Wed 5/7

Hello dear friends, Erin is feeling fine today. Minor bone pain, a little itching but all in all fine. She thinks her numbers are at the bottom because of the bone pain. We will find out tomorrow. Please pray for good numbers so she can go to Relay. We got posters today for the blood drive and we are very excited for the response, especially for the bone marrow drive portion. I know since God put this together for us that He has special plans for great results.

"I will declare your name to my brothers; in the congregation I will praise you. You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob honor him! Revere him, all you descendants of Israel! For he has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help." Psalm 22:22-24

Thank you Lord for listening to our cries for help! hugs, janet

Tues 5/6

Happy Tuesday! Erin is doing fine, the same. She is still itchy and has a stomach ache, but the Dr says she will just have to wait until her WBCs climb before she will feel better. Hope it is soon.

We are excited about the blood drive coming up on May 18th. God has worked another small miracle and we are going to be able to offer a bone marrow donor drive for free that day. So if you are able to come support Erin in giving blood or getting registered to be a bone marrow donor, come to First United Methodist church in Lawrenceville on Sunday May 18th from 8-12:30. If you need more details, call us or the church at 770-963-0386.

I was thinking about the parable of the talents as it relates to being a blood donor. In the parable, the master gives his servants talents (money) to take care of while he is away. He is pleased by those who are able to increase the amount by the time he comes back. God has given us this precious gift (talent) called life. Sharing your blood or marrow seems like a way to multiply that gift to the Glory of God. If we use it this way to save others, I feel sure God will be pleased to say, "Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness." Matthew 25:21. Maybe that is a stretch for an interpretation, but it works for me.

Thank you all for being good stewards of the talents you have been given. love, janet

Cinco de Mayo

Buenos Dias Amigos, Feliz Cinco De Mayo! O.K. I'm out of spanish. Erin says I was out a long time ago. Sorry. We just got back from the lab. Her while count is 0.5, Platelets 29 and Hemoglobin 29 also. So she didn't need any blood products but she is definitely bottomed out on her numbers. Please pray for a big jump before Thurs which is when we get labs next. If her numbers jump dramatically, she can go to Relay. If not, she would have to wear a big mask and she doesn't want to do that. Also, if we jump up quick, we can hopefully stay on schedule for round 4 coming up soon. We really want to stay on schedule so we can all get back to our normal lives. Not that normal is normal anymore but you know what I mean. We praise God for all of you and your continued faith and prayers that have seen us through all of this.

"Make sure to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverence; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." 2 Peter1:5-8

We are blessed by all of you and your kindness and love! They have helped us perservere and grow in the knowledge of our Lord! Congrats to the graduating seniors! You are the best! Love, janet and erin

Sun 5/4

Happy Sunday, Thank you for checking in on Erin. She is fine, still the itching and stomach ache but all in all, fine. Cabin Fever is setting in again, especially with the beautiful weather. We rejoice in Erin's health and the remission is still like a shiny gift we look at in awe. Thank you Lord! And thank you all for the continued prayers!

"Praise the Lord. Blessed is the man who fears the Lord; who finds great delight in his commands. He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. His heart is secure, he will have no fear." Psalm 112:1,7-8

Oh yeah, another good one. I love the Psalms! blessings, janet

Sat 5/3

Hello blogger friends, Erin is doing fine today. She had a bit of nausea last night after eating a burrito. Just for the record, she asked for mexican! Anyway, she is fine today, still itchy but fine. She and Bill have taken up chess. Their first game lasted 2 hours, not because they didn't know how to play, but because they were thinking too hard. I think I saw smoke come out of their ears. I don't have patience for that game. Anyway, all is well. Thank you for your continued prayers. Erin is really getting excited about Relay for Life. Hope the weather holds and her numbers rise so she can go.

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful." Hebrews 10:23

Thanks for helping us hold on! love, janet

Fri 5/2

Dear friends, Thanks for your loving support. It is amazing how far this blog has reached, even back to my college buddies. Call anytime Susie! Erin is doing well today, her stomach is feeling better and her itching is just enough to keep me busy scratching. I am so thankful she got blood yesterday, I think it will help her feel better through the weekend.

"You turned my wailing into dancing, you removed by sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever." Psalm 30:11-12

We are giving thanks every day for His faithfulness! As we count our blessings, they always include you! hugs, janet

Thurs 5/1

Happy May Day everyone, Erin and I just got back from the clinic. Her labs were low as expected, so she received one unit of platelets and 2 units of blood. Thanks again to you life savers out there who give and give! Erin usually gets hives from transfusions so she is sleeping off her Benadryl right now. Other than all that, Erin is fine. She is hoping to be on the upswing by Relay for Life on May 9th. I know she really wants to walk the survivor lap. I don't know if there are enough tissues to cover that sight! Round 4 should start the week after that. We are so thankful for all of you cheering Erin on as she perseveres. It is definitely a tough road to walk.

"He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8

Hope your May day is full of colorful ribbons! hugs, janet