Tuesday, September 13, 2016

The Goodness of The Lord

Yesterday was a milestone in our household. It was the day we celebrated my husband, Scott's, five year mark of being a Pancreatic Cancer Survivor. For anyone who knows anything about this particular cancer, you realize what a truly miraculous thing this is. Very few people beat this one. It's considered The Big Boy of cancers. When I was thirteen I watched my grandmother lose her two year long battle to it and all those memories made me even more thankful that God had a different plan for Scott and me and our whole family.
For one thing we have two little grandsons he might never have known had things gone differently. This is Archer we are pictured with. He belongs to our oldest daughter Hilary and her husband Brandon.
We celebrated his second birthday on Saturday, September 10th at a local park on a very beautiful day.
His name is actually Archer Scott, which made a certain set of grandparents cry when we received that announcement after his birth. The joy that he has brought into our lives truly has no words. He reminds us in many ways of his mother at the same age and yet he is much like our beloved son in law as well.
His cousin Parker, who was two in May, was at the party as well.
His first question when told he was going to Archer's birthday party was,
"Will there be cake and will it have frosting on it?" He also really likes balloons.
  I just can't imagine Scott not being here to experience every drop of these two little men that God has sent straight down from Heaven just for us.
Look at this beautiful face. Once again, the perfect blend of a much loved daughter and son in law.
The joy that they all bring to our lives is something that I could have experienced on my own you might be thinking... but believe me, it would never have been the same without My Beloved. Scott and I have been together since I was a mere girl of 15 and he was really still just a boy of 19. At this point we are one flesh, one breath. Sometimes it's hard for me to tell where he stops and I begin. So I am more thankful, clear down to the very deepest part of my heart and soul, than anyone will ever know, that God chose to allow me to keep him. I thank Him every single day for His blessing.
We went through a difficult time five years ago, there's no denying that. Scott had sixty percent of his pancreas removed, along with his spleen and a soft ball sized mass. We spent six nights in the hospital. He was so sick that some of it's a blur to him but I remember every detail. During that time both of our daughters were planning their weddings six months apart. Scott had surgery in September, Chelsea was married in October and Hilary was married in April.
Plus in the midst of all of it, Scott had massive radiation treatments. He was so thin that he had to be refitted for his tuxedo he wore in Chelsea's wedding. He still jokes that it was her who walked him down the aisle in that wedding. But he made it. He danced with both of his cherished daughters at their weddings and he was here when their children entered the world. And by the Grace of God he is still by my side. I have to say here that I knew before we were told that Scott had cancer, that he did indeed have cancer. I felt the Lord preparing me. However, I must tell you that I also knew just as certainly that God would see us through. I had complete assurance of heart about it. That doesn't mean the journey was easy by any means but I always believed he would be
A Survivor.
"I would have despaired unless I
had believed that I would
see the goodness of the
Lord
In the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord;
Be strong and let your heart
take courage;
Yes, wait for the Lord."
Psalm 27: 13, 14

22 comments:

  1. Beautiful family ♥ Love these photos ♥

    summerdaisycottage.blogspot.com

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  2. Oh what a precious, precious post Danette! Praising our Lord for His Mercy and His love through it all...He filled you and Scott with the strength necessary to withstand that very, very difficult trial...but now you are able to look back and truly say...though I have walked through the shadow of death, I will fear nothing Father! because You are with me! Rejoicing with you this day! mari

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    1. Thank you so much Mari! And how right you are! He truly did fill us with His strength one step at a time along the way. We see it all more clearly as we look back. It certainly changes ones perspective on everything. All of life is to be celebrated my friend.
      Thanks for rejoicing along with us,
      Danette

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  3. Beautiful and uplifting story my friend, you have a gorgeous family. Congrats to all of you especially your husband for fighting and winning his battle with cancer.
    Meredith

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    1. Once again.... Thank You My Dear, Dear Friend Meredith.
      We are so very Blessed. Sometimes I am overwhelmed by the Goodness of God...

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  4. Wow, Danette, what a miracle that is, to have survived pancreatic cancer. I admire your courage and faith in the face of adversity. Psalm 27 has been a verse I have clung on to in the heat of battle.

    Fi

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    1. It IS a Miracle Fi. A True testimony to all who know Scott that God is still on the Throne and Still in the Miracle business NO MATTER WHAT. In this world we will always be in the heat of battle at times but God is our Victor! Hallelujah!

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  5. God is so good! Danette, you have a beautiful and blessed family.
    Thank the Lord for His mercy to us.
    Have a great evening!
    Toni

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    1. Yes He is! Thank you Toni! We ARE Truly so very Blessed and I am very humbled by it. I tell you this, my friend, nobody walks through cancer of any kind and comes out unchanged. It softens many rough edges and sharpens a hazy focus here and there...
      Thank God for His wonderful mercies which are new every day.
      Have a beautiful day,
      Danette

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  6. A blessing indeed! Here's to many more beautiful years together! God is watching over you Scott.

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    1. Oh Kar... You always say exactly the RIGHT thing :-)
      I DO feel God watching over us. Thank you.
      We are Blessed indeed and know it full well.
      We are so very thankful for every single day.
      Scott said just recently he feels like every single day is a "bonus".
      Love to you Dear Friend,
      Danette

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  7. What a wonderful story! Pancreatic cancer is a tough one. What a blessing for you all. Happy to hear such a great testimony. Every day is precious, and there's so many blessings around us. Having just been through my daughter's wedding I can't imagine going through all that as well. And your grandchildren are precious.

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    1. Thank you Deborah... Yes it is! It was challenging with the weddings going on at the same time but, you know, somehow God just got us through. One step at a time. Not that I would want to go through it again, mind you! The grandchildren are a huge blessing! We have two others that weren't able to be there that day. We love them all so very much!
      Congratulations on the wedding of your Beautiful daughter!!!
      Danette

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  8. What a wonderful story, Danette! Praise God!

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  9. Congrats on your husband's five year milestone ♥

    summerdaisycottage.blogspot.com

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  10. And there you have it. Because He loved us first and because you two loved each other. Such a beautiful family, a blessing to so many.

    Much love, Genie

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    1. Straight to the heart of the matter my Sister...
      So much love right back to you,
      Danette

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  11. Thos is so beautiful, and your faith and positivity is so inspiring!!! So glad that Scott is doing well, that your family is strong, and the blessing of beautiful grandchildren like Archer just sweetens it all. I'm so happy for you, my friend.

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    1. Oh Julie.... thank you so much my dear friend. I appreciate all you kindness and know it is all true and heartfelt. I'm sorry I missed this comment somehow and just now stumbled across it. God has blessed us mightily...
      Much love to you and your precious family,
      Danette

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Thank you for taking time to chat with me ~
Your comments make me so Happy!
Have a lovely day.
Danette