Spiritual Battle

​This picture shows Noah's silly side...he thinks it's hilarious to put undies on his head and run around. He is a funny guy, and also a stubborn one, never wanting to quit or give up, and praise the Lord for that! He is doing well, and his fight is not over! I've said it before and I will say it again: this kid is tough as nails. He is doing well, by all appearances, and is keeping up with his peers in most areas. No complaints of headaches, weakness, vision impairments, etc. He is as tough as they come, and God is not through working in his life. We celebrated Noah's 4th birthday last week; once at his day school party, with cupcakes and juice, once on his actual birthday (2/28) at Chuck-E-Cheese with Mom and Dad, over-priced pizza, cake, tokens, loud noises and flashing lights, and once at Mimi's house with all of our family and closest friends from North AL (and Arkansas!), and a large inflatable jump castle! It was a wonderful week of Happy Birthday songs and happy tears of remembrance, with some tears of sadness for what half of his childhood has been made of. Above all, this 4th birthday is a miracle to us and to so many that love Noah, and we have had some great celebrations in honor of his fourth year. I was hoping to post some pictures from his party with this update, but that will have to come later since they are all on Mimi's camera. Instead I've left you with a video from Chuck-E-Cheese, and a few pictures from our time at home this past month. Noah had a visit with Dr. Reddy a few weeks ago just to see how he was doing, and today he finally got to meet his new pediatrician, but unfortunately it was because he has a sinus infection. Noah is so blessed to have wonderful physicians within minutes of our new home who treat our family with such compassion and concern.
Well, I have been avoiding this blog for long enough. I haven't been the most positive person on the planet the past few weeks (try saying that ten times fast), and I have been struggling with what-ifs again as we await Noah's MRI in April. It is such a difficult task for John David and I as Noah's parents to be 100% focused on the miracle of the present when we allow worries of the future to cloud our minds. It takes a constant day-to-day and even minute-to-minute renewing of our thoughts by the promises and truth in the word of God to keep us focused, and we admittedly fail at that daily. But despite the temptation to fall into depressive thoughts and to play out what-if scenarios, God has held us together with the glue that binds so tightly that no attack of the enemy could put a wedge in between us. Beyond all of our ability, our eyes are constantly open to lies and deceit that are thrown in our direction. We realize that we are not just in a battle for Noah's life and for our family, we are in a spiritual battle of darkness vs. Light, and Truth vs. lies. I don't know how many of you reading believe in something I've heard most call "spiritual warfare," but for the past few months John and I have been fighting against a barrage of lies and temptation of depression that we don't typically deal with. By the power and grace of the Holy Spirit we have been able to see these attacks for what they are...lies and trickery. It's so frustrating that the joy in our miracle is being threatened because of these attacks where we are weak. But thankfully where we are weak, God is strong and we can stand on that promise!
I have to publicly honor my husband by saying that for the past several weeks I have been so proud of the lessons he has taught in our Sunday morning contemporary service (called SonDay Live), and I am so thankful that God has provided this opportunity for him to preach several times a week and fulfill his calling in this season of his ministry. His honesty in the messages he gives is such a testimony to God's grace and goodness to walk with us, even carry us through the hard stuff in life. In his vulnerability to admit his struggles and mistakes, he allows God to speak to me and challenge me to become a better follower of Christ. I am honored to be linked with him through this journey.
As I mentioned earlier, Noah has an MRI on April 23rd. Please be in prayer for no evidence of tumor...that Noah is healed and will need no more treatment! Also I ask for prayers for John David and I as we fight off the temptation to worry and fear our future as a family. We are so thankful for the encouragement and support you all have given us and we love you even though we don't know who most of you are!! We have a gracious God, who gives graciously through His people. Keep praying and remembering Noah!

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