Life Changes
Friday, January 13, 2012
Dear blog readers,
Here is the view from our window lately...
Here is the jewelry I've been wearing...
Here is a glimpse at our latest reading material....
Here is where my heart is right now...
I will be stepping out of the food blog world for a time, while we devote our hearts and souls to taking care of our 16-year-old son, Spencer, who was just diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia.
He began treatment yesterday with an aggressive round of chemo that likely will keep him in the hospital for the better part of several months. We are scared and overwhelmed at what the next few months will bring for our family, but already have felt the power of angels (earthly and heavenly) buoying us up and bringing us strength.
Our needs are being met wonderfully well and we do not need anything other than your prayers for him and for our family.
With love,
Lara
Here is the view from our window lately...
Here is the only menu I've been looking at...
Here is the jewelry I've been wearing...
Here is a glimpse at our latest reading material....
Here is where my heart is right now...
He began treatment yesterday with an aggressive round of chemo that likely will keep him in the hospital for the better part of several months. We are scared and overwhelmed at what the next few months will bring for our family, but already have felt the power of angels (earthly and heavenly) buoying us up and bringing us strength.
Our needs are being met wonderfully well and we do not need anything other than your prayers for him and for our family.
With love,
Lara
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Posts
101 comments:
Spencer and your entire family will remain in my prayers until he is healed. God bless.
Your family is within my thoughts and prayers. Take care of yourself too while your son is being taken care of during treatments. Goddess bless you.
Oh my gosh... my heart aches for you and you are all in my thoughts and prayers... healing and comforting thoughts heading out...
Oh my...We will pray for you all!
I am the mom of three sons Lara....I will pray for you and your family. God Bless you. I will be thinking of you. The quote at the end from FB just gave me goosebumps. Beautiful.
How terribly scary. It sounds like you're trusting in the right Power. May the Lord continue to give you strength and comfort and success in beating this cancer.
Oh Lara, this post made me cry. Thank you so much for keeping all your readers posted as to what's going on. I am thinking of you and your sweet boy daily, and keeping all of you in my prayers.
Love,
Bonny Reckner
My heart and prayers are with you and your family!!!
Praying for you and your family!
Many prayers for you and your family during this difficult time...
Lord God, please watch over this sweet boy. Help to heal him and hold he and his family in your loving arms. Lord God, keep him safe.
Lara, I never comment, but reading this just now; I am in tears. My heart goes out to you and to Spencer. Cancer is tough, that's an understatment, but there are things that cancer cannot do. You have a beautiful boy and his faith will be a catalyst in his healthing.
My prayer and thoughts,
A Fellow Foodie Blogger
I can't think of anything to say except I'm so sorry. You'll be in my prayers.
prayers for you! my mom had a form of AML and she beat it with a bone marrow transplant 8 years ago! Please let me know if you have questions or we can help!
I go to oak marr ward and someone tipped me about your blog. Your family is beautiful and you will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Prayers coming your way.
I am a friend of Mika, who introduced me to your blog, and have a son named Spencer also. Thank you for all the wonderful recipes you've introduced to our dinner table. We'll praying for your sweet son and family.
My heart goes out to you and your family. I will pray for you every day. God Bless Spencer.
My thoughts and prayers with Spencer and your family. May God provide healing and strength to you all!
Coleen from Coleens Recipes sent me over.
I am so terribly sorry to hear this news. As a parent, we never want to see our children in pain or scared and I am sure your son is experiencing both. I will pray for you to have strength to keep your Son strong.
My thoughts will be with you and your family in this most difficult time.
Our prayers are with you and your family as well! Hang in there!
As a long time fan of your blog....I am so sorry! I will miss your recipes, but totally understand!
I am a long time lurker and recipe trier. Thank you for sharing your struggle with us. You and your son and your family our in my prayers. May God strengthen and comfort each of you as you go through this trial. May you sing his praises and honor him with glory during the mist of it. He is a healing God.
Lara.I am praying and sending hugs to you all.I wish for quick healing...
I had to come over to give you some encouragement after reading Coleen's post. I have a cousin who found out her son had 2 masses on his brain back in November. Her son is currently undergoing Radiation. He too is 16. The Lord is truly doing miracles in his life right now and I know that he will do the same for your son. They have a facebook page for my cousins son at Praying for Jeremy where they have been updating what all the Lord has done for him every week. I believe in miracles and the healing power of Jesus and I pray in Jesus name that your son will be healed.
Hugs,
Angela
Lara... I don't even know what to say. But I do believe in our Great God and I pray for hope, for healing, for peace in the midst of this storm. You will daily be in our prayers, as will Spencer.
I believe that God never gives us more than we can handle...although we feel like He takes us to the edge sometimes. Praying for you and your family.
I have never read your blog but read Colleens and she told about your son. I will be praying continually as I'm sure others will be. "Where two or more are gathered together there will I be." Lean on his trusting and faithful arms. He is there to sustain you and your family. He will never leave you. Jesus says also in Isaiah that "he know you by name..." Isn't that wonderful to know that He knows each of us by our first name. Such a friend we have. God bless you all.
That is a wonderful quote. Many prayers for your son and family.
You may or may not be reading your comments, but I felt compelled to write and say, while I can't understand what a mother goes through in a time like this, I understand what your son is going through as I've been through the same, twice and a bone marrow transplant. AML is NOT a death sentence, as my docs told me when I first had it, but it is a 6-month inconvenience (seriously!) For me, it was also an incredibly focused time that I wouldn't trade because God used, and continues to use the suffering I went through and He'll do the same for your son and you. Our prayers are with you. I blogged about the ordeal with encouragement even in the tough times, at http://www.hopenotesfromkrista.blogspot.com
I can't imagine what you, your son and your family are feeling. Clearly, he's a remarkable young man. The quote speaks volumes!
Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Thinking and praying for you and your family.
Praying for your family..
Praying for y'all now: Lord, please bring healing to his body. Please comfort him and shower him with your loving kindness. Praying for peace that passes all understanding. Please strengthen the family and fill them with your hope!!
In Jesus Name....
Kristi
Oh I'm so so sorry. Will keep you all in my prayers. xox
Laura
You are in my thoughts and prayers - what a wonderful and mature person he is to choose such a beautiful quotation.
I too have been going through a winter period and have found this inspirational:
"I will love the light for it shows me the way. Yet I will endure the darkness for it shows me the stars"
God Bless your son during this cancer. Prayers sent... God will heal.
Spencer knows where to go to ask for help, good for him and to you for showing him the way...
a prayer was just sent up...
Hi, my seven year old son was diagnosed with stage IV neuroblastoma in 2010. This is a very deadly and rare form of cancer. He has just finished his last hospital stay yesterday. Kids are very strong. Parents are too. I never thought I could handle what our family has been through but I did. God gives you the strength. Call on you and your sons angels to help. Your family will be in our prayers. Megan Pagel
My prayers and thoughts are with you and yours.
Your family is in our prayers. Passing this on.
Lara - Words can't express how sorry I am. I will be praying for you and your family and thinking of you often. xoxo
Praying for Spencer and your family! Psalm 139:13-16 God has a special plan and purpose for Spencer!
You are not alone. Stay strong and take it one step at a time. There is no recipe for what you are going through but you do have all the right ingedients. Love and Faith are the most powerful spices in life. You have that. No measuring required. Live your faith. I know he will be alright.
Continue to pray life over him, do not let fear into the equation, speak life over him. God is with you and he is your stength during your weakness. Remember Spencer is God's child and he will finish what he started with his life for His good purpose. God bless you and your family.
oh lara, i got teary reading this. i have a friend that is fighting the same battle right now. lots of prayers and love your way. i wish i could give you a big hug!
My thoughts and prayers will be with you. I know how hard it is to have a loved one with cancer. May Heavenly Father bless and comfort you and your family.
I will be keeping your son and family in my thoughts and prayers.
My prayers go with you and your family on this difficult journey! My heart fills with love for your trials. Keep the faith that God knows everything!
Prayers your way!
I am a avid reader of your blog, not always commenting but always enjoying your posts. My thoughts and prayers go out to Spencer and your family.
Stay strong!
Lara, my heart sank as I read your blog. Life changing indeed. I'll be praying for your son and the rest of your family as you begin this new journey. I can relate to how you feel. The diagnosis is beyond overwhelming. Our son was diagnosed with ALL ph+ (leukemia)over 3 yrs ago at the age of 16 mths. He went through some really intense treatment. It was hard, but he made it through. Our family we made it through. Our son is now 4.5 yrs and is doing extremely well! I write this to encourage you and to bring you hope. This is one of the many verses I clung to throughout our son's treatment: Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Kama
I admire your family's faith!
You will all be in my prayers.
My heart goes out to you and your family! I will be praying for strength, comfort and healing for your son! I love his facebook status, it is very true!
We will pray for you, your family and your sweet son. My God is a BIG God, and He is in the healing business. Love in Christ
I am praying for you and your family. May God give you all blessings and strength.
(((hugs)))
Prayers for your son and for you family.
I am so sorry that you guys have to go through this but I love your son't attitude and I love his Facebook quote.
I hope you continue to feel the love and prayers from everyone around you as well as from all of your blog readers.
Please keep us updated on Spencer. Every time you post, it will be a great reminder for all of your readers to pray for your son.
Your blog has saved my life making dinners for my family! i know if your kids like it, mine will. It's been fabulous every time. No worries on a break. There is quite an index to keep us afloat while you are taking care of your baby. I'm sorry you have to cross this bridge right now. I will keep you in my prayers!
THoughts and prayers are with you at this time. Stay strong
Prayers! (over from Coleen's!)
Lara - got your link from SnoWhite's twitter feed. I'm so sorry to hear about your son, and the tough valley your family is going through right now. You will be in my prayers, as will Spencer and the Doctors and nurses who are tending to him right now. Praying God gives you an enormous amount of strength and peace during this very difficult time.
Keeping Spencer in my thoughts and prayers. May you have strength in this troubled time.
I have had two friends who both had teenage sons and they went through the same thing. BOTH have been cancer free for at least ten years. BUT my most vivid recollection regarding Leukemia is an ad that was on TV showing a football stadium. It said, this is how many people survived Leukemia in 1950, and it was nearly empty, then 1960 and fuller, 1970 fuller still,1980 even fuller and 1990, nearly full. The strides medicine has made in curing Leukemia is remarkable. I cannot imagine the pain and fear you are going through, but there will be light at the end of this journey.
My heart was breaking reading your post. May the Lord sustain you and strengthen you, your family and son as you deal with his illness.
I am one of the several ladies compiling the FHE for a year based on the 2012 primary outline and I was directed to your blog as I was searching for a lesson on Joseph Smith. We had someone do the wrong lesson for December. I wanted to give you a heads up that your lesson may appear in the final document. The names will remain on there of who did the lesson.
Lots of love and prayers to your family. Stay strong. :)
Janis
I will be praying for your son and family during this difficult time.
My prayers are with you and your family.- Beth
God is good! He will carry you through this. Your family will be in my prayers.
My prayers are with your family. May you all feel God's presence and experience the healing He can grant. Take care!
My prayers are with your family at this difficult time. How hard it must be to see your "baby" this sick, but God is more than able to meet your every need and restore your sons health. He will carry you through this time Lara. God Bless-I expect there to be good report!
I am a big fan of your blog. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family!
Your blog has brought so much enjoyment to me. God Bless and prayers for your family.
I am blown away by your son's faith & what he wrote on his facebook page. Such powerful & amazing words coming from the heart of a 16 year old. I am praying for your son & your entire family as you begin this new journey. May God give you the strength you need to get through each day & the peace you need to get through each night. Lifting you all up in prayer!
Thinking of you and your family.
Thinking of you and your family! Sending prayers your way!
My heart is yours. I will hold you close in my thoughts and prayers.
Praying God hears all these prayers and heals Spencer with a miracle.
Praying for you and your family....
Sending positive energy your way and hoping for the best.
Our families heart and prayers go out to you all at this. Time we have enjoyed your blogs and pray that spring comes your way really soon. Thanks for all you have givin the world.
My thoughts and prayers are with your family. Spencer's FB comments really touched me! May the Lord strengthen and carry you through this difficult time.
I will pray that Spencer's spring comes soon!!
Oh my goodness. This breaks my heart. My prayers are with you and your family. You have raised a very special boy.
You and your family will be in my prayers. It's hard sometimes to put trust in the Lord but I know that He is always mindful of us. I hope you and your family are given the peace and comfort that you need through this trial.
I am so sorry for what you and your family are going through right now. You and your family will be in my thoughts and prayers. Hugs to you!
Prayers to you, your family and your son! Keep up your strength too!
I was at the Fruitcake in the kitchen blog and she had posted what you were going through and I felt that I need to come to your blog and post something. In 1994 our son was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia, he had just turned 6 years old. His first day of treatment he was given a overdose of one of chemo drugs by mistake (we were told he was given 25 times too much of the medicine) and were told that they did not know if he would live and if he did he would probably have brain damage. Today Jon is 23 years old, a college graduate, and is doing great in life. Kids are strong and amazing. My prayers are with you. You can and you will get through this.
Oh my I am so sorry to hear that. Your son and your family will be in my thoughts and prayers. I know our Heavenly Father will be watching over you guys!!
thoughts and prayers with you and your family.
Much love, many prayers.
I have been following your blog for quite some time. I do so enjoy it. Please know that your son and your family will be in my prayers. May God lift you up during this difficult time and cover you with the comfort and peace only he can provide. Please keep us updated on your son.
Blessings,
Tiffany
I'm so sorry to hear about your son! I am adding him to my prayer list. As a mother I cannot imagine how heartbreaking this is, praying for you as you mother through one of hardest seasons in your sons life.
I'm so sorry for what your son, you, and the rest of your family are going through right now. I can't begin to imagine what you're going through. You will be in my thoughts and prayers during this time and I pray that God will touch your son with His healing hand and provide you all with His comfort and peace.
Lara,
I am praying for your son and for you. What great faith he has! Thank you for sharing this tender news. I loved reading all of the encouragement from your blog followers. You are loved!
I have been checking your blog daily for years and LOVE your recipes. It broke my heart to read about what your son is going through. I have a 16 yr old son, so I know he is still your baby. :) I am praying for your family constantly.
I think God put winter before spring so that when spring comes, it is all the more wonderful. The same is true of the winters we experience in our lives. Your son seems to be a very mature 16. If prayers are what you need, then prayers and more prayers it will be.
With tears I'm praying for you and your precious Spencer. Those life changes are so hard.... just have to lean harder on Jesus.
Please tell your son to stay strong and beat his cancer quick!
Your family is in our prayers morning and night. I can't help but look back to when my own sons were Spencer's age. I am reminded of the blessing your husband was in their lives. I am forever grateful to your family, may God bless you during this very difficult time. We love you.
You have never met me, I'm not even sure how I came across you blog but I have been a regular reader for more than a year .... and yet my heart aches for you. If you son has the ability to put that in his facebook status, then he has a great relationship with God. I will pray for him for the stregnth to fight it. No prayer is to great or small and you have to hand your worries over to God and he will take care of you all. God Bless.
I just found your blog. I will be praying for peace, joy and complete healing for your Spencer!!!!
Prayers are being sent for your beloved son and family. xoxo
I just wanted to add a comment to get you to an even 100.
You know we continually pray for your whole family! We love you and are grateful for all the effort you put into everything you do, including this blog! Wish I lived closer Lara!
Oh man, I bopped over here looking for a little dinner inspiration...
so sorry to hear what you are going thru, but with all the good karma you have shared over the years, may the best outcomes happen for you.
I hopped over to your site looking for some help with kids recipes. And I was very pleased with what I found in recipes. I then read your update on your son. Our thoughts and prayers go with you and your family thru the days ahead. But please do not ever apologize for putting your family ahead of this site. We sincerely understand what comes first. Prayers and hugs for all.
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