One week ago today, everything changed.
I wasn’t expecting it, I wasn’t ready for it, but I now can vaguely see how God was preparing us for it. Through podcasts, books, songs, conversations, even gardening activities that seemed to happen a little earlier in the season than usual.
We have come a LONG WAY in 7 days.
I read this from a friend yesterday…
“When a defining moment comes along you can do one of two things:
– Define the moment or
– Let the moment define you.”
I think sometimes this last week, I can resemble both of those.
I woke Tuesday with a peace that was truly from God. Praise the Lord. Soaking myself in scriptures has been so helpful. I hope that reading them from time to time out loud to Kevin has helped him too. It seems to.
I knew that it was going to be a day of also putting on my big girl panties to start making some decisions about where we will go on Thursday when Kevin is able to leave the hospital.
We need prayer that we will be led to exactly the right hotel/extended stay place that God wants us to go to. We will for sure be staying in Houston till after the second chemo treatment on the 29th.
I am having to realize that this is my journey as well as Kevin’s. It’s my children’s journey. It’s our parent’s journey. It’s the church we belong to journey. It’s the Body of Christ’s journey as well.
I experienced some firsts yesterday….
I had someone ask me in the elevator, “Are you here for treatments?” I replied, “No, my husband is.” He then said something that I hadn’t yet grasped… “Oh, you are the caregiver…you job is very important, you will do great.”
WHAT? I had to let that one simmer for a bit in my gut.
Later, I went into a room in the lobby of the hotel where there was walls lined with materials on Cancer. I immediately swallowed hard. I wasn’t ready for this step.
I took a deep breath and thought to myself…it won’t hurt to just look.
After several breaths, I ended taking 3-4 informational booklets on cancer and treating the patient. I am allowing Grace for God to tell me when to read them. It may be today, it may be next week.
It even seems so surreal as I even write this.
Another step I took yesterday was I had my first cup of coffee in the last week. My stomach was trying to process too much if you know what I mean.
I rode the bicycle for 5 miles in the hotel gym. I needed this more than I realized.
I washed our clothes in the laundry at the hotel. (let’s just say, I will never complain about washing clothes at home again!)
I realized it was ok to laugh really hard out loud. God has a sense of humor too! I praise God for my closest friends that have showered me with some laughter. There is also laughter that comes from pictures my girls are texting me throughout the day.
On that note, if you have been following my story for the last week – you know that our dog, Reese, currently has 40 some odd stitches on her back along with a lampshade around her head. She is being taken to get the stitches out but more importantly THE LAMPSHADE REMOVED! 🙂
So laughter is good.
Our prayer requests:
* Peace overwhelming Peace to flow through Kevin.
* Kevin’s willingness to eat healthier food.
* Maintain good blood pressure levels.
* Good transition from hospital to hotel
* our next “home” for the next month.
* angels to minister to us and for us to minister to.
* safe travel for my father as he goes home Thursday. Jamie, Kevin’s brother will stay with
us.
Gonna leave you with something that I read that encouraged me yesterday. Traci Miles wrote about this on her blog.
In Tony Evan’s book, Between A Rock and A Hard Place (2010), he said this:
“He tests you, and me, because He wants what is best for us. He tests us because He is getting ready to do something amazing in our lives. The way that He tests us is by putting us in a stressful scenario. God puts us on a treadmill. He designs a unique treadmill test to measure and reveal the real condition of our souls.
Of course, no one likes a trial. No one wakes up in the morning, stretches, and says, “Ah, what a beautiful day for a trial! I think I’d like to have a trial today!” That would be an unusual person who would do something like that. Yet, no matter how much we want to avoid trials in our lives, trials are inevitable. No one is immune to trials”
Trials – some more stressful than others – will always come. We all have to make a choice. To either prepare our hearts to handle the stress, or allow the stress to damage our hearts.
The key to stressed-less living is not living a stress free life, but learning to trust God and embrace His joy and peace in the midst of our stressful lives. It requires accepting and believing that somehow, someday, some way… God is teaching us to trust Him, and seek peace from Him, and Him alone.
I told Kevin the other day, all He requires from us right now is to TRUST HIM. When we do that Peace will come. That is our step each moment of each day.
I was getting ready to walk over to the hospital this morning and played a random song on my iPhone and low an behold – it blew my socks off. (which you shouldn’t wear in Texas anyway, because its too hot!)
Keep your prayers coming. They are helping us float! You guys are amazing with your encouragement! We love you!
Strong Tower 
Amy, I am praying right now for God’s hand of healing, courage and peace. As I walked by Scott’s side during cancer in 2009, I experienced deeper wells of His goodness and grace. Praying He pours out all of Himself into and on you today, sweet sister.
Amy, you, Kevin and the girls have been in my prayers daily. My momma is a 7 year Ovarian Cancer survivor. If you know anything about cancer, you know that this is often a misdiagnosed cancer and by the time it is diagnosed, it’s in the advanced stages. Prayer and God’s healing hands performed a miracle. Each time I prayed for Momma, I envisioned God’s healing hands massaging Momma’s abdominal area. I’m envisoning His healing hands massaging Kevin’s body as I pray for him.
Blessings to all of you.
Lynn
I know this sounds a bit selfish as you are going through so much but I really enjoy reading this blog. For the past 3 years, I have had some health issues which are causing me some serious pain, usually in the middle of the night. This week, has been the worst in a long while. I have been up, in the middle of the night, about 5 of the past 7 nights. To get my mind off of the pain, I turn on the Ipad, and check FB and email. This is the time I feel God has given me to read your posts. When you talk about healing and all of the scriptures that refer to it, I can’t help but cry. I am encouraged so much by what you write and by the miracles you are experiencing. No, I do not have cancer. But I know I can handle the physical pain I am experiencing because Kevin is handling something much greater. God does not give us more than we can handle – I believe that with all of my heart. I am praying for you, Kevin, and Kim Grimsley daily. I pray that bodies will be healed and that we will be made stronger, physically and spiritually.
Amy, just yesterday while praying Psalm 91 for you guys (& my own family) v.2…My God in whom I trust… stuck out to me like never before, so I spent the day repeating that out loud & to myself to help it become embedded in my heart. MY God in whom I trust! This morning for you guys I prayed from Phil. one of my favorite verses….you’ve presented your prayers and request so I pray a peace that passes all understanding to guard your heart & mind!
Don’t hesitate to contact my uncle with help finding a place, I know he will be glad to do what he can!
Amy, wanting you to know that we love you and that you are all constantly in out thoughts and prayers…We all KNOW that we serve an awesome God and I KNOW that he is holding you all in his hands right now…He knows the plan and He is just taking his time revealing it to us…It is so hard to JUST TRUST HIM but we all have to do it…PLEASE let me know if I can help with anything here and never forget how much you are loved…
Smoochies,
Joni
Dear sweet Amy, I have thought and prayed for you all week. Barbara has kept me posted on everything that is going on. Embrace this trial… as it was sent from your heavenly Father, who knew long before time began that you would be here. Because He is a soverign King, He is in complete control of you, Kevin and this cancer. You are in the safest hands of all. Our Father’s eye is always upon you and He keeps you in His tender care. Even the very hairs on your head are numbered! Rest in Him….Psalm 121…I will lift up my eyes unto the hills; from whence shall my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip. The Lord is your keeper; The Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun will not smite you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul. The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in. From this time forth and foreveremore.
Embrace this journey…watch and wait expectantly to see His mighty work begin. Hal and I will continue to lift you and Kevin and your family before the throne of our King.. love ya! Lilly
Praying Daily sweet sweet friend! Our God is able & HE will SUSTAIN you all!
Amy, God knew forever ago that this time would come for you & Kevin. He choose you as the one to take care of Kevin like no one else could just like he choose me to care for Warren. Embrace this time as it is an “honor” – you were chosen! Love and Prayers,
Cynthia Coats
Praying for you sweet friend.
In Him,
Marilois
Amy I am praying for you, Kevin and the girls. You are right God is with us each step and will carry us when we can’t see the path. Your journey has become a part of my daily journey and your faith is ministering to me as well. Love ya Pat Cushing Roberts
Amy,
We are praying for you! This morning while reading in Jeremiah this verse in 5:22 stood out praying it will encourage you two.
‘Do you not fear Me?’ declares the LORD. ‘Do you not tremble in My presence? For I have placed the sand as a boundary for the sea, An eternal decree, so it cannot cross over it. Though the waves toss, yet they cannot prevail; Though they roar, yet they cannot cross over it.
The waves may be tossing and roaring just now but they cannot prevail!
May the Lord’s eternal touch be with you!
Kathie and Jim Owens
Praying fo you and your family! Tammy Parham
Amy, this was the first that I had seen of what is happening with Kevin. My prayers are with you. I understand so much of where you are emotionally right now. Over the past six months, and to some degree several years, my health has deteriorated. There are days that I cannot seem to breathe as everything new tries to consume me. But God has constantly reminded me that right now, my only calling comes from Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God.” I challenge you to share this with Kevin. Encourage him to meditate on each word. It is such a common passage that I have frequently skipped over it, thinking that I already knew all about it. But this year, I have gained such a deeper understanding of stillness and knowledge.
Right now, Abba Father, I pray that you reach down and wrap Amy and Kevin in your love. Help them to feel your presence like never before. Remind them that YOU are the Great Comforter. You will never leave them, and You will never forsake them. You will not give them more than they can bear. Open the doors that they may minister your love through this trial. Help your love and grace to shine through them so that others around will want what they have. Not in a Pollyanna sort of way, but in a humble manifestation of peace and grace beyond what others around them can comprehend. As Esther said so many years ago, perhaps they were brought here for such a time as this. Bless their family and strengthen their daughters. Pour your bountiful blessings over them and shower them with your provision. For it is only through your grace and Your love that we are not consumed. Your blessings are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness.
I told Brian on Thursday night that it was the 6th day of treatment for Kevin, and yet, it seemed like the 6 days had been so long. While time is flying by in general, when it comes to praying for you, your Kevin, and your family, I have envisioned the hours in the hospital, the hours aways from home and your children, and though I know you are filling the hours with PRAISE and prayer, I imagine they seem long in a hospital/nearby hotel setting. I agree that you have ARE a great care taker. I praise God that you are my “techno friend” and have scripture, music, quotes of inspiration, and all there is to offer Kevin. My prayers are with you, and I know that God truly has all of you in the palm of his hand. This brings great peace to us. Also, I love the message about defining the moment!!! Well said! I remember clinging to small quotes during trials of unexplainable loss of life, and one person told us, “You can let it make you bitter or better.” We chose BETTER!!! GOD is so GOOD all the time!!
We actually have only 5 days of treatment. So Friday was day seven in the process. They say day 7-10 is when the white blood cells go down and the fatigue could come on more. Pray against anything else.
God is so good.
Amy
You inspire me with your words of faith.
Mike, Charlie, Marsh and I are following Kevin’s updates and praying for your requests.
Please give him a hug from us, and consider yourself hugged as well.
Our Mighty God is carrying all of you through this and encouraging others along the way!
We love you
Meg