Please pray for my Dad tonight....it seems that his side affects of  radiation is catching up with him or something.  He was very exhausted today and he had some nausea and possibly a slit fever.  I know in my last update on him I said that he was on his last week of radiation but then I found out I was mistaken and he still has this next week of radiation in front of him.  Mom is not sure what we should do about his treatment tomorrow.  I guess pray that he will recover enough tonight to so that he can finish his radiation.  We'd rather not string this process out longer then necessary.
   Another thing is....this weekend all my married siblings are coming home and just pray that this next weekend he would feel ok without to many side affects.  It would be so nice for him to be able to enjoy his family without feeling sick.  Thank you you guys sooooo much for you prayers!!!!!  

Glorious Unfolding

Steven Curtis Chapman

Lay your head down tonight

Take a rest from the fight

Don’t try to figure it out

Just listen to what I’m whispering to your heart

‘Cause I know this is not

Anything like you thought

The story of your life was gonna be

And it feels like the end has started closing in on you

But it’s just not true

There’s so much of the story that’s still yet to unfold

And this is going to be a glorious unfolding

Just you wait and see and you will be amazed

You’ve just got to believe the story is so far from over

So hold on to every promise God has made to us

And watch this glorious unfolding

God’s plan from the start

For this world and your heart

Has been to show His glory and His grace

Forever revealing the depth and the beauty of

His unfailing Love

And the story has only begun

And this is going to be a glorious unfolding

Just you wait and see and you will be amazed

We’ve just got to believe the story is so far from over

So hold on to every promise God has made to us

And watch this glorious unfolding

We were made to run through fields of forever

Singing songs to our Savior and King

So let us remember this life we’re living

Is just the beginning of the beginning

Of this glorious unfolding

We will watch and see and we will be amazed

If we just keep on believing the story is so far from over

And hold on to every promise God has made to us

We’ll see the glorious unfolding

Just watch and see (unfolding)

This is just the beginning of the beginning (unfolding)

I think it's time for another update.  We are on the last week of treatment!!!! Yeeeeaaaahhhh!!!!!! {Happy sigh....sad smile.}
   Dad has definitely made some progress. He has moved to using a cane now and hes pretty much not even touched his walker for the last few days.
   He experiences the side affects form his radiation\chemo off and on.  He faces tiredness probably the most.
   Thank you  for all your prayers!! The journeys not over but I'm soooo thankful for the happy changes!!:):)

    I was driving home from the hospital when I let some of my questions out.  "How do you hope when you can see reality?"   Everyday since then I've groped for the answer.  I've wondered what hope is made of? If there really is an end to hope?  Is there ever a time when you just plane run out of hope? Some times it feels like the light at the end of the tunnel is getting dimer in stead of brighter.  

    Then this morning I opened my Bible I started reading Psalm 71(esv).  "In you, oh Lord, do I take refuge...Be to me a rock of refuge, to which I may continually come...for you are my rock and my fortress...Rescue me, O my God..." I turned the page, "for you, are my hope ..."

I stopped.  I jerked up till my face was 2 inches away from the page and I stared.  I read it out loud.  I looked up, seeing nothing, just trying to get my mind around it.  So, simple, so true, so undeniable and completely unarguable.  How did I not know this before?? 

     I kept reading, I thought my revelation for the day was done. Then my eyes glanced over another verse. "But I will hope continually."  It was an invitation...it was like God looked at me and went, "Well I showed you hope, now are you going to accept it?? If you believe it, then are you going to use it?? Now that you know that there is hope are you going to hope??"  Words seemed no match to what i wanted to say, all I could do was repeat the words in the verse, "I will hope continually." No matter what happens in the future I will hope...because He is my hope.  Facts and reality can stare me in the face, "But I will hope continually."   I have no hope...except Jesus!!  

I thought this song pretty much sums it up. 

 

Hope in Front of Me 

Danny Gokey

I've been running through rain that I thought would never end

Trying to make it on faith in a struggle against the wind

I've seen the dark and the broken places

But I know in my soul no matter how bad it gets, I'll be alright

There's hope in front of me

There's a light I still see it

There's a hand still holding me

Even when I don't believe it

I might be down but I'm not dead

There's better days still up ahead

Even after all I've seen, there's hope in front of me

There's a place at the end of the storm you'll finally find

Where the hurt and the tears and the pain all fall behind

You open up your eyes and up ahead there's a big sun shining

Right then and there you realize, you'll be alright

There's hope in front of me

There's a light I still see it

There's a hand still holding me

Even when I don't believe it

I might be down but I'm not dead

There's better days still up ahead

Even after all I've seen, there's hope in front of me

There's a hope still burning

I can feel it rising through the night

And my world's still turning

I can feel Your love here by my side

You're my hope

You're the light I still see it

Your hands are holding me

Even when I don't believe

Oh, I've got to believe, I‘ve got to believe

I still have hope

You are my hope

Below I have posted an email my mom wrote. I added a few details, such as the writing that is not in italics.  

This picture is 2 months old and Dad looks a little different now,
but I like it a lot!!

Dear Family and Friends,

   In trying to cope with the recent events in our life and the implications, we have not done well in communicating with you all.

   Monday, June 27 the kitchen cabinet set LaMar finished was delivered to the job. At noon he and Tim went to see a huge log he was offered that had gone down in the storm on Saturday, June 25 that left us without electricity for 12 hours.  As LaMar was climbing over the log, the branch he was holding to broke, and he fell on his right hip.  He had pain (but he has been living with pain) so continued to get the kitchen set installed Tuesday. Wed noon he felt the need to rest, and then realized he could not get up from the sofa. Conroy(my brother in law) came and helped him to the car and Tim returned from a job to take us to ER.  He was admitted to Lakeview Medical Center in Rice Lake by midnight with a pathological fracture to his pelvic bone.  LaMar was there 3 1/2 days, returning home Sunday afternoon.

   LaMar's brother, Marvin and wife Margaret arrived Sunday evening bringing Melinda and Alexis along.(my sister and niece)  Marvin and Margaret went with us to the Tues appts with the radiation doctor and with the oncologist Dr. Husak as we asked lots of questions.

   LaMar begins radiation Monday, July 11, 5 days a week for 3-4 weeks.  When LaMar did radiation 3 years ago, the cancer pain was back in a year.  Not sure what to expect this time as it is in and around the pelvic bone.  We have agreed to try an oral chemo at the same time.

   LaMar and I have been praying for God to keep us in his will and are finding some blessings out of this unexpected turn of events:

1) The CT scan in ER told us where we are with the cancer.

2) We can treat more locally (We've wondered how many more trips our Vue would make to IL)

3) He will be monitored more closely.

   Thanks for all your prayers and creative ways of caring for us already. LaMar does enjoy company so feel free to call and stop by. 

Dot for the Troyers