Glorious Day

The lyrics below are from a song by Casting Crowns.
They tell the amazing story of Christ and remind us of His sacrifice for all.

Glorious Day (Living He Loved Me)

One day when Heaven was filled with His praises
One day when sin was as black as could be
Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin
Dwelt among men, my example is He
Word became flesh and the light shined among us
His glory revealed

Living, He loved me
Dying, He saved me
Buried, He carried my sins far away
Rising, He justified freely forever
One day He’s coming
Oh glorious day, oh glorious day

One day they led Him up Calvary’s mountain
One day they nailed Him to die on a tree
Suffering anguish, despised and rejected
Bearing our sins, my Redeemer is He
Hands that healed nations, stretched out on a tree
And took the nails for me

One day the grave could conceal Him no longer
One day the stone rolled away from the door
Then He arose, over death He had conquered
Now He’s ascended, my Lord evermore
Death could not hold Him, the grave could not keep Him
From rising again

One day the trumpet will sound for His coming
One day the skies with His glories will shine
Wonderful day, my Beloved One, bringing
My Savior, Jesus, is mine

Oh, glorious day

The bible says:

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:4-7

He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day Luke 24:46

Thank you, Heather, for sharing these wonderful verses!

Wishing you all a wonderful Easter! Praising God for His son!

OH GLORIOUS DAY!!

In Him,
The Tates

Clinic Visit Pics

It has been a while since we posted pictures from a clinic visit.
We took a few on Monday....

Arriving at 9am
What a great girl!

Having to rest lying down for 30 minutes
after her lumbar puncture.

One of Elena's fabulous sedation nurses, Liz,
drawing blood from her port,
flushing the line, and giving Elena her chemo in her port.

Our week ended up being a busy one, good, but busy.
Thank you for praying us through it!

In HIm,
The Tates

Clinic Update

Good Afternoon!
Overall, Elena's clinic visit went well today.

She received her regular doses of chemo in both her port and spine. It took her a little longer than usual to come around from the sedation. She was really groggy after. It also took them about 30 minutes to get a good blood pressure reading. After sedation, Elena enjoyed her grits. Since she can not eat or drink on sedation mornings, we pack something for her to enjoy after. Her favorite right now is grits.

Elena counts continue to be great. However, her reflexes continue to be weak from the Vincristine. All of these issues with neuropathy should get better during her first year or so off treatment.

On the way home, Elena was really nauseous. This is not typical for her. She felt miserable. When we got home, she laid down. She started feeling better about 2pm. She ate a little. Then we watched an old Shirley Temple movie, 'Curly Top' and rested.

It's been a long day! I'm sure we will all be in bed early tonight!

Please continue to pray for:

* Elena's side effects to be minimal
* her back to not be sore
* a great restful, healing night's sleep for all
* tomorrow for Elena to not be overwhelmed with work when she returns to school (this is usually a problem for her)

Thank you for your love and prayers! Thank you Lord for this good day!
In Him,
The Tates

"Don't worry about anything. Instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done." Philippians 4:6 (NLT)

Clinic Visit Tomorrow

Elena has her monthly chemo treatment tomorrow at 9am.

She will be sedated for a lumbar puncture (spinal tap) to receive one drug to treat her brain and spine and a second drug via her port to treat her blood and body. She will also begin her monthly round of steroids and will continue to take her chemo pills at night as usual.
Please pray for there to be no problems with the sedation and for Elena's counts to be good.
Please pray for side effects to be minimal and for Elena's back to not be sore. She struggled with this last time.

After this appointment, only THREE more to go!!

Thank you for your prayers!
In Him,
The Tates

"If God is for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:31

The Weekend!

Ahh! Those words, the weekend. What does it bring? Rest, happiness, and togetherness.

The NGMS Chorus performances Thursday and Friday nights were great. Elena was a part of the ensemble. They performed three songs. It was fun to see her on stage. She really enjoyed the theater experience and met many new friends along the way.

Thank you for your prayers this week. They helped us make it through!

In Him,
The Tates

"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." Colossians 4:2

Another Elena Update

We are so happy to say that Elena is much, much better! Praise God!
No headaches, no coughing during the day and not really a stuffy nose either! Last night was not the greatest night's sleep, praying tonight will be better.

We are hanging in there with the busy rehearsal nights and are excited to see the first performance tomorrow night!!

Thanks for praying!
In Him,
The Tates

Quick Update on Elena

Elena had a better night's sleep last night. Thank you God! She has also felt a little better today. Not 100%, but better. We got home from practice tonight at 7:45. We are still doing homework... but happily : )
Thank you for your prayers! They are working!!

In Him,
The Tates

Prayers Needed

Tonight was supposed to be our Spring Break 2011 update!
We did enjoy a wonderful, restful Spring Break. It was the first time in three years that it was not spent in the hospital with Elena. We are grateful for that blessing!

But tonight's post is a prayer request instead. Elena started having a terrible headache, stuffy nose and bad cough last night. Normally she doesn't suffer from allergies and is rarely 'sick', but that doesn't appear to be the case. We really think all of her symptoms are sinus related. She was up most of the night and went to bed early tonight.

On top of this discomfort and trouble, Elena has dress rehearsals every night this week leading up to her spring chorus musical performance this Thursday and Friday night. Add regular homework to this and we could be looking at a really rough week.

Please pray for us to give Elena the proper medications that will alleviate her pain and sinus trouble.
Pray for her to manage her time well both at home and at school.
Please pray for this first school theater experience be a positive one for her.
Please pray she will have a restful, healing night's sleep and wake up symptom free!

Thank you for continuing to join us in prayer!
In Him,
The Tates

"The prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise (her) up."
James 5:15

April 6th

April 6th - A date.
A date that forever changed our lives .... twice.

Our challenges have been a struggle. But many lives have struggles. We are not unique or special. Over the years people often say, "I don't see how you do it." At times, we don't either. But we tell them, it really comes down to making a choice. To make it or not, and not making it isn't an option.

Often times, we need to be reminded to choose to make it. To fight, to be happy, to be honest, to live, to really rely on God. Special people in our lives have delivered those reminders to us. They are among the blessings in our lives. We are blessed with each new day, each new moment, and each new reminder we are given. We are blessed to have each other and our two precious daughters. We are blessed to know God.

While there are struggles and challenges in dealing with the affects of the events that unfolded on April 6, 2004 and April 6, 2009, we have to believe that hope is far greater than fear. For us, the bible holds the truth and reveals God's promises.

"Now, faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9

"We wait in hope for the Lord, He is our help and our shield." Psalm 33:20

"Be strong and take heart all you who hope in the Lord." Psalm 31:24

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning, great is your faithfulness."
Lamentations 3:22-23

We are choosing to make it.

In Him,
The Tates