Friday, November 28, 2014

Dillard Update

To celebrate their first Thanksgiving as husband and wife, Jill and Derick Dillard had dinner with Derick's family.

 Jill and Derick Dillard with Derick's mom, Cathy, and brother, Daniel

Jill is more than five months pregnant and is doing well. The Dillard family is mourning the loss of Grandma Vergie, who passed away earlier this week, but is rejoicing because they know they will see her in heaven someday.

This year, the Duggars and Dillards are especially thankful for the health of Derick's mom, Cathy Byrum. Cathy was diagnosed with Non Hodgkins Lymphoma, a cancer of the lymph tissue, on April 10th, two weeks after Jill and Derick's engagement. Despite her severe illness, she remained focused on God throughout her treatments.

Cathy believes that "sickness is a weapon the enemy uses to try to distract us from Kingdom work." She determined early on that she would fight her sickness by praying, reading the Bible, and sharing Jesus' love with others. Cathy's doctors are pleased with her progress, and her family is grateful to God for healing her of cancer.

93 comments:

  1. We have been praying for Cathy! God is good all the time, all the time God is good!!

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  2. Prayers for the family during a time of loss.

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  3. I am so grateful that facebook and other social media sites are now filling with the Good News, Kingdom thinking and Kingdom examples like the story above. Even though we may not know each other, I will be praying for you Cathy in this time that God will show himself to you, and be everything to you that you need right now! Blessings, to you all on your American Thanksgiving holidays!

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  4. Jill you look VERY happy, and I am VERY glad that Cathy looks soooo healthy too! I found out that Skylar is a Dutch name meaning scholar, with the way you met, what name would be better then that, and I wish you two a VERY healthy pregnancy!!!!!

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  5. So glad derricks mom is doing better. Jill u look beautiful and are glowing. Yesterday was one of the hardest times in my life. First thanksgiving without my mom. Has been 11 months since she passed. Next month will be the hardest since she passed away unexpectedly December 26th. Losing a loved one is so hard but I'm so very thankful I had 45ys with my mama. I hope that the rest of y'all's holiday season is wonderful. God bless you all.

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    1. I know how you feel Suzanne. I lost my mother the same day, Dec. 26th 2013. It's been a hard 11 months.

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  6. Great to hear Cathy is doing so much better.

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  7. So Sorry for there loss ,very pleased that Cathy feeling better, and very happy there spending there first Thanksgiving as husband and wife with his family , it very hard spendind time and spliting up time as husband and wife for the 1st time as a married couple , my husband family still get mad if he spend time with me and my family around the holidays and we have been married 17 years

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  8. My brother was diagnosed with this in 1985. They gave him 3 weeks...he is still going strong. Anything is possible with God's Grace.

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  9. I, personally am not a fan of the extremism in which the Duggars live, but I want to express my sincere happiness for Cathy Byrum. I am so grateful that she is well. I like this woman very much and she is the "mother of the year" as far as I am concerned. This woman has been through many of life's toughest challenges and has emerged intact and maybe stronger and better for them. So, so happy for her that she is well. There are good things for her to look forward to in her life and in her family. Her sons look like such nice guys. She is my age and I can relate. My best to you, Mrs. Byrum for good health and joy in your future...You have earned it!

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  10. So glad to hear that your mom is do awesome. Hope that you all have a special Thanksgiving

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  11. I am so very glad that Cathy is feeling so well. As to the rest of the post---I'll. just leave it at that

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  12. Jill looks great. Any names yet? Is there any update on Jess and Ben?

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  13. It's so great to see Cathy feeling better. My mother has battled breast cancer this year so I know how challenging it can be to see your parent go through this fight. I pray that she will continue to get better so that she can hold that new grandbaby coming in the spring.

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  14. God is good. Cathy looks soooooo much better now.

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  15. Thank you sweet Mrs Cathy for your wonderful testimony! You are such an encouragement to me. You always have a sweet look about you! Even through the whole wedding you didn't have a woe is me attitude! God bless you! So happy your family got to spend Thanksgiving with you!

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  16. now she is starting to really show her baby bump. have not seen a recent baby bump picture, the first few weeks they were everywhere (but could not really see anything) but now she needs to be posted her baby. :)

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  17. I'm so Happy his Mom is doing better! Praise God!

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  18. Happy Thanksgiving to all of you.So glad Ms.Cathy is doing well.I see Ms. Jill is getting big and looks great.God Bless you all

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  19. I so glad everyone is doing just fine and I hope this Christmas will bring for gifts

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  20. Praise the LORD Amen ,,so happy to hear Cathy is doing well and she looks so beautiful in this picture and so happy..I am so happy she will be able to share in the happiness of the upcoming birth of her 1st new grandson in march..so happy for you all ,know Derick and Jill and Daniel and the rest of the family are so happy to see their mom is doing so awesome...God Bless you Cathy and your family .,,amen

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  21. My dad has lymphoma. So glad she is doing well! I like Jill's hair too!

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  22. Is sickness really seen as a weapon? Sickness is because sin entered the world and as a result, we have sickness, death, etc. The world is not perfect and us Christian are not immune to it.

    Anyway, praise God that Cathy is healed :):):)!!! God is good- whether He chooses to heal or not.

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  23. Awe, that is awesome news! GOD is sooo great! What a blessing! Happy Thanksgiving to all of your family!

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  24. Such a blessing to hear that Cathy is doing well. I love your show. Jill looks wonderful and the wedding was so pretty. God Bless you all and continued prayers for Cathy!

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  25. Bonjour Cathy, Jill, Derick et Daniel!
    Happy Thanksgiving to you all !
    Very nice to see you Cathy smiling and looking so lovely !
    My sympathy to you all for your loss of grandma Vergie , celebrate her life !!
    With love from Québec, Canada
    Brigitte Estelle Gaudreault♡♡

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  26. So happy for them!!!!! =) glad that Cathy is doing well…..Jill looks wonderful!!!!! she's so big already, being pregnant suits her!! :-)

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  27. I'd be thankful of the doctors and nurses who are taking care of her also.

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  28. Amen! Ms Cathy you are so right!! God is our focus about all things! May God continue to bless you and your family!!

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  29. Glad things are going well for Ms Dillard sorry for there loss of there grandma an mother may God continue to bless there family.

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  30. Had been thinking about Derrricks momGlad to hear she's doing better

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  31. Happy Thanksgiving to both the Dillard and Duggar families. Im glad Cathy is doing well. I sorry for the families loss. Jill you look good. I enjoy reading and seeing these families on TV they are my role models.

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  32. Claudette in MissouriNovember 28, 2014 at 7:45 PM

    Im very pleased to hear Carol is doing better with her cancer. Jill looks very healthy and that is going to be one big boy or could she .......possibly having twins?? Now that would be exciting. I love to watch all the Duggars. What is the latest on Jana and Tim Tebow??

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    1. Really? I thought Tim was already married . . . dont believe rumors seriously.

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    2. You have the wrong person in mind , Tim Tebow is a loud and proud virgin, who is saving himself for marriage, he's quite a catch.He would be a nice match for Jana ,guess we will wait and see :-D

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  33. Happy Thanksgiving to the Dillards and Duggars. Jill you look beautiful as ever. I always loved being pregnant. Glad to see everyone is doing well and sorry to hear about grandma Vergie.

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  34. So glad to hear that Cathy is well! Hope they had a wonderful thanksgiving!

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  35. Happy for your mom Derrick she looks so much better, and you all look so happy, may God bless you all in the coming year.

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  36. Be hopeful, all of you. My baby brother, 58, has it too. He is in remission for the second year! Will add you to my pray list.

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  37. lily & ellie:
    is cathy remarried? i know derick's dad died while he was in college but i never see any pictures or hear anything about his step-father. you would think he would be in the family thanksgiving picture.

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    1. Hi Anonymous at 10:47am,

      Cathy remarried three years ago. Her husband's name is Ronnie.

      Blessings,
      Lily and Ellie

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  38. Thank you Jesus for laying your talking hands upon Cathy and for guiding the doctors and nurses that ate varying for her. I'm so happy for Derick and Jill and the entire family.

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  39. I don't understand this belief, although would like to understand this; that "sickness is a weapon the enemy uses to try to distract us from Kingdom work." Derick's mom said she determined early on that she would fight her sickness by praying, reading the Bible, and sharing Jesus' love with others. She also had chemo, didn't she, but this was not mentioned? Why do some sick people die anyway sometimes that have hundreds of people praying for them? Why do some sick people die anyway that pray, read the Bible, and share Jesus' with others?

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  40. I am beyond happy for them. I only recently started watching the show and I love the whole family. Each and every time I watch I can actually feel the love that that this family has for one another. The show inspires me, makes me laugh, and makes me cry...in a good way of course!

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  41. Glad that Cathy is doing well. Thank God, plus the medical community for tar care of her. Hope you had a great Thanksgiving.

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  42. To Susan Bodell: I'm so sorry for your loss. Losing a mother is so difficult, especially around the holidays. My heart goes out to you.

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  43. Er... instead of thanking God for healing her, maybe it be best to thank the doctors and modern medicine?

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  44. I am commenter #10. Having said that, where would Cathy's recovery have been if she ONLY prayed it away? I'm sure the medical treatment and care that she received from the physicians, nurses and technicians had a direct result in her today..I don't agree with her opinion that everyone who becomes ill is a result of the enemy in our lives...so not true. Things happen..plain and simple. It is how we come out the other end that the Almighty is paying attention to, IMO; and we should not be angry at the Lord for hardships or illness, but ask His strength in overcoming it and favorable results. I believe that Mrs. Byrum's good health is a result of BOTH effects; prayer AND excellent medical care..God bless those health professionals who made it physically possible for her..BTW, she is a stunningly beautiful woman, IMO..so stylish and well put together. All the best to her. Jill, make ALOT of room for this woman in your life; get to know her well and become her friend too; go to lunch, shopping, etc. take some fashion cues from HER. I'm so sorry for her mom's passing; now on with positive, and God's blessings in this Christmas season.

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  45. glad she is ok. but look at jills outfit seems her skirts are getting shorter and shorter. sorry but the modest imange is starting to go away. they need to look at what they project to the public.

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  46. Love watching the love you all share so happy for all of you !

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  47. Such great news about Cathy. I am so pleased to read that Derick and Jill spent their first married Thanksgiving with his family, especially since his mom had been so ill. For a first pregnancy, and Jill being so thin to start, she looks like she's about 7 or 8 months along. She looks lovely. I have a similar build and when I had my first pregnancy, I could not even wear maternity clothing until I was almost 7 months along. Someone mentioned her short skirt. She may be trying to wear her regular stretchy knit skirts as long as possible during pregnancy which would make it look shorter. It really looks great to me.

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  48. awwwwwww!!!! Jill looks so cute with her big baby bump!!!!!!!!! God bless them all!! Praise God for Cathy looking SOOOOO great!

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  49. So, it's okay for Derick's mom to wear jeans but not Jill. However, it's fine for Jill to be wearing a very short and immodest skirt??

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    1. The dress code was a Ma and Pa Duggar rule whilst under their roof.Sooooo,when they marry they can set their own standards/rules for their individual families, as it should be.They are free to fly after the vows, let them make their own choices and lest not judge like those haters, we dont need that here, as good Christians we should lead a positive example by not stooping to their level...right?

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  50. I'm so happy to hear an updates on Cathy. I pray she just gets better and better with Gods help nothing will stop her. Love the pic hope you all had a blessed Thanksgiving by the pic it looks like you did. Blessings to all. May God keep healing Cathy each day.

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  51. You really need to ask yourself why you are looking at the woman's knees. She is expecting. She has a leg bent is all. I'm glad her MIL feels completely comfy in jeans. It's nice to see that marrying a duggar doesn't mean they had to change.

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  52. Why does Derrick's step-father always look so mad. I have never seen him smile. He always looks like he has eaten sour grapes even at the wedding.

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  53. I think Jill's mother-in-law is much more modest in her jeans then Jill is in her short skirt. That's sad because I thought the Duggars used to try and be modest.

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  54. I am encouraged by Jill purposing to prioritize sharing Thanksgiving with Derick's family, Cathy is fragile and I can imagine how blessed Derick felt to have Jill agree to be by his side with his family!!! Stay strong Cathy! Very happy you are feeling good!

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  55. I am so glad to see Cathy is doing better! Continued prayer for her and the family as they face the loss of Grandma. God is Good!

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  56. nice to see his MOM in PANTS ! still a CHRISTIAN EVEN IN JEANS! HOPE DUGGARS TAKE NOTICE! glad you are feeling well . mrs. dillard

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  57. glad for god healing on this family

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  58. Pretty girl really her skirt is your main concern?

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  59. @pretty girl But she is young - she doesn't have to wear collars and long skirts. Jill and the rest of the Duggars are their own people - do not have to follow their parents. In my opinion there is nothing wrong with that - who knows, perhaps some of the girls may even wear jeans and cut down their hair (but it would be such a pity - their hair is just splendid).

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  60. There comes a point when someone's hair is just too long and the Duggar older girls and Michelle have reached that point, IMO. They all need a good encounter with a pair of scissors; I'd say about 8 inches would do it.

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  61. Thank you for sharing!
    Such a sweet couple and a wonderful celebration. So thankful his mom is doing so well to share the holidays and the birth of her grandchild.
    Who is Tim Tebow? Jana has a bow? ...A lot of whispering about several of the kids right now..wish them all the best and hope none is hurtful gossip......so hard to keep personal life personal while in the spot light...

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    1. Tim Tebow was a professional football player and a good Christian man.

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  62. So pleased Jill wear a shorter skirt ! She 's blooming. Superbe. Hope all had a nice Thanksgiving.

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  63. Mrs. Byrum , so glad you're doing better. Jill you are glowing and beautiful as ever. Derick,Jill, Mrs.Byrum, Michelle, Jim Bob, Derick's Brother( I'm sorry I have forgotten his name) and all the families, you're in my continual prayers.

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  64. they want to project this whole Christian modest wear. then they must watch what they project to the public. I follow Christ and I do not wear just skirts. but if i keep telling the world I do one thing and then they see me doing another thing they are going to start to doubt their faith. So if Jill her saying she is modest then show us. I see the duggars becoming more worldly in their outside actions, like selling out to people magazine. So they must watch what they project to the public. That is all I am saying. If jill wants to cut her hair and wear pants then let it come out of her month.

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  65. Because it is God's will. But because He asks us to pray, we do, in obedience, with desire in our heart, but always in "Thy will be done, not mine"

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  66. @Anonymous

    Jill's skirt is not immodest. Right down to the knee looks great and she wears the look well. Jeans, knee length skirts. Does it really matter?

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  67. Wow all of the Duggar girls have such beautiful hair, including mama Michelle. Speaking of Michelle, I am glad she wears it curly rather than straightening it the way it was straightened in her make over. She looked terrific with her new doo but her curly hair really suits her.

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  68. Jill looks great and her skirt is perfect in length! She is pregnant for goodness sakes. Besides, it is up to her now how long or short she prefers.
    I hope Jana is dating that wonderful man, Tim Tebow. They would look so cute together.I bet he would treat her like a queen.

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  69. Okay, Jana is not courting Tim Tebow. The tabloids are just stirring up trouble. The Duggars are able to keep courtships quiet, the tabloids would not be able to get information. It would have been announced by People Magazine if it was true.

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  70. Every time I see pictures of Derrick and his family, his Step-father is never in the pictures. Why is this man never acknowledged? Anonymous said...56 said why does he always look grumpy? How would you know what his facial expression is, He is never in any of the "family" pictures. I just don't understand this.

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  71. Here is Grandma Vergie's obituary:
    http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/oklahoman/obituary.aspx?pid=173321893

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  72. Why isn't Derrick's step-father ever photographed with them? I think he was only shown a couple of times on the wedding show.

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  73. Praise the Lord for His healing Derick's Mom and for how healthy Jill looks. So does Derick's Mom, both ladies look beautiful! I was kind of concerned that Jill was eating raw milk yogurt that had sat out at room temperature for hours. Raw milk is banned in MO and I just would want their baby and Jill to be healthy. Just a thought. I pray for you all daily. I love your show.

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  74. Beautiful family!

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  75. Glad to hear Dericks Mom is doing well. Hope you all enjoyed your Thanksgiving.

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  76. My husband was diagnosed with Lymphatic Leukemia in Jan. of 1982, just before our second wedding anniversary. He endured the difficult treatments necessary and long before the doctors imagined he was in complete remission (about 6 weeks after treatments began!). Despite our witnessing to the doctor in charge of his treatment (he was an atheist) he always had some reservation, some "don't get your hopes up" response but now, almost 33 years later (PRAISE THE LORD!) AND three children they didn't expect we would be able to have, this doctor has at least admitted "if there ever was a miracle" my husband is a miracle. Our advise has always been to TRUST the LORD alone and take those doctors "predictions" as advice. The Lord knows our future and He hears our prayers. Praying for healing, strength and much joy for you Cathy!

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  77. Is it true that Janna is talking to Tim Tebow?

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  78. I WANT TO THANK MICHELLE! You have taught me to have more PATIENCE, love, tolerance, and to teach my child about the LORD! You are truly doing gods will daily. You have helped me become a better mom, wife and christian and I thank u

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  79. Such a sweet family!! Happy Thanksgiving!

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  80. So glad Cathy is doing better. I think she will be a wonderful influence on Jill. I would like to point out though you are not considered cured of cancer until after 5 years have gone by. I know I have family members who have cancer and have died of cancer. I am glad you have your faith to sustain you Cathy. My mom would always tell me to never lose faith.

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  81. Sweet family!! Glad you had a nice Thanksgiving!

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  82. Keep fighting and God bless you

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