What’s new with Mary?

Posted on December 9, 2015 by Margaret

When last I blogged about my sister Mary and her pancreatic cancer (Mary: Good News, Bad News), the medical word was that the tumor in her liver had grown some, though the cancer in two other places had not. It was a good news/bad news report, but as always, Mary chose to dwell on the good and leave the bad up to God and his plans for her.

That last scan took place nearly six months ago, and since then not much has changed — good news indeed! This statement actually borders on the miraculous, since pancreatic cancer is usually rabid and fast-growing. But our Lord winks at the word “usually” and often steps around it to do something different. After all, he defied gravity by walking on water, dominated nature by piling a river into heaps, and foiled death by coming back to life. Things that are impossible for us are downright easy for Him. We aren’t sure what he’s doing within Mary, but we’re sure delighted she’s still with us!

Mary has decided not to undergo further scans until there’s reason to do so. Blood test numbers are moving slightly but not enough to be worrisome. And so she continues to live each day as the Lord sets them in front of her, one at a time, remaining active and feeling no pain. Right now she’s making plans to feed 45 guests on Christmas Eve.

Mary wants to pass along her thanks to any of you who still mention her in your prayers and is praying God’s blessing back on you. This blog will continue to keep you posted as the weeks and months unfold, and in the mean time, the statement we made last spring still holds: no news is good news!

The Lord said…” My power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Flip-flopping into Seventy

Posted on August 14, 2015 by Margaret

Since I was born in 1945, this was the year I was scheduled to turn 70. For many weeks leading up to August 8, though, I was dreading it.

Seventy! Threescore and ten. According to the Bible, once you reach that age even your best days are full of sorrow. “Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow.” (Psalm 90:10)

None of that sounded good, and I didn’t feel like celebrating. But with daughter Linnea and her family of six staying with me, how could I disappoint the children? “You know how important birthdays are to kids,” she said. So I decided to swallow my worries and go with the flow.

Linnea and Louisa put together a lively family celebration that included streamers, glitter, balloons, spaghetti with all the trimmings, made-from-scratch cakes, gifts, and 29 relatives. The house was rockin’ with joy and gladness, and the 15 kids on hand weren’t the only ones who had fun. I did, too.

The next morning my three daughters had a much smaller celebration in mind – brunch for just the four of us. But before we left, Klaus came by and gave me a gift I’d been hoping for: a birthday motorcycle ride. “I’ll take you to the restaurant, Mom,” he said, and off we went.

The girls followed by car, but that was the end of what I thought was planned.

When we walked into the restaurant, 20-plus friends came out of hiding singing “Happy Birthday” in three part harmony!

Sister Mary (who is still feeling great, by the way) and friend Mary Jo had put together this beautiful event, robbing their own yards of hydrangeas and also giving each guest a flower to wear.

Knowing of my love for summertime, Mary had instructed each person to bring a pair of flip-flops, which even included flip-flop earrings and flip-flop cookies!

But there was more….

Linnea shared memories of being raised in our family, touching my heartstrings in deeply emotional ways. Her loving words warm me still. I know it wasn’t easy for her, especially when talking about her father, but she did a wonderful job and blessed us all in the process.

And then, dear blog readers, came the grand finale. YOUR gift!

Mary had collaborated with several others to notify you of my birthday. And the giant box in my living room today is overflowing with your greeting cards, some I haven’t even opened yet! Feeling overwhelmed with your kindness, all I can do is express a huge “THANK YOU” to each of you in these words, hoping you feel my intense gratitude!

These cards will re-gift themselves as I go through them slowly for the second time during this year-of-70. And in trying to bless-you-back, I plan to use the words you wrote to me, to pray blessing back over you.

Now, as I look back at turning 70, I can see God in a fresh way. Isn’t it just like him to take an event I was dreading and flip-flop it, transforming it into a day of joy?

And I hope my “happy feet” will help me remember that for next time!

“God, who is enthroned from of old, does not change.” (Psalm 55:19)

Mary: Good News, Bad News

Posted on June 9, 2015 by Margaret

Today was a day of waiting. Mary, with her husband Bervin and their firstborn, Luke, moved from one clinical waiting room to another for blood tests, scan prep, and then the full body scan itself. It was tempting to lose patience, but Mary testified to a heart and mind overflowing with peace through those many long hours. This, she believes, was the result of the prayers of people like you, Blog Reader. And Mary wants you to know she is filled with gratitude tonight!

First, the results of last November’s scan: a ¾” tumor in Mary’s liver, nodules in one lung, and lymph nodes in her abdomen that were also cancerous. Today’s results, nearly 7 months later, are these:

The lung nodules and lymph nodes are virtually unchanged. This was good news! But the liver tumor has grown to almost 2 inches. As Mary put it, “That’s not such good news.”

Even so, there are things to be thankful for. Mary’s doctor told them that the slow-growing nature of her cancer is not typical in pancreatic patients. That’s one more item in the “good” column. And another: all of Mary’s blood tests today came back normal! For example, though she has always leaned toward anemia, today’s hemoglobin count was up in normal range.

But the best news of all today (the #1 “good”) is that God is in the process of working all these things, both the good and the bad, together for good in Mary’s life and even in the lives of all those who love her. We may not be able to see the details yet, but we believe the promise because it was made by a trustworthy Person.

Over the course of many hours of waiting today, Mary said she was reminded of our Mom when she went through a painful medical procedure years ago. She began quietly singing a favorite old hymn, and as she did, she was able to disassociate from the misery of the moment and be transported to “things above:”

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in his wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of his glory and grace.”

Mary also mentioned being encouraged by the many word pictures of Psalm 91: the shelter of the Most High; the shadow of the Almighty; God as her Refuge and Fortress; being covered by His feathers; being protected under His wings; knowing angels were standing guard.