Cancer - One Year Later

Sam and Penny on September 6th, one year after Sam was diagnosed with cancer.

September 26th: We had a little get-together today in honor of Sam. Her family put up some decorations and they came to our home to celebrate.

From Sam: 

My mom and sister asked me the other day to pick one word that I would use to describe my last year. As I brainstormed with Daniel, the following words came to mind:

mercy

gratitude

trial

tears

refinement

miracles

humbling

stressful

heart-wrenching

unexpected

life-changing

prayers

healing

trying

frustrating

peaceful

refocus

support

stretching

testing

repentance

joy

growth

I finally settled on the last word—growth. This last year has been a tremendous year of growth for me. As I thought about all these words it seemed to me that all the tears, the miracles, the prayers, the frustrations, the support, the testing, the peace, the unexpectedness, the joy, and so on, all have caused me to grow. Grow in my faith and trust in Jesus Christ. Grow in my love for my dear husband, grow in love for my children and other family relationships, grow in understanding about my life’s purpose, grow in improved physical health, grow in discipline in how I choose to use my time, and grow in gratitude for each day of life—not just to live, but to become the person Father in Heaven would have me become.

Grandpa Coombs (Sam's father), Spencer (Sam's brother), Douglas, Jori (Spencer's wife), Sam, Schofield (son of Spencer and Jori), Taylor (Sam's sister), Penny, Kate (Sam's sister), Grandma Coombs (Sam's mother), and Diana

From Sam: 

What Having Cancer Has Taught Me:

1. God can be trusted. 
2. One need not suffer alone—Jesus Christ is willing and able to carry our burdens (Matthew 11:28-30). 
3. It is a wise thing to ask for help when you need it and be willing to allow others to help you. 
4. God is compensatory. 
5. Life is too fleeting to be distracted by things (and sometimes certain relationships) that do not help us to reach our divine potential and to get on, and stay on the covenant path to God. Do not waste time climbing the ladder next to the wrong building. 
6. Miracles happen—not just once in a while—but ALL the time. God is truly in the details of our lives. 
7. Keep a journal—it helps you to remember all the miracles and see the progress you have made in your life. 
8. God does hear and answer our prayers. 
9. Increased spiritual strength, clarity of mind, healing, and peace are some of the results that come when people unite their faith in prayer and fasting in behalf of another person. I have been the beneficiary of such prayers and fasting and have felt that power. It is real. A small sacrifice by one can bring great blessings to another. 
10. Hard is good—it makes us stronger, refines our priorities, forces soul-searching and course correction, and makes more room for joy in our lives. 

Douglas asked for the "W" portion of the dessert, and he's about to put his finger in the frosting to test it out.

Diana - she's a happy and healthy one-year-old in part due to the mothers who donated milk while Sam was doing her treatments, and many others who donated time and attention to Sam and the children.