Resting

Hello there.  I am home and resting comfortably from my latest procedure.  How annoying to go through the anesthetic rigmarole, I.V. (for the record, it still hurts...) and medicinal grogginess yet again.  However, everything went very smoothly and Dr. Baer didn't find anything obvious to suggest issues.  Now we wait for the pathology to be sure.  I will return to see her in a couple of weeks, but knowing her she will call as soon as she gets the results.  I think that I'm feeling ok about the whole thing but it is never easy anymore to believe that everything is "fine".  Everything is in God's hands and I certainly feel fine about whatever He has planned, but that doesn't stop me from being normal and wondering what really is going on inside my body.

As usual, I had some great nurses and a wonderful nurse anesthetist this morning.  We had to be there at the crack of dawn, and as much as I love the snow, I am thankful that it wasn't more intrusive today.  A HUGE shout out to my good friend Sarah who took all three of our kids overnight because it would just be "easier" (Darin's first comment was, "I didn't think that Sarah was that crazy..."  ha ha).  We dropped them off after caroling practice for the kids at the community center (such a great idea, Catherine!  Can't wait to hear them in action on the 23rd...) and Sarah put Dryden & Parker on the bus for us, keeping Neely to play with her boys until we could get back to get her.  (and thanks for the lunch too... Dryden was stressed about the thought of randomly buying... )  They were all a little stressed about me going back into the hospital (Parker broke down in tears yesterday afternoon... I guess that it just scares them), but hopefully this is the last time for awhile.

So, I think that I'll lie pretty low today and then get back into the swing of Christmas planning tomorrow.  I still have quite a bit of baking to do as well as some shopping.  Darin & I may try to get away this week to finish up some things for the kids.  We are looking forward to enjoying some time with just our immediate family as well as my extended family.  The kids are anxious to see Grammy & Grampy and to spend some time with their faraway cousins.  We won't see Audrey this time around (Neely just mentioned a day or so ago that she wishes Grandma would sell "Colorado" and just live here... ha ha), she will be with Darin's brother and then do some fun traveling before coming back for some nice springtime weather!  (and one more surgery... follow-up to the reconstruction... it is always something!)  Since we saw Grandpa for Thanksgiving it will likely be Parker's birthday (their shared birthday...) until we catch up with him again.  In the meantime, we will bake, eat, visit, skate and relax together.  We are looking forward to a couple of "quiet" weeks just being together and savoring the birth of our Savior!  Thank you again for the many ways that you all have blessed us again this year.  We are carried onward by your love and prayers.

Christmas Craziness!

I absolutely love this time of year, but I have to say that rejoining the regular stream of life right at Thanksgiving time has made me feel perpetually behind the 8-ball this time around!  whew...  I still haven't really started my holiday baking.  The holiday will be over before I make any traditional treats! 

We had a great trip to Durango, CO to visit Darin's dad & brother over the holiday.  We got to do some sledding and snowmobiling as well as take a ride on the Durango-Silverton railroad for a Polar Express re-enactment that was replete with the best hot chocolate on earth and falling snow.  It was quite picturesque!  We love Durango and made sure that partake of all of our favorite things while there (Tequila's salsa, Honeyville and Mama's Boy calzones, to name a few of the eats! Mario Bros on Grandpa's new Wii, if you're Parker...).  Thanks for putting up with the craziness of a family of 5, Grandpa!

Yesterday was my yearly CBS (Community Bible Study - for the uninitiated) Christmas Tea and as I chatted with some women that I don't know as well (it is a HUGE study with over a hundred ladies), I was reminded of how much I have to be thankful for in this crazy cancer journey.  This year I am thankful that I am not still bald (as much as I don't really like my hair...) and not fresh out of chemo anticipating radiation.  And although I am still receiving Zoladex injections (I specifically asked this time.  Figured that I should have some idea of what they are injecting into my body...) and anticipating a D&C on Monday... I am currently at peace with this as my life and am physically feeling better and better.  Hooray!

This morning I read this from Sarah Young...

"Instead of yearning for a problem-free life, rejoice that trouble can highlight your awareness of My Presence.  In the darkness of adversity, you are able to see more clearly the radiance of My Face.  Accept the value of problems in this life, considering them pure joy. (whew... isn't that asking a lot and does it make me crazy to do so??   But, according to James 1:2 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds.", this is just what we are called to as Christians) Remember that you have an eternity of trouble-free living awaiting you in heaven.

So... here we are.  Trouble is just part of life on earth.  And, it does apply to me...not just to other people.  I'm ok with that and I continually pray that God gives me the grace each day to deal with whatever is next.  May He help me live each moment according to His plan!