I'm Calling this Good News

From my SIL, Deb:

We also got the results back from the PET scan. It showed that the lymphoma is limited to the lymph nodes in her abdomen and have not spread to her groin, neck, etc, nor is it present in any organ in her body which is a huge relief. Today and tomorrow should be pretty uneventful. They want her to get her strength and weight back up a little so that she's ready to begin treatment on Monday.


This is so encouraging! Please continue to pray as Taylor begins treatment. Her port has been installed, and she'll have it for the next two years.


Happy Monday, all!

Many Thanks

Thank you to all of you who are praying for Taylor. I have a "PRAY for TAY *** TODAY" sign written on my white board in the house. Her last name actually rhymes with Tay and Pray, so it's making a cool slogan.

My days are surreal. I'm going about my business, but everything seems to have lymphoma stamped across it or cancer. It's always there, with every thought or action, every moment of laughter or quiet reflection. I can't imagine how my brother and Deb are doing. I'm able to speak about the technical aspects of it, but if someone hugs me, I lose it.

And yet, each moment is also filled with determination and hope.

I'm making plans to head to California, probably in June. But first, the high school campout!

My Monkey

Tay was able to participate in a play, the Jungle Book, last week!

So far the news is B cell lymphoma, which is supposed to be more treatable/less harsh drugs than T cell. Deb (my SIL) is waiting for all confirmations though that this is the case. There's also a complication of a RARE form of E-coli, but it's responding to antibiotics.

Taylor is upbeat and cheerful. She knows what's coming, but she's a "tackle what's in front of us first" kind of gal with similar parents!

Please pray for Taylor, her mom, and my brother, Mark.

Here We Go

I remember being so busy, I had to schedule sleep.

Now I'm trying to schedule a good time to fall apart. Wednesday isn't looking good, so maybe Thursday, or after the high school campout this weekend.

My niece, Taylor, has lymphoma.

That's all I know.

And so it begins.

You won't hear from me

My friend Sarah is visiting from California! I will be busy forever, so I'll catch up later. Don't worry, I'm taking lots of pictures.

If you don't hear from me, have a blessed celebration of our Risen Lord!!!

Super Tuesday

It's Dancing With the Stars night!

We're off to Chico's for a DWTS marathon. He recorded the first night, then we'll watch tonight's live.

Come on. You watch it. Admit it.

This N That

There's a blog called Beautiful Days that I've been enjoying so much. When I read it, I just feel quietness and peace enter my soul, and I know it's because she's blogging the truth of God's Word.


Today, I heard the news that Ty has signed up for Mexico Missions with New Tribes! He has been praying about it and wrestling with God about it for a month now. I can't wait to see God work in His life through this!

Glenna is still grounded, making her my constant companion. Even now, she's talking to me non-stop. I can't bat an eyelash without her knowing about it and vice versa. Still, it's been kind of cool getting to know her even better!

That's all for now.

You know what today is?

Today is March 14.


Do you know what that means?


Happy Pi day, everyone! (3.14)



Did I really just say that???

New

Camera!

We finally bit the bullet and bought a camera. Just a little point and shoot, but I like it so far. I've asked Miss Glenna to help me demonstrate


This is straight out of the camera. Cute kid. Could we get any closer?




Ah! This is better! The freckles are a little washed out, but there's no red-eye! Bonus! (Yes, her eyes are that blue. I haven't touched this photo at all. Because. I don't. Know. How.)


Her dad has said something funny here, but that's for another blog and another time.



Here she is, trying not to kill herself during math. See the frustrated nose-smoshing here?


As I'm looking at the features, I suddenly point out that a little flower has appeared on the screen.

"Oh! You have the little flower?" Evidently, Glenna is a camera expert. She then explains how the little flower allows me to get closer in the pictures.



Like this! No more washed out freckles! Good thing, too, because they're darn cute.

More Conversations

Me: Hey, are you good on jeans, or do you need any?

Unnamed 18yo male child: Jeans? I always need jeans! I'm a rock star!

Me: Oh, because Target was having this great sale . . . .

Un18yomc: Target? I can't wear jeans from Target! I'm a rock star!

:-D

Morbid Humor at the JLW House

I call him the Rag Man.

Himself is down to one pair of jeans, and they're almost not really jeans at all. There are literally threads holding one leg together. These are what he wore to softball Opening Day yesterday, along with an old flannel shirt he took off Danny Ivy in CA one year. This thing's so huge, both of us could fit into it.

This didn't seem to be a problem. I guess Softball People are different from Soccer people, so he fit right in.

On the way there, we decided we needed to get him some jeans next weekend. The following conversation still has me smiling and wondering where my children get their humor:

Himself: Three pair ought to do it.

Me: Should I get size ** x **?

Himself: Oh, I don't know. What if I lose weight?

Me: Then wear a belt! And how exactly are you planning to lose weight? You don't go to the gym and you have horrible eating habits.

Himself: It could happen.

Me: Right.

Himself: Fine. I'll just die then.

Kelly: Well, we're not burying you in jeans, that's for sure.

:-)

I stayed home from church today. I originally planned on staying home with Glenna, but she insisted she was fine and had only coughed four times. I sent her with meds, tissue, and clear warnings to stay away from everyone. It was too late for me to hit the shower, so I stayed home and did some cleaning. There's a bridal shower this afternoon, so I'll try to be human-like for that.

I've Been Hit Again!

This time, it's with a bug. :-(

I'm coughing, Glenna's coughing, and the others are keeping their distance. I'm thankful my kids are at self-sufficient ages where I'm not as needed, but how do I get the laundry to be the same?

Go away, laundry.

Maybe that's how it works. . . . we have too many clothes and I need to get rid of them.

Friends, neighbors . . . if you see us in the same three outfits over and over, you won't say anything, will you?

I've Been Hit!

We were hit with flamingos last night. I guess it was bound to happen! The tragedy is; our youth pastor efficiently removed them (I have insurance! HAH!) before I could get a picture.

For those who live out of state and don't know what's going on:

Our church youth group is having a fundraiser. Basically, we're flamingoing everyone, and the youth get the funds!

Cost to flamingo your friends: $15.00
Cost to have the flamingos removed: $10.00
Looks your neighbors give while driving by: priceless!

Everyone in the church is in danger of being flamingoed, unless you specifically asked to be removed from the list. But wait! It gets better!

You could by a value pack of flamingoing and have four yards done for $40.00. That's a twenty-dollar savings!

You may be thinking -- what if three of my friends decide to flamingo my yard twice? That's a LOT of money to pay for removal!

Yes, we thought of that.

For a mere $35.00, you could buy flamingo insurance. For the three months this fundraiser is going on, your flamingos will be removed for FREE, no matter how many times you're hit!

One family thought they wouldn't need the insurance. They've been hit three times already, and there's still two months to go!

As an added bonus, for $5 you could "Flamingo-back" anyone who flamingos you. That's right. . . send the whole flock to hang out on THEIR yard instead of yours!

Check out Thriveyouth.org to catch the pictures and details. There's even a flamingo insurance video starring our youth pastor, Josh H. :-D

Something Fishy

"Don't tell fish stories where the people know you; but particularly, don't tell them where they know the fish."
- Mark Twain

The girls and I were talking about a similar topic the other day. How many of us have grown up with a real pest in elementary school, and then he grows up and gets married, has a high-paying job, or runs for mayor? How difficult is it for us to see anything but a pest?

He speaks, but all we can think is, I know the fish.

If there's one thing I do know, it's that God can change people. I've seen it happen time and time again. I have seen the ones I love most in the world go from firmly resisting God to amazing teachers and readers of His word, their lives completely transformed.

When I speak with a new wife and ache for her as she weeps over her unsaved husband, I can't help but have hope and confidence. What seems so impossible is so possible! But, only God can do it. Only God can change hearts.

And oh, how He loves to change hearts. Just look at what He's done with the heart that comes home to me each and every night. I'm still in awe.