It’s The Final Countdown

January 25, 2022

Dee doo dee doo de do deet doot doo. Dee doo dee doo do de do deet doot doot deet do

Dee doo dee doo de do deet doot doo. Dee doo dee doo de do deet doot doot do do dooto doo dooto do do doot doot do de do

It’s the final countdown!

😂😂

Ok, so if you read this far in, I’m sure you are thinking, “well, Ray has finally snapped!”

You can’t rule that out yet. 😎

This song plays in my mind more than I’d like to admit. This hit was released in 1986. I can’t even remember a time in my life where I didn’t know or hear it at some event, game, camp, wedding – you name it. It’s been used and overused most of my life. A quick search shows that the music video on YouTube has almost 1 Billion views!! Wow!

In case you didn’t know, Kristi’s big surgery is within 24 hours of right now. They will go in and try to repair the hole in her colon, remove her spleen, and possibly the tail of her pancreas. It’s a big deal! My mind won’t stop playing the intro to “The Final Countdown”. We are grateful that we actually have time to prepare, get Kristi’s body ready, and take time to experience the countdown together.

Last week, when we were told she would have emergency surgery, we felt like we were jerked awake from a deep sleep only to find ourselves falling off a cliff with no parachute or rope to grab onto. There was no countdown or preparation. We thank God for time.

Kristi is doing well since last Monday (1.17.21). Her vitals have returned to normal. White Blood Count is back to normal. The Doctors say she is ready for the procedure tomorrow. So now we countdown the time. Not in an anxious or stressful way, but in anticipation to face this battle ready and then move to the next stage of war.

We finally got the final biopsy results back last night. Triple Negative! This is great news in a difficult situation. This means the original diagnosis of non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Defuse Large B-cell lymphoma, is still accurate and we are on the right treatment track. We are grateful for your prayers and have seen them in action right before our eyes.

As I read through Isaiah, I see God’s character over and over again. We are all on a final countdown. We are all walking toward an eternity. Many of us try to do it alone. Some with 1 or 2 close friends. Others of us have a gang of friends and family around us. And still some have whole communities that surround us with love. Isn’t it interesting that with so many people around, we can still feel alone. Those feelings are fleeting and yet they are there. Maybe the enemy sends a messenger or two of evil to distract us with loneliness? And yet, God is always there. He is ever present. He not only goes with us, He carries us.

“I will be your God throughout your lifetime— until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.”

Isaiah 46:4

In this final countdown to Kristi’s surgery. God cares for us and carries us. If you don’t have this experience, call out to Him! He is near. He will listen. He will care and carry you too! His name is Jesus and He is closer than you think.

Ray Rhoton

#kristiswar

#jointhefight