Since that day he has been so positive and happy.  I attribute this miracle to all of your prayers.  We feel the strength from them.  Prayer has a very real power and you can feel when people are praying for you and when the prayers begin to diminish.  So, please keep it up!

We are preparing to go on the Pioneer Trek.  Last week we had an activity that was amazing.  The whole grounds of the stake center was set up like Iowa City, the place where the early pioneers prepared for their trek across the plains.  There were different stations that the groups rotated through.  There was a real blacksmith making strikers and nails.  At every station the youth were able to participate in something that would have helped prepare the pioneers for the trek.  There was a roping station, a wild food station, a medical station, a sewing station, a wood working station, a latern making station, a leather working station, a rope making station, etc.  The adults manning each station taught them about these different things and also paralleled it to the gospel of Jesus Christ.  It went remarkably well and there were a lot of youth that weren't committed to go on Trek that got excited and decided to go.  Luc enjoyed himself, especially at the knife & tomahawk throwing station.  He was the champion of his group!  He stuck all 4 tomahawks and 5 knives.  He was made for frontier living!

At the leather working station they found a pioneer for whom they will trek and stamped it into a leather bracelet.  Luc chose Harvey Cluff.  He happens to be the great, great uncle of one of my great aunts.  He was part of the rescue party that went to help the Martin and Willie Handcart Companies.  I thought this was appropriate because I feel that Luc has touched many lives and, if not yet, will at some time rescue many spiritually.

I am so excited that we have this opportunity and know that neither of us will be the same when we come back.

Marley

Needless to say, he is devastated.  We don't know what the purpose is for all of this.  He wants so bad to be done with this.  I trust the Lord, but would love to have a little understanding.

Please, please, please pray for him!  He is in the depths of despair right now.  I ache for him!

Marley

Luc celebrated his 15th birthday on February 26th.  A few days later he was taking the test at the DMV to get his learner's permit.  He passed!  Now he volunteers to drive me wherever I need to go.  He is being very careful.  He has taken his time in "moving up" to different roads.  At first he only drove in the neigborhoods, then he felt okay about driving on the main roads in Eagle Mountain (35 mph).  Now he is driving on the highway (55 mph).  He is a good driver and is very cautious.  I can't believe he is driving! 

Time passes so rapidly, before I know it he will be graduating from high school and heading on a mission.  I need to remember every day to savor the time I have with my children.  They are with us for such a short time.  My favorite thing to do is "hang out" with my kids and Ron.

Marley

We wish you all very Merry Christmas and know that 2010 is going to be the best year yet!!

Marley

Luc has been having pain pretty consistently for the past few months.  This does not necessarily mean that the tumor is growing.  It could just be him growing.  For our peace of mind we decided to schedule a scan before the end of the year. 

Luc had an MRI yesterday and we will receive the results this afternoon.  Our Christmas wish is that there will be either no change or (dare I wish it) shrinkage.  We know that all things are possible with the Lord and our biggest wish would be that his body be tumor-free.  We also realize that this may not be in line with the Lord's will and we are not out to try and change His will.  We trust in Him completely and know that whatever happens it is for our eternal salvation.

We, again, ask for your prayers as we await and receive the results that they will be positive and that Luc will be able to enjoy his school year and look forward to all the things that an almost 15-year-old normally anticipates.  We thank you so much for all the support you have given us over the years.

Our desire for you is that your Christmas be all that you want it to be and that 2010 be an amazing year for us all!

Marley

Luc's grandpa called on Thursday asking him if he wanted to go for a quick trip to Panguitch.  Do I even need to say what his answer was?  He arrived back home today.  They fished, sighted in a gun, shot some clay pigeons, went to a rodeo, and relaxed. It was a good weekend for the two of them.

He is all ready to start school tomorrow.  He still thinks he needs a few more weeks of summer.

We are so grateful for the Lord's tender mercies.  He does look upon the heart and upon our ability to endure and each of our paths are so individualized so that we can all endure it well if we put our trust in Him.

Marley

Luc's hair is thicker than ever.  In fact, I had to thin it out like crazy last time I cut it because we couldn't get a comb through it.  He was so handsome when he was bald and is just as handsome with his thick, curly hair.

This Tuesday, the 11th, we have an MRI scheduled.  As always, with an upcoming scan comes a little anxiety.  Luc has been having pain off and on and feels like the tumor is growing.  We won't know until the scan.  Our faith lies in God's purposes.  We know that we have sufficient faith for Luc to be healed.  If God is allowing it to grow, it just means that there is a greater purpose in that fact.  We trust Him and know that whatever the future holds, He will be with us and help us endure it well.

Again, prayers are greatly appreciated.  We feel the strengh and peace that comes with them.

Marley

The "new" Luc is almost 17 pounds lighter and has a full head of WAVY hair.  He looks SOOOO good!!  His stamina has improved by leaps and bounds.  Where before he couldn't even walk to the corner without stopping to rest, he now goes to the bike park for hours on end, rides his ripstick all over outside and keeps up with all his friends.  You'd never guess what he went through over the past year and a half by looking at him.  It's amazing!

He left Thursday to go to Panguitch with his grandpa.  A month ago he purchased a new muzzleloader rifle and they took it to "sight it in".  Panguitch is his favorite place in the world and when he's there with his grandpa it is doubly good.

We ask for a special prayer for the Huish family in our ward.  Little Sadie has taken a turn for the worse and has deteriorated rapidly.  She is now receiving hospice care.  Our hearts go out to them and we wish them peace during this very sacred time.

Marley

After about an hour he was finished and we had a few hours before we were to be at clinic.  He suggested we go to lunch, but not at the cafeteria!  We decided to go downtown and have soup, salad and breadsticks at the Olive Garden.  He was in much better spirits, so happy and positive.

We returned back to the hospital and went to the oncology clinic to meet with Dr. Lemons.  When we arrived they informed us that the dr. wanted to get labs.  They had taken the i.v. out down in radiology.  Luc has never done well if something unexpected is thrown at him.  Even when he was a toddler and needed stitches, as long as I could explain what was going to happen before it happened then he was okay with it.  He just couldn't stand the thought of another i.v. and stood his ground.  I wasn't too worried because he has done so well these past few months.  I supported him in his decision as did the oncology staff.  It turned out not to be a big deal.  Luc decided last year that, if at all possible, he did not want to be in the room when the dr. gave the results.  He had had too many bad experiences that he had opted to let me tell him after.  He waited in the hall while I met with Dr. Lemons.  Dr. Lemons informed me that the tumor is virtually unchanged, stable!!  He said he wouldn't be surprised if we even saw some delayed shrinkage.  He also told me that Luc will not need another MRI until August, unless he becomes symptomatic again.

We felt before we went that we would have good news.  We know what the Spirit has indicated, but also realize that our intrepretation could be erroneous.  We have come to completely trust the Lord's will.  Even Luc said,"Mom, I know everything will be okay.  I will be okay.  Even if that means that I am not supposed to stay.  I do trust God."  When push comes to shove, Luc shows his true colors.  He has a testimony of God's Plan of Salvation.  He knows he has a part in that plan and, even though he doesn't understand his part completely, trusts that the Lord will lead him to fulfill his part.  It takes some people, like me, a lifetime to develop the kind of faith he has in a short 14 years.  I feel extremely blessed and grateful to have the privilege of being his mother.  He may have been born a couple thousand years later, but he truly is a stripling warrior!

Marley

Luc also started on a nutritional program about 2 weeks ago.  I had been thinking so much about what we could do to get all of those awful toxins out of his system and get his body functioning the way it should.  His metabolism has been messed up since his first chemo 4 years ago.  I was mentioning this concern to my brother, Bruce.  Bruce told me about a program he has been doing for over a year that has totally changed his body and his outlook on life.  I have always tried to counsel with the Lord and discern what is right for Luc.  There have been many people that have suggested many different things to help, but there have been very few that I have felt were right for him.  The one my brother told me about felt right.  After discussing it with both Ron and Luc, and praying, we decided to go ahead and get him started.  After just 5 days Luc was expressing how much better he felt and how even his attitude about things was changing.  He has had some de-tox symptoms, nothing terrible, and he has lost 6 lbs so far.  He is so excited about it and wants to tell everyone how great he feels.  It makes me feel so happy to see him becoming healthy again.

An MRI is scheduled for April 15th.  We appreciate any prayers offered in his behalf.  Also, please remember my cousin, Stewart Olsen, in your prayers.  Six months ago, after 6 months of treatment, he was cancer-free. Last week at his routine six month check, the doctors found the cancer to be growing again.  He has Hodgkin's Lymphoma. 

Thank you so much for all your support and for celebrating our successes with us!

We met with Dr. Randall 2 weeks ago.  He explained what the next step would be; an even more invasive, major surgery where he would basically take his whole shoulder off and bring it around to lay it on his chest while he operates.  This would enable him to see clear into the chest cavity.  Immediately after the surgery he would have to start radiation.  We listened, but feel comfort in our belief that the Lord has healed him.  We truly believe that the tumor is dead!

The doctors will continue to monitor Luc through regular MRIs.  His next is scheduled for April.

Your prayers have been so appreciated.  Please to continue to pray for Luc's faith to continue strong.  The adversary has been using his dreams to try and put fear into him.  We are praying for angels to surround him while he sleeps so that he will be shielded from these attacks.

We are so grateful for the Lord's power working in our lives!

Marley

Marley

Marley

Luc decided to do one more chemo treatment.  We go to the hospital on Thursday, Jan. 15th.  He is so glad to see the "light at the end of the tunnel".  Even though he doesn't want to do even one more, he knows it is what the Lord would have him do.  I am so proud of his maturity and his willingness to submit to the will of the Lord.  I know that because he is submitting in this most difficult thing, he will be able to follow the Lord's will in all things.  He is such an example to me!

Marley

Marley