We Have Missed You !!

As you can imagined so much has transpired since my last post. 

January 4, 2011 was Dad's last day for radiation treatment.  Dad and Mom were able to go home to Tennessee for a few days and visit family there.  They are so cute when they get a chance to go home.  It is as if their entire being embraces the the joys and comforts their home and family down there produces.  They even smile and laugh more as the time approaches for them to journey down home. 

Family and friend visits, family dinners, church services; all the makings of a wonderful time away.  No chemo, no doctor's appointments, no cold Detroit weather.  Although I heard that Dickson is no joke in the winter months either.
After a two day extended stay because of that horrible snow storm that swept over almost every state in the nation they made it safely back up north.

Dad had two test scheduled upon his arrival back home to Michigan.  The MUGA, which is a test of the heart function and also a CT scan of his chest.  The MUGA results showed that Dad's heart function had decreased once again.  The CT scan showed that the original tumor had not responded much to the radiation treatments and that the cancer had spread to the pleural apex of his right lung.

Dad has had two more cycles of chemotherapy since this new finding.  He will have a followup CT scan in a few weeks.  His is doing well.  He is fatigued most days and experiences some pain in his right arm and shoulder, but otherwise is doing quite well.  I am so very proud of my Dad!  He just leans further into Jesus, thanking him for healing his body of cancer.  This adjustment has only reaffirmed our knowledge that our faith object is God, the giver of life.  I must be honest and admit that it has been a rough time for all.  I have attempted to write this update several times, but the words just wouldn't come out right.

My family and I make several trips a month up here to assist Mom and Dad. We call ourselves the Z-circus.  I now home school both our girls so we pack every one's laptop computer, a suitcase full of school books, (I'm enrolled in an online degree program as well) the dog, real estate contracts, Harry's design/build plans, and anything else we can stuff in that truck.  We are truly on a Journey!  It is our desire to arrive at the destination God has for each and every one of us.  It is so awesome to SEE GOD in the midst of this storm.  I see Him in Dad.  I see God in Mom.  I even see God in my girls.  We are all being crushed.  God is working things such as fear, pride, selfishness, impatience, and a host of other things out of us.  And working into us more of  His son Jesus.  Though our hearts are torn, we have vowed to praise Him through this storm.

Things we are looking forward to:
Dad's Healing
Dorian coming Home
A family trip out west
Planting Day for Dad's garden


Please continue to pray for:
Dad and Mom.
Wisdom for the doctors
My siblings, Natalie and Dorian
Strength for the Z-circus
and Most importantly that God receives the glory in it all!

Loving All of You



Dad and his garden watch dog Ruffus

"I'm waiting patiently on those tomatos"