Monday, May 25, 2009

Anniversary Surprise!

Journal Entry-May 25, 2009



I had a very sweet and unexpected surprise at church yesterday from Joe and the kids! They placed flowers in my honor and in celebration of our 20th wedding anniversary, which is Thursday, May 28.
God has blessed me with such a wonderful husband and family! They have been my daily, constant encouragment and I am so thankful for them.

Saturday, May 23, 2009

"Out of the Miry Bog"

Journal Entry-May 23, 2009

"He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure." Psalm 40:2

I can think of no better way to describe the first 10 days after chemotherapy than a "miry bog". And there is nothing that lifts me out of it and sets my feet on a rock except the wonderful grace of my loving God.
Knowing this is the last time encourages me to keep pressing on even though I am daily dealing with side effects. I have a constant flu-like muscle pain from the Taxotere. It makes just lifting my legs to walk feel like I'm carrying lead weights. I'm also having some numbness and tingling in my feet and hands, especially the third toe on my right foot! I'm taking some vitamins to help with this and hopefully after my body realizes that there will not be any more of those chemicals, it will slowly return to normal.
I look forward to returning to the world of coffee drinkers, possibly tomorrow, after 10 days! I have had to have 10-12 day interruptions every three weeks to my "daily cup of coffee regiment" each time the chemo was at its worst. It is one of the "creature comforts" I look forward to on a consistent basis now that chemo is over!

"This I know, that God is for me. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid...For you have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life." Psalm 56:9b, 13

Friday, May 15, 2009

The Bell “Heard ‘round the World”!

Journal Entry-May 15, 2009

107 days…28 needle sticks…and by the grace of God,
One Survivor!

My chemotherapy is over! I’m sure I woke up some dozing patients as I rang the victory bell! Once I’m through the side-effects of this treatment, I believe the worst of my cancer treatments are over. My surgery will be June 10 and three weeks after that I will begin radiation. This victory belongs to the Lord! And through his grace and strength I share in that victory along with everyone who has prayed for me daily and extended their love to my family with meals, cards, and kind gifts. I praise God for such a wonderful family of friends!
Even though a bell isn’t specifically mentioned in this Psalm of praise, today it was an instrument of praise!

Psalm 33:1-5, 20-22
“Shout for joy in the Lord, O you righteous! Praise befits the upright. Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre, make melody to him with the harp of ten strings! Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts. 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 steadfast love of the Lord…Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us even as we hope in you.”

Thursday, May 14, 2009

"Bell Day" Eve

Journal Entry-May 14, 2009

I'm just getting ready for my last chemo. I've had my pre-meds and when they are done, I'll have the "red stuff". I won't miss that one bit! It's getting to be a struggle to just eat the ice and overcome the metallic taste and smell. But I have so many people praying today, I can make it with the grace of God on me.
My appointment with Dr. Go went well. My blood counts were good and my timber marker was level. Dr. Go was pleased with the outcome of the M.R.I. I asked, "Do they usually shrink that much?", and he said "Usually not". That's the Power of the Cross! He scheduled me to go back to him a week after surgery so we can discuss the pathology report. I also have an appointment with the radiation oncologist on June 5, my pre-op day. Side effects from the Taxotere have begun to cause fluid retention , especially on my right side-hands and feet. It is temporary and will go away as soon as the medicine has a chance to get out of my body completely. The bell looks awfully tempting today, but I'll wait until tomorrow!
I finally planted some petunias yesterday. I was getting tired of feeding the squirrels with my seed that was intended for the birds! I hung my hummingbird feeder up instead. Last night at supper and this morning before we left, I saw one! I couldn't believe it attracted them so soon. That squirrel should "count his blessings", because I was beginning to hear rumors that he had a bulls eye on his back!

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Mother's Day Blessing

Journal Entry-May 10, 2009

I just have to share with you the most wonderful Mother's Day story I've heard. A friend of mine from church has a sister, Amy, that was diagnosed with cancer last fall. She was 7 weeks pregnant at the time with her seventh child. Amy has had surgery and chemotherapy while pregnant with their sweet little boy. As hard as my chemotherapy is, I cannot imagine the burden she has carried as she prayed for protection for her son.
Today on Mother's Day, her son was delivered in the 34th week. He weighs 5 lbs. and 2 oz. and is in the NICU in Colorado. They named him Gilead Victor. Gilead means "monumental testimony" and Victor is for "victorious". Please pray for Amy, Gilead, and her family. Amy will be having more chemotherapy in 2 weeks and then radiation. We both expect to be finished with treatment in the early fall. If you'd like to follow Amy's progress, you can click on the link to her blog in the "Followers" section of my blog. What a special Mother's Day for her whole family! And what praise for our wonderful God!

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. " Psalm 139:14-18

What a Week!

Journal Entry-May 10, 2009

This is the time of the year that the whirlwind begins and it doesn't let up for several weeks! It's a time of excitement, parties at school, recitals, and exhaustion! But it sure does feel great to be coming to the end of another school year. I've worked two straight weeks at school, gone to two piano recitals this week and a Mother's Day Luncheon. I'm feeling the fatigue today! It was so wonderful to see so many ladies from church since I haven't been able to go in so long. It was such an encouragement as each one shared how they have been praying for me. I hope it was as much of an encouragement to them as it was to me, because it is only through those prayers that I've been able to keep on pressing on through these weeks of chemotherapy. I even got to meet some ladies who have sent me cards and prayed for me that I have never even met!

Joey's recital was Friday night and he received his first Federation Gold Cup for hymn playing along with his "Five Hour Club" trophy. But the most special honor for him was the "Overcomer" Award. Mrs. Penix awards this to the student who has overcome difficulties during the year and was still able to perform well. She awarded it to Joey because of his hand surgery from the football injury that kept his hand in traction for 3 months and his seizure this spring. In spite of it, the Lord strengthened him and blessed him with the ability to keep playing and serving with his talents.

"I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever. I will thank you forever because You have done it." Psalm 52:8

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Recital Surprise!

Journal Entry-May 6, 2009

I got a sweet surprise last night at Anna's piano and voice recital! After she played her piano solo and sang "The Candy Man", Mrs. K. made an announcement that Anna was going to sing "Complete in Thee" just for me as a surprise! I sing it almost every morning on the way to school and it is one of Anna's favorite songs, as well. She also got her first Federation "Gold Cup" for piano solo! It was a special night for us both!

"Complete in thee, each want supplied, and no good thing to me denied, since Thou, my portion, Lord, will be, I ask no more, complete in thee. Yea, justified, oh, blessed thought! And sanctified, salvation wrought! Thy blood hath pardon bought for me, and glorified I, too, shall be."

Sunday, May 3, 2009

"The Prayer of Faith"

Journal Entry-May 3, 2009

When I actually measured and drew out the difference in the size of the tumors, I was amazed again! The numbers just don't show you like the visual picture of what God did! It is approximately one-eighth the size of the original tumor! And one more chemotherapy to go to make it even smaller!

"Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil, in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins one to another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has a great power as it is working." James 5:13-16

Friday, May 1, 2009

"Press On Toward the Goal"!

Journal Entry- May 1, 2009

The results of my M.R.I. were very encouraging! The original tumor measured 5.4 cm X 2.8 cm. Now the tumor is measuring 1.4 cm X 1.1 cm! I won't discuss the results with Dr. Go until May 12 and with Dr. Rippon, the surgeon, until May 21, but for now...this is great news!

Thank you for all of your prayers! It is so uplifting to me to hear so many of you say you are praying for me every day. It is this intercession and the constant intercession of our Lord Jesus before the throne that sustains us!

"I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:14