Come Home

They are coming home!

They left yesterday, but won't arrive until tomorrow!

Praise the Lord!

Homeward bound at last!

"I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies . . ."
Psalm 119:14 



An Enduring Mercy

God's mercy is indeed great!

It's awesome,

sensational,

amazing,

miraculous,

staggering,

astonishing.

Many times we have to remind ourselves of this.

I know I do.

Especially when all around us lies wickedness.

Especially when someone we love is hurt.

I have to say to myself, "Even though Mrs.Tracey has cancer,

even though the pain has been abominable,

and a child died yesterday of cancer,

and someone was murdered,

and people hate You,

God's mercy is STILL there.

God is STILL good!

He won't stop being so."

Mrs. Tracey had her blood work done.

Her final radiation treatment is a week from today.

The doctors told her she is doing so well,

she doesn't have to come back for her checkup for six months!

I can see Mrs. Tracey dancing!

Laureli smiling and hugging.

Everyone lifting hands to heaven,

praising God for that enduring mercy of His.

Thank you, Lord Jesus!

When she comes home, Mrs.Tracey said she's going to have BIG! party!

"Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever."

1 Chronicles 16:34

" . . . Who Holds My Hand."

"Many things about tomorrow,

I don't seem to understand.

But I know who holds tomorrow,

and I know who holds my hand."

     This song has been running through my head alot lately.
     It is so true. I may not know what the future will bring, but there is one thing that I am absolutely, positively sure of. Wherever I am, whatever is happening in my life, God will be right there beside me. He has been my constant companion all through my journey with cancer. He has been there for my high times and my low times.
     I will admit, there have been some low times. Times when I did not think I could take another shot, or times when I would look in the mirror and say, "Who is that hairless thing looking back at me."
     Believe me, I have had my share of pity parties. But those would be the times when my Heavenly Father would be there to remind me that this too shall pass.
     Well, I have finished chemo, and I have had my first radiation treatment. I am staying in Oklahoma with my daughter Laureli for about a month and a half. I have to take 30 treatments of radiation.
     Tony and Roby are staying at home in Nebraska. This is the first time that I have been away from home for a long time. Tony and Roby will have to cook, clean, and take care of the ranch. Oh boy!! I wonder how they will get along without me?!!
     When you pray, just put in a little prayer for them if you don't mind. I know they would appreciate it. My prayer for this blog is to show others God's love and His constant care for His children.
     Remember that even though we may not know the future, just keep in mind that God will always be there for you.
     All we have to do is call out His name.

Love,
Tracey

The Earth Split Apart For JOY!

     Tracey and Co left the Saturday the 28th and arrived in Tulsa on Sunday evening.

     They wanted to get the cysts on Laureli's back checked out as soon as possible and they saw the doctors Monday morning.
     The doctors said they had never seen anything like it. But they did not think the cysts were cancerous! What a wonderful answer to prayer! Praise to Almighty God!
     Tracey and Tony have decided to wait until they come home in March to deal with her back and are going to keep applying tea and clay to the cysts.
     The radiation machine broke down in the midst of all this and Tracey wasn't able to start radiation. Her first treatment was scheduled for today. 8 am.
     She was kind of nervous as they slid into a tunnel like thing. It only took 7-8 minutes and they asked her if she wanted to take something to calm her nerves. She didn't. She said she was fine after they started. She is doing well and it wasn't bad at all.

    

     Pastor Tony is returning home this afternoon. Tracey asked us to pray for good weather for him. Laureli is working on her Young Chautauqua character, Amelia Earhart, and she and Tracey are taking advantage of Tulsa's huge library and the Center's gym.
       They ask for prayer to keep seeing improvement and confidence in their decision and that Laureli will stay strong and healthy.
      God bless you all!
    

"And all the people went up after him;

and the people played the flutes and rejoiced with great joy,

so that the earth seemed to split with their sound."

1 Kings 1:40

You Do Not Know

"All fear is but the notion that God's love ends.

Did you think I end, that My bread warehouses are limited,

that I will not be enough? But I am infinite, child.

What can end in Me? Can life end in Me?

Can happiness? Or peace?

Or anything you need?

I am the Bread of Life and My bread for you will never end.

Fear thinks God is finite and fear believes that there is not going to be enough and hasn't counting one thousand gifts, endlessly counting gifts, exposed the lie at the heart of all fear?

 In Me, blessings never end because My love for you never ends. If My goodnesses toward you end, I will cease to exist, child.

As long as there is a God in heaven, there is grace on earth and I am the spilling God of the uncontainable,

forever-overflowing-love-grace."

:Ann Voskamp:

‘Call to Me, and I will answer you,

and show you great and mighty things,

which you do not know.’

Jeremiah 33:3

All Your Purpose

Tracey and Co. left for Tulsa today to begin her radiation treatments.
They will not be returning until the middle of March.
Laureli and her cousin went along to keep Tracey company.
Please pray for their safety on the trip and while they are there.
God bless!

"May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble;
May the name of the God of Jacob defend you;
May He send you help from the sanctuary,
And strengthen you out of Zion;
May He remember all your offerings,
And accept your burnt sacrifice. Selah

 ^"May He grant you according to your heart’s desire,
And fulfill all your purpose.

 We will rejoice in your salvation,
And in the name of our God we will set up our banners!
May the Lord fulfill all your petitions.

Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed;
He will answer him from His holy heaven
With the saving strength of His right hand."

Psalm 20:1-6

In your midst . . .

The Lord your God in your midst,

The Mighty One, will save;

He will rejoice over you with gladness,

He will quiet you with His love,

He will rejoice over you with singing.

Zephanian 3:17

For EVER

Tracey had her final chemotherapy treatment yesterday.

Praise the Lord!

I know she is rejoicing and praising Him that it is finished!

Her radiation will start soon and the treatments will be everyday.

She will be staying down at the Center with Laureli the entire six weeks.

But please be praying for her,

her teeth have been really bothered by the chemotherapy

and one in particular has been very painful.

She hoped to have it checked out after her treatment yesterday.
More news to come!

Please keep her and Laureli in your prayers this week!

"Your testimonies I have taken as a heritage forever, For they are the rejoicing of my heart."

Psalm 119:111

To Keep Thee

Tracey and Tony left last Friday for her next treatment.

It went well and she says she is feeling very well.

They could not come home until today, though,

and the weather is being no friend.

Prayers are graciously coveted for road safety

and their trip.

God bless!

"For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways."
Psalm 91:11



Peals of Thunder

Tracey is doing well.

The test went fine and they said

everything is alright,

though the doctor isn't letting

her come home today.

Praise the Lord!

"Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude,

like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder,

shouting: “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns.""

Revelation 19:6

Unquenchable

They are keeping Tracey at the Cancer Center.

They're giving her a colonoscopy on Monday.

Tracey says it's getting very frustrating

and home sounds much better.

Please keep praying for her and Pastor Tangwall

"The strong shall be as tinder,
      And the work of it as a spark;
      Both will burn together,
      And no one shall quench them."

Isaiah 1:31

The Stronghold

Tony and Tracey are still in Oklahoma.

Tracey says they changed her chemotherapy

and she had a reaction to the new one.

So she must have a test done to check for an infection.

The test is at 1:00 pm today

and they ask to please pray that all is well.

"We are trusting God, so we know He will work it out!"

                    Love, Tracey

"And those who know Your name

will put their trust in You;

For You, LORD,

have not forsaken those who seek You."
Psalm 9:10

"The LORD is my rock

and my fortress and my deliverer;

My God, my strength, in whom I will trust;

My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."

Psalm 18:2

Leave a note for Tracey here.

Blessed Hope

Tracey is having her treatment today.

They hope to make it home tomorrow
if she is not too sick.

Please pray for them and their safety!

God bless!

"Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
   whose hope is in the LORD his God,
who made heaven and earth,
   the sea, and all that is in them,
who keeps faith forever;
 who executes justice for the oppressed,
    who gives food to the hungry.

The LORD sets the prisoners free;
the LORD opens the eyes of the blind.
The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down;
    the LORD loves the righteous.
The LORD watches over the sojourners;
    he upholds the widow and the fatherless,
   but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.

  The LORD will reign forever . . ."
Psalm 146:5-10a

Leave a little love here.

Refuge

        Tony and Tracey left for Tulsa today.

They wanted to make the trip in one day

as they wanted to get in some Christmas shopping before

Tracey's treatment!

Keep them in your prayers!

 "I cried out to You, O LORD:
         I said, “You are my refuge,
         My portion in the land of the living."
               Psalm 142:5

Please leave a little note for Tracey here.

How to have a lovely day . . .

"For he who would love life

And see good days,

Let him refrain his tongue from evil,

And his lips from speaking deceit."

1 Peter 3:10

Home Again . . .

Arrived safely.

Tracey said she hardly had any nausea whatsoever!

She is doing well.

I know she thanks God everyday for your prayers,

what they have done for her!

And apparently they had a wonderful time at the Gather concert . . .

"Behold, thus shall the man be blessed

Who fears the LORD."

Psalm 128:4  

Drop a message by for Tracey and her family!

God's Word is Powerful, Pray His Promises for Tracey

Tracey is checking in today.

Tomorrow she will be getting her first treatment of the new Chemotherapy.

She's very nervous about it and needs much prayer.

Psalm 107:20

"He sent His word and healed them,

And delivered them . . ."

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

"I rise before the dawning of the morning . . ."

Tracey and Tony will be leaving tomorrow for Tulsa.

Please pray Tracey is well enough to go down,

for the doctors say if she's sick with a cold they won't be

able to do treatments.

Also pray for Tracey especially,

these next four treatments will be much, much

stronger than the last ones.

A sign they have reached the half way mark!

Tracey has been doing something different during her devotions now.

Every day she gets up and verbally speaks the word of God,

reminding God of His promises to her.

Mr. and Mrs. Tangwall have received so much spiritual encouragement

at the Cancer Center.

Praise the Lord!

This verse I read in my devotions the other day.

It reminded me of Tracey.

Psalm 119:147

"I rise before the dawning of the morning,

and cry for help;

I hope in Your word."

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

“There is no greater mercy that I know of on earth than good health except it be sickness; and that has often been a greater mercy to me than health…

It is a good thing to be without a trouble; but it is a better thing to have a trouble, and know how to get grace enough to bear it.” ~Spurgeon

"And we get grace enough to bear it — when we run into the arms of Grace who bore it all, into Him Who is more than enough."~Ann Voskamp

God Fights For You

This time, I'm not going to try to rewrite what Tracey messaged me about her trip to Tulsa. It's too beautiful to change.

     When I was down at the cancer center this last time they had a special celebration for those who had been cancer free for 5, 10, and 20 years. It was encouraging seeing those who have fought a battle and won.

     A gentleman who had been cancer free for 6 years came up to me and presented me with a pin that said HOPE. He encouraged to stay strong and to keep fighting!

     No matter what you are going through, cancer, financial problems, discontentment, remember that God will fight for you. You are His child. He created you. When He was on the cross, all the tears, pain, and blood was shed for you. I am so thankful that when I was a teenager I accepted His free gift of salvation. Someone reading this post may not know Jesus personally. I want to challenge you to seek His face and to get to know Him. He is someone you want in your corner when you have your "boxing gloves" on, fighting a battle. Joshua 23:10b ". . . for the Lord your God, He it is that fighteth for you, as He promised you."

Don't ever lose hope, He will FIGHT for you!!

" . . . and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls,

that not one thing hath failed of all the good things

which the LORD your God spake concerning you;

all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof."

Joshua 23:14b

To tape a little note to Tracey and her family--

Click Here