JOY! Day +18. Jud's Journal Entry Twenty-Four

November 2, 2014 · posted by Martha Stout

Sunday November 2 Day +18

Maggie, Kate and I went to church, while Chad and Kristina spent time with Jud. Should’ve known snow was coming the way Maggie and Kate wiggled and squirmed. At one point during the sermon, I pulled a phrase out of my childhood and whispered to Maggie, “You’re being a little pill.” I know better than to be so unspecific. Don’t want to do the shaming/blaming/judging kind of thing adults can do so well to children. Her 4 year old sister, Kate, shouted, “What’s a PILL? Is that like what they give Popo to make him all better?” My whispered response? “Yes.” “So that’s good, right?” What could I say while Patrick’s preaching a series on the Ten Commandments and I’m recalling last week’s sermon: Thou Shalt Not Kill!

I pulled each of them close while we shared a moment of silence. Time for me to figure out an answer to “what’s a pill?” Fortunately, it never came up after church. I’ll leave that to their parents.

After scooping them up from Sunday School, we headed outside, unprepared for the arrival of snow! We all screamed. Two squealed for JOY. “It’s like Christmas, Momo!” I, trying not to look or sound like Scrooge, said, “Almost!”

Every Sunday we sing one of the few songs in the Episcopal liturgy that connects with my Baptist upbringing, THE DOXOLOGY. “Praise God, from whom all blessings flow…” That hymn came to me one day last week as I watched blood, then platelets flow into my husband’s body. “Praise Him, all creatures here below…” Sometimes it comes like a squeal of JOY to the God who sends snowflakes. Sometimes, it’s simply awe at the gifts of strangers; gifts suspended in bags from a stainless steel IV pole.

It’s working. . .those heaven-sent sacks of life, chemo, PILLS, the medical team and the NET. Jud’s counts are coming up and up. Yesterday on Day +17 white blood counts were 0.99. Today they jumped to 2.95. He walked, slept and watched the Patriots beat the Broncos. Peyton Manning could probably use a pill.

Snow’s stopped. Wind’s not quite as blustery. It’s been a good day. Time with two GRANDdaughters. Jud’s numbers moving up and up. A Patriots’ win. And the gift of an extra hour. My turn to squeal with JOY.

Marty Lefever — November 3, 2014

More Hallelujahs than we can count!! Overflowing with JOY and THANKSGIVING!!

Sending much love and big hugs.....

Linda Moore — November 3, 2014

I'm glad you all had a good day yesterday! I'm continuing to uphold you in my prayers and in my heart.

Laurie Truschel — November 3, 2014

Such amazing news….Praying with Thanksgiving.

Christine Jensen — November 3, 2014

Wonderful! We will keep holding up the net and praising God with you for any good news.

Peter Herschend — November 3, 2014

Jan...how our lives can run in parallel...it was just 5 years ago that I sat with JoDee post her Bone Marrow....and for 13 days the meter seemed stuck on .0001....then the morning of day 14 our nurse smiled so big....and said "it has started"...and sure to the truth....the meter moved to .0029...and from there it never stopped its upward walk. Full recovery takes time....lots of it. I just thank our Lord for the men and women who figured all that out in the first place.
Care Giver is not easy....you do your part with love....that shows thru. Peter

Ellen Willis — November 3, 2014

Love from the Willis family. I am here in Alexandria with Annie -- thinking of you SO much. We are so grateful to hear the good news -- fantastic that the counts are rising! Prayers and loving thoughts are with you all! And I am almost happy for you that the Pat's won -- note the almost. Sad game for us Bronco fans! Love to all

Nancy Gale — November 3, 2014

So wonderful. And we will keep praying

Lillian Harper — November 3, 2014

Yay! Rising WBCs!...a Patriots win...some peace and hope for Jud and Jan...and sunshine too!..."There's JOY! JOY! JOY! JOY! down in my heart, down in my heart, down in my heart,...down in my heart to stay....." Speaking of Baptist upbringing...this rousing chorus from my childhood days in our wonderful Baptist church kicked in to my thoughts and prayers after reading your post this morning and now I'm singing...humming...praying...JOY! JOY! JOY! JOY! down in my heart...down in my heart to stay! And a joyful "Thanks be to God!" for Jud's rising white blood cells. Love, love, love, and prayers, prayers, prayers, and more prayers, Lillian and Bill

Paul Helgesen — November 3, 2014

Love, tears and prayers.
Paul and Marilyn

Robert Cleef — November 3, 2014

Praise god for each hour of joy, and the continuing miracle of healing!

John Sarrouf — November 3, 2014

Elijah and I were looking for a place to watch the Patriots-Broncos game yesterday. Next time we meet them in the playoffs, we will come watch it with a healthy Jud and Joyful Jan in Gloucester! Keep up the healing!

Susan Curry — November 3, 2014

Hopefully, Eli will redeem the family name tonight...no pills needed. Thank you for the JOY you bring with your humor and your gift in writing. Since I updated our prayer team at church about the bump in the night, I have been receiving reply's full of JOY praising God for His faithfulness. One woman wrote, "Sue – This is wonderful news. It reaffirms my belief that God is the Almighty Healer and can do anything. I have sent up a prayer for Jud and Jan, too. Many blessings for them and you, too." Yesterday, I was stopped by another dear woman who shared she had been praying and was so thankful that Jud's counts were on the rise. She sings with Abby in the praise band and asked how she was. She then shared that her son went to Gordon and said, "He is much older than you, though. He is 49." I giggled and said, "I am 49. Did he graduate in 1987?" She said she wasn't sure...she would have to look it up but she said, "I sent him your email. He said he didn't know Jud was not well but he would pray too!" I of course looked him up and he did graduate with me. :)
Thank you Lord for the community of believers that can together hold the net for another and for your faithfulness. XO

Megan Glidden — November 3, 2014

JOY cometh in the morning! (Can I get an Amen!) xo

wendy lane — November 3, 2014

Thank you for the gift of a smile this morning! Thank you Lord and thank you Jan :) We continue to pray night and day. Love you!

June Bodoni — November 3, 2014

I'll start Monday morning with an extra smile at this fabulous news!

Pat Boyd — November 2, 2014

My heart squeals with JOY just reading this good news! Way to go pills and white blood cells. with much love

Raquel Lopez — November 2, 2014

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow!
We are soooo happy!!
God is always faithful! We keep declaring that Dr. C will fully recover in Jesus name!
We love you, love you and love you more!
R + S + L

Jean & Tom Askew — November 2, 2014

Oh, but this is GOOD, GOOD news, and on a Sunday too; All Saints Day!. A corner turned and closer to HOME in Gloucester. God's GOOD gifts to his dear children. O Thank the LORD for He is GOOD.

susan mcmullen — November 2, 2014

So happy you had a good day, and I just love your sense of humor over the. "pill" incident.
We prayed for you here at St. Andrew's, Greensboro on All Saints Day.
Soooo glad the numbers are going in the right direction. xxoo

Meg and Bruce Herman — November 2, 2014

such good news….GREAT news.