Dear Dave and Irene,

Thank you so much for the updates.  I woke up from a vivid dream of hundreds of angels surrounding you both...it was amazing and wonderful.  This led me into prayer and praise for all that God is doing.  So many are standing with you. 

Hugs.  Susan

I spent time crying out to God this morning for Irene and the entire family.  I cried out to God for help.  I sought the Lord for comfort and miracles.  Somehow, I was remeinded of His great goodness and His prior acts of astounding greatness.  Then I remembered Psalm 77.  I was comforted to remember that His path led through the sea, His way through the mighty waters, though His footprints were not seen.

Praying for you daily!

Who ever thought one would celebrate being in the oncology unit of the hospital? I had to laugh this morning when I was praising God for the move of rooms for you Irene. It sure puts life in perspective. Where we once have celebrated getting moved to a better hotel room with a view.....we celebrate being moved to oncology. And yes! I am celebrating your new room. I am thanking God that you will now have some of your freedom back. Today is the beginning of a new day. May today be a day of praises and new hope.

I am lifting my heart up to heaven for all of you.

Veronica

As I rose this morning I logged on and read about the events of the past couple of days.  I intended to only spend a few moments getting updated, but I found myself reading, pondering, and praying over the two of you for a couple of hours. 

The human perspective of your situation is ever changing...one day upbeat...the next is a struggle to keep hope alive.  But there is another perspective that quietly, and sometimes imperceptibly, lifts and bouys us along the way.  These verses from today helped me see you in a new light...I hope they encourage you.

God is the maker of the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades,
And the constellations of the south.
He does great things that cannot be fathomed
And wonderful works that cannot be counted. (Job 9:9-10)

When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have set in place,
What is man that You are mindful of him,
And the son of man that You care for him?
You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
And crowned him with glory and honor.
You made him ruler over the works of Your hands,
And You put everything under his feet. (Psalm 8:3-6)

You (Irene and Dave) belong to this God!  You are so valued by Him that he has set YOU above all creatures on this earth!  You are so cherished by this indescribable God that He gave up His most beloved Son so that you could experience life and living like never before!!  You are the apple of His eye, and He holds you close with mighty arms that will cover and protect you...no matter what storms you may face today!!  And with all the resources of the entire universe at His disposal, He will provide all that you need for as long you need it...guaranteed.

We love you guys.  Wish we were closer to participate in the blood drive (even though I really hate needles!), and to pray with you face-to-face!!  Until then, this will have to do.  May today be a day of victory and fresh hope for you!!!

Love,
Dave, Cyndi, Catherine, Lauren, Victoria, Michael, Megan, and Ali

Peace and Joy

Romans 5:1-6

1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. 6You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.

Today Mom returned to the Oncology ward - she is out of ICU!  Hallelujah!!  MOM - YOU WILL BE RETURNING TO APTOS SOON!  God’s Strength through you!!! 

XOXO

Dave,

You three blessed us so much with your courage, faith, perseverance, and love for Irene ... your testimony and how you are walking this road is a huge message to the watching world about tenacity under pressure and faith in action.

I wake up most nights praying for Irene, you and the girls ... we are trusting God mightily for deliverance. As the chemo starts, I am again battling in prayer for Irene’s stamina ... the lion of Judah is at her bedside and He is roaring like the fierce lion He is. His roar is declaring that she belongs to Him. He is fierce to save and deliver those who belong to Him. It is interesting that the hospital is on a street called Judah ... God is fierce in His protection over Irene. He is mighty!

Blessings upon you this day as you continue to stand by your beloved and minister to her with your presence and love.

I have decided to stay another day in San Francisco so here I sit. :o) This morning my dad and I got here early and hung out with my mom. She seemed discouraged because she has been in the ICU for so many days and just wants to get the procedure started so that she can, Lord willing, heal that much sooner. God is definitely showing me that I need to trust Him for life. There is no “And now I can take a break from trusting;” every moment we have to rest in God otherwise fear creeps in, and we want to once again control. God wants our trust every moment of every day.

Two of my mom’s brothers came today and while we were in the waiting room my boss called.

He wanted to see how I was and also to let me know that I received a giant family when I came to work there. He told me that The Hollywood Prayer Network had sent out an e-mail to tell people to pray for my mom. He also said that all weekend at the retreat they were praying for me. This morning during church the priest prayed for her as well as one of the members of our board of directors. My boss’ wife said, jokingly, that my mom is healing the Reformation - Catholics and Protestants alike are all praying for my mom. I thought that was funny. In a way it’s kind of true. I see God working peace in a lot of situations. Her name actually means “Peaceful.” That is who she is and what her life is bringing - peace. All that matters is Jesus - he is the healer of bodies and relationships.

A friend of ours keeps sharing with us an image of Jesus being a roaring lion protecting my mom. I love that. I imagine him roaring to protect her and shield her from harm. Yet cuddling with her in her weakness.

Well, after this we went to lunch and during lunch we just kept praying that my mom would be encouraged somehow. When we got back one of the nurses from the 14th floor had come to visit and my mom found out that more than likely they would be moving her back to oncology. Hooray for her feeling like she can move around and have some freedom again! She was definitely encouraged by that.

We trust for God’s healing. We pray that this is His will. God is good. When my dad and I left the hospital to go to sleep last night, God gave me this chapter (Psalm 42):

“As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God?

My tears have been my food
day and night,
while men say to me all day long,
‘Where is your God?’

These things I remember
as I pour out my soul:
how I used to go with the multitude,
leading the procession to the house of God,
with shouts of joy and thanksgiving
among the festive throng.

Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and 6 my God.
My soul is downcast within me;
therefore I will remember you
from the land of the Jordan,
the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar.

Deep calls to deep
in the roar of your waterfalls;
all your waves and breakers
have swept over me.

By day the LORD directs his love,
at night his song is with me—
a prayer to the God of my life.

I say to God my Rock,
‘Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I go about mourning,
oppressed by the enemy?’

My bones suffer mortal agony
as my foes taunt me,
saying to me all day long,
‘Where is your God?’

Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.”

Hi Mrs D,

I have been checking this wonderful website a million times a day.  You are never out of my thoughts and prayers (even in the middle of the night).  It occurred to me as I was reading through some of the great well wishes that you are being used of God in your time of greatest weakness.  I know you are witnessing and ministering to every person that comes in contact with you in the hospital.  Irene, you are a major blessing to so many!!!

My thoughts and prayers are with Dave and the girls also.  Please know you are all greatly loved. 

Mrs C - (Jean Chalmers)

So yesterday was the day that I finally made the 4 hour drive to come for a visit. I have been wanting to do it for so long, because you guys have been continuously in our thoughts and prayers. The good thing about a long drive is lots of time to pray. After a walk and a bite to eat (you owe me bro) with Dave and JoAnna we made our way up to Irene’s room. Once inside, before I could say anything, she is asking me, with love and concern, how I am and about my family. Isn’t that classic Irene. In the middle of this tough disease, she is thinking of others, caring and showing love. And she was feeling particular bad during this time. Irene has such a radiance coming from her that is truly amazing. God is absolutely at work in this incredible lady. Thank you Irene for allowing me to spend a few minutes with you. We love you soooo much.

Later, overlooking the city from the parking lot, I had the honor of coming before the throne of God with my best bud for tje last 35 years. It’s been a blessing to call you friend. Thanks to Dave and Irene for encouraging me more than I could ever expect.

We love you Jocelyn and JoAnna!  God is in control!

Mark Schmidt

Dear Dave and Irene,

Though the turns of life have once again moved us far from you, our hearts are forever close and knit with yours.  Throughout every single day our hearts cry out to the Father on your behalf; and we do so with confident joy, because the LORD still shepherds those who are his.  Karl Barth defined joy as “a defiant nevertheless”, and we certainly remain defiant—God is greater than any circumstance and his will is always accomplished.  Since God is for us, what can be successful against us?  Nothing, NOTHING can separate us from the love of God expressed in Christ Jesus.  We WILL see his salvation!

We love you,
Andy & Tina

Dear Dave and Irene, My heart aches for you as I read all that you are going through.  We have been praying and will continue to do so.  We have a great God, and He IS faithful.  I know you feel surrounded by His love.  Blessings on all of you.  Walt and Lynnette Maynes

Tia and Tio and cousins
I would like to start off by letting you know that you’re in my prayers and thoughts. I look forward to seeing everyone. When I look up into the sky at night and see all the stars, I think how grandma must feel seeing all of us pull together when one of us is in need. The enourmous strenght and faith we all have in the lord will guide us through this difficult time.
Love your nephew and cousin:
Jon Ben

Joci and Joanna,

I love you both dearly. You two have become such beautiful women, inside and out. I know this comes from your parents and your faith. My thoughts are on you two often right now. I remember about a year and a half ago when my mother had cancer. It was scarry beond my wildest emagination. My faith in our Lord grew stronger that day. Not because i knew He would fix her, but that his hands were apon us and it was comforting.
Your mom and dad welcomed me in when my mom was at Standford Hospital so that i could be close to my mom. They gave me a shoulder to cry on, ears to listen to me, arms to hold me, and words to keep my Faith strong. They helped me understand myself better and this would we live in.  It is amazing our family. Even when Nana was sick, she had strenth. unbelieveable strength. All her children have this strenth. I know your mom is staying strong. I think that when Nana went back home her strenth went to each of us and maded us beable to move mountains if we tried.
I can’t waite to see you both. To laugh, to cry, to just BE with each other.  I love you again...God Bless.

<3 Your Cuz Cecilia

Hello Dave and Irene,
It sounds to me that your faith is really being tested especially Irene.  Our thoughts and prayers are with you Irene, Dave and the girls.  Just know there are many who are praying for you and your swift recovery..  May God Bless you and your family.

Irene know that I say the rosary for you daily and ask the Blessed Mary to help you in your time of need.  It sounds that you have great support from your beloved husband and beautiful grown-up daughters. 

What Frank has done I bet has been a God sent to you and your family because you need to know that we all love and are thinking of you.  May your guardian angels be with you always.
Love from us Rich, Stephanie and Dieter

Just wanted to say that I love you. My thoughts are with you. The kids sent their love to you and your family.The kids speak of you in their prayers. I tell them that you will up and around real soon.
They tell me know you will because God is with you.
Love YOU
Jane