Favorite foto friday # 24: Thankful

Prayers request: I am thankful for the time I have with my Dad being healthy, and that he has always been a part of my life. I am thankful for every moment we have together, for all he has done for me.

That is about to change. This week we got details on his cancer. My Dad has squamous cell carcinoma. The source is a good sized tumor at the base of his tongue (way in the back of the throat), which is inoperable because of the location, it is near too many vital structures such as major arteries, the trachea, etc. It is considered stage 4 because it has spread (and was found) in his lymph nodes. This is considered a very serious and very aggressive (and somewhat rare) cancer. He is going to start 8 weeks of a daily reagimine of chemotherapy and radiation. To put this in perspective, 7 1/2 years ago my Uncle Died of this same exact cancer. He was in stage 3 and was given 9 months to live with 10% change of treatment being effective. He quit chemo after 5 weeks because he could not tolerate, it made him VERY sick and he wanted to spend his remaining time loving and enjoying his family. He got to where he was able to surf again, work again, and be healthy for a few months before he died 8 months after diagnosis when his tumor grew and collapsed his trachea. My Dad feels no symptoms at this moment however, he has suffered from severe back injury and been on pain meds for some time now. It may be that symptoms he linked to his back injury were actually cancer symptoms. He thought being on pain meds caused him to lose about 40 pds in the last 8 months however, the Doctors says this is more likely to be from the cancer. Please pray for healing, My dad would begin to eat healthy (and eat a LOT), that he would quit smoking (he plans on it but, admits he needs a Doctors help), that treatment would be affective, and that he would gain a relationship with Christ (I'm really unsure of where his heart is at this point, he is evasive when I try to talk about it).

I am thankful for best friends who are always their for me no matter what. Friends whose should I can cry on, who I can act rediculous with, and plan scheming dreams with. Friends like Alicia who have seen me through every event in my life (except birth because I am 15 days older, and had to do that by myself.)
I am thankful for other good friends like Samantha. For getting to watch her fall in love and start a new chapter in her life!
I am thankful for new additions to our famly like my little cousin Joshua (top) who is a true miracle baby and my little "niece" Ashlynn (bottom)


I am so very thankful for family both immediate and extended. here is my immediate family when I was little. I'm thankful that God kept us together for so many years, even though most parents would have given up under the trials my parents had. I'm thankful that for now each of them have their health. I am so thankful that even with my Dads cancer diagnoses, he is in Gods grip, and I am thankful that he can use this for his good, perhaps even to draw my family back together/closer together!
I am thankful for scanners and that my grandma's doesn't rearrange. Because of those two things I have been able to scan over 300 pictures from the past, pictures dating back as far as my great, great grandmother and share them with out of state cousins who never had the chance to browse through this like I did. This one is of my grandma and grandpa when they first started dating...
I am thankful for the fabulous four, Josh, Levi, Gabe, and Kenzie, who all bring a smile to my face, make me feel loved, and remind me of the importance of being a Christ like example...because they are always watching.
I am thankful for my sweet puppy Kalika. She has snuggled up to me during countless tears and illnesses. She has an uncanny knack of knowing I am getting sick before me, of knowing when women are pregnant, and knowing when I am upset. She keeps me active, reminding me even on gloomy days a good walk can lift you up. She makes me laugh and smile, and forces me out of bed on depressing days. A dog can do a lonely aching heart some serious good!
This moment, and every moment I am blessed with him after it, I am so incredibly greatful for. The moment I met, saw, and held my sweet nephew for the first time. I never knew this feeling of love. Even though he is far from "mine", he feels like he is partly mine. My sister would say he is HERS, and I know he is ultimately God but, knowing he entrusted Zackery's life to my family, that he chose me to be his Auntie, it's a truly special feeling. Now he is one, and he smiles when he sees me, reaches out for me, and goes for swims and bike rides for me. He melts my heart. I have never worried so much for a child as for him. I worry about his physical health. I worry about the man he will become. I worry he will be scarred emotionally, or his personality will be changed because of circumstances surrounding his life. It's so, so, so different. I feel such a burden (in a good way) to love him and proclaim Christ to him, to be an example of unconditional love, to speak truth over him, and pray over him constantly. If I feel this for my nephew....how much more is it with your own kid?

I have so much to be grateful for. I am blessed beyond measure.