Unplanned Journey

I never really thought blogging was "my thing." I can honestly say blogging is not something I thought I would ever do. Recent events in our lives and the inspiration, encouragement, and information gleaned from another blog just kind of led me to have the desire to share.



Several years back Bobby(my husband) and I decided that we would begin traveling to some great cities around our beautiful country. We carefully chose cities that peaked our interest. I was the one that did most of the research, usually on the web. Most of the planning and preparation was in my hands. That was part of the fun of it. Of course, there were the usual frustrations involved with any travel planning, but I could not wait to finally run all the information past Bobby and hear what he had to say about what I had discovered. The weeks and days leading up to flying out on our adventures were filled with much anticipation. The trip would finally be enjoyed and it would be time to return home. I could always predict what Bobby would say as we drove back into our home's garage, "There's no place like home."


Having said all that, we are now embarking on a NEW JOURNEY. This one was not planned by us. This one was not chosen by us. This was was not researched a head of time and carefully thought out by us. This one is not being looked at with excitement by us.


This one doesn't include airline flights, subway rides, ocean views, historic sites, or site seeing tours. This one is different.


This journey is like Bobby said to me the other day, "unchartered waters." Like a friend, Shelly said to me on Facebook, "a curve in the road"

Just to fill you in, Bobby was diagnosed with a type of lymphoma on Nov. 18th. It's called diffuse large B cell non-hodgkins lymphoma. We met with an oncologist, Dr. David Morgan at Vanderbilt on Dec. 1st and he along with others recommended a type of chemotherapy. He will begin chemo on Wed., Dec. 16th and will receive six treatments, one every three weeks. The doctors were very honest and very positive and the prognosis was hopeful.

I'll be honest, I am learning to take this one day at a time. You know the old song, "One Day at a Time Sweet, Jesus". If you're over forty you probably remember the commercials /infomercials for that song by Christi Lane. The thing is, I knew the song. I knew God's word in Matthew 6:34 "Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own". The problem was I wasn't living that way.

Sometimes it takes a new journey to make truths in our heads, a reality in our feet. In case that went over your head, I mean walking it out in everyday life. :)

One of the passages in God's word that has been a strength for us the last few weeks is Philippians 4:4-13. Verse 6-7 say, "be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God and the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." then in verse 12 -14Paul says, "I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have LEARNED the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him(Christ) who strengthens me"


I am fully aware that we all learn in different ways, one way is on a journey. A journey we never would have chosen and never would have planned. I am learning on this journey. Learning can be painful. It can be uncomfortable and it can be unwanted. It can also be rewarding and refining.


Here are some things I feel I am in the process of learning...


I am learning that "no matter how deep our darkness, He is deeper still." (quote from Corrie Ten- Boom) Holocaust survivor.


I am learning that friends are much more valuable than I ever knew(I think I've learned that one) :)


I am learning to receive with joy.


I am learning to cry out to God more honestly.


I am learning to worship in the hard place.


I am learning that God is the God of all comfort.


I am learning that the journey is unknown to us but not to God


I am learning to be CONTENT


I am learning to surrender


How can we ever thank the bundles and bunches of you who have lifted us in prayer, encouraged us with words, comforted us with food and visits, listened to us on the phone, prayed with us, laughed with us, awakened to pray for us, awakened with us on your minds, lost sleep for us, Facebooked love and concern, embraced us with your hugs, and on and on and on. There are no words. WE ARE HUMBLED, seriously humbled. The grace of God is being and has been poured out on us through you. THANK YOU Thank you ThAnK YoU

Will you learn with me?