Friday, August 25, 2006

I've been procrastinating blogging for a few days now. I'm really not sure what to write. I scared me a bit the other day when I heard just how many people are reading this. In these last few days at home I've had so many thoughts and questions about life I can't even begin to put them to words. And I wish that I had some huge revelation of great things to share with the world....We look around us and wonder what is happening...we miss the spiritual intensity of camp...there is very little novelty left in dealing with chemo side effects....yesterday evening i was asking Mony how she was feeling....and she asked me relative to what...apparently relatively to the 4th day of the actual treatment she was fine. this morning things are still getting worse though....the heartburn is increasing making it incredibly hard to eat or drink...she threw up once this morning already...i guess as she is trying to sleep right now...i need to send out a big request for prayer...and another thing...if God has done powerful things in your life in the last day or two...let us know...it feels like we often need reminders of Gods strength...when Ramona is feeling good it is easy to credit that to prayer...when she is feeling rough....who do we credit???...the medical update is that in about 2.5 weeks we will find out if the tumors have shrunk...until then we wait and pray....in the next 2 or 3 days here is when Ramona's white blood count drops to almost 0...likelyhood of spending some time in the hospital increases...
-earl

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

I believe, with Christ living in me through the Holy Spirit, recognized, trusted and obeyed, my life today can be happy, restful and strong. Deliberately I surrender my life to Him to do the mighty work within of cleansing and empowering. I believe also that God will manage my affairs today if I hand over the control to Him. I do that now and refuse to take anything back into my care. In this faith, I go out into the day with quietness and confidence as my strength. Author Unknown

Anonymous said...

me my family my church and the baptist church are all praying fer u guys and we hope u get through this ok WE LOVE U GUYS SOOOOOO MUCH!!!!!!

Deniece

Anonymous said...

Dear Ramona, I'm still surprised you have cancer. I want you to know that we pray every day for you and that God will perform a miracle and heal you. I want to come visit you real soon. I hope you're not in pain. I'm asking God to protect you and make you healthy.
From your cousin Brendan G.

Anonymous said...

it is during the times you dont feel God as near as sometimes that He is working on something (behind the scenes) out of the ordinary. Expect big miracles to happen. Ramona people all over the world are united behind you praying actually thanking God for healing you. God did not wish for people to have to suffer He is on your side 100%. And with Him on your side all sickness has to flee. There is no room for cancer in His Temple (your body). I hope you will keep being strong. And remember to thank God every day for healing you; claim healing every day. As you are throwing up thank God for healing you! It cheers you up it leaves no room for doubt in your mind. I Love You Guys and Pray for You Always

Anonymous said...

Ramona & Earl,
as I sit here and read and think and pray, I actually think about picking up the phone to call you...for some reason I have a feeling you're awake too. But instead, I'll "blog".
I just want to tell you how strongly I feel that God will provide the miracle of healing your body! Mostly, I have a sense of peace and I just believe God will remove the cancer as only He can!
Ramona, you have always honoured God with your life! Earl, although your pain is not physical, I know it hurts like crazy to see Ramona like this. But as both of you keep pointing out...God is giving you strength and you just want His name to be glorified. Thankyou for letting your light shine, your young cousins are among the many who will grow in faith thru all this!
Hang in there, guys! God loves you so much...and so do we! Linda G.

Anonymous said...

Hi Earl and Ramona,

In answer to your blog, I can't say that anything "major" has happened to me in the last few days. I can say that God is slowly working on my life everyday. I feel like it started before I knew about you, but it has intensified by reading your story.
You have a faith I have never seen in another human being. When you said in a previous blog that you talked to each other about stories in the Bible where God put His people in extreme situations (remember, God didn't keep Daniel from the lion's den, He just closed the lion's mouths), I was flabergasted! I knew that wasn't what I would be thinking at that time if I were in your situation. I have used that quote so many times now when I am faced with a situation that I think is unbearable. It has strengthened me, and others in times of conflict.
My Aunt is also going through cancer treatment right now. She's just starting chemo and is afraid of losing her hair, etc. I told her what you had said and it totally calmed her.
Thank you for claiming God's truth in your lives. You are a living testimony of God's infinite love, mercy and grace. I, for one, appreciate you both for it.
We continue to pray for you both, be at peace.

Love, Michele (Jobina's sister)

Anonymous said...

Footprints in the Sand

One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the LORD.
Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand: one belonging to him, and the other to the LORD.
When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand.
He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints.
He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life.
This really bothered him and he questioned the LORD about it:
"LORD, you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me."
The LORD replied: "My son, my precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you."


We also like the Fathers Love Letter you'll be able to watch it here with Windows Media Player. http://onefather.com/video/FLLNarr_256k.wmv If that doesn't work for you, visit http://www.fathersloveletter.com/fllvideos.html

With love and prayers,
Celia and Earl

Anonymous said...

Hey guys,
Even though I am far from you in distance my thoughts and prayers are with you both. You asked if anything amazing had happened in the last few days, nothing has, but sometimes the most incredible miracles are gradual, one minute at a time. As you guys face this you call to God and say "Heal Ramona, we have faith you can do it". That is a powerful thing and although it would be really nice for all involved if God would just instantly heal Ramona-he has a purpose for this timing to. Maybe we can't see it now but it is there. I say this from experience. My Mom's healing - a miracle but a drawn out one. It has been over two years now but still God has not totally restored her mind, maybe he never fully will, but even coming this far was an incredible miracle. The doctors said she might never wake up, but she did, they said she would be a vegetable for the rest of her life, but she isn't. I encourage you to look for the little day to day miracles - a meal, a call, a belt, a blink, the lives you are reaching... Somedays that is the only way you can keep going. B/c God is omnicient he can see the big picture that we can't and he is there for everything.
As I made demands of God to heal my Mom a wise lady suggested that maybe I shouldn't be praying for my will, but for God's. At first I was angry at her but eventually I saw the truth and so my prayers changed from demands for healing to supplications for God's will to be done. Once I did that it allowed God to work in my life and in my Mom's.
Sorry if this sounds preachy, it isn't meant to it's just God has laid it on my heart so it spills off my fingertips and on to the page.
You are both amazing people and I admire your strong and active faith keep believing in God.
-Britt

Anonymous said...

Dear Britt,

Well said. I think we all need a reminder sometimes that it's God's will, not our own, that needs to be done.

Michele