Spring Cleaning in the Fall

After I was diagnosed with cancer, Mark and I seemed to miss summer, fall, winter, and spring.  Cancer treatment was at the top of the priority list, and there was nothing else on the list. All the usual things fell by the wayside. Home maintenance, yard maintenance, cleaning, laundry, repairs - anything that wasn't directly related to cancer treatment just didn't happen in the last 15 months. 


Now that treatment is behind us, it feels like we are beginning to emerge from the cocoon. Slowly, I am digging out from under the piles of paperwork that have been left to build over the past year. I have begun the unpleasant project of cleaning out the garage. You can imagine how fun that is after 15 months of not being swept or cleaned at all - lots of little critters are living there! I am getting rid of old clothes, and unused household items; cleaning out drawers and cabinets. 


The funny thing is how good it feels! I actually have the strength and stamina to do these things! I can carry boxes! I can climb ladders! I can push and pull and sweep and scrub! And I am so happy to do so! Cancer definitely changes your perspective on things! 


One of the projects that had been postponed was our yard. Sadly, we lost several palm trees and other plants during the past winter. And sadly for our neighbors, we hadn't done anything about the yard all this time! This past week, our good friend and landscaper, Fred, came to the rescue! His guys replaced our dead trees, brought new shrubs, trimmed and cleaned out the beds, planted seasonal flowers, checked the sprinkler system, and made our house look like someone lives in it again! 


Fred spruced up the landscaping, but even more than that, he used his gifts and skills to touch my heart! In selecting new plants to put in our yard, Fred remembered my love for Latin America. When his crew arrived at our house they brought with them hibiscus, purple leaf banana, a tree from the Dominican Republic, a beautiful purple bougainvillea, and several other plants from Mexico. I was so touched that he would personalize my yard in this way, making it a special oasis for us! 


Inspired by the new plants, I even decided to clean the back windows so we could actually look out and see them! I spent a couple of hours Saturday afternoon cleaning windows, cleaning patio furniture, and the back of the house. I woke up Sunday morning, sore all over, and loving it! 


Every mundane task has new significance now. The ordinary chores of daily living bring joy. I feel like I am seeing things for the first time again, as if through the eyes of a child, full of wonder at the beauty of life. I am alive! Thank you God for new eyes to see the beauty of life!


One of the songs we sang at church today has the line, "I can't bow low enough..." And that's exactly how I feel now. I can't bow low enough. I can't begin to express my gratitude to God for what He's done in my life. For now, I'll just keep singing, and cleaning, smiling, and enjoying every new day.


Cielo by Phil Wickham
I can't bow low enough
I can't bow low enough
at the vision of You my God
I can't hold it all inside
I'm reaching for the One who brought me out of death and into life
but I can't lift my hands high enough
lift my hands high enough
when I'm reaching for You my God
I can't lift my hands high enough
lift my hands high enough
when I'm reaching for You my God
oh I'm reaching for You my God 


Link to "Cielo" by Phil Wickham

I hope God gives each of you new eyes to see the beauty of each new day. Have a great week!

"Normal Colon"

Today was the finale of the Labor Day Holiday Extravaganza.  Teri and I both survived the colon prep on Monday. It really does get a little easier to drink each time you have a colonoscopy. I only actually gagged twice this time! You would think with all the technology in the world today that someone, anyone, could create something a little less disgusting... All you scientists out there, please get on this! 

Both colonoscopies went off without a hitch. Afterward, the doctor came in smiling. He said everything looked good. My colon was clear - no polyps, no cancer, and the anastomosis (fancy word for the surgical site) looks great. He gave us pictures of my colon which look markedly different from last year's pictures. You can even see the staples from my surgery! 

Then I read these words at the end of the report:  "Normal Colon"

I can't even tell you the joy that flooded my heart! I have a normal colon! Wow! God has been good to me!

Teri had a tiny polyp removed, which makes me even more thankful that she had this done. That polyp had the potential to turn into cancer one day. Now, we have removed that possibility!!

32,000 Americans die of colorectal cancer every year because they don't get screened. Please don't be one of those people. Go get a colonoscopy! Colorectal cancer is preventable if detected and treated early.  Trust me, you don't want to have cancer. Go get screened.

Anticipation...

I have been drinking clear liquids today, getting ready for tomorrow's colonoscopy. The day brings with it lots of memories. Memories of that first colonoscopy in May 2009. Memories of the shock and chaos that ensued. I pull out the pictures of the tumor and still find it hard to believe it was living inside of me and I was unaware. 


This colonoscopy will be the first one I've had since I was diagnosed with cancer. I am anxious to hear the doctor's report. Looking forward to hearing that the surgery site looks great; there are no polyps, no tumors, no inflamed lymph nodes; and that my colon is completely healthy. 


I'm off to start drinking "Half-Lytely" and making runs to the bathroom! Yuck! I've already tried to convince Mark that this is the last colonoscopy I will ever need... he isn't going for it!  


We will leave the house at 7:00 a.m. in the morning for a 9:00 a.m. colonoscopy. My sweet friend, Teri, will have hers done at 10:00 a.m. I'll let you know how it goes...

"There is no God like you in Heaven above or on earth below - 

You who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue whole heartedly in your way." 

1 Kings 8:23

Meet Dan

Dan is one of the kindest, most humble men you will ever meet. He is married to Melissa, and the father of James, Emily, Callie, and Jacob. Mark and I have known Dan and Melissa for many years, since our children were very young. Dan and Melissa share a sweet love story of meeting and falling in love while working together at the YMCA. Dan and Melissa constantly open their home to friends and family, hosting game nights, sleep overs, backyard camping, and karaoke parties. They have a deep love for God and a strong faith in His goodness and His plans.

When we first started Community of Faith, Dan served at the leader of our "roadie" team. Every Sunday morning, before the sun was even up, Dan would be hitching up trailers full of equipment and transporting them to the school where we were meeting at the time. He quietly and faithfully made sure that everything arrived and was set up in time for Sunday services. He worked through all types of weather and never once voiced a complaint. At the end of the day, he was the one who made certain that everything was reloaded and stored in preparation for the following weekend. He organized and encouraged the whole volunteer team. He continued to serve in this capacity until we moved into our building; and then kept volunteering in any way he could. He served sacrificially and never expected any recognition. 

Dan has been in the ICU for the past 25 days. He suffers from three different genetic blood disorders. His health has weakened over the last couple of years. At this point, the doctors are baffled. They have tried everything they know to help Dan recover. Will you please join me in praying for this family. They need a miracle. Please pray specifically that his body would create platelets, that his kidneys would start working again, and that his lung infection would be cleared up. Please pray for rest and strength for Melissa as she is daily by his side. And please pray for their children as they watch their daddy struggle.

Thank you!

Labor Day Holiday Extravaganza - Part II

Gift bag for Teri

So the Labor Day Holiday Extravaganza has begun! Thursday morning saw Teri and me start drinking Miralax twice a day to begin emptying the colon in preparation for Tuesday's colonoscopy. I know that seems early to start the colon prep, but my doctor has found that doing things this way makes Monday easier. On Monday, we will only have to use "Half-Lytely" instead of "Go-Lytely", meaning we will only have to drink half as much of the colon prep stuff. And believe me, this is a true blessing! It would be worth taking laxatives for a month to only have to drink half a gallon instead of a gallon! Trust me, I know! 

Every time I go to the pharmacy to purchase the colon prep kit, I have to laugh. Whoever named the stuff "Go-Lytely" had to have had a sense of humor because there is no "going lightly" about it!!  I'm sure the name refers to the fact that the product provides electrolytes, but it makes me laugh anyway!

Just drinking the Miralax is a struggle for me. It is tasteless, but after all I've been through, I seem to have a pretty well-developed gag reflex. I only mix it in four ounces of water and guzzle it as quickly as possible. Then I have to calm my brain and talk myself down for a couple of seconds in order not to gag. I've never had a sensitive gag reflex in my life. I guess it comes from living through chemo. Please pray that I will be able to drink the Half-lytely on Monday and keep it down!

Hope you all have a great holiday weekend!

True Love

"I love your scars. They mean you're alive! You're with me. And I love your hair just like it is."  - Mark, July 2010

Just Enjoying Life!

Fish Fashion!

5 1/4 pound, 24 inch Cutbow!

God's promise to me!