Captive to Christ

Thank you for praying for me this week. I've spent most of the past four days sleeping. This round has seemed to go better than the others. Some say it's because I'm an old pro, and I guess there is some truth to that. I have learned over these weeks to just sleep, and keep sleeping, and let my body recover. I don't need to get up and try to get things done around the house. It can wait for next week.


But I have become convinced that although I may be an old pro, the difference this week has been due to something else.


With every treatment I have experienced extreme nausea. It is like a motion sickness. If I don't move, I don't feel it; but the moment I move my body I begin to gag and feel very sick. With every treatment I receive two IV drugs that combat nausea. They work on my digestive system. I also take a pill to combat nausea which turns off the nausea receptors in my brain. I also have anti-nausea pills I can take at home as well as an anti-nausea compound that can be rubbed on my wrists. We shut off the nausea physically, and mentally, but somehow I would still be incredibly sick with each treatment.


So, this week I decided that it must be a spiritual battle. I wasn't sure exactly how to fight this battle but pulled out a verse that I memorized many years ago.


"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." 2 Corinthians 10:5


I've never really been sure how to take my thoughts captive to Christ, but I thought it was worth a shot! First thing Monday morning, before I even got out of bed, I began to pray about my treatment this week; that it would accomplish what it was supposed to accomplish in my physical body - the destruction of any random cancer cells floating around - and I began to pray about the nausea issue. I just said out loud that I was taking every thought of nausea, every urge to gag, and anything related to to it captive to Christ.


I didn't think much about it until Monday afternoon after having five hours of chemicals pumped into my body. Before I even left the doctor's office I was feeling sick, but with each wave of nausea I began repeating in my mind that I was taking that thought captive to Christ. The most amazing thing happened! Every single time I fought the nausea by repeating God's Word, it went away! I know that sounds weird, and I can't explain it except to say that His Word is powerful. I obviously need to tap into that power more in my life!


So, to anyone else out there struggling with your thought life, I encourage you to "take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." Like me, you may be surprised by the power He has given us!




Family update:

The Shook family welcomed the birth of Maggie Shook today, the daughter of Mark's brother, Brent, and his wife, Audrey, and our new niece! Mother and baby are doing well!!

Just so you know

Thank you to everyone who prayed for my platelet count to come up! All my blood levels were good today so we started round 6! I am home now and resting until I go back tomorrow morning for day 2. Everyone asks how I am feeling. I feel like I've had toxic chemicals pumped into my body! I feel like I am sick all over, and I am very tired; but thankfully I am not having any of the weird side effects related to electrolyte imbalance! 


My girls were catching up on my blog yesterday and were not happy about the recent melancholy posts. So, this is for you girls!


Dear Ashley, Sarah, David, and Sydneyann,
Sorry for the recent melancholy posts, but you know how I am. It's in the genes! I just wanted to let you know that I plan to live to be 84! (Why 84? I don't know!) We will share so many Thanksgiving turkeys (and tofurkeys!) together, and years of Christmas cookie making. I plan to be at Ashley's graduation shouting just as loudly as I did at David and Sarah's graduation (and would have at Sydneyann's if it hadn't been cancelled by the ice storm!). I will be there when you walk down the aisle and marry the man of your dreams, and I will be holding your hand (if you want me to) as you labor and give birth to my grandchildren. We will continue to travel the world, making memories, learning new things, and sharing the love of Christ along the way. I will text you random thoughts, and send you Halloween treat boxes. We will dream dreams, share secrets, dry each other's tears, and make crazy videos. I will be your biggest cheer leader, celebrating your every success! I will pray for you every day. I am so thankful for the gift of being your mother. I am cancer-free and plan to stay that way!! Just so you know.
Love,
mom
XOXOXOXO
i.k.

Remember...

The music continues...
I woke up Christmas morning with a new song in my head - a song Blake sang at the COF Christmas services.


"God rest you merry, gentlemen, let nothing you dismay.
Remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas Day."
(Traditional English Christmas Carol, circa 1760, composer unknown)


Just those two lines, repeating over and over in my brain. Funny how God uses music to communicate His truths to me, to comfort and encourage me, to prod me to trust Him, to believe Him.


As I lay there singing those two lines, it hit me again. My SAVIOR was born on Christmas Day. I HAVE a savior! I don't have to wonder. I don't have to be dismayed. He IS God. He IS in control. He has GOOD plans for me.


Remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas Day!
"O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy, O tidings of comfort and joy!"

The "wonder" of Christmas

Mark and I had a great Christmas! It was nice not to be sick this week and to be able to enjoy time with family, friends, and with our church. The only thing missing was David and Sydneyann! They enjoyed Christmas with family and friends at home in Los Angeles. 


But somehow all the recent "big events" - Thanksgiving, Graduation, Christmas - bring with them thoughts of wonder. Not the "wonder" of Christmas, but the "wonder" of cancer...


I wonder how many more Thanksgivings I will share with my family?
I wonder if I will see Ashley's graduation?
I wonder if this will be my last Christmas?
I wonder...


As I lay in bed on Christmas Eve, trying to fall asleep following five great services at Community of Faith, I was "wondering". And then music started playing in my head. An old hymn that I learned growing up. God's peace washed over me again as He reminded me that all is well. I can trust Him. No need to wonder anymore.


"Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him,
    How I've proved Him o'er and o'er,
    Jesus, Jesus, Precious Jesus!
      O for grace to trust Him more."


(Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus" by Louisa M.R. Stead, 1882)


Lord, please give me the grace to trust You more. You have it all planned out and you only do what is best for me and for my family. You can't do anything else. 


"...he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is." 2 Timothy 2:13

"In you our fathers put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them. They cried to you and were saved; in you they trusted and were not disappointed." Psalm 22:4-5

How Divine His Goodness!

From "Meditations of a Hermit"

by Charles de Foucauld

1856-1916

"Let us thank God a thousand times if in the sadness which invades us it seems to us as if we are rejected by the world.  The depression and suffering, the bitterness with which we seem sometimes to be soaked, were the lot of Our Lord on earth.  Are we not fortunate to share them?  We should pity the happy people.  Pity those whose happiness, even though it be quite legitimate and innocent, keeps them attached to the world.  God is good that he has so despoiled us of everything, that we can draw breath only by turning our heads towards him. How great is his mercy, how divine his goodness, for he has torn everything from us in order that we may be more completely his.  So the sufferers are the happy ones through the goodness of God.  In suffering I give thanks.

May these days of Christmas festival bring you, in your suffering, I do not say consolation, but the blessing God intends for you. The child Jesus will perhaps not give you any sweetness, – he reserves that for the weak ones, – but his hand will none the less be spread to bless you in these days of Christmastide, and whether you feel it or no, he will pour abundant grace into your soul."

Merry Christmas!

December 2009

Dear Family and Friends,

Wow! 2009 has been a year of beginnings, endings, and firsts for the 
Shook family! Not exactly the year we were expecting, but an amazing 
year nonetheless!

All of our children are healthy and doing well! David and Sydneyann 
are still at home in Los Angeles. They have established a network of 
amazing relationships with their neighbors and friends. David 
completed his master’s thesis at Oxford this year. He has applied for 
graduation and we will hopefully see that take place in 2010. He is 
at the top of his class! He has had several works published in 2009 
and will have more published in the coming year. Sydneyann continues 
to work in the TV industry and pops up occasionally to surprise us as 
we watch TV! She also works with David to promote justice for the 
“least of these” worldwide. We are very proud of these two!

Sarah is taking finals this week and will graduate with honors from 
the University of Oklahoma on December 18th! She will have a degree 
in Anthropology with a minor in non-profit studies. She was recently 
hired by Teach For America to teach in a bilingual middle school 
classroom in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She is very excited about this 
opportunity! She will begin training in June and begin teaching in 
August of next year. We know that she will be an amazing teacher and 
will make a lasting impact on many children! We couldn’t be more 
proud!

Ashley graduated from high school with honors in June and started her 
OU career in August of this year. Her first semester has flown by! 
She has settled in well, made lots of friends, and enjoyed time with 
her big sister. She worked in the President’s Suite at the football 
stadium and got to enjoy all the home games this season! She 
continues to amaze us with her compassion for people and her heart to 
follow God wherever He leads. We are very proud of her! (Do you sense 
a theme here?)

Our church, Community of Faith, continues to be a source of great joy 
in our lives. We now have over 7000 people who worship with us each 
weekend, and COF was recently listed as one of the top 100 churches 
in the nation. It has been amazing to see what God has done, and very 
humbling to know that He would allow us to have a small part in it 
all. We continue to hear stories of restoration, healing, and total 
life-change taking place in the lives of the people of COF. We have 
continued our work in Burundi, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Haiti. God has 
been good in 2009!

So, that’s the good news; now for the unexpected news. On May 27th 
Laura was diagnosed with stage 3 rectal cancer. She has no family 
history of colorectal cancer or any risk factors for this disease. 
Thankfully, we found the best doctors in Houston and quickly went 
forward with treatment as recommended. She went through six weeks of 
radiation and oral chemotherapy during the summer, followed by 
surgery the end of August. At this point she was declared 
cancer-free! She has endured five IV chemotherapy treatments this 
fall with three more to come. These treatments are to kill any 
micro-metastases and prevent recurrence of the disease. It has been a 
long, difficult road, and we don’t have space to give you all the 
details here. If you are interested in reading more about Laura’s 
journey you can check out her blog at www.laurashook.com for regular 
updates.

The one constant that we have experienced in 2009 has been God’s 
presence and His faithfulness. He has proven Himself over and over to 
be true to everything He’s ever said in His word. We look forward to 
celebrating a great 2010! We pray that you and your family will have 
a Very Merry Christmas and that you will experience God’s peace and 
presence like never before.

With love,
Mark, Laura, Sarah and Ashley Shook

www.communityoffaith.tv  

mlshook@mail.com    sarah@ou.edu    ashley.shook@ou.edu

Last Minute Gifts

It's Christmas Eve and I know that some of you out there are frantically trying to come up with that last minute gift for that person who is so hard to shop for. May I humbly offer my suggestion.


This year, with the economy as it is, donations to charitable organizations have dropped about 5% across the board. That may not seem like much, but when added up it amounts to millions of dollars across our country that will not be available to help those in need.


Why not Give Christmas Away this year? Instead of fighting the crowds at the mall, you can quickly make a donation to one of your favorite charitable organizations - your church, a local hospital, a local homeless shelter - in honor of your hard-to-shop-for family member or friend. What a great way to demonstrate what Christmas is all about - God's love come down to transform our lives. 


If you don't know where to donate, here are a few suggestions to consider:


Community of Faith's "Give Your Best Gift to Jesus" offering 

CommunityFor Burundi 

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center 

Memorial Hermann Hospital System 

Texas Children's Hospital 

American Cancer Society 

Star of Hope Mission

Boys and Girls Country 

Make a Wish Foundation 

It's been said that we are most like God when we give.


"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Luke 6:38

Happy Shopping!

Life is Fragile

2009 has been a year like no other for me. The fact that life is fragile and precious has been etched in my mind and heart over and over again. I came face to face with the stark reality of my own mortality this year. I grieved the death of my sweet grandmother this year. And I have lost more friends to death this year than any other time in my life. Every week as I go to the oncologist's office I am reminded that life is uncertain; we never know how long we have on this earth. I have many new friends who are daily fighting for their lives. In the midst of so much grief and loss I have also come to realize the true hope I have in Jesus. In John 14:6 Jesus said he is the way, the truth, and the life. I am eternally grateful that He is.

Nelson 1992 - 2009

La Carpio, Costa Rica

Sweet Nelson, I miss your smile already. 'Til we meet again...

I am praying for your many friends and family.

"There is a time for everything,
       and a season for every activity under heaven:

  a time to be born and a time to die...

a time to weep... a time to mourn"

Ecclesiastes 3

"If your heart is broken, you'll find God right there;"
Psalm 34:18

“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, 

so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life."
John 3:16

"Pay attention, come close now, 
listen carefully to my life-giving, life-nourishing words. 

I'm making a lasting covenant commitment with you, 

the same that I made with David: sure, solid, enduring love." 

Isaiah 55:3

Living Proof

What is wrong with this picture?

Yes, these are my feet, and yes, I put my shoes on the wrong feet the other day!!  I haven't done that since I was three years old.  They say that chemotherapy effects your brain.  You can't remember things well, you can't recall names and words. They call this "chemo brain".  It lasts throughout chemotherapy treatment and for some time afterward. Obviously, it has effected my brain! I told Mark that I have reverted to being a three year old - I put my shoes on the wrong feet and I use the bathroom in my pants! OK, it's in a bag, so it's not exactly the same, but still...

Medical Update: 

I was not able to receive my chemo treatment this week because my platelet count was too low. Normal platelet counts are 150,000 - 450,000. My platelet count today was 45,000. It needs to be at least 100,000 for me to safely receive chemotherapy. While I am disappointed that I won't be able to get one more treatment out of the way, I am happy that I won't be feeling sick on Christmas and I will get to attend the Christmas Eve services at COF!! There is nothing special I can do to increase my platelet count but continue to rest and eat well. With time, my bone marrow will eventually replace the platelets that have been lost. I return to the doctor next week to check my blood counts. If the platelets are back up then I will start my next treatment next Monday. Please pray that I will have a platelet count of 100,000 + next Monday. Thanks!

Congratulations Sarah!

God's timing through this whole ordeal has been amazing! He has planned everything out perfectly, and He's done it without my help! LOL! In spite of a cancer diagnosis, chemo, radiation, surgery, more chemo,  and countless doctor appointments, I have been able to attend Ashley's graduation from high school, my nephew's wedding, and a reunion of college friends. And this past Friday I had the amazing honor of attending our daughter Sarah's graduation from the University of Oklahoma!! God worked it out so that I was not sick with chemo and was able to travel to Norman to be there! 


We are so very proud of Sarah!! She graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Anthropology and a minor in non-profit studies. And she graduated a semester early!! Wow! She is beautiful inside and out, and very smart! 

Thank you, God, for letting me be Sarah's mom! 

Thank you for your perfect timing! 

"Children are a gift from the Lord;
      they are a reward from him."

Psalm 127:3

"How kind the Lord is! How good he is!
      So merciful, this God of ours!"

Psalm 116:5

How are you feeling?

The first question that everyone asks when they see me is "How are you feeling?" They ask out of genuine concern and affection. The thing I have discovered is that I feel different each day, ranging from horribly sick to pretty well in a matter of a few days. It is a weird experience to feel like you are dying on a Thursday and then feel relatively normal by the following Tuesday; and then to have this cycle repeated every two weeks. 

I have learned to answer the question for today.

Today I feel tired.

Today I feel better.

Today I feel awful.

Today I feel weak.

Today I feel much better.

Today I feel good.

Today...

I am learning that this is exactly how God wants me to live my life. Live it today. I don't know how many years or months I have to live, and neither does anyone else. But I know I have today. What will I do today? Waste it being angry or resentful? Waste it feeling regret? Waste it in a fit of worry? Or will I make the most of the day God has given me? Every day brings opportunities to love someone, to forgive someone, to encourage someone, to provide for someone, to help someone. Am I looking for those opportunities and taking advantage of them? Lord, please keep reminding me to live today. Help me to see the opportunities you give me.

"THIS is the day the Lord has made..." Psalm 118:24

Life Divided

It is interesting living a life that is divided into "every other week" intervals. Knowing that I will be sick and unable to accomplish anything during a chemo week, once my strength is improved I spend the off week trying to get everything done that will need to be done in the next two weeks. This requires thought and planning...and memory. Sadly, my thinking, planning, and memory have been sorely impaired by the chemo treatments. I find myself making multiple lists (which is not really unusual for me), but then I constantly misplace the lists! I'm sure one day I will find them around the house and the car and get a good laugh! 

This "every other week" life also produces a kind of frantic pace that I am sure is not how God intends for me to live. I catch myself talking to myself and telling me, "It's OK. You don't have to get everything done. You CAN'T get everything done. Relax. Rest. Relax. Rest. It's OK." So, if you see me out in the neighborhood looking lost, it's because I've misplaced my list which is my brain; and if you see me frantically running around, please stop me and tell me to go home and REST!

"Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act." Psalm 37:3

"Let my soul be at rest again, for the Lord has been good to me." Psalm 116:7

I had an appointment with the surgeon today (yes, it was just as fun as ever!). Everything is still healing well. He told me that if we actually finish chemo treatments the end of January then we can plan on surgery mid February to close the ileostomy!! I am beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel!

I am feeling well this week. I still tire easily and I have a few pesky side effects, in particular the nerve irritation in my hands and feet. They still can't tolerate anything cold. I wear gloves and socks 24/7. But, in the whole scheme of things that is a small inconvenience.

Top 10 Things it is Difficult to do with Gloves on Your Hands:

1. Brush and floss your teeth

2. Wash your face

3. Put on make-up

4. Type on a computer

5. Crack eggs

6. Address and sign Christmas cards

7. Wrap Christmas gifts

8. Open canned cat food

9. Look fashionable

10. Empty and/or change an ileostomy bag

Thank you for your constant prayer and encouragement. We love you all!

You Gotta Laugh!

NEW GUTTERS - A Story of Life and the Beauty of Laughter
This story is based on a real life incident. Names have been changed to protect the innocent.


Scene: 
New gutters are being put on the house. It takes a couple of days to get the job done. The crew works all day Tuesday and then comes back Thursday morning to finish the job.


Characters:
Work Crew Leader:
He is dressed in jeans, plaid flannel shirt, work boots and hat. He has a clipboard. He is in charge.


Suburban housewife fighting cancer:
She hasn't showered in four days. Her hair is in a four-day-old slept-in pony tail with a halo of hair sticking out all over her head, her skin is sallow, she wears no make-up, dark circles are evident under her eyes. She is wearing the same pajamas she's had on for four days, dirty socks, black gloves, and reading glasses.


Lighting:
The house is dark, lit only by the lights of the Christmas tree and the glow of the fire. Window blinds are closed.


Action:
9:00 a.m. Surburban housewife fighting cancer is home alone, laying on the couch, again. Her goal for the day is not to move. Every move brings with it waves of nausea.


(sound cue: doorbell rings)


Suburban housewife: Not moving, she thinks to herself, "I will not answer the door. Whoever it is will go away."


(sound cue: doorbell rings again)


Suburban housewife: Thinks to herself, "It must be someone who really needs something." She rises from the couch, gagging with each move of her body, wincing with the ache of her bones, and slowly shuffles to the front door. Forgetting her appearance, she opens the door...


Work Crew Leader: (seeing suburban housewife fighting cancer) LAUGHS OUT LOUD!


Suburban housewife: (realizing how she looks) Laughs out loud too.


Work Crew Leader: (with big smile on his face, stuttering) "I am sorry..."


Suburban housewife: (still laughing) "It's OK. I know."


Work Crew Leader: "We are here to finish the gutters."


Suburban housewife: "That's great. Thank you."


Final Scene: 
Gutters are in place. Work crew drives away, shaking their heads, wondering if there are other trolls who live in that house.


THE END

Weekend at Laura's

I had a great weekend! I am still dealing with weakness and a few other side effects, but in general I am feeling well. 


One of the things I have missed most through this whole ordeal are the weekends when I am not well enough to go to church. We have four services at Community of Faith and I normally attend all four! By the end of the weekend I have Mark's sermon memorized! The weekends after chemo treatments I am just too physically weak to go. So, this being one of those weekends, I was feeling pretty sad on Saturday afternoon. I knew that this weekend would be special as we celebrated our annual "Give Your Best Gift to Jesus" offering, Baby Dedication, and the COF "stomp" version of The Little Drummer Boy which is one of my favorite Christmas traditions at COF! As Mark left the house Saturday evening for the Saturday service I was in tears, wishing that I could be a part of all that would happen this weekend.


As usually happens, God met me there. He whispered to my heart that I did have a part in the weekend services; my part was to pray. What a humbling thought that God would call on me to pray for His church. The tears disappeared as I was immediately energized and jumped right into my task. I spent the next hour praying for God's power and His Spirit to fill Community of Faith, and for each one there to experience the love of Christ. I prayed that every person at COF would be fully committed, body and soul - the same prayer I have been praying daily for all of 2009. What an amazing gift to be able to end the year praying for all the people I love so much who have been praying for me all these months!


I also had the freedom to belt out praise songs and Christmas carols at the top of my lungs with no one around to hear! I danced with the cat as we remembered God's precious gift to us at Christmas; and then I collapsed on the couch, energy spent, full of that "unspeakable joy." I may not have been physically present at church this weekend, but I was definitely there with you!


To top it all off, on Sunday, our amazing tech team set things up so that I could view one of the services live over the internet! I had a great view from the ledge of the sound booth in the back of the room! I didn't miss a thing! Isn't technology great? Thank you, God, for allowing me to still be a part, and thank you tech team for making it happen!! 


One of the lyrics that the worship team sang today says, "I will rest again for You are good to me..." He has been good to me, even while I rest!


"You can trust God, He will not let you be tested more than you can stand. But when you are tested, He will also make a way out so that you can bear it." 1 Corinthians 10:13


"For the Mighty One is holy, and he has done great things for me. He shows mercy from generation to generation to all who fear him." Luke 1:49

It's Friday

It's Friday! I survived til Friday! Round 5 was much better than round 4! Still not fun, but much better! I did not have the issues with electrolyte imbalance and dehydration like I did last time, so I did not have the weird muscle contractions that always freak me out. That was a very pleasant relief! 


I was given a shot of a long lasting anti-diarrheal medication on Monday afternoon. I knew it would be bad because it was obvious that none of the nurses wanted to give me the injection! It actually didn't hurt that much when the nurse gave it to me, but she showed me the needed afterward. It was a big one! I was fine until Wednesday morning. I woke up Wednesday and it felt like I had been kicked in the rump by a horse! I was so incredibly sore - still am - but, thankfully, the medication did what it was supposed to do. No diarrhea! Kept my electrolytes! No muscle weirdness! Emotional relief!


I also had a home health nurse come to the house this week to set me up to give myself IV fluids and electrolytes for three days. This was much needed and much appreciated as I ate and drank almost nothing Monday through Thursday. I now weigh two pounds more than I weighed when I got pregnant with our firstborn child. I don't recommend this diet plan! Hopefully, with Laura Kinion's cheesecake (and a little Ensure) I will be able to put the weight right back on this next week!


I am still extremely weak, but I am no longer retching up my intestines. I am resting and celebrating only three more treatments to go! My next treatment is scheduled for the week of Christmas... 


Thank you so much for praying for me this week. Thank you for your encouraging notes, emails, texts, gifts, and cards. I know I couldn't do this alone and I am grateful to have you carrying this burden with me. 


"And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.  No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39

Meet John

Meet John. John and his wife, Donette, are faithful members of Community of Faith. About a year ago John started having some medical problems. In January 2009 he lost his job, and a couple of weeks later Donette was laid off from her job as well. February 2009 brought a diagnosis to John's medical issues - stomach cancer. The tumor had grown so large that John couldn't eat or drink. He lost 17 pound in 12 days. 


Since that time John and Donette have endured countless medical appointments and tests, as well as months of chemotherapy to shrink the tumor. The hope was that the chemo would shrink the tumor so that it would be operable. The prayer was that God would miraculously heal John. 


In June, when John first heard of my diagnosis he showed up at the church on Tuesday morning during our weekly staff meeting to pray for me. He sat with me as, in a state of shock, I shared with him what we had recently learned. He encouraged me with his words, with his smile, and with his courage. He and Donette have been a constant source of support for me.


John's chemotherapy was working to shrink his tumor. He gained back some of the weight he lost. Then a few weeks ago John was given a break from his chemotherapy to give his body time to recover. Unfortunately during this time the tumor started to rapidly grow blocking his stomach once again. 


John has been given the opportunity to be a part of a medical study testing a new drug for stomach cancer. If all the tests come out OK, he will be approved to start the study on December 15th. 


2009 has been a difficult year for the Terry family. Please join me in praying for this sweet family:

• Please pray for strength and endurance for each new day
  
• Please pray for peace and hope to reign in their hearts
• Please pray for minimal side effects
• Please pray for God's miracle of healing

Thank you!