08.11.16 update

Aug 11, 2016 | Medical Updates

Phil and I took Maggie to Jackson today for a meeting with Dr. Berch, her surgeon. The current suspicious area on her liver is much like the one she had starting in December 2014. At that time a needle biopsy was taken with the results coming in as inconclusive. (We...

08.10.16 Update

Aug 11, 2016 | Medical Updates

We got a call this evening at 6:50 from Maggie’s oncologist. The CT scan performed yesterday was discussed this afternoon at tumor conference. The scan confirmed the results of last week’s CT of the chest showing a small (1.4 cm) spot on the liver at the...

Seeking Grace in Broken Dreams

Aug 5, 2016 | Melissa

Being left behind stinks. That’s about as tastefully as I can say it. To want to be somewhere other than the place you currently cannot leave is frustrating. But when you’re sidelined from a much-celebrated rite of passage, missing the boat feels like utter...

Five Days Without Social Media: from the other side

Aug 2, 2016 | Maggie

First, here are thoughts I recorded each day: Monday: I accidentally clicked on my social media apps all throughout the day. I posted a picture to promote my original blog post and caught myself wondering how many likes it had gotten. I seriously considered asking one...

Mick Jagger, Donuts, and Getting What You Need

Jul 26, 2016 | Melissa

“Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” James 1:12 Do you think Mick Jagger had a disappointing trip to a donut shop in mind when he penned his...

5 Days Without Social Media

Jul 25, 2016 | Maggie

Yep. You read that title right. And it’s going to be hard. I’m going to go an ACTUAL five days without social media. Here’s why. I’ve noticed that I spend a lot of time on social media. If I’m bored or waiting, I open Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram just to pass the...

2 Years and Counting

Apr 9, 2016 | Maggie

April 7, 2014 I was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer with spots on my liver and lungs. At this point, you’ve probably heard this story before, so I’m not going to type it out. I would love to say that the reason this blog is up a day late is because I was...

2016, Bring it on

Dec 31, 2015 | Maggie

2015 has been some kind of year. The year started with the most amazing trip to Disney World that I could have ever planned. I mean, Disney will never be more magical than that week. I made memories that will last forever. Having such a great start to the year was a...

A month in review: September

Oct 2, 2015 | Maggie

I had planned to blog yesterday, but I got benadryl, phenergan, and ativan within a very short time so any hopes of not being in a catatonic state for the rest of the day were lost. I even had completely written this post when my computer freaked out and deleted the...

Flowing Time

Jul 30, 2014 | Melissa

But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. -2 Peter 3:8 At first glance “permanence” is weighted with earth-bound ideas of strength and immovability. Mountains and...

Beads and Scars

Jun 4, 2014 | Melissa

At the Children’s Cancer Clinic, patients have the option to collect beads for events in their journey. Beads of Courage is a national program in children’s hospitals. Each specific bead color or design represents a particular procedure, hospital stay, or treatment...

Blooming Trees

May 9, 2014 | Melissa

You can tell from the title of our website trees hold a special place in my life. I love them. And no tree stands out in my mind more than my grandmother’s magnolia. It was enormous, at least to the 8-year-old girl who would visit her small house on the corner of...

Facing Fear

Apr 17, 2014 | Melissa

I’ve been told Maggie’s former youth pastor would often spot a young person, sit down facing him/her, stare intently, and ask, “What’s your greatest fear?” When Maggie shared this with me recently, I took the opportunity to ask her what...