November 9th: They Day It All Began

Today is November 9th.  A day like most others.  It falls on a Wednesday this year, so it began like most other days.  My first awake moments were spent trying to sleep for 9 more minutes between snooze on my bedside alarm. Before opening my eyes I easily found my robe and slippers and made my way to the kids bedrooms to wake them and ready them for school. I was ready and the kids were off to school so I spent a few moments talking with Billy before I rushed out the door to the office.  The day began so quickly that it took me a few moments to remember the date.  I'm not sure why as I've been thinking about it and the playing it over in my mind for the last few weeks.  I'm sure you've had those dates, when something happened that you'll never forget.  I have several in the month of November actually.  November 1st is a great day, where I've celebrated my husbands birthday with him for 16 years. November 4th we awoke to a house fire in the middle of the night.  I found out I was pregnant with our first child Nov 12th.  I've had multiple surgeries in November and my Nephew was sheltered by a mere screen when falling two stories from a window onto a concrete driveway. So many dates, but for this purpose I'm focused on November 9th....today. 

One year ago Billy and I walked into the hospital to have a quick procedure done.  My trusted doctor of many years was going to remove a vaginal lesion in hopes it would make me more comfortable and fix some minor symptoms.  My doctor was not concerned and didn't believe Billy and I should be either. for those of you that know my husband, Billy is constantly "concerned" when it comes to illness or medical procedures! I remember laying on the pre-surgery bed in my fashionable gown with and IV taped to my arm and Billy looking at my as if I were the most adorable thing on earth.  He was worried about me and being the stubborn woman I am, I chose to make light of the situation and hold his hand as I made jokes and relished in laughing with him in our private room of white curtains.  I actually remember it as a sweet time knowing we'd been through several surgeries together already, all mine of course.  Everything always turned out fine and I had no reason to think this one would not.

Little did we know our life was quickly going to turn a corner that would be both beautiful and extremely ugly at the same time.  I would be barely recovered from my surgery to be called to my doctor's office for a personal review of the pathology results.  November 9th cancer was partially removed from my body and so the journey of hope would begin.

In light of it all, God was so in charge.  He was already miles ahead of me preparing the way so that I would see Him in all my days ahead.

"Nothing in all creation is hidden from God.  Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to shom we are accountable."   Hebrews 4:13

"You saw me before I was born.  Every day of my life was recorded in your book.  Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed." Psalms 139:16

As the first anniversary of this journey is here, I've told my stubborn mind to focus only on the constant provisions that were in place for myself and for my family. The provisions that are still in place as we fight to get back to a sense of normal, while still dealing with appointments and symptoms that constantly remind us life is not the same. 

Please continue to pray as this month brings up many emotions and remembrances for me.  All at the time when my remaining and unseen symptoms sometimes want to overwhelm me.  Pray as I will have new scans next Monday and we pray that the activity seen in June is now gone and that there is nothing else to be seen.

"Let them all praise the name of the Lord.  For his name is very great; his glory towers over the earth and heaven!  He has made his people strong, honoring his faithful ones - " Ps 148:13-14

Lord, may I be faithful....