The Final (chemo) Lap! 🏁

When runners get close to the finish line, they don't slow down. Somehow, they find another gear - a little burst of that "finishing" energy to get them across the finish line strong. That's a little how this week is starting to feel.

This week is Jessica's final chemo treatment. 🎉 

It's hard to believe we're here. We feel like we've been coasting in our routine for a couple months. There have been ups and downs, appointments, lots more learning, and more vitamins, supplements, and healthy meals than I can count, but through it all, Jessica has continued to amaze me. She has a level of strength I was unaware of and would not have guessed until seeing it for myself. She keeps telling people that I'm the strong one helping her along, but I see it a little differently. She's the rock star making everything happen to support her body's healing. I guess that's what makes a good team - we see and lean on each other's strengths.

All along this journey, life has continued to happen. 

This past week, we celebrated Jessica's nephew's wedding with so much of her family and enjoyed some summer sun and fun at a local parade (does anyone want some candy? Ryker has a TON). Moments and events like these are good reminders that cancer doesn't get to dominate our lives every day. There is still joy to be found, memories to be made, and sunshine to soak up.

As excited as we are to cross the chemo finish line this week, we're also approaching the next steps with a mix of excitement, hope, humility, and faith.

On July 30, we meet with Jessica's oncologist and surgeon to discuss next steps. We're hopefully anticipating the chemotherapy has done exactly what it was intended to do, Jessica's efforts have made her body a cancer-fighting powerhouse, and God is using both. At the same time, we're trying not to get ahead of ourselves. One step at a time.

Through all of this, we're reminded that God doesn't always reveal the entire path ahead. More often, He lights the next step and asks us to trust Him with the one after that. So that's what we're doing.

For now, we're celebrating this milestone, looking forward to what comes next, and thanking God for carrying us through every mile of this journey so far.

And thank you—our family, friends, prayer warriors, meal makers, encouragers, text senders, huggers, and supporters. You've helped carry us too.

The finish line for chemo is getting close, and we're grateful to be running toward it together. 🏁💛