Joshua update and life update August 24, 2023

There are not many words in this update, but notice of video Alex made earlier today. It is about a half hour long and there is no good way to easily recap it. Since this blog goes up on the internet without much oversight, I am not going to share the link in this post, however I would be more than happy to email you the link if you've not seen it on facebook and would like to view it. Simply email us at TandonsinAsia @ gmail. com (you'll have to remove those spaces to make it work). We hope you can watch it, but if not the main summery would be, God is good, Joshua is healing, we are moving slowly back to normal and our original SA plan, holding all details lightly as God may re-order us.

Thanks again for all your prayers!

Bethany, for us all

Closing out July

Ironically, the last update I wrote just over a week ago was titled, Silence. As I'm starting this one the neighborhood icecream truck is stationed outside of our front window...anything but silence!

I'll try to keep this brief, but wanted to update everyone out there on the weekend happenings since I had mentioned some details last week about upcoming events.

Thank you for praying for Alex as he preached Sunday, here is the link if you'd like to take a look and listen: Alex Tandon - Awaken Columbia 7/30/23 He did a great job, and I don't think it's because I'm just biased!

Today started of super early with a great breakfast with friends we've not seen since living in Asia. It was well worth getting up at 5am and driving across town for!

Joshua and Alex left from breakfast to head to the clinic. His levels in some things were very good, his hemoglobin was ok but with us planning to be away for a few days they gave him some to be on the safe side. They stuck around there while he got blood right up until he went for his CT and then his MRI. We do not have the results of either as of yet, we continue to pray for good reports.

We were also able to celebrate Caleb off and on throughout the day. He enjoyed playing at home this afternoon with new Lego things and spending some time with some friends who came over for a few hours. Once we were all back home we enjoyed a nice dinner of 5 Guys Burgers and Fries, one of Caleb's most favorite meals!

Lord willing, we will hit the road early in the morning to go meet some other friends for a few days. We appreciate your prayers for safety for that trip as well.

Alex did post a facebook update earlier today if you'd like to take a listen, here is the link for that: Joshua Update July 31 He shares some of the same things I've shared above but a few more details and also a cool story about he and Joshua and how the Lord ordered their steps at lunch today.

There is also and AWESOME video of Joshua from when he was about 4 or 5 on a train ride in Asia. He's singing his heart out and I'm recording him, Alex was making funny faces behind my head. Take a listen, it will make you smile! Love that boy! If the link doesn't come up for you let me know: Bless the Lord

Below you can enjoy a few pictures of Caleb's birthday fun!

Thanks again for all of your faithful prayers!

Silence

For anyone who spends any length of time with the Tandon family, you’ll quickly realize that we have a chatterbox and three more quieter sorts. The chatterbox starts talking the moment he wakes up, and sometimes even talks in his sleep. To think that there were days when we were concerned if he would speak or not. I think most 4 (as of this coming Monday) year olds go, being a chatterbox is normal.

As I, Bethany, get older I realize I’m more and more like my Dad. He could be interactive and chatty if he needed to be, but most often he was the quiet one. I did always say though, when he spoke, you should listen because it was something important. I don’t necessarily feel that way about myself though, just so you don’t think I’m blowing my own horn. I simply want to bring out the point that more and more I’m seeing the need for silence.

With all of the crazy of the past six months, we have all been operating at breakneck speed. Our minds and bodies have been on a rollercoaster ride that has not let up. However, the past week I think we’ve kind of seen the evidence that we are starting to slow down. Trying to get some normal back. I’m noticing that there are certain noises that really put me on edge, silly things like the sink running at full open. There is something about the sound of the water gushing from the faucet that makes me want to scream, then there is the sound of LEGO being sorted. How is it, that no one has figured out how to make quiet LEGO????

I cannot tell you how thankful I am to have us all back home together, but boy do I sometimes need some silence. Today I’m getting a taste of that. A friend is away and her house is empty so I’m sitting here catching up on things, in the quiet sunlight of the day. It’s a joy. It’s a refreshment. It is oh so needed.

The last few nights I get in bed, we turn the light out and then instead of falling to sleep, my brain just turns on. Sorting out everything from washing clothes to fixing dinner. I have to make an effort to remind myself to stop thinking. Anyone else feel like that? I’m sure I am not alone!

In the silence of this morning, my mind has gone to the scripture that tells us to Be still and know that He is God (Psalm 46:10). The Lord will fight for me, I must only be silent (Exodus 14:14). Rest in the Lord, wait patiently for Him (Psalm 37:7). Reminders that Jesus stepped away to be silent and think, in the wilderness, on the mountain, he slept peacefully during a storm even. I’m so thankful for these reminders.

I’m thankful for the grace and strength that has brought us through the loud and crazy of the past few months, I’m thankful for how we’ve seen His hand at work in each of our lives. I’m thankful that at present we have hope that this season is turning a corner. I’m thankful for the silence today to reflect, but also to prepare for the days ahead.

We have a busy weekend and week next week, unless the Lord changes things up…which can happen! Sunday Alex is preaching (10am Awaken 171 Newland Road, Columbia SC) then we will have some lunch with available family to celebrate the aforementioned chatterbox’s birthday. Monday bright and early we start the day seeing some dear friends we did not think we’d get to see this summer, followed by a clinic visit for Joshua and an afternoon MRI/CT to do what we pray is a final post chemo check (for now, I’m guessing) to make sure that nasty cancer is gone. Tuesday, if all is going well we will take a bit of a road trip to see some other dear friends and spend a few days together before hitting the road back again for a clinic appointment Friday. Lots going on, but this brief silence is a gift to prepare my mind and heart for the good crazy ahead.

At present, we don’t know exactly what the road map of Joshua’s follow up care is going to look like. We covet your prayers for the doctors as they make decisions about when his Broviac can come out and when the next follow ups need to be scheduled. We are again, so very thankful for the care that we have received these last months. These medical professionals are such a gift, as are so many of you who have faithfully prayed for us and we know you continue to do so! We might not aways get to say thank you individually, but we are so thankful!