Exodus 14:14

Today is a day full of rollercoaster emotions.

Sweet:
My brother's birthday is today!!! He's 24!!! I love him very much and am the luckiest little sister in the world!!!!!!! Also, today Kristen and Kyle revealed that Baby Fluker #1 is on the way!!!!! Benk Grandbaby #4!!!!! We love babies and are so very excited to double our count in the next 6 months!!

Bitter:
If you have read any of my blog, there is a common theme among my posts. My family is a special one. We are close and every day we grow closer and closer. It is no secret that my family has faced a lot of challenges in the last few years. We arent strangers to hospital visits, scare premature births, diseases, surgeries, cancer or death. One thing that makes us unique is the relationship we maintain with our "extended" family. My great-aunts have got to be the funniest women alive. Technically, I have 2 grandmothers, but my heart has room for more than that.

My Aunt Bettie is the biggest blessing to our family. She is married to my Papaw's brother. You might think that, having her own kids and grandkids, she would view us as simply her nieces and nephews through marriage (and their crazy kids). That couldnt be more wrong. Bettie Allen claims us as her own. She is more proud of us, nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and double-great-nieces than anyone could even imagine. If you didnt know any better, you might think she really was my grandmother.

Not too long ago, I got a call from my mom, the day after getting back from Falls Creek. She told me some heartbreaking news. Aunt Bettie has cancer. I sat on the phone crying for a little while as mom told me everything she knew. Not again. Havent we seen this road enough times? A week or so later, I got an update that was a little more unnerving, yet hit me in the gut at the same time. Aunt Bettie has Lymphoma.

Lymphoma... I know lymphoma... we've met before. My grandad had lymphoma for several years. Ive watched it take its toll. There is no cure, but it can be contained. BUT. I do know that lymphoma, if treated effectively and quickly, is not an aggressive cancer. I have taken comfort in the fact that no cancer is easy, but this cancer will not win.

So what is it that makes today bitter? Today Aunt Bettie began chemo. Today my family joined together across the country and prayed for comfort and peace for such an amazing woman. Today started the fight against this monster. Today I needed a little more reminding just who is calling the shots here.

 

My heart is hurting for my Aunt Bettie. I love her dearly and would give anything for a chance to hug her neck. We face a long road... but I say we, because my family fights as a team. We dont walk roads like this alone. Yes, these trials hurt and these trials are hard, but these trials make us stronger and give us a bond that other people cant understand.

I have the best parents, siblings, grandmothers, aunts, uncles, cousins, & nieces (and nephew(s) who are still baking) that I could ever hope for. We, as a family, serve a Mighty God, and we, as a family, know who holds tomorrow. Not many people can say that.

So today, bittersweet as it may be, Im choosing to let God fight for me... because resting in Him is so much more fulfilling.