Okay, another update...praise God! I went to LR today and got my lab drawn (one stick by the way, yay) and headed home with my friend who had taken me. I wasn't expecting to hear until tomorrow but they called in the afternoon. CALCIUM DOWN AGAIN! YAY !!!! Monday it was 11.8 and today (drum roll) it was 11.2 !!! WOOHOO!
I just saw the lab from when we were in Nashville and when all this calcium mess started my level was 13.3. SO...praise God...it is coming down, coming down! SO thankful! And SO thankful for your prayers! You all are bold intercessors.
Today was another good day emotionally. I think it's being off the prednisone and the other drug, PLUS the good news of the calcium levels coming down. But MOST of all...it's God. I give Him the glory and credit and praise and love. It all weaves together...He is in charge of every aspect of our being. Yay God!
I continue to spread the word to ask people to pray for Tuesday's scan. So many of you have already said you would be praying and I am thankful!
Oh God,
Tonight my heart feels full of hope! I thank You for the good news today. I thank You for my emotions being more stable. Thank You for food that tasted good and friends that sent encouragement my way. What a good day Lord. Thank You O God! As we are approaching the week of Easter, Lord I am celebrating early. Thank You for coming to save us, for Your love and sacrifice. I just...I just... love You (she said with happy tears welling up in her eyes.)
"I will call to mind the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will meditate on all your works and think about your mighty deeds. Your way, O God, is holy. What god is great like our God?" Psalm 77:11-13
Thank You SO much for this day.
With all my love and with a heart full of thankfulness,
Lisa
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Tuesday full of light
First, I want to tell you what happened when I posted my blog late last night. After I posted it, I turned off the laptop, got ready for bed and just thought I'll look at FB before I go to sleep. Many of you had already written words of love and hope and said that you'd be praying. In the next 30 min as I was settling in...I could tell a cloud had lifted, the dark feelings in my mind and heart were feeling so much better! I knew it was the prayers and the Lord coming into my room and lifting my heart. THAT was incredible and SO hope filled for me. I went to sleep, had a good night's rest.
Then I woke up this morning feeling the same way...light! I actually walked into the kitchen and poured some cereal for myself (usually everything is brought to me so I can eat and get all my meds down first thing in the morning). But I felt so good! Wow...was thanking God. The day continued to be wonderful...lots of great things. Some friends came to sit with me and help and also encourage. Also, I actually cut back some on my daytime pain med...that is really amazing. I did eat better today too. Great day.
Then the doctor's office called about 10 am. The calcium was down!!! They said it had gone from 12 to 11.8...and I said "well...is that enough? Doesn't sound like very much." They said "No...we feel good about that! We think it's coming down. Dr. W wants you off the nose spray and the prednisone steroid right away." WOOHOO !!!!! Off two meds!!! SO thankful to God... SO, SO happy to hear that! Praise God!!! They also said to come back Wed (tomorrow) to recheck the calcium one more time, and I'll hear the results Thursday. AND she also said to go ahead and set up the time for the PET scan and then to come see her after I get it.
WOW...SO thankful!!!! I did set up the PET scan and it is one week from today, next Tuesday April 3 at noon. This is a big, big, big day. The scan in January showed the 6 new spots. If the cancer has progressed, I will probably begin some form of chemo, oral or IV. If not, they will keep me on the Femara pill (anti-estrogen) and the Zometa (bone strengthener that also stops cancer growth in the bone.)
But of course...I want to ask for the mountain to move. NO cancer. None. Whatever happens, I will praise Him. (You all have been down this road with me before.) But I want to ask for it to be gone.
I am sounding the trumpets, like in the Old Testament, asking for prayers that are radical. If you feel called to do this...I am also asking for people to fast and pray...starting on Sunday, which just so happens to be Palm Sunday...and fasting till Tuesday. (There are different kinds of fasting, whatever you feel called to do.) The test is at noon, but I don't know the exact time when I will be in and out...so maybe breaking the fast in the evening. (Again, that is up to you.) I won't find out the results until Wed. or Thurs.
I feel like in one way this is such a risky thing to ask...to pray for a miracle. How will we feel if we don't see it? What will that mean about God and Who He is?
But I will tell you that when you are in my position...which is the fight between life and death...all I can do is stretch my arms up to the heavens and cry out to God because I really don't care if it looks risky. "O God Most High...You said I could ask You for ANYTHING...so here I am. This is my anything."
SO...prayer list: tomorrow... they draw blood to check the calcium and to begin radical prayer for Tuesday's scan.
Bottom line...healing.
O God,
I THANK YOU...and continue to THANK YOU for the shift I've felt in one day. You made darkness turn into light! I continue praising You even as I fall into bed tonight for You have blessed this day SO much! All the little things...hummingbird showing up in early spring to the BIG things...great news and meds stopped. O God...You are faithful and good. THANK YOU over and over and I give You all the praise and glory.
I love You.
Your child,
Lisa
Then I woke up this morning feeling the same way...light! I actually walked into the kitchen and poured some cereal for myself (usually everything is brought to me so I can eat and get all my meds down first thing in the morning). But I felt so good! Wow...was thanking God. The day continued to be wonderful...lots of great things. Some friends came to sit with me and help and also encourage. Also, I actually cut back some on my daytime pain med...that is really amazing. I did eat better today too. Great day.
Then the doctor's office called about 10 am. The calcium was down!!! They said it had gone from 12 to 11.8...and I said "well...is that enough? Doesn't sound like very much." They said "No...we feel good about that! We think it's coming down. Dr. W wants you off the nose spray and the prednisone steroid right away." WOOHOO !!!!! Off two meds!!! SO thankful to God... SO, SO happy to hear that! Praise God!!! They also said to come back Wed (tomorrow) to recheck the calcium one more time, and I'll hear the results Thursday. AND she also said to go ahead and set up the time for the PET scan and then to come see her after I get it.
WOW...SO thankful!!!! I did set up the PET scan and it is one week from today, next Tuesday April 3 at noon. This is a big, big, big day. The scan in January showed the 6 new spots. If the cancer has progressed, I will probably begin some form of chemo, oral or IV. If not, they will keep me on the Femara pill (anti-estrogen) and the Zometa (bone strengthener that also stops cancer growth in the bone.)
But of course...I want to ask for the mountain to move. NO cancer. None. Whatever happens, I will praise Him. (You all have been down this road with me before.) But I want to ask for it to be gone.
I am sounding the trumpets, like in the Old Testament, asking for prayers that are radical. If you feel called to do this...I am also asking for people to fast and pray...starting on Sunday, which just so happens to be Palm Sunday...and fasting till Tuesday. (There are different kinds of fasting, whatever you feel called to do.) The test is at noon, but I don't know the exact time when I will be in and out...so maybe breaking the fast in the evening. (Again, that is up to you.) I won't find out the results until Wed. or Thurs.
I feel like in one way this is such a risky thing to ask...to pray for a miracle. How will we feel if we don't see it? What will that mean about God and Who He is?
But I will tell you that when you are in my position...which is the fight between life and death...all I can do is stretch my arms up to the heavens and cry out to God because I really don't care if it looks risky. "O God Most High...You said I could ask You for ANYTHING...so here I am. This is my anything."
SO...prayer list: tomorrow... they draw blood to check the calcium and to begin radical prayer for Tuesday's scan.
Bottom line...healing.
O God,
I THANK YOU...and continue to THANK YOU for the shift I've felt in one day. You made darkness turn into light! I continue praising You even as I fall into bed tonight for You have blessed this day SO much! All the little things...hummingbird showing up in early spring to the BIG things...great news and meds stopped. O God...You are faithful and good. THANK YOU over and over and I give You all the praise and glory.
I love You.
Your child,
Lisa
Monday, March 26, 2012
Monday
Tom and I went to the LR doctor this afternoon to check on my calcium level. They took the lab/blood draw but they said that I would not know the results until tomorrow about the calcium levels. If they are down to normal...then I get to stop the prednisone (steroid) and the nose spray. If they are not I'll go back for more fluids.
We found out a couple of good things. My blood pressure was back to acceptable (yay). I also got the test back about whether I had a kidney infection or not and it was negative. So she said I could get off the antibiotic. That was great news.
We also talked about the Petscan. She said we could set it up when we wanted (we will look at our calendar) and I think that it will be early next week. That is really a significant day. If the scan shows progression she said I will probably begin a chemo that is taken orally called Xeloda. If there is no progression I will stick with the Zometa bone strengthener and the oral pill Femara.
Of course...I want no progression. I want no cancer.
I'm thankful for the good news and thanking God for that...but I need prayers for my emotions. They are up and down, and it is the down that is especially a struggle right now in the evenings. Last night I did better. Every day seems different.
That's all for tonight...tired.
I'll write tomorrow about the calcium.
With much love,
Lisa
Lord,
I love You and I thank You for being with me today. No more today Lord...just tired. Please let me sleep well and to wake up renewed in my heart and body.
Your child,
Lisa
We found out a couple of good things. My blood pressure was back to acceptable (yay). I also got the test back about whether I had a kidney infection or not and it was negative. So she said I could get off the antibiotic. That was great news.
We also talked about the Petscan. She said we could set it up when we wanted (we will look at our calendar) and I think that it will be early next week. That is really a significant day. If the scan shows progression she said I will probably begin a chemo that is taken orally called Xeloda. If there is no progression I will stick with the Zometa bone strengthener and the oral pill Femara.
Of course...I want no progression. I want no cancer.
I'm thankful for the good news and thanking God for that...but I need prayers for my emotions. They are up and down, and it is the down that is especially a struggle right now in the evenings. Last night I did better. Every day seems different.
That's all for tonight...tired.
I'll write tomorrow about the calcium.
With much love,
Lisa
Lord,
I love You and I thank You for being with me today. No more today Lord...just tired. Please let me sleep well and to wake up renewed in my heart and body.
Your child,
Lisa
Friday, March 23, 2012
One more lesson on Flexibility
I went to Little Rock yesterday to recheck labs and get more fluids. They told me when I walked in that my calcium did NOT go down on Wed's lab...it was 12.4. SO...there were new plans. I would get TWO bags of fluids, which means 4 hours not 2 hours. Also, my doctor wanted me to start prednisone (steroids) and a nose spray...both for the purpose of getting the calcium out of my blood.
How do I spell the frustrating yell that is kind of like Charlie Brown's yell? AAAHHHHH!!! (Didn't learn that in my vocab words back at LOHS. A really useful word). :-) I was disappointed when I heard the news...the calcium was still at 12. The good news was that my blood pressure had gone up some to 98 over 68, which was still low, but better since Wednesday. My CBC numbers were all in the normal range, which was great. But the calcium needed to come down.
Remember I said I adjust to new plans slowly? It. is. true. Yep :-)
SO...I heard the new plan, got teary, asked questions and then sat down for a 4 hour saline fluid festival. :-) I eventually settled into my chair and got out my bag of "things to do".
My sweet sister-in-law who brought me to the appointment, and who adjusts faster to these things than I do, said "no problem...there's plenty of shopping for me to do here" and rolled with the new plan in no time at all. :-) (So sweet.) She came back to pick me up and we promptly went to Blue Coast Burrito, where I got a fish taco...and ate it ALL! Woohoo. ( I never know...it just sounded good and then hit the spot).
SO...bottom line..the discouraging part was it added 2 more meds to my long list that I'm already taking everyday. I am trying to keep optimistic, but I will be honest and say please pray for my emotions to stay full of hope in Jesus. I feel so encouraged knowing SO many are praying. I really do think about that throughout each day all the time.
Here's the prayer list: for my emotions to stay up, calcium down, blood pressure up, appetite up. :-) Up, down. And really...you can ignore my lists and just listen to what the Holy Spirit tells you. That's the better way.
I continue to praise God for the stable, constant Presence that He is in the middle of the roller coaster life. God's Presence is with each person in our family. He is faithfully taking care of Tom, Jesse, Bets, James and Mary and me. I am SO thankful for that!!! YAY GOD!!!
I go back Monday for all these lab numbers to be rechecked. Early afternoon appt.
One friend said "we want to pray Lisa...keep giving us our 'marching orders' so we can battle for you." Wow. I am thankful for all of your love and bold prayers.
O God,
Thank You for the small victories...which really aren't small. They are all important. Please, sustain and pour Your strength into my heart and mind and body. "I need You every hour, Most Holy One." I love You.
Your daughter,
Lisa
How do I spell the frustrating yell that is kind of like Charlie Brown's yell? AAAHHHHH!!! (Didn't learn that in my vocab words back at LOHS. A really useful word). :-) I was disappointed when I heard the news...the calcium was still at 12. The good news was that my blood pressure had gone up some to 98 over 68, which was still low, but better since Wednesday. My CBC numbers were all in the normal range, which was great. But the calcium needed to come down.
Remember I said I adjust to new plans slowly? It. is. true. Yep :-)
SO...I heard the new plan, got teary, asked questions and then sat down for a 4 hour saline fluid festival. :-) I eventually settled into my chair and got out my bag of "things to do".
My sweet sister-in-law who brought me to the appointment, and who adjusts faster to these things than I do, said "no problem...there's plenty of shopping for me to do here" and rolled with the new plan in no time at all. :-) (So sweet.) She came back to pick me up and we promptly went to Blue Coast Burrito, where I got a fish taco...and ate it ALL! Woohoo. ( I never know...it just sounded good and then hit the spot).
SO...bottom line..the discouraging part was it added 2 more meds to my long list that I'm already taking everyday. I am trying to keep optimistic, but I will be honest and say please pray for my emotions to stay full of hope in Jesus. I feel so encouraged knowing SO many are praying. I really do think about that throughout each day all the time.
Here's the prayer list: for my emotions to stay up, calcium down, blood pressure up, appetite up. :-) Up, down. And really...you can ignore my lists and just listen to what the Holy Spirit tells you. That's the better way.
I continue to praise God for the stable, constant Presence that He is in the middle of the roller coaster life. God's Presence is with each person in our family. He is faithfully taking care of Tom, Jesse, Bets, James and Mary and me. I am SO thankful for that!!! YAY GOD!!!
I go back Monday for all these lab numbers to be rechecked. Early afternoon appt.
One friend said "we want to pray Lisa...keep giving us our 'marching orders' so we can battle for you." Wow. I am thankful for all of your love and bold prayers.
O God,
Thank You for the small victories...which really aren't small. They are all important. Please, sustain and pour Your strength into my heart and mind and body. "I need You every hour, Most Holy One." I love You.
Your daughter,
Lisa
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Wednesday
Tom and I went to see my LR oncologist today. They wanted to compare the lab from last Thursday at Vanderbilt to a lab taken today. My calcium levels had come down but were still not normal (they were 12). Also, my blood pressure was very low today. I can't remember the bottom number but the top was in the 70's.
SO my doctor said she wanted me to get more fluids today to try to help the blood pressure and then recheck. She also wanted to start an antibiotic...she wondered if I have an infection somewhere, like maybe a kidney infection.
So I went back to the chemo room, my favorite nurse got my IV in,(yay), plus they were able to draw my lab from it and then I went in for the fluid treatment. It took a couple of hours...not too long. They rechecked my blood pressure and the top number came up to like 84...up, but not normal. My doctor wants me to come back tomorrow to see the lab from today and to get more fluids put in.
This is all not what I was praying for (and asking you to pray for). I didn't get back in the normal ranges on most of these things. My CBC WAS normal, which was wonderful. But these other things are concerning them and me. (She almost put me in the hospital to just work on the fluids, and test me, etc. but decided to do it like this).
Going tomorrow at 10am to get the fluids put in.
Whewwww....let's see...same prayer.
Healing. Normal levels. No cancer. No pain. Victory in Jesus.
Thanks SO much for your continued support and love. I am leaning hard into it.
Okay Lord,
I sound like "annie"..."Tomorrow's a BRAND NEW DAY" :-)... but...it is. It is new every morning. I say goodnight to You with this Scripture, O God:
With hope and love,
Lisa
SO my doctor said she wanted me to get more fluids today to try to help the blood pressure and then recheck. She also wanted to start an antibiotic...she wondered if I have an infection somewhere, like maybe a kidney infection.
So I went back to the chemo room, my favorite nurse got my IV in,(yay), plus they were able to draw my lab from it and then I went in for the fluid treatment. It took a couple of hours...not too long. They rechecked my blood pressure and the top number came up to like 84...up, but not normal. My doctor wants me to come back tomorrow to see the lab from today and to get more fluids put in.
This is all not what I was praying for (and asking you to pray for). I didn't get back in the normal ranges on most of these things. My CBC WAS normal, which was wonderful. But these other things are concerning them and me. (She almost put me in the hospital to just work on the fluids, and test me, etc. but decided to do it like this).
Going tomorrow at 10am to get the fluids put in.
Whewwww....let's see...same prayer.
Healing. Normal levels. No cancer. No pain. Victory in Jesus.
Thanks SO much for your continued support and love. I am leaning hard into it.
Okay Lord,
I sound like "annie"..."Tomorrow's a BRAND NEW DAY" :-)... but...it is. It is new every morning. I say goodnight to You with this Scripture, O God:
"It is good to give thanks to the LORD,
to sing praises to thy Name, O Most High;
to declare they steadfast love in the morning,
and thy faithfulness by night" Psalm 92:1,2
With hope and love,
Lisa
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Vandy Visit
Tom and I went to the my appointment at Vanderbilt Cancer Center on Thursday morning. First they had me go to the lab to draw blood, then I went in to see the doctor.
He was so kind and seemed glad to see us, and we were glad to see him again. He was looking at various reports from the doctors in Arkansas and we caught up on all the medical things that had happened over the past month. Last time I was there I was not walking. So...I got off the table and showed him that I could walk now...yay! (Thank You, God!) I told him I can't walk for long stretches of time or distances but that it is getting better.
Then we discussed my current lab reports. He decided I needed to get some fluids with potassium and to start the Zometa again (the bone strengthener that I took all through 2011.) He wanted me to get it done there so I could check the results on Monday in Little Rock.
He also said that he wanted another Petscan done, very soon, in the next couple of weeks. He wanted to see exactly what was happening and update the cancer info of my body. I was VERY glad to hear this because I was concerned that if I did have to start another chemo treatment that it would have been started on information that we saw back in January! I will have the Petscan done in Arkansas and then have one more Zometa treatment (they are monthly) and then go back to see him. I'll see him in one month.
I went down to their transfusion clinic and got set up for treatment. The nurse said something about 3 hours and I said "What?" The fluids/potassium was a 3 hour process and the Zometa was 15 minutes. I was surprised I guess because I knew the Zometa was short so I thought the other would be too. (It takes me awhile to shift my brain from what I THINK is going to happen to what is the new information. Just a personality quirk.) :-) Anyway...I shifted gears and sat down and began the treatment. The I.V. went into the top of my hand and we were in business. Tom went to get lunch and to wander around Nashville a little, which is what he needed to do after being there already for almost 4 hours. My sister Diane came and sat with me through the treatment, which was great.
I finished around 4 pm, Tom was back and we said goodbye to Diane. Then we drove over to Jesse's house and said goodbye to him. We left Green Hills around 5 and got home at 11 !!! (Tom was the only driver and he did a great job.) SO,SO,SO glad to get home. It had been a long day.
We thought the doctor in TN was going to probably start chemo or something similar. But...when we were analyzing everything, we both felt good about the appointment. We've all been praying for the Lord to lead the way, to bless the doctor with wisdom and to trust Him with all of it....so now, we have the choice about how to respond. I want to respond with trusting God with all that happened Thursday. Not second guess...but walk in trust. God is moving things, scheduling appointments, leading me forward in this battle. My job is to keep my eyes on Him and to trust Him.
I am especially REALLY thankful that there is another scan! (I think I already said that.) :-) The way I see the month ahead is that we have LOTS of opportunities to pray and to see God move! Each appointment is a battle moment. SO... that's what I'm asking from you again.
The first one is this Monday (tomorrow). My calcium and some other numbers need to get to a more normal status. Please pray for this first battle...for GREAT lab results. We've seen God do it before, just asking and praying for His hand to move again.
Oh God,
Thank You for being with us last Thursday and for the appointment going well. I don't really know what's ahead...still. Why do I think that I will ever get a message from You that tells me exactly what is coming...tomorrow, much less in the next week or year? You've told me "Don't be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow is anxious for itself. Today's troubles are enough for today. Seek my Kingdom first and all these things will be added to you." Seek Your Kingdom? That means to look to You and for You and at You. I thank You for this day, Sunday March 18th. I trust You with all my todays and all my tomorrows. I love You always.
With much love forever,
Your child, Lisa
He was so kind and seemed glad to see us, and we were glad to see him again. He was looking at various reports from the doctors in Arkansas and we caught up on all the medical things that had happened over the past month. Last time I was there I was not walking. So...I got off the table and showed him that I could walk now...yay! (Thank You, God!) I told him I can't walk for long stretches of time or distances but that it is getting better.
Then we discussed my current lab reports. He decided I needed to get some fluids with potassium and to start the Zometa again (the bone strengthener that I took all through 2011.) He wanted me to get it done there so I could check the results on Monday in Little Rock.
He also said that he wanted another Petscan done, very soon, in the next couple of weeks. He wanted to see exactly what was happening and update the cancer info of my body. I was VERY glad to hear this because I was concerned that if I did have to start another chemo treatment that it would have been started on information that we saw back in January! I will have the Petscan done in Arkansas and then have one more Zometa treatment (they are monthly) and then go back to see him. I'll see him in one month.
I went down to their transfusion clinic and got set up for treatment. The nurse said something about 3 hours and I said "What?" The fluids/potassium was a 3 hour process and the Zometa was 15 minutes. I was surprised I guess because I knew the Zometa was short so I thought the other would be too. (It takes me awhile to shift my brain from what I THINK is going to happen to what is the new information. Just a personality quirk.) :-) Anyway...I shifted gears and sat down and began the treatment. The I.V. went into the top of my hand and we were in business. Tom went to get lunch and to wander around Nashville a little, which is what he needed to do after being there already for almost 4 hours. My sister Diane came and sat with me through the treatment, which was great.
I finished around 4 pm, Tom was back and we said goodbye to Diane. Then we drove over to Jesse's house and said goodbye to him. We left Green Hills around 5 and got home at 11 !!! (Tom was the only driver and he did a great job.) SO,SO,SO glad to get home. It had been a long day.
We thought the doctor in TN was going to probably start chemo or something similar. But...when we were analyzing everything, we both felt good about the appointment. We've all been praying for the Lord to lead the way, to bless the doctor with wisdom and to trust Him with all of it....so now, we have the choice about how to respond. I want to respond with trusting God with all that happened Thursday. Not second guess...but walk in trust. God is moving things, scheduling appointments, leading me forward in this battle. My job is to keep my eyes on Him and to trust Him.
I am especially REALLY thankful that there is another scan! (I think I already said that.) :-) The way I see the month ahead is that we have LOTS of opportunities to pray and to see God move! Each appointment is a battle moment. SO... that's what I'm asking from you again.
The first one is this Monday (tomorrow). My calcium and some other numbers need to get to a more normal status. Please pray for this first battle...for GREAT lab results. We've seen God do it before, just asking and praying for His hand to move again.
Oh God,
Thank You for being with us last Thursday and for the appointment going well. I don't really know what's ahead...still. Why do I think that I will ever get a message from You that tells me exactly what is coming...tomorrow, much less in the next week or year? You've told me "Don't be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow is anxious for itself. Today's troubles are enough for today. Seek my Kingdom first and all these things will be added to you." Seek Your Kingdom? That means to look to You and for You and at You. I thank You for this day, Sunday March 18th. I trust You with all my todays and all my tomorrows. I love You always.
With much love forever,
Your child, Lisa
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Middle of the river
It's been awhile since I've written in here...once again, mostly because I've just haven't felt real well and have been trying to manage pain, nausea and fatigue.
SO...let me try to catch up:
*After the cement surgery I spent the next few days sleeping...a LOT. The surgery was a great decision and the outcome was good...just took awhile to recover.
*Week of Feb 20 I finished the radiation treatments...13 all together. Mary went with me on day 12 and saw the big machine and the cross on the ceiling. On Day 13 we began quietly celebrating that last treatment. My friend Elisa dropped off the picture of the baby Lamb in the arms of Jesus. She said the Lord told her to pass it back to me (we had passed it back and forth). Lamb? Hmmm...the theme continues. Then, a wonderful box of cool "Hope" T-shirts from my sweet friend Kimberly, (who walked the Komen last fall and raised money for this battle), arrived on the day I finished radiation.Thank you, thank you. So cool. Then I received some beautiful flowers from my parents! My sister-in-law,Susan, made a delicious dinner. Then our little ravens (neighborhood children that we love who belong to some dear friends of ours), stopped by and "fed" encouragement to us, a tray of beautiful goodies. So much love. Finished with radiation!
The next few weeks brought more friends stopping by, more food, more encouragement...all a blessing. A dear friend from high school days, Darrel, came to town to have dinner with us, which was great.A friend from Michigan days, Barry, sent a box of awesome shirts from a race his wife Michele had run for the 26.2 with Donna Marathon. Thanks! In the meantime, Tom and I continued to try to get a pattern going with the medicine. Managing pain. Finding food the I could eat and keep on my stomach. Trying to stay ahead of the nausea and other issues. Really...a circle of management. I had friends take turns sitting with me to help me get around, get simple tasks done, etc. SO grateful for their gift of time! Some friends have stopped by specifically to pray for me, which means so much. I've had friends sing to me...hymns and worship songs that really encouraged my hope and resolve. One exciting moment I asked Tom to take me to the Bull Dog for Sunday lunch....a VERY famous restaurant, :-) much loved, in Bald Knob AR. I had a little bit of catfish and I was SO grateful that it tasted good !!!
My big outing in weeks!!!
Last week I had a difficult and discouraging week. It kind of crept in slowly and peaked out on Wed. I called in some troops, made long distance calls, and asked for lots of prayers. The day really did SHIFT...the darkness in my thoughts shifted to hope and joy. The perspective changed to Jesus's viewpoint rather than my own view. There IS hope in Christ Jesus. I felt my vision change as they day went on. I was praising God for rescuing the battle that was in my mind.
NOW...we are approaching the big day of seeing our Vanderbilt oncologist again. We've prayed and prayed and asked others to pray with us and for our family. We also have asked for people to pray for our doctor to have wisdom and knowledge from the Lord, that he would know what to do next to fight this cancer. Specifically, that this appt on Thursday morning would all go well.
That's about it.
There are two stories that I LOVE about going into battle. One is David standing in front of old Goliath...no fear, boldness way beyond his years and telling him exactly how this was going to come down. " You will lose. I will win. By the power of the Living God!"
The other one is the story of Joshua crossing the Jordan River. He gives a speech in Joshua 3 and says to them over and over and over again "Do NOT be discouraged. Do NOT be afraid." THEN the priests were sent into the water first, stood in the water and waited to see what was going to happen. Nothing really happened until they marched into the river. Their job was to just STAND there and watch God move. He moved all right. Shwooosh...the walls of water went UP and they were on dry land! The whole nation of Israel walked across dry land. This was not a repeat of the miracle at the Red Sea. God likes to changes things up. Surprise us with fresh stories to tell the world.
SO...tonight...I am in the middle of the river. (Aren't we all royal priests now?) Waiting to see how He will move this time. I trust Him. I love Him. I will move forward with Him. I want to follow Jesus...wherever He leads.
Thank You Lord for one more day. For one more day of love, strength and joy...all from You given to me by Your children. I love You. Good night dear Friend. You are truly My Everything.
Your daughter,
Lisa
SO...let me try to catch up:
*After the cement surgery I spent the next few days sleeping...a LOT. The surgery was a great decision and the outcome was good...just took awhile to recover.
*Week of Feb 20 I finished the radiation treatments...13 all together. Mary went with me on day 12 and saw the big machine and the cross on the ceiling. On Day 13 we began quietly celebrating that last treatment. My friend Elisa dropped off the picture of the baby Lamb in the arms of Jesus. She said the Lord told her to pass it back to me (we had passed it back and forth). Lamb? Hmmm...the theme continues. Then, a wonderful box of cool "Hope" T-shirts from my sweet friend Kimberly, (who walked the Komen last fall and raised money for this battle), arrived on the day I finished radiation.Thank you, thank you. So cool. Then I received some beautiful flowers from my parents! My sister-in-law,Susan, made a delicious dinner. Then our little ravens (neighborhood children that we love who belong to some dear friends of ours), stopped by and "fed" encouragement to us, a tray of beautiful goodies. So much love. Finished with radiation!
The next few weeks brought more friends stopping by, more food, more encouragement...all a blessing. A dear friend from high school days, Darrel, came to town to have dinner with us, which was great.A friend from Michigan days, Barry, sent a box of awesome shirts from a race his wife Michele had run for the 26.2 with Donna Marathon. Thanks! In the meantime, Tom and I continued to try to get a pattern going with the medicine. Managing pain. Finding food the I could eat and keep on my stomach. Trying to stay ahead of the nausea and other issues. Really...a circle of management. I had friends take turns sitting with me to help me get around, get simple tasks done, etc. SO grateful for their gift of time! Some friends have stopped by specifically to pray for me, which means so much. I've had friends sing to me...hymns and worship songs that really encouraged my hope and resolve. One exciting moment I asked Tom to take me to the Bull Dog for Sunday lunch....a VERY famous restaurant, :-) much loved, in Bald Knob AR. I had a little bit of catfish and I was SO grateful that it tasted good !!!
My big outing in weeks!!!
Last week I had a difficult and discouraging week. It kind of crept in slowly and peaked out on Wed. I called in some troops, made long distance calls, and asked for lots of prayers. The day really did SHIFT...the darkness in my thoughts shifted to hope and joy. The perspective changed to Jesus's viewpoint rather than my own view. There IS hope in Christ Jesus. I felt my vision change as they day went on. I was praising God for rescuing the battle that was in my mind.
NOW...we are approaching the big day of seeing our Vanderbilt oncologist again. We've prayed and prayed and asked others to pray with us and for our family. We also have asked for people to pray for our doctor to have wisdom and knowledge from the Lord, that he would know what to do next to fight this cancer. Specifically, that this appt on Thursday morning would all go well.
That's about it.
There are two stories that I LOVE about going into battle. One is David standing in front of old Goliath...no fear, boldness way beyond his years and telling him exactly how this was going to come down. " You will lose. I will win. By the power of the Living God!"
The other one is the story of Joshua crossing the Jordan River. He gives a speech in Joshua 3 and says to them over and over and over again "Do NOT be discouraged. Do NOT be afraid." THEN the priests were sent into the water first, stood in the water and waited to see what was going to happen. Nothing really happened until they marched into the river. Their job was to just STAND there and watch God move. He moved all right. Shwooosh...the walls of water went UP and they were on dry land! The whole nation of Israel walked across dry land. This was not a repeat of the miracle at the Red Sea. God likes to changes things up. Surprise us with fresh stories to tell the world.
SO...tonight...I am in the middle of the river. (Aren't we all royal priests now?) Waiting to see how He will move this time. I trust Him. I love Him. I will move forward with Him. I want to follow Jesus...wherever He leads.
Thank You Lord for one more day. For one more day of love, strength and joy...all from You given to me by Your children. I love You. Good night dear Friend. You are truly My Everything.
Your daughter,
Lisa
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