Pictures for the rest of the story

These are some pictures of the some of the people that I have blogged about over the past 11 months. It is 11 months today. I had the camera with me on Sunday night and was able to get pictures. I don't want to leave the impression by posting these pictures, that one person is more important than others. First of all, Jesus trumps everyone. Second, you can not walk this journey with one person. It takes a community of people from all over, doing all sorts of things, meeting all needs, to walk this "death sentence" of cancer that we were given. It is a perfect example of the body of Christ. Some days, God used an email. Some days, God used a monetary gift. Some days, God used a visit. One day, God used Relay for Life. AND some days, God used quiet. Make no mistake, God used it all from everyone.

As we celebrate this day, I want to say thank you to everyone, and especially family, for walking us here, to this day. Mike should be dead according to doctors, but God had a different plan. How do you put a value on a day? One more day to be a man of God, a father, a husband, a friend, and most of all an inspiration...

This is Melissa..how do you start that one?? This woman would stand toe to toe with Satan and not back down or blink once. She knows, beyond a shadow of a doubt, Jesus and the real picture. She was given a death sentence like us 8 years ago and here she is. Like her brothers, with every breath she takes, she lives for Jesus. She has walked us through some of the darkest days. I remember when she sat in bed with Mike in Sarasota and told him when she sees the signs that he is dying, she will tell him. She has been God's physical hands, God's audible voice, and God's kicking boot when needed (it has been needed sometimes too!)

This is Pierre. When I opened the door in Sarasota last October, I had no idea what God had just brought to our lives! His ministry is KMMI and he is on fire for God. He tells Elizabeth the best way to bring people to the Lord is to just love them. He travels all over the world, can sing incredible Praises, speak of God's transforming power, and laugh!! He has prayed with us, worshipped with us, stayed all hours in the ER and hospital with us, and he has become an incredible mentor to Elizabeth.

This is Merlin Bise - Melissa's brother and co-owner of Giact. He is an encourager and a man that incorporates God as part of his daily life. I say that has a very high compliment. God just is apart of his life, his work, and his basketball. He walks it every moment in everyday life.

This is Evelyn Hopson. This dear friend works at Giact and has a gift of order. She was also a nurse. She put so many hours into organzing everything from Doctor's appointments to paperwork for us when we got her to Texas. She also taught me what Mike's level of care needs to be at the hospital and also about cleaning hospital rooms. I think to the first hospital stay to the last one we had. She would be very proud!

This is Craig Church of Craig Church Ministries in North Carolina (http://www.craigchurchministries.org/). They have been praying for Mike and he also visited us in the hospital this past month. Another man filled with the Holy Spirit -it is just such a tangible thing that you can't put into words when you meet him.

This is Bruce Bise. He was the one that gave us from Prison to Praise and thought us how to Praise God even when in the depths. It is freeing and joyful and puts things in perspective.

Mike and Pastor Hermon. Amazing man and was the one that first prayed healing over Mike over the phone on our way to Sarasota, FL. Mike felt hands moving in his stomach. He was also the one that prayed with us in the ER that when Mike's blood count was at 3 and he should have been dead. Amazing Godly, man. Filled with Holy Spirit. Spends a lot of time in Phillipines.

Belle - our "When we Retire" Dog

Fran our wonderful Chemo Nurse