Day 330 (132)

Howdy,

The above salutation is quite fitting because I'm going back to Texas A&M in a matter of days! Yeahaw, Whoop, and other words of jubilation!

I hope you've had a blessed holiday season. I have had a quaint Christmas with some good time spent with some family and friends. My Dad, Brother, and I have had an energizing winter with some great opportunities to go hunting, (sorry mom), thanks to those who offered, we had a blast!

I have also recently finished my long awaited road bike. Check her out!




















With the dawn of a new year I write down a few of my ambitions:

-Read 12 encouraging books
-Get my first 4.0 (pass all of my classes would be good too)
-Record some praise and worship music
-Take swing dancing lessons (after I'm walking again)
-Make more time for other people

VERSE OF THE DAY - Ephesians 1:18

I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints...

All Glory To God. Amen.

Day 312 (114)

It was the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring except for Ryan's keyboard and mouse.

VERSE OF THE DAY - Luke 2:16-20

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Merry Christmas Y'all! May God shower blessings on you and yours this Holy-day season. Thank you for your friendship and support. Share the reason for the season and I'll see you in the new year.

Day 295 (97)

Howdy,

Slight change of plans with the upcoming surgery. There was an opening earlier with my plastic surgeon instead of my orthopedic surgeon and we opted to take it. It should be approximately one hour surgery tomorrow morning. We're happy with the change and if all goes well I'll be able to make it to a semi-formal on Friday night!

I'm making some headway on my road bike and hope to finish the last coat of paint this afternoon, its pearl blue (picture arriving soon). A reminder, when I received the bike it was a mix of maroon, white, fuchsia, and dirt. I hope to have the whole bike built by January.

VERSE OF THE DAY - Psalm 100:4-5

Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.

All Glory To God. Amen.

Day 289 (91)

Good evening.

For those of you who are wondering 'why does he keep numbering his posts, and what do they even mean?' I'll explain, and to tell you the truth I've even lost track of what I was thinking, but I've also recently remembered. It's been 289 days since I started chemotherapy treatments (also first blog post) and 91 days since my surgery. So there is a method to the madness. (If I miscalculated keep it to yourself!)

So did everyone have a thankful Thanksgiving? You should have! I know I did, family and friends are really what matters when it comes down to it, and If your lucky like me you had the chance to spend some time with yours.

I just had my 3 month visit with the docs yesterday. All good news, it looks like the new bones in my pelvis are healing/setting where they've been screwed in. However, its going to be a while longer before I'm back on my feet, could be 3 more months who knows. We also talked about having a follow up surgery on December 13 for functional/cosmetic purposes (unrelated to cancer - that part is done with God willing). O.K. fine, you talked me into giving more details. Basically there is a bone 'nub' left from the last surgery, its not rounded or form fitting so they are going to resect it. Prayers are welcome.

Alright enough with medical stuff, so glad I'm an engineer. Things are wrapping up with Christmas time; ready for a few parties in college station next week and Mom and I are trying to write a Christmas letter. In other news, come July 2011 my brother will be gainfully employed with an oilfield service company. Whoop!

VERSE OF THE DAY - Colossians 2:6-7

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

All Glory To God. Amen

Day 261 (63)

Howdy Folks,

I have to say I've been blessed. My recovery is going very well and each time I talk to the Docs they're telling me to Slow Down! The are definitely not used to trying to keep up with a 21 year old. Turns out they frowned on my 60 daily push ups because they 'may torque my hip before its properly set'. I said PHOOEY! but then was very obedient to follow their directions. Surprisingly the same was true with physical therapy. The bottom line is: I have a limited amount of time for these 'bone struts' to set properly, and after that I should be able to do physical therapy till I'm blue in the face.

More about what I've been up to... I really like my djembe (pictured in the photo page). Its a lot of fun to play and sounds amazing with an acoustic guitar. I had a chance to play praise and worship at the Aggie Awakening retreat on the 22nd of October. It was good fun and a great learning experience being the first time I've ever done anything like that. I was also able to go up to College Station for a Halloween party last weekend disguised in a medical gown as a hospital escapee (picture not available). All in all its been just over two months since the surgery and I'm praising God each and every day.

P.S planning on going back to A&M in January. Whoop!

All Glory To God.

Day 250 (42)

Well that shower was about 42 days over due...

Hi everyone, wanted to let Y'all know things are going well. I just saw my surgeon yesterday and she said "Good, you haven't broken any of the bones we put in!" Holy Cow! She wasn't kidding about taking it easy. Good news is I can now take my brace off. This allows for larger range of motion, less discomfort, and you've guess it - showers and pool! She did say that it takes a minimum of 3 months for my bones to set properly, so even though I'll be starting physical therapy up soon, I won't be able to weight bear on my right leg for another 6 weeks or so. This had me bummed for about 25 seconds until I remembered a person in the waiting room without a leg. There is so much we have to thank God for every day!

In the mean time my brother has me doing push ups, I'm trying to keep up my reading, and I'm starting to jam out on my new Djembe (very large African drum, looks like an oversized bongo). Also my Grandma and Aunt are coming in tomorrow so I'm pretty excited to spend some time with them.

Bible Verse of The Day - Jeremiah 29:11

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.

All Glory To God. Amen.

Day 242 (34)

Alright,

For the last three days and three nights I've told myself I'd post on my blog, and the procrastination stops here. Forgive the blogging dry spell you've experienced over the last 15 days, it seems no matter the volume of things to do, my mind delights in withholding the discipline to complete them all. I admit that was quite an expressive way of saying I'm getting lazy, bogged down, and disorderly; but, that is all about to change.

I saw the plastic surgeon team today, and will see my osteo surgeon next Wednesday. Thursday will most likely bring the commencement of my grueling physical therapy expedition. Now I'm not 100% sure of the details, I've been told these 'PT Types' are often retired Drill Sargents intent on advancing all patients to US Army physical standards. In any case, this might be to my advantage because my response to "See you in two months, expect you to be walking" was nothing less than "Expect to see me moon walking!"

Also trying to start reading again after a bit of a break. A friend encouraged me to read Healing by Francis MacNutt. I've only just started, but it seems to show the ins and outs of recent healing accounts all around the world, some of which where worked through the guy MacNutt. Very interesting stuff even at the inquisitive stage. If you've read some of my previous posts you'll know I've been talking to got about fixing me up in a way of his choosing. So far I believe He's been instrumental in my progress and I think this book will lend to this notion.

-Bible verse of the Day-
“[A psalm of David. When he was in the Desert of Judah.] O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.”- Psalm 63:1

Trust that God is near even when your unsure. Hebrews 11:1-2¹Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. ²This is what the ancients were commended for.

All Glory To God. Amen