Between now and then

When I refer to this title there are a lot of this and that will happen between now and Feb 22 (or then.) 

Today and every Monday and Wednesday Lydia goes to Sylvan Learning, to give her a little academic boost.  Today is no different except we will go and have a monthly conference with her teacher(my cousin) The last time we heard how well she was doing with my cousin,  we were  so excited because between the last conference and this one Lydia has excelled so much.  When she started Sylvan she was a 3rd grader doing work as a 1st grader would do  --  to date, she is a 3rd grader doing work as if a 5th grader was doing the work.  We couldn't be more proud of her.  Her life as an 8 yr. old has been turned upside down when cancer entered in the picture and that accomplishment makes us as parent's so proud.  So we are excited to see how well she is doing now.

Even before the Sylvan Conference we are honored to have her Jenison Christian school conference. We will have this early by a week or so due to us having some schedule conflicts when conferences are.  I can't wait to hear how she is doing at this point in the school year.  Lydia has always been a great girl with a great personality.  We are proud of her and can't wait to hear how this Blondie , blue eyed girl is doing. 

Then of course we have Valentine's day, and the many things that go along with this holiday.  Lydia has already addressed her important cards,( maybe I could get her to do mine as well.  All my preschoolers need a little something sweet as well :0) )  Then this week Sunday or the following my mom always makes a Valentine Dinner invites all of us kids , grand kids and my Dad to celebrate.  She does this by  buying a little something special for each of us and then goes around and tells us why she loves us and how proud of us she is.  This year no different than any other I will have my Kleenex's on hand and a hug for her as she is and has shared in the meal her talent, showed us her love and cared for us all as she does so well every day of every year.  We love her for it. 

Then, we get to Surgery week.  The 22nd of February is the big day.  Kent is a little nervous.  He is scared of the unknown and the care after is a little scary to me as well.  The last surgery,  they worked on the liver, this surgery, they will focus on a Colon resection and the colon surgeon and the liver surgeon will work together.  The Liver surgeon will go first and he will do an ultra sound right on the liver to make sure there are not any more tumors and see about removing by ablation.  At this point Kent only has the left lobe of his liver and it has grown to a healthy size to have work on it.  Then the Colon Surgeon will come in and work at removing the tumor in the Colon. Kent had a colonoscopy back in May and when they did this they tattooed the tumor,  so the Surgeon will know exactly where and then remove.   They will hopefully remove with the hope that they will not have to put in a colostomy bag.  If you need to know how to pray please pray he doesn't need a colostomy bag.    The Surgeons have both told us they work well together and we are very grateful for the medical team we have. 

So between now and then here is what you can do!   PRAY!   PRAY, that the surgeons will have the best possible success in taking all that cancer out! PRAY that Kent will feel peace, PRAY that his nerves will be calm until then. PRAY that the prep before surgery goes well, PRAY that his family as they stand next to him will be the best support they can be.  In return we will PRAY for each of you as you walk your own struggles.   Lastly My PRAYER is That each person with cancer, that walks in my path will someday be CANCER FREE !