One Day at a Time – Update 11/6/13

The recovery from this surgery has been the slowest yet. Mark is still moving very slowly and having a rough time getting back to normal. This morning he was experiencing some severe pain in his kidney so we had to go back to the Urologist – good news is that he didn’t have any infection and that the pain was the stent – they gave him some meds that they think will help it. I think this stent on top of how many other surgeries and dealing with the colostomy bag, etc is what has made this so slow.

This afternoon his pain level is fine and he’s been reading and doing very well. It just fluctuates so we never know what to expect. I guess that just keeps us on our toes and in constant prayer – and that’s a good thing!

We have definitely decided to go to the Living Foods Institute and I was able to go there yesterday and go ahead and get a lot of herbs and oils and supplements to get him started. He won’t actually start there until December 5. They want him on a very strict diet. No sugar, dairy, meat, fruit or nuts. So, we anxiously await our training to see what they will feed him and teach us how to prepare all this. They promise they will get the weight back on him. Until then I’m staying pretty strict with him and staying away from sugar, meats, fruits and nuts and most dairy. Staying with organic and lots of soups and veggies and juicing.

After being at Living Foods yesterday I was more than excited – I had such a peace that this is where we are supposed to go. I love when God gives us that kind of confirmation.

We’ve had other blessings fall from the sky in the form of a lesson in our home with a raw food expert and also a lesson with a colon expert. After all this we should have some knowledge of what we’re doing and I am very thankful for this. I was feeling very overwhelmed but am feeling much better now and ready to tackle the challenge.

At this point we are planning on the Michigan trip – will make our final decision Thursday or Friday.

Prayer requests: 1. for God to be glorified 2. healing from cancer 3. recovery from surgery 4. trip to Michigan

Thank you for your continued prayer on our behalf – we feel very lifted up before the throne!

With MUCH Gratitude,

Mark and Lee

Below are some verses in prayer form that have helped us thru some rough time of pain like they did this morning.

Merciful and faithful Lord, because of Your great love I am not consumed, for Your compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” Lord, You are good to those whose hope is in You, to the one who seeks You. (Lam. 3:22-25)

Even to my old age and gray hair You are He. You are the One who will sustain me. You made me and You will carry me; You will sustain me and You will rescue me…I will remember the former things, those of long ago; You are God and there is no other; You are God, and there is non like You. (Isa. 46:4,9)

Surely You, Jesus, took up my infirmities and carried my sorrows, yet we considered You stricken by God, smitten by Him, and afflicted. But You were pierced for my transgressions; You were crushed for my iniquities; the punishment that brought me peace was upon You, and by Your wounds I am healed. (Isa. 53:4-5)

Father, continue to bring me along so that I can also rejoice in my sufferings because I know that suffering produces perseverance. (Rom. 5:3)

Lord, as I consider what You do, I find myself feeling at times like the writer of Ecclesiastes: Who can straighten what You have made crooked? When times are good, I am to be happy; but when times are bad, consider; You have made the one as well as the other (Eccles. 7:13-14)