Happy 5 - Campbell!

The very first day we met you, Campbell, we knew you were curious and your little mind would seek to grasp everything it could.  When you were first born you looked us all carefully and gave us that steady gaze that you use when you study everything so carefully!


Your first birthday was a big celebration -- I know you'll see lots of pictures of it -- All your family was there -- and lots of families and little ones.  Grammy and Grandad and Uncle Marshall and Aunt Katie got there in time for the big Celebration.

You had just moved to Tulsa when your second birthday rolled around and you weren't quite sure of all 50 people singing "Happy Birthday" to you -- Papa and I  were your safe place.

We love our Saturday night sleepovers when you would come to Church with us singing all the way!

You've loved being a big sister and I heard you say last night before you blew out your candles -- how very much you loved Sydney.

Jack lights up and laughs whenever he sees you!  You're so gentle with him.

You are such a nurturer to anyone who has a boo boo - you're quick with the band aids --even at 3 you would check out my broken ankle and give it kisses.

I love sharing birthday season with you!

You love dress up,whether its a princess, superhero, fancy spider or sheriff  -- 

I 

You are such a good runner and love to be outside  -- 

You have already started running with your mommy and daddy.

Yes, you're 5 now and . . . 

You help us all see the world from a new perspective!

Sydney Kate

Last Wed. was Nana / Papa Camp for Sydney Kate --

Making her little outdoor gnome house

Playing in the sprinkler with Papa

It was delightful to spend time with only her and watch the various parts of her personality.
Her vocabulary is definitely changing and growing -- everything has to be described in a sentence.








Sydney has a strong independent spirit -- it is "Me DO it" whether it's unbuckling the seat belt, struggling with a pair of pants or trying to climb the Little Tykes Jungle Gym in the sand castle.

Before jumping off the board in swimming class.
sitting next to a little guy crying -- Her face says: "I got this "

She has her own name for me "Neena" -- not what we taught Campbell to call me.

She is 2nd born which means she tries harder, can climb higher and watches big sister to learn the ropes  -- then confidently masters whatever the two of them are attempting.

She loves talking to her toys -- even the blocks and has all these nurturing little remarks for them.

Sydney loves to be picked up -- she loves ALL her people --
and she makes you feel that you're the most important person to her. She's a cuddler.

Yesterday Sydney so enjoyed Campbell's birthday and letting her big Sis be in the spotlight all day.  She went around the house singing "Happy Birthday to Campbell"  all day.  This middle child who is so definite about her place -- and impish to the max with a twinkle in her eye -- thoroughly loved her sister's birthday bash.

Freedom

We sing a song at Church "Freedom" and that's sort of how I felt these past few days as I worked in our yard when  my  energy would permit -- I felt like I'd been set free.  

I'm  loving doing things I haven't been able to do - I know my cells are not totally free of the chemo and won't be for a few weeks -- but just the THOUGHT of being through gives me motivation.

My meds have brought fatigue and anemia which has made me short of breath -- Taxol added numb feet, achy fingers, dizziness and mild body ache.  .  .  all that can  zap energy and kill motivation -- a small price to pay to be killing cancer and not have other bad side effects.

I"m sort of the verse -- "whatsoever you hands (and arms) find to do -- do it with all your might" until the energy plays out -- it all takes twice as long -- b/c I have to stop and rest -- but I see progress.  

I have been aware of my arms -  and found myself thinking how thankful I am that I can use my arms.  I know that after surgery I won't be able to lift and use my arms for 4-6 weeks and then it will take sometime to strengthen the muscles-- -- I find myself wanting to do all sorts of things that need the use of my arms now

 -- picking up Sydney and Jack 

_sorting and organizing my office -- 

- even maybe shampooing the carpets --- 

- washing windows???

Bethany has had to go to Hangar Prosthetics to get Jack's helmet fitted and the girls have gone with her -- they've seen people who have lost limbs and for each situation it has brought on questions.  B carefully prepared them ahead of time by saying "Now I know you're going to see things you've not seen before -- you'll have a lot of questions -- save those for when we get back to the car and I'll explain."

On Jack's last appointment, Campbell loudly said, "Mom, there's a man with only one foot -- but I'm not going to talk about it until we get to the car." To which Sydney chimed in -- "Her (it was a man)
has only one shoe."

Yes, recently in our family we've been thankful for our arms and legs and hands and feet in a whole new way.

HOPE

It's such a powerful word . . .

I was reading a FB post - a prayer request of one of my students  for a beautiful  young woman, Bella. who is in the last stages of cancer and the word was "there was nothing else they could do".   HOPELESS They were going to take her home and make her comfortable as the cancer had spread throughout her body.  My heart is drawn to people fighting this disease.




My heart continues to hurt for her as I remember her in my prayers.

HOPE  fuels our energy

HOPE keeps us on course.

HOPE gives us a clear view of the goal post.

HOPE is where God lives.

It became my word for 2010 and it's my strong word for this season.

It's rock solid foundational for me and my family.

I'm praying for HOPE to burn brightly for Bella and her circle of rings.

Psalm 33:20

We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.

It is with saddness that I must add that -
BELLA passed away this past weekend and was buried on Wednesday her 16th Birthday.  Balloons were released from the Owasso sports stadium.
She has gained the final victory!!!

Soul Food

I believe scriptures feed our souls -- and make our spirits healthy for the day ahead.  I keep spirals of ones that give me direction when I am worried or one of my loved one is in a trying circumstance.  I love to pray verses over people as God puts those in my head.  I'm praying two specific ones over someone right now who can't sleep and is in deep grief.  Sometimes these verses come from the lips of others or come in an e-mail devo.  They may never even know it -- but the strength being sent their way..  

It's speaking God's words back to him. I learned this many years ago from a Godly principal in a public school in Lubbock, TX who called me in during my planing period to pray over Terry and my ministry with a verse God had woke him up with that morning.  We were in the throes of a huge ministry challenge and I was weakened by all of it.

This is my prayer for all of you today reading this -- As we seek to get our heads around just how big God's love for me and you is.  

Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.  Eph. 3:17-19

Pardon my chemo brain -- I know I've written about manna verses before -- but praying them over a challenge puts words to what we are struggling with and power in the situations we're facing today.

Celebrations and Graduations

Jack graduated from Helmet school this week -- 2 months early-- no more blue hat for little buddy!

Campbell and Sydney rocked the diving boards and graduated from swimming lessons today.

Several friends were able to join Bethany and I yesterday to lunch out and celebrate my last day of chemo on today (Friday)
as well as cheer the news that we received on Wednesday that the cancer has shrunk again to a few tiny wisps that were visible on the Ultra Sound!!

We Bell / Good women love flowers - Bethany made sure we wore pink, had leis and pink peonies

The girls woke up excited to help Nana ring the bell to graduate from chemo.

Celebrating at Royal Dragon -- The girls love it because of the fish swimming inside

Topping it off with a sweet treat --

True to form we do CELEBRATE our milestones -- Laughter and FOOD is always a part of it.  We like to give blessings and toasts with whatever is in our glass -- 

Joy is a gift from God  with strength as HIS by-product through the difficult times.  Neh. 8:10

Cherry

 I have seen a lot of the same people on Fridays --

I've gotten attached to the care staff -- they are all extremely attentive and kind.
I recognize several patients from week to week.

Today a woman that I'd not met before, and who comes for monthly treatments, joined me in the orange section of the infusion room.

She noticed I was knitting for Teeny Baby and loved the bright colors --we chit-chatted a bit and then her treatments started.
She was so friendly and engaging.

I watched the tenderness between she and her husband -- I could tell he was preparing for a sermon -- He was so attentive to her.
They laughed about lots of things he was reading on line.  He tried to keep her spirits up.

She heard me tell a nurse that Terry was a Pastor and the reason he always had his computer was he was teaching on line during my treatments - 
She mentioned ministry to me and we talked about the adventure of working with people in their special times. 

I was celebrating my last treatment day -- and the nurses were hugging and congratulating me all over the place.

She was getting several different meds through her port.  I was finishing mine up.

We discussed our disease -- there are so many different cancers affecting women today.

Mine: breast cancer -- with strong belief for healing

Hers: liver cancer -- she'd been in treatment 3 1/2 years.  Cherry said they were working with a new drug.

I'm thinking of her tonight -- adding Cherry to my list of Cancer Kickers -- please join me in praying in agreement for her for her to be healed.  

HAS GOT TO GO!!!

My Rings - The Real Deal People in My Life

Bethany sent me the link to Jen Hatmaker's June 2nd blog this week about the "cancer manifesto" they developed for their family as her mother received a breast cancer diagnosis a month before mine.

http://jenhatmaker.com/blog/2015/06/02/our-family-cancer-manifesto

I'm adding it here. b/c if you've ever read Jen before you know she "nails" it every time and has you laughing and crying.  She sets forth a series of rings in your relationships that respond to the needs in family crisis.  Her words, "this is the way community works."  We do the same for each other.  It's the way to manage the crazy in our lives when crisis hit.

I had written this blog last Friday after treatment #15  about all of you who have been so dear to me during this time --(notice I get pretty wordy after treatments -- think it's the decadron steroid?) 

"If one can chase a thousand, two can chase ten thousand" the Bible says --you have chased away the fear of the unknown by all the many things you did for me:  I watch"perfect love driving out fear".  That love came from God I KNOW and you were His agents.  I see this whole principle of 
"The Rings of Relationships" at work in our lives.

Terry: you have kept the whacko and the worry from taking over by staying your calm sweet strong self - as I repeat and question and wonder and mull things over.  You're at every doctor's visit hearing the in-put helping me process this stage of life.
I lean on you. 
You're my rock--- my safe place.

Our sons: you've interpreted my test results to keep the worry and the whiney out --You've encouraged me with texts and face times -- you've given me your wisdom and wit -- and those short phrases that fit the situation that only you could think of.

You, our sweet daughters: went to chemo with me – and made food for the freezer, grocery shopped, remembered every chemo day with a text to encourage or see if I need a pick-up (Terry had to leave for his TCC class on Fridays before Chemo was through each week).

OK- FAMILY -- YOU OWE ME ONE LOUD CRAZY  "PIT" GAME BEFORE SURGERY.

My brothers and sisters in law: you have come to visit and check on me with phone calls and gifts-- WHAT -- a phone call from Nicaragua this week, Allen--???  Sorry I used up your minutes telling my stories.  

My dear teacher stand-in friends: You have stood in the gap for me in the classroom – interpreting my plans – making them work (even that day I had mistakenly thrown away the seating chart.) Giving up a whole week to move in with people so you could cover for me while I laid out in the sun on my health break.  My students loved you!


My collegues: You have instituted "Pink Tuesdays" and so many of you have worn it EVERY Tuesday - You sincerely ask how I am --
and we laugh over the strangest things in those school hallways but that energized me even on m dizzy days.

As my Administrator you allowed me to have the health getaway to rest up for the last treatments and surgeries and radiation this summer.

My Beautiful Friends who are my "Rings"

You insisted on picking me up from chemo and took me to lunch we talked for the longest -- up to that time it had been a weekly routine for 3 months of treatments, school, resting all evening, having to stay in a lot - it was fun to get out and do girl things. 

You girls have shopped with me as we laughed at crazy plaques and cards. (Shopping was low on my list during this chemo stuff and doing it with you all made it fun) --

You have shown up at my door with food time and again- bringing only what tasted good to an upset stomach. I never knew you were coming-- It was always a surprise --at just the right time. Pam, you always knew the right time and did the utmost.

My neighbor who brings sweets from the mexican bakery near her church and Bethany's gal pals who took on themselves to create a care chart -- you physically kept up our energy.

Our dear friend - like a brother to T and me is closing on his house 2 days before my surgery but getting a hotel in town to wait it out until I get out of surgery -- Who does that?

You organized a crew of teachers to stand in during the day if I couldn’t make it -- and had ladies at your church knit me hats to cover my cold bald head when I slept.  You checked on me all the time I wimped out on a sick day.  

So many of you sweet friends have gifted me with treasures like comfort blankets and tote bags and wonderful gowns that I will live in after surgery. . hats and ball caps and t-shirts – peppermint tea and ginger snaps and note cards

You made bracelets for me – and have committed to keep on praying – and yes, we did pass them out to lots of people.

As you were two months ahead of me you taught me the ropes, Jan Good -- we've shared our stories of the ills of treatment, looked at scars, mapped out the future and shared our conversations with God.

You organized a “Hat Sunday” at church – what fun! I never laughed so much in Church in all my life, Cherie.

From the first Gay, you e-mailed practical advice from your own near experience–  how to wear a wig and what questions to ask the doctor – what foods were best suited for upset tummies.  To be sure and take plenty of Zofran -- and get lots of rest.  I was able to ask questions of you that were personal and hard to ask.

You gave me a boatload of gift cards for fast food restaurants – We USE them – after chemo – Sundays when I’m too hungry and too tired to cook – school days when I couldn’t think of a single thing I wanted.

You my sweet friends have patiently listened as I gave all my medical updates --even when my stories got long or disjointed from chemo brain.

You have been my TEXTING FRIEND who would send me the funny emoticons – as we would try to outdo each other when I was too tired to do anything in the evenings – and it was too early to go to bed.  Checking on me as a nurse to make sure I was taking care of myself while you were caring for your sweet husband.

You have LAUGHED with me -- There has always been something funny to laugh about this whole time. (that the text from the Bible a merry heart works good like medicine is really true.)

You are my earliest childhood friends who have stayed connected and offered a lot of encouragement saying "Jannie you can do this!"
"We're praying for you in our work circle at preschool, "  Or that phone call after each treatment asking"how did it go this time?" 

You have been my soul sister and now the roles are reversed – You are my PASTOR’S WIFE - you have prayed and fasted for me.

More than all that YOU ALL have PRAYED for me. .  . I have been sooooo covered in prayers from all over the world -- that's HUGE.  

I purposely didn't name most of you -- because I wanted you to see yourselves in many places in this post --  I wanted to you to see the things that are HUGE -- that you thought were small.

On this journey you have BEEN THERE – and ENCOURAGED!  

I love you for it and

You are my RD people – MY REAL DEAL FRIENDS –

I want to be in YOUR circle of RINGS to be there for you in the challenges of life.

Hebrews 1:14 says that angels are ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation. I know He has given me both earthly and Heavenly ones. 

 

When I put this plaque in my garden last year I had no idea how many angels would be in my life in the coming 12 months.   Love you FOREVER

My FAVS

First Fav - today's #`1 Pick -- This week the girls have had swimming lessons at ORU -- it's a long trek for Momma with 3 kids -- up a hill to get to the indoor pool.  Never mind that you're gonna get soaked on the inside -- the downpour on the way to the pool nearly downs you.

Notice the goggles and who is taking care of little sis

Vacation Pics - When your daughter is a photographer, you end up with some great pics -- I got my copies from Bethany this week and I just had to share. .  . I know our trip was 3 weeks ago --- but these need to be a part of my "electronic scrapbook"

Every night we had the most beautiful sunsets

Braving the Surf with Pappa

Papa and his girls -- Sydney wasn't crazy about the ocean-- only if you carried her

Daddy daughter time

Jack was a happy camper the whole week

Sundown dolphin watching 

Pensive

We're all blessed - can't wait to meet her

Together is the best place to be

Chance Encounters

      You know those times you are headed out between one errand and the next --about to get to your car with only a few minutes to spare and as you get closer, someone is between you and your auto.  I looked at her and have to admit I am thinking, "Wonder what she is raising money for?"  It was clear she wasn't going anywhere.

She said, "I'm locked out of my car" OKAY -- I glanced at the car -- registration for this van as a cab and a BIBLE on the console between the seats -- I assumed she was on the up and up and so I was safe.   I asked her if she was a taxi driver -- she explained her husband was and lets her drive his van.  HMMMM and now  she was locked out of HIS car.


I remembered the tool kit that Terry had put in my car a long time ago and the fact that I always have lots of extras (and JUNK)in my back seat.   We used a bungee cord I found and a screw driver from the handy dandy kit --she was able to wedge the window open further with it and drop the bungee cord in -- we used my lanyard with a hook on it -- There were some cable ties -- I tried to make a hook for the door lock or handle with those.  NOTHING worked. We needed a HANGER

                                                                                                                             

She went up to another car where the lady locked the car door and ignored her.

She approached another car of four people -- who got busy trying to find her something to help-- NO WIRE HANGERS  -

As we worked to open her car, I told her the story of being locked out of my van in Abilene, TX when the kids were early elementary age and Terry was out of town.  I had run into the neighborhood grocery and left my keys in our locked van.  Two policemen stopped by and couldn't unlock it.  Approaching us were two late teens that these policemen had arrested at one time for breaking into cars -- they got us in our car in NO TIME!

I decided to go back into Walgreens to see if they might have a hanger in the break room.  A lady from the car that wanted to help our stranded friend came inside too and said she'd BUY something to open that window--- it was kind of like being in the story of the Good Samaritan (one wanted help -- one didn't). . .  not saying I'm anything in the story but the lady looking for a hanger.  Three Walgreens clerks came to the front to see what the problem was- at the same time we all remembered we were a half block from Yale Cleaners, OF COURSE!!!

It was Friday at 5:00 -- time for EVERYONE in Tulsa to pick up their cleaning -- and get the WRONG items and the Manager had to find them -- and cars were lining up in the drive -- it took a while but --they helped fashion a hook as they handed the hanger over the counter.

By the time I made it back, a young clerk from Walgreens, came out to help bringing all sorts of gadgets--
The hanger worked beautifully -- My new friend was thrilled -- and I told her how happy it made me to see the Bible on her seat -- with an accent from a distant country she explained she went to RHEMA and God was indeed good.  I didn't even  catch her name -- but she is one of God's girls -- that makes her my sister.

Note to Jan:  Keep a clothes hanger in that handy dandy tool kit.