Walking by faith, not by sight

Charlotte, Parker, and Taylor are playing at my feet. They are in a pretend world with our kitchen utensils as they fix the car, otherwise known as our kitchen table. They are quite the team. I want this moment to last forever. Charlotte full of spunk and spirit, happy, playing, not a care in her world. But we can't stay here can we. Brian and I didn't want to put her to bed. But he said it best tonight, in order for her to have more of these nights, tomorrow needs to happen. Tomorrow is the day we have prayed to get to. We hoped and prayed to get her to this point where surgery is possible to remove this massive abdominal tumor. And we are here. She did it. And we are choosing to celebrate that fact going into tomorrow instead of focus on our fears and worries. This week has been incredibly emotional for Brian and I. After the surgical consult Monday, we tried to block out the world the best we could and enjoy some family time to gear up for this next milestone. Initially, the surgical consult left us terrified of all the details and risks we had to discuss, waivers to sign and etc before the surgery. We cried and I started feeling a slip away from all of hopeful positivity as I let the fear wash over me. But tomorrow isn't a choice. She has done so much and we are so proud of getting here. We are in a good place for this to be successful. And I have decided to hold on to something Brian said to me when I was at my lowest point grasping to find the light this week. He said, "She will come through this surgery better then before she went in." This can happen. This tumor that has been taking away our little girl, our family, our world...it can be cut out and gone tomorrow. Only possibly leaving behind small groups of cancer cells that can be destroyed by the rest of this treatment. Tomorrow is a new day. We feel you praying with us. We feel your love and strength. And we feel God with us, his arms wrapped around our baby girl. He will bring her through. We will update when we can but she will be in surgery for most of the day tomorrow starting early (we arrive 7:15 and she should be in OR by 8:30ish). Thank you for lifting her up in prayer tomorrow and sending all your positivity our way for a successful day so she can keep going, keep moving.

Brian found this on tomorrow's date July 14 in his daily devotions book
"keep walking with me along the path I have chosen for you. Your desire to live close to Me is a delight to my heart. I could instantly grant you the spiritual riches you desire, but that is not My way for you. Together we will forge a pathway up the high mountain. The journey is arduous at times, and you are weak. Someday you will dance light-footed on the high peaks; but for now your walk is often plodding and heavy. All I require of you is to take the next step, clinging to My hand for strength and direction. Though the path is difficult and scenery dull at the moment, there are sparkling surprises jus around the corner. Stay on the path I have selected for you. It is truly the path of life."
Psalm 37:23-24; Psalm 16:11 NKJV

Thank you God for this wink. And all the others we have recognized this week.