A Special Valentine

Well, Valentine's Day was the beginning of Christen's 2nd round of chemo. In the midst of a "bad" 4 day weekend, God provided many special signs of His love. The 4th floor oncology nurses all signed a Valentine's card for Christen. Then, upon entering her inpatient room, one of Christen's student nurses from several weeks back popped in briefly as she was leaving for the day. She said, "I heard you were coming in, and I wanted to give this to you." She had a beautiful hand made Valentine wrapped in a bow with a very pretty pair of pink Valentine's socks. Her card said that she and others were praying for Christen. God has His angels everywhere doesn't He! Little signs of His love being poured out through His people. It brings Christen and all of us so much thankfulness for God and for being a part of His family. Several of Christen's friends came on Valentine's evening. They brought flowers, a heart balloon, a movie, cupcakes, and party food and of course had a party! We'd just stepped out to go downstairs to the cafeteria, when the doctor came in to check on Christen and found them in the midst of their cupcakes. :-) The next night he stopped by to find a different set of girls---he said, "Wait a minute, you're not the same girls who were here last night, are you?" Our nurse gave us both a hug and a kiss when we left today. I must say that UVA has a wonderful set of nurses, medical students, nursing students, doctors, and personnel staff all the way around. We are very glad to be under their care.

We arrived home to a large pink box from our church all decorated with hearts and filled with cards, cookies, and gifts for everyone. Christen is blessed with prayers and friends far beyond what she could have ever imagined. She received a special card from one of her "blog followers" whom she's not yet met, but whose family has been praying for her. She has a mother praying for her whose daughter is friends with someone in Christen's class... I could go on and on, but it's just to say...God is truly wonderful. It is His moving and working in the hearts of so many...all of you. May He truly be magnified through Christen's present illness and through her life, and may many be brought to share in His amazing love because of this trial we've been allowed to go through.

Christen didn't attend youth group tonight in order to try avoiding catching the flu...sorry guys, yes, she is the cause of a number of the youth skipping out so as not to have her home alone---without friends that is :-). Thanks for so graciously giving them up for her cause...she is very grateful to have their wonderful presence!

Thank you, God, for your presence that never leaves us and and for YOUR NEVER ENDING LOVE to your children. Thank you for answering the prayers of so many and giving Christen strength and health and courage and trust in You.

For Christen and her family