Surprise and Blessing!

Before I update you on my doctor's appointment and lingering neck pain, I want to share with you a special surprise and blessing from this past week.

We met through our blogs a few years back...I was inspired by her words and her art--she liked my realness.  We lived miles apart, never did I think we would meet in person.  She took a detour on her trip to Rapid City--and I had a delightful surprise!

We chatted like long lost friends, barely coming up for air...practically skipping hello's to sharing our past and hopes for our future.  What a privilege to introduce you to my blogger and now "real life" friend Jennifer (Jema).  Jennifer is a beautiful wife, mother of 4, artist and in her spare time you can find her blogging at Studio Jema.  Our time together was precious...a blessing and memory I will forever cherish.



Jema blessed me with some of her beautiful art work.



Here's a pic of where I placed my new treasure!

Thank you Jema for sharing your time, your story, and your dreams.  My prayers are with you and your family as you "Inspire to Inspire!"

Question:  Care to share one of your surprise moments?

Oh, almost forgot--doctor's appt. 

I did labs--normal! 

She gave me some muscle relaxant--pain decreasing!

PET scan was ordered--I asked to postpone for a week or so.

Physical therapy to start on Friday.

Boot camp--on hold! (bummer)



5 minute Friday: Remember

On Fridays Gypsy Mama reminds us to stop, drop, and write.

For fun, for love of the sound of words, for play, for delight, for joy and celebration at the art of communication.

For only five short, bold, beautiful minutes. Unscripted and unedited. We just write without worrying if it’s just right or not.

Here's the instructions:

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.

2. Link back here and invite others to join in.

3. Most importantly: leave a comment for the person who linked up before you – encouraging them in their writing!

Today's word:  Remember

It's ironic how today's word is remember, especially given the fact  I spent a few minutes this morning looking throught the review mirror of my life. 

In a few weeks it will be three three year anniversary of hearing the words, "You have an invasive breast cancer!"  We were celebrating the news that we were going to be grandparents the night I felt my lump.  I remember the knot in my stomach and the words I found myself whispering, "Really, God...breast cancer??"  Than I remembered where I was when I got the call of my biopsy results.  I remember my prayer: 

"Please God...I beg you....don't let me become bitter.  I don't think I am strong enough to walk this journey, but as you promised in Jeremiah 29:11--I know you have the plans for my life...and I trust you.  I do know from my experience in health care that it would be so easy to become bitter and angry...please protect my heart and give me the strength to do what needs to be done."

When looking in my review mirror this morning--I was giving praise and thanks...God honored my request and for the most part, I have been at peace through the cancer journey.  I don't blame.  I am not angry.  As they say, "It is what it is!"  When I hear of the anger other cancer survivors find themselves battling, which often continues years after their treatment. I feel blessed.  No, it doesnt' mean I like cancer or the horrific treatment.  No, it doesn't mean my heart doesn't cry for those who find themselves walking the cancer journey to their death.  It just means that I appreciate the blessing of God hearing my prayer and remembering my strength comes from someone greater than I. 

Unexpected Blessings!

It wasn't my birthday!  It wasn't a holiday! But it was a blessings day! More like blessings weekend!

My hubby and I started our weekend off with a date of wine and munchies on the deck of some very dear friends home. 

On Saturday, we meandered to Luverne as my husband was going to help my dad install some landscape lighting. While my dad and hubby worked,

I was able to spend some time planning and designing for some changes I am making with my blog, etc.  I had moved my chair to the shade...but soon had to put a chair on each side of mine as my twin 3yr old niece and nephew wanted to sit by me while I worked.   I had my lap top, Caleb had my Nook, and Allie had my IPod....memories. 

That wasn't the only memory of the day.  Through out the day, I was able to visit and share some time with 5 of my six siblings, I had a nice walk with my mom, reconnected with my mom's closest friend, and chatted on the phone with all three of my children.  Great day of connection! (Oh, and not to be forgotten--lots of entertainment from the nieces and nephews.)

Something that touched my heart the most,though, was watching my dad and husband work together...generation teaching generation. Love shared through labor.

We topped the day off by sitting on my parents new patio, listening to the waterfall and enjoying the beautiful new lighting!

Now, Sunday morning, I was a bit tired...but so glad I didn't give in to the fatigue and miss church.  Our pastor's sermon gave me some much needed affirmation.  He was talking about a person's "calling." Pastor A explained how some people know they are "called" to do something. While others of us  just take small steps of obedience and when we look back, our "calling" becomes more defined.  Sometimes I struggle as I don't have a clear vision or direction for my life.  His words reaffirmed me as I am in the second group, taking the steps...pondering the results...listening for His guidance!

Did you have any unexpected blessings this weekend?

PS. A special thanks to my family and friends for taking the extra time to share and care!

Seasons of Life!

Blizzard Warning, Winter Storm Warning,

Ice Storm Warning, Flood Warning!

Welcome to life in South Dakota. (Yes, we had all four of these warnings at the same time yesterday.) This morning as I sat with God, a cup of hot coffee and my thoughts, I reflected on how the weather seasons compare so similarly to the cancer journey.

   

  Summer Days. 

Do you remember the long days of summer from your childhood? When the only things on the “to-do” list were swimming and lying in the sun. Or the days of eating cotton candy at the county fair? Or the days of gathering the neighborhood kids for a game of baseball? Like longing for the summer days of yesteryear, there are times I find myself yearning for the days before cancer. How often I wish for days of no pain, no fatigue, no hot flashes and no fear. When I was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 40, I was in the summer of my life. With only one child still at home, my husband and I were enjoying reconnecting as a couple. I had started a new job, along with joining a new church. I was starting to unearth some long buried dreams. When suddenly, like a destructive thunderstorm, I was diagnosed with an aggressive breast cancer. As my family and I found ourselves cleaning up from this unexpected storm, our trust and comfort came from the Lord.

Autumn Days.

With a treatment plan in place, I began the autumn season. Like the trees preparing for winter, my body was preparing for battle. Did you know that as the days get shorter a chemical change is triggered in trees? Not only does this change stop the tree from growing, it starts moving all of its energy down to the root system. As this process happens, the leaves change color and fall from the tree. So, like the trees losing their leaves, I lost my breast, my hair, and my energy. Along with my outward physical changes, I was experiencing an inward spiritual transformation. Being rooted in God’s word provided me comfort and hope.

Winter days.

The season after treatment ends and before your new life begins. Although I am still struggling through some physical discomforts in this season, for the most part, I am doing very well. (However please note, that 25% of cancer survivors find themselves facing darkness during the days of winter. My prayer is that we can all help provide support to each other through all the seasons.) The last few weeks have found me busy preparing and actively involved with many things, so I was a bit surprised to receive a special weather bulletin just for me: Winter Storm Warning! Slow down icy roads. Hmmmm… Here I was thinking my winter was almost over. Unfortunately, in my busy days of preparing for spring, I had slowly forgotten to feed my roots. Thankfully, I got a “stop and think”…or maybe it should be called a “stop and seek?”

Spring days.

Spring is a time of renewal and a time to come out of hibernation. It is often the season that brings us the most hope! It is a time of new beginnings and a time of birth. The last two years, I feel I have missed the renewal of the spring season…instead; I was still struggling through the effects of the treatment that helped save my life. As I “stop and seek” in preparation of this spring season, I have been reminded that God has a glorious plan in place us all.

Even though I would love to have days without the pain, fatigue and other side effects of cancer treatment, I wouldn’t give up one day in any of my seasons, if it meant giving up the lessons and blessings!

• The blessings of knowing, trusting and believing God is with us in every season.
• The blessing of sharing love and time with my husband, children, family and friends.
• The blessing of deeper and richer relationships with loved ones.
• The blessing of seeing love in action through the care and support provided to my family and I.
• The new friends I walk with on this cancer journey.
• The blessing of the opportunity to provide hope and encouragement to others who find themselves on this walk.
• The blessing to have the opportunity of living a life of no regrets!

Please remember that whatever season of life you are enjoying (or struggling through), there is a God in Heaven walking with you every day!

Good Things!

Thought I would let you all know some of the good things that have been happening in my life!

Last week I celebrated my 42nd birthday!  Birthdays bring on a whole different celebration after cancer.  Thank you, Lord, for giving me life!

I recently have received some good things in the mail.  Thanks Kate for this wonderful yoga dvd for cancer patients.  I highly recommend it and hopefully will be able to do some fundraising to offer this resource to other cancer patients. If any of you are interested here is the link. http://www.yogaforcancer.com/

I recently was a winner for a gift card to Starbuck's by Glynnis at http://www.glynniswhitwer.blogspot.com/. What a neat surprise and treat!  Glynnis is the editor for the Proverbs 31 magazine.  Although the gift card was a nice surprise, I have really appreciated Glynnis's kind words and encouragement.  I am so looking forward to meeting her this summer.

I have never really won anything in my life so imagine my surprise when I won a book from Roxanne at Peace Garden Writer.   Thanks Roxanne for your friendship, encouragement and the book!  I am hoping to start reading it this next weekend. 

I will be busy reading as I was also blessed to win a few books in a contest for signing up for Karen Witemeyer's newsletter.  Check out her website at http://www.karenwitemeyer.com/ Thanks Karen!

Also, a few weeks ago, I received a blogger award by Roxanne at Peace Garden Mama. What a day brightner!  Thank you Roxanne!  Now I would like to share this award with Luann at Running the Race and Marie at Journey Beyond Breast Cancer. Thank you Luann for all your encouragement and believing in someone else's dream.  Marie, your blog was one of the first I ever read...what a journey you helped to start.  Thank you!

Thanks everyone for letting me share some good things!  Hope you all have a wonderful Monday filled with many blessings!!