Sunday, September 26, 2010

our first rain storm on the river

doing much better since my last post. and trying to get used my hair. its so peaceful right now. just put ava down to bed. justin is at barnes and noble. and i am upstairs. finally feel like i can relax. like really relax. before ava my favorite thing to do on gray rainy days was watch movies like the stepmom. but its hard to lay around all day when you have a nine month old. and although i love love the movie stepmom i am taking a little break from it until i am cancer free. just too sad for me now. so instead i will read through an issue of real simple.

the day the article was put in the newspaper here i literally got a steady stream of texts and emails all day. no joke on average every 3 minutes i got something. and i have not stopped thinking about the emails i have received from people. people i do not even know. and may never know. its overwhelming. in the best way possible. and humbling. really i am not that person who is like, oh this is so humbling but inside thinking wow i am really cool and people really love me. seriously that is not me and i pray people know that. i never meant for this to happen. really. i never meant for the blog to be read by more than just our family and friends. but that has proven not to be the case. and i am humbled because i am not that special and our story is really not that unique...but for some reason...some amazing reason the lord is using this blog in huge ways. thanks for taking the time to join in with us. basically all i really wanted to write tonight was that the words people have shared with me...i have been sitting here for a few minutes thinking of the right word to use. but got nothing. it would be close to amazing i guess. since that is always mt "go to" adjective. i may not be able to respond...but really i read every email, every blog comment, every text, every card, every facebook message, everything. i read it all. i have not deleted one email. not even one since i got sick. every email that has been sent to us has been saved. i treasure them. we treasure them. they are in a special folder called hope. sometimes i cry. cry a lot because people are allowing me to join in their journey. they share their heart. they are vulnerable. they are real. they are honest. and they are kind. oh, so very kind. i am the most blown away because i have never seen jesus in this way. the way people are loving us. i never knew jesus was this real. this tangible. but he is. i promise he is real and he is all over this. like why would a random church small group in north carolina send us a card with six gift cards. or someone i do not even know send my mom a $100 check for us. but thank you. although i can not always make sense of it all. it does not matter. but what matters is that we feel. literally feel people praying for us and loving us from all over the world. thanks for joining us.

thanks cliff and laura for coming. and for cooking. and for meals on the porch that feel like a movie. we love you

some sweet girls. check this out. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZ-KoXUSjiE
 

26 comments:

  1. I'm glad people are sharing with you during this time. You are definitely not wasting your cancer. Our pastor was teaching Hebrews 12 this morning and as he closed he was talking about how trusting Jesus is priority in this race called life and he choked up and with full confidence, volume and force said he would even trust Jesus as his son was dealing with lifelong chronic pain. As hard as it is to see his son suffer, he is trusting Jesus that there's a big reason for that suffering and that God will be glorified. You too are sharing that hope with us. Keep at it.

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  2. That took some courage, those girls are incredibly sweet! They should be proud of themselves and you should too! Hair does not make you the strong women that you are. Your strength is definitely from the Lord because if I were walking in your shoes, there's no way I'd be able to accept and grow the way you have during all of this. Enjoy the rain :)

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  3. i'm glad you get to have a relaxing night at home. that makes my heart happy for you. i hope its peaceful....very peaceful tonight.

    with a real simple magazine huh? :)

    love you.

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  4. Thank you for posting this. As I read your blog I am sitting at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis IN while my now 1 year old son undergoes his 5 round of "headstart" chemotherapy. I wanted to let you know you are in are thoughts and prayers, while we haven't been into the journey very long (he was diagnosed at 7 1/2 months and that was in May), I too feel almost the exact same way you feel. You are just amazed that people care enough about you and your family to send thoughtful words, money or even just a pick me up package. People are amazing, prayer in amazing we are witness to it. The doctors told us our son was terminal at the end of July , the 27th to be exact. I put it out there on my blog, asked our FB group to prayer all my friend to pray and to believe in Miracles. We were rescanned a few weeks later only to find the suspicious "thing" they saw was not recurrent tumor at all! The Lord is good, put your faith in him and all is well! Best of luck, I will continue to follow your story and if you ever want to email me feel free. my email address is on my blog.
    The Chupps will be praying for you!

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  5. Libby, Ali, Christina, Rianne, Ellen and Chelsea - you are the beautiful ladies I have ever seen. I love your haircuts and I love you all. You are all amazing because you let Jesus shine so brightly through you. Thank you for sharing with us. Love you and miss you all, Ms. Mari

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  6. Beautiful video. I hope you don't mind if I share it on my blog. More people should know you. You are truly inspiring.

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  7. Hi Libby,

    I actually cried watching this video. Those girls are amazing for cuting their hair to support you. I am glad to see you are feeling better! We are going to keep you in our prayers!

    Sending some South Louisiana Love!
    Erin

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  8. Im with Erin...crying over how sweet those girls are! What a precious way to minister to you and others and being selfless. Also glad your having a sweet quiet night.

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  9. Libby,

    You have touched so many people in such a great way. Your story may not be that different but your heart and your love for Jesus are super special. Growing up I never had much of a religious background it all seemed very scary to me. Reading your blog and feeling your faith has allowed me to trust and begin to learn about Jesus. I'm finding it's not scary at all and your words have given me the courage to learn more and I just want to thank you and let you know you are not wasting your cancer. Thank you Libby.
    Stephanie

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  10. that is just about about the sweetest video i've ever seen. i could cry. i love that those girls did that for you & hope the it was an encouragement to you.

    LOVE YOU FRIEND!
    Jen B.

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  11. I'm Weeping. Speechless. Beautiful. Amazing. Jesus!

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  12. Jesus is using you in such a huge way! I love reading your posts because it helps me to remember to use every circumstance for God's glory. Praying for you, sister!

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  13. The world always looks brighter from behind a smile. I am smiling and hope you are as well. Love and prayers, ~Shirl

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  14. you are probably too young to remember "the rachel" hair sensation that overtook the nation thanks to the tv show "friends"...."the libby" cut is so much more inspiring! Jesus works in such creative ways!

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  15. Hi Libby,
    we do not know each other, but I know your Mom and Dad. You are totally amazing, you are so wonderful and your total dedication and trust, and believes, especially in Jesus, are so inspiering. You have such a loving, dedicated and supporive family and friends, you are so strong, and it is amazing how you share your feelings and thoughts to us. We are all praying for you and your family. Thank you for sharing, and may the Lord give you strengh, and fill your heart with love trust.
    Since I did not grow up in this country, my english is a little turned around, but it comes from the heart and with much love and lots of prayers.
    Marlis

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  16. Hi Libby & Ryder,
    I continue to be blessed by your blog! You remind us that being real in Christ on the inside & outside earns us the right to be His witness. You are an amazing woman of faith & you bless my heart in so many ways. We love you & are praying wihtout ceasing!
    Love, Lee & Betty

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  17. That was so amazing. Libby I love you all soo much. Your a inspiration. Hope you all come in for cmas and enjoy my parents this week. Jeff terrell

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  18. WOW~WOW! I Loved that video, what a special moment! I cried the whole time I watched it. We are praying everyday for God to fill you with strength and hope and He is already using you and Justin in so many wonderful ways! Love your hair by the way!

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  19. Hey Libby,
    I think you're pretty darn awesome. Thanks for opening your heart up for all of us who read your blog. My thoughts and prayers are with you every day.

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  20. what a bunch of sweet girls. when my son was diagnosed with non hodgikins lymhphoma he was 16 and my daughter was 12. She had long blond hair. When her brother lost his hair she wanted to shave hers off. i wouldn't let her. I wish now i had. his cancer was in the fluid of the brain and spine. I am not sure if he ever knew he had cancer. He looked in the mirror once and told me he was never going to that barber again...lol.
    i pray for you libby all of the time. i don't know you outside of this blog but i want you to know that i love you and will never stop following your blog. :)

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  21. So very obvious of how God is using this for his glory! It is truly amazing exactly how many lives you are touching. When you feel sad, I hope you remember just how many people love you! See you in a few days. I can't wait. Love, Aunt Marlo

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  22. Hey Libby,

    It has been quite some time since you and I have talked. I wanted to drop a note and tell you that I am thinking and praying for you guys everyday. I am looking forward to spending some time with your husband at the golf outing in a couple of weeks. Love you guys,

    Chris

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  23. I cried reading and then watching the video. Our discipleship group is praying for you (but I don't know if they're getting haircuts! Haha!) Those girls are amazing, and honestly I think their haircuts are cuter!! Libby I don't know why God is exploding your blog but He does know! Can't wait to hear how many come to Christ through reading your journey!
    It's funny that this is my husband's google account b/c he's bald so he totally doesn't get the hair drama! LOL!
    Love,
    Kristy

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  24. Wow! I never would have thought that our video would bring so many people to tears! I am speechless at how amazing the lord is! Libby, I don't know if you read my letter yet, but I wanted to tell you something that just hit me! When Allison asked me if I wanted to cut my hair I willingly agreed.. Yes I did cry throughout/ after the haircut hhaha.. but I realized that willingness had not come from me, it came from God!! Had I sat and though about it I would have said no! Never! But now that I think about it this was something that God had wanted me to do! Not just for me, and for you, but for much much more other people to see how god 's words are pouring out through you!! PRAISE GOD! I do not regret one single thing from this past weekend! Thank you lib(:

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  25. My gosh, I have been sitting here non stop bawling my eyes out. I cant stop reading your posts, Libby. You give me so much inspiration to move forward in my faith. You are the strongest person I know. From the start of the video, my eyes filled with tears. You girls are amazing. You are everything I wish I could be and more. I am forever and always praying for you.

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