Back in Action

Yes…I’m back in action on the blog, and Gage is back in action playing flag football for the first time. He’s on a team with other 1st grade boys from his school, and he’s absolutely loving it.

He and Avery also play football with makeshift flags many mornings and afternoons in the front yard, as well as playing soccer and, for the first time today, turning the soccer net on its side to use it as a volleyball net. Pretty handy, since Avery is playing soccer and volleyball this fall.

For many parents, these are the routine things of fall. For us, these are things we haven’t been able to do before…three sports just in the fall?!? It’s the normal busy-ness of family life, and it feels so good to have the health and margin in our family to let the kids play sports with their friends and take on the crazy schedule it brings.

As for me back in action on the blog, I’ve been reflecting some about the how, when & why of my posting (or lack of) these days. Several of you have even asked if the ‘radio silence’ means all is well…or that you should be concerned.  Good question.  And, the answer is: some of both.

All is well: Yes, no unexpected trips to Children’s, Gage is continuing to endure the maintenance part of his protocol as well as could be expected, etc.

Cause for concern: Yes to this too.  Only, these days it’s often harder to share what the concerns are. There are the ‘easy to explain’ things like the threat of swine flu and the swirl of emotions, decisions and conflicts it brings… Or the year-long construction on Gage’s school campus and the mold, bacteria & fungus in the dirt that rates an “8 out of 10″ on his oncologist’s scale of concerns…so now the mask-wearing, recess-skipping, carpool-challenging aspects of being outside the school on many days.

And, there are also the other ripples in the cancer pond that are harder to share. They are more subtle and, often, more personal…and, as they often relate to how our kids are personally doing on this journey, the blog doesn’t really seem like the right place to share them as our kids get older. Still, there are an unending number of things I see in our family life each day that “have cancer on them”…things that are different, more complex and harder because of the leukemia…things that require an extra dose of wisdom, flexibility, courage, patience and strength to face.

So, even if, in this season, I can’t always share the particulars of what’s challenging for each of us, rest assured that we still covet your prayers for our family.

And, I know many of you have continued to follow Laurren Smith’s story as well, and I wanted to ask you to continue to pray for her as they have pursued all mainstream treatment without success and are now in Mexico seeking alternative treatment. We love their family, and would love for you to join us in praying for them during this time.

Thanks for checking in and for supporting us, especially as we start another steroid & extra chemo week on Monday. Thanks too for letting me share with you that we still need your prayers even when we can’t share all the details.  And, I’ll try to update the blog a bit more too.  Just know that behind the fun pictures are still plenty of heavy burdens.

Matthew 11:28

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

RH