The Three Questions

Answering the three most common questions we've received since Jenn’s diagnosis: How we’re doing, how you can help, and how we’re holding onto hope.

Since the day we shared the news, we’ve been asked three questions over and over again—by friends, family, and even people we’ve only met in passing:

1. How are you, Jenn, and the kids doing and feeling?
2. Do you need anything or how can we help?
3. Is there a meal train or way to help with meals?

This blog exists to answer those questions honestly—sometimes messily, sometimes clearly—but always from the heart. Let me start with how we’re doing emotionally and spiritually. I’ll share more about Jenn physically at the end.

Jenn: A Warrior with Wounds

Jenn is a warrior.

She’s felt moments of discouragement and confusion, especially when she’s spending time with the Lord and He feels distant. Her heart longs to feel His nearness. She’s said more than once that she feels like she’s failing—as a wife, as a mom, or as a friend. But I’ll say this plainly: she isn’t failing. Not at all.

Even in her lowest moments, the phrase I keep hearing from her is this:
“I'm ready to kill this cancer.”

There’s a fierce determination in her eyes when she says it—a steady, single-minded resolve that won’t be deterred. Even when peace feels distant, her focus is unwavering.

The Kids: Tender Hearts in a Storm

This has been the hardest part of the journey so far—for both Jenn and me.

We’ve watched our kids wrestle with how to process what’s happening. They’ve asked a lot of questions. They’re trying to understand something that even we can’t fully make sense of.

The thing that seems to bring them the most fear is the thought of Jenn losing her hair. Both of them have said, very directly, that they don’t want to see their mom without it. They’ve begged her to get a wig. We hear the ache underneath that. It’s not just about the hair—it’s about everything that’s changing.

Their little hearts are troubled. And we carry that with us every day.

Me: Holding On and Letting Go

How am I doing?

That’s one of the hardest—and most complicated—questions to answer right now.

This morning, I woke up carrying a heavy weight of sadness. I think it’s the sorrow of watching Jenn struggle—and feeling completely powerless to make it better. That kind of helplessness cuts deep. It feels like a dark cloud hanging over me that I can’t quite shake.

But I’m learning not to rush past it. I’m asking the Lord to meet me *in* the sadness—not to take it away, but to be near in it. That’s my prayer today: Lord, give me grace to sit in the grief and help me remember I’m not alone.

There are moments when I feel strong and centered. And there are others when I feel numb, disoriented, or just plain tired. Sometimes all of those feelings show up in the same conversation. It’s like my emotional footing keeps shifting beneath me.

One verse has become an anchor for me. A dear friend shared it the morning I stood in front of our church and shared the news about Jenn:

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” -Psalm 32:8 (ESV)

That’s what I’m clinging to—that even when I don’t know the way forward, God does. He sees. He teaches. He leads. And He keeps His eyes on us.

My prayer lately is simple:
God, help me be willing to walk this road, to trust You, and to believe You are with us even here.

What Do We Need?

This is the hardest question to answer right now.

The honest answer? I don’t know.

I wish I could say “prayer,” and yes, we deeply need that and feel it—but truthfully, I don’t always have words for what we need. It’s not because we aren’t needy (we are), but because cancer moves the goalposts. What we need one hour might change the next.

So, thank you for asking. And thank you for understanding when we don’t have a clear answer.

Meals + Gift Cards

Many of you have asked about meals.

Here’s a link to the Meal Train: https://mealtrain.com/03elg4

If you feel led to help in that way, there’s also an option to leave a gift card, which can be a help for quick meals or groceries.

There’s no expectation here, just gratitude.

We’re thankful for every single way people have loved us, prayed for us, and stood with us.

Jenn’s Physical Health: A First Glimpse

Yesterday was a hard day for Jenn.

It seems like the steroid from her treatment wore off overnight, and she woke up with mild nausea and very little energy, nothing like the strength and clarity she’d felt on Monday. She spent most of the day resting or sleeping, which left her feeling deeply discouraged.

She was able to eat a little throughout the day and had a light meal last night before going to bed. The good news? She slept soundly and woke up this morning feeling like she could go to work.

That might seem like a small thing, but for her, it’s huge. She’s had real fear about missing work in the middle of all this. Being able to show up today felt like a win.

She wasn’t nauseous this morning, but she did feel shaky when she got to work. Our prayer today is simple: that God would give her the strength to make it through the day, and the wisdom to know when she needs to stop and rest.

Three Ways to Pray for Us

I want to end by circling back to the “What do you need?” question.

Here are three things we do know we need—your prayers:

1. For Jenn – That side effects will be minimal, and she’ll have enough energy to keep working when she’s able. We want to maintain as much normalcy as possible.

2. For our kids – That God will protect their hearts and give them peace and understanding as they walk through this unknown.

3. For all of us – That God would use this journey to draw us closer to Him and glorify Himself through it.

That’s been our motto from day one:
For God’s Glory and Our Good.

Thank you for walking with us.