Dear Friends and Family,
It will be 3 weeks tomorrow since Mark's surgery and if you saw him you would never even know he had surgery! We praise the Lord for the strength that He has given Mark! We knew it could have been a very hard recovery with this being his 3rd major surgery in 15 months (4 minor ones) but God has been good and has made this as easy as possible.
We were able to go to WV for a class reunion of a class that Mark taught years ago and it was wonderful to be able to visit with so many old friends! We had a wonderful time with my parents and was just a great time to relax!
Mark got his staples out this past Wednesday and then drove down to Callaway Gardens to speak at an FCA golf camp. Again we praise the Lord for the strength and ability He has given Mark to be able to do this - there were 3 decisions made that night and we thank God for the opportunity to proclaim the power of God and His mighty works!
Now that the surgery is past we have 8 more rounds of chemo to get through. They have scheduled his first round to take place August 3. He will then go every other Tuesday for his chemo treatment, come home with his pump and go back on Thursdays to have it taken off.
We covet your prayers through this time of chemo - it will take its toll on Mark's body and will be a difficult time going through this but we know that God will guide our steps and will be there for us as He has been every minute of every day!
We praise Him for His healing in Mark's body and praise His name for all He has done! We firmly believe that He has honored the prayers of His people on behalf of Mark and that we are able to stand because the body of Christ has rallied around and lifted us up in prayer!
We love you and thank the Lord for you!
Mark and Lee
Matthew 7:7-8
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
Psalm 25:1
To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul;
Psalm 37:7
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him.
Psalm 5:3
My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning I will direct my prayer to You, and I will look up.
John 14:13-14
I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it
Phillipians 4:6
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Colossians 4:2
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Thursday, July 15 - Another Praise!
Friends and Family,
It's about 12 noon on Thursday and I think I'm about to go to bed!! We ended up at the emergency room this morning around 2:30a.m.
Yesterday Mark started having some pains in his lower abdomen. We called the doctor and decided to wait and see what happened. The pain got better but about 10:00 it started again in a little different place - he felt it was near the colon - it was sharp pain and we couldn't figure it out. Again, the pain subsided so we went to bed but about 2:00 he woke me up and he was in terrible pain - we went to the ER....
The ER doctor checked him out and ordered blood work and a CT scan. After hours of waiting we actually got to see our doctor about 9:30 and he read the CT scan for us.
The drain that was in to drain the liver got displaced on the inside and it was moving around all the areas he was having pain - the part of the tube that was inside him was about 14 inches. So...the doctor took the drain out completely and problem solved and so yet another praise!
I marvel at how He takes care of things before we even know there was a problem. It is a miracle that Mark agreed to let me take him to the ER because he usually wants to wait out the pain. We are going to WV this week-end for a reunion and had he tried to wait it out we may have ended up in the hospital up there without our own doctor who knew exactly what to do! We are just praising the Lord for His great timing and for taking care of us so completely!
Mark is doing well and now that the drain is out is really feeling good.
Thank you for your continued prayers and support!!!
Love you,
Mark and Lee
Enjoy the words of Chris Tomlin's song "How Great is Our God"
The splendor of a King, clothed in majesty
Let all the earth rejoice
All the earth rejoice
He wraps himself in Light, and darkness tries to hide
And trembles at His voice
Trembles at His voice
How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God, and all will see
How great, how great is our God
Age to age He stands
And time is in His hands
Beginning and the end
Beginning and the end
The Godhead Three in One
Father Spirit Son
The Lion and the Lamb
The Lion and the Lamb
Name above all names
Worthy of our praise
My heart will sing
How great is our God
How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God, and all will see
How great, how great is our God
It's about 12 noon on Thursday and I think I'm about to go to bed!! We ended up at the emergency room this morning around 2:30a.m.
Yesterday Mark started having some pains in his lower abdomen. We called the doctor and decided to wait and see what happened. The pain got better but about 10:00 it started again in a little different place - he felt it was near the colon - it was sharp pain and we couldn't figure it out. Again, the pain subsided so we went to bed but about 2:00 he woke me up and he was in terrible pain - we went to the ER....
The ER doctor checked him out and ordered blood work and a CT scan. After hours of waiting we actually got to see our doctor about 9:30 and he read the CT scan for us.
The drain that was in to drain the liver got displaced on the inside and it was moving around all the areas he was having pain - the part of the tube that was inside him was about 14 inches. So...the doctor took the drain out completely and problem solved and so yet another praise!
I marvel at how He takes care of things before we even know there was a problem. It is a miracle that Mark agreed to let me take him to the ER because he usually wants to wait out the pain. We are going to WV this week-end for a reunion and had he tried to wait it out we may have ended up in the hospital up there without our own doctor who knew exactly what to do! We are just praising the Lord for His great timing and for taking care of us so completely!
Mark is doing well and now that the drain is out is really feeling good.
Thank you for your continued prayers and support!!!
Love you,
Mark and Lee
Enjoy the words of Chris Tomlin's song "How Great is Our God"
The splendor of a King, clothed in majesty
Let all the earth rejoice
All the earth rejoice
He wraps himself in Light, and darkness tries to hide
And trembles at His voice
Trembles at His voice
How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God, and all will see
How great, how great is our God
Age to age He stands
And time is in His hands
Beginning and the end
Beginning and the end
The Godhead Three in One
Father Spirit Son
The Lion and the Lamb
The Lion and the Lamb
Name above all names
Worthy of our praise
My heart will sing
How great is our God
How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God, and all will see
How great, how great is our God
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Home Sweet Home!!
Friends and Family,
They say a picture is worth a 1000 words so I will let the picture talk for itself!
We are home and Mark is sore but doing well! We are so thankful for the great way in which God has allowed Mark to heal!
Thank you, thank you, thank you for all your prayers!!
We have 4 weeks to rest and get his body ready to start 4 months of chemo so please continue to keep us in your prayers.
With much love and extreme gratitude to our Lord,
Mark and Lee
Psalm 100
Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.
Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations
Friday, July 9, 2010
Up and Walking - Friday, July 9 - Update
Friends and Family,
It's 3 days since surgery and things are going very well! Mark looks great and is up and walking really well. I am so pleased with the way his recovery is progressing.
Just wanted to let you know that all is going well and we are so thankful to the Lord for that!
As always thank you for your continued prayers and support - hopefully we'll be going home on Sunday!!
Mark and Lee
Psalm 46:1
God is our refuge and strength; an ever present help in trouble.
Isaiah 54:10
"Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken no my convenant of peace be removed" says the Lord who has compassion on you.
Psalm 91:15-16
He will call upon me and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.
Psalm 139:7-10
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens you are there: if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,
Even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
It's 3 days since surgery and things are going very well! Mark looks great and is up and walking really well. I am so pleased with the way his recovery is progressing.
Just wanted to let you know that all is going well and we are so thankful to the Lord for that!
As always thank you for your continued prayers and support - hopefully we'll be going home on Sunday!!
Mark and Lee
Psalm 46:1
God is our refuge and strength; an ever present help in trouble.
Isaiah 54:10
"Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken no my convenant of peace be removed" says the Lord who has compassion on you.
Psalm 91:15-16
He will call upon me and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.
Psalm 139:7-10
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens you are there: if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,
Even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Thursday, July 8 - Update
Friends and Family,
First of all please allow us to thank you for all you are doing for us - we are continually amazed at God's provision to us through His people! From the smallest detail to the largest God has laid things on your hearts and you have responded and we are the humble recipients and we thank you very much!
We have heard of COUNTLESS people who were praying for Mark on Tuesday and we believe all of those prayers affected the great outcome of the surgery and for that we are so very grateful.
Last week I read that when you have a mountain to climb that the higher the mountain the greater the view on the other side! I can say today that is true because leading up to this surgery was certainly a mountain to climb and now that it is behind us and it was successful the view is awesome!
Mark is doing well today - he looks great and feels great - he was able to get up and walk a little today which is another answer to prayer and he will continue to get up and go as much as possible.
They will keep the epidural block in for 3-5 days which blocks all the pain of the surgery and is truly a blessing - he is not feeling much pain at all!
We HOPE to be able to get him home on Sunday but if not then he should be able to get home by Tuesday latest.
Thank you for your continued prayer - pray that we will look for opportunities to witness and that Mark will continue to improve daily.
With much gratefulness,
Mark and Lee
Psalm 84:11
For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
James 1:2-5
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
Romans 5:1-5
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
First of all please allow us to thank you for all you are doing for us - we are continually amazed at God's provision to us through His people! From the smallest detail to the largest God has laid things on your hearts and you have responded and we are the humble recipients and we thank you very much!
We have heard of COUNTLESS people who were praying for Mark on Tuesday and we believe all of those prayers affected the great outcome of the surgery and for that we are so very grateful.
Last week I read that when you have a mountain to climb that the higher the mountain the greater the view on the other side! I can say today that is true because leading up to this surgery was certainly a mountain to climb and now that it is behind us and it was successful the view is awesome!
Mark is doing well today - he looks great and feels great - he was able to get up and walk a little today which is another answer to prayer and he will continue to get up and go as much as possible.
They will keep the epidural block in for 3-5 days which blocks all the pain of the surgery and is truly a blessing - he is not feeling much pain at all!
We HOPE to be able to get him home on Sunday but if not then he should be able to get home by Tuesday latest.
Thank you for your continued prayer - pray that we will look for opportunities to witness and that Mark will continue to improve daily.
With much gratefulness,
Mark and Lee
Psalm 84:11
For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
James 1:2-5
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
Romans 5:1-5
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Wednesday, July 7th Update
Friends and Family,
Mark had a good night - not a lot of rest with all the people in and out but this morning has been feeling very well!
They gave him an epidural that will be in for 4-5 days which keeps the pain very minimal - only problem is they did such a good job making sure the epidural was working it shot down into his left leg and he has no feeling at all in that leg. They have adjusted the medication so we are just waiting for the feeling to come back. We need for the feeling to come back so that he can start getting out of bed and walking the halls so he can get better. So please pray for the feeling to come back completely!
He looks great - Dr. Ellwood came by this morning and said he knew Mark would be up and ready to go - he told me out in the hall that Mark didn't even look to him like he had surgery yesterday - I said I know - he's amazing! God has been so good to allow Mark the strength and determination in his recovery. His attitude is amazing - right now he's on the phone talking to guys about a softball tournament this week-end!
Thanks for your continued prayers - we love you!
Mark and Lee
Psalm 150:1-6
Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.
Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.
Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.
Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.
Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.
Mark had a good night - not a lot of rest with all the people in and out but this morning has been feeling very well!
They gave him an epidural that will be in for 4-5 days which keeps the pain very minimal - only problem is they did such a good job making sure the epidural was working it shot down into his left leg and he has no feeling at all in that leg. They have adjusted the medication so we are just waiting for the feeling to come back. We need for the feeling to come back so that he can start getting out of bed and walking the halls so he can get better. So please pray for the feeling to come back completely!
He looks great - Dr. Ellwood came by this morning and said he knew Mark would be up and ready to go - he told me out in the hall that Mark didn't even look to him like he had surgery yesterday - I said I know - he's amazing! God has been so good to allow Mark the strength and determination in his recovery. His attitude is amazing - right now he's on the phone talking to guys about a softball tournament this week-end!
Thanks for your continued prayers - we love you!
Mark and Lee
Psalm 150:1-6
Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.
Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.
Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.
Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.
Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Out of Surgery - Praise the Lord!
Friends and Family,
I'm sorry for the delay in posting after surgery - I have had technical difficulties with Mark's laptop and had to get Cameron to bring me his.
The surgery went very well and I am just praising the Lord!
They started the surgery at 1:45 and it lasted just over 3 hours - I spoke with Dr. Elwood around 5:15 and he had all good news! The tumor on the right lobe was removed successfully with plenty of margins and the tumor on the left lobe was in a very good location so they didn't have to cut out as much of his liver as they thought which was good news and the great news was that they didn't see any new cancer!
He was in recovery for about 2 and a half hours while we waited for them to assign him a room. We finally got up here around 7:45 - we are in the green tower at Kennestone room 512 - right across the hall from where we were before - we've already had a couple of the nursing staff remember us from before.
We are currently in our private room and he is resting very well. He is on a lot of pain medication and feeling very well. He told everyone around here that it's our 25th anniversary and that he wanted to take me away to a place with a private room and 24 hour room service! What more could we ask for!
We thank you all for your prayers and love and support - we feel it and we appreciate it more than you could know!
I will post tomorrow and let you know how he's doing.
With much love and gratefulness,
Mark and Lee
Psalm 34:1-4
I will bless the Lord at all times, His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul shall make her boast in thee Lord the humble shall hear thereof and be glad.
Oh magnify the Lord with me and let us exalt His name together.
I sought the Lord and He heard me and delivered me from all my fears.
I'm sorry for the delay in posting after surgery - I have had technical difficulties with Mark's laptop and had to get Cameron to bring me his.
The surgery went very well and I am just praising the Lord!
They started the surgery at 1:45 and it lasted just over 3 hours - I spoke with Dr. Elwood around 5:15 and he had all good news! The tumor on the right lobe was removed successfully with plenty of margins and the tumor on the left lobe was in a very good location so they didn't have to cut out as much of his liver as they thought which was good news and the great news was that they didn't see any new cancer!
He was in recovery for about 2 and a half hours while we waited for them to assign him a room. We finally got up here around 7:45 - we are in the green tower at Kennestone room 512 - right across the hall from where we were before - we've already had a couple of the nursing staff remember us from before.
We are currently in our private room and he is resting very well. He is on a lot of pain medication and feeling very well. He told everyone around here that it's our 25th anniversary and that he wanted to take me away to a place with a private room and 24 hour room service! What more could we ask for!
We thank you all for your prayers and love and support - we feel it and we appreciate it more than you could know!
I will post tomorrow and let you know how he's doing.
With much love and gratefulness,
Mark and Lee
Psalm 34:1-4
I will bless the Lord at all times, His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul shall make her boast in thee Lord the humble shall hear thereof and be glad.
Oh magnify the Lord with me and let us exalt His name together.
I sought the Lord and He heard me and delivered me from all my fears.
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