Monday, October 23, 2006

It's Monday morning and time to leave the hospital......almost...last night we were praying that Ramona's hemoglobin would rise above 90...it was 88 yesterday...instead of going up by 2 it dropped 2 and her hemoglobin is 86 meaning she needs to stay here for a blood transfusion...the blood should be here by about 10:00 or 10:30 and then she'll have it all in her by about supper time and then...we're good to go...yes we were definitely at the Franklin Graham Festival last night...the volume and passion of the worship really makes a person wonder how awesome heaven will be...we enjoyed Casting Crowns alot...as it is for so many other people...the song 'Praise you in the Storm' is really special...we didn't realize until a few days ago that the song was written for a girl that had a Sarcoma...Ramona also had to drink a medicine that she usually gets in IV form...it says on the label to drink with a cola and one nurse told us that it smells like a mixture of urine and ammonia...anyway...it actually worked fine...and it was perfect that Wayne and Essie Herrod were right there praying for Mony as she was drinking her Mesna...our nurses and the Franklin Graham staff were really good in making the details of the little trip work....our 4 week break starts tonight...and as much as it seems like a break...it's not alot of fun to wait...i'm not sure how to explain it...we need to pray harder than ever...and we wish we could be physically doing something to fight cancer.............i guess the summary is that we're learning what it means to trust....later...earl

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

hey Ramonna and Earl, I'm thinking of you and my prayers are with you. Be strong .....
Loralee Furgala

Roshonna said...

Earl and Ramona,

It was good to see you at the festival even though we never talked. (I could see you on ground level from where we were sitting.) Anyway, I just pray that your break from chemo and the time of waiting and wondering will be filled with a peace that can only come from God. As so many have said, you are a blessing to us just by being God's children in the midst of this storm. ~Roshonna

Anonymous said...

i'm gonna pray that somehow this break will be a break for you
Leave everything in God's hands these 4 weeks and enjoy your time off
I know its easier said than done But I hope you understand what i'm saying
Jesus is gonna be working hard these 4 weeks in Ramona and Earl and in the doctors So we need not worry because He will have things takin care of when its time to go take the tests
I Love You both and pray so hard for you
Enjoy your time off

Anonymous said...

I was so pumped to see you at the concert. You guys told us a little over a week ago that you thought it was such a long shot that you would be able to go. I enjoyed Casting Crowns so much. I was very challenged by the Lifesong song. How can I live my life as a song to God? What does that look like? Is it what Earl calls "Just go crazy?" We love you.
Stan and Tara (& Jermaine)

Anonymous said...

Hey guys.

Glad to hear you're back out of the hospital again. Hope this break really is a break and that the chemo will do what it's supposed to do over the next few weeks. Take care and God bless you.

Joanna

Anonymous said...

We are so human aren't we. I suppose it will be hard not to be worried for 4 weeks wondering what will happen But Jesus is the calm in the center of the storm and He will never leave you When the waiting will seem to hard tell Him all about it and He will comfort you. Wilma

. said...

earl and ramona, i'm still smiling about our tim horton party at the hospital last nite. it was such a treat to hang out w/ so many camp friends all together and having you (and yoru other friends) as a part of that!

i'm sorry to hear that you couldn't leave this morning. what a dissapointment! but i'm assuming that you're home now?

as others have said, i do pray for peace these next few weeks. i pray that your heart will be strengthened, mony. i meant that in a physical way, but let's also pray that both of your hearts, your souls, will be strengthened now as well...

count me in as part of the praying ranks this next while. may those tumors continuously shrink during these next 28 days!

love you,
dayna

Anonymous said...

Ramona and Earl you give me the inspiration to praise God in any storm that I am facing. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

With all my Love,

Sophia

Anonymous said...

I can only wish I was there for you more!!

Anonymous said...

Hey guys,

It was great to hang out with you two and the entire assembled crew on Sunday! I commented on the way home that I really enjoyed spending the week-end hanging out with my Christian friends, and it's true, it was great!

As always, I'll keep on praying for you!

Anonymous said...

Hey earl and ramona,
I just want to let you guys know that you are extremely special to me,, and you encourage me extremely much just by the way you guys have been living your life!! I'm definitely prayen' for ya,,, and ramona,, I'm happy you got to see casting crowns,,, I also thought it was really good and touching!! All the best guys!! God Bless, Lani

Anonymous said...

hi there
i also was able to go to the festival. and what an amazing time it was. and yes earl it was like heaven or @ least it felt like heaven i could totally feel the peace of God in that place something i've been longing for for so long.
it was great that you both could go i was @ the over flow on saturday and on sunday @ the mts. and it was so great to be with ppl and ones coming to christ
and by the way i know essie and wayne herrod they are great ppl they go to my church.have a great day my prayers are with you.

Anonymous said...

Earl and Ramona,

How hard it must be to wait. Four weeks can seem so long. Ramona, I am praying that your heart will grow strong again, that the tumors will be significantly smaller, that your soul will be peaceful in this time of waiting. Earl, you are such an awesome example of what a supportive spouse should be. May you be strengthened and renewed in these four weeks.

I was thinking of you and an old hymn came to me...

They that wait upon the Lord
Shall renew their strength
They shall mount up with wings as eagles....

Do you know that hymn? I know that it comes from a verse in the Bible. Unfortunately, I don't know where in the Bible you could find it. Time for me to start memorizing more scripture!

May you have a time of rest, renewal of strength, and peace in heart and mind. You are covered in prayer, never forget that!

Love, Michele (Jobina's sister)

Anonymous said...

Hi guys,
Feel so far away in terms of being there for you... but so close in terms of feeling for you. I read a verse a couple of mornings ago that made me think of you...
"He does not delight in the strength of the horse, He does not take pleasure in the legs of a man. The Lord favors those who fear Him, those who wait for His lovingkindness." Ps.147:10-11.
We love you guys... your lives are making a huge impact all over, including in us. Praying you'll have incredible determination to keep fighting and keep trusting. Hope you keep having clear glimpses of how God is there and is at work. Esp on the days when life sucks. You are not forgotten.

Anonymous said...

Hi there,
I just wanted to let you know, Springs Church in Winnipeg is doing a conference this week, and on sat.eve.at 7:30 and sun.morn.at 11:30 Reinhard Bonnke will be speaking.He has done healing in lots of people.Pastor Leon said when he holds an event,truck loads of wheelchairs get hauled away.I know he can heal Ramona as well.Anyway,just thot I'd let you know.You can find more info at springschurch.org.God bless you.We read your blog frequently and our prayers are always with you.

Anonymous said...

Hey Earl and Ramona. It's awesome that you guys got to go to the Franklin Graham crusade. Man I'm still praying for you all, no joke about that. I love you guys. Man in all honesty it's like what does a person say, I wish I could say something that would change the situation for you both. But if you ever need anyone just to talk with, vent, cry with whatever, Heck I'm here for you all. I'll try and call you one of these days God bless y'all.

. said...

ramona!... i hated hearing today that you've been back at st. b. i was in morweena this morning quickly visiting mandy before she's gone and since i coudln't get ahold of you last night i figured maybe i'd suprise you w/ a visit.... now i know why i couldnt' get ahold of you :( sure hope you'll be home soon (and i hope the roads will be driveable!)

hope the next few days will be filled w/ smiles and relaxing and a lot of non-fever, non-worry times... especially tomorrow ;)

i continue to pray... always...
i love you,
dayna

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday, Ramona!

Have a good one.

Love, Jacob & Jill

Anonymous said...

happy birthday Ramona!
Wishing you the best year ever.
I sent you something in the mail, but its going to be a little late.
Keep on the look out for it.

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday,Ramona!
Have a wonderfull day

Cornie&Tina Plett

Anonymous said...

HI Mony,
Happy 24th??? is it? Hey I hope and am praying that today will be a special day for you, a happy one. You and Earl have some fun...
More of His power to you as you keep up the fight. You guys are true warriors and I'm sure some of the battles feel nitty gritty but those are important in the big picture. Just got a little picture in my mind's eye of Peter freaking out in the waves, had so much faith and confidence when he stepped out in the first place but then he realized the enormity of the situation he was in and it was overwhelming and frightening, causing him to doubt...(I wasn't actually sure what happened next, so I read up on it...and I was pretty touched by the ending of that story... without checking I would have said "but then he focused on Jesus again and he made it across.") But in actuality the real story isn't at all that pious... Peter basically screamed out for help and it says Jesus "immediately stretched out his hand and took hold of him" Jesus finishes off with a bit of a reprimand/question... O you of little faith, why did you doubt? Words we all need to hear sometimes but awesome to realize that FIRST he caught him and then he said it, not the other way around. He loves you guys, I'm sure of that.
Take Care, eh

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday Ramona,
I realized today that you are focusing on the HOPE that is sure and steadfast. . and I think God will do something good for you this year. .
Sometimes we like "instant" healing, answers, comfort, etc. But life isn't like that. And through the waiting, midst intense pain, God comes through.
I love you and believe in you gal,
Gloria.

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday Ramona!

Just to let you know again that I'm praying for you and Earl often. Hope God has blessed your birthday with his love, peace and abundant grace.
warm wishes,
Trudy Loewen

Anonymous said...

Happy birthday, dear... I've been thinking of you guys a lot today, and hoping that there's something special that you can remember of this day as you look back on it. Praying that you will stay strong, knowing that THE MOST HIGH is carrying you both.
So much love, auntie Esther

. said...

happy birthday ramona!!! and hello earl!!! there's more to say, but hey, there'll be more time to say it another day... i love you, dayna