Trey Tuesday - August 26, 2014

Be The Giver

No, not the Lois Lowry/Hollywood "The Giver."

And none of us can compare to the Ultimate Giver Jesus Christ!  :)
But God (and society interestingly enough) calls us to give what we can, when we can.

Trey has stumped the doctors yet again.  Jay and Rachel's update today:

Trey is not making his own platelets and still rejecting (so far, 8!) bags of donated platelets!! He's bruising easily...but hasn't slowed down a bit, which makes me nervous!!!  Please think about contacting the Central Blood Bank (or your local blood bank) to make a general donation. 8 bags of platelets means that 25-30 people's donations will have been used!!

Those of you who are able, giving blood is a great way to help Trey!  (It's very cumbersome to donate directly to Trey, so Jay and Rachel just ask for you to donate generally to your local blood bank.)  While you are there, speak of our Young Warrior and our Mighty God Who has sustained Trey and his family!  :)

Or take this opportunity to be a different kind of Giver - time, talents, treasures, attention, prayer, meals, yard work, shopping, babysitting, transportation.  Team Mitlo One reaches around the world.  There is someone, somewhere in your circle who needs a blessing!  Share Trey's journey with your recipient as you give!  :)

And speaking of prayer - please pray for a miracle bag of platelets to be at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh UPMC that Trey's body will accept and spur him on to make his own platelets!

Please also pray for Trey's parents as they patiently tread through this new chapter!

Many praises as Trey did get to go to his first day of Kindergarten yesterday!  And Joe and Bella jumped right back into their school routine!  :)

And as always, please pray for Trey's complete healing!

"Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."  2 Corinthians 9:7

Trey Tuesday - August 19, 2014

Not If or When but As...

Where do you live?

On the "If" side of life?  The "When" side of life?  Or the "As" side of life?

"If I get that new job...."
"When I lose that last 10 pounds...."

"As things are today...."

We don't need to ask Trey which way he lives.  He's a VERY "As" kind of boy!
As he walks he talks and laughs and plays and loves and tries to outwit his parents!  :)

Trey doesn't sit around pondering, "If my nurse next week doesn't like me...." or "When Kindergarten picture day comes, I hope I know how to position my head just right for the camera..."

Why waste time on the "ifs" and "whens?"

All God gives us is "As."

Please pray for Trey AS he continues to regain "health" and strength from his treatment.

And for Rachel AS she prepares the kids for the return to school.

For Jay AS he juggles fatherhood, pastorhood and coachhood.

For Joe and Bella AS they finish off summer enjoying sunshine and cousins and pool time!  :)

And as always, AS his treatment is destroying cancer cells, for Trey to be completely healed from cancer.

"Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near."

Isaiah 55:6

Trey Tuesday - August 12, 2014

Ready...Set....

Camp Cathy 2014 has already come and gone!  Our family certainly enjoyed our "Throwback Week!"  Having Joe and Bella with us while Trey was receiving his treatment was a throwback into the days of Polly Pocket, Disney channel, fruit snacks and living life through the eyes of children!  :)  This glorious time began when we met Rachel and Trey at a hotel near Philadelphia after their turnpike trip across the state.  An evening of hotel elevator antics, restaurant dinner, hotel pool (complete with a rousing game of Fish, Fish, Shark - think Duck, Duck, Goose) and bedtime story telling left this aunt feeling blessed beyond belief!

As I settled into bed that night, I thought about my Bible app verse of the day:

"Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things."  Colossians 3:2

Wait, what?  Don't set my mind on these earthly things like sweet and treasured memories with my niece and nephews (and A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. sister-in-law!)?!?!?  I took my concern to the Lord and He met me there.  Yes, cherish these times, but also yes indeed, "Set my mind on Things above."  Set my mind on Him who gave me these treasures!  Set my mind on the Joy God alone can promise!  Set my mind on His everlasting, absolute Truths!

Camp Cathy wasn't 100% perfect, and for the missing 0.00009999%, God was still good, faithful, loving and trustworthy!  (And probably teaching me more than in the good times!)  Even Trey, equipped with a catheter, infused with a high dose of radiation, confined to a bed for 5 days, unable to snuggle with his mommy, found joy above his circumstances and shared that joy with all his "girlfriend" nurses!  :)

This Trey Tuesday, let's lift our Young Warrior high as we entrust Him to God's plan again and again!  Please pray for him this week as he recovers from his radiation treatment - for a return to his robust eating, regained strength and health.  Please also pray for a return to "normal" at the Mitlo house, and rest and recovery for all of them!

Ready...Set...Go!
"Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires."  Romans 8:5

Trey Tuesday - August 5, 2014

Road Trip!!

The Mitlos are packing the van again, heading east for Trey to receive another round of intense radiation therapy this week in Philadelphia.  (Major praises here as the last round changed Trey from being a weak, sickly, quiet, thin boy back to being a vibrant, "healthy", silly, loud, charmer!  And ALWAYS our Young Warrior!)  :)

Your family vacation lists are probably very similar as the Mitlo Family Road Trip:

clothes, toys, screens, snacks, drinks, GPS, etc.

Everything all lined up for your destination....that is when God allows us to know the destination.

As we walk this daily walk of faith, God doesn't tell us the way, or give us the way...

Jesus answered, "I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me."  John 14:6 
This is a great lesson that Trey's journey has taught us.  Yes, we need to live today and plan for tomorrow, but Jesus, the Way, will lead us triumphantly....like our Young Warrior!  :)

Please be praying this week for:

Rachel as she maneuvers the driving to Philadelphia and endures another 5 days in the radiation room with Trey under major restrictions.

Trey as he receives this radiation - for it to continue to annihilate the cancer!

Jay as he stays at home and works.

Joe and Bella as they get to join the road trip this time to come and stay and play with Aunt Cathy and Uncle Steve and Joe and Natalie!  :)  (Hurray for us!)  :)

CHOP staff and facilities (especially Trey's best aide, Lora!) - for the love of God to wash over them as Trey and Rachel spend time there. 
And as always, for Trey to be healed! :)

"The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in Him"

Psalm 37:23