This second week in our journey with Caylea's cancer diagnosis has gone very differently than the first.
The appointment with Dr. Kurtz was helpful but not as definitive as we thought.  We found out Dr. Kurtz will be the surgeon removing some lymph nodes (found along the neck and under the armpit).  A cosmetic surgeon, Dr. Chang, will be taking the tissue from around the site of the mole (also needing to take a graft from her thigh for the repair of that site).  Once the surgery takes place and the sample nodes and tissue has been tested, then we will have more idea at what stage the cancer is or is not.
Caylea went ahead with going up to Nipawin for the graduation exercises.  Why not?  Life goes on and she feels normal and fine.  She came home Monday with her car and all her stuff that had been stored during her drama tour.  Also, she brought home a young man to visit for the week.  Kevin, the leader of the Upside Down Drama Productions ministry, seems to be interested in our daughter and so we've become acquainted with him this week.  Like I said, life goes on!
Midweek, Caylea received a call to say the surgery is set for May 5.  She'll have some pre-op preparations on May 4 and then the procedures the next day.  Again, this date works out perfectly with the plans Caylea had made before the diagnosis.  She planned to fly to Ontario to meet Kevin's family and that can still happen.  This news put a big smile on her face!
Also, Walter and I had a couple trips planned to visit our Healing Hearts staff and we are able to make those commitments with a couple days to spare.
So, I am so relieved that this second week has been less shocking and less

raw with emotion.  I'm not going to say that we are fully in acceptance mode, but some "normal" has returned to our home and our day to day routine.
I praise the Lord for answering our prayers for peace and strength to cope with this new reality.
I am so thankful for how the surgery date allows us to carry on with life and ministry to a degree.
I am very aware that the grace I felt that first week was such a gift from the Lord.  I don't feel that exact same sustaining sensation, but this second week I have still been blessed with Scriptures and with the encouragement of praying family and friends.
We still have to wait for the surgery and results to really know what Caylea's future holds.  But I am holding on to a verse in 2 Peter that speaks to me:
"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." (3:18a)
This experience is the opportunity for Caylea to grow in grace and knowledge in her spiritual journey.  As parents, it is also our opportunity for growth, for maturing, for faith to increase as we trust God with our daughter.
Lord, help us grow in You.  Show us more of Yourself as we wait and trust...