November 28, 2008   As I have poured out my heart you have put your arms around my family. Though my heart aches almost to breaking point somehow we keep making it through one more day. As Brad lay writhing in pain I said 'nothing lasts forever, this too will pass'. Though it felt like a lifetime while enduring we are now on the other side of another terrible storm.   The surgery was an open surgery. About 3 hours into the surgery the surgeon came down and explained that the gall-bladder was indeed full of cancer and from here they would operate aggressively to remove the cancer they would find. Brad went into surgery at 7:30 a.m. They started operating at 9:00. The doctor talked to me at 11:30. It wasn't until 6:30 that evening when the doctor came down again to explain what was done and to tell me Brad was doing fine. The surgeons removed Brads gall-bladder (which was 3 times the normal size) and the lymphnodes surrounding the gall then the tackled the liver tumor. Instead of just one tumor there were three and they had to remove the whole right lobe of the liver.   Brad was in the hospital from tuesday, November 18th to Sunday November 23rd. We were home for a day and had to take him back. He was in the E.R all day Tuesday, finally admitted Tuesday evening and was not released  until Thanksgiving afternoon.   While we were in the second time they gave us the results of the pathology report. Though the cancer had not gone through the wall of the gall-bladder nor had it gone into the lymphnodes the cancer in the liver most resembles the cancer found in the gall and does not resemble the cancer found in the colon.   Dr. Stavely O'Carroll was so wonderful. He reminded us to focus on getting better today. And to count our blessings everyday.   We're home now. Brad is feeling a bit better. Amazing how just feeling a little better makes the sun shine brighter. We missed the boys sooo much. They missed us too. Ahh, home sweet home and togetherness. God's grace is so sufficient, so full and so good. November 15, 2008,  I realized many of you will be checking in today to update your church congregation at tomorrows meeting. So despite my aching heart I am taking time to update you.  As I am sitting here it is a rainy dreary day yet it is beautiful. I love the pitter patter sound and the way the fog lays heavy around me like a blanket of safety. We purchased a record player a bit ago and we are playing old Christmas albums. As the symphony is playing 'Deck the halls' in alternating rounds of majors and minors, Skylar is playing behind me making war sounds as he tries to swat the flies that have come to life in the warmer weather. All of this together makes my heart swell with pain and sorrow yet joy and laughter.  Brad had a pre-op appointment on Friday. Dr. O'Carroll's team was not as optimistic as we were about surgery. Concerning the gall-bladder he still greatly suspects a tumor. He is almost possitive that he will have to do the open surgery. If it is gall-bladder cancer we hope and pray that it has not metastisized, as this cancer spreads terribly and quickly. If it is cancer, if it is contained, once the gall-bladder is out there is no worry of it spreading. As for the liver the Doctor wil be removing 15% of it. The Doctor is very sure this is a spread of cancer from the colon cancer. This is a dangerous operation as the liver holds a large portion of blood. Brad will be in the ICU the day following the surgery. He will be unable to drive for 4 - 6 weeks following. I will do my best to update asap after surgery.  The boys and I will be staying at Simmon's Motel, a local motel accomodating patient families, for the duration of Brad's stay. Praise God, someone annonimous has blessed us by paying the motel fee. Many of you have called, some are sending cards, some are even sending funds. All of you are praying for us and we can feel it. PLEASE DON'T STOP PRAYING! November 10, 2008 Already God is answering prayers. Brad's surgery will be next Tuesday, November 18. He's scheduled to be there by 5:30 a.m. He is scheduled for laparscopic surgery. It looks like just sludge in his gall bladder (PRAISE THE LORD). Now we'll pray that the lesion on his liver is NOT cancer. The surgery to remove his gall bladder and the lesion on his liver will take about 4 hours. He'll be in the hospital about 3 days. Our spirits are truly better. So many of you have poured out your love toward us. Thanks for being God's arms and voice of comfort. The boys and I are doing just fine. Even Brad is good. Actually as I write this he is tormenting me as only a husband loves to do. Wow God is gracious. Life IS good. Everyday blessings... don't forget to count them. November 7, 2008 We hoped we could write about a miracle today. We hoped we could say the doctors found no spots on Brad's liver. Indeed we hoped we could say the specialist even thought we were nuts, because God did a miracle. While there is still time for God to do a miracle He has not chosen to yet. Or...perhaps God has decided to do a different kind of miracle. I am learning lately, that more difficult miracles are accomplished in hearts. In our instant America we have come to think that miracles are things that happen right away. Yet I have seen time and time again upon looking back over someones life that miracles of change have come over time. Indeed lasting miraculous results come slowly. It's kind of like weight lifting. When Wayde works out he does so with less determination than Brad. Wayde pumps as much iron as he can lift one day, feels great that day, and forgets for another week or so. Thus his results are pumped arm muscles for a mere day. Brad, who is Mr. Consistant, works out with a sensible amount of weight today, the next day, the next and on and on. Therefore, though he may never have terrificly pumped arms he always has good strong arms. So the result of yesterdays doctors visits is, Brad will have to undergo more surgery to remove the lesion on the liver (they verified only one lesion according to the scans). And his gall bladder will be removed. The gall bladder looked "odd" so  Dr. O'Carroll sent Brad for an ultra sound yesterday to see if the sludge was moving. He wanted to rule out a mass in the gall. If the sludge moved it was just a typical diseased gall. If the sludge did not move it could be a different cancer developed in the gall. Thus Brad would be dealing with two cancers. A matastisized colon cancer and gall bladder cancer. Also the results of the sludge moving or not would determine what kind of surgery the Doctor would do. If he did not have to worry about a mass in the gall he could just do Brad's surgery laproscopicly (three small incisions). The hospital stay time would be just 3 days. If the gall is a concern then the doctor would have to make a big incision to get to the lymphnodes and gall and liver lining. Then his hospital stay would be at least a week. As of today, only knowing what the ultra sound tech said, the sludge did not move.  Once the surgery is done the lesion will be biopsied to verify or negate cancer. If it is indeed cancer then more chemo is in store. How are we... quite honestly, tired and weary. Yesterday was our 21st wedding anniversary. Driving into the Hershey hospital was a sickning stir of unwelcomed old memories. For 3 years in a row now our annerversary has marked the beginning of a long Winter. I told Brad last night that once he is well he owes me a week per year lost. So hopefully that will translate into 3 weeks vacation in Maine on the rocky coast, in the beautiful colors of fall. The greatest miracle is this, that Jesus loves me. The God of the universe has time for me, indeed I am His greatest miracle. October 30, 2008 So amazing was our spring summer and now fall. We have reaped a bountiful harvest. Both in our garden and in our ministry. We have brought joy to hurting faces. We've wrapped our arms around many in tears and have reaped in songs of joy. So many saints are finding strength for the journey because as they see us look to God they too turn their eyes on Him. Now... we ask again for your arms of prayer to envelop us. We are weary and fearful. We ask that you pray for a miracle first. Doctors have found two spots on Brads liver. The liver is the first place his colon cancer would metastisize to. Remember Brad was diagnosed with stage 3b cancer, stage 4 being the worst. We knew there was a signifecant percentage chance of the cancer spreading. Pray that the spots will be nothing. If God chooses to heal Brad through cancer again, then pray that God will strengthen our family. We dread this road!!! God is in control. We have given our lives to Him. We pray daily that He use our lives for His glory. WE TRUST HIM!!!! July 31, 2008 So grows my garden. Remember the cucumber plant we redirected. It has grown so healthy it's as though the weeds fear it. The okra are now as tall as Skylar. The leaves on the plants are so big and healthy there is not enough sunlight getting through them to allow the weeds beneath to grow. We've had lots of cucumbers and there are lots of okra coming. My garden is beautiful. However... there is a plant that is not so welcome in my garden that has out grown our tomatoe plants and is threatening to overtake them. It is a gourd vine that we did not plant. We let the tender little plant go because we thought we might enjoy the gourds for fall decorating, but if we lose the tomatoes we will be very upset.   Hmmm, sounds life applicable doesn't it? Sometimes we as christians entertain a novelty sin. We think it is just small and insignificant and we may get some good out of it. Later we find that the sin has grown out of control and now threatens to choke out some of our better qualities. Perhaps, as an example, we compromise our honesty because we are ashamed of the now big ugliness of the once little sin. Boy I'd love to pull that big ugly plant out of my garden now but my fragile tomatoe vines are wrapped around it. My plan is to get long sleeves on my arms, tough gloves on my hands and determination on my face. I'm gonna pull that gourd at the root and let it lay. Yeah I know it will be an eye sore in my garden for a time, but after a while it will decompose into the earth. Sometimes after confessing our sins they are seen by our friends and we are ashamed for a time. But God heals because He is merciful. When we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. When we work to grow good fruit, like the fruits of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, self-control, gentleness, kindness, meekness, long-suffering) they'll overcome the weeds or unwanted plants in our lives. But if a weed of sin manifests itself, get rid of it right away, 1 John 1:9. Well... Wayde and I are going out to conquer that huge gourd, bye for now. July 07, 2008 The other day Wayde and I were weeding the garden. Working side by side with our kids is always a great time to talk about things of the Lord. We were gently pulling weeds from around the young plants. I'm not too sure how hardy okra is so we carefully pushed the plants side to side to get to the weeds. Two of the plants were very small and the weeds were tight against them. When we pulled the weeds the plants lay limp on their sides. We pushed ground up against them firmly, helping them to stand again and watered them. We decided to keep a watchful eye until they were strong. When we came to the cucumbers the vine of the plant had wrapped itself tightly around the weeds that were close by. We knew if we broke the vine that was holding onto the weeds it may cause the whole plant to die. So we pulled the weed and let it lay on the ground in the grasp of the vine. Then we encouraged the plant to grow away from the weed, toward the clean, weed free side of the garden. I used this time to remind Wayde of our Christian responsibility to disciple fellow believers, especially those young in the Lord. I reminded him of Galatians 6:1&2- (1)Brethren,  if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. (2) Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. The young okra plants were rooted so closely to the weeds that when we pulled the weeds the okra plants lay limp. Young christians need sured up. They need to be reminded to read God's Word and stay in fellowship with other believers in Christ. When we pull the weeds of sin from their lives they need someone to lean on. We can let them lean on us as they grow stronger in Christ. The cucumber plants held tightly to the weeds. We pulled the weeds and let them lay. Then we focused on the plant growing away from the weeds. Some new believers are so dependent on certain sins that if we pull the sin from their grasp it would cause the believer to fall apart. In this case perhaps the better approach is to disable the sin and help the believer to focus on things of God, Phil 4:8. We need to busy their lives with good things. You know... get togethers, church, parties with good influences, GOSPEL CONCERTS, etc. Keep looking for opportunities to share the riches of God's Word with your kids. You'll be amazed at how it will help your "garden" grow. May 15, 2008 What a wonderful time we have been having. I do love gardening. Brad has been working the ground in our garden. He's getting it ready for us to plant seeds. Then it's up to the sunshine and rain to bring the plants. We'll work the ground around the plants and keep the weeds from destroying them. In due season we'll harvest fruits of our labors. Yep, this does sound like the christian walk. God has been preparing the hearts of those He gives us to minister to. We plant the seeds. He sends the sonshine and rain. We desciple and keep the weeds from overtaking. In due season we will reep what we sow if we faint not, Galatians 6. Keep your hearts in tune to Gods Word. It is so precious. April 29, 2008 Wow, how quickly time gets away on us. Our trip to the southern states is already completed. Where did the days go. We had such a terrific time. We've seen many souls touched and encouraged. We've shared tears with folks who relate to our testimony of God's faithfulness. We've seen souls almost persuaded to give their lives to Jesus. We've prayed with folks struggling to keep on keeping on in their faith. We pray that one day we will see the fullness of the fruits of our labors. Over and over God blessed us. Once what the devil meant to harm us God turned completely around immediately for our good. Brad felt wonderful the whole trip. His infection is nearly gone. We were afraid he would tire easily. I was the one struggling to keep up with him and the boys. The boys were over their colds early on. Amazing what the warm sunshine can do for a sick body. We are already booking engagements in the areas for next year. How exciting to go where God leads. Thanks for your prayers! God is soooo Good! March 26, 2008 Well as we are gearing up for a series of concerts in the southern states we are nursing sick kiddos and fighting another infection. Skylar and Wayde have been battling a bad cold flu and Brad must go again to Hershey to deal with yet another break out of infection at his post surgical site. I am very healthy, however, and am able to keep on nursing my family. See how gracious God is. On the praise side... for those of you who have been praying faithfully  for the Kerstetters, God is honoring your prayers. He is opening many doors of singing opportuities. He is allowing us to encourage families every where. Amazing, the more we set out to bless others the more we are blessed. Try as we may we just can not out-bless God. I mentioned earlier in this post, we are gearing up to sing in the southern states. Let me tell you more about that. Nancy Gibbs is a nationally recognized christian author. She has written several inspirational books and hundreds of articles for christian publications, one of which was 'chicken soup for the soul.' She has become a wonderful friend and has invited us to visit with her a couple days as we will be singing at the church her husband pastors. Then we are headed to Brunswick GA to sing for the next evening. After that will be Hudson Florida. In Hudson we will be singing for a group called Camp side evangelism. We are excited to be part of this wonderful ministry. Afterward we will head down to Arcadia Florida where Don and Faye Clarke have a ranch called His-ranch. This is a ministry with a spectrum of blessings. They mentor young believers. Help broken marriages and families heal, through ministering the gospel to them. And envelop other ministries to sure them up in God's Word. We will be singing at a couple churches they are hoping to bless. We are looking forward to a time of rejuvenating. Then we head back to Delaware. This will be our first time in Delaware. God is so neat.  We are singing at a church belonging to a friend we met at camp Lamar last year. We can't wait to see the Rohm's. Then just down the road from there we will sing at Sam Yoders Concert Hall with the Dixie Echoes. Wow. God is good. Lastly, back to New Holland, at Pastor Hagens church. These are folks who have bless our heart abundantly and become a household name. Skylar often asks when we'll see Pastor Hagen and Zack again. This summer is going to be so fun. I remember as a young girl, I was afraid to commit my life to service for God. I thought it would mean sacrifice and torment. I suppose people might few the things we have ngive up as a huge sacrifice. But there has been no torment,  only joy peace and satisfaction. Again I say...GOD IS GOOD!!!! March 5, 2008 What an amazing God we serve! Brad is doing very well. Bandages are gone. Wounds are healed. Labs are coming back right on target. God is so good. Many of you have prayed specifically regarding the infections Brad kept getting. Please continue for now. Though there are no manifested infections currently, these can crop up again and again. As far as 'cancer free'... though he will not be declared cancer free medically for 4 more years, we know he is healed. We are praising God in good health. The same way we did in sickness. We are getting excited to see all of you again soon. We miss you. We long to bless you in song, to be invited to your church and fellowship with you in the Lord. We enjoy time around your dinner tables as we talk of things of Jesus. January 27, 2008, Dear Friends, Just when we thought we wouldn't be back to the ospital for a long time, Brad has come down with infection again. Saturday 1/27 we spent all day in the E.R only to be admitted by 10p.m that evening. Fortunately we left  Sunday afternoon. But it wasn't till after a few doses of I.V antibiotics and opening his ostomy wound site. You can imagine the pain of having an infected site lanced. Brad was poked, cut, scanned, starved and could have been miserable yet he was calm and endured. I stared at him as we sat and watched t.v after getting home, returning many phone-calls and settling in. He was playing with the boys and the dog. He had a great big silly grin as he tossed the dogs toy, chided with Wayde, and threatened to tickle Skylar. There he is with another wound we'll be packing for the next month or so till it heals over. The wound has to hurt, I watched the doctors perform the procedure, yet he counts his blessings. How blessed are the boys and I to have him?! Please continue praying. We need Brad healthy. God is opening doors for us to minister. There are so many folks we love who need to be encouraged and strengthened. There is so much work to do. God Bless you all, Neta