Long Week

It has been quite a week!

Doug has been extremely sick and weak. I was very concerned. I took him to see Dr. Schmillen at Mt. Family Wellness on Wednesday. Oh what a blessing they have been! Did some reflexology on him and gave him a new supplement program. What a difference that made, by Thursday afternoon he was finally keeping water down! Come Friday he was keeping food down and his energy was coming back! Thank you God for putting this amazing family in our lives. Mt. Family Wellness has been truly amazing with Doug's treatment! Love you guys!

He seems to being doing better, but not being a very good patient this time around. He is a bit impatient! Wanting to get going, get to doing stuff. I have had to numerous times tell him he is a week out of surgery, oh and that is BRAIN surgery, and to settle down and rest.

We head back to Seattle this week to have stitches removed and talk about what our next step is. There are many options for him to try. We are hoping pathology reports and other studies they did will give the doctors the guidance to the exact treatment plan.

I want to share a few things with you all.

In our times of trials we turn to God, which is exactly what you should do, but where we get frustrated is when we ask for God to help us, guide us, show us, and we feel it is not happening. We are "looking" for big signs from him. What we need to learn first, is we should not wait for a trial to turn to God. We need to turn to him every day. Then I would say stop looking for BIG signs from him. Let me share a few things that have shown me The Lord is right next to me, giving me guidance and support.

As we are driving to Seattle l get an email from a sweet lady here in Eagle stating she went to school with a family that their dad had the same tumor, and one of the sisters is now an advocate at the hospital we are headed to. Here is her name and number, call her. Come to find out she works with Dr. Cobbs, she was willing to meet with us when we got to Seattle, she gave us a ton of helpful information and support. That is guidance from the Lord.

As we are going in to meet with Dr. Cobbs on Tuesday I was very anxious. When you are told your husband has only a few months if we don't do something soon, it puts a bit of anxiety in you. I felt we were exactly where we were suppose to be, but still need confirmation. As Dr. Cobbs is talking to us about doing surgery tomorrow, he states, "I am very aggressive with these tumors." I respond Doug is very concerned that where the tumor is located it could affect his left side movement, so are you going to just go in and get it, if you get in there and see it might affect him will you pause and call me in the waiting area, will you... he reached down and touched my knee and said, "I already have a game plan!" People, that was the Lord speaking through the doctor! My God knew that was my lingo, it was his way of saying, "Jacki I am here with you, you are in the place I have guided you to be, now you need to relax and trust."

As we returned home there was a day I was struggling. I visited with my worship leader on the phone for quite awhile, she gave me great comfort. As we hung up the phone, I turned around to call Bentli to let her know I was on my way home. As the phone began to ring an song began to play, And if our God is with us, then what could stand against. And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us. And if our God is with us, then what could stand against, what could stand against. I was in shock that Bent put that as her ring back tone. I faintly heard Bent say Hello! The music continued... Our God is greater, our God is stronger, God you are higher than any other, Our God is HEALER, Awesome in Power, Our God! Our God! I said Bentli can you hear the music? She says NO, what music? I asked again, are you sure you can't hear the music. She then says Mom, I don't hear any music! I said ok I will call you back. I called her back and there was no more music! Again, in the time of my struggling he showed me, he is next to me. Loving me, holding me, and guiding me!

I would challenge you all to stop "Looking for the big" sign, and rely on your feelings of him next to you. It is the butterfly that won't leave you alone, it is the glimpse of the sunset or the sunrise, it might be the open parking spot in a full lot. Trust in yourself, when you might "think" you feel him, don't "think" it, KNOW IT!

1Corinthians 16:13 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong

Love and Blessings to all!