Moving On

This has been a busy few weeks. We rejoiced to see our daughter, Bethany, graduate from Sacramento State University with a Bachelor's degree in Audiology and Speech Pathology. She graduated with honors and was highlighted in the speech given by the dean of the college. We were bursting buttons, I can tell you.

Next week our son, Nathaniel, will graduate from high school. We are so proud of him. He is planning to attend the local community college for a couple of years then pursue a long time dream of becoming an electrician and elevator repairman.

I have another CT scan and MRI next week. The surgeons will review those and get back to me with their recommendations. Continue to pray.

May God go with you all today and keep you on your journey.

Janiver

The Rock

I enjoyed a day at Western District Conference. So good to see friends I haven't seen for months. I was touched by your constant reminder of your prayers. Thank you, thank you.

I woke up this morning meditating on my God. I was thinking how one feels trapped in situations like the one I'm in. My mother used to say that she felt she was between "a rock and a hard place." I thought about that. Then thought "Well, as long as the Rock is Jesus, I'll be ok."


And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;
The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my savior; thou savest me from violence. 2 Samuel 22:2, 3

I love you all.

Checking in

Just checking in with all of you who are still with me in this. Faithful friends. I have a PET scan next week so have a two week break from Chemo. Nice. Except I got sick with a cold. Poor timing. (smile)

I just received a call from a surgeon in Oakland who is willing to see me and consider surgery. We shall see. God is faithful and He knows exactly what I need.

"Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:
And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me." Psalm 50:14, 15

May God give you peace today.

Promises, promises

You all know that God has given me many promises about this journey. It seems that the longer you travel the fewer the signposts. It has been a long, long, straight road with nothing in sight but more Chemo. Discouraging. Yet God IS faithful who HAS promised. In prayer the last few weeks I have petitioned for a fresh reminder of His Word to me and I got it yesterday from Bro. Price. God bless my pastor who is full of wisdom and faith. There are surprisingly few people who can transmit faith to another in such a powerful way.

I want to thank Anita Harding for her visit with me last week at Section 6 Conference. She encouraged my spirit in a powerful way. God bless you, girl.

"We don't know when our miracle will come, but God may bring it in a quiet way that we do not suspect." P. Price

I love you all,

Janiver

'Tis me

Hello, hello. I've had a good couple of weeks. Enjoying family and the routine of life. God has been my source of strength. It is a blessing to know He is everything I need emotionally, spiritually, physically and intellectually. Thank you all for your continued prayers. Another CT scan in a couple weeks...still believing for my miracle. Love you all.

March Already

Sorry, to all you faithful people who check this, that I haven't updated in a while. No new news as to my situation. I go to the Doctor today and have a CT scan in a few weeks. God has been a great source of strength. It is amazing that the lower you go into a valley, the more real and more precious He becomes. I am going to Sacramento today to visit my children there and to attend Ladies Conference tonight. That will be a nice break. Nathaniel will be going with me. He is now a licensed driver and enjoying his bright orange 1973 Chevy Nova - or American Muscle car - he likes to call it. It sure is noisy!

Love you all, and will update this again in a week or so.

February News

Dear Friends,

Well, it is back to the Chemotherapy routine. Every Monday. Every week. Things are going pretty well. The Dr. has reduced my drugs by 25% since I began, so the symptoms are much easier to cope with. My feet hurt almost constantly, but that is about the worst of it.

I had a CT scan last week which shows the tumor may have shrunk a little. Still no news of a surgeon that is willing to do the surgery necessary to remove this little beast. I trust God to do a work where no man can.

Clayton and I took our little motor home to Monterey and Pacific Grove over the Valentine's week. Enjoyed a few days of total relaxation. Love those waves.

A little bragging is in order. Bethany was unanimously nominated by her professors for the Dean's list for Sacramento State University. If chosen by the final committee she will be one of a hundred students in the five colleges there. She was chosen from about 170 students for this honor. Congrats Bethany. We are so proud of you.

Stan is working hard on his degree in nursing. It is amazing the schedule he keeps. Nathaniel is looking forward to his driving test and a little more independence. Smile. Sarah is enjoying her new job and is doing very well at it. I understand that a couple of the engineering teams are vying for her help.

Thank you for your continued prayers.

Much love to you all,

Janiver

Good Days

I have had some good days lately. It is good to feel good. Never take good health for granted. It is indeed a gift. God has blessed me with a great many good things and I thank Him. I have begun Chemo treatments again and will give you updates as I learn anything new. Thank you for your many prayers.


"I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause:
Which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvellous things without number: "
Job 5:8, 9

Your friend,

Janiver

New Year News

I am enjoying my month off from Chemotherapy. Each day is a gift. Our children have been home from college adding that extra spark that makes life so meaningful. Stan and I have cleaned out a couple of closets at home and cleared out Clayton's library at the church. What a job! It is amazing how liberated you feel to see those boxes of unused items go out the door.

I am thankful for family and friends and to my God for His continual blessings. He has renewed his promises to me for this year. I have hope because I have HIM.


And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.
Genesis 17:7

May God's richest blessings rest on you today.

Your friend,

Janiver

The Scan

I had a PET scan last Wednesday and met with the Dr. on Friday.
She said there is nothing new. The two spots she thought were new cancers are not.
So we will continue Chemotherapy for now.
It still doesn't look like surgery is an option at the moment.

Thank you for your continued prayers. I am still believing for a miracle. My God IS able.

Janiver

A Blessed Christmas

We want to take this time to wish you all a blessed Christmas. When I count my blessings, each of you are on that list. May God richly reward you with peace and joy during this season that we remember why He came.

And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.
For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.
And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.
He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.
He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.
He hath helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy. Luke 1 : 46-54

Update on Me

The king shall joy in thy strength, O LORD; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!

Thou hast given him his heart's desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips. Selah.

For thou preventest him with the blessings of goodness: thou settest a crown of pure gold on his head.

He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him, even length of days for ever and ever.
Psalm 21:1 - 4

This was my scripture this week. I was so discouraged a few days ago and opened the Psalms for some much needed solace and I read this chapter first. I thank God for Joy in Strength and Blessings of Goodness.

I want to give honor to a wonderful man of God, Everett Kimmel, who went to be with Jesus yesterday. He stormed the beaches at Omaha on D-Day and God gave him 64 more years to serve Him. He was a blessing to our church while he was here. He gave the kids a hero to look up to. We'll miss you, Bro. Kimmel.

My PET scan is scheduled next Wednesday. The two weeks of Chemo before my break. Thank you all for your faithful prayers and friendship.

Much love,

Janiver

Thanksgiving Greetings

I'm praying a special blessing on all my friends this Thanksgiving Day. May you enjoy time with family and friends and remember the ONE who makes it all possible.

I played hooky from treatment this week...just couldn't face it. So I'm enjoying a few days with my kids without the burden of chemo junk.

I love all of you and am so thankful for your faithful friendship through this past year. I depend on your prayers and your support more than you may realize. It seems that when I face a particularly tough day, one of you will write or call and have just the right word of encouragement for me. That is the beauty of the network of prayer and the family of God.

Love and prayers,

Janiver

Muddy Jordan

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:33

Naaman was told by the prophet to dip seven times in the muddy Jordan. He was not happy about that at all. But by his obedience he got his miracle. Sometimes I wonder why I have to go down 'seven' times in this muddy Jordan of chemotherapy, but this is the way that God has chosen. I will be obedient and rejoice when I am clear of this cancer.

Thank you for checking in on me and for your prayers,

Janiver

That HE might be glorified

To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that HE MIGHT BE GLORIFIED.
Isaiah 61:3

Hello to all my friends and family. We are all doing pretty well. Looking forward to my chemo break in January, when my children will be out of school to help me enjoy it. God bless you all.

Janiver

A Weekend of Rejoicing

What an awesome weekend we've had. Sharing memories and glorifying our God for bringing the church in Napa from tent to tabernacle. Friday night we visited the 'church on the hill', the first building that Bro. Price built here in Napa. We crowded into that little sanctuary and listened to testimonies of what God did there. Many pointed out the spot where they received their personal Pentecost. On Saturday we had a day of remembering what God has done since the move to the tabernacle on First Street. Many friends came who were a part of those great days. On Sunday we had an awesome service as we looked to the future and what God has in store for this city. His work is going on.

Ephesians 2:14 "For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition..."

Bro. Becton preached an awesome message on Sunday. We have many walls in our lives due to our personality and upbringing. We need to tear down the ones that hinder our effectiveness in serving God. Thomas had a wall of unbelief that separated him from a revelation. Jesus walked through that wall and ministered to him.

"...then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you." John 20:26

God moved in a glorious way and His people responded in worship.

**********
No new news regarding my situation. My oncologist reported on Friday that my liver and kidney function and blood work look great...so on and on with chemotherapy. This is truly a long valley. To God be the glory.

May the God of peace richly bless you today with peace.

Janiver

Continuing on

I just love October skies. The majesty of the cloud formations, the colors, the bird migrations ...Spectacular. We enjoyed a few days at the coast in Pacific Grove. That particular coastline is beautiful. I never tire of it. Our friends, the Gordon Richardsons, came down to spend the day with us. We had fun picking out some new hats, touring the shops in Carmel by the Sea, and eating together.

New Life Tabernacle here in Napa is gearing up for our 60th Anniversary next weekend. Ya'll come. Sixty years ago, Bro and Sis Price set up a tent and Bro. Becton preached our first revival service. The first Napa convert from that meeting still attends our church. What a blessing of continuity.

I am enduring my treatments pretty well. Still waiting to have another PET scan in a few weeks. Thank you, thank you, thank you for your continued prayers.

Your friend,

Janiver

Unexpected Blessings

My husband was driving to church on Sunday morning and noticed a couple strolling near the church. The closer he got he realized he knew them and pulled over to greet them. Our pastors from Beaverton, Oregon had come down for a surprise visit. Bro. and Sis. Barry King were our first pastor as a married couple and what a blessing it was to sit under them for four years. God knows exactly what we need when we need it.

And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding. Jeremiah 3:15

Bro. Booker once said "I have fallen into the hands of good men". And we have found that to be true in our lives as well. What a blessing to have men of God to feed us 'with knowledge and understanding' born of experience and wisdom.

I saw my oncologist on Friday. The tumor is still shrinking in size and cancer mass. The radiologist is unable to tell how much is scar tissue and how much is cancer at this point. My chemo treatments have been extended to an undetermined length of time.

Please pray with us as we meet with a surgeon on Thursday. I am facing some tough decisions.

Thank you for your support,

Janiver

Stale Crackers

Have you ever sliced a perfect crisp Gala apple, some cheddar cheese and grabbed a few crackers and a good book, then sat down for a nice hour of relaxation...reached for a cracker, bit down only to discover it was stale? Well that's what people have told me about my blog lately, and I apologize. : ) It's been a tough two weeks dealing with Chemo junk. I won't bore you with the details...but I do appreciate your prayers lately.

I was laying down in my husband's office on Sunday morning, listening to the preaching and feeling a little blue. Satan was doing his best to discourage me. Then suddenly God renewed a promise to me. My husband began reading the scripture in Job that God had given me several years ago when I first began this battle with cancer.

Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?
When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,
And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,
And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed? Job 38: 9- 11

And do you know what? It wasn't stale! God's promise was as fresh as the first day He gave it to me! Praise His Name. I am encouraged today in His Word.

We enjoyed a wonderful visit with Bro. and Sis. Doug Wright and their son Mark. Good friends. My brother in law Carl came this week to help us with some painting for our son's room. God has given us great people to help us through this valley. Thank you to you all for your prayers and help.

Your friend,

Janiver

More Chemo

My mother is here this week from Oklahoma. I've enjoyed digging up memories with her.

My chemo this week was canceled. The pharmacy refrigerator died over the long weekend and all the chemo drugs died with it. I start again on Monday. I've enjoyed the well-timed break from the major symptoms.

"And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you..."
2Corinthians 12:15

This scripture has grabbed my attention recently. There are things that we give willingly to God and others and there are things that circumstances, etc. TAKE from us. But Paul said he was 'glad' to be used in all of it. Quite a goal to reach for. Tonight we are meeting with a couple that we met at chemo. They are very curious to know about the peace they sense around us. Pray with us that we can reach them with the knowledge of our Prince of Peace.

Thank you for your continued support and prayers.

Janiver