July 8 2009
Cells Behaving Badly (Specifics of Treatment)
Well, bouncing back from chemo was a bit rockier this time. I had a medical scare on day three which turned out to be NOTHING but I was discouraged at my immediate flight into panic!! The fatigue is definitely cumulative and I was very down physically and emotionally for about 5 days. My sister and her husband came to be with me for chemo and my dear friend Janet came from Portland and was with me during the darkest days. She is an oncology nurse in Portland and it was comforting to be able to ask her questions about my treatment and side effects and be reassured that all was normal. Tim is still very busy at the golf course and the boys all have many things to keep them busy. Joel is having fun with his buddies, they all slept out in hammocks one night and this weekend they are going backpacking. Spencer’s team continues to win most of their games and he is pitching well, playing 8-10 games a week. Eric has won third; second and first place finishes in the last three tournaments he has played in so God is granting fun and success to the boys. Margaret and Charlie have found their way to New York to be with my brother and sister in law. The first thing Steve had Charlie do when they arrived was learn to parallel park New York style by finding him the tiniest parking place he could. He made it up to them by treating them to a $250 dinner at a fabulous sushi restaurant thanks to a generous gift from Grandma Cathy. Margaret says she can’t quit thinking about the meal, the amazing tastes and presentation of the food. They were in DC for the fourth of July and are having great weather. Next stop is Cape Cod!! We have enjoyed delicious meals from friends and I have loved the fellowship of dear women who come to help. I am going a bit stir crazy and craving a change of scene but am taking a week long water color class that is food for the soul!!!
Before the Face of God (Personal Meditations)
I have been blessed by reading the book of Habakkuk. I was so discouraged by my fearful response as I waited to be checked out for a secondary side effect. As I struggled to bring my thoughts captive I read this tiny book which has some familiar and well loved passages. I was struck with the fact that God brought Habakkuk to a place of Victory in the midst of circumstances that were harrowing not by changing his circumstances in any way. Habakkuk had to wait for God’s judgment to come to his land through a very wicked people. He had all the physical responses of fear as he waited but his heart was still rejoicing in the Lord!!!! I realized I could not bring my own heart to a place of Victory but God could and as I have waited on Him He again has been faithful to give me a new song of praise to Him. My friend told me she looked up the Hebrew name Habakkuk and the root word means embrace. Only God can help us embrace our trials as His gifts, uniquely designed for our frame to help us to know Him, Glorify Him and to make us more like Him. May Habakkuk’s prayer be ours in the midst of these troubling times we live in.
“I heard and my inward parts trembled, at the sound my lips quivered. Decay enters my bones, and in my place I tremble. Because I must wait quietly for the day of distress. For the people to arise who will invade us…..
THOUGH THE FIG TREE SHOULD NOT BLOSSOM AND THERE BE NO FRUIT ON THE VINES, THOUGH THE YIELD OF THE OLIVE SHOULD FAIL AND THE FIELDS PRODUCE NO FOOD, THOUGH THE FLOCK SHOULD BE CUT OFF FROM THE FOLD AND THER BE NO CATLLE IN THE STALLS,
YET I WILL EXULT IN THE LORD, I WILL REJOICE IN THE GOD OF MY SALVATION. THE LORD GOD IS MY STRENGTH, AND HE HAS MADE MY FEEL LIKE HINDS; FEET, AND HE MAKES ME WALK IN MY HIGH PLACES.”
HAKAKKUK 3:16-19
Pleas join me in Thanksgiving and Prayer
*Praise God that He is able to “Make our feet like hind’s feet and make us walk in the high places”
*Thank God for His daily provisions and mercies
*Thank God for no secondary infections so far
*Thank God for keeping Margaret and Charlie safe and for giving them such a fun vacation
*Please pray for Tim as he tries to balance his busy work schedule with home responsibilities. Pray that God would give him a new song!!!
*Please pray as we welcome our niece Angela for a visit next week. Pray for good fellowship and fun.
*Please pray that I will be able to handle the cumulative fatigue of three more chemo rounds. I am halfway done!
*Please pray that we will all remember to sing praises to God every day.
Cells Behaving Badly (Specifics of Treatment)
Well, bouncing back from chemo was a bit rockier this time. I had a medical scare on day three which turned out to be NOTHING but I was discouraged at my immediate flight into panic!! The fatigue is definitely cumulative and I was very down physically and emotionally for about 5 days. My sister and her husband came to be with me for chemo and my dear friend Janet came from Portland and was with me during the darkest days. She is an oncology nurse in Portland and it was comforting to be able to ask her questions about my treatment and side effects and be reassured that all was normal. Tim is still very busy at the golf course and the boys all have many things to keep them busy. Joel is having fun with his buddies, they all slept out in hammocks one night and this weekend they are going backpacking. Spencer’s team continues to win most of their games and he is pitching well, playing 8-10 games a week. Eric has won third; second and first place finishes in the last three tournaments he has played in so God is granting fun and success to the boys. Margaret and Charlie have found their way to New York to be with my brother and sister in law. The first thing Steve had Charlie do when they arrived was learn to parallel park New York style by finding him the tiniest parking place he could. He made it up to them by treating them to a $250 dinner at a fabulous sushi restaurant thanks to a generous gift from Grandma Cathy. Margaret says she can’t quit thinking about the meal, the amazing tastes and presentation of the food. They were in DC for the fourth of July and are having great weather. Next stop is Cape Cod!! We have enjoyed delicious meals from friends and I have loved the fellowship of dear women who come to help. I am going a bit stir crazy and craving a change of scene but am taking a week long water color class that is food for the soul!!!
Before the Face of God (Personal Meditations)
I have been blessed by reading the book of Habakkuk. I was so discouraged by my fearful response as I waited to be checked out for a secondary side effect. As I struggled to bring my thoughts captive I read this tiny book which has some familiar and well loved passages. I was struck with the fact that God brought Habakkuk to a place of Victory in the midst of circumstances that were harrowing not by changing his circumstances in any way. Habakkuk had to wait for God’s judgment to come to his land through a very wicked people. He had all the physical responses of fear as he waited but his heart was still rejoicing in the Lord!!!! I realized I could not bring my own heart to a place of Victory but God could and as I have waited on Him He again has been faithful to give me a new song of praise to Him. My friend told me she looked up the Hebrew name Habakkuk and the root word means embrace. Only God can help us embrace our trials as His gifts, uniquely designed for our frame to help us to know Him, Glorify Him and to make us more like Him. May Habakkuk’s prayer be ours in the midst of these troubling times we live in.
“I heard and my inward parts trembled, at the sound my lips quivered. Decay enters my bones, and in my place I tremble. Because I must wait quietly for the day of distress. For the people to arise who will invade us…..
THOUGH THE FIG TREE SHOULD NOT BLOSSOM AND THERE BE NO FRUIT ON THE VINES, THOUGH THE YIELD OF THE OLIVE SHOULD FAIL AND THE FIELDS PRODUCE NO FOOD, THOUGH THE FLOCK SHOULD BE CUT OFF FROM THE FOLD AND THER BE NO CATLLE IN THE STALLS,
YET I WILL EXULT IN THE LORD, I WILL REJOICE IN THE GOD OF MY SALVATION. THE LORD GOD IS MY STRENGTH, AND HE HAS MADE MY FEEL LIKE HINDS; FEET, AND HE MAKES ME WALK IN MY HIGH PLACES.”
HAKAKKUK 3:16-19
Pleas join me in Thanksgiving and Prayer
*Praise God that He is able to “Make our feet like hind’s feet and make us walk in the high places”
*Thank God for His daily provisions and mercies
*Thank God for no secondary infections so far
*Thank God for keeping Margaret and Charlie safe and for giving them such a fun vacation
*Please pray for Tim as he tries to balance his busy work schedule with home responsibilities. Pray that God would give him a new song!!!
*Please pray as we welcome our niece Angela for a visit next week. Pray for good fellowship and fun.
*Please pray that I will be able to handle the cumulative fatigue of three more chemo rounds. I am halfway done!
*Please pray that we will all remember to sing praises to God every day.
