A Thank You Note

With thankful hearts we send our appreciation for your prayers and thoughtfulness during our family's time of need. We are overwhelmed by the generosity and ourpouring of love we have received. God has been good in blessing us with people like you in our lives and we are grateful for the kindness you have shown.
We continue to be encouraged in knowing God is not only in charge, He is involved and is watching carefully over Steven. We were blessed with a verse that He gave us and would like to share it with you.
"Because he loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be
with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation."
Psalm 91:14-16
Thank you again for your prayers, love and support, your gifts of blood donations and food and comfort.
Bill and Carolyn (and Steven)

Last entry, for now...

Steven's doctors have released him until six months from now for follow-ups! Such good news. Knowing God is at work continuing the healing and recovery, Steven is grateful to resume some activities. Although his energy level and stamina are slowly increasing, he has spurts of energy which he spends and then recharges over the next couple of days. We're still blessed to have many of you praying for him. We pray as well that his surgery will be a lifelong fix, his liver will be healthy and liver function will continue to be normal. What's new is the way Steven (and the rest of us) are eating no refined sugars and no fried or greasy foods for long-term liver health. Admittedly a great way to eat, regardless.
School will be a challenge. The lack of stamina is a concern as he returns to school 2nd semester, beginning Jan. 30. Pray for this as well. The school district is great, accomodating his needs and rearranging his schedule to only have 3 classes a day, as well as sending a teacher to our home for the other 3 classes. Also a home teacher is currently helping him retaining credit for first semester classes. We're grateful not to have lost his sophomore year.
Blessings on your new year. You have been given everything for life and godliness, IPeter1:3.
Carolyn

Good News and more good news.

Dec.23,2005
"When they saw the star they rejoiced." Matthew 2:10
The star that shone with splendor at Christmas is known as the Star of Bethlehem and not by any other name. The light that beamed earthward is named for a dusty little village without distinction, except...except that Jesus was born there!
It is another pointer to the ways that God has of dignifying, enobling, and advancing His grace upon each of us in whom Jesus has been born. Just as Bethlehhem is a profitable business center today, because Christ was born there, so God is willing to ordain fruitfulness for each of us in whom Jesus lives. His glory is ignited over you just as over the town to which God sent his son to earth for us. Indeed Good News.* (*parapharsed from the Spirit Filled Devotional, T. Nelson.Pub.)

Steven's recent post-surgical follow-up with our doctors rendered good news. It felt unusual to hear something hopeful, having been hyper-vigilant for so long. But after a few days of emotional processing, the intensity began to lift especially since Steven's energy level is increasing, consistent with pretty good CBC and chemistry panel results. Steven has been ordered to change some eating habits to promote long term liver health and that's it; no medications! He'll follow-up in a month and if all's well then, follow-ups will be every six months. Amazing news. Amazing grace!

Through our School District, Steven is being provided with a home/hospital teacher in order to bring him up to speed from now until February when second semester begins. The hope is that he will be ready at that time for re-entry into a full school day and a full load of academics. Just beginning the process proves difficult because interest, focus and concentration are yet to be reignited.

Part of what we've learned:
Since our lives are nestled between the boundaries of God's soverignty and his unfailing love we have come to know that what happens to us is purposefully within those boundaries and isn't exculsively about us, but also about how others are impacted by an event or circumstance which was intended all along, to point to the Lord. He causes us to wonder what He's doing, what's going to happen, to be gripped by the possibilities and to pray. If we're brave, we might even enter into His presence and search out His will. And the whole time God is pleased that we have come closer to Him. That He reveals more of Himself to us. That our faith grows, that our prayer joins with multitudes of others and is rewarded. That His glory is ignited in you. That you have a story to tell, that was intended all along, to point others to the Lord.
With enormous gratitude, Blessed Christmas to all of you.
The Landers Family

Hurray! We're home already! All went well yesterday and both surgeons agreed to our coming home right away. No need for an extended stay. So Steven will be recuperating at home, moving gingerly about the house, with all surgeries mending. Nothing more on the calendar for major procedures, just follow-ups for now and continued prayer for recovery.
The separation our family has experienced has been draining, so we're all glad to be under one roof joyfully beginning our December. Hope you will too! Hopefully we'll start moving toward normalcy with new knowledge of God's love for us and His sovereignty over all the details of our lives.
This testimony of healing is full of God's Glory...thank you for your part in it.

Surgery...again.

Tomorrow Wed. Nov. 30th Steven returns to Childrens Hospital for surgery. The extent of the proceedures may require only an overnight stay but could be as much as 4 nights. Please pray for all that surgery involves. The Lord has been reassuring as only He can be regarding our return visit. We continue to rely on Him answering our collective prayers for Steven's long term health. Blessings, The Landers Family

Thankfulness

We are so thankful for all of you who have reached out to our family specifically to Steven while we have been challenged with this trial. We have felt your prayers and have been blessed to handle in faith all that has been imputed to us. We have understood Moses and his need to have Aaron and Hur hold up his arms so he could pray and God could bless.
Indeed God is blessing. Steven is having minimal pain and handling it with tylenol. His energy level is creeping back too. He is facing the second surgery Wednesday, but we're glad he's gained some strength ahead of time.
Blessings to all of you, we are thankful for each one. God knows how you've helped us and our prayer is for him to bless you abundantly.
With thankful hearts,
The Landers Family

Difficult Gratitude

Post-surgical appointments today at Childrens Hospital revealed Steven's body is still working hard at recovery. Although unrelated to his major surgery, results of last week's test require another, different surgery for Steven. Necessary, yet less severe. Steven will return to the OR and a shorter stay at the hospital the week after Thanksgiving. A bit of hard news today, but thankful for the caliber of surgeons and hospital with which we've been provided.