3 years cancer free!!!

Three years ago this week, I went in for an elective breast reduction which led to us finding a basketball-sized tumor on my ovary. What a journey it has been! Thankfully, last week I had my check-up and I'm still cancer free!!! Thank you, Jesus!

The morning of the surgery I posted two pictures.

The Liturgy is from Every Moment Holy, Volume 1. It is a 3-page prayer but I only posted the first page. Here are the additional pages.

I read the third page, but didn't post it. I wasn't leaving any room for a bad outcome (avoidance does not change reality.) I went back to it later and it was a deep comfort to me. God was absolutely “tender and present and sovereign over all circumstance.” And I felt his fierce and eternal love through the entire journey – and still do.

The first year of the journey was filled with treatment. Putting one foot in front of the other, Dr. appointments, chemo, and surgeries. Surviving. Year 2 was processing all that we went through in year 1. Year 3 has felt like we have found a new rhythm. Feeling healthy and confident the cancer won’t return is a huge blessing. It removes a lot of wasted energy on fear. It allows me to channel that energy into LIVING instead. It’s a great way to live – something I didn’t know how to do as well pre-cancer.

So, what have we been up to? LIVING with intention and gratitude. There are times I definitely feel as though I am living on borrowed time. The miracle of finding ovarian cancer during stage 1 is never lost on me.

Some highlights of live lately. Our daughters were baptized this summer. When we turn toward God and faith amidst trials our kids see it, and thankfully our girls followed the same path.

Romans 5:3-5 says, “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”

Honestly, I didn’t glory in the suffering. Yet, in hindsight, I can see how our suffering through my cancer journey produced perseverance, character, and hope. For THAT, I am changed and incredibly grateful.

I’m still speaking! It is my absolute joy and honor to share my story with women and encourage them in their journey.

We are making memories! We have traveled to create and experience memorable moments together. The years with our girls at home are quickly flying by so these are treasured times away from our routine to connect and experience new things.

We are still homeschooling. During Covid, we pulled our girls out of their beloved Christian school, intending to return when possible. But something shifted in me when I saw them learning and began to envision different ways of educating our girls. Homeschooling was NEVER part of my plan, and I’m still delighted and a bit shocked that we are so committed to it, even in middle school and high school. We do life and learning with a beloved community of homeschoolers and our family has been enriched because of it. I highly recommend it if you can make it work for your family.

Thank you for reading, praying, and caring about my journey. It has been hard + holy, beautiful in the breaking, and more redemptive than I ever dreamed. Life isn't perfect, and I no longer strive for perfection, but it is Oh, so, good!