You’ll hear from Anna Marie in this post with the latest update. –Sarah
“And now, Lord, what wait I for? My hope is in Thee.” Psalm 39:7
This journey has so often been one of waiting. And waiting. And more waiting. But as I read the above verse recently, I was reminded that our hope is not in tests, treatments, medical staff, surgeons, pathology reports, etc. Our hope is in the Lord!
That said, we know that God often uses medical teams and are thankful to now have a surgery date set to remove my tumor on February 18th. We are going out of state to a surgeon who specializes in laser surgery. The children will all stay here in the care of Grandpa, Grandma, and the aunties to whom we are very thankful; handing over the care of six children ages seven and under is no small request, but I know it will be a special time for them!
About a week or so after surgery we should have a complete pathology report.
Thank you all so much for your prayers, encouragement, blog comments, etc. I wish I could respond to each of you individually but since time is limited—please know we have read and been encouraged by each one! I know you’ve been praying for us to have peaceful hearts and I can honestly say I have felt the Lord’s peace through this season of change and uncertainty. I still have some times of feeling emotional, yes, but they’re not times of despair or hopelessness. God is faithful; He has shown Himself faithful and He will not change
Looking unto Jesus,
Anna Marie
“As for God, His way is perfect: the Word of the Lord is tried:
He is a buckler to all those that trust in Him.” Psalm 18:30
Dear Anna Marie,
Our family is praying for you and your doctors. May the Lord bless you with His peace and healing.
Praying for you Anna Marie. May the lord heal you, give you strength and comfort. God bless.
Anna Marie, it is beyond my thoughts to hear from you directly in the Maxwell blog at this time, but I am so touched to read your personal note. You are in my thoughts and prayers regularly especially as I walk with a friend regularly around a beautiful lake trail where signs of spring abound here in Northern California. Keep strong in your faith and know you are being covered in loving prayers regularly and continually. Thank you for your message.
You are in our thoughts and prayers, Christopher & Anna Marie! Thanks for the update and may God be with y’all ..
I too had to undergo surgery for cancer after the birth of my 4th child. It was a time where I truly learned what it meant to trust in God. In my case, surgery was successful and no other treatment was necessary. We were told we may not be able to have any more children. We had two miscarriages after, followed by two healthy births. Recently we just lost a baby at 20 weeks and once again I leaned on God for comfort and to remember to trust Him in all circumstances. I can empathize with your situation, and what a blessing to have your family near! I will be in prayer for you!
Wendy
I am very sorry for the loss of your precious babies. Thank you for opening up to us and sharing that testimony of God’s grace and sufficiency through trials, heartache, and loss, along with joy, health, and two more babies in your arms.
Thank you for your honest and touching update. May our good God bless you with the peace that comes from His presence. He is so near to us in our trials. May the Lord give wisdom and capable hands to your surgeon and medical team. May He bless you with comfort and healing as you recover. What a blessing to have a safe and joyful situation to care for your children! I was just back in the US for a week caring for my sister’s four littles while she was on medication to stop being nauseous during her twin pregnancy. I had the best time with my nieces and nephews and I know it was a balm to my sister’s soul to have the littles well looked after. With much love and prayers!!!
Praying for complete healing and peace for you.
Praying for you all.
Much love.
Xxxxxx
May it all go as well as it possibly can. You are in my thoughts.
I am so thankful to hear your words of faith and affirmation in our God. He is definitely with you every step of this journey and this battle ultimately belongs to Him. I will continue to pray daily for your beautiful family and hold a prayer vigil on the 18th during your surgery. Keep letting your light shine!
Praying for you all. Thank you for your honesty- I do believe that God comforts us from total despair through serious trials, but I appreciate that you do acknowledge that our flesh is weak. May God give you all the strength and peace that you need as you walk this path, trusting him and resting in His goodness.
You are in our thoughts and prayers! How encouraging to hear your steadfastness in the Lord.
Dear Anna Marie,
Thank you for the excellent update! Your trust in God’s faithfulness is an encouragement to me. We will continue to pray for you and your family, especially as you prepare for February 18th.
Soli Deo Gloria,
~Margaret O.
My thoughts and prayers are with you, I’m also a cancer survivor,stage 4 throat cancer. 15 years cancer free. Nothing is impossible with God. Complete healing is what He can do. That is what I’m praying for you, In JESUS NAME.
Blessings to you and your family
Terry M.
Bless you Anna.
Why did you chose to go with laser surgery? Or was it the doctor’s recommendation?
Doctor’s recommendation. Easier recovery.
Dear Anna Marie,
Praying that the surgery will go well, and that the Lord will bring you healing.
Dear Anna Marie,
I am praying for you a lot, and I hope that the surgery goes smoothly. May God be with you throughout it all.
2 Thessalonians 3:16
“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.”
I heard you mentio the moody books on some other post. Can u explain more about them?
Sure. They are a 12 book series (10 full length and 2 short stories) for kids about a fictional homeschool family. My desire was to create wholesome reading material moms could confidently give their childrSarah’s Children’s Books
In a sermon last year, our pastor held up a tiny copper pot, which was a replica of an ancient Middle Eastern lamp. He read Psalm 119:105 (“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”). He pointed out that the lamp the Psalmist was referring to was not the lamp we think of – we turn on a 100W lamp in our home and the entire room is bathed in light. The Psalmist was referring to the tiny copper pot, small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, which lights the way with a small flame on a single wick. He held up the small copper pot and asked, “With this lamp, how far ahead would you be able to see on your path on a dark night?” The answer was, of course, about one step ahead. Our entire path ahead is not bathed in light, but we CAN see the next step. So, that is the image that I see now when I read that verse. God’s word is the light for our path – a bright and steady flame, which lights our way one step at a time.
Anna-Marie, I am praying daily for you and your family. I know that God’s Word will light the way for you, one step at a time, as you walk this path.
As Britain and the world plunged into the uncertainty of war in 1939, King George 6th included in his wartime speech Minnie Louise Haskins’ poem:
God Knows
I said to the man that stood at the gate of the year,
“Give me a light that I may tread safely in the unknown.” And he said to me, “Go into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than light, and safer than a known way.”
Since you are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, Anna Marie and Christopher, Joshua, Ruth-Anne, Lydia, Daniel, Elizabeth, Simon Peter, may His heavenly peace give you rest as you submit yourselves to the loving hand of the Master Craftsman. We pray for complete surrounding of you all, including Teri and Steve, Sarah, Anna, Jesse and Mary as you suffer these things together and sacrifice yourselves in His blessed service.
We will be with you in spirit from here in NZ on the 18th as well as the days around then.
“You have covered my head in the day of battle…”
Thank you, Sarah.
Hey, anna-marie
I have a friend who had cancer. For years she battled she beat it 3 times. So when I read, God is faithful in your post. It reminded me of her because that’s what she kept saying to people God’s faithful. God got this, things like that. So just remember. That it’s true, He really is faithful. And he’s got you!
You don’t know me from a hole in the ground as I read the blog (from Canada) without commenting, but I’ve been praying for Anna Marie and her family even before you told your readers about her health issues. I alway pray for expecting Mothers, just because I know it can be a difficult journey, regardless of the joy that comes from a new life. Your loving family is going to make this so much easier for her because of your willingness to be there in her time of need and make sure she knows that her children are in the wonderful care of those who truly love them. Unfortunately, not every person who has to deal with illness can say that. I will continue to pray for Anna Marie, her wellness, her husband and the well being of her family and that you can all continue to draw strength from what is most important. Sometime things can seem to get too difficult and we can lose faith and forget what gives us our ultimate strength. God Bless all of you.
Thank you, Deanna.
Proverbs 3:5-7