encouraging comments and prayers. Truly, our God walks the fire with us.

Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods. Daniel 3:24-25

Doing school work alone. Napping often. Wanting to quit soccer because he realizes he can’t run well like the other kids and it tires him out so much anyway. Begging me to invite other kids over all the time because he misses seeing his friends. Crying when he eats because of mouth sores. Moody. Tired. Sick.

Justin left school Friday with a stomach virus. He seemed to get better over the weekend, but now it’s back with a vengeance. He has spent much of today resting and soaking his sore bottom in the tub. Waiting to hear back from our nurse on whether a trip to clinic is necessary.

Really feel like crying. But know if I start all that I just might not stop.

Instead I’m thinking on this, as much as I possibly can.

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. Romans 8:18-21

Today we had fun just hanging out at Duffield’s Fall Festival.

Justin will be back in clinic this coming week. I’d be lying if I said I don’t dread it. I most definitely do. I will try to remember that big smile lighting up today.

Thank you for continued support and prayers. Grace be with you, my friends.

9pm. Eating a giant bowl of Cocoa Puffs and I’m not even hungry.

I am not above bribery.