This Friday, March 13th...

Hey All!

I apologize for not sending an email in a while. Hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas and are enjoying the beginning of 2009. We are coming up on Matt's one year diagnosis (he was diagnosed on March 20, 2008) and his one year appointment. If someone would have told me all that we would have gone through this past year, I would never have believed that one- we would go through everything.. and two- that we would make it through! We are so thankful for the constant support and love that each of you has shown us over the past year, and we truly couldn't have done it without you behind us.

Matt goes to meet with his doctors March 13th starting at 7:45 am (it will be a long day!!). They will do all the tests they have done up to this point including another bone marrow biopsy ( this will be the 3rd one). We ask that you will pray that the tests all go smoothly, and that they will see a substantial decrease in the amount of leukemia cells in the bone marrow. These numbers will indicate if he is in remission or not. Obviously, this is what we have been praying for from day one.

We have been so blessed by how smoothly and positive all the tests have gone (considering the circumstances), and know that God is truly in control of the situation. Not that it isn't hard, but we trust that this is part of His plan for us, and although it is hard to understand, we pray that God will reveal himself in each aspect.

Through this process, 3 verses have become so special to us:
*Psalm 30:2 : O Lord my God, I called to you for help, and you HEALED me!

*2 Corinthians 1:8-11: We do not want you to be uniformed, brothers & sisters, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this really happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us! On him we have set our hope that He will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of MANY!

*Hebrews 10: 22a& 23: Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith...Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is FAITHFUL.

thank you for the bottom of our hearts and we will let you know how the appointment goes.
keep us in your prayers!!

Matt & Aubrey