Memorial Box Monday...The Answer

       As most of you know, I found a lump in my breast last week, went for an exam and tests got a preliminary "all clear" and then the next day got a call back saying that I needed to come in for further testing. This last week has been one incredibly hard week as we talked and prayed through what we might be facing. Even before having any answers, God has been so faithful in reminding me over and over again of His love for us and that He is the One who has plans to prosper us and not to harm us. He used so many of you along with family and friends to be His faithful voice during this time. C.S. Lewis says that pain is God's megaphine to the world and I was once again amazed at how He was saturating everything with His love and promises.
    He also used my Memorial Box over and over! Georgia noticed it for the first time this week (it is down at kid level but locked). She would go over and beg to get the tiger hat out and I literally had to reach over all of my little things that signify God's faithfulnes to get to it!
    So, this morning Doug & I headed to Eastern Washington to a specialist fully prepared that they would "run a battery of tests" and that we would again have a period of worrying and waiting. I have to tell you that I just love Eastern, WA. It has to be the ONLY place in the world that would decorate their waiting room with old surgical tools. I am not kidding you. In the middle of the waiting room there was one of those huge coffee tables with glass over it. Inside the table was FILLED with things like this:

and this

Yep, nothing like medevial surgical tools to calm the nerves! 

Feeling better already!

There were so many more...literally, the table was filled with them and the hutch on the wall was filled floor to ceiling. I am so thankful that Doug was there and helped me to laugh at it all!

So we headed back for the beginning of the exam (knowing that we were at the very least having an exam and biopsy) and the medical team was incredible. I learned SO much!

Like did you know

1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer?

80% of breast cancers are NOT genetic or heredtitary...please learn how to do your self exams and do them often! (If you want I am happy to email you about how to do it Email here)

Ok.... I'm off my soapbox now :) and on to our story. The nurse spent a long time doing the exam and then the ultrasound. She explained every little thing that we were seeing and I was so thankful.

 

Then......

She sat back....

and said.....

"I just love it when I get to give good news!"

That's right...friends, my amazing praying friends. She and the surgeon were SO sure (he double checked everything) about what they saw on the ultrasound that they did not even have to biopsy!!!!!!!!

How is that for God's awesome hand?

And oh...once again, I am reminded that there is something so sweet about a trial...something beyond words about drawing close to God in fear and worry. He shows up and there is nothing as beautiful as walking in the knowledge that we are carried by His hand that is Mighty to Save.

On the way home we were talking. This experience has been so pivitol for us, it feels like it has again helped us to turn a corner and to realize that the ONLY thing that is important, worthy and life-giving is following where God leads, even when it does not make sense. He calls us to love himself and love others and to pour ourselves out for the things that break His heart...and more than anything, we are walking away from this begging Him to show us the way to do that even more!

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."

Ephesians 3:20-21

In my Memorial Box...a pamphlet they gave us at the office to remind me of how God was right there guiding the nurses hand and giving the doctor His eyes to see what we needed.