When I wrote my last post I was about to start a new chemotherapy regimen and didn’t know what to expect. I had heard from other women who have braved this road before me that it should be easier. I can now say with much gratitude that they were correct. With this new “chemo cocktail” come new and different challenges. But more importantly I am learning that with each new challenge, God is faithful to show me new blessings.
Taxol, my new chemo drug, has the unfortunate side effect of bone pain. I have felt it most in my legs. A few days I was unable to move much from my couch and needed support just to cross the room. I say all this to highlight the difference between the first few days after chemo and the glorious blessing of God’s strength in the days that followed. While on the couch, I had the opportunity to pray more, to praise more, to dig deeply into God’s word, and seek His face. This is blessing in and of itself. Had I my normal strong legs, I may have missed this precious time. As the pain lessened and my strength grew I was happy to walk my dog and once again enjoy time outside in the warm Sacramento sunshine. 🙂
What came next was an unexpected blessing for which I will forever be thankful. My daughter and her boyfriend had signed up for a trail race in Lake Tahoe to benefit the Tahoe Cancer Center. (We all love Lake Tahoe and are avid skiers in the wintertime!) When my daughter’s boyfriend was unable to attend due to work constraints, Kate asked me to go with her to and spend the day at Squaw Valley, I could ride the tram to the top and wait for her to finish the 3 ½ mike trek from the base to high camp. It seemed like a lovely way to spend the day and I gratefully accepted the invitation. But by the morning of the race, my leg pain was gone and God had renewed my strength. So instead of sitting on the sidelines waiting for Kate, we walked the race together! 3 ½ miles straight up!! It was the most beautiful and challenging hike I have ever experienced! So thankful for time with my daughter, so thankful for God’s strength in getting me through this difficult time in my life and showing me every day that HE has I all I need, so thankful for the beauty of His creation. So thankful, just so very thankful.
I have chemo again today. I know what is ahead: more challenges, more blessings.
“I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.” Psalm 18:1-2
ahealingpath 
Aug 08, 2012 @ 19:18:08
Good going! When I saw you had visited my blog and then saw you hadn’t posted anything on yours I started worrying about you. I had you in mind when writing my haiku “Courage”. So glad to see you are doing better and were able to be in such a beautiful area of country walking side by side your daughter!
Aug 09, 2012 @ 22:00:15
Thank you for your warm thoughts and concern. Sometime the chemo leaves me so tired I only have energy to read a little but not the brain power to post. I love reading your poetry. So very beautiful.
Aug 08, 2012 @ 20:09:54
I am so proud of my mom! You are such a blessing to me; I am very lucky that God gave me an amazing friend to be not only my mother but also an inspiration to trust in God and be STRONG! Looking forward to our next hike 🙂
Aug 09, 2012 @ 21:49:51
Kate–You are such a precious daughter and friend. I can never thank God enough for the gift you are to me. I’m so glad we are close and get to share our joys and struggles. Thank you for your endless support as I fight this battle. You are amazing.
Aug 08, 2012 @ 21:15:43
Isn’t our God wonderful?. I praise Him for His goodness in our lives. He surely sent you and your daughter a special gift by granting you each the hike together. Praying that all goes well !
Aug 09, 2012 @ 21:46:32
Hi Judi,
Thank you for continuing to stand with me in this battle. I so appreciate your prayers and support. God is AMAZING!! He gives me more than I could ever hope for or imagine. Blessings and love to you!
Aug 08, 2012 @ 23:33:11
Hello Erin!
So nice to hear that you were able to go walk the hike with your daughter. God’s mercies are new everyday, and so amazing!! Thank you, yet again, for being strong and such an inspiration of what it means to have a relationship with our Lord and Savior. Reading your blogs have been such a big help to me in this period of my life.
I hope and pray that God continues to heal you. He is forever faithful!
“You’re beautiful, you’re beautiful
You are made for so much more than all of this.
You’re beautiful, you’re beautiful
You are treasured, you are sacred, you are His
You’re beautiful”
Beautiful- MercyMe
Love and hugs!
-Jenayu
Aug 09, 2012 @ 21:43:36
Thank you Jenayu!
God has just overwhelmed me with His love and faithfulness. I am so very blessed to have Him carrying me through all of this. His love is endless!! Blessing to you and your family.
Big hugs,
Erin
p.s. I love MercyMe 🙂
Aug 09, 2012 @ 03:02:10
Glorious! 🙂
Aug 09, 2012 @ 21:39:24
Amen!!
Thanks and big hugs to you Leela 🙂
Aug 09, 2012 @ 05:22:06
Our Father in Heaven, I come to You, Father, in gratitude and gratefulness of heart for all that You are, and for all that You have done. I know You are the great and eternal God who has made all things, and who has all in the palm of Your hand. Father, God, I come giving You worship and praise for the many blessings You rain down upon us, Your children, in the way of love and grace and mercy. I come to You, Father, and I just want to thank You for this dear child of Yours who has been such a faithful witness to who You are. I pray, Heavenly Father, that You will continue to shower Your love upon, Erin, and her family. That You will give her the courage, the strength and the grace to face the daily challenges of her life, and that she might face them in such a way as to be a great witness to Who You are, and what she has received through Your Son, Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. In His name, I pray.
Aug 09, 2012 @ 21:38:14
Wayne–
Thank you for your beautiful prayer! God is so faithful in not only getting me through these trying days, but giving me more than I could ever hope for. I wouldn’t have thought that fighting cancer would also hold so many blessings but God is good all the time–All the time God is good! May God richly bless you and yours and give you all that you need each day.
Aug 09, 2012 @ 14:49:21
God’s grace is good! So glad you were able to do the walk through the strength of God. It is ironic, (maybe not) but it was while I was also doing the Taxol regime that my relationship God was at a turning point. The pain would be so bad ( I had to continue working – and was on my feet 5-9 hrs) that I would cry myself to sleep most every night. I literally cried out to God and His presence just swallowed me up, I felt as He just filled the room. For the first time since being diagnosed (app 4 months into treatment) I felt not only His presence in that room, I felt his hope, peace, comfort and especially His strength. Today as I deal with other issues in my life, I rely on that strength that I found all those years ago in my bedroom as I cried out to God and as He heard and answered me. Praise God! You are in my prayers for continued healing, strength and comfort and especially that your pain lessons with each treatment. Blessings and hugs ~ Patty
Aug 09, 2012 @ 21:24:56
Dear Patty,
Thank you for sharing your story and your life with me. It means so much to hear from others who have walked this road. I completely understand how God will/can/does use struggles like cancer and chemo to help us know Him better. That is my biggest blessing in this too. I am sure I will look back on this time and as a turning point also. Thank you so much for you prayers and standing with me in this battle. Blessings to you and yours, Erin
Aug 09, 2012 @ 16:45:50
Hallelujah!!! What a mighty God we serve! Looking forward to hearing of your future successes. 🙂
Aug 09, 2012 @ 21:19:20
Patricia,
Thanks for sharing in my joy and praise of God Almighty!! Blessing to you and your beautiful family 🙂
Aug 09, 2012 @ 17:21:20
Erin, I am praying for you and with you. Chemo is an awful burden to bear. Be brave 🙂
Aug 09, 2012 @ 21:16:45
Ralph–Thank you so much for reading my blog and for your prayers. While you are so right about chemo, I know God is with me and getting me through it. Blessing to you!
Aug 09, 2012 @ 21:01:28
Wow, what a praise! Your sharing is so precious, I trust He is taking you through the battle!
Aug 09, 2012 @ 21:14:52
Thank you, Xiwei. God is so faithful. He gives me what I need for each day and is showing me more and more the depths of His glorious love. Blessings to you and your family!
Aug 09, 2012 @ 23:17:26
Erin,
Thanks for your inspiring post. You are amazing in your courage, focus on the goodness of God, and anticipation of what He will show you. You continue to bless me in your sharing. Praying for you, Kim
Aug 10, 2012 @ 04:45:57
Kim, Thank you for being so faithful in your support of me through this difficult time. Thanks much for your love and prayers!
Aug 09, 2012 @ 23:54:37
Erin, You can do this ~ I am so proud of you for doing the walk with your daughter! What a wonderful blessing! Keep taking baby steps my friend. It gets better! I had taxol as well and I walked like an old woman some days, but 10 years later, I’m still here and you will be too! Keep your faith! xoxo
Aug 10, 2012 @ 04:47:36
Congratulations on winning the battle. I am inspired by you and encouraged to keeping fighting!