The Joy of the Lord is my Strength

Hello sweet friends and family,

Marianne and Louie got a call from the doctor yesterday with an update and they wanted me to share with you all. Louie does have a recurrence of the cancer in his neck, an area under the collar bone, and a small area on his chest. As of right now they are waiting to hear about next steps and treatment options. Their team of doctors from Santa Clara and Fresno will be working together to determine the best course of action, so let's cover them in prayer, asking God to give them wisdom and clear direction. I think we can all agree that this is NOT the news that we wanted to hear, but I hope and pray that we can all keep our eyes on God and pray that He would continue to be glorified in and through Louie and Marianne. 

As you can imagine, they were sad upon receiving the news and are still dealing with all of the emotions that come along with it. As Louie and Marianne were talking about the emotions they were walking through, they were reminded that our emotions are a gift from God, created by God. As humans, we can so quickly allow our emotions to overwhelm us, overshadow our faith, and dictate the way we choose to live in the midst of challenges. We have to be sure that we don't allow our emotions to interfere with our relationship and trust in the Lord or with those around us. Often times it is easier to sit in our sadness, bitterness, anger, fear, etc. than it is to release our worries, our pride, and our control. If only we could truly understand that God loves and cares for us so much more than we could ever comprehend! Knowing how deeply He cares for us changes our perspective and allows us to truly find joy EVEN in the midst of difficult times. Louie shared with Marianne that he is confident that God isn't done with him yet. He is choosing to stand on the truth that the joy of the Lord is their strength! 

As I talked with Marianne today one thing was incredibly clear to me; regardless of what they are faced with, Louie and Marianne have their eyes set on Jesus and the gift it is to be loved so dearly by Him. Their deepest desire as they walk through this trial (again) is that those around them would be drawn closer to their creator. 

That those with hard hearts would allow God to soften their hearts and bring healing and transformation. 

That those carrying burdens and hurt would allow Jesus to carry the load as they trust in Him. 

That those who are lukewarm in their relationship to Christ would have a fire ignited in their spirit and a renewed love and passion for God and sharing His love with others. 

That those who have walked away from the family of God would find a church home where they find Godly friendships and a place to share their gifts. 

That those who haven't cracked open their Bibles in some time would be reminded of the power of the Word of God and hide it in their hearts. 

That those who may be angry with God would open that door again, allowing Jesus to wrap them up in His kindness and goodness and watch Him pour out His love on them.

That those who don't know Jesus would come to know Him and the sacrifice He made for them!

The list goes on and on!

Louie has said that he would walk through this battle again and again if it meant one person would come to know Christ or have their faith deepened! I pray that this is a reminder to keep our focus off of ourselves and on to what truly matters; loving God, living a life that points others to Jesus, and serving others in everything we do.

Please keep praying big prayers for Louie and Marianne and give thanks to God for how incredible Louie feels. He has no pain, is working full time, and is feeling strong and healthy! We are praying that the perfect treatment option will be presented and that God would heal Louie's body completely! We are praying for each person that reads this post, that God would meet you right where you are and meet your every need. Thank you for being such an incredible support and for your love, encouragement, and prayers. 

-Sara

God is in Control

Hi everyone,

I wanted to hop on here and share an update and ask for your continued prayers.

This coming Tuesday, Louie will be undergoing an ultrasound guided biopsy. There are a couple of areas the doctors are concerned about, and they are currently waiting to hear back from the pulmonologist to schedule a second biopsy. It’s a bit of an emotional whirlwind, as you can imagine, but Marianne and Louie are standing firm in faith.

Despite the unknown while waiting for more answers, God is so clearly moving. Marianne and Louie have decided to remain at home rather than return to Santa Clara for treatment, if needed. Although someone incredibly generous offered to cover the expenses for them to go back, they are choosing to stay rooted at home, surrounded by their loving community of family and friends. Santa Clara was a lonely place at times and they agree that home just feels right!

Here’s something amazing to share: the local doctor, without having to be asked, plans to consult directly with all three tumor board doctors in Santa Clara. This was such a confirmation that staying home and believing that God will work out the details was the right decision. God continues to orchestrate every step!

We’re boldly praying for NED, No Evidence of Disease, and we would love for you to join us in that prayer. But even if that’s not what the tests show, Marianne and Louie are trusting that the same God who brought them this far is not about to let them go now.

Emotionally, it has been a battle and both Marianne and Louie are carrying a lot. Please cover them in prayer. Pray that they would not grow weary during this time! That He would hold them up with His mighty right hand and show them glimpses of His goodness as they continue to walk this out.  

Louie and Marianne have been keeping busy with their sweet rescue puppies (they are absolute sweethearts and bring lots of smiles with their puppy antics!) They have also been working on lots of ranch projects; especially exciting is the progress Louie has made on his home gym! He is almost finished and this will be a great place for him to continue building strength. 

A big thank you from Louie and Marianne for all the love, prayers, and support you’ve shown. It means more than words can express. Continue to join us in prayer, believing that God is in control and that we would all keep our eyes on Him, living each day for His glory! Pray for wisdom for the doctors, for peace in Marianne and Louie's hearts, for healing in Louie’s body, and for strength to face what comes next with courage and grace.

Thank you for being Marianne and Louie's village and prayer warriors!

Unshakeable Faith!

Hey everyone,

We wanted to share an update Louie and Marianne received today after Louie’s recent PET scan and ask for their loved ones to keep the prayers coming! As the doctor reviewed the scan, he saw some things that raised concern. He believes there might be a recurrence of cancer in the lymph nodes on the right side, and he also noticed a few small spots in Louie’s chest and under his collarbone on the same side.

The only way to know for sure is to do a biopsy — so that's the next step. The doctor told them that in cases like this, 9 out of 10 times it does turn out to be cancer… but there's still a chance it could be a false positive. We’re holding on to hope as we wait for confirmation, because we know God can work in all things. He has already shown up and blown us away with His goodness time and time again, we know He loves us more than we can comprehend!

If it is cancer, there are treatment options including infusions or immunotherapy, so we are thankful there is a next step already available. We know that God will walk hand in hand with Louie and Marianne and pray that He would encourage them and allow them to not be anxious, but to feel His perfect peace.

We’re continuing to pray with hearts full of faith and hope and we want you to join us. God hears us and prayer changes things! Jesus has been so near through every part of this journey. We’ve seen His hand in the smallest details, and we’re leaning on His promises every step of the way. We don’t have to be afraid — He’s never left us and He’s not going to start now.

More than anything, we’re praying that through all of this, no matter the outcome, God would be glorified. That Louie and Marianne’s story — and their steady, unshakable faith — would soften hearts and point people to Jesus. They care so deeply for their family and friends and want to see every person come to know the love and acceptance Jesus offers. I love their hearts and always feel encouraged and challenged to keep my focus on what matters most!

Thank you for praying with us, it means so much!

With love,

Sara

PS. Enjoy these super cute photos of our recent trip to visit Papa and Grammie (Louie and Marianne)