Priest Lake (fall edition)

a few weekends ago we met my mom, jacob, and bennett at PRIEST LAKE! 

jake had just met with the melanoma specialists, and i think everyone needed a break.. i cant think of a better, more peaceful place then priest lake in the fall. 

it was really, really good. we hiked to the waterfall, we ate yummy food, played boom boomboom, watched movies and talked. went on canoe rides. and we even jumped into the freezing lake! (even me.. so thats big) 

it was amazing to see and hug my brother. i havent seen him since his diagnosis a month or so ago. since then he's undergone invasive surger to his head, neck and shoulder, and had to face ALOT. in a very short amount of time for a 17 year old boy. i loved seeing him play with the girls, to throw them around, and make them giggle and laugh. i loved seeing him laugh and smile at tylers dumb jokes and massivley huge taco. 

jacob starts chemo on monday. a very intesne concoction of chemo that will keep him in the ICU for 5 days, then have 10ish days off. then 5 days on. for about 12 weeks. in between the hospital, he will give himself injections. and then following chemo, he will do radiation. it is alot. and i can't imagine what this is like for him.. but for me it is emotional. and some mornings, i just start the day off in tears wondering why? how? feeling helpless, homesick, and fearful for my baby brother. other days.. i feel so hopeful, and have no question in my mind that he can totally beat this!! it's up and down. he is going to fight like hell. and he IS going to beat this. i love him. and i am so proud of him. he is a spirtital giant, and he was before all this. his testimony puts all of us at ease, because he is so faithful that God is looking out for him, that God has a plan for him. i am very thankful for that.

i will continue to update here on our family blog as new things come. as they do, everyday it seems. for now we are praying constantly for uncle jake, and enjoying all the time that weve spent with him! :)