Doing Battle, Week 32

I'm taking a break from cancer this week, as much as a person can take a break from cancer when they have cancer. Can I even go hours without thinking about it? I do try to not think about it, but it certainly is still in the all-consuming stage. When my mind is not recalling it for me, my body will remind me what I am battling. I wonder how long after all this is over until I go an entire day without remembering what I battled. Well anyway...

Right now we are in Florida and I'm calling it a miracle that I am here. I make it a habit in daily life to notice "kisses from the King"...just little things I notice that make me think wow God...thanks. This trip is more of a big 'ol bear hug, one that lifts me up off my feet.

We've been coming to visit our Nana for many years in the spring, normally right after tax season. This year, for the first time ever, Shaun and his brother planned way ahead and booked a house over the summer, before we knew a thing about cancer. As the fall and winter months progressed, it was looking less and less likely that I would be able to make the trip, but we couldn't stand the thought of disappointing the kids, so I was prepared for Shaun to do the trip alone with the crew.

As it turns out, the day we left was one of the first days it was feasible for me to do a road trip and we will be back just in time for the one-month mark of being done with radiation, which is when my doctors want me to do tests and appointments.

Way back in August, Shaun and Nathan couldn't have known any of this when they scheduled our week (for later in the season than we've ever come). That's why I believe God orchestrated the whole thing...so that I could be here with my family, enjoying a week of rest before a week of very important and life-affecting tests and meetings. Its just like him to be taking care of details like that, working everything for my good.

That first night when Shaun took me down to the beach and we watched the sunset, I was overcome with emotion. As a rule, I try to take on just one day, per day. I've tried to not look back to what has already been and certainly not too far into the future because, ain't nobody got time for that. So when I look at this experience in total, its just overwhelming to think of what had to happen to get me to this point...where I could stand in the sand, the setting sun kissing my face, the love of my life beside me. All is grace.