Two Slicks: It's been a while...

I just want to say that we have a great God. I just love him. I can’t believe how he knows everything we need, from what we need to eat to how much money we need to what encouragement we need. And he has been so faithful to supply us so greatly with these and so much more. Jonathan and I received a letter from a friend of a friend yesterday. I just stood in the kitchen and cried as Jonathan read it to me. Along with the letter were gifts from her and several of her friends and family members. This girl said that she had been following our blog and praying for us. She said that she had been strengthened by our story. That is what I pray for. For so many years my sister and I have lived with CF and although most people know about it, they can’t see what this is really like. John 9 has always been such a meaningful passage to my sister and I…the disciples were questioning why a man was born blind. They ask if it was the man or his parent’s short comings that had lead to it. Jesus said that it wasn’t either of their faults, but that it had happened that way “so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me.” That is what I pray for. That makes all of this worth it. If God is working in other people because of this transplant, if this is the life that God has designed for me to have, than that is what I want. So, Carrie, thank you for the letter. God is so great : )

Here is a little update on my health:

Things have been pretty calm around here. I finished up 2 weeks of IVs right before Christmas. I had been feeling really tight and getting short of breath just by walking around our apartment. Normally I would go up on my steroids, but right now that isn’t an option. Because steroids really limit healing abilities, the transplant team won’t let me take any more. So, IVs were the only option. My follow up visit was kind of confusing…ok, it was very confusing. My lung function went up even more, but I am still so tight. Dr. Boyle said we are not going to pay attention to the numbers any more. They just don’t match up with my body. So, I’m still plugging along, trying to stay out of the cold, and doing everything I can to stay healthy.

Here is a little update on us:

We had an amazing Christmas! We are now through the 3^rd of 4 dates that we prayed I would not have the transplant on…Thanksgiving, the Stair Climb, Christmas, and Mary’s wedding. One more to go, but I’m just trusting God to take care of it…I know he will : ) We went to a very special Christmas Eve service up in PA, then went home and put out all of the presents! We both had a hard time sleeping…we were so excited for our first Christmas morning together! We woke up, ate a lovely breakfast of chipped beef gravy and toast (YUM!!!), Mountain Dew for me (part of my normal morning routine!) and coffee for Jonathan. After therapy we opened presents! We got ready and headed out to the Slick’s for a family open-house, and then to my parents' for the evening. I really don’t think I’ve had a better Christmas…it was perfect. We started laughing so hard with my family that I fell off the couch and all of us were crying! Needless to say, that is a pretty good workout and my sister and I both ended up in huge coughing fits! That is how you know when something is really funny : D Now we are getting back into our “normal” routine. Only 11 days till the wedding!!!