When I was a little girl, I spent a lot of time at my grandmother's house in a small town not far from here. I have so many sweet memories of adventures with my childhood friend, Chris, as we played house in the incinerator in the alley and collected lightening bugs in peanut butter jars on hot summer nights. We solved the puzzles of the universe over nickel double-dip ice-cream cones and played with kittens on her wide, front porch. I also remember starched cotton dresses, itchy crinolines, Kool-Aid, and cookies on summer mornings with Chris at Bible school.

I was thinking the other day about some of the little songs we learned there—oh, how I've always loved music and singing! As we have been preparing for Thanksgiving, one of them has been playing over and over in my head.

Counting our blessings has been a tremendous part of this wondrous journey of life. Each joy has been from His hand; each day has been ordered by our faithful Father; every trial has been for our good and His glory. In every moment, He is there.

It is His faithfulness in every triumph and every tempest that causes our voices to sing, our hearts to trust, our spirits to rest. His faithfulness is our Source of peace and joy.

Every day has become a day of thanksgiving. As we count our blessings, our hearts are filled with gratitude and awe.

There were many sweet blessings at my one-month-post-chemo doctor's appointment yesterday. We entered the cancer center filled with the magnitude of the gift of the day, and the gift of two amazing years.

As I waited to be called in for my labs and port care, my friend Sheri joined us. She is the bubbly young momma I mentioned a while back who is battling breast cancer. It has been a delight to come to know her over the past months and to rejoice together in the goodness of the Lord. She's a really good hugger! :-) We shared a very special time of counting our blessings with thankful hearts. Please continue to pray for Sheri as she completes her last four treatments prior to her upcoming surgery.

During my first series of chemo, there was a nurse who was very dear to me. I was delighted to discover she would be doing my labs and port care. Barb and I also had a very special time of counting our blessings and her parting words to me were: "You know, if the only prayer we said each day was 'Thank you, Lord,' it would say everything." I agreed. She, too, is a really good hugger…

Dear Dr. Potkul is a precious blessing and I told him so. My humble offering of thanks to him came in the form of a full heart baked into a loaf of pumpkin/cranberry bread.

My tumor marker was again a "4" and my next appointment will be in three months.

As we left the doctor's office, his wonderful nurse, Kathleen, called my name. We haven't seen her in a while and it was so sweet to see her smiling face again. She wanted to wish us a lovely Thanksgiving and delivered yet another hug.

Hugs are a very good thing, don't you think?

As Dick and I walked out of the cancer center hand in hand, it seemed so odd and yet so wonderful to not be heading to the chemo center. My heart was overwhelmed with gratitude for the Lord's tremendous kindness. A piece of my heart was also left behind as I remembered all those who were still receiving their treatments…please join me in prayer for them?

This has, indeed, been a most wondrous journey and I thank the Lord with all that is within me for His tender mercy and unfailing grace.

I may not know where He leadeth me, but I know with whom I go. He is sovereign and He is faithful.

Thank you, Lord…