2/18/25

Isaiah 46:3-4 “…you have been borne by Me from birth and have been carried from the womb; even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you! I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will deliver you.” 

Welcome to our last day of videos! It has been an amazing week celebrating all that God has done over the last ten years. Today’s video includes: Lori, Yuan, Joan, Matt/Catherine, Rebecca (me). 

Lori was featured briefly the other day when she shared about how loud was before his surgery. Although he lost some of that the first time, it was really the second surgery and regrowth of the tumor that has caused Wayne’s speech to struggle. But Lori is another special person in our life that she is a bright light in this dark world. She was more than a coworker, she is a friend.

Yuan is Wayne’s English partner that we met back in 2019. Thanks to technology, we have been able to talk with their family almost in a weekly basis. They will be one of the families we spend time with in China because they are our family!

God brought Joan into our lives when we moved here in 2019. She has played an integral role and has become part of our family! We love you Joan!!

Matt and Catherine are close friends from Wayne’s days at Moody Bible Institute. They also traveled to Chicago after Wayne’s first brain surgery. I remember what an encouragement they were to me! There is nothing like laughter and food to distract from a difficult day. Add friends that love Jesus and you have a perfect day. Thank you for being such good friends!

Finally, I will finish off the video sharing some closing thoughts. I’m also sharing one of our favorite songs that ties into the hope that we have because of Jesus. 💙

We are so blessed to have such amazing people in our lives!! Thank you again to all of you. We appreciate the prayers over the years and for the current prayers. 

 

2/17/25 Celebration Continues and Prayer Requests

1 Chronicles 16:8-12 "Oh give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples. Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; speak of all His wonders. Glory in His holy name; let the heart of those who seek the Lord be glad. Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face continually. Remember His wonderful deeds which He has done, His marvels and the judgments from His mouth."

We are down to the last two days of celebration videos. Today features: Mike and Terri, Jennifer, Tyson and Renee, Bryan and Tracy, and Jonathan.

First up is Mike and Terri, who were our neighbors for 13 years. Our kids were inseparable. Pretty crazy that between our two families, we had 11 daughters. Ten years ago, Terri came to my rescue and took the girls so I could go to the hospital and see Wayne.

Next up is Jennifer, another one of Wayne's co-workers. She was around the day Wayne had his grand mal seizure. In a crazy series of events, she now works with my future brother'n'law, Steve.

Tyson and Renee are good friends of our family from our days at Moody Bible Institute. We have remained close to them over the years and have stopped by their house numerous times. We have made many special memories with them, including Tyson and Renee coming to Chicago after Wayne had brain surgery. They may not be related by blood, but they are part of our family.

After Tyson and Renee is Bryan and Tracy. They are friends from Chicago who were part of our small group at church. We consider them part of our family.

Finally, Jonathan, Wayne's life group leader, shares his thoughts about Wayne.

Prayer Requests:

- Please pray for my dad's pet scan today. 

- Please also pray for Grace as she travels home from Lynchburg. She traveled there to visit Abigail and also her old teammates from Life Action.

- Finally, please pray for me. I have been having some bad joint pain. I read it can be a side effect from my immunotherapy. 

2/16/25 Family Shares

Psalm 33:3-5 "Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully with a shout of joy. For the word of the Lord is upright, and all His work is done in faithfulness. He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the lovingkindness of the Lord."

Welcome to another day of videos! Today we will hear from the Harder family, Rachel/Steve, Troy, and the Thomas family.

First up is Kevin, Wayne's brother, and his family. You can't help but smile when you see all the kids and their excitement and love.

Next, is Rachel and Steve. Rachel is my baby sister and Steve is my future brother'n'law. We love the both of them and are excited for their upcoming wedding.

After Rachel is Troy. His friendship with Wayne goes back to around 2004. After Wayne's first surgery, Troy visited Wayne numerous times. After his second surgery, while we were living in Chicago, Troy would weekly meet up with Wayne for dinner. He is truly an amazing friend to Wayne.

Finally, today's video series ends with a special message from my parents. This video is extra special considering all that my dad is facing. Speaking of which, please pray for his petscan on Monday. We are praying that they don't find anything else besides this spot on his face. Please pray boldly with us!

 

2/15/25 Day 5

James 1:2-4 "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

I thought I'd have fun on this 5th day of videos with a silly, little poem. 

Wayne, on day five, we celebrate that you are alive. 

Although you cannot drive, you strive each day to be the best you can be!  

We are so thankful that you dive into everything with all you have. 

Here's to another 10 years to thrive and survive!

Today's video includes: Randy/Jill, Meghan, Suzy, and Abigail.

Randy and Jill are friends from church, who are more like family to us. So many people have stepped up the last two years to be a blessing to our family, and Randy and Jill are two of them. Thank you for loving our family so well!

Next is Meghan, who is like our 7th daughter. She grew up down the street from the girls in Chicago. The girls were always at each other's houses and since we moved to KY, she spends at least a week around Christmas and during the summer with us. She has even been on our family vacations with us. We love you Meghan!!

Suzy is a close friend from Chicago. She is like family and our kids call her Aunt Suzy. We are so blessed that we can call her our friend.

Finally, Abigail wraps up today. I am always amazed at how much wisdom she has. I can tell that she has shared on a few Inheritance of Hope panels. I know God has great plans for her and Elijah's life! 

2/14/25: Day 4

John 14:6 "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.'" - Joella picked the verse for today

I cannot believe that we are already on day 4 of our videos to celebrate Wayne's 10 year brain cancer anniversary! Is it just me, or do the weeks fly by?

On today's episode, we will hear from Pat, Joella, Lori, and Naomi.

First up is Pastor Pat, our pastor at Grace Baptist Church. Speaking of time flying, it is hard to believe that we moved to KY six years ago! We are so thankful that we found such an amazing church when we moved here.

Joella then shares about life over the last 10 years with her dad having cancer. It is interesting to hear some of the kid's interpretations of events. All her memories of Wayne include brain cancer. She doesn't remember him before cancer since she was so young.

Lori, who was one of Wayne's co-workers at two different accounting firms, is a great friend of the family. She shares one video today to lighten the mood and then will share another video later this week. For those who didn't know Wayne before his first surgery, he was always very loud. His mom jokes that you could hear Wayne WAY before you could see him. 

We will end today with Naomi sharing about the last 10 years. We have left each video raw and uncut so you can all see their personalities. Naomi's ADHD clearly shines through her clip.

2/13/25: Day 3 and Huge Prayer Request

Psalm 18:1-3 "'I love You, O Lord, my strength.' The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my delivery, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised..."

Wayne has enjoyed receiving videos from everyone. I am working on my video to end this week long celebration. Today we will hear from Jason, Pete, Karen, Jason, Shan, and Grace. 

First up is Jason, Wayne's walking partner. He faithfully picks Wayne up at least two days a week to walk around the track. He's been a great friend to Wayne and has helped provide an outlet for him to practice walking. Wayne is officially up to 1.16 miles!

After Jason is Pete. Pete and Wayne's friendship goes back many years. After Wayne's surgery in 2015, Wayne had a two week stay in rehab. Pete would come and visit Wayne almost every day during his lunch break. This encouraged Wayne so much when he was working hard to recover.

Next, is Wayne's sister, Karen, who is not only an amazing sister to Wayne, but also to me. I married into a great family!

After Karen is Shan Chen. He shares how life has changed living with Wayne after his second round of cancer. 

Our friend and previous pastor, Jason, shares next. Jason and Sue are the friends we stayed with for a few months in 2023 after Wayne's second brain surgery. They are more like our family than just friends.

Finally, today's video series ends with Grace.

Wayne and my prayer is that our story and these videos minister to you.

Prayer Request:

I have a huge prayer request for our faithful prayer warriors. We just discovered that my dad has stage 3 cancer. We are waiting to hear when his radiation treatments will start. Please pray with us for a complete healing!

2/12/25: Day 2 of Celebration

 Hebrews 12:1-2 "Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Welcome to Day 2 of Wayne's 10 year celebration!! Today's video features two of Wayne's co-workers (Pat and Zack) from his days at RSM, his mom, and two of our children (Micaela and Sophia). 

Zack and Pat were both with Wayne the day he had his seizure, which revealed his tumor. Zack actually met me at the hospital where Wayne told us about the brain tumor. They have both been such an encouragement to our family over the years and spoil us with boxes full of Chicago pizza (see yesterday's video). 

As Wayne's mom shares, Wayne had seemed so normal up until the moment he had a seizure, which rocked all of our worlds. 

Micaela and Sophia share what it has been like to endure the last ten years as they have walked this difficult road with us. 

Hopefully these videos bless you!

Update 2/11/2025: 1% Club

Psalm 103:2-3 "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits; who pardons all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases."

Today is the 10 year anniversary of Wayne's diagnosis with glioblastoma brain cancer. He is officially in the 1% club, which means that he has far exceeded the life expectancy of someone with this cancer. It's hard to believe that it has been ten years. When we look back, so many feelings and memories make it seem like yesterday. So much has happened in the last 10 years and we know we have received such a precious gift! We have been able to make so many memories as a family and have learned to cherish each day. In 10 years: we added two more kids, moved to KY, visited numerous National Parks, made new friends and cherished our old ones, our oldest was walked down the aisle by her dad, we've enjoyed watching our children grow and mature, and so many more memories that would take books to fill. 

To celebrate this momentous occasion, we have made a few videos that includes family, coworkers, and friends. Each day this week, come back and hear from our kids and others about Wayne. To kick this week off, Wayne has made a video to share with all of you. Each of you have played a role in our lives the last ten years. We are so thankful for all of you. If you have anything you'd like to share with me, you can always send me a video (harderfamilyquestions@gmail.com). Sit back and enjoy the week of videos!!

I found this video from 7 years ago. So many memories...