A Time For Everything

I'm always amazed with how quickly summer flies by. I cannot believe it's almost mid-August. I mean it's the week of the Boone County Fair! I have so many memories of the fair being the last "event" before school started back up. I would usually save an awesome summer outfit to wear to the fair so that I would look super cool when I saw my friends. My freshmen year, I got braces (red and blue for Conner Cougars!) and I remember having to show them off at the fair! So fun.

This summer has been one to remember. I am thankful for my mom being off work and having some extra time with her that otherwise would have been spent with her working. I am thankful for baby Austin this summer and that his neck and head conditions are not permanent. Like every season though, this summer and experience is certainly just a "season" and I am ready to begin a new one. I have reflected on Ecclesiastes 3 many times and as a believer it brings so much hope that this season of fear, sadness, confusion, etc will soon pass. However, I have learned in this difficult season of life, that Jesus reigns as our hope and our refuge. In the midst of pain, you can still find peace, laughter, forgiveness, strength. My mom continues to cling to the cross as she goes through her journey. I see joy in the midst of treatment, laughter in the midst of chemo symptoms, forgiveness in the midst of confusion, and strength in the midst of sorrow! 

Each of our family members have experienced something crazy this summer. Whether it was the passing of a grandpa or step-dad, a tragedy at work, losing a baby tooth by falling (little Kaleb!), and finding out a new baby was on the way (Meiman's!).....we have all had quite a season this summer. I'm honestly looking forward to it being over. But for now.........

3 There is a time for everything,

    and a season for every activity under the heavens:

2     a time to be born and a time to die,

    a time to plant and a time to uproot, 

3     a time to kill and a time to heal,

    a time to tear down and a time to build,

4     a time to weep and a time to laugh,

    a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5     a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

6     a time to search and a time to give up,

    a time to keep and a time to throw away,

7     a time to tear and a time to mend,

    a time to be silent and a time to speak,

8     a time to love and a time to hate,

    a time for war and a time for peace.

9 What do workers gain from their toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet[a] no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. 13 That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. 14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.

15 Whatever is has already been, 

    and what will be has been before; 

    and God will call the past to account

  

Please continue to pray for our mom. She is halfway through her 5th chemo treatment. She experienced her horrible symptoms and continues to FIGHT! Please pray that God continues to heal her body and heart. That he would control her thoughts and keep her focused on him. We thought that after her 6th treatment, that she would be finished but it looks like the doctor has decided to extend it to 8 treatments. 24 weeks total. Her body is responding so well to the chemo, that as a precaution, they would like to continue the treatments. 

Please sponsor us in our 5K run for ovarian cancer awareness! You can sponsor us by clicking the Chip In box on this blog. It will direct you to paypal. All of the money that we raise through Chip In, goes directly to Ken and Linda's medical bills. 

You can also join TEAM LINDA and run/walk with us to support my mom. You can click here and join our team. There is a $25 registration fee to participate in the race. Please note that any EXTRA money that you donate on that website does NOT go to Ken and Linda. That donation goes to the American Cancer Society. If you would like to give money towards their medical bills and sponsor TEAM LINDA, use the above Chip In box. 

Thanks so much!