Friends

I have commented many times on this blog of just how blessed I am. I have the best friends anyone could ask for. I have received so many cards, phone calls. offers to help , and many many prayers since my cancer was announced. Tonight I want to share two items I have received.

On Sunday a friend came up to me at church and gave me a bracelet that she made. She makes beautiful jewelry all of the time and I must say I have always admired it. When she first learned of my cancer, she stated that she wanted to DO something. (So many of my friends have expressed that helpless feeling of wishing they could physically do something for me.) After thinking about that for a while, and thinking about cancer in general, she designed a special bracelet, and included the scripture from Isaiah about how God makes beauty from ashes. She got to thinking of how an ugly piece of carbon can be turned into a beautiful diamond, and how God could take something as ugly as cancer and turn it into a beautiful testimony. The bracelet shows rough black beads to represent the carbon, then beads which seem to be slightly polished and refined, then the crystals to represent diamonds. What an encouragement to me, as I wear this bracelet and think of just what God is able to do. She included a copy of Chrystal Lewis' song: Beauty for Ashes, and I have played it repeatedly in the car since Sunday.

(You can click on this picture to read the verse)



I also have a special group of friends, which I have commented on before. We are all friends from church and get together often. They came and prayed for me the night I first got my diagnosis. One of them got the idea of a special ribbon which shows that they are my "Prayer Warriors" and will proceed into battle with their prayers. Another one of them made the ribbons and they plan to wear them to tell the world that they are my prayer warriors. That was such a tender, thoughtful thing to do. I am overwhelmed at the love I am being shown already.



Today I returned to school, and it was overwhelming there as well. So many came up to me to offer words of encouragement and to tell me they are praying.

I am seeing God "with skin on" everywhere I look.

Now for the latest:

Tomorrow morning I get to drink a "delicious" berry smoothie drink before I have my CT scan. I do not think that this berry smoothie will taste anything like the truly delicious ones that my youngest son makes, but it is suppose to help with the testing , so I will drink it. The CT will be of my neck, chest , and abdomen. Hopefully the results will be ready for the surgeon I am seeing on Wednesday.