It is hard to believe we have been in the new place for 6 weeks! I am learning with each transition how it really does take so much time and energy to settle in and so much grace is needed for everyone in the house handling all the changes in their own way. That being said, I have found myself in bed shortly after the kids most nights, so writing an update has gotten pushed to the bottom of the to-do list many times!
We are so grateful to so many of you who have prayed and reached out and helped us in so many different ways. We have, once again, been blown away as we have watched the body of Christ rally around us to help make this move as seamless as possible. Our church at Park Hill sent us away with so much love and support. They stocked the kids with all their school supplies and were so generous to our family. I will always hold those months there so close to my heart. Clay was born in that church, and I lost count of the number of times someone would tell me they were praying for us and then go on to tell me what grade they taught Clay in Sunday School. More times than not, the tears in my eyes would match theirs, because it's a beautiful thing to have roots. And it's even more beautiful to have the roots of the person I love most wrap their arms around me. That stability is unmatched. There's a confidence that comes from knowing that when they say they're praying, they mean it. Because they were praying for my husband long before I knew him.
And we have continued to be blown away as we have moved to Russellville and our church at First Baptist has been so quick to jump in and support us here. The day we moved, I laid in bed that night and counted 35 people who had either come to NLR or to our new house to help unload and unpack. Many of whom, I had never even met. Our refrigerator was stocked and our boxes were unloaded. They have continued to be so generous and gracious, as our first few weeks were marked by LOTS of sickness (common refrain around the country right now). We have had meals made and school uniforms handed down and a good 'ole SBC pounding (aka a fully stocked pantry) and most importantly, people have reached out to pray and invest and ask how we are doing. Transitions are never easy, but the natural relationships that come from knowing you are brothers and sisters in Christ with those that we are meeting makes it so much easier.
I know that so many people have "church hurt." I wish it wasn't so. I wish church could always be what it was designed to be. But in the midst of these last almost two years, we have had the privilege of seeing the Bride as she was designed to be, and truly, She is beautiful. For our family, time and time again the church has been the hands and feet of Jesus, loving sacrificially, and seeing needs and meeting them. Words fail me as I try to express my gratitude.
Our first week here Clay had scans. It was a mixed bag of results. His brain MRI came back showing multiple spots that needed to be treated. We did those over two days of stereotactic radiation. This was a disappointing result, but it is why we have scans every two months so we can stay on top of anything that develops in that region. The rest of his body seems to be responding to his current treatment plan well. There was no spread anywhere else, and his kidney tumor shrunk by about 1 cm since his scans in September.
We had a follow-up appointment this week with a spinal pain interventionist. Clay has been having near constant, high pain levels in his right hip and knee since August even after trying various things. They have scheduled a nerve block for next month, pending approval from his oncologist and insurance. We are praying that they will both approve this treatment and that it would relieve some of the pain.
The kids are all doing well! Last week we actually all even made it to school every day for the first time. It took 5 weeks, but we did it! I can't say January was the smoothest month we've had, but we did enjoy the snow and though five of us went down hard with sickness, Clay managed to avoid it, so for that we are really thankful.
Russellville Baptist Academy has been such a sweet blessing. The kids are learning and thriving there. I get to see them multiple times throughout the week. They are learning Scripture and making friends and it is precious to have them coming home telling us new things that they are learning. This is not to say that we haven't had our fair share of challenging moments. But overall, they are settling into the school routine really well, and I am proud of them.
Prayer Requests:
- No more spots on Clay's brain. He will have brain scans again 3/7.
- Insurance approval for the nerve block and that it will be effective in relieving some pain
- Energy for all of us as we continue to adjust to a new schedule
Ready, break.
