One Year Later

Over the last couple of weeks, we've had several anniversaries around here. All are important. And they all signify life-changing events. This last year has been awful and amazing. The illness - awful. God's provision - amazing.

On April 27, 2006, our precious daughter Danielle was in an awful accident that could well have taken her from us. The shock of that accident served as a catalyst to get me to evaluate just how precious and tenuous this life can be. As a result of my prayer time about that, I was led to call for a mammogram. And so on April 27 this year, we celebrated the fact that God intervened in two ways one year ago: 1) he saved my baby girl when that truck plowed into her little car dubbed "the silver bullet" and 2) he saved me by nudging me to make the call that began this most awful year.

On May 18, 2006, after undergoing a mammogram, two ultrasounds, two exams, and a core needle biopsy (ouch!!!!), I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. So this year, on May 18, I prepared myself to get up and think about my most awful year all day. But God had other plans. Instead, I received a call to go to be with a church member at the hospital. She was in alot of pain, and I spent my morning sitting with her and doing what I could to comfort her. And then I spent the afternoon sittting with her husband while his beloved underwent a procedure to determine what was causing the pain. So I spent that entire day doing what God has taught me to do during this last year....being a Pastor and a friend-- having compassion for the pain, fear, and questioning of others.

And one year ago today, I had the lumpectomy that removed the cancer from my body, hopefully forever. I remember how amazed I was on that day that people came to be with me and my family. Several friends came and prayed over me before my surgery. Some who prayed over me were just mere acquantances, and I cried when I saw their compssion and faith. I had seen this many, many times and even participated in it as part of my work, but I had never been the person on the stretcher with a life-threatening disease crushing down upon me. This was the beginning of my "tenderizing" by God.

From that day on, God bombarded me with people's tenderness and thoughtfulness. I received cards, food, calls, and the most thoughtful gifts from people I didn't even know. I had at least 2 women pray over me that I had never seen in my life but met by circumstance. Both women told me God would heal me. One told me God was not too happy with the way I was doing my ministry, and she basically told me he wanted me to get out of the way (my ego) and let him do it. Whew.....

There are other anniversaries coming up....gettting my port, the first chemo, the last chemo. Getting my port OUT! The first radiation, the final radiation. The beginning of Femara and Fosomax. The hysterectomy.

But perhaps the best anniversary I've had recently was on April 29. On that day, Rick and I celebrated 7 years of marriage. And I do mean we celebrated. Because we are happy. Happy to be married. Happy to be married to one another. Blessed beyond belief. Equally yoked. Frighteningly similar. Laughingly different. In love. In like.

I am blessed beyond belief to be here today to write to you. And I'm so glad that God has tenderized me this past year. It hasn't always felt good, but it sure was what I needed.

God bless you.

I know, I'm awful!

It has been so very long since I have posted. On the one hand, that's a really great thing because it means I'm living again. On the other, it means I'm a horrible friend to all of you who have been so faithful to check in with me and my blog. My hysterectomy went extremely well. Okay - as well as things can go when they take out parts that have been with you for 48 years. But I was back to exercising right away and doing way more than I was told I could do.....it's a game I play you know----being the most obnoxious patient I can be in hopes that the docs will tell me not to come back! Well, anyway, they told me that everthing was normal and I go see my doc tomorrow for my 4 week checkup and release. Very early Tuesday morning Rick and I leave for Hunting Island where we will lie on the beach, ride our bikes, etc.

I attended a Relay for Life on Friday night and it was so powerful. I stood on the stage, introduced myself, and said "I am survivor", I suppose for the first time in public. It was great fun. But, I was saddened by the fact that there were 1,000 names represented at the Relay -- folks who were being honored or remembered. That's just too stinkin' many.

My friends in the neighborhood are having a fundraiser while we're gone to help fund my 3-day walk this year (don't worry - Danielle will still need your donations!!!!!) and it's a tennis tournament called Tennis for TaTas. Isn't that great? Go ladies. I am so thankful for you and your hard work!

I continue to give thanks for each of you who continue to pray for us and call and send cards. I can never express what it means to us.

More Fun in My Future

Greetings everyone! Last week I met with a new oncologist who will replace the doc that treated me through chemo. When I went through my first round of followup testing, I found out from the nurse that my liver scan showed an abnormality and was told that the doc had to discuss it with me. As I waited for her call, I got more and more nervous. When her call never came, I made a series of calls to her. After waiting 2 weeks without a call, I decided that I needed a different doctor. Perhaps one who would actually return phone calls!

So, now I see Doctor Galleshaw. She sent me to a couple of NEW doctors for future fun procedures. I'll be having another surgery in April. No new cancer ... we're just clearing out "spare parts" so that we don't have to worry about new cancer. I'm thinking recovery on my back deck in April doesn't sound too bad.....

But for now, I'm having a blast. Lots of exercise, lots of work, and lots of fun. We were at the beach this past weekend and go again in 3 weeks. And my hair is growing like crazy. God is good!

More later. Love to you all.

Radiation Is Done - Sorry I've been Gone!

Okay - let me begin by apologizing for my absence these last two months! Radiation is completely finished, but it was very time-consuming and energy draining! I went every day (except I got weekends off for good behavior) and it was so tiring, that most days I came home from work and just crashed. Still no excuse for not sharing.

I am completely done with treatment, have been on my hormone therapy for one month now, and am beginning to feel normal again! I am back to most of my "normal" routine including full work schedule, working out, running 90 miles per hour, and giving Rick and everyone else a run for their money. Of course, normal will never be normal again. And I'm thankful for that. God has revealed so much to me during this time, and he has prepared me for a new direction in my ministry and my life.

Life is good - God is amazing. And I am so, so thankful for all of you. For your care, your patience, and your love. And I'm really thankful that I have some hair of my own now (that insurance didn't buy for me!)

Here's a picture taken last night at beautiful Danielle's induction into the National Honor Society. She is an amazing gift. As we move into the time of Lent, I pray that you will find time every day to be quiet and to LISTEN to what God is trying to say to you. Don't be like me and wait until he has to SHOUT! :)