The weekend

This past week feels a world away already and this weekend has almost settled into normal; playing, whining and fighting over toys, the World Cup, family get-togethers and BBQ's.  And yet every time I see that swollen face of Isaac's my heart just crumbles.

It feels like the calm before the storm.  As we tucked the kids into bed and prayed the words that came out were something along the lines of "Lord, help us through this next week as it will be the toughest we've ever faced.  Except maybe last week.  That was really hard too." 

We have been unbelievably overwhelmed by the love poured out on us.  I wish I knew how to respond to it.  But just like this last week, I don't think there's a blueprint for how to do it.  You just keep nodding and saying "Thank you" and hope the other person knows what they mean to you.  Usually Facebook is just so off-putting.  Full of insincere words, pictures of people trying to show that they've got it all put together, and pyramid schemes.  But times like last week remind me that there's real people on the other end of the screen.  Thank you to everyone who took the time to read the story!

Today we were at cousin Cade's graduation party.  We got there a bit early as the kids were dying to get to the farm.  A friend of my aunt's came stopped me and said, "You know, we prayed for you today at church.  The pastor repeated your story and I was wondering if it was the story that I had heard about and then we prayed for you guys.  Just wanted you to know that there's a ton of people out there loving on you!"  What an awesome thing.  Our story has spread quite a ways it feels.  We've prayed and prayed that Isaac would be healed.  That he would be absolutely enveloped in prayer.  And that people wouldn't forget about him after the initial shine of the story wears off.  For some reason you all have responded in mind-numbing ways.  

God is continuing to do work and you all are the hands and feet.  I'm reminded of Jesus's parable of the sheep and the goats.  "Come who are blessed by my Father...For I was sick and you looked after me...Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you sick and go visit you?' The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.' "

The beauty of that story isn't entirely the love the sheep poured out.  It's that they had no idea what they were doing.  It was love that flowed from their hearts for their brothers and sisters.  Thanks for loving on us.

Enough sermons.  I get carried away.

This week will be hard.  We'll send our son into an operating room and he's going to come out a kidney lighter and be hooked up to a bunch of junk.  I suppose he'll come out a tumor lighter as well!  You can pray for us in a variety of ways.

1. That the doctors would be skilled, rested, and wise.
2. That the tumor that they pull out is Favorable and not Anaplastic. 
3. That Isaac would avoid chemotherapy.
4. That Isaac would be able to handle the catheter and other bandaids and tubes that will be connected to him.  He hates stuff like that and is very stubborn about it.
5. That the stress of handling a 10 month old and an inquisitive 6 year old would be handled appropriately.  That those two would get the love they deserve and need in the midst of this valley of darkness.
6. That Melissa and I would advocate well for our son and stick up for him when needed.  Or shut up when needed as well.
7. That Melissa and I would continue to feel like a team on this.  We have processed this whole situation so differently and yet felt an incredible trust and togetherness through it all.

Lastly, so many of you have wanted to be part of our story in some way.  People are constantly asking how they can help.  We have people cleaning the house, mowing the yard, giving us gas gift cards and dollar bills for vending machine Snickers bars.  We have 2 freezers full of food and have been offered massages and coffee and the whole kitchen sink.  I just don't have anything to say yes too anymore.  However, you all want to continue to bless us and so we're trepidatiously going to open up a GoFundMe in the next day or two.  I just deleted a much longer paragraph, but want you to know that we are so, so, so humbled by the love you have all poured out.  

More than anything we ask for your prayers.  We know God listens and responds to our prayers and He responds to our persistence.  I will be fasting from lunch on Monday through lunch on Tuesday in preparation for his 3 hour surgery that starts Tuesday morning.  I beg any of you willing and able do the same.  

Thank you for hearing our pleas and loving on us so very much.