Good Morning!

I wanted to take a quick minute to paint a picture, and give you a "feel" for the the atmosphere surrounding the Lothrops this past week. I may have some of the details confused, but I think these stories are pretty accurate...

Nothing medical here...just a couple stories:

1) Three nights in a row Randy experienced God in a unique way. The first 2 nights he was either in the lobby, or the small kitchen in the pantry - I am not sure which, and it doesn't really matter! Each night he was approched by people he did not know asking if was Randy Lothrop. Each person introduce themselves, saying they had gotten wind of Lizzy's illness, and each offered to pray for her...(One guy actually has a child on the same unit, and was going to meet up with Randy later in the evening to pray together.) On the third night, I believe it was at the elevator, a young man, who was actuallly getting on the elevator, recognized Randy and immediatly got off the elevator. I think he is a student, or a sports friend Randy knew from a few years back. This gentleman had been diagnosed with cancer a few years back, and was doing very well. Of course, this was encouraging for Randy, and makes me remember that our Lord is Omnipresent...Everywhere, All the time...On elevators, in lobbys...in small kitchens on the oncology unit of Childrens hospital!

2) It took me awhile to put the pieces together on this one, but when I finally "got it," I was STUNNED! The other night Randy was just sharing about what had happened that day...Olive Garden was mentioned, and the young lady who so cheerfully cleaned the floor last week was mentioned...and I finally said..."I'm lost...are you saying you served dinner to the staff?" Well, that is Exactly what happened! As this unfolds I learn that Randy has a brother in Florida who wanted to do something for Lizzy and Co. So, although his brother could not be there, he hosted an Olive Garden dinner for the staff on the oncology unit at Children's Hospital. These are people who have served the Lothrops these last 2 weeks...round'about SIXTY PEOPLE! So, picture Randy, and I am sure Aunts...grandma...Christine (Maybe...if she left the room!)...all in the lobby by the elevators serving Olive Garden to the oncology. I think every service was represented...housekeeping, administration, doctors, nurses...and the like! A sweet housekeeping lady had actually gotten off work a few hours before the dinner was to be served. She came back to join in with the others!

I just get choked up when I picture the Lothrops...who, obviously, are struggling right now...serving the staff...
I can't wrap my mind around it, and I can't even find words to describe it...but I know/believe that dinner, in the lobby,on the 5th floor of Children's hosptial , was Holy Ground....

3) So...picture this...Olive Garden left-overs...8:30pm...Lizzy's room...Randy, Christine, a teacher....and 2 Aunts and a Grandma with a walking cast on her leg....Aunts and Grandma gingerly sit down to enjoy the left-overs that they had just heated up...(Think an aroma of garlic filling the room...) So suddenly, Lizzy proclaims..."Yuck...what is THAT smell?....it's making me sick....." (Can you hear the immediate intensity in her voice?!) Well, faster than you can blink, 2 Aunts and a Grandma (in a walking cast), all in the middle of enjoying one of their first bites of Olive Garden...spontaneously DUMP their plates of dinner in the Olive Garden bag, and somehow fly across the room and out the door...bag of dumped dinner in tow! They were out of there so fast...I didn't even see Grandma - in her walking cast, get out...I am certain she flew! Well, maybe this is one of those times when you just "had to be there"....but I hope you can picture it and "hear" the spontanous laughter that filled the room...(think belly laughs!)

4) Lastly, in reference to the picture of the BELIEVE sign that Lizzy is holding in the picture on the blog...those are Smarty Lollipops!!! (Just thougth you might need to know that bit of trivia as you start your day!)

Then the man said: "Lord, I BELIEVE...", and he worshiped Him. (John 9:38)

Please continue to Pray:
-Thank our Lord for the staff at Children's hospital
-Thank Him for the times of lightheartedness that envelope Lizzy's room
-Thank Him for being a God who is very real, and present...even, and always, when things are hard...
-Pray for: Catherine to feel better
That Lizzy's blast counts are rapidly dropping this very minute...and will continue to do so...
Minimal side effects of the chemo for Lizzy
Insurance issues to be a non-issue
Rest and respite for the Lothrops
...And that they will continue to experience God's presence in many unexpected, spontaneous ways..

Tuesday is an important day...wear orange...!

(Have I mentioned that we all need to get a flu shot, wash our hands and wear a mask to visit Lizzy?)

Deb