Let Me Tell You What He Has Done For ME

Merry Christmas! I hope you had a wonderful day filled with special time spent with those you love best. I certainly did! We started celebrating on Christmas Eve with the annual Patton family gourmet Christmas Eve dinner prepared by none other than Chef Keith. This year his menu included prime rib, twice baked potatoes. steamed asparagus with lemon butter sauce, holiday ambrosia, and Pears Noel - a fabulous new addition to the menu that will definitely become an annual tradition. Paige and I took turns helping out in the kitchen, and we had such fun. It was quite the feast. Keith's mom joined me, Keith, Chance and Paige for the evening, and it was such a sweet time of celebration with my family.

On Christmas morning we went to my Mom and Dad's house for Christmas brunch. Again, it was another sweet time with family and lots of great food. We especially enjoyed having two new boys in our family this year! Paige's husband, Chance, and my ten-month-old nephew, Gabe!

We had decided that we would have a small Christmas this year and keep the Christmas gifts at a minimum. Everyone received something they wanted, but the gifts were not the focus this year. For one thing, I had surgery the week before Christmas, so we really have been focused on getting me through that. After we opened our gifts on Christmas Eve, we talked about how our attitude toward presents had changed this year. I think this was was our best Christmas ever, but the reason it was so wonderful was because we spent time together, enjoying one another, and we had family time sharing about all the things we have to be thankful for this year.

My favorite Christmas present was a handmade gift that Paige created at a little pottery store in Waco. She decorated a ceramic tile that sets in an easel. On the tile, she wrote out Psalm 66:16, the Scripture verse that I claimed back in my Sept. 6 blog: "Come and listen, all of you who fear God; let me tell you what He has done for me." The tile is now on my mantel as a continual reminder of the amazing story God has given me to share. Despite living with cancer these past six months, He has been more than enough to meet every need and to reveal Himself to me and teach me how to depend on Him for absolutely everything.

As you know, I learned last week that I will have to undergo six weeks of radiation therapy, despite all our hopes that I wouldn't need this treatment. I met with my radiation oncologist on Wednesday, and I like him so much. I set an appointment for January 15 to have all my markings (these are made with indelible ink) made on my chest to prepare me for the beginning of treatment. I also received the most encouraging news. Since I have to go in for treatment every day (Mon-Fri) for all six weeks, I was so concerned about how to make that work with my work schedule. The doctor explained that their office opens at 8am, so I can simply go by the hospital first thing every morning, get my five minute zap of treatment, and then head on to work. That means this should cause very little inconvenience with my normal work schedule. And the only side effect is a little fatigue - less than what goes along with chemo - so I know I can handle that.

As I was dealing with my new reality of positive lymph nodes, more treatment, etc. this week, I found such an encouragement in 2 Chronicles 20:12. It says, "We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You." That's where I find myself now. I have no control over the cancer, over the results of the pathology, so I can only trust God and His plan. A few verses later, in 2 Chronicles 20:17, God told the Israelites: "Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you." A few verses later, BEFORE they had been delivered, the people began to worship the Lord "for the splendor of his holiness."

So there you have it. I will face tomorrow, and God will be with me. I will worship Him NOW for what we know He will do for me, for the wonderful things we know He has planned for me. When I reach the end of cancer treatment (whenever that may be!!) I will have such an incredible story to tell..."let me tell you what He has done for me!" (Psalm 66:16)

Have a blessed 2009!