This was a day that I want to blog about for my own family journal purposes. I can get long winded at time ;)
This day takes us back to the weekend before Thanksgiving. My mother-in-law had planned an early Thanksgiving for all of us kids due to the fact that our schedules wouldn't cooperate for the actually holiday weekend. Nick and I drove up and got to his parents house first and no one happened to be there. We called his parents and they said they would be there shortly. Soon his younger sister Stefanie arrives and tells us that her Dad had asked her to come over to the house to tell her something so she knew something was up, but us....we were totally oblivious. It went something like this..
I am in the bathroom and I hear Doug (Nick's dad) come in and ask where I was? Nick told him I would be right out. I come out to his mom and dad sitting around the kitchen table with Nick and Stef. At this point nothing had crossed my mind because it isn't unusual for us to sit around and talk. I just casually joined them. The conversation went on and then Doug spoke up and asked, "How much faith do you each of you have?" We all gave answers that were alike..."a lot" we said. At this point my mother-in-law starts getting emotional. I am thinking to myself..uh oh. Doug proceeds to tell us that are Faith is going to be tested. He kind of leaves it at that and goes on to ask us what his major trials have been through out his life. Nick answered, "mostly with your health dad." Doug agreed and then said, "so what better way for the Lord to test me than by giving me trials that have to do with my personal health?" My stomach was in my throat at this point or it felt as if so.
I was starting to catch on little by little, but still couldn't pin point exactly where he was headed. I turned to Nick and he had a stone cold look on his face. Doug proceeded to tell us that early that week he had been diagnosed with Nonhodgkin's Lymphoma a type of cancer. Our emotions were everywhere from denial to tears. He calmly goes on to tell us that he has 7-10 golf ball to softball size tumors in his abdominal region and one under his left breast and another in his neck. He gives us all the information that the doctors have given his such as life expectancy if the chemo works and the life expectancy if the chemo doesn't work, his prognosis, his treatment plan the list goes on. Somewhere in all of that he mentioned that he the doctor had given him 6 months to live if he was to do nothing about this and let the cancer run its course. He said, "But I have never been a selfish person nor am I going to start now." My thoughts immediately turned to my selfless husband with tears streaming off his cheeks. I thought to myself things like, "There is no way my husband can live with out his father, how will I comfort him? Will he be okay?" Just as I was starting to feel alone and scared of the unknown I was quickly grounded again with my thoughts as I thought of Doug's perspective.
He never gave us any doubt in him overcoming this. He kept referring to this as just another trial in his life. Not even wondering to himself, "Why me?" I found my testimony become stronger as I tried sorting out all of what we had just heard. I found strength in the words of my father-in-law as he told me that this was just another bump in the road and that he was going to overcome this. Many questions were asked, but there weren't many answers being given. There was still so many unknowns. I of course thought of the worst and how things would be. I found myself being selfish in my thoughts. I thought about the fact that my kids might never remember there Grandpa. Doug and Cindy summed things up by saying, "we will get through this!" And that is just what will happen. My father-in-law has the strength and and will-power and has a testimony that could move mountains. The Lord will be on his side helping him battle this cancer.
We each embraced him with a hug as tears wet our shoulders. Some of the hugs were longer than others. I cherish the moment as I watched Nick hold his dad in such a delicate, but firm way. I will never forget those sweet words I heard them exchange. God does give us trials to make us stronger and that is just what happened in the 30 minutes we sat talking. I know that God has a plan for each of us and that if we just have faith and trust in him he will comfort us when needed, humble us, and guide us. One last thing for journaling purposes...I crawled into bed that night with Nick and he was quiet so quiet that all I could hear was the slightest sniffle. I knew that there would be times when he would need comforted and this was one of them. He said, "I am just not ready to lose my father.." I remember holding him and telling him that everything was going to be okay. He agreed.
That day turned out to be one we won't forget but also a very exhausting one. The next morning we were to wake up early and head to Vegas for the day as a family to shop and see the Lion King play. More on that to come!
