I have the Christmas bug. That time of year where you get to try to figure out what others want for Christmas.
Last year, I couldn't shop or enjoy the season because of Chemo. This year...no holds barred. (Funny expression that one...) My sister's family has their group put what they want on MyGiftster.com. It is fun to see what everyone's interests are. I have already picked what I'm getting for everyone in that group except for my sister...sigh. I never understood why Daryl made the statement years ago that if he were to be hung, he wanted them to send Carol for the rope. Now I am getting it...She has so many irons in the fire that it is hard for her to finish anything. (Now Carol, I mean that in the nicest way...8-) Of course, like me, she probably has everything she needs and can't think of what to put out there.
We bought a new Thomas Kincaide Christmas tree this year and opened the box and stood it up for a couple of days to see how we liked it and Shadow tried to eat it and threw up. Now we aren't even sure we can put it out because of Shadow. Sigh. It's really a cool tree. All the decorations are already on it with 4 ribbons going from top to bottom with pictures that Thomas Kincaide painted. It's a seven foot tree. Perfect for the living room. It takes 5 minutes to pop it up. Tom is thinking about buying some of that spray stuff that keeps cats away. I don't think they know my cat but we shall see if that works.
I am really having a hard time trying to figure out what to get Tom. He needs to get busy and tell me what he wants. I hate trying to guess what to get him. We usually pick out our presents and tell each other. 8-) I hate suprises. I used to open all my Christmas presents very carefully and then retape them every year so that I wouldn't be surprised when I opened them on Christmas. I wanted to make sure that if I didn't like it, I didn't let anyone know that I didn't like it. My face has always been an open book and if anyone were looking carefully, they would know, if I wasn't careful.
I also made the reservations for our TX trip this year. We are quite excited about the road trip and seeing family after the hard year is over. We will get there on the 23rd and leave on the 26th. It will be fun to get hugs from everyone.
OK, enough prattling...here is some Max for today:
"Family Expectations
By Max Lucado
I will be your father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty. 2 Corinthians 6:18
Many of us have a fantasy that our family will be like the Waltons, an expectation that our friends will be members of our family. Jesus didn’t have that expectation. Look how Jesus defined his family: “My true brother and sister and mother are those who do what God wants” (Mark 3:35).
When Jesus’ brother didn’t share his convictions, he didn’t try to force them. He recognized that his spiritual family could give him what his physical family didn’t…
We can’t control how our family responds to us. Our hands are tied. We have to move beyond that expectation that if we do good, people will treat us right. The fact is they may and they may not.
Let God give you what your family doesn’t.
And don’t lose heart. God still changes families."
By Grace Alone -
Teresa
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Monday, November 7, 2011
Raising a Gazebo
Whew...I had a couple of really euphoric days and now I am back to that 'even' keel that is so desired in life. You want to be happy but not THAT happy. 8-) So, I am currently cancer free and that is really wonderful. I love the whole body pet scan. It is instant peace of mind that you don't have any tumors growing anywhere. Praise God for great insurance so I can have that kind of peace of mind. 8-)
Tom started working on the gazebo this weekend. As those of you who have been following this process know, we tore down the old gazebo about a month ago due to rottage (Is that a word? Sounds like a word to me so I'm gonna use it...) and ordered a new one. Then I spray painted the slab as shown in the picture below:
This weekend, Tom started by putting up the posts which required him to buy a new hammer drill to accomplish the drilling into the cement slab. (Smart move on his part...he said it made his job WAY easier. There's always a good reason to buy a new tool. I just love that he knows what to do with them.)
We worked together getting the gazebo 'raised' after he got the posts installed. We make quite a good team when we work together. We had the radio on and we were singing to it and laughing as we made fun of songs. (One song was "You picked a fine time to leave me, Lucille" and he always says "Loose Wheel" instead of Lucille. Funny guy...Anyway, here are some picks as progress was made.
Here are all 8 posts put in with the top decorative pieces installed.
Here is a little Max for today:
Tom started working on the gazebo this weekend. As those of you who have been following this process know, we tore down the old gazebo about a month ago due to rottage (Is that a word? Sounds like a word to me so I'm gonna use it...) and ordered a new one. Then I spray painted the slab as shown in the picture below:
This weekend, Tom started by putting up the posts which required him to buy a new hammer drill to accomplish the drilling into the cement slab. (Smart move on his part...he said it made his job WAY easier. There's always a good reason to buy a new tool. I just love that he knows what to do with them.)
We worked together getting the gazebo 'raised' after he got the posts installed. We make quite a good team when we work together. We had the radio on and we were singing to it and laughing as we made fun of songs. (One song was "You picked a fine time to leave me, Lucille" and he always says "Loose Wheel" instead of Lucille. Funny guy...Anyway, here are some picks as progress was made.
Here are all 8 posts put in with the top decorative pieces installed.
He tried to run out of my picture taking view but I'm faster with a camera than he can run. 8-)
In the picture below, we had added the railings.
Here we had added the decorative finishing to the top.
Here is our good neighbor, Tom. He built a pond in his backyard about 4 years ago and it is his obsession. He is always puttering around at it. He is going to help Tom with the roof next weekend.
Here is a little Max for today:
"Revamped Expectations
By Max Lucado
The ways of God are without fault. Psalm 18:30
It’s not easy when God doesn’t do what we want, is it? Never has been. Never will be. But faith is the conviction that God knows more than we do about this life and He will get us through it.
Remember, disappointment is cured by revamped expectations.
I like the story about the fellow who went to the pet store in search of a singing parakeet. Seems he was a bachelor and his house was too quiet. The store owner had just the bird for him, so the man bought it.
The next day the bachelor came home from work to a house full of music. He went to the cage to feed the bird and noticed for the first time that the parakeet had only one leg.
He felt cheated. So he called and complained.
“What do you want,” the store owner responded, “a bird who can sing or a bird who can dance?”
Good question for times of disappointment."
By Grace Alone -
Teresa
Remember, disappointment is cured by revamped expectations.
I like the story about the fellow who went to the pet store in search of a singing parakeet. Seems he was a bachelor and his house was too quiet. The store owner had just the bird for him, so the man bought it.
The next day the bachelor came home from work to a house full of music. He went to the cage to feed the bird and noticed for the first time that the parakeet had only one leg.
He felt cheated. So he called and complained.
“What do you want,” the store owner responded, “a bird who can sing or a bird who can dance?”
Good question for times of disappointment."
By Grace Alone -
Teresa
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Stenciling
So, yesterday, it finally warmed up enough to do the stenciling on the floor of the gazebo.
I picked a simple design from Modello Design online because I didn't want anything too comlicated and as most of you know...I love simplicity.
First I had to 'burnish' the thick white paper backing that comes on the stencil. This mean I scraped something with a flat edge across the paper. (I used a cake knife...yeah, I just grab whatever looks like it will work...too much trouble to go looking for an actual TOOL...lol) Then you flip it over and do the same thing to the transparent paper side of the design. (That side looks like thin waxed paper)
By this time, Tom had blown off the gazebo floor again to make sure there weren't any leaves or dirt on it and I was ready to go out and start putting down the stencil.
Below I've gone throught the several steps it took to get the stencil stuck to the concrete.
I picked a simple design from Modello Design online because I didn't want anything too comlicated and as most of you know...I love simplicity.
First I had to 'burnish' the thick white paper backing that comes on the stencil. This mean I scraped something with a flat edge across the paper. (I used a cake knife...yeah, I just grab whatever looks like it will work...too much trouble to go looking for an actual TOOL...lol) Then you flip it over and do the same thing to the transparent paper side of the design. (That side looks like thin waxed paper)
By this time, Tom had blown off the gazebo floor again to make sure there weren't any leaves or dirt on it and I was ready to go out and start putting down the stencil.
Here Tom is putting the final touches on getting the concrete areound the stencil protected.
This is after I attacked it with the red glossy paint.
We let it dry for an hour between the two coats we sprayed on and then the fun started. I think Carol would love doing this peeling part. 8-)
Tom went crazy with the camera while I peeled the stencil off.
More pictures of the peeling process...
Remind me not to let him near the camera again....
Finally, the center part is revealed...
The circle around the outside came out really nice.
The finished product...nice...
Just another angle of the finished product...
Well, I've pictured you guys enough for today...8-) This is how we spent our Saturday. Next weekend, we might get to start building the gazebo...
By Grace Alone -
Teresa
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Too Many Appointments...Ugh
It has turned very cold. The low this morning was 34 degrees. TOO COLD to get out there and do the gazebo.
I have a cold anyway. Ugh.
I went to my six month post cancer treatment check up on the 18th of October. I told him about my knee pain and shortness of breath and he looked at my blood work and signed me up to go to two new doctors, get a pet scan and get an MRI of my knee.
I'm really not used to that. I have to be careful what I complain about. Usually, you go to your family doctor and tell them about something and they say we'll watch it for a while or they'll give you meds for it. I spent about 6 hours last week in scans and Dr appointments. All this on top of the two tooth doctors I've been going to...I could end up with my job being to go to the doctor instead of actually getting any work done. The pet scan is because he saw something in my blood work that alarmed him. He obviously needs to take some 'calm down' medicine. Actually, I am glad that he is on top of any possible cancer growth. It would be worse to have a complacent medical oncologist.
Tom just asked me what time we were supposed to take my car in this morning for the oil change...I leaped up out of my chair realizing it is 9:15 and we were supposed to be in Fayetteville at 10:00 (which is an hour away). I might have said a few frustrated expletatives because I knew we had missed the window of opportunity. I called them and asked if we could do it this afternoon and he said that no they close at 2:00 and they were filled up for the day. So, I rescheduled for next Saturday morning. I just can't seem to keep up with all these appointments. ARGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH.
Well, I am hoping that it warms up this afternoon so I can paint the stencil design on the floor of the gazebo before he starts building it. Much easier to spray paint before the gazebo is there than to wait until after and try to keep the spray off the walls of the gazebo. I'll post a picture of it when I FINALLY get it painted. 8-)
Here is a little Max for today and he's given us some big words...
"Encourage One Another
By Max Lucado
When you talk, do not say harmful things, but say what people need—words that will help others become stronger. Ephesians 4:29
You have the ability, with your words, to make a person stronger. Your words are to their soul what a vitamin is to their body.
Do not withhold encouragement from the discouraged. Do not keep affirmation from the beaten down! Speak words that make people stronger. Believe in them as God has believed in you."
By Grace Alone -
Teresa
I have a cold anyway. Ugh.
I went to my six month post cancer treatment check up on the 18th of October. I told him about my knee pain and shortness of breath and he looked at my blood work and signed me up to go to two new doctors, get a pet scan and get an MRI of my knee.
I'm really not used to that. I have to be careful what I complain about. Usually, you go to your family doctor and tell them about something and they say we'll watch it for a while or they'll give you meds for it. I spent about 6 hours last week in scans and Dr appointments. All this on top of the two tooth doctors I've been going to...I could end up with my job being to go to the doctor instead of actually getting any work done. The pet scan is because he saw something in my blood work that alarmed him. He obviously needs to take some 'calm down' medicine. Actually, I am glad that he is on top of any possible cancer growth. It would be worse to have a complacent medical oncologist.
Tom just asked me what time we were supposed to take my car in this morning for the oil change...I leaped up out of my chair realizing it is 9:15 and we were supposed to be in Fayetteville at 10:00 (which is an hour away). I might have said a few frustrated expletatives because I knew we had missed the window of opportunity. I called them and asked if we could do it this afternoon and he said that no they close at 2:00 and they were filled up for the day. So, I rescheduled for next Saturday morning. I just can't seem to keep up with all these appointments. ARGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH.
Well, I am hoping that it warms up this afternoon so I can paint the stencil design on the floor of the gazebo before he starts building it. Much easier to spray paint before the gazebo is there than to wait until after and try to keep the spray off the walls of the gazebo. I'll post a picture of it when I FINALLY get it painted. 8-)
Here is a little Max for today and he's given us some big words...
"Encourage One Another
By Max Lucado
When you talk, do not say harmful things, but say what people need—words that will help others become stronger. Ephesians 4:29
You have the ability, with your words, to make a person stronger. Your words are to their soul what a vitamin is to their body.
Do not withhold encouragement from the discouraged. Do not keep affirmation from the beaten down! Speak words that make people stronger. Believe in them as God has believed in you."
By Grace Alone -
Teresa
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Arrival of the Crate
We've been busy...wow.
We got our HUGE crate filled with the gazebo parts last week. I thought we were going to have him put it in our 3rd garage space but nuh uh...no way was he going to get it into the garage. The main reason was that he had a huge long truckbed and he couldn't get it turned around in order to drop it into the garage. The driver and I stood there looking at the huge box on the truck for a few minutes and I said...well, let's just line it up to the middle of the driveway on the grass. I figured that would give Tom and I plenty of room to walk around it while we emptied it. Plus, he wouldn't be hitting any sprinkler heads with it when he dumped it off the truck. As you can see on the side of the box, it weighed 1764 lbs and was 85X86X58 inches. It was shrink wrapped in a tough plastic material that I had fun cutting off. Here is a visual for you...
I was home before Tom so I had cut off the plastic and started taking the crate apart before he got there. I had my little flat head screwdrive and hammer and I was breaking apart those 4 inch staples that were holding the wood together with much much much effort. After about 30 minutes of diligent labor, I finally got the first board broken off. Then Tom came home and he went out to the shed and got a crowbar and a 4 lb hammer and proceeded to rip the other three into separate pieces in about 5 minutes. Sigh.
Tom and I unloaded it and stored all the parts except the roof in the garage. The roof we put out in the shed. More on the building of the gazebo at a later date since we haven't built it yet...LOL.
I absolutely HATE to fire someone. I always get these people to clean my house and then when they deteriorate, I let them know what I need done differently (which I also hate to have to do but I want to give them a chance to get it right) but I will let months go by before I will give up and let them go because I hate confrontations. I got really lucky with this one. When I called her, her daughter answered and I asked if her mother was there and she said "No" so I left a message and told her that I was able to clean my own house now and thanks for her services. Whew...(I know...I'm a wuss.)
Don't we all enjoy knowing that we're unique? That we are the only one like us that God made? (Much like a snowflake...) Max reaffirms this in today's devotional. (I am still looking for the one thing that only I can do...lol.)
"You are Unique
By Max Lucado
Each of us is an original. Galatians 5:26, The Message
There are certain things you can do that no one else can. Perhaps it is parenting, or constructing houses, or encouraging the discouraged. There are things that only you can do, and you are alive to do them.
We got our HUGE crate filled with the gazebo parts last week. I thought we were going to have him put it in our 3rd garage space but nuh uh...no way was he going to get it into the garage. The main reason was that he had a huge long truckbed and he couldn't get it turned around in order to drop it into the garage. The driver and I stood there looking at the huge box on the truck for a few minutes and I said...well, let's just line it up to the middle of the driveway on the grass. I figured that would give Tom and I plenty of room to walk around it while we emptied it. Plus, he wouldn't be hitting any sprinkler heads with it when he dumped it off the truck. As you can see on the side of the box, it weighed 1764 lbs and was 85X86X58 inches. It was shrink wrapped in a tough plastic material that I had fun cutting off. Here is a visual for you...
Tom and I unloaded it and stored all the parts except the roof in the garage. The roof we put out in the shed. More on the building of the gazebo at a later date since we haven't built it yet...LOL.
I absolutely HATE to fire someone. I always get these people to clean my house and then when they deteriorate, I let them know what I need done differently (which I also hate to have to do but I want to give them a chance to get it right) but I will let months go by before I will give up and let them go because I hate confrontations. I got really lucky with this one. When I called her, her daughter answered and I asked if her mother was there and she said "No" so I left a message and told her that I was able to clean my own house now and thanks for her services. Whew...(I know...I'm a wuss.)
Don't we all enjoy knowing that we're unique? That we are the only one like us that God made? (Much like a snowflake...) Max reaffirms this in today's devotional. (I am still looking for the one thing that only I can do...lol.)
"You are Unique
By Max Lucado
Each of us is an original. Galatians 5:26, The Message
There are certain things you can do that no one else can. Perhaps it is parenting, or constructing houses, or encouraging the discouraged. There are things that only you can do, and you are alive to do them.
In the great orchestra we call life, you have an instrument and a song, and you owe it to God to play them both sublimely."
By Grace Alone -
Teresa
By Grace Alone -
Teresa
Monday, October 17, 2011
If It's Dirty, I Clean It...Right....
We had a fairly uneventful weekend.
Tom bought the paint to do the floor of the gazebo cement pad and he blew the leaves off of it while I used the electric spray painter to paint it. We did one thin coat on Saturday and then another heavier coat on Sunday but it still looks like it could use another coat. We'll have to hit that next weekend.
For those of you who have someone come in and clean your house...have you noticed a pattern? They always start out on fire to clean your house really well and then little by little, they clean less and less. I called the lady that cleans my house this weekend and let her know that I am able to clean it myself again so I wouldn't be needing her services any longer. When I hired her, you might remember that I quoted her as saying "If it is dirty, I clean it." Harrumph. I think she forgot to look in my shower to see the dirt the last couple of times she cleaned because I keep having to clean it after her. Also, there is this small bit of floor (about 2 feet wide) between my side of the sink and the tub that she was never cleaning. Then there were the baseboards...well, I could go on and on. She cleaned my wood floors beautifully and the toilets (all important things...I totally agree with that ...) but... she was lacking in other areas. I remember once she even cleaned all my windows. Yeah, that blew me away and got me all excited about her but she followed the same pattern as other house cleaners from my past. All fire and steam in the beginning just to become a poor performer when time passes and they get bored with the house.
It will be good exercise for me anyway. 8-) I'll probably start looking for a new house cleaner when the new year rolls around. Too much going on right now to take care of the interviews and decision making that hiring someone entails.
So, Max talks about becoming wiser because of pain that we experience. It's a good one today. I hope I have become wiser through the last year's experiences...I hope I can be a comfort to others who experience pain. (Most people just think I am a pain...lol.)
"What About Struggling?
By Max Lucado
As you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so continue to live in him. Colossians 2:6
Struggling with life’s difficulties makes us a little wiser, a little more capable, enabling us to comfort others who experience pain.
Any difficulties we face in life are short-lived; all rewards are eternal. A divine inheritance will be our reward for faithfulness to our heavenly Father."
By Grace Alone -
Teresa
Tom bought the paint to do the floor of the gazebo cement pad and he blew the leaves off of it while I used the electric spray painter to paint it. We did one thin coat on Saturday and then another heavier coat on Sunday but it still looks like it could use another coat. We'll have to hit that next weekend.
For those of you who have someone come in and clean your house...have you noticed a pattern? They always start out on fire to clean your house really well and then little by little, they clean less and less. I called the lady that cleans my house this weekend and let her know that I am able to clean it myself again so I wouldn't be needing her services any longer. When I hired her, you might remember that I quoted her as saying "If it is dirty, I clean it." Harrumph. I think she forgot to look in my shower to see the dirt the last couple of times she cleaned because I keep having to clean it after her. Also, there is this small bit of floor (about 2 feet wide) between my side of the sink and the tub that she was never cleaning. Then there were the baseboards...well, I could go on and on. She cleaned my wood floors beautifully and the toilets (all important things...I totally agree with that ...) but... she was lacking in other areas. I remember once she even cleaned all my windows. Yeah, that blew me away and got me all excited about her but she followed the same pattern as other house cleaners from my past. All fire and steam in the beginning just to become a poor performer when time passes and they get bored with the house.
It will be good exercise for me anyway. 8-) I'll probably start looking for a new house cleaner when the new year rolls around. Too much going on right now to take care of the interviews and decision making that hiring someone entails.
So, Max talks about becoming wiser because of pain that we experience. It's a good one today. I hope I have become wiser through the last year's experiences...I hope I can be a comfort to others who experience pain. (Most people just think I am a pain...lol.)
"What About Struggling?
By Max Lucado
As you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so continue to live in him. Colossians 2:6
Struggling with life’s difficulties makes us a little wiser, a little more capable, enabling us to comfort others who experience pain.
Any difficulties we face in life are short-lived; all rewards are eternal. A divine inheritance will be our reward for faithfulness to our heavenly Father."
By Grace Alone -
Teresa
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Tiles, Pavers, and Paint
For the last month, we've been mulling over what to do with the concrete floor that will be under the gazebo.
And mulling.
And mulling.
We started thinking about tiling it. (Can't make a decision on what tiles to use, too much work, would we crack them when we drilled to set the posts of the gazebo...the negatives just go on and on.)
So, tiling is out.
Then we thought about pavers. Ugh...too heavy to carry all those pavers back to the cement platform. That was out.
Then we saw in a Lowe's circular that there was something called rubber pavers that only weighed about 6 lbs each and were supposed to look just like real pavers when you put them down.
So we trekked out to Lowe's last weekend and alas...I wasn't impressed. They looked like rubber, not stone to me.
This weekend, I got to thinking about painting it and then stenciling something cool on it. We traveled around looking for cool stencils. Lowe's didn't have any. They sent us to Sherwin Williams. SW didn't have any and told us to go to Lowe's...is that funny or what? SW did also suggest Walmart so we went there and I found some but they were really small and this is 144 sq feet of stenciling to do...I wanted something a bit bigger.
This morning I got to thinking about the fact that I can hardly bend my right knee (pain from cancer meds I'm on...it does something evil and arthritic to the joints and it is particularly zooming in on this joint) so how am I going to get down there and stencil the floor? So, I have chosen a nice 'Teddy Bear' brown color of a solid concrete stain/sealer that should go nicely with the ivory color of the gazebo. Tom is gonna go get it today and we'll probably spray it on this afternoon. We have a paint sprayer that should make the job really easy. 8-)
The gazebo should get here next week. Yeah!!
Alrighty then...time for some Max for today:
"True Humility
By Max Lucado
The payoff for meekness and Fear-of-God is plenty and honor and a satisfying life. Proverbs 22:4, The Message
True humility is not thinking lowly of yourself but thinking accurately of yourself. The humble heart does not say, “I can’t do anything.” But rather, “I can’t do everything.”
I know my part and am happy to do it!"
By Grace Alone -
Teresa
And mulling.
And mulling.
We started thinking about tiling it. (Can't make a decision on what tiles to use, too much work, would we crack them when we drilled to set the posts of the gazebo...the negatives just go on and on.)
So, tiling is out.
Then we thought about pavers. Ugh...too heavy to carry all those pavers back to the cement platform. That was out.
Then we saw in a Lowe's circular that there was something called rubber pavers that only weighed about 6 lbs each and were supposed to look just like real pavers when you put them down.
So we trekked out to Lowe's last weekend and alas...I wasn't impressed. They looked like rubber, not stone to me.
This weekend, I got to thinking about painting it and then stenciling something cool on it. We traveled around looking for cool stencils. Lowe's didn't have any. They sent us to Sherwin Williams. SW didn't have any and told us to go to Lowe's...is that funny or what? SW did also suggest Walmart so we went there and I found some but they were really small and this is 144 sq feet of stenciling to do...I wanted something a bit bigger.
This morning I got to thinking about the fact that I can hardly bend my right knee (pain from cancer meds I'm on...it does something evil and arthritic to the joints and it is particularly zooming in on this joint) so how am I going to get down there and stencil the floor? So, I have chosen a nice 'Teddy Bear' brown color of a solid concrete stain/sealer that should go nicely with the ivory color of the gazebo. Tom is gonna go get it today and we'll probably spray it on this afternoon. We have a paint sprayer that should make the job really easy. 8-)
The gazebo should get here next week. Yeah!!
Alrighty then...time for some Max for today:
"True Humility
By Max Lucado
The payoff for meekness and Fear-of-God is plenty and honor and a satisfying life. Proverbs 22:4, The Message
True humility is not thinking lowly of yourself but thinking accurately of yourself. The humble heart does not say, “I can’t do anything.” But rather, “I can’t do everything.”
I know my part and am happy to do it!"
By Grace Alone -
Teresa
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
The Circle of Life (Not a Disney Story)
I am big on multi-tasking...those who have been following this blog understand this.
So, the ritual of brushing teeth is extremely boring to me. There isn't a lot else you can do while you brush your teeth. Tom and I like to brush our teeth at night together. We start with flossing, then move to the first toothbrush which gets the gums and between the teeth and then we move to the second toothbrush which gets all the teeth surfaces that can be reached.
So, last night, we were going through the 'boring' ritual of tooth brushing. I'm looking around and look at Tom, I turn around and see Shadow waiting to play behind the TV, give a sigh and look down in the sink. Oh my Goodness...what in the world is that in my sink? I look closer. It's a HAIR. One single hair...laying there, dead...never to be attached to my head again. I hadn't really lost any head hairs since I started growing them back. I had forgotten that hair loss was normal and that pit of the stomach nausea rolled over me before I got that thought into my head. I went through the internal calming process, deep breath in and relaxed breath out. It was all good. This is normal.
So, the circle of life is back in motion. This is more of the normalcy that I crave in life. Yeah!
I went to the dentist two days ago for a new crown (got rid of an old filling and replaced it with a temporary crown...new crown will arrive in about 3 weeks) and an old filling was replaced in another tooth. We are trying to figure out what the pain is that I have had for many years on the back right side. Today I go to an Endodontist to have a better look at an old root canal that was done on the very back tooth probably 12 years ago. I don't think my dentist in Florida got all of the roots out but this guy has the equipment to figure it out. I don't think I've ever been to an Endodontist before.
Well, work calls to me so I'd better go answer.
Here is some Max for today:
"Blessed are the Merciful
By Max Lucado
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Matthew 5:7, NIV
The merciful, says Jesus, are shown mercy. They witness grace. They are blessed because they are testimonies to a greater goodness. Forgiving others allows us to see how God has forgiven us. The dynamic of giving grace is the key to understanding grace, for it is when we forgive others that we begin to feel what God feels."
By Grace Alone -
Teresa
So, the ritual of brushing teeth is extremely boring to me. There isn't a lot else you can do while you brush your teeth. Tom and I like to brush our teeth at night together. We start with flossing, then move to the first toothbrush which gets the gums and between the teeth and then we move to the second toothbrush which gets all the teeth surfaces that can be reached.
So, last night, we were going through the 'boring' ritual of tooth brushing. I'm looking around and look at Tom, I turn around and see Shadow waiting to play behind the TV, give a sigh and look down in the sink. Oh my Goodness...what in the world is that in my sink? I look closer. It's a HAIR. One single hair...laying there, dead...never to be attached to my head again. I hadn't really lost any head hairs since I started growing them back. I had forgotten that hair loss was normal and that pit of the stomach nausea rolled over me before I got that thought into my head. I went through the internal calming process, deep breath in and relaxed breath out. It was all good. This is normal.
So, the circle of life is back in motion. This is more of the normalcy that I crave in life. Yeah!
I went to the dentist two days ago for a new crown (got rid of an old filling and replaced it with a temporary crown...new crown will arrive in about 3 weeks) and an old filling was replaced in another tooth. We are trying to figure out what the pain is that I have had for many years on the back right side. Today I go to an Endodontist to have a better look at an old root canal that was done on the very back tooth probably 12 years ago. I don't think my dentist in Florida got all of the roots out but this guy has the equipment to figure it out. I don't think I've ever been to an Endodontist before.
Well, work calls to me so I'd better go answer.
Here is some Max for today:
"Blessed are the Merciful
By Max Lucado
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Matthew 5:7, NIV
The merciful, says Jesus, are shown mercy. They witness grace. They are blessed because they are testimonies to a greater goodness. Forgiving others allows us to see how God has forgiven us. The dynamic of giving grace is the key to understanding grace, for it is when we forgive others that we begin to feel what God feels."
By Grace Alone -
Teresa
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Differences
What makes us tick?
What motivates us?
What makes us different from one another?
I watch the different members of my family from afar (sometimes, this is the best way to watch) and I always wonder what makes them so different than me? Why am I so anti-social and my whole family is outgoing and love getting together with other people?
It isn't that I don't like people...I really love people but not large quantities of them for long periods of time. (Although, sometimes large groups means that you can sit on the sidelines and not have to interract so much.) I mean, I like to say hi and catch up on their lives and then I like to receed back into my safe zone. It isn't that I think they will do me harm by talking to me...it just isn't my comfort zone. This is probably why I started this blog. I know my family...if I didn't have some way of constantly communicating with them about what was going on with my cancer, then they would require more face time than I had to give.
All I can say is that God made me just a little different than the rest of the world. I excel at what I do at work but I probably suck as a family member. (Ah well.)
Here is a little Max for today:
"What Love Doesn’t
By Max Lucado
“Love . . . does not boast, it is not proud.” I Corinthians 13:4 NIV
Jesus blasts the top birds of the church, those who roost at the top of the spiritual ladder and spread their plumes of robes, titles, jewelry, and choice seats. Jesus won’t stand for it. It’s easy to see why. How can I love others if my eyes are only on me? How can I point to God if I’m pointing at me? And, worse still, how can someone see God if I keep fanning my own tail feathers?
Jesus has no room for pecking orders."
By Grace Alone -
Teresa
What motivates us?
What makes us different from one another?
I watch the different members of my family from afar (sometimes, this is the best way to watch) and I always wonder what makes them so different than me? Why am I so anti-social and my whole family is outgoing and love getting together with other people?
It isn't that I don't like people...I really love people but not large quantities of them for long periods of time. (Although, sometimes large groups means that you can sit on the sidelines and not have to interract so much.) I mean, I like to say hi and catch up on their lives and then I like to receed back into my safe zone. It isn't that I think they will do me harm by talking to me...it just isn't my comfort zone. This is probably why I started this blog. I know my family...if I didn't have some way of constantly communicating with them about what was going on with my cancer, then they would require more face time than I had to give.
All I can say is that God made me just a little different than the rest of the world. I excel at what I do at work but I probably suck as a family member. (Ah well.)
Here is a little Max for today:
"What Love Doesn’t
By Max Lucado
“Love . . . does not boast, it is not proud.” I Corinthians 13:4 NIV
Jesus blasts the top birds of the church, those who roost at the top of the spiritual ladder and spread their plumes of robes, titles, jewelry, and choice seats. Jesus won’t stand for it. It’s easy to see why. How can I love others if my eyes are only on me? How can I point to God if I’m pointing at me? And, worse still, how can someone see God if I keep fanning my own tail feathers?
Jesus has no room for pecking orders."
By Grace Alone -
Teresa
Monday, October 10, 2011
Holidays are Just Around the Corner
This weekend was very relaxing...
Friday we got off at 3:00 (as usual on the Friday that we work...we have every other Friday off...absolutely love the 9/80 schedule.) and went over to Lowe's and Home Depot to try to figure out what we are going to do with the concrete slab when we get the gazebo up. It should come in this week.
We've set up our holiday schedule so we can venture to Texas to visit my Mom and Sister and her family for Christmas. We plan on taking two days to get there instead of killing ourselves by traveling it in one day. We still need to figure out what to do with Shadow (this is always the problem with us traveling). I am hoping that our neighbor isn't going anywhere while we are going and his son can make sure she has food and water again. That worked out really well in July when we went up to Kentucky.
I keep dreaming that my cancer has returned. One night I dreamed that all the people I love came to say goodbye to me. We actually had a really good time laughing about stuff in the dream and I was ok with the dying thing. (An interesting twist was that one night, all the family that I have that are already dead came to a party that I was having and we were all laughing about stuff too. Even people that are still alive were at the party...very strange dreams...) I am just guessing that there is some subliminal worry going on in my head because on the surface, I am not worried at all but the dreams tell me that I must still be stressing over it. This is probably very natural. It's probably some side affect of the medication I am taking....HA!
Here is some Max for today:
"Remember Jesus
By Max Lucado
“Behold, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us.” Isaiah 25:9, NKJV
When people don’t listen, remember Jesus. When tears come, remember Jesus. When disappointment is your bed partner, remember Jesus. When fear pitches his tent in your front yard. When death looms, when anger simmers, when shame weighs heavily. Remember Jesus.
Remember the dead called from the grave with a Galilean accent. Remember the eyes of God that wept human tears."
By Grace Alone -
Teresa
Friday we got off at 3:00 (as usual on the Friday that we work...we have every other Friday off...absolutely love the 9/80 schedule.) and went over to Lowe's and Home Depot to try to figure out what we are going to do with the concrete slab when we get the gazebo up. It should come in this week.
We've set up our holiday schedule so we can venture to Texas to visit my Mom and Sister and her family for Christmas. We plan on taking two days to get there instead of killing ourselves by traveling it in one day. We still need to figure out what to do with Shadow (this is always the problem with us traveling). I am hoping that our neighbor isn't going anywhere while we are going and his son can make sure she has food and water again. That worked out really well in July when we went up to Kentucky.
I keep dreaming that my cancer has returned. One night I dreamed that all the people I love came to say goodbye to me. We actually had a really good time laughing about stuff in the dream and I was ok with the dying thing. (An interesting twist was that one night, all the family that I have that are already dead came to a party that I was having and we were all laughing about stuff too. Even people that are still alive were at the party...very strange dreams...) I am just guessing that there is some subliminal worry going on in my head because on the surface, I am not worried at all but the dreams tell me that I must still be stressing over it. This is probably very natural. It's probably some side affect of the medication I am taking....HA!
Here is some Max for today:
"Remember Jesus
By Max Lucado
“Behold, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us.” Isaiah 25:9, NKJV
When people don’t listen, remember Jesus. When tears come, remember Jesus. When disappointment is your bed partner, remember Jesus. When fear pitches his tent in your front yard. When death looms, when anger simmers, when shame weighs heavily. Remember Jesus.
Remember the dead called from the grave with a Galilean accent. Remember the eyes of God that wept human tears."
By Grace Alone -
Teresa
Friday, October 7, 2011
Entertaining...
OK, time has gotten away from me.
We entertained last weekend so I didn't really have any time to play in blog land.
We found out Thursday night that we were having an overnight guest on Friday. So we decided how we wanted to entertain. The weather outside is beautiful this time of year so we decided to have a barbeque. Oops...that meant we needed to scrub down the patio and the patio furniture. Tom took care of that one. If they wanted to sleep in our house, Shadow would have to give up her room. So I tackled the defurring of the guest bedroom. I also had to work from home on Friday so I juggled that in between cleaning out the guest bedroom and doing laundry.
Don got there Friday night about 6:30 and we ate outside even though darkness had fallen by the time we got it on the table. They were a little cool but I was quite comfortable and thought seriously about moving my bed out there...lol. I love this time of year.
Don and Tom grew up together and also went into the Air Force together. They had plenty to chat about since it's been a lot of years since they were around each other. We visited them in July (Don and Mary his wife) and they hadn't seen each other in over 20 years and barely recognized each other...
Here are some pictures of Tom and Don reminiscing on Saturday morning...sorry about the black triangle at the top...sometimes the shutter on our camera sticks and doesn't open all the way. I never notice it until I review the pictures...ah well.
Here Don is showing Tom is sky diving adventure.
Tom is watching the sky diving video going "nope..don't think I would want to do that." HA! Since I can't even get on a step ladder without feeling shaky, I KNOW I never want to sky dive.
Tom and Don went to some space museum on Saturday while I visited with Nancy and got my hair and nails done. I am sure I had more fun doing that than joining them....lol.
We FINALLY got our new recliners last weekend too. They are just as comfortable as I remember them being. 8-) Now we're just waiting for the new gazebo to get here.
Here is some Max for today...
"What is Grace?
By Max Lucado
“My grace is enough for you. When you are weak, my power is made perfect in you.” 2 Corinthians 12:9
What is grace? It’s what someone gives us out of the goodness of his heart, not out of the perfection of ours. The story of grace is the good news that says when we come, he gives. That’s what grace is . . .
Grace is something you did not expect. It is something you certainly could never earn. But grace is something you’d never turn down."
By Grace Alone -
Teresa
We entertained last weekend so I didn't really have any time to play in blog land.
We found out Thursday night that we were having an overnight guest on Friday. So we decided how we wanted to entertain. The weather outside is beautiful this time of year so we decided to have a barbeque. Oops...that meant we needed to scrub down the patio and the patio furniture. Tom took care of that one. If they wanted to sleep in our house, Shadow would have to give up her room. So I tackled the defurring of the guest bedroom. I also had to work from home on Friday so I juggled that in between cleaning out the guest bedroom and doing laundry.
Don got there Friday night about 6:30 and we ate outside even though darkness had fallen by the time we got it on the table. They were a little cool but I was quite comfortable and thought seriously about moving my bed out there...lol. I love this time of year.
Don and Tom grew up together and also went into the Air Force together. They had plenty to chat about since it's been a lot of years since they were around each other. We visited them in July (Don and Mary his wife) and they hadn't seen each other in over 20 years and barely recognized each other...
Here are some pictures of Tom and Don reminiscing on Saturday morning...sorry about the black triangle at the top...sometimes the shutter on our camera sticks and doesn't open all the way. I never notice it until I review the pictures...ah well.
Tom is watching the sky diving video going "nope..don't think I would want to do that." HA! Since I can't even get on a step ladder without feeling shaky, I KNOW I never want to sky dive.
We FINALLY got our new recliners last weekend too. They are just as comfortable as I remember them being. 8-) Now we're just waiting for the new gazebo to get here.
Here is some Max for today...
"What is Grace?
By Max Lucado
“My grace is enough for you. When you are weak, my power is made perfect in you.” 2 Corinthians 12:9
What is grace? It’s what someone gives us out of the goodness of his heart, not out of the perfection of ours. The story of grace is the good news that says when we come, he gives. That’s what grace is . . .
Grace is something you did not expect. It is something you certainly could never earn. But grace is something you’d never turn down."
By Grace Alone -
Teresa
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Shadow Rituals and Wood Burning
I've been trying to feel inspired today for something to write about. I've visited other blogs, sat and pondered life (and my belly button) as well as things going on in my life (dry well there) and have come up with nothing. So, this will be yet another random thought blogging day.
I think about my cat a lot lately. She turned 10 this August. She might have 4 more years in her. Maybe less considering how much she eats and how fat she is. I've never had a cat (or any animal) this long before. She has started throwing up a lot and I don't know if it is because she is getting older or because she insists on eating anything that is on the floor or new to the room.
We bought a new Christmas Tree this year because we haven't really put one up since we moved to Alabama. Too much work for too little ado, we always say. It's just not the same without kids, you know. Well, I wanted a Christmas tree this year and I happened across a Thomas Kincaid, fully decorated, 7 foot, pop it up tree. So we got it. We 'popped it up' and sure enough, it was as beautiful and easy as they claimed. We let it set up for a couple of days and quickly found throw up on the floor with tree needles in it. Shadow, the cat, notorious for eating anything new, struck again. ugh. We popped the tree down, put it away and sat there wondering how we were going to get away with having a Christmas Tree this year. Maybe we'll put it on the back patio?
Shadow also creates a lot of 'rituals' for us. In the morning, we must be up if her food bowl is empty (and the floor is empty of anything for her to scarf up). When we come home, we must give her her 'treat' before we do anything else or she will complain to us until we do. We are fairly well trained on that one. At night, when it is time for bed, it is play time for her. She gets up on the table behind the TV while we are brushing our teeth and peeks into the bathroom at us patiently waiting for us to be done and to play hide and seek with her while she hides behind the TV. Then it is time for me to brush her. All I have to do is pick up the brush and she jumps down from behind the TV with a squeak of pleasure and stands for me to brush her. First with the scratchy side of the brush and then with the softer side. Sometimes she moves away a little at a time and I chase after her trying to brush her. Tom likes that part. He always says that he wants to film it for later amusement. (Whatever) After all that, I am then allowed to go to bed.
This weekend, we had our first 'yard fire'. By this I mean that we burned some wood from the gazebo. We started out with me trying to start the fire. Well, I certainly wasn't ever a boy scout so I was trying to light the end of the piece of with with our charcoal lighter and some charcoal starter fluid. Yeah, I probably could have sat there the rest of the day with no success. Mr. Boy Scout Tom came over and put some twigs underneath the boards and wala...he got the thing lit. (show-off)
Wasn't that creative of him to put those cinder blocks around the wood before we caught it on fire so it didn't catch the bushes on fire. He's so smart.
So, while I was sitting over there 'tending' the fire and way across the yard, Tom is still breaking the floor of the gazebo apart to supply more to burn.
I got so bored, I started sending up smoke signals..."Anyone out there...come and save me from doing nothing..."
The view below is after we got it cooking really good. Tom was done and we had moved our chairs out of the sun and into the shade. (This took so long that the sun moved while I was waiting for the fire to burn up the wood.)
I think about my cat a lot lately. She turned 10 this August. She might have 4 more years in her. Maybe less considering how much she eats and how fat she is. I've never had a cat (or any animal) this long before. She has started throwing up a lot and I don't know if it is because she is getting older or because she insists on eating anything that is on the floor or new to the room.
We bought a new Christmas Tree this year because we haven't really put one up since we moved to Alabama. Too much work for too little ado, we always say. It's just not the same without kids, you know. Well, I wanted a Christmas tree this year and I happened across a Thomas Kincaid, fully decorated, 7 foot, pop it up tree. So we got it. We 'popped it up' and sure enough, it was as beautiful and easy as they claimed. We let it set up for a couple of days and quickly found throw up on the floor with tree needles in it. Shadow, the cat, notorious for eating anything new, struck again. ugh. We popped the tree down, put it away and sat there wondering how we were going to get away with having a Christmas Tree this year. Maybe we'll put it on the back patio?
Shadow also creates a lot of 'rituals' for us. In the morning, we must be up if her food bowl is empty (and the floor is empty of anything for her to scarf up). When we come home, we must give her her 'treat' before we do anything else or she will complain to us until we do. We are fairly well trained on that one. At night, when it is time for bed, it is play time for her. She gets up on the table behind the TV while we are brushing our teeth and peeks into the bathroom at us patiently waiting for us to be done and to play hide and seek with her while she hides behind the TV. Then it is time for me to brush her. All I have to do is pick up the brush and she jumps down from behind the TV with a squeak of pleasure and stands for me to brush her. First with the scratchy side of the brush and then with the softer side. Sometimes she moves away a little at a time and I chase after her trying to brush her. Tom likes that part. He always says that he wants to film it for later amusement. (Whatever) After all that, I am then allowed to go to bed.
This weekend, we had our first 'yard fire'. By this I mean that we burned some wood from the gazebo. We started out with me trying to start the fire. Well, I certainly wasn't ever a boy scout so I was trying to light the end of the piece of with with our charcoal lighter and some charcoal starter fluid. Yeah, I probably could have sat there the rest of the day with no success. Mr. Boy Scout Tom came over and put some twigs underneath the boards and wala...he got the thing lit. (show-off)
So, while I was sitting over there 'tending' the fire and way across the yard, Tom is still breaking the floor of the gazebo apart to supply more to burn.
I was getting lonely so I ventured over to say hi...
I got so bored, I started sending up smoke signals..."Anyone out there...come and save me from doing nothing..."
So, I took a minute to look up through the trees and see if there was anything interesting there. Clouds...trees...nothing else. Wow...how do people do this kind of thing...
The view below is after we got it cooking really good. Tom was done and we had moved our chairs out of the sun and into the shade. (This took so long that the sun moved while I was waiting for the fire to burn up the wood.)
Little did we know...unlike in the movies...structures do not burn down in minutes...I was out there from 1 pm to ~ 6 pm. The final coals were still hot at that time but our pizza had arrived so I let the coals watch themselves for a little while. We checked it again later and it had definitely burned itself pretty much out.
By Grace Alone -
Teresa
Friday, September 23, 2011
Bye Bye Mr. Gazebo
It is a wonderful overcast day and the air smells like fall. I've always loved fall and spring. Duh...the best weather of the year, I would guess everyone loves fall and spring.
I love fall because by the time it rolls around, I am quite tired of the 'hot' of summer. I love spring because it is like watching life come alive all around me. Trees begin budding, flowers are blooming, the grass is greening up. It just makes me smile to walk outside in the spring and feel the sun on my face.
The only news on our front is that we tore down the gazebo last weekend. I say 'we' very loosely. I helped cart off some of the roof and threw it in the truck but Tom did all the really hard work. He was the one ripping it apart. Why did we tear it down you might ask yourself. Well, it was beginning to rot. I had stained it almost every year since we built it but since the wood wasn't treated before we built it, it just wasn't holding up that well. (Word to the wise, don't buy a gazebo kit from Amish Gazebos.) So...bye bye Mr. Gazebo...
We have ordered a vinyl one with a metal roof. The metal roof will be charcoal colored and the vinyl is called elegant ivory. (Right...like it is really anything other than just ivory...ha!) This one will be screened in and it will have a door. Cool, huh? (Take that! I say to the Bird Family that ate berries and left the remnants in our gazebo all year long.)
Here is a picture of what it is supposed to look like when it is done. Of course, we have an octagonal cement pad and that one is round and it has bricks around it. We are still mulling over the decision of whether to tile the cement pad or not. I'm having trouble picking out tiles and then we have to come up with a design...blah blah...I might just paint it and be done with it.
Now, if I could just get some great gardener to put some plants around it like they have in the picture below...that will be next spring's tasking, I reckon...
I love fall because by the time it rolls around, I am quite tired of the 'hot' of summer. I love spring because it is like watching life come alive all around me. Trees begin budding, flowers are blooming, the grass is greening up. It just makes me smile to walk outside in the spring and feel the sun on my face.
The only news on our front is that we tore down the gazebo last weekend. I say 'we' very loosely. I helped cart off some of the roof and threw it in the truck but Tom did all the really hard work. He was the one ripping it apart. Why did we tear it down you might ask yourself. Well, it was beginning to rot. I had stained it almost every year since we built it but since the wood wasn't treated before we built it, it just wasn't holding up that well. (Word to the wise, don't buy a gazebo kit from Amish Gazebos.) So...bye bye Mr. Gazebo...
We have ordered a vinyl one with a metal roof. The metal roof will be charcoal colored and the vinyl is called elegant ivory. (Right...like it is really anything other than just ivory...ha!) This one will be screened in and it will have a door. Cool, huh? (Take that! I say to the Bird Family that ate berries and left the remnants in our gazebo all year long.)
Here is a picture of what it is supposed to look like when it is done. Of course, we have an octagonal cement pad and that one is round and it has bricks around it. We are still mulling over the decision of whether to tile the cement pad or not. I'm having trouble picking out tiles and then we have to come up with a design...blah blah...I might just paint it and be done with it.
Now, if I could just get some great gardener to put some plants around it like they have in the picture below...that will be next spring's tasking, I reckon...
Today's Max is awesome...I've never seen myself as arrogant, self-righteous, worthy, or anything other than a sinner but God sees beyond that...isn't it amazing!!
"Put On Christ
By Max Lucado
“As many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” Galatians 3:27 NKJV
You read it right. We have “put on” Christ. When God looks at us He doesn’t see us; He sees Christ. We “wear” Him. We are hidden in Him; we are covered by Him. As the songs says, “Dressed in His righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne.”
Presumptuous, you say? Sacrilegious? It would be if it were my idea. But it isn’t; it’s His."
By Grace Alone -
Teresa
Friday, September 16, 2011
I'm Cute?
I woke up this mornng and my hair (YUP, I've got hair now...real hair) is sticking up all over the place (it is a different texture than it used to be..all of it in front of my head is completely straight and the back is curly...the straight hair likes to stand on end when I sleep...I guess the dreams scare it to death.) and I throw on my sweats and a long sleeved shirt (it's getting colder now) and stumble around sorting the laundry to put into the washer. My husband walks by and pats me and tells me how cute I am. CUTE? Horrifying would be my take on my looks first thing in the morning...but as long as he thinks so, I'm good with that.
Today is my flex day off and I've wasted about 3 hours of my life helping someone with a scheduling problem that they created themselves. Ugh...I thought I was going to have a leisurely morning, reconciling my discover and bank account but it is already noon an I haven't gotten to it yet. I decided blogging sounded like more fun.
I've also done a fun round with the oncology department and the insurance company this morning. I get my port flushd every 4 weeks and until this last flushing they didn't charge me for it. This time they charged me and my insurance refused to pay according to the oncology dept. They tell me I should call my insurance company. So....I call my insurance company and they say they never received the bill. They give me some hints and tips about submitting to pass back to the oncology department. (Why these two groups can't talk to each other, I'll never know...) So I call the oncology department back and they say they will resubmit. (More time wasted that I'll never get back...lol.)
I got a call today from the Boeing Wellness Group. They think they can help me lose the weight I've gained since chemo. I told them that if they could tape my mouth shut it might help. lol We are going to try to get me moving around more. That isn't so easy since all my joints hurt when I move. The Femara seems to be causing this so I may get them to switch to a different hormone blocking medication. My oncologyst says there are three kinds that he can prescribe. I see him again on the 18th of Oct so we shall see then. Anyway, the goal is 10,000 steps a day (or 5 miles). 10,000 steps sounds like less to me so I'll keep that number in my head. HA
Here is some Max for today:
"He Knows
By Max Lucado
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” John 1:14 NIV
The one to whom we pray knows our feelings. He knows our temptation. He has felt discouraged. He has been hungry and sleepy and tired . . . He nods in understanding when we pray in anger . . . He smiles when we confess our weariness . . .
He, too, knew the drone of the humdrum and the weariness that comes with long days . . . God became flesh and dwelt among us."
By Grace Alone -
Teresa
Today is my flex day off and I've wasted about 3 hours of my life helping someone with a scheduling problem that they created themselves. Ugh...I thought I was going to have a leisurely morning, reconciling my discover and bank account but it is already noon an I haven't gotten to it yet. I decided blogging sounded like more fun.
I've also done a fun round with the oncology department and the insurance company this morning. I get my port flushd every 4 weeks and until this last flushing they didn't charge me for it. This time they charged me and my insurance refused to pay according to the oncology dept. They tell me I should call my insurance company. So....I call my insurance company and they say they never received the bill. They give me some hints and tips about submitting to pass back to the oncology department. (Why these two groups can't talk to each other, I'll never know...) So I call the oncology department back and they say they will resubmit. (More time wasted that I'll never get back...lol.)
I got a call today from the Boeing Wellness Group. They think they can help me lose the weight I've gained since chemo. I told them that if they could tape my mouth shut it might help. lol We are going to try to get me moving around more. That isn't so easy since all my joints hurt when I move. The Femara seems to be causing this so I may get them to switch to a different hormone blocking medication. My oncologyst says there are three kinds that he can prescribe. I see him again on the 18th of Oct so we shall see then. Anyway, the goal is 10,000 steps a day (or 5 miles). 10,000 steps sounds like less to me so I'll keep that number in my head. HA
Here is some Max for today:
"He Knows
By Max Lucado
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” John 1:14 NIV
The one to whom we pray knows our feelings. He knows our temptation. He has felt discouraged. He has been hungry and sleepy and tired . . . He nods in understanding when we pray in anger . . . He smiles when we confess our weariness . . .
He, too, knew the drone of the humdrum and the weariness that comes with long days . . . God became flesh and dwelt among us."
By Grace Alone -
Teresa
Monday, September 12, 2011
Every Day is a Gift
How quickly we become complacent about our days...I try to remember every morning that each day is a gift. Sometimes I forget and whine and moan about something annoying in my day and then I snap my head up and remember that there are others that aren't as blessed as I am and I need to keep that in the forefront of my living. I had a sore throat and a fever yesterday and complained about it most of the afternoon and evening and even considered laying in bed today and nursing myself back to health but instead, I got out of bed this morning and pressed on with my day and I am SO glad that I did.
A friend of mine came into my office this morning and started telling me about 3 people that he knew that had recently lost the battle with Cancer. I am working with another gentleman that is a Lt. Colonel with the army and is part of a rotational program to learn how the big businesses do 'business' and he was telling me that his father-in-law died last year from cancer and his mother-in-law was also diagnosed with Leukemia within a month of his father-in-law's diagnosis. So many people do not have the luxury that I had of catching that horrible disease before it gets the better of them. I am blessed and I need to continue to remember this each day.
So, if you're feeling complacent about your life and complaining about how your days are going and how upset you are that it is Monday instead of Friday...take a minute...pull your head up and remember that each day is a Gift that God has given us. Like the old song goes...Don't Worry....Be Happy...8-) Let the Joy of Jesus shine out of your countenance today and everyday.
So here is some Max for today:
"Overflowing
By Max Lucado
“My cup overflows with blessings.” Psalm 23:5 NLT
Is an overflowing cup full? Absolutely. The wine reaches the rim and then tumbles over the edge. The goblet is not large enough to contain the quantity. According to David, our hearts are not large enough to contain the blessings that God wants to give. He pours and pours until they literally flow over the edge and down on the table . . .
The last thing we need to worry about is not having enough. Our cup overflows with blessings."
By Grace Alone -
Teresa
A friend of mine came into my office this morning and started telling me about 3 people that he knew that had recently lost the battle with Cancer. I am working with another gentleman that is a Lt. Colonel with the army and is part of a rotational program to learn how the big businesses do 'business' and he was telling me that his father-in-law died last year from cancer and his mother-in-law was also diagnosed with Leukemia within a month of his father-in-law's diagnosis. So many people do not have the luxury that I had of catching that horrible disease before it gets the better of them. I am blessed and I need to continue to remember this each day.
So, if you're feeling complacent about your life and complaining about how your days are going and how upset you are that it is Monday instead of Friday...take a minute...pull your head up and remember that each day is a Gift that God has given us. Like the old song goes...Don't Worry....Be Happy...8-) Let the Joy of Jesus shine out of your countenance today and everyday.
So here is some Max for today:
"Overflowing
By Max Lucado
“My cup overflows with blessings.” Psalm 23:5 NLT
Is an overflowing cup full? Absolutely. The wine reaches the rim and then tumbles over the edge. The goblet is not large enough to contain the quantity. According to David, our hearts are not large enough to contain the blessings that God wants to give. He pours and pours until they literally flow over the edge and down on the table . . .
The last thing we need to worry about is not having enough. Our cup overflows with blessings."
By Grace Alone -
Teresa
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Time in a Bottle
Have you ever thought of the intelligence required to fill medication bins?
I have 3 separate weekly medication bins (I call them bins because they hold the individual daily groups of pills ...not sure what they are really called) and I have to fill up one of them weekly (This one holds my daily multi vitamin, vitamin E, Flax seed, and potassium pills and we'll call it bin #1) and the other two I have 2 bins for each group so I only fill them up once every two weeks. (These we will call Bins 2 & 3)
Bin #1 contains the pills that I need to take with food in the morning and I take them at work after I get my Starbucks. The milk in the Starbucks takes care of any ill effects of taking those on an empty stomach. (Yet another great reason to have a Starbucks coffee every morning...that list just goes on and on...lol)
Bin #2 contains first thing in the morning and bedtime pills. (There are AM and PM bins in this one) Morning pills consisting of 8 necessary pills and evening pills consisting of 6 necessary pills (All these pills range from allergy medications to arrhythmia medication).
Bin #3 contains the 4 pills I take with supper. All of those have to be taken with food. (These range from cancer blocking meds to more flax seed pills.) Every Sunday morning I spend about 30 minutes of my time putting the right pills in the right bins.
This is time I will never get back. Ugh. I know it is important that I take all these pills...they are the fine mesh that holds me together but I do find myself resenting time wasted on the loading of pills into individual bins. lol
Of course, the alternate is carrying a bag of pill bottles around with me everywhere I go and popping one in my mouth now and then. Yeah, this is the best method but it is still annoying that it has almost become a second job keeping up with what pills I'm supposed to be taking when.
I had my beauty appointment with my friend Nancy yesterday. We always have a good time catching up on what has happened in each other's lives for the last three weeks. She has such a wonderful sweet spirit.
I chatted with my Mom for a while yesterday and she is doing well and looking good. She's been losing some weight which is a sign that she is getting over some of her depression about the loss of my Dad. (I think I found the 7 lbs that she lost...lol) Of course, she would probably never admit that she was down but I could see different signs that she wasn't totally up to par. She made a major move to Texas just as my Dad was declining so there have been a lot of changes in her life over the last year. I worry about her a lot but I know my sister (who she just lives a little bit away from) is there for her if she needs her.
Here is today's Max for you..
"Decorating
By Max Lucado
“Do good to me, your servant, so I can live, so I can obey your word.” Psalm 119:17
God loves to decorate. God has to decorate. Let Him live long enough in a heart, and that heart will begin to change. Portraits of hurt will be replaced by landscapes of grace. Walls of anger will be demolished and shaky foundations restored. God can no more leave a life unchanged than a mother can leave her child’s tear untouched."
By Grace Alone -
Teresa
I have 3 separate weekly medication bins (I call them bins because they hold the individual daily groups of pills ...not sure what they are really called) and I have to fill up one of them weekly (This one holds my daily multi vitamin, vitamin E, Flax seed, and potassium pills and we'll call it bin #1) and the other two I have 2 bins for each group so I only fill them up once every two weeks. (These we will call Bins 2 & 3)
Bin #1 contains the pills that I need to take with food in the morning and I take them at work after I get my Starbucks. The milk in the Starbucks takes care of any ill effects of taking those on an empty stomach. (Yet another great reason to have a Starbucks coffee every morning...that list just goes on and on...lol)
Bin #2 contains first thing in the morning and bedtime pills. (There are AM and PM bins in this one) Morning pills consisting of 8 necessary pills and evening pills consisting of 6 necessary pills (All these pills range from allergy medications to arrhythmia medication).
Bin #3 contains the 4 pills I take with supper. All of those have to be taken with food. (These range from cancer blocking meds to more flax seed pills.) Every Sunday morning I spend about 30 minutes of my time putting the right pills in the right bins.
This is time I will never get back. Ugh. I know it is important that I take all these pills...they are the fine mesh that holds me together but I do find myself resenting time wasted on the loading of pills into individual bins. lol
Of course, the alternate is carrying a bag of pill bottles around with me everywhere I go and popping one in my mouth now and then. Yeah, this is the best method but it is still annoying that it has almost become a second job keeping up with what pills I'm supposed to be taking when.
I had my beauty appointment with my friend Nancy yesterday. We always have a good time catching up on what has happened in each other's lives for the last three weeks. She has such a wonderful sweet spirit.
I chatted with my Mom for a while yesterday and she is doing well and looking good. She's been losing some weight which is a sign that she is getting over some of her depression about the loss of my Dad. (I think I found the 7 lbs that she lost...lol) Of course, she would probably never admit that she was down but I could see different signs that she wasn't totally up to par. She made a major move to Texas just as my Dad was declining so there have been a lot of changes in her life over the last year. I worry about her a lot but I know my sister (who she just lives a little bit away from) is there for her if she needs her.
Here is today's Max for you..
"Decorating
By Max Lucado
“Do good to me, your servant, so I can live, so I can obey your word.” Psalm 119:17
God loves to decorate. God has to decorate. Let Him live long enough in a heart, and that heart will begin to change. Portraits of hurt will be replaced by landscapes of grace. Walls of anger will be demolished and shaky foundations restored. God can no more leave a life unchanged than a mother can leave her child’s tear untouched."
By Grace Alone -
Teresa
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Is Your Life Ever Changing? God is Never Changing...
Wow...it's been a while since I've been here.
Life is moving right along. My hair is growing, my health is improving, and my waist is growing. Yeah, I've gained a couple of pounds since chemo but that's ok. I am enjoying the taste of food again. It's all good.
I had my colonoscopy done yesterday and the doctor said it was the best intestines he's ever seen. Not a single polyp. Whoo whoo!
They wheeled me back to the 'room' where the procedure was going to be done and were waiting for the anesthesiologist to show up and in pops the doctor. He says "Are we ready to go?" and I lifted my head up and said, "I don't think so...I'm not asleep yet and you're not starting until I am completely asleep." They all had a big laugh about that. I wasn't joking though....
I got cheated though. Instead of the good anesthesia that everyone says they wake up from and feel like they've had the best sleep ever, I had to have a different anesthesia because the other would have reacted adversely to some of the other meds I am on. So I woke up all groggy feeling.
Ah well, such is life.
So, bottom line (REALLY...no pun intended there, Mom) I don't have to have another one done for five years. I was VERY glad to hear that. With each good report on my body, I feel hope. 8-)
So, if you're having one of those days where you feel like someone has moved your cheese and life is changing too much and too quickly, try to remember the following words from Max:
"Middle C
By Max Lucado
“From everlasting to everlasting you are God.” Psalm 90:2
You and I need a middle C. Haven’t you had enough change in your life? Relationships change. Health changes. The weather changes. But the Yahweh who ruled the earth last night is the same Yahweh who rules it today. Same convictions. Same plan. Same mood. Same love. He never changes. You can no more alter God than a pebble can alter the rhythm of the Pacific. Yahweh is our Middle C. A still point in a turning world."
By Grace Alone -
Teresa
Life is moving right along. My hair is growing, my health is improving, and my waist is growing. Yeah, I've gained a couple of pounds since chemo but that's ok. I am enjoying the taste of food again. It's all good.
I had my colonoscopy done yesterday and the doctor said it was the best intestines he's ever seen. Not a single polyp. Whoo whoo!
They wheeled me back to the 'room' where the procedure was going to be done and were waiting for the anesthesiologist to show up and in pops the doctor. He says "Are we ready to go?" and I lifted my head up and said, "I don't think so...I'm not asleep yet and you're not starting until I am completely asleep." They all had a big laugh about that. I wasn't joking though....
I got cheated though. Instead of the good anesthesia that everyone says they wake up from and feel like they've had the best sleep ever, I had to have a different anesthesia because the other would have reacted adversely to some of the other meds I am on. So I woke up all groggy feeling.
Ah well, such is life.
So, bottom line (REALLY...no pun intended there, Mom) I don't have to have another one done for five years. I was VERY glad to hear that. With each good report on my body, I feel hope. 8-)
So, if you're having one of those days where you feel like someone has moved your cheese and life is changing too much and too quickly, try to remember the following words from Max:
"Middle C
By Max Lucado
“From everlasting to everlasting you are God.” Psalm 90:2
You and I need a middle C. Haven’t you had enough change in your life? Relationships change. Health changes. The weather changes. But the Yahweh who ruled the earth last night is the same Yahweh who rules it today. Same convictions. Same plan. Same mood. Same love. He never changes. You can no more alter God than a pebble can alter the rhythm of the Pacific. Yahweh is our Middle C. A still point in a turning world."
By Grace Alone -
Teresa
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Just Another Day
I am a little down today.
I have the head/neck pain that begins right before shingles break out. I am SO tired of shingles.
I called my Medical Oncologyst's nurse today to see if maybe I need a different medication this time since this is the third breakout since the first of July. She is supposed to call me back.
This weekend I think I am just going to lay around and read a book and do nothing stressful. (Since stress supposedly activates them.) Of course, I think it is more than mental stress, I think my body is still in stress from the chemo and it is the body stress that is causing the problem. I can tell that my white count still isn't what it should be. Sigh...
I am getting to work on one of the programs for the next couple of weeks at work because they are short a scheduler and I am actually having a lot of fun with it. It is good to get my hands dirty again (that's just a figure of speech...my job really isn't dirty) and get out amoung the workers on the program. I like my other job too which involves auditing schedules and training schedulers and CAMs but there's nothing like getting ahold of a schedule and analyzing it and giving the data to the program manager to help them manage the program better.
My son will be 26 on the 30th of August. I am just amazed at how that time has flown. It seems like just yesterday that I was holding him in my arms and rocking him to sleep. Then he was making friends at school and then he was playing baseball. Next thing I know, he is playing computer games and going off to college. I turned around and all of a sudden he was married and had a little girl himself. She is a beauty too.
Here she is with what looks like a bit of a 'tude. I can just imagine her saying "Say WHAT?" (I am sure she gets that attitude from her mother's side of the family...lol)
Here she is just being adorable.
Well, she can't help it that she is so cute...
Well, on to the Max for today:
"Ask for More
By Max Lucado
“Lord, teach me what you want me to do, and I will live by your truth.” Psalm 86:11
When kindness comes through grudgingly, we’ll remember God’s kindness to us and ask Him to make us more kind. When patience is scarce, we’ll thank Him for His and ask Him to make us more patient. When it’s hard to forgive, we won’t list all the times we’ve been given grief. Rather, we’ll list all the times we’ve been given grace and pray to become more forgiving."
By Grace Alone -
Teresa
I have the head/neck pain that begins right before shingles break out. I am SO tired of shingles.
I called my Medical Oncologyst's nurse today to see if maybe I need a different medication this time since this is the third breakout since the first of July. She is supposed to call me back.
This weekend I think I am just going to lay around and read a book and do nothing stressful. (Since stress supposedly activates them.) Of course, I think it is more than mental stress, I think my body is still in stress from the chemo and it is the body stress that is causing the problem. I can tell that my white count still isn't what it should be. Sigh...
I am getting to work on one of the programs for the next couple of weeks at work because they are short a scheduler and I am actually having a lot of fun with it. It is good to get my hands dirty again (that's just a figure of speech...my job really isn't dirty) and get out amoung the workers on the program. I like my other job too which involves auditing schedules and training schedulers and CAMs but there's nothing like getting ahold of a schedule and analyzing it and giving the data to the program manager to help them manage the program better.
My son will be 26 on the 30th of August. I am just amazed at how that time has flown. It seems like just yesterday that I was holding him in my arms and rocking him to sleep. Then he was making friends at school and then he was playing baseball. Next thing I know, he is playing computer games and going off to college. I turned around and all of a sudden he was married and had a little girl himself. She is a beauty too.
Here she is with what looks like a bit of a 'tude. I can just imagine her saying "Say WHAT?" (I am sure she gets that attitude from her mother's side of the family...lol)
Here she is just being adorable.
Well, she can't help it that she is so cute...
Well, on to the Max for today:
"Ask for More
By Max Lucado
“Lord, teach me what you want me to do, and I will live by your truth.” Psalm 86:11
When kindness comes through grudgingly, we’ll remember God’s kindness to us and ask Him to make us more kind. When patience is scarce, we’ll thank Him for His and ask Him to make us more patient. When it’s hard to forgive, we won’t list all the times we’ve been given grief. Rather, we’ll list all the times we’ve been given grace and pray to become more forgiving."
By Grace Alone -
Teresa
Friday, August 19, 2011
Random Thoughts
I don't think about death so much anymore. Goodness, but that is a good thing. I am now thinking about things that we should do in the future. I don't think about doctors all the time and when my next appointment is. I get to LIVE life again. It's really awesome. Cancer plays a lot of mind games with you...SHAME on Cancer.
Speaking of doctors...I got a clean bill of health from my Radiology Oncologyst yesterday. I don't have to go back to him for 6 months. I don't have to go back to my surgeon for a year (unless something comes up that I need him for) and I don't have to see my Medical Oncologyst until October. Life is good.
We are sitting in the office this morning with the window open for Shadow (who is not even sitting in it..HA) and I hear all the morning sounds that I grew up with when I was living in TN. Cicadas, frogs, and birds. It is so peaceful out here in the country. I am really glad we live out here now instead of Florida. It has also (finally) turned cooler here. I know the entire country must be breathing a sigh of relief because it actually looks like summer is moving into fall and the temperature is dropping to a more acceptable level.
At this point, you, the reader, should be going "blah, blah, blah...does this girl have anything of importance to say today?" The answer is absolutely not. I just woke up in the mood to blog a bunch of totally random thoughts...lol.
So, here are some words from Max that aren't so random or meaningless...8-)
"Brag About That
By Max Lucado
“The cross of our Lord Jesus Christ is my only reason for bragging.” Galatians 6:14
Do you feel a need for affirmation? Does your self-esteem need attention? You don’t need to drop names or show off. You need only to pause at the base of the cross and be reminded of this: The maker of the stars would rather die for you than live without you. And that is a fact. So if you need to brag, brag about that."
By Grace Alone -
Teresa
Speaking of doctors...I got a clean bill of health from my Radiology Oncologyst yesterday. I don't have to go back to him for 6 months. I don't have to go back to my surgeon for a year (unless something comes up that I need him for) and I don't have to see my Medical Oncologyst until October. Life is good.
We are sitting in the office this morning with the window open for Shadow (who is not even sitting in it..HA) and I hear all the morning sounds that I grew up with when I was living in TN. Cicadas, frogs, and birds. It is so peaceful out here in the country. I am really glad we live out here now instead of Florida. It has also (finally) turned cooler here. I know the entire country must be breathing a sigh of relief because it actually looks like summer is moving into fall and the temperature is dropping to a more acceptable level.
At this point, you, the reader, should be going "blah, blah, blah...does this girl have anything of importance to say today?" The answer is absolutely not. I just woke up in the mood to blog a bunch of totally random thoughts...lol.
So, here are some words from Max that aren't so random or meaningless...8-)
"Brag About That
By Max Lucado
“The cross of our Lord Jesus Christ is my only reason for bragging.” Galatians 6:14
Do you feel a need for affirmation? Does your self-esteem need attention? You don’t need to drop names or show off. You need only to pause at the base of the cross and be reminded of this: The maker of the stars would rather die for you than live without you. And that is a fact. So if you need to brag, brag about that."
By Grace Alone -
Teresa
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Multi-Tasking in Today's World.
I love my nephew's latest blog where he confirms that our earthly home is not the home that we should be longing for but the heavenly home is the one we should put our eyes on. That is where our real 'rest' will be attained. 8-) His musings can be found at http://danielbennett.blogspot.com/. He is a pastor and lives in Illinois. He currently has 4 children (I always say 'currently' because you never know when young people are finished having those babies....lol.) and a very busy life. I noticed the last time I talked to him (about a year ago at my father's funeral) that he is always multitasking. You can be having a conversation with him and he will be busy doing something else as well. I saw a picture of him with his family recently and while he was having his picture taken, he was talking on the phone. He is a very busy man...I really hope he slows down enough to enjoy those kids while they are young. As we get older, we realize how much we probably missed of our kids childhood because those are such busy years for young adults. Anyway, he has been in my thoughts a lot lately...just thought I would share some of them...8-)
He comes by that multi-tasking quite naturally. His mother (My sister) is the same way...you can be talking to her on the phone and know that she is busy with something else, even if it is just traveling on the road.
But wait...I AM THE SAME WAY...lol. Rarely do I just do one thing at a time. Even if it is just playing games. I will have several going at the same time. One on my IPAD, one on my IPhone, and one on my computer. As one is doing something I have to wait for, I'll move to the other one, etc. At the same time that the three games are going, I'll also be balancing my budget for the week. My mom and I used to skype and play games at the same time. Tom and I watch TV and I am playing a game at the same time I am watching TV. I cook and read at the same time. (The list goes on and on.) We are all a family of multi-taskers. I think our intelligence makes us bored very easily. (Now, I'm not bragging here, it's just a fact that we're all fairly smart...lol.)
Should we slow down more and pay attention to what is really going on around us? Probably...is it possible for us to do so? Probably not...there is only one of us and so many tasks to get done before each day ends. But some of it is just in our 'nature'. My husband is used to my nature and accepts it as part of who I am...my coworkers...not as much. I have one in particular that will insist that I give him my full attention without multi-tasking while he chats with me. Of course, he is one of those laid back types that never feels the stress of any moment. Whatever...I can't even relate to that attitude...lol.
Forge on with that multi-tasking...be yourself...it is in your nature. 8-)
By Grace Alone -
Teresa
He comes by that multi-tasking quite naturally. His mother (My sister) is the same way...you can be talking to her on the phone and know that she is busy with something else, even if it is just traveling on the road.
But wait...I AM THE SAME WAY...lol. Rarely do I just do one thing at a time. Even if it is just playing games. I will have several going at the same time. One on my IPAD, one on my IPhone, and one on my computer. As one is doing something I have to wait for, I'll move to the other one, etc. At the same time that the three games are going, I'll also be balancing my budget for the week. My mom and I used to skype and play games at the same time. Tom and I watch TV and I am playing a game at the same time I am watching TV. I cook and read at the same time. (The list goes on and on.) We are all a family of multi-taskers. I think our intelligence makes us bored very easily. (Now, I'm not bragging here, it's just a fact that we're all fairly smart...lol.)
Should we slow down more and pay attention to what is really going on around us? Probably...is it possible for us to do so? Probably not...there is only one of us and so many tasks to get done before each day ends. But some of it is just in our 'nature'. My husband is used to my nature and accepts it as part of who I am...my coworkers...not as much. I have one in particular that will insist that I give him my full attention without multi-tasking while he chats with me. Of course, he is one of those laid back types that never feels the stress of any moment. Whatever...I can't even relate to that attitude...lol.
Forge on with that multi-tasking...be yourself...it is in your nature. 8-)
By Grace Alone -
Teresa
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