New Growth

Growth can be fast or it can be slow.

Growth can be a pleasant experience or a more painful one.

Growth can be seen or unseen.

Growth can happen in an orderly way or it can seem to jump around in all directions.

Sometimes growth can be tangibly measured and sometimes it cannot.

Since Jasmine came home from the hospital, there have been so many forms of growth for her and the whole family!

There has been new growth physically for Jasmine: new hair (curly!) growing on her head and new beautifully long and thick eyelashes. Her muscles are strong, as well as her stamina and endurance. Her body is healthy and full of new cells fighting for her, not against.

This summer season brought normal, as well as new activities. The Adams family were able to go on their annual camping trip with wonderful friends, and also joined their family at the annual Taber Corn Fest. Jasmine was thrilled to try some new adventures like wakeboarding and dirt biking, and cancer has not slowed her down one bit!

The Adams family also grew by one number, adding a new female Whippet puppy named Samus. She is cuddly and adorable – the perfect addition.

Today was Jasmine’s first day back at school since the beginning of January. She will be going at her own pace with regards to full days at school (depending on how she is feeling) but she is very determined and optimistic, and delighted to be back. We are so thankful for the normalcy of her being back in school.

There have been many areas of growth that can be noticed and measured, and the hope from these things is life-changing. But there has also been a lot of growth below the surface, out of sight, that we need to acknowledge too, even if it is harder to measure.

There has been the growth of HOPE, especially since the dark days in the ICU. Our capacity for hope has grown as God has led us through discouragement and trials and brought us out the other side.

There has been growth of JOY as the little things suddenly become more noticeable and important, and gratitude for them increases. Touching deeper sorrows brings heightened joy, and regular laughter has been one evidence of that.

There has been new growth of FAITH in who God is, as we have seen what He can do and how He does not change even when things look hopeless.

Lastly, there has been the slow growth of TRUST; trust that God is still good, that He is still faithful, and that He is still worthy of leading our lives. It can be scary to let go of the safety nets and not live waiting for the next bomb to drop. But this new growth is even more secure than before, and the baby steps of trust bring freedom.

It has been hard to process and put to words how things have been since our last update, mostly because a lot of this growth is slow, not orderly at all, and much is below the surface.

But after 3.5 months of Jasmine being home, we are able to see more clearly the bigger picture of all God has done and is continuing to do.

Thank you, Army, for journeying with us.

Much love!

“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.” Jeremiah 17:7-8