It's Been a Year

Dear Friends,

One year ago today, Matt, my mom, and I sat in the doctor's office and had it confirmed that I had kidney cancer. Two days later, after two nights in the ER, I would be admitted to the hospital. Oh my, what a year it has been since that day. On that day, I don't think I would have thought it possible to say this, but it has been a year for which I now have an abundance of things to give thanks for.

From that day forward, Matt and I had to decide just how much we believed in the God we have always followed and trusted in. Would we love Him and follow Him if things didn't go the way we wanted them to? Could we stand firmly on His Word even when we doubted? Would He be enough to get us through the many unknowns we would have to face? To all, we can unreservedly say YES! He has proven Himself to be truth, to be patient, to be compassionate, to be our comforter, to be our wisdom, to be God. I couldn't have made it this far without Him. I give my eternal thanks to Him.

This year has been full of family and friends...phone calls, caring words, shared Bible verses, cards and emails, meals, invitations to my kids to spend days and nights with friends, people who have cleaned and ironed and cooked and did so many things that I would never have asked for but they were willing to do anyway. I am beyond grateful.

And it's been a year of prayer. Your prayers for me and my husband and kids, for my family, for my doctors, for treatments and side effects, for wisdom in making decisions, for strength in times of weakness and doubt, and for healing. Your prayers have sustained me.

I don't know what the next year holds, I just know that God is continuing to grow me into the woman He wants me to be. It isn't easy, it isn't really something I want to go through, but if it is drawing me closer to Him, molding me to be more like Him, and making me bolder to share Him, then so it will be.

I will continue to give thanks,
Danene
September 23, 2009