"Kiss my grits"

Well as many of you know this weekend was tons of fun, I got to spend my night with the friendly staff at Moffitt Cancer Center last night.  They are very accommodating they even had a clean bed ready for me when I arrived.  It appears that I just got a bit of the flu or a cold just like anyone else, except with chemo they freak out and want you to be under watch.  I still am convinced that this is just an attack from satan and I have news for him, in the eloquent words of Flo, satan you can kiss my grits.  

Under the weather

In a normal year I get a cold maybe once or twice and they last a week and are usually not to much of a concern for me.  This time is different, today I started to experience the cold symptoms cough, runny nose, congestion, and body aches.  Normally these symptoms are not concerning and I usually ignore them and go on.  i really think that this time is more of an attack from the devil than in the past, just this week in Children's Church we talked about how we as Christians have authority over the devil and how he tries to stop God by harming those who serve Him.  This week has been a mountain top week for our children's ministry, and I feel that this cold is an attack from Satan himself.  I am believing God for complete control over this situation and know that Satan has no ability to cause me anymore harm.  With all of this in mind, I believe god has some pretty big plans to follow the awesomeness that He showed this week.  So, Satan, if you are reading this you can kiss my butt, oh yeah and enjoy the size 14 shoe in your face, 'cause I ain't going out like that.  I apologize to the rest of you for my strong language, and know that you will be in prayer with me that I will get better soon.

Awesome Week.

When I found out that I had cancer people told me that life would find a new normal, and that everything would be looked at through the eyes of cancer.  That little bit of advice cannot be any further from the truth.  Since my diagnosis in January, I have tried to maintain life as normal and too much of my own surprise my efforts have been successful.  There are times when I suffer from Chemo Brain, but for the most part life is lived just as it was prior to the big "C" and in some cases my life and health are better.  This week is one of those times where the big "C" has had little effect on the success or failure of the things that I have pursued, and for that I thank God.

Pushing Through

This weekend has been a real whirlwind for my family, but God is continuing to be awesome in everything.  I had a treatment on Thursday, Misty had a colonoscopy on Friday, Nate had a church event and Karate tournament on Saturday, and we started a kids revival on Sunday that will last through Wednesday.  What a weekend!!!  God continues to give me the strength that I need to push through the times when I feel weak or tired.  Thank You God for the strength to stand when I don't think that I can.

Third time around.

I am now three days past my third treatment, and things have gone pretty well.  The only different side effect that I have had this time has been neuropathy in my fingers and in my toes, this is fun and scary at the same time.  It is nice that now I can carry hot pans from the oven to the table without a pot holder, but smell of the hot flesh is not to pleasing.  I am only kidding, I have to take extreme care to make sure that I pay attention so that I don't injure myself without knowing about it.  This time around I still lost taste, I know that some would argue that I have never had much taste to begin with.  On a more serious note, things are going great and i couldn't ask for a better outcome considering the circumstances.

not much happening

Some times I feel guilty when I haven't posted for a few days, as if I am letting people down because I have nothing to say.  Really right now in the course of my treatment it seems that not much is happening.  My lymph nodes are continuing to decrease in size and everyday is just one day closer to the end of this short journey.  I don't resent having cancer, but I don't enjoy it either. I know that God will bring me through and that in the end He alone deserves the glory. 

One Week

Today marks the day that I celebrate every two weeks, the one week before and after chemo treatments.  This round has been much better than the last time in the sense that I have been able to get back to life much quicker than the last time.  Since my treatment last Thursday I have walked nearly every night and ran one evening.  My kids still don't quite understand my situation and Celeena still thinks that the bump from the port in my chest is the reason I am sick.  Their simple understanding of my condition is just one more reason that I must live through it.  How can a child that cannot fully comprehend why their daddy is sick understand why their daddy died?  The thought of someone having to explain this complexity to them is reason enough to keep on living.