Dirt and Pizza on Day 486

May 18, 2017December 29, 2025 / KP / 1 Comment

Justin has an ear infection and steroid side effects to contend with this week, which means we are cranky and eating everything in sight. Pizza and lemonade. A real steroid craving regular.

I’ve spent most of the week caring for him, homeschooling and, rather impulsively, planting vegetables and a flower garden. This is very possibly a sign of impending breakdown as this is way out of character for me. I generally don’t care for dirt and earthworms. However, we have made several “cancer friends” on social media and wanted to create something to honor them as well as their families. We chose plants that attract butterflies. We have enjoyed sharing pictures with our friends all over the world.

Oh and lilac smells wonderful. So far, we have spotted one visiting butterfly.

The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. Psalm 33:5b

Upcoming Surgery and Perseverance

March 6, 2017December 29, 2025 / KP / 1 Comment

After a year, it’s time to remove Justin’s central chest line. Switching to IV’s in the hand when in clinic. Ouch, I know. Somehow we think it still beats repeated stabbings and large bandage adhesive removal on a sensitive skin chest area.

Conversations with mom and role play with an IV needle and a pin cushion “hand” with the child life specialist. He’s apprehensive but prepared.

Justin will have the surgery as well as a spinal tap this Wednesday morning. We are scheduled to meet with the surgeon this afternoon. Pre-op checklist: nurse informs me this can be a very uncomfortable procedure because body tissue has adhered itself to the central line. In the same breath, she says this particular surgeon doesn’t like to give pain medication. He thinks Tylenol is just fine. WE WILL JUST SEE ABOUT THAT.

We love to receive homemade cards if you have a moment and feel so inclined. Justin will be recovering later this week and I know funny pictures and encouraging words will lift his spirits. I believe a positive attitude and outlook can aid in healing and recovery, which is why we schedule FUN and LAUGHS and PRAYER and SCRIPTURE.

But the body can also be a downright funny thing. Feeling entirely calm in spirit, but I have a broken out teenager face and way too many thoughts about Amish fried chicken.

Teaching Sunday School yesterday. The test of Abraham. One of my more interested, pensive students asks if we are “still tested today, like, could WE get a test?” Yes, my dear one, and DON’T I KNOW IT.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything…Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. James 1:2-4, 12

The Dawning Time

December 24, 2016December 29, 2025 / KP / Leave a comment

The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned. Isaiah 9:2

Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali—to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:“…the people living in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
a light has dawned.” Matthew 4:13-16

What has impressed on me more than anything this Christmas is the link between Scriptural prophecy on the coming of Christ and the fulfillment recorded in the gospels. I mean I KNEW about it and I BELIEVED it. But this year it’s really jumping off the pages for me.

God said Jesus was coming. People wrote it down. Everything He said would happen, did happen. People wrote it down. And the pages survived and flourished in translation for thousands of years. This is unequivocal reliability.

We will all most likely spend the next twenty-four hours or so in various kinds of traditional Christmas activities or preparing for said activities. And we will feel joy, nostalgia, sentiment, perhaps sadness.

But this is nothing compared to the wonder felt when I think about the Light that has reached down to our helpless state of darkness.

Even on a day sometimes referred to as the Festival of Lights, we can experience that dimmest kind of murkiness, simply resulting from our imperfect existence.

To me, Christmas is a beautiful reminder and celebration of this dawning of Light. The dawning time.

My sincere gratitude for your prayers and support as we continue to journey with childhood cancer. Justin and the boys enjoyed decorating cookies last night.

Love and Lemonade

June 10, 2016 / KP / Leave a comment

A very special thank you to our friends who stopped by to support Alex’s Lemonade Stand in honor of Justin and other childhood cancer warriors. We dedicate our time and efforts to all the children and families living in this struggle.

Grace be with your every high and low, every needle stick and surgery, every fear and anxiety, every tear and tantrum, every mouth sore and stomach pain, every port access and adhesive removal, every victory and defeat, every “yucky oral meds time” and chemo infusion, every steroid-induced-binge-eating session and time spent vomiting, every physical and occupational therapy session, every rude stare and kind word, every blood draw and transfusion, every gift and sacrifice, every thought and feeling, every radiation treatment and scan, every piece of good news and bad, every shock and strand of hair lost, every sleepless night and day spent surviving, every exam and counseling session, every real and forced smile, every hospital stay and homecoming.

Every joy and every sorrow.

This post is dedicated, with love, to Alex’s family. Alex, you are a hero. Thank you for your legacy of love and lemonade.

Alexandra Scott