A Little Rain....

I am such a music person. Music has been an important part of my life for as long as I can remember and it moves me in ways that nothing else can. I especially love music that brings me into worship and reminds me of God's amazing love for us and his ever present grace in our lives. One of my very favorite songs is Bring the Rain by Mercy Me and I've put the video for you see and listen to at the bottom of this post.

I share this with you today because yesterday morning, it started raining big time in my life, and to be pretty honest, I'm just reeling from the news.

If you've followed my blog for a while now, you know that my Dad has had some major health struggles over the past two years but he's like the Energizer Bunny - he keeps going, and going......
But after his most recent hospital stay where some tests were run, we were told that not only had his Prostate Cancer returned, but he also had cancer in his lung.
After meeting with his oncologist on Tuesday, he was told that it was Stage 4 and in his Lymph Nodes as well. Devastating news to say the least. I'm still trying to process it all.

Here's a photo of my Daddy with Emma this past Thanksgiving. He's doing what he loves best, eating, spending time with us and watching football on tv. I think his expression here says "hurry up and take the picture, I'm hungry!" Yep, that about sums it up!

Now if you hadn't guessed it already, I'm a Daddy's girl. I've written about it many times here before. He and I are so much alike and I can't imagine a world without him in it. He's my hero in so many ways. To be really honest here, I'm scared to death and I know that many of you can relate. But I'll tell you what gives me hope - two things actually - my Dad's determination to beat the time limit the doctor has given him and the hope, confidence and faith we have in Jesus. My Dad knows the Lord and I know that when his time does come he'll be in heaven waiting for us.
But, neither my Dad, or any of the rest of us are ready for him to go just yet.

So, he's decided to begin chemo this coming Tuesday - five treatments in all - that the doctor says will get him through Christmas. Dad told me on the phone last night that he's going to make it way past that - he's "made up his mind." I say "Yay, Dad!" I know if anyone can do it, he can. He's so stubborn and handles adversity better than almost anyone I know, but he also has the best attitude - he just loves life! No, he's not going to take this sucker punch lightly - he's a fighter - and that gives me hope too.

I hope you don't mind that I've shared something so deeply personal here today - I'd really intended on just letting you know that I was going to take a break from blogging for a few days to get myself together. But as I started writing, it felt so good to just let it out and I feel like I've taken a deep, cleansing breath. If you've read this far, thanks for that.

I am going to take a few days off from blogging, but I'll be back - I promise. In the meantime, would you pray for us? I know you will without me even asking, but well, there it is. We need all the prayers we can get and I'm not going to be shy about it. I know that God is lifting us up right now and holding us close. My faith tells me that he "will never leave or forsake me." and I believe that with all my heart and am clinging to that promise today.

In the meantime, I hope this song blesses you and gives you peace as it has for me today.
Stamped blessings,
~~Robin