Not So Odd After All

Well, 2 for 2, PET scans don't work on the particular area of interest on my body. Yes, they can show whether there is metastasis to other organs. That is helpful, definitely.

I noticed a little bump...knot...lump on my neck a few days ago, wondering if it was something I should get checked out. Sunday night I wore a mock turtleneck sweater to church. It bothered my neck so much, I decided it was time to get it checked. I called my radiation onc's nurse Monday morning, and she told me to come in that afternoon. After examining me, my dr. said he felt it, too. He was going to go get a CT scan set up. He came back in to tell me it would be the next afternoon. He was going to have them do in at 2mm sections rather than 5mm sections like in a PET scan and most CT's. He told me to come back to his office when finished getting the CT scan. He would then walk over to see what it showed. So that's what I did. He came back from radiology to tell me it did look suspiciously like a lymph gland was involved. He had already called my dr.'s office in Birmingham as he wanted me to see him this week. He was in surgery and would call me as soon as possible. His schedule nurse called me Wednesday morning to tell me that he wanted her to go ahead and schedule surgery since he definitely would be removing whatever is there. So I will have surgery December 26th. We will go up to B'ham late Christmas afternoon.

As I was going back to work on Monday after first seeing my radiation onc, I had the radio on listening to Christmas music. Right in the middle of this Christmas music, the Casting Crowns song, Voice of Truth, comes on. I'm at first thinking how odd that they are playing this song in the middle of Christmas music! Then it dawned on me! This is not odd at all! God is talking to me! If you've read my blog from the beginning, you know that God has used this song many times in the last few years during diagnosis'. I just thought, "How awesome of God to reassure me of His presence...that this did not take Him by surprise...He is still in control". Then on Tuesday after leaving the onc's office late afternoon, I had a little more Christmas shopping to get done. So my mind stayed busy with that for a couple of hours. Once I was on my way back home, again, radio Christmas music playing in the background, my mind starts wandering on what I've just found out. Then, again, there's that song, Voice of Truth. What peace and comfort there is to know you are in the presence of the Almighty God who hung the moon and stars!

I was hoping to be able to wait till after Christmas to tell this news, but God had other ideas. My B'ham dr. had them schedule my surgery on a day he was supposed to be off. I have such great doctors. That means a whole lot...soooo much. My family will be having Christmas together on Sunday rather than Tuesday since we have to leave Tuesday afternoon to get to B'ham. That way we won't be rushed and can enjoy being with family and enjoying Christmas.

I guess we'll be waiting till after surgery to find out what this is going to be. For now, I'd appreciate your continued thoughts and prayers on my behalf...and my family's behalf. Only God knows just how far prayer takes us in times like these!

In a book I was reading while waiting for my CT scan and the results:
"You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance." Psalm 32:7
"He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord." Psalm 40:3
And on Thursday from an email devotional:
"Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them-- the LORD, who remains faithful forever." Psalm 146:5-6 NIV

Good News

I had a routine PET scan last week ordered by my doctor. He called me this morning to tell me that it looked like a good report. He said there was a little activity on the right side but the numbers were below what he would be concerned over. He said it was probably due to the surgery in that area and radiation twice to that area. There was no sign of spreading to other parts of my body. He said he would keep a watch on me and order another scan in 6-8 months. So that was good news. He had a full day of surgery today but took the time between surgeries to call and let me know the results he had received. That means a lot. He's always called me to tell me the results from tests and such. I really appreciate that about him. He called me on my cellphone at work since I wasn't home. My battery died right about the end of the conversation. (blushing-I mean how embarrassing is that to have your cellphone die while talking to your surgeon!) He was even nice enough to call back to my cellphone and leave a voice message of what he was saying when the battery died.

He takes me back to bring me back

I know I haven't posted as much lately...been wondering what God might want me to do with my blog now. It kinda bothered me that I didn't have a 'fresh' word to share with anyone who might read it. However, I think God impressed on me today that the blog wasn't started just to keep others informed of what was going on with me for a few months. It is, also, here for me...to come back to and refresh myself with the wonderful words God has spoken to me. Words of love, faithfulness, commitment, understanding. If it means taking me back to bring me back, I'm all for it. It is my desire to share God's words with others, though, whenever He leads, and I mean to do so.

Friday sunset

Hope for others

Love is just as quick to say, “I have hope for you.”
You can say those words. You are a flood survivor. By God’s grace you have found your way to dry land. You know what it’s like to see the waters subside. And since you do, since you passed through a flood and lived to tell about it, you are qualified to give hope to someone else.
What a wonderful God we have—he is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the source of every mercy, and the one who so wonderfully comforts and strengthens us in our hardships and trials. And why does he do this? So that when others are troubled, needing our sympathy and encouragement, we can pass on to them this same help and comfort God has given us. (2 Cor. 1:3–4 TLB)
From A Love Worth Giving: Living in the Overflow of God’s Love
Copyright (W Publishing Group, 2002) Max Lucado

*I hope the "flood" I've passed through qualifies me to give hope to others.

So Like God

In the last week I'm learning more about God's covenant relationship with us. It has been coming up here and there. For instance:
"...and I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me always, for their own good and for the good of their children after them. I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; and I will put the fear of Me in their hearts so that they will not turn away from Me." Jeremiah 32:39-40 NASB (italics mine)God's promise to put the fear of Himself into my heart...not a fear of being afraid of Him but in reverence that He is sovereign. He is in control AND He will keep His promises.


Having faith in God's Word:
"But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. An indecisive man is unstable in all his ways." James 1:6-8 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
To be in covenant relationship with God I am to live in confidence and assurance that God will be faithful to keep His promises. This covenant relationship is to be based on trust, faith, and obedience. God wants me to literally trust Him at His Word, put my faith in Him and those very words, and obey by believing Him, His word to me.
I don't want to be a doubter that is not able to receive what the Lord very much wants to give me. I don't want to be unstable in all my ways but firmly grounded in my trust and faith in, believing, Him. He is so gracious to continuously work with me to make me what I want to truly be...and most important, what He wants me to truly be.

Colorado pics

I've finally gotten some pictures to scan. The first ones are from Garden of the Gods Park. It has magnificent sandstone rock formations. http://www.gardenofgods.com/home/index.cfm

Some pics of Balanced Rock:

That's Michele's 2 sons on the right.

Michele and sons with Cathedral Valley in the background.

Pike's Peak was awesome. http://www.pikespeakcolorado.com/ It was so neat driving around Colorado Springs. There were times that it just got closer and closer as you drove...like you were going to drive right into it.There were many places you could get a picture of Pike's Peak.

The Olympic Training Center was one of the first places we toured. http://www.usoc.org/12181_19096.htm

We got to see the training areas for many of the Olympic competitors. We, also, got to talk to some that were training, as well as coaches. There was an interactive area where you could test your physical abilities, which was quite fun.

Pikes's Peak Avenue was near the training center and the daily drive.

We got to visit Focus on the Family (http://www.family.org/) and Visitor Center on Saturday. They had so much to see and a lot of fun things for children. Michele said she takes Matthew and Aaron there to play when it is very cold while she sits close by and reads.

This is a monument of James Dobson, Sr. He was quite an accomplished artist and painter. Many of his paintings were displayed. I'm fascinated by artwork and paintings. I could have stayed in there for hours just looking at his paintings and those of others who have done special works for Focus on the Family. It was like visiting an art gallery.

One morning Michele took me through the World Prayer Center. There has been a global community of thousands experiencing real-time prayer through the Center and their website: http://theworldprayercenter.org/
The Prayer Center "is open for the dedicated purpose of continual prayer, praise and worship".

Another tourist attraction that was within driving distance of Colorado Springs was Bishop Castle. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bishop_Castle

It was a wonderful trip. Though, I have to say the highlight was probably being able to watch Michele's 15 year old son training with his partner to one day compete in the Olympics in Ice Dance. It was a great privilege to watch him in his practices with his coaches and to observe him one day as he tested to advance to Junior Nationals.

Home Again

I'm now home after spending 11 days with my daughter and family. It was so good to be able to spend the time with her and Monkey Girl...as well as the Monkey Boys and Sarge.

Baby Girl

Well, there's nothing like a newborn baby to lift your spirits, especially if it's your very own granddaughter. Yes, she was born Friday night. She and Mom are doing just fine. I have the privilege of being with them for a week to help take care of them, the Monkey Boys, included...oh, and Sarge, too. So now it's 3 & 3...3 super grandsons and 3 delightful granddaughters. Oh what fun! Just had to share the wonderful news with everybody while I had a chance!

Run to God

"Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the One who will keep you on track. Don't assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil!" Proverbs 3:5-7. (The Message)