Adios and Vaya con Dios

Name that tune.  Can anyone name the song I got my title from?  Come on, country fans.

Tomorrow is a big day for us.  We're finally going back home to the DR!  We are currently in Fort Lauderdale-By-The-Sea so we just have a quick flight to Santo Domingo tomorrow afternoon.  We've had a great week in Florida with Joe's family (there are about 20 of us here) and actually had some warm days for the beach.  Also, before we came down to Florida we had an awesome time at my little sister's wedding in Detroit.  It was a perfect day and she and her husband just returned from their honeymoon on the east side of the DR in Punta Cana (which is also where Joe and I went).  I'll be sure to post some wedding and Florida pictures sometime soon.

This morning I spoke with my endocrinologist in Gainesville, Georgia.  I had some labs done last week (which will be my last ones for a while, praise the Lord) and she talked with me about the results.  I had my TSH levels checked and my levels are finally where they should be!  That is a huge answer to prayer.  I've been feeling better and better lately and pretty much feel back to normal.  This whole week I've been waking up early on my own and feeling more energetic and clear-minded.  And to further confirm that I'm ready for the hard work which lies ahead in San Juan, God blessed me with the experience of running 15 miles this morning along the Fort Lauderdale beach with beautiful weather and lots of strength!  It was a new distance record for me so today is a special day because of that :).

However, the other test I had done was not able to affirm me in any way regarding the status of my cancer.  That was a bit disappointing but we're continuing to trust God's timing.  I had a thyroglobulin test run as well as an antibody test.  My doctor told me that I tested positive for thyroglobulin antibodies which means I'm in the unlucky 15% because presence of antibodies makes it difficult to properly interpret the thyroglobulin levels.  Also, the lab where I had my tests run forgot to do the thyroglobulin levels and had to go back and do them later so those results aren't even available yet.  And when they are available, they most likely will not be as accurate as we had hoped due to the antibody presence.  The thyroglobulin levels are helpful because they tell how many thyroid cells are in the body (which should be very low after all my surgery and radioactive iodine treatment).  If these levels are high, it could indicate that there is still cancer growing.  So unfortunately for me, this test will most likely not be accurate and I won't have anything definitive until March when I have my next full body scan.  So please keep me in your prayers regarding that.  I so badly wish I could say I was "cancer-free" but I have to keep on waiting and trusting in my Lord.

This morning God comforted me before my phone call with my doctor with some verses from Ecclesiates 3:

"I've also concluded that whatever God does, that's the way it's going to be always.  No addition, no subtraction.  God's done it and that's it.  That's so we'll quit asking questions and simply worship in holy fear.  Whatever was, is.  Whatever will be, is.  That's how it always is with God."


Here are a few more that have brought me peace lately:

"God is a safe place to hide, ready to help when we need him.  We stand fearless at the cliff-edge of doom, courageous in seastorm and earthquake . . ." (Psalm 46:1-2)


"God delights in concealing things; scientists delight in discovering things." (Prov. 25:2)


"Don't brashly announce what you're going to do tomorrow; you don't know the first thing about tomorrow." (Prov. 27:1)


"Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul?  Why are you crying the blues?  Fix my eyes on God- soon I'll be praising again.  He puts a smile on my face.  He's my God." (Psalm 43:5)


"God looks after us all, makes us robust with life- lucky to be in the land, we're free from enemy worries.  Whenever we're sick in bed, God becomes our nurse, nurses us back to health." (Part of Psalm 41)


"Don't dump me, GOD; my God, don't stand me up.  Hurry and help me; I want some wide-open space in my life." (Psalm 38:21-22)


"GOD, my God, I yelled for help and you put me together.  GOD, you pulled me out of the grave, gave me another chance at life when I was down-and-out." (Part of Psalm 30)


I love my story because of how God has so obviously worked in everything Joe and I have experienced this past year.  2010 has been a crazy, unpredictable year but no doubt has been my biggest year of growth.  I'm so thankful for everything we've gone through because of how God has come through for us and worked in so many awesome ways.  I know this phase of our lives isn't over yet, but we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that with whatever lies ahead, God will continue to be there with us.

Joe and I are so excited to get back to the Guesthouse and see our friends in San Juan.  We have a team coming in this Saturday and can't wait to get back to work.  We'll keep you updated as we get some normalcy back into our lives and then eventually start a new phase of life back in the States!  Thanks for staying in touch.  We love you all!