Changes

The older sequence takes place in 1972 and features the Creighton family (husband John, wife Joan, and children Gigi and Christopher).  John, a novice woodworker, is taking on an ambitious project: make a custom-made, round, black walnut kitchen table by October.  Meanwhile, Joan (with the help of her children) is learning to cook from handwritten recipe cards given to her by her mother.

The older sequence takes place in 1972 and features the Creighton family (husband John, wife Joan, and children Gigi and Christopher).  John, a novice woodworker, is taking on an ambitious project: make a custom-made, round, black walnut kitchen table by October.  Meanwhile, Joan (with the help of her children) is learning to cook from handwritten recipe cards given to her by her mother.

Both projects, though, are continually delayed by Joan's being diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer, requiring several chemotherapy treatments and at least two surgeries.  The Creightons are not a religious family, but ultimately are led to seek God and Jesus through three divine interventions:

Both projects, though, are continually delayed by Joan's being diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer, requiring several chemotherapy treatments and at least two surgeries as it has spread to her lungs.  The Creightons are not a religious family, but ultimately are led to seek God and Jesus through three divine interventions:

*First, John meets Larry, who is also a woodworker, while visiting Joan after her first surgery.  Larry recognizes the power of God to heal (mentioning his own mother, who turned 72 but was given only two months to live when she was 32, but recognizes that not all are healed, his own grandfather passing at age 60) and says he learned that from recognizing Creation in a seed and the wood.  The meeting gives John the courage to tell Joan to think that "today's the day" she will be healed.

*First, John meets Larry, who is also a woodworker, while visiting Joan after her first surgery.  Larry recognizes the power of God to heal (mentioning his own mother, who turned 72 but was given only two months to live when she was 32, but recognizes that not all are healed, his own grandfather passing at age 60) and says he learned that from recognizing Creation in a seed and the wood.  The meeting gives John the courage to tell Joan to think that "today's the day" she will be healed.

*Next, during a chemo session, Joan meets Bruce (a young man who is also a chemo patient) and his mother (later shown to be named Ronnie).  Ronnie is also saying the same phrase, "today's the day", giving Joan more optimism.

*Next, during a chemo session, Joan meets Bruce (a young man who is also a chemo patient) and his mother (later shown to be named Ronnie).  Ronnie is also saying the same phrase, "today's the day", giving Joan more optimism.