Someday

Right now, Nathan and I are house/dog sitting for my sister and her husband while they are celebrating their anniversary in Moab.  It's really fun to pretend like we own things... like a house, or like dogs.

Someday we will live in a house that's quiet.  Where the only noise we hear is noise we make.  Not noise from the busy street outside, or the loud uncle upstairs singing along to 80s rock or playing World Of Warcraft.  Without squeaky floor boards or squawky parrots.

Someday we will live in a house with some privacy.

Someday we will live in a house where dogs are welcome.

Someday we will live in a house that can look clean and put together, because there will be plenty of closet and storage space.

OK, don't get me wrong.  I really appreciate the place we live in right now.  It's clean and cozy and cheap.  But.. sigh... spending the past few days in a private and quite home has really made me dream.

Someday!

Miracle

My mom has cancer.  

She has been fighting it (which is a term she hates) since 2008.

Sometimes she feels well.

Sometimes she teaches kindergarden.

Sometimes she works on her Masters degree.

Sometimes she plants flowers and plays with her grandkids.

But sometimes she doesn't do any of those things.

Sometimes she feels miserable.

Sometimes she hurts.

Sometimes she throws up.

Sometimes she hangs out in the hospital all week

hooked up to IVs and full of medicine.

Sometimes the medicine seems like it's not doing any good.

And she still hurts, and still throws up.

And it seems like no one knows what to do to help.

I know some people don't believe in miracles.

I know some people think that there isn't a God

And that he doesn't hear prayers

Or take requests.

But let me tell you

I know God hears me.

And he can make miracles.

One night, last week, she was in miserable pain.

She was full of drugs that weren't doing anything

But making her act and feel strange.

And the MRI announced cancer in new and scary places.

We felt scared and worried and a little bit hopeless.

Nathan and I got a call that night from my oldest sister

Inviting us to fast and pray for my mom.

With lumps in our throats and tears in our eyes

We got on our knees and begged God for many things.

Comfort

Healing

Relief

Time

Hope

Strength

Faith

And then we waited for a miracle.

And we got one.

The next day was the best day she has had in weeks.

She went almost all day with no pain/vomiting meds.

She had almost no pain at all.

She went on three walks all the way to the end of the 9th floor hall.

She ate most of her food.

She sat up and visited and laughed.

And nothing could explain why she suddenly felt so great.  

Except a miracle.

Things haven't been magically fixed.

She's still in the hospital.

Her pain has come back and she still throws up.

Insurance hasn't approved the latest surgery she needs.

And she still feels like crap.

But I know that God hears me.

And he hears my family,

And he loves my Mom.

Things aren't hopeless.

And even if it's only for one day,

Miracles Can Happen.