Happy Birthday!!

Steve here...It was certainly not our original plan to be packing up and hitting the road for the 1500 mile return trip to Washington on Lee's birthday, but that is indeed where we find ourselves this morning. I know Lee has done a comprehensive and eloquent job of keeping you up-to-date over the past five weeks as she chronicled the Mayo trip, but I wanted to take this

opportunity to give you a slightly different perspective as a birthday tribute from her biggest fan.

Those of you who know us well or have followed Lee's story over the years know that the vast majority of our life together has been marked at some level by her extensive health challenges. I know and deeply appreciate how so many of you have prayed for and supported us in countless ways. Today, I want to shift the focus a bit and do my best to share the view from my seat of how faithfully and selflessly Lee continuously seeks to know and share the larger purpose for her life experiences. She highlighted a lot of the details of our most recent "roller coaster ride" at Mayo in her last post. It might be easiest to focus in on the contrasting points of encouragement and disappointment associated with the new or refined diagnoses and treatments provided by the amazing team of clinicians at Mayo. If I'm honest, I must admit that there were moments during our time here that the "good" or "bad" news we received either encouraged or disheartened us in unexpected ways. As her husband, I long to see Lee's pain and suffering relieved and am hopeful that some of the new information and treatments we've gained here will provide some relief. I must quickly, however, follow up by getting to the overall point of my post and say that this possibility of improved physical condition is much more my focus than Lee's.

While I know that she deeply enjoys and cherishes the "good days" when her physical limitations are not front and center, what I have grown to appreciate and admire most about my precious bride is the ways in which she embraces our loving God's deeper purposes for her suffering. I know she shared a portion of 2 Corinthians 1 in her post; what I want to make certain all of you who read "her story" here understand is that those verses are so much more than a coping mechanism or an attempt to find meaning in the midst of suffering. Paul's words in this passage and his examples elsewhere (the book of Philippians is another clear example and I didn't type either here in the hope that you might read both :) have served to shape the core of Lee's belief that her suffering is both a mercy and a gift that she has been uniquely equipped to walk through in order to bring honor to her Savior and hope-filled encouragement to all with whom she has the opportunity to share her story.

My hope and prayer is that each of you who read this will understand and appreciate how intentional Lee is to try and make certain that her writing and conversations do not

cause anyone to feel sorry for her, but rather are ALWAYS intended to share the "inexplicable joy and hope" that provide her life's meaning and purpose. I hope this blesses you as much as it does me each and every day!

Happy Birthday Buddy!!

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Comments

Jill Shelton:

Happy Birthday Lee!!! Hope you have the best day possible and praying for safe travels for you both and to get some much needed rest.

Joan Bouck:

Happy Birthday Lee, and safe journey home to both of you! :) Joan LFD3

Steve Braden:

Happy birthday Lee Bob. Uncle Steve and I love you guys. Have a safe trip home. Thanks for sharing.

Violet:

Happy Birthday Lee! You inspire me to keep running my race towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus! Happy Happy Birthday!!! Luv you, Violet & Dale

Teresa J Brooks:

Best wishes Lee for a Happy Birthday! So sorry I got mixed up and sent greetings a month early! Thanks for setting such a wonderful example of how we should accept the life we are dealt and trust God to help us get through the health issues we must deal with. I will continue to pray that you see some improvement in how you feel and that the information you received will help you continue to cope. Hope you have a safe trip back home. Love always, Teresa

Elizabeth Holmes:

Happy birthday, Lee. Hope you had a safe trip home. God bless. We continue to pray for you and your family.

Sandy Temple:

Lee is so blessed to have you by her side, Steve. You both encourage and inspire me with your faith in the Lord, and dedication to each other. Happy, happy Lee! Praying for safe travels for you all today. Love you!

Lacey Chen:

Happy Birthday Lee! Love you guys and you're in my prayers.

Judy Wilson:

Happy Birthday Lee! Hope your drive is going well. Relax and enjoy.

Lisa Currall:

How lovely!!!! You're both a wonderful example.

sandra henry:

Happy birthday, Lee! I'm sure Steve made sure that your day was extra special. We love both of you!

Amy Moore:

Happy Birthday Lee!! You continue to be an inspiration to me and so many even through your suffering. Love you and Steve!!

Carie Harn:

Happy Birthday Lee! Love the Harn family