The Goodness of God:)

My last post sounded like such a downer, I decided I wanted to share, with all of you, some of the wonderful words of encouragement that we have received over the last few months. Of course, I could fill a blog w/the goodness of God, and His love being poured out to us through others, but for time sake (we are getting ready for church and time w/friends ~Happy New Year~), I'll just share a few highlights.


A consistent theme~

It seems everywhere I go, and nearly everyone I talk to, tells me the same verse: Jeremiah 29:11. In fact, just in this past 24 hours, two different friends (one from high school and one from WBU) have both told me to hold onto that scripture. The first person to tell me that scripture was an absolute stranger!! Yep...the day of Derek's PET Scan, an older woman and I began talking in the lobby. She left w/her elderly mother-in-law and grandson, and a few moments later she literally ran back into the lobby and blurted out, "Jeremiah 29:11!" and stood there looking at me for a moment. "Do you know what that says?" she asked. I sat there a bit blank for a moment and then it came to me! I had woken up a few days prior w/that very verse on my mind, but did not remember where it was located in the Bible. I had every intention of looking it up, but up until that point, I had not. I asked her, "Is it the one that says, "I know the plans I have for you" declares the Lord?" . She nodded as she finished the verse, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you HOPE and a future."



Isaiah 38~


On the way to Houston (the first time), we were passing through Dallas, it was still dark, as we left at about 5am. I was scared, very much in fear at what we might hear at MD Anderson (ps...a side note, I learned a very valuable lesson on that day, about not worrying about tomorrow;0) I wasted a whole night's sleep that night before we left, only to get to MD Anderson to find out that we needed more tests!!). Anyway, getting back to the original story that I wanted to share.... I was scared!! Derek began to tell me about reading a book by Kenneth Hagin. In the book Kenneth Hagin shares the story of Hezekiah. The real life story of King Hezekiah is in the book of Isaiah. The particular story that Kenneth Hagin was telling about is in chapter 38. Derek began to tell me that Isaiah, a prophet of the Lord, went to Hezekiah and told him that God said, "Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live." (Mercy!!) Anyway, when this word came to Hezekiah, he turned his face to the wall. Away from Isaiah, away from the bad report...he turned away, and began to pray and the Bible says he wept bitterly. It then says that the word of the Lord came to Isaiah, saying, "Go and tell Hezekiah, Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: "I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will add to your days fifteen years." Derek told me that if we received a bad report that he thought that is what he would do; turn his face to the wall and begin to pray. (He was giving me fair warning so that if it happened I would know, that he was ok, just praying;0) God bless him!) I told him, I'd do it w/him. We're in this thing together; I'll follow his lead and we can look crazy together. Well, we didn't hear a bad report, as I stated earlier, we needed more tests. So, we went through the tests, spent the night w/Derek's cousin, and drove home the next day. When we returned home, there was an envelope in the mail from a lady that neither, Derek nor I have ever met. It is a lady visiting her daughter in my home town, going to the church I grew up in and that my parents, aunt and uncle still attend (this is how she has heard about us). In her card she writes, "Friday past as I was studying God's word and meditating, I believe God gave me a word for you. Isaiah chapter 38." (Imagine that!!) and she goes on to tell more of the story. We felt that this was confirmation. We feel that God is telling us that he hears our prayers, he sees our tears, and that this thing will not take Derek's life, nor his leg...because we are praying against that as well.

So...I tell you those two stories to say this: God is good. In His word, He says that He will never leave us, and He hasn't. He is concerned. He hears our prayers. He sees our tears. He knows our fears and helps us through them. Imagine that!!! The God of the Universe thinks about ME!! He thinks enough about me (and us, and you!) to send sweet, willing people into our lives to encourage and bless (and He gave us His word!)!!

Well, I began this post before church. I had to wait until after church and after friends left to finish it!! I have other stories to tell, just like these, but it is (Oh my goodness!) 3:15 am (in the New Year~Happy New Year, everybody!!) By the way, church was really great tonight. I am hopeful that 2009 will bring great things for the Pressleys, and for all of your families, as well.

God bless,
Misty

And the verdict is.....

Well, after two weeks of scans, blood work, x-rays, etc. and then a week off for Christmas, we have FINALLY heard back from Dr. Lewis at MD Anderson. The good news...the cancer has not metastized (spread) to anywhere else in Derek's body. The other news...it is still there, in the leg, nearly the size that it was when it was removed. We are not shocked, as we have been told by numerous doctors that there was no way that the surgeon was able to get it all, especially with the knowledge that he had to "shave it off the artery". It is now 6x8 cm. It is still on the artery. The goal of the doctors is to use the radiation and chemotherapy to shrink the size of the tumor, away from the artery and then to surgically remove it...again. Our next step is to go back to Houston for consultation. We do not know when that appointment is set for, yet, they will call us and tell us.

Tonight we are a bit weary. We are both ("all" says Hannah, "because it is not just you and Daddy.") just ready for this to be a memory. We are usually so upbeat and positive, and I know that we will be again. We just need some time to process this new information, and most importantly to pray. I know there is some very valuable lessons being learned in the midst of this all and we will be better for it, all of us (because it is not just me and Daddy!) After all, He makes all things work together for our good:)

Thanks for listening (reading hehe) and most especially, praying:)
Misty

Anonymous Giver

We hope that each of you had a very merry Christmas.

I'm at a loss as to how to even begin this blog. I have something so amazing to share and I want to do the story justice, but I'm not sure that I can so ...I'll just tell it like it happened.

Derek was called in for over time Christmas Eve morning, from 12 am until 8 am. The kids and I stayed up late the night before watching Christmas movies, so Christmas Eve, the kids and I slept in while Derek was heading home from work. I was still asleep at 8:30 am when the doorbell rang. The dogs were in the house because of the cold, and they were barking, so I looked to see who it was. It was some man that I did not recognize and instead of inviting him in and trying to put the dogs up, I just decided to step outside onto the front doorway. He was holding an envelope with "Pressley" written in big letters on it. I was groggy, in sweats, had bed hair and bad breath!! He was telling me that he was the president of a local bank and that someone had made a large donation in our name. He handed me the envelope and went on to tell me how we could cash this check. I was still not fully awake when I peeked into the envelope and saw that the check was for $5,000!!! I asked him who did this, he told me that he could not tell, that it was someone who knew we had hit hard times and wanted us to have a Merry Christmas!!! I stood there stunned, and I'm not even sure if I told that sweet man "THANK YOU!" I came in, balled and called Derek ...scared him at first because I was crying and he thought something was wrong with one of the kids or an animal...hahaha!!! We do not even have the name or names of who we can thank for this HUGE blessing!!! It is obviously from someone that wishes to stay anonymous, but we know that God knows. It is our prayer that God blesses this giver or givers, and I know he will. We have been blessed financially by so many people the past few months, aunts and uncles, friends and family, who have sent us money that we could never repay!!! We pray for blessings upon those who have blessed us, not just financially, but also through prayer and encouragement! My cousin who drove through ice to get here to take care of our children, and my aunts who took care of her baby, so that she could be here. A Sunday school class here at the Methodist Church gave us a gift card! The National Honor Society students delivered gifts for my kids! My Uncle's work has an auction for children every year during Christmas, and this year they added my kids names to the list. I could go on and on about the blessings, some financial and others words of encouragement! Here's what I know, just the same as it is a law that what ever goes up must come down (the law of gravity) it is a Biblical principal, that what you sow you reap. Those who have sown into us, I know that they will reap. Derek and I pray for it and the Bible says it is so! God is Good!! He continues to show us His love for us. He uses others. We are blessed by sweet willing vessels, instruments of His grace and mercy being poured out to us. I mean, we are not desolate or anything, but ...things have been tight. Going back and forth to doctors, then Tulsa, and Houston and co-pays, supplements and then four kids who get sick as well; it's just been a bit tight. God supplies all our needs according to His riches in Glory!!

Welcome to our blog:)

I have decided to keep a blog to update loved ones about Derek's health and where we are in our journey. This way, I will no longer be sending out lengthy, blanket emails to everyone on our email list. Those interested can come here to read about the Pressleys:)

As of right now, we are still waiting to hear back from our doctors at MD Anderson, after two weeks of scans, blood work, barium, and x-rays. I will post here as soon as we know something new.

Background:

If you are here, then you most likely know how we came to this place...but just in case you are new to our story:

In late August/early September Derek noticed a lemon sized lump (mass) in the posterior of his left thigh. We waited a few weeks before getting in to see our family doctor, who assured us that this was most likely something benign, but suggested a MRI to see what it might be. A week later we had the MRI and the next day our doctor's office called asking us what surgeon we wanted to use. The radiologist had discovered the mass to be "an area of concern". Soon after, we met with a local General/Vascular Surgeon, who again assured us that this was something benign. It was removed on October 16th, a Thursday. While Derek was in recovery, the surgeon came out and told his mother and I, that it was larger than he thought (so large that he had to "shave it off the artery", was against a major nerve and no margins were taken), but still believed it to be something benign or worst case scenario...something that would grow back in the same place and need to be removed again (wrong). The following Tuesday, we were stunned to learn that the mass was in fact a liposarcoma tumor, malignancy. Again, the surgeon (wrongly) assured us that worst case scenario would be for it to grow back in the same place and need to be removed (again). We went home, and in disbelief, began our research. Thus began our journey.... which has brought us, now, to MD Anderson in Houston. We're still unsure of what lies ahead, but know that God loves us and will never leave us. He even has plans for us!

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Thanks for keeping up, reading, and most of all praying for us:)

With much love and gratitude!!

Misty