It is another quiet, snowy morning. What a peaceful beginning to this day the Lord has made. May it be so for each of you this day.

Yesterday was my doctor appt. and third chemo treatment. We are so appreciative of Dr. Potkul--he is so kind and caring and reassuring. The treatment staff are likewise kind and upbeat and we are grateful for their caring hearts.

My doctor told us the blood test that he mentioned at our last visit as being so crucial at this visit had actually gone down even more. Prior to my surgery, the tumor marker number was 907 (normal is <34). At my last appt. it was 16. Yesterday, it was 7. The doctor said this is a very good sign for a good prognosis. Many women do not experience a drop in this marker until their fifth or sixth treatment, and accordingly, statistically, they do not have as good a prognosis. He was very encouraged and upbeat. (He said he liked my hats and wondered where I found them! :-) I passed on the link to tlc.com, an American Cancer Society affiliate company. Great site, BTW. He wanted to pass that information on to his other patients.)

My treatment went well and the clinic was less busy and I was blessed to have a real bed in a private cubicle this time. Two of the medicines they give me before my treatment to prevent an allergic reaction make me pretty sleepy and I was dozing while my dear husband went to get us some lunch. I was gently awakened by the sounds of beautiful voices singing Christmas carols. I thought someone had put on a CD. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the warm harmony of their acapella voices. Soon, I realized the sound was coming closer and I could hear voices asking patients what their favorite carol was. They would blow a pitch pipe and sing the request so beautifully. The quartet, consisting of a soprana, alto, tenor, and bass--all opera-quality voices--was next door to my cubicle, and I was anticipating what I would request. My favorite Christmas song is "Oh, Holy Night" and I was ready to share my hope. As they left my neighbor's cubicle, they passed by my cubicle (at which time I got to see their beautiful Victorian Christmas costumes of velvet and brocades) to the larger open treatment area and said they only had time for one more song--did anyone have a favorite request? There was some murmuring and a nurse whispered in one of the singer's ears. I was a tiny bit disappointed they had to leave soon and I wasn't able to ask them to sing my song. The next thing I heard was the opening refrains of "Oh, Holy Night." I smiled and wiped away tears. God cares about even the littlest things. What a sweet hug.

One of the most precious parts of the five hours I was in my little corner of that world yesterday was the reaction to the friendship quilt I was nestled beneath. So many nurses and other staff came in to see it--even ones who were not part of my care team. They didn't just look and leave, they read and read and asked questions. I was able to share of the many blessings of God with so many people through the doors opened by that beautiful gift of love. Several of them had tears in their eyes and lingered over it. It was so sweet and I was so thankful to be able to share our Lord with them.

One of the amazing things about this cancer journey is to realize that this is not a detour on the road of my life. This part of the road has been planned for me from the beginning. My sovereign Lord has a purpose in this season in our lives, and oh, how we long to be faithful in it. Dick and I discussed on our trip home that even if that marker blood test number had been high again, this too, was part of God's perfect plan and we would trust Him. We are confident in His good plan for our lives--not in our own strength, but in His great mercy and grace and power. What a blessing to hold that jewel in our hearts.

Another awe-inspiring facet of this jewel has been the encompassing peace that continues to wrap us, hold us, sustain us. And yet another, the countless ways that His still, small voice has spoken to us.

Many places in the Scripture reference the Lord's mighty voice roaring above the seas and the storms. His majesty is daily demonstrated to all in His common grace in the creation and nature around all of us. But it is the precious intimacy of the still, small voice that He speaks in quietly to his children in so many unexpected ways.

I heard His small voice saying "I love you" in the fulfillment of an unspoken request of "Oh, Holy Night"; in the privacy and comfort of a hospital bed tucked beneath a blanket that is love personified; in the urgings to pray for each patient that passed by my door, some there for their first treatment and so afraid of the unknown, some so ill because of all they know too well; in the kindness of strangers caring for me; in the hospitality of friends who take us in and provide warm hospitality and a warm bed to allow us a good night's rest away from home; in the love tucked in an envelope discreetly left behind on our dining room table after a lovely afternoon of fellowship with precious and much-loved friends--shared from their blessings from the Lord with generous and full hearts; in the kind words of a brother-in-law who encouraged me more than he could know. And, this is only the past few days.

Each of these are added to the plethora of blessings over the past nine weeks--your cards, your flowers, your gifts, your sharing of your resources, your hugs, your prayers, and your encouragement. We are are so fat, so full, so rich in your love. Thank you, and God bless you all.

Our son, Shannon, will be home on Saturday for a two-week visit. We are so excited to have him home again! We are looking forward to the special opportunity to attend the Do-It-Yourself Messiah concert next week at the Chicago Opera House. I was so excited to get permission from my doctor to attend with Amber and Shannon and a train car filled with dear friends. I may not have the energy to sing more than the "Hallelujah Chorus," but I will be enthralled to be wrapped in the magic of the evening in that beautiful place, surrounded by beautiful voices and people I love. I am so looking forward to this privilege.

We are also looking forward to a peaceful family Christmas after worship service. It will be such a blessing to have our four children once again around our table.

We would covet your prayers for our family for: the side effects of this treatment to be kind and the treatment to do its perfect good and no harm; for the safe travel of Shannon as he flies home on Saturday from San Antonio to Moline, IL; for our finances as we face a new year and the need to meet our substantial deductible and copayments once again, as well as non-covered expenses related to my treatment and travel; for wisdom as we seek God's will as to housing (if you remember, our house sold the day we discovered my cancer and we will need to move by May 1st--our initial hopes to build our own home [using the wonderful recycled lumber Dick has harvested from taking down corn cribs over the past few years and a huge barn this past fall] wane as our medical bills drain our house nest egg); and, protection from illness for our family during this season of bugs.

May the Lord bless you and your families with a very special Christmas! Every day is so very precious. Life is so good and we all have so much to be thankful for. Every gift we have is from our Lord and He gives us so much.

May our Lord's still, small voice whisper His love to you in countless ways. Be still, and know that He is God, and you will see the many ways He answers.