Surrounded

It is Tuesday night and everything is quiet here in our home. As Larry and I talk, we admit to each other that we are both struggling with the wait...in the next day or so we will know whether or not this latest round of chemo had any effect on the tumor in our daughter's body. The questions and the fear of the unknown threaten to consume us, but we try and hold on to the support and the faith that surrounds Amanda and our family. Focusing on that gives us more strength...more peace.

Surrounded? Oh, yeah. How? Let's consider a few of the ways...

1) Amanda did great today. She was relaxed and comfortable. In fact so comfortable that they had to re-shoot the first MRI series because when she fell asleep her arms dropped off the side of the table and made her body move, effecting the quality of the picture. They had her cross her arms, she then stayed still for the remainder of the scan and even slept a little more. ;-0

2) Incredible prayers have been offered on behalf of our daughter, our family, this day and Amanda's future. From teachers and staff at her school, to pastors who came with prayers of healing, to family and friends who love her and even those of you who read this blog and speak her name in your prayers, we are continually reminded that Amanda and this battle are continually being spoken of in Heaven.



3) You saw the earlier blog and read of the balloons and the sign of love and support that helped Amanda greet this day, but unknown to us was a second blessing for this day. Casey, a classmate and neighbor, organized a bake sale down at the school this morning. She had put out the word to bring money for baked goods before school today. It wasn't only some change that came today...two tables full of cakes, cookies, rolls, homemade breads, muffins, and more all arrived to help "boost" the bake sale. The picture you see is Casey and Amanda holding the tin that Casey collected her bake sale money in. The total....$931.63. Really. Wow. Double wow.

4) And there's more... hot meals that continue to arrive, cards and letters from those who continue to encourage and love us all, calls, visits and bags of hospital treats, and the messages of encouragement and support for Amanda and our entire family found here on this blog site.

Scared, fearful...honestly, yes. But overwhelmed and despairing, no.

Surrounded and clinging to the strength and promise and prayers we find supporting us...absolutely.