Trip to Europe - Part 3

LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND

Many, many years ago, back when I was in the fifth grade, there was a family at our church that moved away to become missionaries. They moved to Switzerland! Their daughter, Becky, was my close friend, and after they moved we wrote letters back and forth through the years. I always thought "SOMEDAY...I want to go see Switzerland...". Well, my friend married and ended up living in Michigan. (We are still dear friends.)Her younger sister,Stephanie, eventually became a missionary herself with her husband Brady and children in the very city she grew up in as a child -Lausanne, Switzerland. When Tom and I found out we were going to Switzerland, we made plans to visit Stephanie and her family in Lausanne. She picked us up at the train station...and it was such an amazing moment in my heart. I couldn't believe that I was actually in Lausanne! Stephanie made us a delicious Swiss dinner, raclette, and a birthday cake! She is a wonderful cook and baker. What a memorable day. I celebrated my birthday twice in one week...in Switzerland! Life is good. :-)















Some things we saw in Lausanne...Lake Geneva (also called Lake Leman), hackysack with a net, The Olympic Museum and World Headquarters

Trip To Europe Part 2

We flew into Basel, Switzerland first, arriving late on a Sunday night. The next day was....my BIRTHDAY! Woohoo! I could not believe that I was IN Switzerland on my birthday!!! We spent Monday exploring Basel...which was really an interesting city. At the end of the day Tommy said "we should find a little cake or something for your birthday." We went into a nice grocery store, and I walked and walked around and decided to opt for a jar of Nutella and some awesome bread. :-) Happy birthday to me.


Tuesday was a day trip riding a train through Germany.



We rode through the region of the Black Forests...beautiful. We got off at a couple of small towns and just walked around exploring.


One place was a small museum in St. Georgen that had clocks and phonographs and other historical recording devices. Kind of random, but very interesting.





















Wednesday we took another train trip to Interlaken, Switzerland. There were so many beautiful spots there!


Hiking beside the lakes















Downtown Interlaken
A yodeler statue ...yep! It's true.














Jungfrau, one of the highest mountains in the Swiss Alps, as seen from the city of Interlaken.






13,462 ft. high.
No...we didn't climb it. :-) Maybe next time...







To be continued Thursday....

Trip to Europe - part 1

I am going to talk about something different in this journal...not medical appointments, scans or tests. I wanted to share with you about our great adventure. I'll post this in a few blogs because...well, we got to do so many things, I just need to spread it out a little.
A retired couple, who are friends of ours, called Tom in March and told him that they wanted to give us a gift...a trip to Europe! We could NOT believe it! They said they wanted to just bless us with this trip. WOW...we, of course, were shocked...but in a very good way! What a surprise!

SO...we quickly planned a trip to Europe and left in the last part of May and early June (2 weeks). We decided to focus on Switzerland and France, seeing as much as we could see in that time! What a wonderful trip we had! So many experiences and sights to take in. Really, the trip was an extraordinary adventure for both of us. We agreed that it was the best trip we had ever been on in our lives. Our friends' generosity was truly a gift from God.

Okay...so here are some of the photos. Hope you enjoy them!





The hills are alive...ahhhhhh
Interlaken, Switzerland!





The Rhine River in Basel, Switzerland






Walking along the lakes in Interlaken, Switzerland





Basel Munster, a magnificent cathedral built between 1019-1500,
Basel, Switzerland










We LOVED riding the trains everywhere!






Spalentor, ancient city gate in Basel, Switzerland

End of the Spear

Today was treatment day for July and I just wanted to give a report. I walked in at 9:01 and left at 10:06. WOW...one hour and 5 minutes! It only took one stick to get the IV started, which has not happened since this started in January. The treatment was short and very ordinary, which is just fine with me! Yay God!

I've started a routine now that on the day of treatment I post something on my Facebook status to ask people to pray about the day. I also text a few people on my phone as well. Some may think I don't need to always ask month after month to pray for me. But after doing this now for 4+ years, I believe I do. No, I know I do. I really do need other people's support for this continued battle for my life. God has blessed me so much with a long list of people coming alongside and being encouragers and prayer warriors. I am so thankful to God for each person's loving support.

A dear friend of mine, whose family was in the U.S. military, told me that there is an expression used in the military that refers to this idea of support. She said "Lisa, you are at the pointy 'end of the spear'. You are the one on the frontline, fighting day after day. But the spear is backed up by many other people at home or nearby the fighting zone that are in support roles that make it possible for the soldier to be out there."

Wow! I loved that whole picture. Yes...I DO feel like I'm on the frontline but I KNOW that I am able to do it because of all the support behind me. And I also know I don't want to go into battle, especially on medical appointments days, without alerting my support system. They are all warriors as well! They pray, asking God to cover me with His protection and love and peace. And it always comes.

Today...physically, I went by myself. But, in every other way, I was NOT alone.

God is so good and faithful to me.

The LORD is my strength and my song;
He has become my salvation.
He is my God and I will praise Him,
my father's God, and I will exalt Him.
The LORD is a warrior; the LORD is His Name.
Exodus 15:2,3

O God, thank You, again, for Your mercy over this day. Thank You for all the ways You walk with me through this battle. And thank You God for each loving friend and family that brings my name to Your throne. I am so grateful to You. You are my God, and I am Your child. I love You, O God!
In Jesus' Name, Amen.