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Tuesday, Jan 1, 2008
Dear Wonderful Friends and Family,
My heart is so full right now as I write
this letter. What a year 2007 has been. Some people say that the
first year of marriage is the hardest. I think Eric and I can
both agree that the second year of our marriage was a bit more
challenging. Having our own little place that Eric’s awesome
boss allowed us to stay in Bakersfield the first year of our marriage
was a huge blessing! We met some wonderful people that we will
always stay in touch with. When Eric’s job moved us back
to Camarillo in December of 2006 we moved in with his parents.
What a blessing that turned out to be. It is a lovely little addition
to their home and Eric and his dad built a walk-in closet and
a bathroom with a nice Jacuzzi tub and shower. We have our own
entrance, which we don’t use yet. It is a very cozy little
place and we are very grateful to his parents, Lew and Lorrie,
for allowing us to live here. It is truly amazing what you find
out about people through times of hardship and trial. After my
cancer diagnosis in January of this, or I guess I should say last
year, the outpouring of love and prayers was so abundant that
I almost felt like I didn’t deserve so much attention. The
treatments treated me well. I didn’t get sick or extremely
fatigued and when I did feel exhausted, there were many family
members and people from church who would go out of there way to
bring us meals and offer help. We are very grateful. Eric and
I have received countless letters, donations, gifts, and cards
from strangers, friends, family, and even anonymous people and
we will forever be in their debt. We thank you from the bottom
of our hearts. Words cannot even express our gratitude. I am also
grateful to God for trusting Eric and I with this trial, allowing
us to grow and become closer to each other and to Him. It is unfathomable
to think that what we have gone through this year is so miniscule
compared to the trials Jesus had to endure. There were many times
when I was in the hospital going through a painful procedure where
I turned to the Savior and knew without a shadow of a doubt that
He was there with me, holding me in His arms. He knew exactly
what I was going through. Every pain. Every heart-ache. Every
bad day. Every tear. Every struggle. He has been there for each
and every one of us and will always be, if we will allow Him to.
At the close of this year, we pray that we can all take the lessons
we have learned and carry them into 2008. We pray that the New
Year will bring joy, new friendships, rekindled old friendships,
success, and an even greater capacity to love and serve others
as well as a greater ability to never take life or health for
granted.
Love & Blessings,
Eric & Shelsi Stolworthy
January
20, 2007: Bowling 5 days before diagnosis
Ventura
County Hospital 2 days after diagnosis
Eric
shaves my head after hair starts to fall out
Following
Brain Surgery
Sportin'
a new hair style on a double date to the Cheesecake Factory
Perfect
day at Sea World to close the year
Bald
yet again (a small price to pay to be cancer free!)
Happy
New
Year
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