I don't think I've ever been so excited to see a year come to a close. 2011 was a year I will never forget. Our lives changed forever on February 23rd and we are still dealing with the aftermath. Probably will for many years to come. I've said before that I would never, ever chose this for our lives. Not for Lucy, not for my other children and not for me or Erik.
This year alone we have experienced more hurt, more fear, more anger and more heartache than any one person should know their whole life. Our eyes have been opened to a world we wish we never knew. We have made friends and we have lost friends. We have grieved with parents we hardly knew but were so connected to on a deeper level. We have been to the depths of hell and have celebrated on the mountaintops. We have learned to trust God, fear God and love God in a way that we have never before.
Through this year I have been thankful for many things as well. I am thankful for my friends. My tried and true friends who have been by my side through it all. I am thankful for our families. It would be an understatement to say that we couldn't have made it for even day without their help. I am thankful for Covington. The town that I couldn't wait to leave when I was 18 and swore I would never return to. Oh how I love this town! The support and love that has been shown to our family is still unbelievable. We have been overwhelmed and remain amazed by it all.
I am thankful for the thousands of friends I have never met and will never meet this side of heaven. Those of you who love my daughter and our family. Thank you all for coming into our live and walking this journey with us. Thank you for sharing our fears, tears and victories. None of you will ever know what a blessing you have been to our family.
And most of all I have come to stand in awe of the power of prayer. The prayers that have been said around the globe for Ella, Lucy, Jack, Erik and myself have been felt on a daily basis. I know that the walls of heaven have been shaken as the prayers have flooded the throne of God. Our Lord has been honored to hear your petitions and we will forever remain humbled by them.
Lucy's cancer will not define her. It will not define our family. Rather, we will use this hurdle in our lives to do great things. Lucy is destined for something great. I know she is. I also know that the rest of our family will rise to the calling of a higher purpose. My Ella will use the hurt she felt and the compassion she has shown her sister to affect many lives one day. Jack will read about the road his sister and family walked and will grow to have an unbridled zeal and appreciation for life. Erik and I are patiently waiting for our greater purpose to be revealed. Something is brewing and we are holding on tight until we figure out what it is.
For now, my greater purpose is raising three beautiful children and caring for a wonderful husband. I am blessed woman for sure.
Kate, I have followed your story from the beginning. My sweet girl, Savannah, is also a February baby, born on the 26th. She, too, will turn six this year.
ReplyDeleteI have prayed for you, wept for you, smiled with you, and will continue to do so through 2012. I earnestly pray that 2012 brings hope, health, and healing for Lucy and that she can conquer this cancer! I feel so encouraged that she is going to beat it! She has been such a fighter and she can thank you and her daddy for holding her up when she couldn't do it for herself.
Your faith is a testimony of how great our God is. He is our rock, our strength and our fortress. Your honestly and "rawness" and continuous focus on Christ is YOUR "greater purpose" in life.
I can GUARANTEE you that your unwavering faith, including the days you have been angry with God, questioned His plan, etc., are touching so many people's lives in ways that they may have never experienced if you were not willing to bring us in. You are nothing but real, and I know that your story and your reaction to your circumstances has touched many people.
Thank you for allowing us into your life, and thank you for keeping us posted so that we can continue to pray for your family!
Laura Mundie (Nashville TN)
Your courage and faith have been put to the test and I have followed your journey and wept along with you many times and prayed for Lucy and you a lot. I praise GOD for seeing your through this and will continue to pray for you all as HE continues to reveal the plans HE has for Lucy, you and your beautiful family. Have a BLESSED NEW YEAR!
ReplyDeleteKate, you have been a blessing to me. I have been a Christian, for a number of years, but you have opened my eyes, and let me see just how powerful, God really is. I have prayed for you and your family ever since this happened. I pray for God's will be done, whatever that is. I have cried with you, and I have smiled with you. I pray for a healing to come to Lucy and that God will just give you the peace that you need, to deal with all of your family needs. I know He is with you every step of this journey, because no human could go through what you guys have gone through, without His presents. I have two daughters and four grandchildren, and one of my daughters was born without a hip socket. She was treated at Methodist Hospital, nearly 40 years ago. She is a strong and beautiful woman now. I was so scared when the doctors told us, she may never walk, but by the grace of God, she walks, runs, skies, and does whatever she wants. I had a grandson a few years ago, that nearly died from staph infection in his hip. He was 15 years old at the time. This brought me to my knees. We prayed without stopping. Thanks to the power of prayer and wonderful doctors, he made it. I said, if something happens to him, it will be over for me. I just couldn't see giving up one of mine. God was good to us, by healing him, even though it was a long road back to being well. My heart just hurts, for all of you, I just can't put myself in your shoes. I watch your blog, as if, it was my child blog. I just want you to know I will never stop praying for all of your family. The bible says, that God doesn't put more on us than we can handle, well, He has sure put a lot on you, but you are handling it better than I could. I find myself, some days, just asking God to bring, some peace and calmness to you at that very moment. I am sure there are times, when you feel His presents. I am Amber Smith's cousin, and I just want you to know my whole family is praying for you. You have three of the most beautiful children, and a husband that must be your rock. I will continue to keep you in my prayers. I will be in prayer on Tuesday, when Lucy gets her feeding tube. God bless you and your family.
ReplyDeleteYou have no idea who I am, but this post really touched me. You don't know the people you have already touched. You are an amazing family. Your walk has been a walk no one should walk. You and your family has done it so very graciously. I see myself in so many of the things you write. My kids are almost grown, but you have made me realize I have to make sure they hear me say I love you to them daily.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your heart with us all. I will continue to pray for Lucy and your family. I am sure that God has something HUGE in store for Lucy and your family.
Your family is in my daily prayers. I am in awe of what an incredible and strong mother and wife you are. Your faith in God overwhelms me.
ReplyDeleteI will continue to pray for Lucy, you, and your family every day. I will also continue to read your blog.
All of you have a very special place in God's wonderful plan.
Kate,
ReplyDeletePraying for no complications tomorrow and that you will all be back under one roof quickly.
Love this post and your sweet heart. Although you are Erik are still waiting to see exactly what God has in store for you through this process, I can genuinely say He has and is using you guys in some amazing ways as we all watch and pray from afar! Y'all are a true testament to God's sustaining power and true love and perseverance and self-sacrifice...and faith.
Thank you for allowing us into these deeply personal parts of your story!!
Love to you,
Amanda in Little Rock
Kate, I can only hope things get better for your whole family. It has to be hard to have to wake up daily and try to put a smile on your face so that you can keep everyone eles smiling. I wish there was something we could all do for you but if there was then it would have been done by now. We can only hope with every email, comment, phone call, hug that it will help you to get through this nightmare. Lucy has showed us all that she is a fighter as you all are. I am hoping that 2012 will be a year that we will follow with a very Healthy and Happy family.
ReplyDeleteKate you and your family remain such a wonderful inspiration to me and countless others. Lucy is just breathtaking in all that she does. How I found your blog a few months ago can only be explained that I was Divinely led. Lucy is a pure example of God's Grace and Mercy. May 2012 bring answers, bring a cure and just as God has intended...to work thru Lucy to bring us closer to Him.
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