How He Loves Q

"Outrun" Team Info

2009-06-04T19:23:00.002-04:00

Hi teammates,

I wasn't sure how else to get a hold of all of you. Anyway, if you are officially signed up with our team, I will be picking up all race packets tomorrow down in Indy. I will plan to be in the main race congregating area of Ft. Ben by 6:15 to pass out packets, etc. I'm hoping to make a sign between now and then so we're easy to find. It will say "We Heart Q" on it if I can get that accomplished by Saturday.
My cell is 523-4579 if you need to ask a question or get a hold of me before the race!

See you Saturday night!!
Molly

Last Chance to Register for Outrun the Sun!

2009-05-27T13:48:00.002-04:00

Hi friends and family,

Thank you so much for those of you who have registered to run/walk with us in a week and a half! In order to get the lower rate, you need to sign-up by Friday at midnight! We already have 9 others joining us next Saturday, June 6th, but we still need one more participant in order to be Team "We Heart Q". Thank you for your support of this event in honor of my mom. Individual registration will continue through June 5th.

We'll see you next Saturday! (see the post below to register)

With love and appreciation,
Molly

In Honor of Susie "Q" McCracken

2009-05-14T15:15:00.001-04:00

Outrun the SUN!!!
In honor of our mom, Susie "Q" McCracken, some of my family members and I will be running in the Outrun the Sun run/walk for Melanoma.

The race will be:
Saturday, June 6th at 7:00 PM (less UV rays at night)
Ft. Benjamin Harrison Park, Indianapolis

We are trying to raise $1000 toward Melanoma Research. Would you consider running with us on our team, "We Heart Q", or simply making a financial donation toward our goal?

Please see our Team Website to make a donation/see our progress: http://raceagainstmelanoma.kintera.org/indianapolisin/weheartq

The Race Website will allow you register to run/walk with us: http://raceagainstmelanoma.kintera.org/faf/help/helpEventInfo.asp?ievent=310059&lis=0&kntae310059=0FAF7B2C31E84EA589F07773F96BFB8E

We greatly appreciate your love and support!
The McCrackens and Monroes

Podcasts from Q's Funeral

2009-05-13T09:51:00.005-04:00

In light of the number of requests we've had for a recording of Susie's funeral, we have posted links to podcasts of some of the things said from up front that day. They are to the right, above Susie's picture. The links are tied to our church's website. Unfortunately, we cannot post any of the music or the girl's singing due to copyright laws. We also posted a link to the slideshow pictures of Susie.

Again, I cannnot adequately express to the hundreds of people (all of you) who have shown their love for Q and our family throughout the many months of Susie's illness, surgeries, and visitation and funeral, and yes, even now. Without the heartfelt caring of so many this most difficult of times would have been harder. I find myself wanting to sit across from each of you to tell you how much your generosity of love and caring has meant to me and my daughters, but that task is just too large. Honestly, much of life seems too large right now. I know over time things will get easier. Some parts will never be easy, but certainly easier.

One of the things I have shared with friends during Q's cancer is that I don't want to miss a thing that God wants me to learn during this difficult chapter of life. My prayer is similar for you. If there has been a thought, a sensing, a realization, a "I really should..." kind of moment for you as you've thought about your life while seeing Susie's and ours, then do not let that gift slip away into the busyness of your life. Do something with it - don't waste it. Act.

We would be grateful for your prayers as the girls and I adjust to life without Susie and look ahead to what God has for us as a family.

I love you,

Scott

Our Tribute to Mom

2009-05-02T11:18:00.003-04:00

This was written by Molly, Haley, Marylou, and Ellie for their mom.
It was then read at Susie's funeral by the girls.

Mom,
Oh how you loved us.

We knew you loved us
As we see your sweet, tender smile as we look at our baby pictures.

As you taught us how to love each other, to forgive one another, and be kind to our sisters.

As you drove us to practices, recitals, friend’s houses, and school. You NEVER EVER missed a game or performance.

We knew you loved us during our younger years, in a house without air-conditioning, you were patient with our whining and fighting, you made us popsicles and found places for us to go and cool off.

As you taught us early on how to save our money and spend it wisely, only to see the countless times we chose to spend it on rocks, dollar store items, and candy because they were important to us, and you
didn’t say a word.

As we plowed through what we would later call our “ugly years” without realizing the fashion “no no’s” we were committing, but it didn’t matter to us what anyone thought because we knew we were beautiful to you.

We knew you loved us when as we reached the appropriate age you took each of us away for a special weekend with just you to be able to talk and ask questions about sex. No other mom we know has ever done that.

As you walked with us through our teen years, continually showing us how much you loved us even when we cared most about ourselves. You constantly pursued us, even when we pushed you away.

As we started dating, you guided us by encouraging us to communicate our feelings, to be honest about who we are, and to wait for a man who would love us as Dad loves you.

We knew you loved us as we made selfish and shameful choices. You taught us humility to ask for forgiveness and then to accept God’s grace, despite our many imperfections.

We knew you loved us as we pursued our dreams and goals, sometimes changing our minds every six weeks. You were always the first to share in our excitement and take action on our behalf.

We knew you loved us as you agreed to step back into the working world, after being our stay-at-home mom for 18 years. You showed your strength and love by putting the family’s needs above your personal desires.

So Mom, thank you for…

Always fighting for us when we were too weak or scared to fight for ourselves,

Thank you for making church a priority every Sunday,

Thank you for encouraging Godly friendships,

Thank you for teaching us, by example, what unconditional love and forgiveness look like,

Thank you for making our house a home, a warm and inviting place to be for all who entered,

Thank you for teaching us to be young ladies, even though it took one of us (Haley) a little longer to catch on then the rest of us,

Thank you for choosing to trust us, but also teaching us how to earn your trust after we had lost it,

Thank you for disciplining us,

Thank you for praying that we would get caught when we made bad choices… we know God heard every one of those prayers. But in the occasional event that we didn’t get caught, we eventually confessed to you and Dad because we knew that no matter what we’d done, we couldn’t lose your love,

Thank you for praying for our husbands since the day we were born,

Thank you for the many memories and traditions that we will continue to carry on in Minnesota,

Thank you for allowing us to see you and dad argue and then resolve your arguments,

Thank you for running our MANY errands,

Thank you for changing our diapers, doing our laundry, packing our school lunches, washing the constant flow of dirty dishes, bandaging our wounds and kissing our “ouchies”, staying home with us when we were sick and holding our hair back,

Thank you for honoring your commitment to your marriage for the past 28 years,

Thank you for teaching us what it means to serve in our community and church,

Thank you for choosing such an honorable and loving husband and father for us. We know the faith and
unconditional love for God that you and Dad have shared and that we now hold as our own, will continue to carry us through this hard time.
We are surrounding each other and especially Dad, loving him on your behalf.

You are an irreplaceable part of our family and we feel your absence but we will find joy as we recount the many memories we have of you in the days and years to come. Your grand-children will know who you are because your husband, daughters, and those who love you, will make sure they know who Q was and how much we miss her. And we will think of you as we raise them in the same wise and loving way you’ve raised us. You were the best mom a child could ever want.

We know this parting is only temporary and we wait longingly and with great hope to see you again soon.

We love you, Mom.

Love,
Molly, Haley, Mary Lou, and Ellie

Seeking Memories

2009-04-29T20:40:00.004-04:00

I would like to compile a collection of memories for my children and their children. If you have any stories about Susie (meaningful ones; funny ones; memorable ones; ways her life may have touched yours) would you please email them to me at smccracken@earthlink.net
or send them by U.S. Mail to:
Scott McCracken
3731 Tara Court
Westfield, IN 46074
You can also hand deliver them at the vistitation or memorial services.

Thank you all so much for your love, prayers, and wonderful words to our family.

I love you,
Scott

Visitation and Funeral Information

2009-04-28T11:16:00.003-04:00

It is with great sadnesss and joy that we are posting the visitation and funeral information for our mom, Susie. It has been a very tough 24 hours for us...moments of intense grief and then little bursts of joy as we remember our loving mama and how she touched us so, and where she is now -- rejoicing and cancer-free. And it continues to feel so surreal to all of us.

Visitation:
Thursday, April 30: 4:00-8:00 pm
Flanner & Buchanan Funeral Home
325 E. Carmel Dr. Carmel, IN 46032

Funeral:
Friday, May 1: 1:00 pm
Church at the Crossing
9111 Haverstick Rd. Indianapolis, IN

This morning, early as the day began, the Lord brought us to this verse:
"He tends his flock like a shepherd:
He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
he gently leads those that have young."
Isaiah 40:11

We know we are being carried close to his heart today.

With love,
Molly, Haley, Mary Lou and Ellie

It is with joy and sorrow...

2009-04-27T13:54:00.002-04:00

Early this afternoon, precious Susie went to see Jesus face to face. She had a peaceful transition from this earth to The New, surrounded by Scott, some family and friends. Her last hours were spent enveloped by prayer, hymns, and Scripture.

Arrangement information will be forthcoming. Prayers are coveted.

(Monika)

Spring

2009-04-25T12:36:00.003-04:00

Hi friends and family,

Thank you for your faithfulness to us. Your comments on this blog, your cards, your prayers and your hugs mean more to us than we can express. Thank you.

My mom is still home. As of last night, the hospice nurse put an IV in her which gives her a constant drip of morphine for her intense pain. She is definitely in less pain now, which is the goal and is a good thing! However, the morphine makes her very confused and drowsy. It is so hard to see our mom/wife/daughter/friend like this, and yet, this is who she is RIGHT NOW. I've been recently struck by the fact that not everyone will marry or have children in this life, but everyone will die...and yet our American culture hates being faced with the reality of this. We've moved away from death as much as possible, which is understandable because it is not fun. But I am trying to currently embrace that this is our reality and will be everyone's reality at some point, and this IS my mom RIGHT NOW. I want to love on her as she is RIGHT NOW. But even that is difficult when she is so medicated. It still feels very surreal most of the time.

And it's funny that while we are very sad today as we spend time with her parents and brother and sister-in-law who are here this weekend, today is the first day Indiana has seen 80 degrees. It is beautiful! On my drive home from my parents' house this morning, I was enveloped in a sudden and very physical realization of the greatness of God's love for ME even during a time like this. The beauty of his creation is in full bloom and brightness today, and I can't help but rejoice in His goodness. Spring is such a physical reminder that after the death of winter comes spring and all it's beauty, refreshing, and NEW LIFE.

Our family has been reading the book HEAVEN by Randy Alcorn as we all are searching for more answers about where our mother will soon be. My view of heaven before the past month was we are surrounded by clouds and golden streets and our spirits are floating around "up there" somewhere. It was never something I looked forward to. I'd never done my homework on heaven before. But let me assure you, that much to the trueness of His character, God has a heaven in store that is very much different than what I thought as I study what the Bible has to say about heaven. And our whole family, including my mom, has found a new excitement about this eternal HOME we will someday experience because of God's love and grace for us. I would highly recommend this book. It will change your perspective of NOW, too. (There's also a much shorter devotional format, if you're not a reader.)

Please continue to pray for us and this time we have ahead. It is a very, very difficult season for all of us, and yet, we do experience God's great "peace that passes all understanding" -- wow, do I have a new perspective of that!

And please continue to send your cards to my mom and dad, or even just my dad. Your words via the mail bring an encouragement to them and a physical reminder that people are thinking of and praying for them. Ellie lives there, too.

Their address is:
3731 Tara Court
Westfield, IN 46074

My sisters up at Anderson UNiversity, Haley and Mary Lou, are trying to finish the school year and make it home to see mom, too, as often as they can. They could also use your encouragement.

Their address is:
1100 E. 5th Street
Anderson, IN 46012

Thank you, dear friends.
Love, Molly

Golden Time

2009-04-10T16:54:00.015-04:00

I'm sorry for how long it's taken to get this update on the blog. Honestly, since the last one there has not been much new to say. After we heard that last report with the scan results, both of our primary oncologists left town for Spring Break with their families. They deserve a break. They work hard and see alot of really sick people. But, whether I am a husband in denial or a husband who just wants to make sure we're making the right decisions, I wanted to talk to both docs as soon as they got back.

Susie and I met with her radiation oncologist this week and he did a good job of explaining things to us. We also spoke with her primary oncologist. Susie's liver is really enlarged and cancerous. She also has some fluid in her right lung. Her brain scan came back clear. Both docs are willing to help us get any further treatment or consults that we want, but with the information we have and the horrible experience Susie had with her IL2 chemo, we don't think we want to go any further with medical treatment of the cancer. The results just would not be that dramatic and it would likely negatively affect the quality of life we want to have together as a family. For now, we are controlling Q's pain without heavy narcotics and we are taking advantage of that as long as we can. This has been a week of difficult discussions, but I thank God that we are able to have them with her mind as clear as it's been.

Susie's doctor referred to our time together right now as our "Golden Time." We don't know how long that time is, but apart from the Lord doing a miracle, it won't feel long enough. So now we just continue to love each other well and rest in the Lord's love for us.

I pray you will really take in the reality of Jesus' Resurrection this Easter!

Love, Scott (and family)

A Tough Turn

2009-03-29T07:53:00.004-04:00

It has been great to have Q home these past two weeks. She has been the most alert and engaged that I have seen her in a long time. She has really enjoyed having her sister, Kathy, stay with us for a visit as well as a couple of crazy, wonderful, "cajun" friends (John and JJ) who made Q "squeanky-eyed" laugh as we reminisced about our days working at the C Lazy U ranch where we met.As the cajuns and I walked into Starbucks last Saturday morning I ran into Susie's oncologist and told him that she had expressed that she didn't think she wanted to endure another round of the IL2 chemo. He suggested we take another scan and then decide from there.

On Thursday we got a CT scan and awaited the call from Susie's radiologist-oncologist for findings. Later that evening the doctor called me with the bad news: The cancer had spread badly in Susie's liver. We didn't have to decide about the chemo, the doctors said they did not recommend it now, as it would be too hard on Q and probably not effective. Aside from a miracle, our treatment options are done. I told Susie the news, and then the girls. Everyone came home. We talked openly and cried...hard. It's surreal. Isn't this supposed to be happening to someone else? Or 30 years from now? Damn it!

What now? We do what we've always done. We look to God and we learn as we go.

You know what to do.

Love,
Scott

Q is Home!

2009-03-17T12:04:00.004-04:00

Finally, after an extra day's delay I got my girl home last night. She is SO glad. Hopefully she will be able to get out on our deck this afternoon to enjoy a little of the beautiful Spring-like day we are having. She is still very weak and is having some side effects from her time in the hospital, but we can work around that. If all goes well, she should be home for two weeks before the next treatment.
Thank you again for your prayers...seriously!

-Scott

Q Going Home!

2009-03-16T18:33:00.002-04:00

So my dad just called me and said that Mom can be picked up from the hospital now!! We all are so thrilled, especially my mom, because she just wants to go be at her HOME. We expect that she will be home for at least two weeks before they would decide to do another round of treatment, though I can tell you that none of us are looking forward to that again. My dad was right, and even "nice," in describing this last week for us. It was...the opposite of heaven. Really. It was so hard on all of us to see my mom so very sick. We all are tired from this rollercoaster of emotion, but we will certainly take two weeks of "up." Please pray with us that this break will give my mom strength, relaxation, great time with family (and maybe even some friends?), and a renewed sense of God's deep love and care for her now that she is off most medications and has a clearer mind.

This journey has been so hard. So hard. But God has been tenderly teaching me about just how deep his love is for us. Oh, how he loves us! I praise him that I am even able to FEEL that during this deep valley in our lives. Just this weekend, I was reminded of the promise that "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand." (John 10:28) Wow.

He holds and protects ALL of us in the center of his hand.

Molly

Hopefully Home Soon

2009-03-16T12:21:00.003-04:00

After an incredibly difficult week, we are still trying to get Susie out of here (the hospital) so she can enjoy sunshine, fresh air, and being in her own home. She is still very weak after the chemo treatments (way worse than anything she's had up to now). Her lab work came back pretty close to normal this morning, so now we are waiting for her doctor to visit and tell us whether or not she can go home soon.
Please pray for that. Thank you so much.

- Scott

The Next Round

2009-03-10T11:39:00.004-04:00

It was great to have Susie home for several days and she was really glad to be there. We had a scare at 2:00 a.m. one night when she was having some pain and a low grade fever, but we called the doc and got things under control enough for her to stay home.

We checked back into the hospital last night and have started the next round of chemo. The stuff they're using this time will be roughner than what she has had in the past. Q should be in until Friday if all goes well. She is not feeling any serious pain and has cut way back on the morphine - thank You, Lord.

My prayer is that she will get through the next four days with minimum discomfort and narcotics, and will be in good shape and clarity of mind when she goes home. Also, please continue to ask our Lord to bring healing to Susie or at least to put this cancer into an extended remission. That would be so great!

Thank you all,

Scott

Wow!

2009-03-06T09:23:00.003-05:00

Several co-workers from Q's office building showed up at our door shortly after I'd brought her home from the hospital. They were bearing gifts: balloons, assorted baked goods and $2,066 in cash (proceeds from the bake sale they'd just had). Thank you again, ladies, for all of your work and thoughtfulness in putting that together for Susie. We just received a bill of over $1,000 for some out-of-pocket expenses for Q's treatments, so I already know where half of that cash is going for sure.

Q is still kind of "woozy" (that's a medical term. It's kind of like "thing-a-ma-jiggy" is a plumbing term) from all the morphine she has been on. I got permission yesterday from the doctor to turn down the dosage on her pump, so hopefully she will begin to perk up a bit over the weekend before going back on Monday for four days of chemo.

Thanks to all who gave to the bake sale. . . you're very kind.

- Scott

Q Comes Home!

2009-03-03T21:36:00.002-05:00

Hey everyone!

My mom gets to come home tomorrow for a rest period before her next big treatment. She will be going back in for chemo on Monday, but we are SO very excited that she will get to spend a long weekend at HOME. I personally, cannot wait to just sit with her on the couch and be semi-normal for a few days. I wasn't able to see her tonight, but Josh told me that she looks better than ever (as far as her spirits and mental clarity go). It is such a nice little "up"time.

Praise the Lord for that!

Molly

Bake Sale for Susie Q!

2009-02-27T12:51:00.003-05:00

Hi friends and family,

My mom's dear friends at the surgery center where she works are hosting a bake sale to raise money for her and to promote Melanoma Awareness. Please feel free to stop by! Here are the details...

You're invited to: A Bake Sale!
When: 8am to 3pm on Wed. March 4,2009
Why: All proceeds being donated to the McCracken family. There will also be info on hand about melanoma.
Where: Carmel Ambulatory Surgery Center
13421 Old Meridian
Carmel, IN. 46032
We have lots of baked goods coming, we just need people to buy them!

I don't have time to give an update right now, but my mom's spirits are really good. We are awaiting the second half of treatment for the week, which will still require hospitalization, and should start in the next couple days. We are hoping that she will be able to come home for a little while after recovery from the treatment.

Please continue to pray for us. It has been such a roller coaster of emotion the last couple weeks. Though I was encouraged when I read a posting on our friends, The Fogleman's, blog that when we're wondering WHY this is happening, that's when we really do have to walk by faith as God tells us to do. If he told us why this was happening, we would be walking by sight and not by faith. So we continue to trust in the Lords unfailing love for us and pray that He will draw us so much closer to Himself as we continue to walk this road...by faith.

We love and the thank God for you all so much. Hope to see you at the bake sale next Wednesday!

Molly

Pressing On

2009-02-19T11:58:00.002-05:00

Well, here's the latest. Q's liver seems to be fairly stable again with the bleeding stopped. A few days ago, however, it was discovered that she had fluid in her lungs and they drained them off and found no cancer cells in the fluid...that's good news. Most of the pain in her upper body places is gone now. The newest problem is that Q has a couple of blood clots in her legs (due to eliminating the blood thinning drugs so her liver would stop bleeding). Her swollen legs are pretty sore and they have put her back on blood thinning meds at a reduced dose to try to get rid of the clots.

Susie is really doing a remarkable job of dealing with all of this stuff, but admittedly, the delays and new problems that have been happening is pretty tough on her because she wants to get started with the chemotherapy that was supposed to start a week and a half ago.
On the up side the doctor said she will probably begin chemo tomorrow (Thursday). He is going to start with what would have been her outpatient treatments, but will keep her in the hospital to keep an eye on her.
So...here we go.

Please pray for things to go well with all of this.
- For Susie - healing (even miraculous healing); peace; sensing the love of God and His very real presence with her
- For the girls & Josh- comfort; the encouragement of the Lord; peace in their hearts
- For me - wisdom (Lord, show me what to do in all this); strength (Lord, help me do it)

We are constantly blown away by all of the continuing love, words of caring, acts of kindness and prayers of all of you. We are so blessed by it all.

Thank you from our hearts,
-Scott

Status Report

2009-02-11T16:05:00.003-05:00

As of this post Susie is still in the St. Vincent oncology ward resting and trying to get healed up from the bleeding in her liver. Morphine has been her friend for the pain, but it leaves her with a mind and memory that is less than the finely-tuned machine that it normally has been. We are still primarily dealing with trying to manage pain in her abdomen area and allowing the liver to heal since she has gone off the anti-coagulant meds she had been taking prior to this episode. The filter in her vein seems to be doing its job of keeping out any dangerous blood clots to her lungs.

Apparently, some mis-information was propagated that led people to believe that Susie's condition was more dire than it really was this week. I don't want to minimize the seriousness of Q's condition, she IS in the cancer ward of a hospital being treated for internal bleeding, but no, the McCracken family has NOT been saying their "good-byes" to Susie. A word from a parent to parents: Beware of the "telephone game" scenario that can happen in our children's world of texting and Facebook.

The chemotherapy regimen that was scheduled for this week will remain on hold until Susie is in a better place physically. I don't have a guess on when that will be.

An aside:
I have stumbled upon a song/version of a classic hymn through which God has really touched me. Amy Grant's album: Legacy...Hymns and Faith has a cut entitled Fields of Plenty which includes her version of Be Still My Soul which I highly recommend for his children who are walking in deep places. I don't know if you can wear out an mp3 file, but I'll probably find out on this one.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4: 6-7

Love,
Scott

Another Hospital Visit

2009-02-07T21:16:00.003-05:00

So late last night, my mom started experiencing sharp shoulder pain. A few hours later it had traveled to her side. My dad took her to the ER around 5:30 this morning where they waiting until after noon to hear the results of a CT scan. We found out that the cancer on her liver has started bleeding due to her blood-thinning medicine mostly. The good news is that instead of waiting until tomorrow, they were able to put a "metal basket-like thing" in an artery in her groin area to trap future blood clots so that she can be off of the blood thinner. She is sleeping in the hospital tonight and we hope will be released tomorrow. Please be in prayer that this new "basket" will work and that she will still be able to take her chemo treatment which will start Monday. This is the first FULL week of treatment (Monday through Wednesday she'll have out patient chemo then Thursday through Sunday she'll be in the hospital having more treatments). Please continue your prayers that the treatments will be successful and a continued renewal of energy for Mom. Maybe we could have a complication-free week?? Probably not. :)

We love you all!

Molly and fam

Out of the Hospital!

2009-01-25T19:30:00.003-05:00

Mom got out of the hospital a couple days ago (she just reminded me that we didn't post that on the blog). She is home and resting once again, though I think she might secretly miss the hospital becasue she gets lots of uninterrupted sleep and is waited on hand and foot! We are waiting now until Monday, Feb. 8th when she will start the next round of treatments: Monday through Wednesday she will have outpatient chemo; then Thursday through Sunday she will be in the hospital having a concoction of drugs. She'll be out for two weeks and then she'll do that whole week over again. This schedule will continue through April we are told.

As long as the brain stays clear of cancer and the drugs do what they are supposed to (kill the cancer in her liver), we are hoping that by the end of April she will be cancer free and on her way to a healthy recooperation! I really can't remember what it was like for her to be totally cancer free which was way back in June. Please pray with us that this will be the case come April...I would love nothing more than to go on a spring walk with my mom followed by a drink on the sidewalk at Starbucks. It has been WAY too long since we've been able to do that together!

We continue to thank God for you and your love. A special thanks to my aunts Carol and Suzy who have provided a Sunday meal to us and grandpa the past few weeks. We are blessed to have such loving family and friends. And Norma, I ate way too many of your choc. chip cookies tonight!

ALL of you are wonderful cooks!

love, Molly

Lungs

2009-01-20T20:20:00.002-05:00

Quick update -- my mom was taken to the emergency room tonight because she was having difficulty breathing and was coughing a lot (but isn't sick). After a CT scan, they discovered that she has another blood clot in her lungs (YAY, it wasn't more cancer!!). She was put back on a blood thinner, but the first clot is starting to go away (also a YAY). They have decided to keep her tonight and possibly another night just to keep an eye on things.

We are so thankful that the ER trip has not brought any terrible news....big sigh....

Thanks for your continued prayers and love!
Molly

Wisdom and The Next Treatment

2009-01-13T19:45:00.000-05:00

Hi friends,

I want to first of all thank you for your continued support and concern for our family. It is humbling to know how many people are praying for us as a family and individually each day, how many people are bringing meals (which fed ALL of us over the holiday season as we enjoyed time together), and how many people continually check this blog for the latest updates and prayer requests. Thank you for being theBody of Christ so well.

I have a feeling God is going to be teaching me a lot in 2009. He teaches me a lot every year, but I just feel like this year may be deeper than the rest. It already has been actually in just the past 13 days. A common theme has come up in many circles of my life at once, and when that happens, you know God is trying to get your attention. The theme has been wisdom. It almost seems cliché because the word seems to be everywhere. But in our current family circumstance, God has shown me that I need not pray for direction – direction is just an answer to a specific question I may have for God (i.e. Where should I go to college? How much should I give to the church? Should I be part of this or that?) Asking for direction, I have realized, is rather limited. And I have been asking for direction lately – Show me what to do for Mom today…How can I not feel the despair that sometimes suddenly comes over me…What am I going to do if this situation doesn’t end the way I want it to?

But what God has been so tenderly leading me to discover recently is that instead of asking for direction in this, He wants me to ask Him for HIS Wisdom. James 1:5 tells me that “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” So basically God seems very eager to give us His wisdom whenever we ask for it, and he will give us lots of it. So why is wisdom better than direction? In asking for God’s wisdom, the Holy Spirit can literally give us a piece of God’s mind, His perspective. Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians that “we (can) have the mind of Christ.” Asking for wisdom instead of direction will be a process within us and a deeper, eternal change of our character making us more like Him, rather than just a simple answer to our single question.

Proverbs Ch. 1-4 are full of truths about wisdom. Wisdom, or having the mind of Christ, is far more valuable than any earthly thing. What an odd perspective in our culture. But it is true in my heart. If this is what it takes to make me more like Christ, than I can truly count everything else as loss. I pray that through this trial, God will draw you and I unimaginably closer to Himself and generously give wisdom that we would have not otherwise found. Praise be to God!

Now an update on my mom: after a meeting with the oncologist this week, we have some wonderful news – no new growth in her brain!! Thank you, Lord!! This is the first positive news we’ve heard, and it has been reviving to our souls. For precautionary measures, she will be having brain radiation through the end of the week.

Unfortunately, they did discover that the spots on her liver have basically doubled. That is not the news we wanted to hear. They have decided to start a chemo-like treatment next week for three days (out patient). A few weeks later when her steroids have gotten out of her system, she will have the three day treatment again followed by a four day intense treatment in the hospital. They will continue to do the three day/four day treatments every three weeks or so for the next few months (we think she’ll be done in May). Surgery was not as good an option due to how aggressively the cancer has been spreading in her liver, so please join us in vigorously praying that this intravenous treatment will be strong enough to kill the cancer in her liver.

We feel your prayers…and the gentle, loving arms of our Father.

Molly

“I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten…you will have plenty to eat, until you are full, and you will praise the name of the Lord your God who has worked wonders for you.”
Joel 2:25,26

Quick update

2009-01-07T00:29:00.004-05:00

Part of me doesn't want to post what's planned next because it seems to change as soon as I do. It looks like now we will hold off on liver surgery and be doing chemotherapy instead. No date set for beginning it yet. Susie still has a clot in her lung which will probably take months to get rid of. How 'bout we just pray that thing away too. Q will be starting radiation tomorrow that will target the place in her brain where the tumor was removed. She will have two of those treatments this week and three more next week.

There's more I could say, but I gotta go to bed.

We know you are praying...thank you so much!

Love, Scott

Still waiting...

2009-01-02T17:59:00.002-05:00

Q had her head and torso scans earlier this week and today we met with her liver doctor to find out what direction we'll be going with treatment. The images showed the two cancer lesions that we knew were there, but also another spot that may or may not be cancerous. Dr. Rouch said surgery was still the preferred option of treatment. He would probably remove half or more of the liver in the process. Surgery would probably be between one and a half and two weeks weeks from now.

We are still waiting to hear what the brain scans revealed, but it is pretty certain that Susie will be recieving radiation treatments regardless of what they show. Hopefully, we will know more on Monday or Tuesday.

Will keep you posted.

- Scott

Time to start ramping up for next round

2008-12-26T21:50:00.004-05:00

We have had a really good break in the action over Christmas. Though Q has been extremely tired physically, she managed to get out on Christmas Eve to go out to dinner and church with our family. It's been great to have all the kids home over break and they've been very helpful around the house.

As far as upcoming medical stuff, Susie has the following:

- Monday 12/29 @ 11:30 - CT scan of her abdomen and pelvis to decide on treatment for her l liver

- Tuesday 12/30 @ 6:15 AM - MRI of Susie's brain to see if there is any additional cancer there

- Friday 1/2 to meet with Dr. Rouch (liver surgeon) to discuss results of CT scan and discuss treatment

Susie is experiencing a mixture of emotions regarding this stuff. On the one hand. she really wants to get after the remaining cancer in her body in hopes of being able to have a new starting place for healing. On the other hand, there is the anxiety of waiting to find out the results of the scans and going through the next phase of treatment.

Your prayers and generosity have meant so much to Q and our family during this unusually difficult time for us. We thank you and love you.

-Scott

Thank You, Lord!

2008-12-15T20:06:00.002-05:00

Wow!! Talk about answered prayer!! As SOON as I left the computer, my mom's doctor called (we thought we might not even hear results until tomorrow), and he said he looked at the scans and did not see new growth and there is NO swelling!! He said that she is probably having mini seizures (which is exactly the word I would use to describe what I saw today). He said that is normal, and that she will just increase her seizure medicine and will continue to take it for the next six months. Talk about emotional roller coaster...all I can said is Praise the Lord.

Wow. I am wiped out. Thank you, Lord.

Molly

Quick Update, Test Results Coming

2008-12-15T19:45:00.002-05:00

Last night, my mom woke up twice in the middle of the night with her eyes moving rapidly back and forth. Finally, this afternoon, she was asked to go into the hospital for a CT scan to make sure there was no new growth in her brain, etc. She has just been allowed to lower her dosage of the steroids and was warned that some symptoms of the swelling may occur. So, we are praying that these symptoms are in fact JUST the swelling again and nothing of a more serious nature.

After the scan, I took her to Starbucks (our favorite hang out) while Dad and Josh went to the grocery. As we sat there, she suddenly froze up, eyes shifting between me and the wall. I was asking her questions but she couldn't respond, so I grabbed her hand and she was very warm. I continued to ask her questions and try to her her attention, asking her if she wanted to go out to the car, and she still couldn't respond. It was so scary! I was debating whether to call an ambulance (while the rest of Starbucks continued chatting around us, like in a scary movie), and after a VERY long two minutes or so, she snapped back and we sat there while she recovered.

I don't know what that was a symptom of, but between seeing that and now waiting for the scan results, I am very unsettled. Please join with us in prayer that this was just some swelling of her brain and nothing more serious -- it was a very disappointing and scary little setback after such a great week.

Though my emotions are great right now, I continue to trust that God "knows the plans he has for my family and me, plans that will prosper us and not harm us, plans that will give us a hope and future." Lord, help me to rest in that promise right now.

Molly

Surgery Info

2008-12-13T09:22:00.003-05:00

Hi friends,

Wanted to let you know that regarding Mom's liver surgery, she will be meeting with Dr. Horner (neurosurgeon) to get the "ok" to move forward on January 8th. If all goes well, she will be setting a date for surgery shortly after that (we hope) for the surgery which will remove half of her liver we are told. People are able to function with just half our liver, and it's the only organ that regrows itself!

Following the recovery of her liver surgery, Dr. Horner wants to give her some brain radiation. That would take place sometime in early spring we are thinking. So, there is still a road ahead, but God continues to be so good.

So right now we are in a "down" time. Two years ago when Mom found the initial melanoma on her leg, we were all in a panic. Then, post surgery we could relax and have some down time. Then, back to panic this summer when we found out that it had spread to her lymphnodes. Around October, we were finally able to feel the down time again as Mom started to get back to her "normal" self. Four weeks ago, we were again in a panic with the news that it had now spread to her brain and liver, and I wasn't sure I would ever be able to FEEL the calm of a down time again after that news.

But, Tuesday night I went over to my parent's house, and my mom was lying on the couch (where I've seen her a lot for the past 4 months). I was determined to not cry that day becasue I was so tired of crying, especially after the funeral weekend. But my mom, in only a way that a mother can, asked me why I was so quiet that night. I still held back the tears because I knew a dam was about to break (again), and then the TV had a tender mother-daughter scene (on The Biggest Loser, of all shows), and I lost it. My momreassuringly said, "Molly, I feel better about all of this than I have in a long time."

So, I thought, if she's feeling okay about everything right now and she just had brain surgery, than I need to trust and CHOOSE to be okay with where we are for now. And what better time to just enjoy where we are right now than the Christmas season? I praise God that our current "down time" gets to be during Christmas and New Years. What a gift to us after all the panic!

In my future down days, I will cling to the fresh and new meaning I have found and experienced in this very familiar verse:

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petiton, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." --Philippians 4:6-7

Molly

Turn the Page

2008-12-11T06:23:00.008-05:00

I'm sorry that it's been awhile since our last posting. With getting Q settled in at home and working through all the stuff that comes with the death of a parent, and starting work again...well, you know.

My Mom's (Deborah McCracken) funeral was beautiful and very much a celebration of her life. So many loved and respected her. Now comes the next hard part for my Dad -- walking through an empty house full of memories and reminders. His tears are close to the surface and his heart is hurting. Please keep him in your prayers. Maybe ask the Lord to give my Dad (Howard McCracken) a clear and fresh sense of his presence and comfort.

Susie continues to heal and handle a little more each day. Today she has two doctors appointments. She will visit her neurosurgeon to get the 27 staples removed from the top of her head, and hopefully will be told she can begin reducing her steroid dosage -- she is really puffed up from that stuff and it affects her blood sugar, etc. The other appointment is with our family doctor to keep track of vitals and her basic condition. Q went on an errand with our neighbor yesterday and returned really tired -- she just can't handle much yet.

From here it looks like Q will just rest and get as healed as she can until Christmas, but immediately following will be in surgery again to remove the cancer in her liver. As much as we all hate that thought right now, we just want to go after this thing and get her to a new starting point. Obviously, we will keep you posted on when the surgery will be when we find out more.

Yesterday I met a man sitting in the waiting room of the AttaBoy Plumbing office who I'd never seen before and when I was introduced he said, "Wait, I know your name from somewhere. Oh, does your wife have cancer? We've been praying for her." It is incredible and humbling that so many people - many we will never meet this side of Heaven - care enough to pray for Susie and our family! Wow!! Thank you all sooooo much.

I'll end this post with a portion of Scripture that was very meaningful to my Mom and is certainly pertinent to us all:

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
- 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

- Scott

Latest on Q

2008-12-06T10:45:00.004-05:00

It looks like Susie will be able to come home tomorrow (Sunday) morning. As of last night she was still having some problems keeping her blood pressure down, but hopefully that will be resolved. The doctor has kept her visitors to a minimum and just for immediate family. She can only handle our visits for a short time and our goofy chatter has to be kept in check -- it's just too much stimulation for her and she can't handle it. Her beautiful little face is really puffed up by the heavy doses of steroids she's on to keep brain swelling down, but they will be reducing dosages soon. She is so grateful for all the love, prayers, and caring for our family that everyone has been giving us.

The girls and I (Scott) will be at my mom's viewing/visitation after I bring Susie home from the hospital tomorrow. We have some friends who will stay with Q at home. I know she wishes she could be there and at the funeral on Monday, but it would be too much for her. Susie really loved my mom and Mom really loved Q. Please continue to pray for my family during this time...especially my dad.

Love to you all,
Scott

Grandma's homegoing was today

2008-12-04T15:47:00.005-05:00

I got the news today that my Mom died in her Carmel home with my Dad and sisters near her. We new she was going to die soon and she had been especially struggling to let go over the past couple of weeks. As sad as it is to lose her it is also a relief to know her struggle is over and she is now with her Lord. I especially hurt for my Dad who had been Mom's man for about 71 years. He's really sad. It looks like her viewing will be at the Carmel Flanner & Buchannan mortuary on Sunday,12/7, from 1:00-5:00 PM. The funeral will be at The Church at the Crossing at 1:oo PM on Monday,12/8.

- Scott

Update on "Q"-Tip

2008-12-04T10:37:00.002-05:00

Susie is really doing well. Ate breakfast like it was her job. As long as she is on steroids I am not going to get in front of her fork! She is very sharp mentally, but still has a hard time keeping her eyes open for an extended time. Even though she is likely to be moved into a regular room later today, I am asking that anyone who is not her immediate family not come to visit her yet. She really likes keeping her eyes closed and resting/sleeping. I want to give her what is best for her recovery -- I'm sure our friends understand.

The doctor still thinks she will be able to go home on Saturday. I just occurred to me that my Mom was probably in this hospital for a longer stay when she gave birth to me in 1955 than Susie will be for having brain surgery...remarkable.

Love,
Scott

She talks : )

2008-12-03T21:45:00.004-05:00

I walked into Q's room, moved in close and cautiously offered a " Susie?" Her eyes immediately opened and she said, "Hi, I'm so glad to see you." It was fantastic! We went on talking back and forth and I was so happy to bring her good news about her surgery. I could hardly believe she was able to converse so coherently when only a matter of a few hours earlier Dr. Horner was working on her brain!

When I went back to the waiting room to get the rest of the family, they were amused that I had a smile glued to my face. I did. I was so happy. The girls were too, when they got to see her. Of course in true McCracken style, the girls quickly brought attention to the fact that their mother reminded them of a giant Q-Tip with her head wrapped in gauze.

The nurses won't let me sleep in Susie's intensive care room with her tonight, so I'll crash in the waiting room instead.

- Scott

Susie is awake!

2008-12-03T21:34:00.002-05:00

One more brief update...we were able to go in and see Mom shortly after Dad posted the last blog, and to the glory of God she was awake, talking, and laughing with us!! We are blown away at how alert she is, since we were fully expecting she would probably not be able to talk much tonight, if at all. What an unexpected gift this was to us.

Also, speaking of unexpected gifts, we had over 45 people in the waiting room with us throughout the course of the day today, and all of us received countless phone calls, e-mails, text messages and even Facebook messages all day long from all of you. Thank you all for loving the McCracken family SO WELL. We felt your prayers throughout the state, nation and world for us today, and we know God heard them as well. We are very excited to be on an "upswing" right now both physically for mom and emotionally for all of us.

So what now?? The next step will be a meeting with the liver doctor tomorrow to begin the process of planning for surgery in approximately three to four weeks to remove the two spots in her liver. We would greatly appreciate continued prayers as we plan for this as well as prayer that when they removed the tumor today, there wasn't a microscopic little cell that was brushed off in the process that will implant itself in another part of her brain or body (we were told this sometimes can happen, so the docs will continue to scan her body on a regular basis). But for now, we praise the Lord for his love, faithfulness, and goodness to our family today, and we especially thank Him for all of you.

Psalm 107:1 "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever." Amen.

Molly

Susie's in recovery

2008-12-03T17:44:00.004-05:00

Thank You Lord!

Dr. Horner met with the girls and me to let us know that they successfully removed the tumor and that Susie now in the neurological critical care unit. The surgery took somewhat longer than expected due to veins that were in the way. She will be in the critical unit for probably 24-36 hours. The main concern is to watch for blood clotting and swelling during this time.
We are waiting for permission to see her.

It is so humbling and wonderful to know SO MANY people have been praying (and are still praying) for Susie and our family! We have been informed of many individuals and prayer chains from places all over the country that have been activated on Susie's behalf. To all of you who are among those dear people, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!

And of course PRAISE GOD for His great love and care for Susie and His grace in all of our lives.
We will let you know more after we have a chance to see Q.

Love to all,
Scott

Courageous in Calling

2008-12-03T11:21:00.000-05:00

This year I have the privilege of leading a group of students at
Anderson University in a leadership development program called
University Fellows. When I applied for the job last school year, I was
hesitant because I had not participated in it my freshman or sophomore
year and didn't really know what I would be doing. However, the door
remained open and I felt confident that I was supposed to walk through.
So I became the leader for 08-09.

It has been such a blessing this semester to dialogue and struggle with
these students about what being a leader is, can it be defined, what are
we striving for as students who want to participate in leadership?

More than once, as I have been preparing for a week’s discussion and
meeting I have wondered why on earth I was given this position. How am
I qualified? What was God thinking when he put me here, if he knew the
struggles that were coming?

Monday night I found myself at such a struggle again. With all that has
been going on with mom and with grandma, I felt overwhelmed by sadness
and anxiety which was only amplified by depression (which I haven’t
struggled with since high school—I’m now a senior in college). I wanted
to quit and not even try to go to Tuesday’s meeting. How on earth was I
supposed to LEAD a leadership development program when I felt like I was
falling apart, unable to lead even myself?

Enter God’s grace:

Tuesday’s topic was to be: Courageous in Calling
I realized that I was at a place where I had the choice to live this
out.
God had called me to this position last spring. Long before I accepted
it, he knew what was going to happen this semester and yet he still
called me to it. He knew what mom was going to struggle with, he knew
grandma would be as she is, and he knew depression would strike again.
Yet…he still called me to it! Tuesday evening, I shared with the group
in our meeting that I could now really know what that phrase,
“courageous in calling”, means for me right now. It means that I can
confidently go to our meetings feeling the full weight of all that is
going on and know that He is prepared, adequate, sufficient, and has a
plan for it all. His power is made perfect in our weakness! (2
Corinthians 12:9)

So mom, even though we may feel inadequate, insufficient and unprepared
for what may lay ahead, let us remember that he has called us here! God
knew what was coming this blessed year of 2008 for the McCracken family
and yet he still has called us each according to his plan.

I am walking farther and faster away from fear in all this, realizing
there are so many promises that I have yet to take hold of!

Haley Kate

Preparing for The Big Day

2008-12-03T00:06:00.000-05:00

Hi friends!
Well, I think it's safe to say that we have all been just waiting for tomorrow to come. Surgery day.

The surgery has been set for 12:00 and should last three hours. She will be in the hospital for at least three days afterward. We will try our best to post an update tomorrow night.

We do want to continue to thank you for your prayers. There certainly have been up days and down days, but I know that my up days are because of YOUR prayers for peace and comfort for the family. Prayers mean so much to us. Really.

I also want to share with you a couple verses God has used in my life this week to teach me about Himself in this situation. Right after we heard the news, I was of course devastated and could not stop crying. Yet, I felt if I was really trusting God, I wouldn't need to cry or be scared or sad. As I was reading a devotional book I have, the subject for that day was "God in our Suffering" (convenient, I thought). The author focused on Job, and when I noticed this, I rolled my eyes because I know how Job dealt with his suffering, and this particular day I did not feel that I could have the faith of Job. The author went on to remind me that in just one day, Job lost his cattle (his livelihood), his camels (his transportation) and ALL of his children...all in one day! And in the midst of my guilt and self-pity, God reached down to poor, little me and showed me this verse: "At this (news), Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship" (Job 1:20).

Even Job felt emotions. He shaved his head and tore his clothes out of sadness, anger, despair. My emotions are not wrong, and I know God can handle how I feel so I can pray honestly and boldly to Him. But after I have let myself feel the emotions, what I pray I can do through all of this is to turn around and fall to the ground in worship. I pray that I don't sin by charging God with wrongdoing (as it goes on to say in verse 22), but that I can fully and wholeheartedly trust him with my sweet mama and the future plans He has in store for her and for us. I pray that through this circumstance, God will receive glory; that my family and I will be drawn into even deeper communion with Him than we could ever imagine; and that you are growing closer to Him in the process as you walk beside us during this time. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

The other verse that God showed me this week has been such a stronghold in the past few days. I will leave you with these words written by David.

"One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard: that you, O God, are strong, and that you, O Lord, are loving." Psalm 62:11

That, right there, is all I need to know.

Molly

Oops!

2008-11-30T19:53:00.004-05:00

I found out that some of you were experiencing problems when you tried to post a comment. I believe it was a setting problem that should now be resolved. I'm sorry. Hope you'll try again!

- Scott

Giving thanks

2008-11-24T21:19:00.002-05:00

I have so much to be thankful for this season. Surgery as been scheduled for Dec 3rd at 12:30 pm at Methodist Hospital. My surgeons are two of the best neurosurgeons in the state. The swelling from the tumor seems to be going away with the steroids I'm taking, this has to happen in order to do the surgery. My family from KS came to visit this weekend and we had a wonderful time together laughing playing cards and just being together. I've never experienced such an outpouring of care, love and concern from so many friends asking what they can do to help. Our church has been so amazing I don't know what to say.

Scott's mother is dying soon from cancer herself. It could be anyday. These same wonderful people who are reaching out to us are also reaching out the same incredible way to the entire McCracken family.

Thank you God for loving us so much that your love is being poured out to us abunduntly. How do people get through these difficult times without their faith, friends and family?

As you sit down to your Thanksgiving dinner this year look around at the people you love and tell them all how much they mean to you. You never knbow what tomorrow will bring.

Susie

Where is God?

2008-11-22T20:51:00.002-05:00

As the news came to our family last Monday night that my cancer had returned, I was in shock, numb, unable to process what it meant. My mind jumped from one negative thought to the next. What will this do to my family, how long will I live, what will I have to go through to fight this? Where is God?

It didn't take long for me to see the answer. God was in the friends who showed up at the house that night to be with us and pray with us. He was in the many phone calls of people calling to offer to do whatever we needed. He was able to get me in to see Dr Terry Horner, one of the best neurosurgeons in the city and a dear friend of ours from church. He was in the hearts of my good friends who have offered to bring in Thanksgiving dinner for the entire McCracken family. He was in the many pastors who came by to pray with us.

I know the road ahead is going to difficult but I can't imagine going through this with out the love and support of my family and friends and a strong faith. I'm counting on your prayers to support me when I don't have the strength to pray. I can't say I'm ready to accept God's will yet, it's too scary to think about. But I know this is a journey and I know God is walking beside me.

Susie

He does love us...

2008-11-21T07:46:00.002-05:00

Well, I will allow my dad to fill you in on the details of what we are hearing from the doctors, but we have learned that Mom's cancer has spread to her liver and brain. They are planning to remove the spot in her brain on Wednesday, December 3rd. Until then, we are praying that the steroids she's taking will reduce the swelling in her brain caused by the cancer so that they may safely operate.

I want to share with you the lyrics to the song that reflects the title of our blog. As my dad said, it has given us a lot of hope during the tough times we've already had in the last couple months as we dealt with the news that the cancer has spread to her lympnodes. We are hoping to get the youtube site on here, so that you may hear the song, but the lyrics are as follows:

He is jealous for me,
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden,
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realise just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.

And oh, how He loves us so,
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us so

Yeah, He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.

We are His portion and He is our prize,
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,
If grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking.
So Heaven meets earth like a sloppy wet kiss,
And the heart turns violently inside of my chest,
I don’t have time to maintain these regrets,
When I think about, the way…

He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.
Yeah, He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.

John Mark Mcmillan

Lord, continue to let us feel your love.

Molly

About the title

2008-11-20T17:39:00.003-05:00

The title "How He Loves Q" is a play on the title of a song that has become somewhat of a family anthem of late. The actual song title is "How He Loves Us" by John Mark McMillan. During an emotionally dark time while Susie was recovering from her last surgery, Haley came home from school and sang that song to her mom to share God's heart toward her. Haley sang it to Susie, but God sang it to all of us in the room.
"Q" has been my pet name for Susie since we met while working on a guest ranch in Colorado 28 years ago.
-Scott