I've been thinking about my mother lately. Her birthday is in August. I took this picture of her in August 2006. She was dying. She came, with my dad, to stay with me and receive treatment for a massive tumor in her lung and chest wall. I will never forget those dark days. The weeks before her surgery she lay in her bed in agonizing pain. My two little boys would go into to her room and lay on the bed with her. We prayed for her just like that, laying there. It was such an incredible faith journey. I was stretched in ways I didn't know I could be.

Her surgery was successful. She recooperated rapidly. My dad on the other hand was dealing with an annoying cough. The surgeon that took care of my mother asked my dad to be looked at by the pulmonary doctor on staff. He didn't. They went home the end of October. My dad was seen at a military hospital for his cough. Cancer in his lung! It was unbelievable. First my mother then my dad. How ironic he was unaware he had lung cancer and was watching my mother go through her lung cancer surgery. Needless to say they came back almost immediately. It was December. My birthday that year was unforgetable. I sat in a waiting room as my dad had his cancer removed.

That was a long year. It spilled over into 2007 when my dad's cancer spread to his brain. He was ready to throw in the towel, but we convinced him to have treatment here again.

I am happy to report both my parents are alive and well. I can't explain or express the thoughts and feelings I have experienced during this firey trial. This I do know. God is faithful. He is always with us. His grace is sufficient in all things and to Him be glory forever and ever. I have experienced the peace of God through the most difficult of circumstances. I have grown in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. I am stronger today than I was yesterday.

I love you Mom and Dad.