Dear Faithful Praying Family & Friends,
Stephen, my husband, is the Guest Blogger for this update. This is from an email which he recently sent to a friend:
“We have had a challenging and, in some ways, wonderful six months. Margo was diagnosed with breast cancer in June. She had a double mastectomy, without reconstruction, in June and is now one-third through the ugly chemotherapy stuff.
It has been a stretch for both of us; however, our friends, family, and church have been a wonderful support. We have seen God’s love through all of these. The odd thing is that it was, in some ways, wonderful. It has caused us to both pull together in ways that we have not needed to in the past. We have faced challenges before; however, our lives, compared to many that we know, have been easy. This has tested “who we say we are” and “what we say we believe.” Margo is a model to me and others, as she walks through the humiliation of a flat, scarred chest; loss of hair; and the sickness associated with chemo. She continues to swim. When she feels up to it, we head to the pool and she swims over a mile, without stopping [flip turns at each end.] Ten days after her surgery, she was in the pool. I have never been a swimmer; however, how could I sit by the pool and watch her, without getting in myself? I am becoming a decent swimmer myself. I still cannot keep up with her.”
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[And now, from Margo:]
It is Day 8 after Chemo Round Three and, to my amazement, I am feeling tolerable. No ER visit, no visit to the Walk-In-Clinic, not even a phone call to Dr. Carroll, for which he must be very thankful! This past weekend, we enjoyed an impromptu causal alfresco supper on our deck with friends and enjoyed lunch and a delightful afternoon with out of town friends. It is these normal moments of life for which I am thankful. Of course, I am always thankful for each one of you who reads this blog and continuously prays for me.
Coram Deo,
Margo
Margot’s Corner 
All thanks and praise to God our Father! What great news.
What a splendid Thanksgiving you and your family will have – with deeper meaning and connection to The Lord through this time of depending on Him, sharing His suffering and the sufferings of all human beings.
Margo, I agree with Stephen, you have modeled grace, perseverance and courage to all of us.
Praying for you and your family (and getting to know your past generations) has been a privilege and also therapy for me.
May you both be enveloped in His joy…as a young priest in training wrote, ‘Jesus doesn’t give just any joy, He gives us HIS joy,’ and like His peace…it surpasses understanding!
Love,
Georgia
Dear Georgia,
I’m so glad you enjoy reading & praying! For you to consider it a “privilege” and “therapeutic” is even more gratifying. I don’t know what your Thanksgiving plans are but I wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving. I am trying to understand what Biblical joy is. Through your comments and through your life example, I am beginning to learn.
Coram Deo,
Margo
Hope to get to see you tomorrow for Thanksgiving, though as I seem to have picked up a bit of a cold yesterday, we might be holding down opposite sides of the dinner table 😦
Dear Katherine,
All of us (Stephen, Garrett & I) are looking forward to seeing you & John at the Bowers tomorrow! Not to worry about the cold; part of chemo is always having a cold, due to lowered immune system. It will be a tonic for me to see you and hear about your fall semester and future spring semester in MA. You are going to love our weather down here during the holidays!
Coram Deo,
Margo
yay! i am so glad that these “bad days” aren’t as bad as before! i suppose your body is adjusting. i look forward to hearing more. hope you have a relaxing weekend!! *M
Dear Meredith,
Thanks for following my blog, praying, and sharing in the “ups and downs” of this journey. You have been so faithful, also, in the many “hands-on” and very practical expressions of concern. I’m still marveling over the Rice Dream & Hemp Protein combination! Not only have you served me, you have also served Stephen, with the delicious “feasts” you have prepared, from your “heart & hands” of love.
Many, many thanks!
Coram Deo,
Margo
Dear Friend,
How wonderful to read the words from your “guest blogger.” We are the recipients of love and joy from our neighbors the Paynes who, in the midst of this trial, do indeed demonstrate that they are who they say they are and firmly believe what they say. The impromptu alfresco dinner was “other worldly” as we sat under (and among) the stars and drank in the glory of that night. We too thank God for these normal moments that He transforms into the spectacular!
Love,
Kristy & Bill
Dear Bill & Kristy,
Thank you very much for continuing faithfully to read my blog, to comment, and to pray! We look forward to many more evenings together, impromtu and other-wise! Next time, I vote for globe lights on the deck, as Mr. Romance [or, was it Mr. Scrooge?] insisted on alfresco dining in the dark! We praise God for health, family, friends, and neighbors. We are blessed with neighbors who are also friends; we think backyard and kitchen-door neighbors are the very best kind!
Coram Deo,
Margo