So Very Grateful
This Thanksgiving feels extra special. Our hearts are full to the brim with gratitude. It's been quite a year: Found a lump in January and getting back to normal by December—what a whirlwind. But I’m alive! What a gift to have more time with those I love. And I don't take any of this past year for granted. For all of the turmoil, it was also full of countless reasons to give thanks!
Throughout 2024 I made a growing list of all the times and ways God showed up and provided for us. The list is too long to include here, but among the most frequent ways we saw the Lord's hand was through YOU—who selflessly texted, emailed, sent cards, dropped off flowers and gifts, made meals, gave financially, gave your time and talents to serve us, walk with us, and encourage us along this road. And you prayed. I get teary-eyed thinking about the many conversations you all had with the God of the universe on our behalf. We felt and saw evidence of all of those prayers. And so much more went on behind the scenes in the spiritual realm that we may never know until Heaven. But the bottom line…we couldn't have done this without you. Thank you, thank you.
We're also grateful for the many gifted, skilled, compassionate medical professionals who helped us navigate difficult decisions, took care of us, and even became friends along the way: Francesca, Rick, Pooja, Meghan, Sameer, Matt, the wonderful oncology nurses, and even the check-in staff (Wafi and I discovered we are both from Lancaster and even share the same birthday)! Anthony and I have a new appreciation for those in the medical profession who commit themselves to pursuing life, health and flourishing for those in their care.
And our deepest thanks is for our dearest friend, Jesus. In new ways this year we became more aware of his sweet companionship, his strength in our weakness, his tender compassion, his generous provision, his mercy and power to heal, his grace for the things that won't be healed in this lifetime, his identification with us in our suffering, and the hope in his promise that in the end all things will become new, and he will make sense of what we don’t understand. These truths we knew in our minds and read in his Word, but they became technicolor and personal this year in our pain. Thank you, Jesus, for sticking closer than a brother.
Praying you each have a rich and restful Thanksgiving! 🦃🍁✨
With Love and Sincere Thanks,
Sarah, Anthony, Maddie and Asher
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High. … The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you. —Psalm 9:1-2, 9-10
You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever! —Psalm 30:11-12
The Lord is God, and he has made his light to shine upon us. … You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God; I will extol you. Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! —Psalm 118:27a, 28-29
Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Who can utter the mighty deeds of the Lord or declare all his praise? … Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting! And let all the people say, “Amen!” Praise the Lord! —Psalm 106:1-2, 48