Blessings

A benediction we heard often and oft repeated comes to my mind today:

You go nowhere by accident. Wherever you go, God is sending you, wherever you are, God has put you there; He has a purpose in your being there. Christ who dwells within you has something He wants to do through you wherever you are. Believe this and go in His grace and love and power.

Reflecting on our experience with Josh's noma thus far, a few of these "nowhere by accident" moments now have a huge impact:

1. Starting in summer of 2009, Josh's brother, Isaac, struggles long and hard with the idea of going to medical school after many years in drug development. He comes very close to not moving forward with it, but perseveres and is in the middle of his first year now. He has been a tremendous source of information and translation...I wouldn't be surprised if he decides to go into an oncology specialty with all he's learning.

2. In June 2009, we considered moving to either Chicago or Seattle where I had very good job offers, one of which I actually accepted until it was clear that it was devastating to Josh to actual go through with it. Being here in Murphy for Josh's noma has meant a huge support network of friends, Josh's family a 4-hour drive away, and a world-class cancer hospital only a 5-hour drive away.

3. In mid and late 2009, my parents, after 35+ years at Hastings College in Hastings, Nebraska, retire (OK, my dad is still doing some contract work for them occasionally, but close enough). My dad has already spent more than a week with us and will stay through the end of the week to be with the kids while Josh and I have been in transit back and forth to Houston. They're flexible to be here when we need them.

We are blessed...wherever we are. We have a purpose for being just where we are.