Rewards

These are pomegranate blossoms. The nursery manager told us when we bought the tree that if we expected fruit, we’d have to water it generously every day. We wouldn’t dream of adding a job like that to our lives, but we liked the picture of the blossoms so planted it anyway. The first few years were iffy, but now we’re getting rewards like these. Aren’t they splendid?

The blood test yesterday looked okay. My white blood cell count has zoomed way above normal, and my hemoglobin is only .1 away from anemia. But the nurse said No problem, Go! So we’re planning to go. One more set of results is due back tomorrow, but we didn’t bother to check the CA 125 this time.

Izak Dinesen, author of Out of Africa, said, “You know you are truly alive when you are living among lions.” If cancer cells can be likened to lions, and they certainly feel like them sometimes, then we’re in a perfect place for being truly, consciously alive.

The son of some SIM workers was wounded by an improvised explosive device near Kirkuk in March. He’s going to be all right, but it’s a reminder again to be praying for both military personnel and civilians in many locations where the “lions” are roaring. I love this young man’s attitude. He writes, “Despite everything that has happened, there is no way I can feel anything but thankfulness, especially as I was the only one hurt in the explosion.” (Now honestly, he could just as well have been saying, “Why me?”) And: “I’m glad that I learned a long time ago that each day happens, and no amount of worrying makes any difference. It is hard to remember all the time, but that doesn’t make it untrue. God really does give you the strength for each day as it comes.” This young man makes us proud.

We plan to leave at 3:00 a.m. tomorrow for Indiana. Then all six of us will head west on Saturday morning. I'll blog whenever I can. I won't forget to pray for you, and I continue to be so grateful for and dependent on your prayers. (My nutritional regimen has gotten to be a good habit here at home, but I realize it will be a new challenge on the road. I'll do my best.)

Love,
Carol...for Chuck too