Four Years

Happy Anniversary Anna and Mark!!! 

Surgery

Greetings Everyone, 

It's been a long time with no update from us, but we will try to catch everyone up on the latest for our family. It's been a busy season; not always easy, but it has been full of much joy.

First of all, we are really thankful for the support and love we have been receiving. Your gifts, prayers, words, and actions have been powerful to give us real grace in the last 3 months. Family, friends, church body, and some strangers even have been great in both donations and prayers. We are blessed in this and please keep up the prayer to the great God. He is a holy God who is three in one (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). He is able and loves to answer prayer, for His name's sake! 

Secondly, our baby Oakley David Gronotte (see picture above!) was born February 15th at 4:05am! He was 8 lbs and 5 oz and 21" in long! Every prayer we prayed surrounding his birth were answered by our faithful God! Such an encouragement from the Lord all around! All praise to Him for this new little life. He is a gift, and we pray this baby boy would be an 'oak of righteousness' for God's glory.

Thirdly, we have big plans as we head into April. The Norton team has been a great hospital here in Louisville, but they do not have the tools we need in order to get this cancer out of my brain through surgery. It is a serious tumor that needs to be removed from my brain, if God permits.  A California hospital in San Francisco called UCSF has the technology and doctor skills to get in there and remove the cells that are cancerous.  

We love you all so much and we thank the Lord for your kind graces and prayers. Please keep us in prayer for the Lord to receive all the glory and in if He wills, to bring healing and great comfort to our family as we wait upon our good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, to lead us as His sheep.  All for God’s glory we pray! 

Peace to you all,

Mark & Anna

P.S. This is a good word that the Lord has helped us with to understand His kindness and power through this suffering.

PSALM 100:3 "Know that the Lord, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his:
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture."

God's Faithful Provision

I get lots of emails, texts, and phone calls asking how Anna and Mark are doing!  They are so loved and without a shadow of doubt, they know that your prayers and love is totally God's grace!  Their hope is that God would be glorified in their suffering!  This chapter of life isn't easy, but their hope is in the Lord and 'Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning.' Lam. 3:23

Mark and Anna's babies are doing great!  Three kids under three is busy, but they're totally enjoying each moment!  Baby O is putting on the pounds really well!  Little J has a smile that can brighten a room!  (Continue praying for the courts to finish the paperwork soon so Little J can officially be their forever son!  There will be celebrations worldwide when the adoption is finalized!)  Big Sister M is doing great, too!  She loves having her Daddy home lots and is a sweet little mommy to her babies, just like Mommy!  

Anna recently put together a 'Thankful Bulletin' to continue directing her and Mark's heart towards all that God is providing for them each and every day!  When my sisters and I unpacked their house a couple months ago, we were amazed at the mass number of verses jotted down on scratch paper, note cards, and post it notes...verses were tucked in every drawer, book, and crevice in their home!  Such a testimony of the love we should all have for the Word of God!

Through Mark's sweet sister, some new medical options have surfaced...keep praying that our Faithful God would give Anna and Mark great wisdom and peace!

Learning Contentment

Dear Friends and Family,

On behalf of my bride and I, we want to say a special thanks for all your prayers and gifts.  We are so blessed at this time and our Lord has been giving us continual grace through this season.  The letters, gifts, encouragements, and prayers that have been supplied are really keeping us strong and I know that we have such an incredible team in our corner.  All things are possible with our God!  

I remember a man once told me he put all of his trust in Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through him who strengthens me."  I remember it being encouraging then, but like so much of God's words, the big picture of the passage is really where the secret lies.  The whole passage really lays out the eternal joy that is available to those who are trusting in Christ.  

Philippians 4:11-13:

"I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me."

Certainly we have room to grow in all of this, but the kindness that we are receiving from you all is really helping us daily.  Your love and support points us to Jesus Christ who is the foundation of our joy in any circumstance that He leads us through.  May our God be glorified!

Thank for all your love,

Mark & Anna Gronotte

First Day of Treatment

I am so glad to write an update. Radiation therapy started today, and I've begun trying to get victory over this sickness by God’s perfect grace. I have received so much love from my beautiful bride Anna, my loving parents, her parents & family, my sister, our church leaders, old friends, new friends, and all the more people serving us in many ways. I am too blessed! Please keep praying and I am excited to see the Lord’s work in all of this. Remember our days are short no matter if it’s 80 years or far less, but eternity is never ending and my hope is in Jesus. We need to be putting our trust in Jesus who died a perfect death 2000 years ago for all sinners who desperately need forgiveness. I know I am a sinner that has been set free by the grace of God. I pray all of you will seek comfort in our merciful God who sets sinners free through His Son, Jesus Christ. May God be glorified!  Peace and Love to you all!

James 1:2-4  “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trialsof various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

Words from Mark

Mark updated his story on CaringBridge: 

Dear Friends and Family,
I want to give an update and also say thank you for all of the prayers and thoughts that you've shared concerning my situation. First, on the earthly level, I have a great medical team at Norton’s that has just begun the process of getting me better. There could be a variety of different treatment options, but for now the doctors want me to rest from the initial test; we will discuss the rest this coming Monday.

Second, I am so glad that I have such wonderful friends and family who are caring for us through this. Anna, my bride, has been incredibly brave. She is a gem to me, and I wouldn’t want to endure this without her. My parents, Anna’s parents, and all 3 of her loving sisters were here for the first days, unpacking our home and taking care of the kiddos. Incredible grace! My sweet sister Rebecca has been a gift of medical wisdom and care for us. Thanks to everyone at Immanuel Church. Our pastors have been on call and in touch to make sure we are provided for. Thanks to every one of my dear friends who have been more than ready to help and pray to our faithful Father! I can’t believe the care that the Lord is showing for us through all of you guys!

Most importantly, I am so glad to have God in Heaven who is faithfully protecting and guiding our family through this. I can have hope in the midst of this trial because my God sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, as a baby to live a perfect life in my place and walk joyfully to the Cross to die a death I deserve. Jesus rose again from the grave, proving He is greater than sin and death and is alive now at the Throne of God! I have a hope that will not disappoint me because I am secure in the Hands of my God through Jesus’ perfect sacrifice for my sin. Most of all, through this suffering we want to see the name of Jesus lifted high and for many to repent of their sin and trust Jesus to forgive them and give them eternal life with Him forever. By God’s grace, He has saved me and has given me a new heart that wants Jesus to be glorified in every area of my life! “To live is Christ and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21).” I am being taught to wait for the Lord. Anna read Psalm 27 to me yesterday and it was a sweet word in a due time:

“I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living! Wait for the LORD; Be strong, and let your heart take courage; Wait for the LORD!” Psalm 27:13-14 ESV

Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!

Love & Peace in King Jesus,

Mark & Anna Gronotte