RIDICULOUS REVISITED

I finished all my daily radiation treatments (33 of them) on October 2, 2009.  Still recuperating... but all is well.  Compared to others, I sailed thru it.   Well now ... isn't that refreshing to hear?  I must be growing up.  :)

This Saturday (Nov 14) Bill, Andrew and I leave for Cancer Treatment Ctrs of America in Chicago for at least 5 days.  Andrew's never been a part of this journey to Chicago and we wanted him to share it with us.  I"ll be getting my port surgerically removed on Tuesday the 17th.  Then I"ll see the oncologist, etc., etc., etc.

We're going to see some of Chicago on the weekend before our hospital visit.  Fun in Chicago .... imagine that ... I never thought I'd see the day ....

I thought all my ridiculous God stories with doctors were over ... but they're not.  Guess what happened yesterday ...

I went to the chiropractor.  He's kinda of new to me.  He was pressing on a pressure point to relieve some stupid pain in my arm.  As he was standing there I asked him ... "So is this about nerves or muscles?"  Do you know what he said?  "IT'S ABOUT GOD".  What the ..... ?  So I said "God.... ummm ... Father, Son, Holy Spirit?"  He said "YES."   I said "IS JESUS GOD?"  He said 'YES'.  That was about the end of that.  It seemed like that's all I needed to say.  Afterward I talked with the office manager, and she confirmed that the chiropractor is definitely a follower of Christ.  A Christian.  Very cool.

New topic:

I told the Lord when I was first diagnosed, that if I got through this that I would sing.  I've been wracked with fear over singing publicly for years.  So wouldn't you know it, someone I don't even know actually asked me to sing at a pretty large event during the Christmas season!  I had a knee-jerk reaction ... but I'm gonna do it.  I'll be with a few other women so it won't seem AS vulnerable.  I'm looking for strength and freedom from God.  I want to soar.   Fly free!  Sing free!  I mean ... I leaned into God during this whole cancer journey.  I cried in His direction.  I didn't run from Him.  I ran to Him.  And I still believe.  So I will sing. 

Now to end with the ridiculous.  Bill had a biopsy on his thyroid last week, and it has suscipious atypical cells.  They are assuming cancer and want to remove his thyroid.  They also said he has Hashimoto's Disease, which is an auto-immune response against the thyroid.  So ... hopefully while we're in Chicago at CTCA, he will be able to get a second opinion there.  I find this all ridiculous.  And we are rather shaken by it.  But we are still in 'warrior' mode.  And we have found that even though horrible things happen in this life ... God is near.  No promises for an easy life.  But He promises  His nearness ... and His love.  It's hard to explain.  I hope you don't think I'm making it up.  I have a whole new take on what it means to walk thru this life with Jesus Christ.  He hasn't promised me an easy life ... just an eternal one.  He is worth following.  His rewards are very rich. 

I have loved you for reading my blogs.  I'll write at least one more after I return from Chicago. 

"You are loved with an Everlasting Love.  And beneath you are His everlasting Arms"

Yours .... Diane

IT'S BEEN A WHILE

Facebook has really usurped my blogging.  I love facebook and feel like I can communicate to lots of people.  It's been a huge prayer support for me.  But I'll get back to this blog soon.  I'd like to turn this blog into a memory book.  How could I print it out?  Anybody know?

Okay ... I can stop gaining weight now .... ahhhhhh!

I'M BETTER!!!

I've just finished 5 weeks (23 days) of radiation.  The fatigue didn't stick!  I'm doing very well!  .... Always fighting skin burns, but the dr. continues to use the word 'phenomenal' in terms of my skin.  And I'm very thankful to The Lord for my energy, and the lack of real skin problems during radiation.

"Lord ... I acknowledge You as the Giver of All Good Things.  So, Thank you for these really good things in my life."

P.S.  10 more days (2 weeks) of radiation!
P.P.S.  It actually feels s-t-r-a-n-g-e to not complain, or express fear here on this blog site .... but I'll take it!  Yahoo!

PRAY FOR ME?

Yah .. so no one ever complains about radiation.   But I am.  The radiation is making it hard for me to function (fatigue, sore). I so need prayer. Bill read this prayer to me this morning from our favorite book by Beth Moore (called "Praying God's Word"):

Father God, I ask You to lead me when I'm blinded by ways I have not known, along unfamiliar paths please guide me; Lord, turn the darkness into light before me and make the rough places smooth. I pray these are the things You will do; I know You will not forsake me.   (Isaiah 42:16)

When I'm sick I feel forsaken and scared ... but The Word of God tells me that that's a lie I shouldn't believe. Amen.

TODAY I WENT TO CHURCH WITHOUT A SCARF OR WIG!!!!!

I'm very brave and courageous!    It's been 11 weeks since my last chemo. I actually am starting to think that I look better like this than with hair! I'm sure others would differ.   Except my husband of course ... he thinks I'm THE most gorgeous bald woman ever!

Every morning I wake up and greet myself in the mirror "Good Morning, Uncle Fester!"

"A joyful heart is good medicine" .... (someplace in the Bible)

RADIATION FATIGUE!

So last week I wrote how full of energy I was. HAH! Fatigue and disturbing sore-ness have hit with a vengence!!!!! I'm exhausted when I'm lying down!!! Oh my goodness!!!! 15 days of radiation left!!!!

"Help me not to be afraid.  Help me to stand firm.  You, Lord, will fight for me.  Help me only to be still."    Exodus 14:13