Update on this Leg of the Journey – March 8th, 2023

Hello everyone!

It felt like time to write a little update and let you know how the past month has treated us. Again, thank you for your continued investment in following along with our journey. 

I’d first like to share the exciting news that we have a beach trip planned for April and a dog joining our family in May! Thank you to all who helped us through recommendations and leads for both! In addition to that, our family is really looking forward to going to Colorado for spring break to have some R&R with friends (if you are wanting to see us while we are there, we are having a gathering on March 24^th that you can email me for more details). Colorado, a beach trip, and a dog are only three specific ways we’ve felt blessed and encouraged recently. 

My mantra in this season has been “every day is a gift” and it has felt true. The Lord has been exceedingly kind to all four of us these past few weeks. Austin has started back to work and that is going well. We’ve been having so many fun times with the kids just doing normal things like playing Dutch Blitz or watching Kids Baking Championship. I have been enjoying the first signs of spring with my daffodils blooming and some warmer days. We’ve also had some amazing relational time with our community both locally and with dear friends and family coming to visit. Our hearts feel full. 

I have completed two rounds of chemotherapy since my last update. In the latest round of chemo, I experienced minimal side effects. I almost had a completely normal Tuesday when usually day two of chemo is a day filled with nausea and mostly sleeping. But this time around I was able to wake up that day and do a bunch of things including going for a walk and working in the garden – it was a gift. 

I have my last two rounds of chemo this month (3/13-15 & 3/27-29). We then travel to Houston April 18-20^th for the scans and follow-up with our care team there. 

I have contemplated the multiple roads that could be before me/us, but haven’t ventured too far down any because I’m trying to practice the spiritual discipline of living in reality. And the reality is: I cannot see what’s going on in my body and I don’t really know what these next months will hold, let alone this year. All I can do is steward each day I’m given – accepting both the beautiful and the challenging. 

Your words and encouragement mean so much to us. Your kindness means so much. Acute suffering and long suffering are not easy paths to sojourn with others, but you are all doing so well loving us, praying for us, remembering us. Thank you. 

Additional Notes: 

*I am still doing a Saturday morning devotional time at 9AM (CST) via zoom and all are welcome.

AND 

*AUSTIN’S 40th BIRTHDAY IS COMING UP!! Austin is turning 40 in April and I want to do something special for him…I love that dude. I’m hoping he skips reading this update, lol. So here are my ideas to celebrate him: you can send kind words for him to me via email: mrsakolinger@gmail.com OR you can send a horizontal/landscape shot video sharing what you love or appreciate about him to Wyatt at: fixiouser@gmail.com OR you can send happy snail mail to our mailing address at: 1273 S. Oxbow Way, Fayetteville, AR 72704. Deadline is April 5^th (so Wyatt can edit the videos and I can format the messages).