A different perspective

Good Afternoon.The sun is shining brightly in the window here at my parent's house, and much higher in the sky at 3 PM than it would be in St. Petersburg! Its COLD, and people are surprised that its warmer in Russia this year.

I am thankful for many things about the trip, just small blessings God used to cheer me along the way:

*Boarding the airplane in Paris, I spotted my piano professor from Wheaton! Wow, 24 years since I saw him. Later in the plane, I identified myself to him and he came back and sat in the empty seat beside mine and we talked for a couple of hours. Very special.
*I got my tickets with no problem, except the last leg from Chicago to FW. I decided to pretend I wasn't in the USA and use public transport...and it worked great! I got the city train from O'Hare to Union Station, and got an Amtrak train that stopped just 30-45 minutes from home.
*My sister, Joy picked me up, and we had a great time talking in the car. I felt a huge sense of relief from her, that I will be here for two weeks.

I also learned once I got here that we did nearly lose Mom this week. Her blood clot was the talk of the oncology floor; nurses and her doctors were amazed that she survived because that clot was one of the largest they had ever seen.
So glad she is still with us, and regained enough strength to return home yesterday. However, the episode weakened her considerably and she will now be permanently on oxygen. She is also taking a blood-thinning med, Coumidin that has some potentially very serious side effects.
We are enjoying time together. I'm trying to help with cooking, etc... and pray I can make some things that taste good enough to her to want to eat! She is adjusting her expectations, since now she really does feel like she has cancer...we had a good time of prayer together this morning and she is getting there. Not that we don't pray for miracles--but God's grace is a miracle however its poured out on us, isn't it? Whether in healing or in our ability to trust Him if He doesn't heal.
As we prayed this morning, it seemed we couldn't get to the end of what we had to be thankful for. I am so thankful to be here. Being at church this morning was a surprise blessing--to be with people who know and love Mom, too and to worship together ministered deeply to my spirit.

God bless you for your prayers.
Love, Julie

P.S. Its also special to see others ministering to my parents. My mom has lost quite a bit of weight, and last night a friend brought over 3 pairs of new pants and two lovely jacket-tops she bought on sale just for Mom. What a wonderful, welcome gesture of encouragement.