in it together.

Sorry for the lack of posts...things have been a little tough around here.
{my mom gave me the okay to share here what had been going on, even before her surgery, but time was not my friend and I found myself longing to spend time in His word instead...}

Right after Christmas my sweet mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. Even today, uttering those words in the same sentence with her name is almost unbearable. My heart felt like it was shattering in a million pieces. There were lots of "Not my mom...not my sweet mom...please, God...not her."

She had surgery this past Tuesday and is recovering well.

During her surgery, I prayed the rosary just as she had for me 10 years prior during my surgery. Something about the repetition of prayer is so very comforting to me at times of greatest need. There have been times in my life when I have felt God speak directly to me through His word...times when I had no doubt He was talking directly to me. One of those times was during my mom's surgery.

There was a good hour when I was able to be completely in His word, alone in the hospital room as we waited to hear from the surgeon. I asked God for favor and mercy toward my mom and I asked Him to speak to my heart, to help ease my nerves.

Times in my life when I have felt completely overwhelmed, I have prayed for guidance and randomly opened my bible and I've felt God answer me by making His word ever present and clear. There were 3 different times when I felt this during my mom's surgery.

As the surgery was starting, I envisioned the cancer. I asked God to guide the surgeon's hands to remove the cancer and when I opened my bible, my eyes focused on this passage from Matthew 21:18 ~  

Then he said to it, "May you never bear fruit again!" Immediately the tree withered."

As I kept reading, Matthew 21:21 stood out to me because my mom told me that very morning her daily devotional was about having faith as a mustard seed...

Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea, and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."

God never fails. I feel He always talks to us but sometimes we're too busy to discern His voice.

As time continued, I alternated between reading the bible and just praying. When I felt my nerves getting the best of me, I once again opened my bible randomly and came to this passage from Matthew 18:19:

Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anyting you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."

Even looking over the note I wrote in my bible, "Amen! During mom's surgery. 01/08/13 12:53 p.m." brings tears to my eyes.

So many were praying for my dear mom at the exact moments of her surgery. I know God hears all of our prayers, even when spoken by a single person. But the comfort of knowing so many were praying for my mom who I love so much was such a reassuring and comforting thought to me. I am overwhelmed with gratefulness to all who have covered her in prayer...THANK YOU!

Today I have good news to report. Part of my mom's surgery was to remove several lymph nodes to check and see if the cancer had spread beyond the breast. Today the surgeon gave us the great news that no lymph nodes were involved! Praise the Lord! What a sweet blessing!

My mom still has several battles ahead of her and I covet your prayers on her behalf. She has been such a trooper through it all...she has been completely optimistic, calm, strong, full of faith, amazing...I could go on and on. My mom is such a beautiful person inside and out. I love her to pieces and I selfishly want her around for a long, long, long, LONG time...to see the littles grow up and to continue to be my best friend.

So today we celebrate and sing prayers of thankfulness to our merciful Lord for His healing touch. Thank you Jesus that you are with us in ways we never even dream of. Please continue to heal my mom as I know you are holding her in the palm of your hand. Amen.