'Yea, beds for all who come.'

'Does the road wind up-hill all the way?'

   'Yes, to the very end.'

'Will the day's journey take the whole long day?'

    'From morn to night, my friend.'

'But is there for the night a resting-place?'

    'A roof for when the slow dark hours begin.'

'May not the darkness hide it from my face?'

    'You cannot miss that inn.'

'Shall I meet other wayfarers at night?'

    'Those who have gone before.''

'Then must I knock, or call when just in sight?'

    'They will not keep you standing at that door.'

'Shall I find comfort, travel-sore and weak?'

    'Of labour you shall find the sum.'

'Will there be beds for me and all who seek?'

   'Yea, beds for all who come.'

Up-Hill by Christina Rossetti

"It Seemed Good To the Potter"

Tracey's first chemotherapy treatment began on Friday the 12th. They took her to the "infusion room" where she stayed for four hours.

She and Pastor had devotions and together read many verses about trusting in the Lord, and it encouraged her so much. She said she was not afraid at all.

The nurses were a wonderful help and Tracey was able to do some the many things she loves: reading, listening to music, writing in her journal. Her sister-in-law, Tracy, gave her a devotional that is filled with cancer survivor stories and verses and prayers. There are also spaces where Tracey could write her own thoughts and prayers as well. It has been an inspiration and a joy for her. "Thanks Tracy! Love ya!"

After the treatment, she felt wonderful and her appetite had grown considerably! She ate a big, tasty lunch. But later that afternoon the lunch did not stay with her. Three times it decided to leave her.

She was very nauseous all evening, but a medicine they have kept it at bay a little.

At 3:00 A.M. she was wide awake and decided another favorite of hers was in order. She watched Rebecca, one of those lovely black and whites!

The morning of the 13th was a little worse, she said, but not so much she could not handle. As far as I know she was only sick once that day, but very nauseous.

Tracey is so confident that the sickness will pass. She gives even me encouragement!

She was able to do another favorite of hers: drop by a bookstore. And a shoe store. What every woman loves, right? Shoes and books! "Spending therapy" is always good! Cheers the mind!

Pastor Tony's Mom and her youngest daughter came to get them Sunday night. They did not want to fly back because of how sick she is feeling. They left the center this morning on a twelve-hour drive back home.

They all are so thankful for their family back home who have been taking care of the hotel and the irrigation on the ranch.

They will be returning to the Center on August 31st and her chemotherapy treatment will continue once every 3 weeks for 24 weeks.

After Chemotherapy she will start radiation.

"God ALWAYS knows what we need, so I know He will provide not only financially but spiritually, mentally, and emotionally."

She leaves a verse which Pastor Tony read to her Saturday morning.
In Jeremiah 18:4 God says, "And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make."

"God is the greatest Master Craftsman.

He will take all the wasted pieces

and broken shards of our lives

and restore them to worth and meaning.

God's blessings to all of you.

Thank you ALL for your prayers!!"

Please leave a note of encouragement and love for Tracey and her family.

The Hope Hospital

     Tracey’s first official day, Wednesday, began with registering as a new patient. There was a lot of paperwork to do, but the wonderful lady who helped made it quite painless and easy for them. There were a lot of papers to sign!

     Next they went to patient relations where they discussed how the center helped their patients and what treatments and therapies they had. The woman she talked with made her feel at ease and once again showed great consideration to Tracey.

     She met the Nurse Navigator, known as the "GO TO GIRL" to whom Tracey is supposed to go with all of her questions. She makes sure everything runs smoothly for her.

     What impressed Tracey so much that day was that wherever she was during all of her appointments so many people stopped and asked if her needs were being met. Never had she felt so warm and cared for. I thank the Lord so much that He provided them with such support! There are sick people around everywhere, but the atmosphere of love and care and hope doesn’t make the Center feel like a real hospital.

    At 9 a.m. a doctor gave her a physical and looked over her medical history. He gave her many good tips about the herbs that would help her during the chemotherapy.

     At 10:00 her blood was drawn by a lady with quite a lovely name, Tracy. :)
They had financial counseling at 11:00. Tracey said, "They are so good down here that even the money aspect went smoothly."

     Lunch consisted of some of the best food they have ever eaten! Well, Tracey mentioned she enjoyed it very much. She didn’t say anything about Pastor! "Out of this world" beef and lots of organic vegetables and spices. Also, the best cornbread in the world! Tracey had it for lunch and supper. She might have even had it for breakfast!

     Tracey is so very thankful that Tony has made friends at the Center. A farmer from South Dakota and a pastor from South Carolina, and Noel have been not only a needed blessing, but also an answer to prayer for her. It is much harder to be helpless at the sidelines watching someone you love suffer. But God has given so much encouragement to Pastor Tony this week, through people from many different walks of life sharing together with one thing in common, "We are on a journey of hope."

     After lunch she had an MRI and an IV put in. She has a portacath, so she had the IV put in her chest. Thankfully the nurse had a "magic touch". She used to work with small children and her different techniques made it less painful. "So thankful for that."

     And the very last thing of the day was meeting a mind- body medicine doctor. He is a psychologist with a wonderful Christian testimony, everything he said he used a Bible verse for.

     "I know not everyone who comes here knows the Lord, and that saddens me. I do not know how they get through this. God has been our strength and our comfort. I want to leave you with this verse the psychologist gave us." Love, Tracey

Isaiah 60:1

"Arise, shine.

For the light has come

and the glory of the Lord

is risen upon you."

     I love Tracey and her family, and I didn’t understand why cancer happened to her. I didn’t want her children to hurt. But when I read this last note from her, I got a glimpse of what it could mean. Not only has it drawn them closer to the Lord for even greater comfort and guidance, Tracy said that many around them at the Center do not know the Lord. I’ve heard Pastor Tony speak about several people and doctors who have noticed how differently they have accepted this sadness. Not only have they touched others, even if it was just a nudge, it’s touched me, too, and encouraged me to be stronger in the Lord.

"On Top of the Clouds"

Tracey and Tony left the morning of the 10th and arrived safely at The Cancer Treatment Center of America in Tulsa, Oklahoma. A gentleman met them at the airport when they landed and brought them to the center.

The center awaited them like a haven of hope and as she walked inside she said a peace drifted over her, like flying on top of the clouds, a little closer to God.

I, personally, am so thankful that God placed someone close to them, whom Tracey called "a gentle spirit". Noel, their guide, gave them a tour through the center and great encouragement.

Hope, like that beacon on the mountain, surrounds the center! Everyone has been so warm toward them, and treated her "like a person and not a statistic".

Tracey's first day in her journey of healing began at 7:15 this morning. "We know God is the Great Physician and no matter what happens or what the future brings we will give God ALL the glory." ~Tracey

More to follow soon!

Please leave Tracey and her family a note of encouragement in the comments section.

God Knows Where You Live

     The Lord visited Abraham one day as he sat in the door of his tent, to remind the man once again of the promise He made him. He sent the angel Gabriel to Mary to tell her she had been chosen out of all others to be the mother of His Son. God sent His angels to open the prison doors where Paul was held captive and free him from the chains of his imprisonment. God found Moses on a mountain side and gave him the courage to return to Egypt and free His people. To send His angels to rescue those in need and to visit the ones He loved, God had to know where they lived, didn't He? If He comes and knocks at the door of your heart, He must know exactly where to find it, mustn’t He?     

     "God knows where you live."
    
     It's just a simple phrase, one that tempts you to think, "Well . . . duh." It tempted me to think that a few moments after I first heard Pastor Tony say it. But it first struck me as, "Oh my. That's right!"
    
     To see and understand why something so simple could mean something so much deeper than the surface, I think you have to look at it from all points of view. It has many. That is why I am inclined to think that not all things I think are simple really are.
    
     From the point of view of a lost someone on an endless plain of despair, it could be a beacon of hope on the horizon, like the twinkling lights of home reaching out from a mountain.
    
     To a child of Jesus wandering, feeling forgotten, angry, it could be a renewing confirmation that He knows you are still there, that He's waiting for you to peek through the glowing windows of home and see Him sitting at the table, a warm cup of His mercy and love, poured and waiting for you.
    
     For Pastor Tony and Mrs. Tracey it meant that God knew the pain they were facing. He knew where they lived, that He would visit them, and remind them of the promises He had given them.
    
     He hadn't forgotten.
    
     It meant He loved them.
    
     It reminded them of His never-ending mercy.
    
     It gave Hope.

"Be strong and of good courage,

do not fear nor be afraid of them;

for the LORD your God,

He is the One who goes with you.

He will not leave you nor forsake you."

Deut. 31:6

Please leave Tracey and her family a note of encouragement in the comments section.