I am back. There is so much to say about the Kole, Steve, Janni, Jaelle, and everyone at St. Jude. I will not attempt to write it all down at this point, for it would take me all night. I have had pulled two all-nighters already and know that it would not be a good idea to add a third. If you are wondering about what in the world I am talking about, lets just say my plane left on Sunday morning at 7:30 (Janni, Amanda, and I stayed up till around 2:30). On top of that, I came home from the air port, to my three-year old having a headache and stiff neck. We left for the emergency room at 10:00 pm and came home at around 3:30 am. Elijah, our three year-old received a spinal tap to check for spinal meningitis. The test came back negative and he seems to be doing fine. Anyway, my compassion for Janni and Steve has only been intensified.

A little about Janni and Steve. They are doing wonderful. Janni will tell you that they both have had their moments when they grieve and feel overwelmed with concern for Kole. However, Janni and Steve are not at all overcome with fear, but instead they are a beacon of light to all who are around them. My cousin, Amanda, and myself went to Memphis to help the Kellers and ended up receiving comfort and encouragement. Go figure! If any of you guys out there are having a bad week and need a vacation ,I suggest a trip to Memphis. Janni and Steve's living testimony and faith will uplift you like nothing else can. It truly was the most rewarding and fulfilling vacation from " life " I have ever experienced.

I want to share this little side-note. A parent who dwells (at the Ronald McDonald House) in the room next to the Kellers shared with me this testimony of a young woman. This young woman was from another country and had come to St. Jude as an 18 year-old woman. This young lady had great faith inspite of very difficult circumstances. This unamed young lady had gone through a leg amputation and was scheduled for a very risky surgery on her lungs in the next month. She has been warned that she may not survive the opperation. She of course has cancer. However, she also has a mighty faith in a mighty God. She sang, during a testimonial time which Steve Sr. and Steve Jr. attended, a song out of Provers 18:10. The words are.

The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous will run to it and are safe.

This young woman cannot run and is not at all strong in health and body. Yet, though she is not strong in herself, she has great might. Her might comes only from the One True God of Heaven and Earth. When we are forced to face our human weakness, we find a need for a strong tower. The strong tower is the "name of the Lord". I have witnessed that to be the case for Janni and Steve as well. Not only do they have his strength but they are safe in his protection. How can one be safe when faced with cancer? God is the only one who can be with us every moment in our lives from conception untill death. In him, we do not have to fear death, for he conquered death on the cross. As a believer, you will never experience separation from God (our Strong Tower) only separation from this fallen earth. We are promised an eternal home in His presence. This promise is not based on our own strength or goodness, but only on what Jesus did for us on the cross. That is why we are safe. We are safe because of death--Jesus' death on the cross. Go figure. We are safe here and we are safe there. We are promised a winning season and a winning team (for all you basketball fans out there). Steve Keller's true team is God's team. There is always room on the team for you, as well as room at the cross.

Jodi