Besides being a little light headed I finally feel back to normal physically after chemo. Yesterday my wife and I spend the day at a friends lake house and it was very peaceful. The best memory we have of that trip was traveling home. We had just left the lake house and we were on the back roads just off of the main highway. We were riding on our motorcycle and we slowly approached several Amish children who were walking with their horse and buggy and picking up trash on the side of the road. I slowed down the motorcycle and almost stopped completely because the children were waving at us and smiling and it seemed like they wanted to get to know us. It was a change to see kids that didn't recognize me from American Idol. As we continued to stare at them they continued to stare back. We quickly realized they were more surprised to see us on a motorcycle than we were of seeing them walking behind a horse. We immediately felt like we were traveling back in time from a time machine and that these children had never looked at a motorcycle. We came back from the future.
Most importantly, we had a great time relaxing on the side of the lake and watching the sunset. I am thankful that the Lord has slowed my life down. It became too easy for me to forget about the sunset.
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28 comments:
Hi Luke,
Just found your blog and wanted to say that I continue to pray for your full recovery. Glad treatments are going well for you, and that you had a nice time at the lake. Hang in there!
God bless,
Tara from MN
Sometimes it does take an act of God to slow us down doesn't it? Good for you to recognize it...that's sometimes not easy to do!
Still praying here in Texas.
Sometimes it's too easy to forget about some of the simple joys and beauties in life like the sunset. I'm glad you took the time to enjoy it. Keep staying strong. I wish you all the best.
You're absolutely right. Times like these suck, but sometimes it is the kick in the butt we need to remember what is important.
I'm glad you're feeling better :)
Luke-
It would do us all good to slow down for the sunsets more I think. Your post made me stop and think today how much I take for granted. I continue to pray for your strength and full recovery and for you family. God Bless-MYTY
Luke, That sounds like great inspiration for a new song. Can't wait to hear what you and other song writers come up with next time you're in Nashville. God bless you, honey.
Love,mom
Hi Luke, I wanted to let you know you are not alone in this walk of life.I too was recently diagnosed with stage 3 Hodgkins.I am a mother of 2 and a wife,just turned 28 years old.I am a couple days behind you on the chemo schedule, i go every other friday but the same week as you.I too have 10 treatments to go and i have faith that we both will pull through this even stronger than we were before life threw us this little lesson, i do believe the lesson is to slow down and enjoy what we have.Tomorrow may never come and we need to love and live as much as we can right now, enjoy those sunsets.... they are even more beautiful now aren't they? :) ~ Alicia D.
Luke -- a bunch of us pray for David Cook on a regular basis and I wanted you to know, we're lifting you and your family up in prayer right now, too. May the Lord's presence, strength and protection provide blessings even in our trials. Sometimes in our deepest sorrow, the invincible alleluia becomes even louder. Hang in there, brother. The Lord's not finished with you yet....
Julie from Chicago
Best of luck, my friend. You are truly an inspiration. I'll be praying for you and your family. Remember that all trials are a test from the Almighty, and you just gotta pray through this one and be positive as I see you are being. Keep faith!
<3 Sabby
Just found your blog a couple days ago! I grew up in the yellow house(mannnnny years ago!) just west of where you live!!!
Just wanted to let you know that you are, not only in my prayers, but the prayers of the Yahs. The Yahs are, shall we say, a group of more mature DAUGHTRY fans. You are asked about at least once a week over on the DAUGHTRY site!
My dad, who passed away last July, said everything happens for a reason. I KNOW the Lord has something special in mind for you!!
GOD BLESS!
ELYSE
Crawfordsville
Thanks for reminding us about the beautiful sunset...
always in ours prayers
Courtney
Edwardsville, IL
To be a witness to a beautiful sunset is a wonder in itself. I try never to miss one and always send a prayer just for the awesomeness of it.
Luke - it's amazing that you have such a positive outlook on this. Most people would say "Why me?", but you've totally turned it around and instead tried to figure out what you can learn from it, and how this can change your life in positive ways. I hope that you continue to feel better, and that this chemo blasts away all the cancer! I'm going to send a gas card, but only if you promise to take it easy and not push yourself
too hard! You need time to heal!
Jamie from MA
Hi Luke! Just wanted you to know that you and your family have been and will continue to be in my prayers everyday until you beat this! Thanks for keeping everyone posted on how you're doing--there are many who care about you and wish you the best in your career and your health. Can't wait to hear more about the benefit in C-ville!
God bless,
Emilie B.
hey, luke...
just found out about your blog. hopefully this won't sound like a broken record, but please know that there are many prayers that are being lifted up for you!!
sidenote... i actually live in the nash-vegas area. (bet you couldn't tell from my username. lol) it's very cool to hear that this area may wind up being a "second home" to the menard family! :) let me know if you guys are looking for church home when here in town. ;)
prayers and blessings your way!
kris from nash
Hi Luke,
Just wanted to say that you're in my thoughts and prayers... I recently had 2 close friends get diagnosed with Lymphoma and I know it must be a very difficult time but I hope that you will be surrounded by friends and family and know how much people admire your beautiful spirit and voice. I would be thrilled to hear your songs on the Christian radio station! Keep singing! We love you!
God Bless You!
Nancy from Berkeley, CA
You are a beautiful soul, Luke Menard. To be able to see what most people take for granted, to be given a new lease on life; wide eyed and humble, to be holding on to faith...
You are in our thoughts Luke, and you inspire us in your simple postings and observations. Sometimes these situations... Actually reminds me of something David C said that can encompass what I'm trying to say... Something like
"You gotta kiss the Beast to save the Beauty"
Yeah. I'm rambling, I apologize, but that is a beautiful post and I'm glad you're spending time with your wife and recuperating.
God Bless You Luke.
~Kavidha N, Malaysia.
Luke and Lara
always thinking of you
stand strong!
we love you
chad, bambi, & jordan
Luke,
You are in our thoughts and prayers. God does indeed still performs miracles. They can be seen in both the small and the large things of life. It is great that you see Him in the beauty of the sunset. God says He is with you always and that you will mount up, walk, and run. He is your strength. Isaiah 40:31.
Love in Christ,
The Sands Family, Crawfordsville
Luke,
I just wanted to know that you and Laura our in my family's thoughts and prayers. Keep us up to date on how things are going and stay strong.
Luke, we see once again that God can use terrible illnesses to His glory. I just finished telling my sister that sometimes we need to step back and refocus. I'm glad you did so. May God guide and bless you in your journey of life.
Hello Luke,
I just found this blog and wanted to let you know you are in our thoughts and prayers. I'm wishing for the best for you and your family. Be strong and hang in there! God bless you.
We know all things work together for good for those that love the Lord. Luke we know that you and Lara love the Lord. Sometimes we do not know why the Lord allows these things to happen in our lives, but he never gives us more than we can handle, that is scriptural, not original, of course. I believe maybe He gave you a ministry here, you will find out for sure one day in Heaven. Keep up the fight, doing what is right in His sight, love your lady well, and know that there are gillions of prayers out there for you and your success with the cancer, in your career and most especially in your witness and marriage.
Much love
Lyle and Tina (you know who...!)
Luke, it's so wonderful to see things God has made isn't it? I've always loved sunsets and sunrises, they are so beautiful and God is the one who made it. Thank you for your wonderful blog and God bless you!
Luke,
This is not my first time reading your blog, but this is my first time commenting. I just want to wish you all the luck through this part of your life and just know that you have some prayers going out to you from a gal (who was also diagnosed with Cancer earlier this year) from a little town in California.
God bless,
Tanya G.
AS I READ YOUR BLOGS, AN ALL THE PEOPLE WHO WRITE YOU SUCH INSPIRING COMMENTS, ALL THE FAITH & PRAYERS, I GET VERY EMOTIONAL. AN I DO ADMIT I GET ANGRY WITH GOD. BUT HE TRULY HAS SHOWN ME MANY MIRACLES, INCLUDING YOU! AND YOUR WIFE LARA. I AM NO LONGER MAD AT GOD, NOW ALL I DO IS PRAISE HIM. AN PRAY, AN TALK WITH THE LORD.I HAVE A NEW SINCE OF FAITH ,I THINK OF YOU& LARA& YOUR FAMILY ALL THE TIME. GOD BLESS.
Luke, as soon as I heard about your diagnosis, I just knew that somehow your fame from Idol and the timing of this were important. My daughters brought home a signed picture of you from CHS, and every time I see it I send up another prayer. My mom was diagnosed with a different cancer not long after you were, and I know it's a tough road. But I pray that you are able to use this to bring more people to God, to let more people see Him and His amazing strength and peace and joy through you. I don't know you, yet I feel so very strongly that this is why this is happening. We'll continue to lift you and your family up, and I hope you will continue updating us on your journey.
Luke,
I heard about your blog from my brother...the amazing Phil Conner! Our family has been following your story through him. I am a cancer survivor, and have seen The Great Physician at work. I continue to pray for complete healing for you. Be blessed and keep the music coming!
--Allyson
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