Hello from Laura

Good morning, and blessings to all! Philemon 1:4 says: "I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers." Each and every person sending words of encouragement, prayers, scriptures, and love is appreciated, and prayed for! Praise report: After 7 days, today will be the last day I am receiving 24 hour chemotherapy via IV, at least for this round. Yay! We had one day of some nausea, but overall, everything has gone well. It has been a joy to get to know the staff around me by name, and encourage them. The Lord God has been, and remains, close by and forever faithful.

Immediate family and my sisters have been close at hand, coming and going, and friends have visited. That has been such a blessing! Yesterday, daughter Heather (and baby in the womb!) flew in from Florida, while her husband Austin, and his dad, drive their car and trailer with belongings across country to move back to the Willamette Valley. What a comfort and joy to have them near! Daughter Harmony and husband David and children will be moving back to the Willamette Valley from Oklahoma in the coming 6 weeks or so. Perhaps you may remember from the initial letter from our family about this journey, that these moves back to the Northwest were already in the planning stages before this diagnosis. Son Matthew and wife Hallie and family arrived home from China last April, and live near us in Keizer. As a family, we sense His covering and complete provision for each of us.

I will remain at OHSU for the next 4 weeks or so, to protect my body from infection during this post-chemo time, and to allow my body time to begin to recover prior to a stem-cell transplant. Keep praying one of my 4 beautiful sisters is the perfect match! (This reminds me of the song "MatchMaker-MatchMaker" in Fiddler on the Roof and sometimes I want to just break out in song singing that, and claiming God's creative miracle in making DNA in the first place!)

Whatever work and activities your hands are performing today and this week, I pray God's riches blessings upon you. Our lives have touched via God's design in some creative way, and for that, I am grateful. It is humbling and such an encouragement to know that people are praying and standing in faith, having chosen the Faith path, from all around the world. Be richly blessed and know you are loved by God, and loved and appreciated by me as well. Thank you for your continued words of encouragement, love, and prayers!

"Yet, I will rejoice in the Lord. I will be joyful in the God of my salvation. The LORD, the LORD is my strength!"

Blessings and love, Laura