our pets’ heads aren’t falling off.

What a week.

What a month.

What a year.

Still, my lungs keep breathing. The sun keeps shining.

It has been a difficult year at our house to say the least. Difficult for Jason’s health – obviously. Difficult for kids’ sports. Difficult even for our pets! Yes, our beloved bulldog died suddenly in May, and when we came home from the hospital in July our cat was dead, too. You can’t make this stuff up.

The past month was no reprieve. Chemotherapy started 33 days ago, and it has been 33 days of continuous nausea.

This week is Round 2 of chemo. On Sunday, nerves were high to say the least – what would more chemo do to his already sick stomach? Then Monday the new medication he had been given to control the nausea was actually working! We were catching a break. But… Wednesday Jason tested positive for influenza.

Ugh! Seriously?!

One step forward. Two steps back.

A coworker jokingly reminded us of the Dumb and Dumber quote: “We got no food, we got no jobs… our PETS’ HEADS ARE FALLING OFF!” That’s exactly how it has felt some days.

Sometimes I just want to cry out of self-pity. And sometimes I just do.

Your husband might not have brain cancer, but if you’re human I bet you know the feeling, too.

Still, my lungs keep breathing. The sun keeps shining.

With all of the ups and downs of this week I never made it to the grocery store. By Thursday, I came home from work and stared into the fridge praying dinner would just make itself. And you know what – this time, it did! A family friend brought us dinner. Unplanned. Unannounced. They were just thinking of us. Originally, they planned to have us just throw it in the freezer for another day, but little did they know it was going on the table in 5 minutes. It is a small thing, but…

God provided. Again.

Although the year has been tough. We have been provided SO MUCH and at just the right times, too: a new job that has renewed my joy in healthcare, a deeper perspective on genuine friendship & generosity, a reliance on faith that we didn’t know needed to be challenged to be strengthened, and even food on the table.

The situation we’re in is difficult, but it’s not hopeless.

The world sucks a lot of the time, but there’s so much kindness.

Heaven sounds pretty damn good, but it’s not time yet.

It’s been a rough year and a rough week, but – we got food, we got jobs, and our pets heads aren’t falling off.

“I took my troubles to the Lord; I cried out to him, and he answered my prayer.” Psalm 120:1

_{Photo credit: Farrelly, P., & Farrelly, B. (Writers/Directors). (1994). Dumb and Dumber [Film]. New Line Cinema/Warner Bros}