The magnitude of what Christ has done for us hit me in a new way this morning. Christ died for us; a horrible death on a cross; a barbaric and excruciating death. Why? So that we may be forgiven of our sins, be washed anew, deemed as righteous through Him, and have a relationship with our Heavenly Father.

“He committed no sin,

and no deceit was found in his mouth.”

When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

1 Peter 2 – 22 - 25

Would you lay down your life for your friend? (John 15:13) Perhaps! I know I would. My best friend, yep, I’d lay down my life for her. My husband, you bet, I wouldn’t even think twice. And my kids, not a doubt, I would do it. These people are the center of my life and I would definitely give my life for their best interest.

But what about my neighbor? Well maybe. I don’t know them all that well, but they seem like nice people. I would at least consider it. What about the guy that cuts you off in rush hour traffic? Hmmm… let me consider a little longer. Or the boss at work? Or the uncompromising co-worker? What about the “just-mean” people in your life? It’s a little harder to say we would lay down our life for someone like that, right?

BUT Jesus, he gave his life for all! EVERY.SINGLE.ONE.OF.US. The entire lot! The whole mess! He gave his life for all of us. He gave his life for those who have it all together (I’ll leave myself out of this group!). He gave his life for those of us trying to get it all together, and thankfully he gave his life for those of us that seem incapable of getting it together! That’s good news brothers and sisters!!

 "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief."

1 Timothy 1:15

What if we viewed everyone we came into contact with as someone worthy enough for Christ to DIE on the cross for? Would it change your viewpoint of them? Would we be able to judge less and love more? Would you be willing to introduce them to a Savior that laid down his life for THEM?

Is it summer yet?!

Gosh, it's been so long since I walked through the doors of my blog. Life has been busy to say the least! It's May, do you know what that means?! School is almost finished and summer has arrived! 

The boys are wrapping up loose ends with their work, and as mom/teacher/counselor, I am wrapping up writing course descriptions, updating transcripts, and considering closing the school doors for the summer! :) Nicolas took his first AP class this year and scored an A. He took the AP test and is awaiting the results due in July. Austin wrapped up the school year with a bang. Thankful to get through middle school, and more than a little excited to be considered a "high schooler"! 

 




Summer brings Driver's Education class, diabetes camp, grandparents visiting, and a mission trip to Honduras! Michael and I are leading a team of 19 to the Choluteca region of southern Honduras. Our team consists of family groups (moms with sons, mom with daughter, dads with sons, and a family of 4!). The week we are there we will work on construction projects in a local village, including building latrines and pouring concrete floors in homes. We also get the delight of spending a few hours each day with the local school children, pouring on them the love of Christ! Michael and I have had the opportunity to take our boys halfway around the world to serve those in need, and we are excited that these families will be able to experience the life change that happens when you go to serve as a family- loving God and loving others!

My health - I am really good. I am still looking forward to July, being my 1 year anniversary since my surgery. I have had some setbacks here and there along the way, but we seem to be getting the hang of this post-cancer life. God has been so good! I now can string a number of days together without thinking about my diagnosis and my season of treatment - a milestone I was sure would never come. I had decided at the end of 2014, that I was taking 2015 off for processing through and recuperating, but hearing a sermon that asked the question, "What breaks your heart?", I felt God really speaking to me about continuing my mission work, and so here I am packing for Honduras! He has been so faithful through every step of the way. 

Michael is great! I am so thankful for him. He's so patient, and he listens, and he encourages and supports. He's been through so much himself as the hubs of a cancer patient, and I just couldn't ask for a more caring and supportive husband than he has been. He just sweats and bleeds Christ's love for others.

Michael and Austin took part in a pig roast recently at our church. 8th grade boys and their dads/male role models just hanging out one evening roasting a pig, spending time together. The dads were given the opportunity to write a letter (and read aloud in a group) to their son encouraging them and lifting them up in their identity in Christ. What an awesome time to be able to pour into these boys rising into high school and going through such a transitional time in their life. I know that Austin was impacted, and will remember this time spent with his dad! 

Well guys, blog updated! Thanks for reading! If you feel led to give to our mission trip to Honduras, please visit our fundraising page: https://globalx.managedmissions.com/MyTrip/rhoades2 

Cambodia Trip!

Finding the right words to construct a blog entry, that would be able to convey “Cambodia” to an outsider looking in, would be an impossible task. There are no words to explain what happens to your heart the moment you set foot down on the dusty soil of this country. You feel heartbreak and sadness almost immediately, but before long you see joy, you witness happiness of unexplainable origin, and you can actually feel the hope in the air.

I could explain (or try) what exactly we did for our time in Cambodia, but it seems so trivial. Michael and I simply followed God’s call to travel to the other side of the world to love on His children. I say “simply”, but we all know it was anything BUT simple. But you know, the hard part of heeding the call fades away, and what I am left with is what He did in my heart, something that will not ever fade away. God whispered to my heart to follow Him, through the hard spots, through the cancer, through the trials, through the doubts and the what-ifs, to follow him… and I am so thankful I did. God demonstrated to me the true definition of hope, of joy, and of love. He took me by the hand, led the way, and set me down in that dusty soil of Cambodia to show me just how much He loves us all.

Ticket in Hand

In exactly one week from today, I will board a plane bound for the other side of the world.  Just last week I celebrated 3 months of being cancer free. I, for a fleeting second and a second too long, thought that God had brought me to the end, through the whole journey with cancer, and that he had delivered me to my destination: free of cancer with a ticket in hand. Sometimes you want to thank God for what he’s done in your life and keep on moving forward.

This past Sunday, after two visits to the emergency room, I was diagnosed with having ruptured cysts on my left ovary. Just six weeks ago, we had made a middle of the night run to the ER for the same thing on the right ovary. Since Sunday, my oncologist has reviewed the CT scans, and I will be going in soon to have a PET scan in concern for cancer on the ovaries. I don’t really know what this means. Well I know exactly what this means, we move back into the space of trusting God for every step. It doesn’t look like this journey is over yet!

I can be stubborn (just ask the hubs!..or don’t..) but I still plan to board that plane to Cambodia next Thursday. I still plan to go spend about a week with some amazing kids who know who holds the world in His hands. I still plan to shine a light into the dark spaces of the world, and I still plan to glorify a God, who can do ultimately more than we can imagine.

Just when you think...

Life had returned to as normal as could be waiting on my 6 week post op checkup. I had planned on updating after that appointment, and letting everyone know how great and wonderful I felt... and then I was quickly reminded that I just went through a major surgery for cancer!

Monday night I awoke to excruciating pains in my lower back and after a few hours of no relief, Michael and I went to the ER in the middle of the night (of course isn’t that usually when you go to the ER!).  It was one of the fastest and most efficient ER visits I have ever had, except for the pain med part. They were a bit slow on that! I had a CT scan and it confirmed a kidney stone. It also showed something suspicious on an ovary, but that was due to the recent surgery, thankfully! I have since been home, running a fever off and on, and the pain has moved to my lower abdomen. It looks like it will be a movie watching weekend!

And now to what I originally intended to tell you all!! My 6 week followup was on Wednesday, and I have been released to resume normal activities of daily life! That is… after this stone passes! I am so so grateful that my body is healing just as it should. I had fears that my diabetes would cause a slow and ugly healing period, but it has not!

Thank you all who continue to pray for my recovery. I feel like this week has been crazy, hectic, painful beyond words, but God made this day (and this week), and I will rejoice and be glad in it!

Best News Ever!

CANCER FREE!!! It’s the best news ever. As my oncologist stated, “Best. Possible. Outcome.”

Wednesday was my post-op appointment with my oncologist. As you can read, we got the best news possible.  The pathology report: No residual disease, clear margins, clear parametrium, clear lymph nodes – a total of 40 of those bad boys! In cervical cancer, the amount of lymph nodes taken is directly related to the reoccurrence rate. The more taken, the less likely it is for cancer to be hiding out somewhere. My oncologist stated that the chance of reoccurrence just fell through the floor. He was confident that we chose the right treatment plan.  I will not need any further treatment, and once cleared from my surgery, I will begin a routine of testing every 4 months for the next few years. I am so relieved to say the least!

THIS is a moment of joy! My favorite verse (Psalm 71:14), “As for me, I will always have HOPE; I will PRAISE you more and more.” I sit at my Father’s feet praising Him for what he has done in my life. I pray that I have brought glory to His name in the midst of cancer. I pray that those who have leaned in to us during our time of need have seen and felt the Father’s love.

Please continue to pray for my healing from the surgery. I am ecstatic to focus on my healing without fear of what treatment is around the corner. I can now focus on my mission trip to Cambodia in November. I look forward to this trip being a celebration of life!! These kids have taught me to be hopeful no matter the circumstance, and celebrating the hope we have in God is going to be epic! If you would like to know more about our trip, email me or visit https://globalx.managedmissions.com/MyTrip/rhoades

Thank you so much for your love, support, and encouragement!! You guys are the best!!

Meal train

A meal train has been established for us. Thank you Autumn & Browns Bridge! 

https://mealtrain.com/z8lyo