Thankful

Psalm 98:1 Give Praise to the Lord a new song,
for he has done marvelous things.......

     I have great news!!!!!  NO Evidence of Disease & Halie's kidney function is up 20% we are so thankful for all the people who so faithfully pray for our sweet girl!  What a testimony of God's mercy and grace!  We have friends and family who were specifically praying for her kidney function to improve,  and God just simply showed off!!!!!  Awesome!!!  I love how the doctors are always amazed!  You see her kidney function after treatment last July was 65 and after 1 year post treatment her function was only up to 70.  OK, so those numbers may not mean much to you but she was what is called a hyper filtrater and when she was originally diagnosed her Kidney function was 180 so 65/70 is low for a normal kiddo but really low for her. I know, I know a lot of info but honestly after all the harsh treatments we have done to her precious body we were not really looking for it to go up too much!  We were expecting to be referred to Renal Dialysis.  So, the awesome thing is that after 3 months her function shot up 20% to like 87.  I am always stunned and amazed by Him!!!!   What a gift for Thanksgiving!!!!!  Thank You, Jesus!!!  We are blest.
    
O.k. with the Holiday Bake Sale coming up I thought some of you may like some info about Neuroblastoma so here is link with some helpful info.....
What is neuroblastoma | CNCF

BAKE SALE NEWS 
A letter from Jenn & Charon

We hope you had a great Thanksgiving and enjoyed some time with family and friends!  It’s time for our Holiday bake sale at TCH.  In memory of Hans Weberling and the other special children who have or are still battling cancer, we are going to honor all those kiddos at this bake sale.  In addition to the bake sale, we have been collecting some of Hans’ favorite things to be passed out at TCH that day or donated to TCH to be passed out at another time.  We are still collecting items up until the day of the bake sale.  Some of Hans’ favorite things were his PJ’s and toys such as Transformers, Bionicles, and Legos.  We are accepting new and unwrapped items for boys and girls from Toddlers to Teens!  It does not have to be the toys listed above – any toy donation is great.

 

To the parents of those kids who have battled cancer, are still in treatment, or have completed treatment – we would love to have a picture of your child to display on the bake sale tables.  If you will be at the bake sale, please bring it with you or you can email me a picture and I can print.

 

 

Here are the basics:

 

·         Date:  Friday, Dec. 7th, 10am – 2:30pm (set up starting at 9:30am)

·         Please respond if you plan to work the sale

·         Variety of baked goodies needed:  Cookies, candies, brownies, cake balls, cupcakes, cakes (whole or slices), pies, cobblers, bread loaves, muffins, Chex Mix/snack items, a few sugar free or gluten free items, etc.  Please, no items that need refrigeration.

·         It is very important to label your item so everyone knows what it is (if it has nuts please indicate on label).  It is helpful to price as well.  If you are not comfortable with that, we can do it.  See Tip Sheet for more details if needed.

·         It is best to put the items in clear packaging.  These buyers can be very serious about their purchases – they want to see what they are getting!  Packaging can be as simple as clear Ziploc baggies or decorative packaging as long as you can see through it.

·         If you have other friends that love to bake for a great cause or a child that needs to fulfill a service project, feel free to forward this email.

 

Drop off information:
Contact me & I will email you the Woodlands or Magnolia drop off addresses!  jenniferpigott@att.net

 

100% of the sales go to the Children’s Neuroblastoma Cancer Foundation (www.cncfhope.org) to fund research, awareness and education.  If you are interested in making a monetary donation online, go to the website and click on “Donate Now”.  Be sure to choose “Houston Bake Sale” from drop down menu.  As always, if it is not a convenient time for you to bake this go round… that is okay!  Thank you so much for your continued support.

Also please check out this link from the CNCF facebook page!!!

• Special tribute to Hans Weberling at annual Houston holiday bake sale | CNCF

Sincerely,

Charon Edgington and Jennifer Pigott

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 1 Peter 2:24

     I have been working on the questions for the Woman's Bible Study at C3  and this weeks study is on being scared.  I know that most woman struggle with fear, worry & anxiety in some way or another and I am no exception!  I think  I can safely say that as a Cancer Mom FEAR is where I have a tendency to get  "stuck".  When Halie was diagnosed with a rare form of childhood cancer two years ago I didn't  lose my faith or get angry, God became more precious to me during those years in the battle than I ever dreamed possible.  He became my life, breath and my hope in ways I never knew before and His compassionate love covered me in ways I will never truly understand this side of heaven & I am forever grateful! But, my life has been forever changed by Cancer.....  during those days, months and the years that have now followed God has been so very gracious to our family as we have a healthy and vibrant 5 year old daughter and Chemo, Radiation, Surgery, Stem cell Transplant & Immunotherapy are all a part of our past ...  we pray.....  Her cancer is truly a beast and fear of relapse is always lingering.  We scan every 4 months now and by the Grace of God she has been No Evidence of Disease for over a year but we are far from being on the other side of Cancer.  For the next 4 years we will scan, take blood and watch....  always watching.....

      This precious child who now runs and plays and is enjoying Kindergarten.....  looking at her you would never know all she has gone through if you didn't see her scars.... 

     Scars....  I have been thinking on this thought a lot lately.  I was giving Halie a bath the other day and I realized there is not a day that I am not reminded of her battle with Cancer.  The scar on her neck where we biopsied the first tumor, the scar in her chest where her central line was placed and the scar that runs completely across her abdomen where with skilled hands her surgeon removed a tumor the size of her daddy's fist.  Her body will forever bear the scars of her battle with Cancer until Christ returns and gives her a glorified body!  ( you see one day her body will be flawless yet Christ our Saviors body will forever for all eternity bear the scars of Calvary!) The incarnate son who forever took a beating heart will forever bear the marks of his battle for our souls! "see the depths of his love in the wounds of His grace, Hide away in the love of Jesus!!!!" I am in awe! complete awe!!! Thank you Jesus!

      I also have been thinking about the hidden scars.  The ones I have hidden deep in my soul.   The scars that hide the pain when a child we love dies from this horrible disease, The grief that breaks my heart as I sit with a Mom who has lost her child and wonders why?  the fear of relapse... fears, so many fears....   Job 3 says that " for the thing that I fear comes upon me and what I dread befalls me.  I am not at ease, nor am I quiet; I have no rest, but trouble comes." To say that I mustered up the strength to get through the following days, months and years after her diagnosis would be a lie.  God knocked all my props out from under me and I learned to trust him only him, not in his gifts as wonderful as they are but Him.  I knew (know) we have no promise of an easy life....    My scars are not visible.  They are hidden beneath a wounded smile when my daughter complains of a mysterious ache or pain.  when she is whiny or clingy and wants to be held.  The fears that lurk in my mind are ever present - ever real.

  The Lord knows the depth of my struggle that I am an idolater that loves His gifts more than Him at times and  I constantly  need to be reminded that I will never have the peace (the freedom from fear) this side of heaven as long as I continue to look to anything besides Him to satisfy my soul.  I will be restless until I remember that what I long for can only be satisfied in Him.  Not in anything else no matter how good that thing is. True freedom lies in focusing on Jesus!  You see the gospel, the fact that Jesus as God became Man and led a sinless life, died on  a cross for our sins and three days later rose again forever breaking the bonds of death-- affects my life today  because when I am afraid I don't need reassurance that all is well.  (because that is fleeting) what I need is Jesus!  Christ says Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” What we need to remember dear friends when we are afraid is the Gospel.  Elyse Fitzpatrick says that he has done everything possible to clear the path for you .... run to him!!!!  His love is unconditional!  He's not worried about you cleaning yourself up (getting it together) before you come to Him.  Run to him like a child runs to his Father.... 
 
      Beloved you don't have to wait until you have it all together!  Run to him!  When we focus on Him --- Freedom from fear (sin) will become easy because the idols that used to draw us away from him will have lost their power!
 Thank you Jesus! 

Father, Help me not to be anxious to see too far in front, nor careful about the next step, not eager to choose the path, nor weighted with the heavy responsibilities of the future, but help me to quietly follow behind you , the Shepherd, one step at a time. Right now while dangers are nigh! and the fears in my mind are shaking and my heart seems to dread what life may hold in store; help me to remember that We are Yours--You know the way we're taking, When doubts cast their weird, unwelcome shadows o'er me, comfort me that your word only YOU Father can strengthen & restore, And never let me forget that You GO BEFORE US. AMEN

 

God used this devotion to minister to my heart last year when we were rescanning Halie when we thought she had relapsed.  ( she had a bone scan that lit up in her legs.)    It encouraged my heart then and once again this week! I wanted to share! 

 

Streams In the Desert
Put Forth

"He putteth forth his own sheep" (John10:4).

Oh, this is bitter work for Him and us--bitter for us to go, but equally bitter for Him to cause us pain; yet it must be done. It would not be conducive to our true welfare to stay always in one happy and comfortable lot. He therefore puts us forth. The fold is deserted, that the sheep may wander over the bracing mountain slope. The laborers must be thrust out into the harvest, else the golden grain would spoil.

Take heart! it could not be better to stay when He determines otherwise; and if the loving hand of our Lord puts us forth, it must be well. On, in His name, to green pastures and still waters and mountain heights! He goeth before thee. Whatever awaits us is encountered first by Him. Faith's eye can always discern His majestic presence in front; and when that cannot be seen, it is dangerous to move forward. Bind this comfort to your heart, that the Savior has tried for Himself all the experiences through which He asks you to pass; and He would not ask you to pass through them unless He was sure that they were not too difficult for your feet, or too trying for your strength.

This is the Blessed Life--not anxious to see far in front, nor careful about the next step, not eager to choose the path, nor weighted with the heavy responsibilities of the future, but quietly following behind the Shepherd, one step at a time.

Dark is the sky! and veiled the unknown morrow Dark is life's way, for night is not yet o'er; The longed-for glimpse I may not meanwhile borrow; But, this I know, HE GOETH ON BEFORE.

Dangers are nigh! and fears my mind are shaking; Heart seems to dread what life may hold in store; But I am His--He knows the way I'm taking, More blessed still--HE GOETH ON BEFORE.

Doubts cast their weird, unwelcome shadows o'er me, Doubts that life's best--life's choicest things are o'er; What but His Word can strengthen, can restore me, And this blest fact; that still HE GOES BEFORE.

HE GOES BEFORE! Be this my consolation! He goes before! On this my heart would dwell! He goes before! This guarantees salvation! HE GOES BEFORE! And therefore all is well. --J. D. Smith

***

The Oriental shepherd was always ahead of his sheep. He was down in front. Any attack upon them had to take him into account. Now God is down in front. He is in the tomorrows. It is tomorrow that fills men with dread. God is there already. All the tomorrows of our life have to pass Him before they can get to us. --F. B. M.

***

"God is in every tomorrow,

Therefore I live for today,
Certain of finding at sunrise,
Guidance and strength for the way;
Power for each moment of weakness,
Hope for each moment of pain,
Comfort for every sorrow,
Sunshine and joy after rain."

 

 

 

Prayers

     "Weeping may last for the night, but joy comes with the morning. And when it comes, it comes with a song, not a cheap or silly song, but a deep and weighty song. It doesn't gloss over the tragedy or the pain or the loss. When the sails of joy go up, the heartaches of life, which once threatened to capsize the boat, become ballast deep in the belly of the ship to make the keel cut deep through the waves and guide the ship through rougher seas ahead.
Great songs are born out of great suffering."

                                                                  John Piper



      I saw this posted on a friends' face book page last night and it brought me to tears.  I ask today that our friends and family would lift up the families who are grieving the loss of their precious children to Cancer and for those who are still fighting.   It's a hard song to listen to so my friends only listen if you are ready.


Taylor Swift song 'Ronan' for Phoenix boy an artistic high

 

Changes

     O.K.  I am a little behind on posting.  Life has been such a whirlwind.  Please be patient with me as I figure out this new stage of life.  So, not only did our wonderful news in July of 1 year Cancer Free bring tears of joy and praise to Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ !  It also brought the fabulous news for Miss Halie Nicole that she got to start school this year.  She is officially a Kindergartner!  Yeah!!!!  She could not wait.  We are now adjusting to our new normal.  With office visits and scans every four months we are really feeling a freedom we have not known in a long time.  I have been compiling past blog post into a devotion to give my girls when they grow up and it is amazing to reflect on all the Lord has done in our lives over the past two years,  as I write this Thankfulness just washes over me as I am so blessed to have a wonderful husband who has stood by my side for 14 years through all of life's ups and downs, been strong for me when I lacked the strength, loved and encouraged me when I lacked faith and 4 amazing children that have had to bear more than their tender years should have to and yet their life bears the grace and mercy of God.  Our trials have shown us our need for Christ in deeper way than we ever imagined possible.  Thank you Jesus!!!

   So, now that we are moving into a new stage of life with an 8th grader, 4th grader , 2nd grader and Kindergartner we are whirling.  It's busy, but a blast!  I am truly blest!!!! Aleks is looking forward to hitting the field with football on the 18th, Chloe & Halie start Soccer the weekend after & Kyle starts karate next week as well!  Whew, add school events and the Bake sale and we are running like crazy lately!  We love it!!!


And more changes...

     After 10 years of being at Lakeside Bible Church in Montgomery we have made the difficult decision to worship closer to home.  With all of our kids in Magnolia schools and Jason working in The Woodlands we prayed and felt led to find a new church home in our community!  God has been so gracious throughout the years and many of the people at LBC are family to us including our friend and pastor Ken Ramey and his family.  It is hard to leave but we are also excited about what God has in store for us now.   We have found a new church family at Christ Community Church in Magnolia only a few miles from our house.  They meet at Bear Branch Elementary School and we love it!  The people are so nice and the pastors love for Jesus and passion to reach others for Christ is exciting.  So, while we will miss worshipping with our church family at LBC ( we'll still be around)  we are really excited about this new journey! 

   Finally,   Bake sale is right around the corner Friday, September the 14th at Texas Children's Hospital on the 3rd floor Bridge.  If you would like to bake please contact me at 832-934-2881 or cell 832-314-1025 I will need all baked goods by Thursday so I can take them downtown with me Friday!  Please keep us in your prayers.  I have such a passion for raising awareness for a cure. 

John Piper says
 When Paul taught that the creation was subjected to futility (Romans 8:20), he also taught that this subjection was “in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God” (v. 21). There is no reason that Christians should not embrace this futility-lifting calling now. God will complete it in the age to come. But it is a good thing to conquer as much disease and suffering now in the name of Christ as we can.
In fact, I would wave the banner right now and call some of you to enter vocations of research that may be the means of undoing some of the great diseases of the world. This is not fighting against God. God is as much in charge of the research as he is of the disease. You can be an instrument in his hand. This may be the time appointed for the triumph that he wills to bring over the disease that he ordained. Don’t try to read the mind of God from his mysterious decrees of calamity. Do what he says. And what he says is: “Do good to everyone” (Galatians 6:10).
Longing to relieve suffering with you,
Pastor John
 
Our desire is to serve Christ as we help raise money for the research that hopefully one day will find a cure!  Thank you for praying, baking or serving along side of us.

Halie's musical debut!!!!

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1448302898747


Ok, so this blog post was inspired by my beautiful daughter Halie Nicole and Miss Taylor Swift!  Taylor Swift chose CNCF a non profit organization very dear to my heart as her choice for the 2012 CMT music Awards!!!  This Organization works toward finding and funding a cure for Neuroblastoma!  This video was back from may 2010 when Halie was first diagnosed with Stage 4 MYCN Amplified Neuroblastoma!  She loved to sing along with Miss swift and actually let us video this short clip!  Enjoy!  Thank You, Taylor Swift for bringing awarness to this organization that is fighting for the lives of our children!  For our sweet family & friends this is the orgaziation we raise money for with our bake sales you all so graciously conribute too!

Taylor Swift Chooses CNCF

By Richard Munassi

Posted on 30 May 2012 at 4:18pm

Award-winning musician Taylor Swift has chosen The Children’s Neuroblastoma Cancer Foundation (CNCF) as her charity of choice for the 2012 CMT Music Awards!

The Children’s Neuroblastoma Cancer Foundation is a non-profit organization based out of Bloomingdale, Illinois. Established in 2000, the non-profit has managed to raise over $2 million since inception to help find a cure for the aggressive pediatric cancer, as well as to promote education of the disease.

The singer/songwriter is currently nominated in three categories: Video of the Year for “Safe and Sound” featuring the Civil Wars, Female Video of the Year for “Ours,” and Collaborative Video of the Year for “Safe and Sound.” CMT will donate to the charity of choice for the winners of each award given out at the show, which is on June 6.

9 months Cancer Free!

Ok, so It has been too long since I last posted!  Relying a bit too much on facebook.  Halie's scans came back NO EVIDENCE of Disease!!!!  I give thanks to you, Oh Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever!   Halie celebrated her 5th Birthday the weekend after scans and what a blessing it was to see her running around, playing and swimming with her friends!  A stark contrast from last year!  Thank You, Jesus!  I have so much to say but I lost my whole post that I was working on for the past hour!  ugh!!!!  I guess my post is meant to be short and sweet today!  My kiddies await me but please watch this video it is Amazing!  LOVE IT!  For all the families whose lives have been changed by Cancer this was a blessing to me I hope it is for you!!!!

We love you all!!!!
Jenn

Please pray for me and my family!

Today I am off to Childrens Hospital to get my pic line for the MIBG and CT scan scheduled for tomorrow.  Please pray for me to not get really scared and stuff.  I don't like needles...but I trust Jesus to make me brave and calm.  Pray for my family to have the Peace of Christ all over them this week while we wait for results of the tests.  Pray for No Evidence of Disease!!!!  Thank you.....  remember.........God is GOOD!!

"But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord my refuge, that I may tell of all your works" (Psalm 73:28).

So the past few weeks have been a little rough... I will spare you all the details but in this trial God has opened my eyes to reveal once again "what is my hope in?"  I believe in my heart that my hope is in the Lord and yet in the day to day as well as the trials that stretch me am I really going to the only one who is my comfort?  How often do I trade lasting comfort for what will bring me immediate relief?  Yet, He continuously seeks me out, He pursues me with an all consuming love.  I keep waiting for Him to change, to realize how flawed I am and give up on me or for His affections to wain as He tires of my persistent sins.  Yet He never does.  His love is never going to change and He loves me as much today as He did the day I laid down all rights to my life and trusted Him to be my Savior.  This past week I read a translation of Philippians 4:13 from a late Greek scholar that reads  "I am strong for all things in the one who constantly infuses strength in me"  I realized that I have been trying so hard for so long to be strong,  To carry a weight that I was never intended to carry, sure when I am stretched beyond what I am able then I run to Him and say "help"  as Spurgeon once said when I get to the end of myself and have exhausted all of my resources then I come to him.  Father help me to run first to you!!!!  I read a post on the Gospel Coalition by Paul  Tripp and It met me right where I am at so I thought I would share with you... hope it encourages you as it has me.

In a fallen world that does not always operate in the way the Creator intended, and where temptation and danger lurk, these words are also vital: "I have made the Lord God my refuge." Under the heat of life in this broken world you will run somewhere for refuge when you become weary, wounded, and discouraged. But you must remember God is the only hiding place worth running to. He alone can heal the wounds of your heart. He alone can give you the strength you need to get up once more and continue. He alone can give inner peace when there is little peace to be found around you. He alone can forgive your sins and strengthen you when you are weak.

But we often forget that grace has given us refuge. We forget that God welcomes us to run to him. So we run to the creation rather than the Creator for refuge, and when we do, we never get the solace we are seeking. We may successfully numb or distract ourselves for a while, but our hearts are not strengthened or encouraged. The replacement refuges of people and things cannot relieve, only distract us from our burdens, so we have to return to them repeatedly. We never end up strengthen and encouraged. We only end up fat, addicted, and indebted. Are you getting it right? When you are weak, weary, and discouraged, do you run to the one refuge who can deliver peace?

O.k. had to add this song....  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ouj1Ai4lIeY&feature=related