Not Our Plan But His

Jason and I have tried to get away a few times in the last month to relax and something has come up each time to disrupt that.  We recently on a local trip had a good talk about our desire to want so badly to relax and how we feel like somehow even for a minute that will just make it all better.  The truth is it really wont.  It may be nice for the moment but it wont last.  God wants us to desire him and to need him and to go to him for the peace we desire.  A few hours after we had this really good talk I got a phone call from one of my dearest friends.  Her husband was being rushed to emergency because his white blood cell count was extremely high and his platelette count too low. Hours later we would find out that he has acute leukemia.   This couple is like family we spend holidays together and this news just rocked us.  We were on vacation close to home (Escondido) and it felt like we were another state away.  We wanted so badly to be with our dear friends.  God was telling me once again to desire him above all things, to go to him for peace, for strength, for  everything. We couldn't stay away any longer and headed back to be with our friends.  Seeing my dear friend crouched down outside her husbands hospital room was too much for me to bear.  He has always been her big rock who could handle anything.  The man who after  hard work and dedication graduated from nursing school to take care of others needs.  The head deacon of our church who would give the shirt off his back for others was in the room suffering from chest pain and high fevers.  It was difficult, not at all relaxing but there was no other place I would rather be.  This same couple held my hand as I almost lost my daughter and rejoiced with me when God healed her.  It felt so good to get off the mat and to help someone else in need. God showed himself so beautifully in the ways he worked through his people.  We could not get the Caring Bridge site up fast enough, people wanted to know where they could bring meals, cards, money, etc. people just wanted to do something.   It was a beautiful outpouring of love. It helped jason and I get a view into the way you have all felt wrapping around our family.  Geoff still has a long road ahead but the last few days have given us so much hope and encouragement for the days ahead.  He has been fever free for a few days and his numbers keep improving.  He will be transferred to UCLA soon and will eventually need a bone marrow transplant.  It's pretty amazing that we will end up at the same hospital awaiting transplants together.  We joke that we will meet in the hall for a quick hug and prayer.  Our friendship has deepened as we have a new level of understanding for one another.  We were just saying today how you feel like it just doesn't seem real.  You feel like you are watching a movie and things are gonna go back to normal.  We both acknowledge however that this is the place God has for us and this is the place he will do his biggest work.  They have certainly inspired me with their strength and faith through this hard last week.


Will you please lift up our dear friends the Dykstra Family in your prayers.  They have five young adorable children and we are praying for restored healing.  You can follow their journey at
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/geoffdykstra/journal/6

As for Noah he will have a heart biopsy on June 17 to check the pressures in his heart and how much the disease has progressed.  We would covet your prayers.