even in a season of uncertainty, there is always good we can cling to.

on a big scale, had my mom not have gotten word that she was cancer free four months a go [which turned out to be false], she wouldn't have made the move to ottawa, where she is well taken care of. things would look a lot different had she stayed in alliston, too; for one, she would have been alone, and two, she wouldn't be as comfortable as she is here, and comfort is key.

on a smaller scale, i had booked tuesday off to get a pedicure with my BFFN, and the weekend off to go to niagara will the girls [it's important to make time for such things], which ended up making my impromptu trip to ottawa this week feasible [and easier for my boss].

a sweet lady dropped by the house yesterday to give my mom a hand knitted shall/small blanket to keep her warm, and another sent her flowers.

a friend of mine handed me a generous amount of cash to alleviate any financial stress i'd have travelling to ottawa twice this month, while another covered my bus fair this round, and another, some food.

countless others have offered to help, too, while others have taken time out of their day to let me know that we're being prayed for, all of which i appreciate a great deal, and hope continues as my family and i continue to walk this out together.

truth be told, life was never meant to be lived alone, and i sincerely hope that you don't feel alone in whatever YOU happen to be walking through today.

we were never promised a pain free life, but we were, and are, promised the strength to endure it, and the assurance of God's presence to carry us through.

strength: "but the Lord stood with me and strengthened me" [2 timothy 4:17]

presence: "but the Lord was with joseph in prison and showed him steadfast love" [genesis 39:21]

in both cases, the but ensures that's there's more to their story than what preceded this very conjunction, and there's more to mine, too.

my mom has cancer, but the Lord is with me.

my heart hurts, but God is close to the broken hearted.

i get anxious just thinking about what life will look like without my mom, but i don't have to worry about tomorrow.

and you know something? neither do you.