...a little while

Welcome to my blog! If you know me very well, then you know the last thing I would ever do is host a blog. I don't really read blogs, and I'm not much of a writer. But I have decided to step into the blog-o-sphere for a couple of reasons.

First, I want to use this blog to keep my friends and family updated on my recent health challenge. On Saturday, November 18, my wife and I were packing for a family cruise in the Caribbean to celebrate my parent's 50th wedding anniversary. Our kids were so excited, and we were looking forward to our entire family being together.

The day before I went to my doctor because I had been having some pretty severe abdominal pain. My thought was that my digestive system just wasn't working right, and my doctor agreed. But by Saturday night my pain was so severe that I drove myself to the emergency room. I was hoping that they could figure something out, give me so pain medicine, and send me home to finish packing for my trip. But, within a few hours I was told that my pain was caused by a large tumor on my pancreas.

So, that is what I am fighting: a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Most likely you are reading this blog because we know each other in some way--a family member, a friend, a co-worker, or just someone who heard about what I was dealing with. I felt like this blog might be one of the best ways to keep everyone informed, so let me welcome you and I hope we can interact some in this journey.

Second, I want to use this blog to have an outlet for my thoughts as I walk through this. I have already written a lot of stuff down: medical information, timelines, treatment schedules, etc. I need a place to drop a lot of ideas and information, and this blog allows me to do that. My wife Jennifer will most likely add a post every now and again, and maybe a friend here and there.

I also want to share how my faith in Christ, my family, and my faith family are encouraging me along the way. In fact, the title of this blog is a verse that I am dwelling on as I prepare to step into this fight. I am trusting the Lord to heal me, and I am thankful for so many friends who are joining my family in prayer for this as well.

So, even though I am not sure how committed I will be to use this blog for these purposes, these are the reasons why you are reading my very first blog post. Thanks for reading and for walking with me.