From Jon...

As we wrap up this “thankful week” I can’t help but be renewed in my commitment to give thanks in everything – all year long. Our hearts are overwhelmed with gratitude – wish I had time to list all the wonderful ways we have experienced our Father’s love. When we count the ways, one of the things for which we are tremendously thankful is you. God’s love for us has become very evident through you. Many of you are more faithful in dropping by the blog than we have been in updating – some of you check several times daily! Many of you I don’t even know, and it is impossible to express the joy, comfort and blessing your faithful expressions of love and prayer on our behalf have been.

We are in a little lull right now – but as you can see by our schedule the check-ups and visits start again soon, and then before we know it chemo will start.

One the realities that has been impressed on our hearts is that this experience is not just about us – it is about all who surround us and observe, with whatever degree of curiosity or care, what God is doing. Amy and I have been filled with a passion to reflect what God has been doing for us. For those who know Him, our prayer has been that somehow through our experience you might see that God is everything that He claims to be – it may be impossible to experience outside of the fire – but if we can somehow serve as surrogates and share with you even a small taste of the greatness of God, that would thrill our hearts. For some of you, we pray obsessively that our experience would bring to the surface of your conscience those pesky questions about life, death, God and His love that will refuse to go away until they are squared with and answered to the satisfaction of your soul.

We love all of you – and want to communicate that if there is something worse than facing death – it is facing death without the one true God.

Thanksgiving was wonderful – we have already set up our Christmas decorations as well – that is Amy’s favorite time of year.

I have one more prayer for you as I close – I pray that each of you will have the opportunity to celebrate this season as if it might be your last one – that is an amazing experience.

Love Jon