While standing at the kitchen sink today, I looked out the window and started praying and giving thanks for the good numbers received for our daughter’s lab work after a doctors visit for a checkup. Mary and I were so happy to hear about how well the numbers were! She was perfect. Those were his exact words. Nothing threatening. What a blessing that she is so healthy and just needs a vitamin D supplement.

---

Later that day, standing at that same kitchen sink, and looking out the window, my wife came to mind, and I began to think about all her labs and tumor marker numbers. As I stood there, I had a hard prayer, emotional prayer, I prayed for all the numbers surrounding her cancer to be either a good low or good high depending on what it’s for. Higher numbers for muscle strength to stand longer. Higher numbers in ounces of food consumed daily. Higher numbers in steps taken across the room. The number of times her and Katie take a trip to Walmart, Food Lion, or Dollar General. Higher numbers of time the tumor stops hurting, in the number of times walking in the yard, in the number of times to drive again. To have bigger numbers on the bathroom scales again. In number of meals she prepares and cooks again. Walking into my workshop, working at her desk, sewing all those projects for her kids, grandkids, and great grandkids. Eating a steak with baked potato and salad. Number of times loads of laundry are handled. Her grabbing her keys, and being able to carry groceries in. Number of times she dances across the living room floor doing the “Mary Margaret”. Higher number of times she prays again. Higher number of years together.