a day of rejoicing

-
This is the day the LORD has made;

we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24

-

There had been many thoughts tossing and turning in my head as we have been getting closer towards today - the one year anniversary of Ethan's leukemia diagnosis. And a part of me was tempted to re-live the fear of that day (and the days that followed).... like a blanket of "you-never-know-what-could-happen-tomorrow" wanted to settle on in and cozy on up to me, surrounding me in a comfortable state of worry. But truth be told, I wasn't comfortable in that line of thinking. And thankfully, God's grace didn't let me stay there too long.

-

Yes, today is the one year mark of when we were shocked by Ethan's leukemia diagnosis. I mean, he was only an 11 week old baby and our first child. Of course we were shocked. But the story doesn't end there. If it did, maybe today would carry a different tone for me. Maybe I wouldn't want to think about all the details. But, this is the day the Lord has made... and I want to rejoice and be glad!

-

This anniversary isn't simply a marker for when Ethan's treatment plan began... it's a testimony and a reminder of the year we've had. The year in which God was fully evident, every single day. And actually, that's the point of my rejoicing today. He was truly evident, every... single... day. Of all the "stuff" I remember, that's what I remember most. The Lord was there. Immediately, instantly and never left. He held us up in those first few hours. He kept us strong those first few weeks. And above all else, He protected Ethan. Every dangerous/painful side effect we were told to expect Ethan to experience, never happened. We were told that Ethan's cancer was so rare that it might not respond to the standard treatment protocols. But today, we know he's cancer-free. God was in every detail. We got cards, emails, & gifts from people on the days that were our weakest... coincidence? No. God was in every detail. I can't remember if I've told this story here before or not, but there was one morning in Boston during Ethan's transplant that I was really down, extremely tired of being in our situation and in need of spiritual refreshment. And I remember I simply wanted a blueberry muffin. Like a blueberry muffin would somehow make my day better. It was very late in the morning and I knew the tray of snacks that they brought in for parents would have already been gone.... but, I decided to go try and find something anyway. I walked down to the kitchen that we parents shared on the transplant floor, and there was a blueberry muffin. The only thing left on that tray. I knew it was for me. And I knew it was from Him. God was in every detail. The big ones and the small ones. And I have a thousand stories that prove His mercy, His grace, His tenderness, and His love.

-

And that's what this day is about to me. The day that reminds me of the year we've had. The year that God blessed our family in such wonderful ways.

-

Ethan's Journey.

-

Our Journey.

-

God continually revealing Himself.

-

Yes, this is the day that the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it! And, as a side note, tomorrow is mine and Adam's 4 year wedding anniversary. An anniversary to rejoice in today, and another anniversary to rejoice in tomorrow. God is good. I assure you, God is good!

-

Thank you, Lord Jesus. We give You all the glory for Ethan's healing. We give You all the praise for how well he has done. I pray that this journey has disclosed Your will in the ways You desired. I pray that Ethan's life will be a long & healthy one and that the testimony of Your miracle in his life will live on year after year. I pray that we are permanently changed by all the wonders You've done in our lives. May we never forget. Thank you, Lord... thank you for what You've done through Ethan's life in this past year. Thank you also for Adam. You've blessed my life in more ways than I ever could deserve. Amen.