Mrs. Potato Head

As I child, I was fascinated by Mr. Potato Head. I remember how neat it was to change his eyes, his mouth, his arms, his feet.

Little did I know that I'd grow up and become a Mrs. Potato Head. During my bald stage, I could choose between wigs or scarves, and I could change the look of my brows with the stroke of my pencil.

Just a couple of weeks ago, I had the rare opportunity to try on different sized 'thing-a-ma-bobs.' Hmm....choices....choices. Do I go big or do I stick with comfort? After much deliberation and varying proportions, I finally made a decision. Because of some lymphadema issues I'm experiencing, I went with a version that can stick directly to my skin. Very cool!

It used to be that, at night, I could just brush my teeth and go to bed. Now, I've also got to brush my 'doodge-a-ma-flops' before tucking them into their own special box. What an odd experience! I'm reminiscent of the Walton nights and feel a certain urge to say, "Goodnight Thing One" ..."Goodnight Thing Two." And as I lay my head upon my pillow, I can almost hear their muffled responses ......"Good night, Mrs. Potato Head!" :)

Softball Tournament

Yesterday was the Women's Slow-Pitch Softball Tournament. It was wonderful! The Sweet Melissa Foundation did an excellent job organizing everything. There were twelve teams all together. The weather was PERFECT!!

One thing many of my team members realized as the day progressed.....our bodies ain't what they used to be!!! The problem was that our minds weren't aware of this dilemma. On one occasion there was a fly ball coming into the outfield, right between me and my friend Julie. I ran toward it like I would have twenty years ago, truly convinced that I could catch it. HA!! The ball went right on past me while I continued running. Of course, now I was going in the wrong direction, but I couldn't stop myself. In fact, I was certain that at any moment I would tumble head over heals and eventually find myself flat on the ground or, worse yet, smashed into the fence. Whew! It was close. I used every muscle fiber in my legs that hasn't been used for the last 10 years to slow down. And today...I'm paying for it. Ouch! But it's okay. It was SO MUCH FUN!!!

Team Chellebugs didn't come home with the winning trophy, but we had a lot of fun trying!

To my Teammates (in order of how long I've known you):
Thank you, Kelly, Kris and Angie!! (37 years) .....
Thank you, Julie and Caryn!! (~32 years) .....
Thank you, Alicia (22 years) and McKenzie (18 years)!! ....
Thank you, Sandy (19 years)!!.....
Thank you, Celia (13 years) and Ursula (12 years)!!......
Thank you, Ronda (~9 years) and Cindy (~1 year)!!.....
Thank you, Mary Beth, April and Alicia (for coming out and supporting me even though we'd never met before)!!

To my 'Support Staff' (:)):
Thank you Dad and Mike for coaching!! Thanks for making me sit the bench from time to time, too. That was a good idea! Thank you Mike for helping Mom with the scorekeeping. Thank you Mom for being our cheerleader and supplier of all things (bubble gum, sunscreen, drinks!!). Thank you Riley for being the best bat girl! And thank you, Tiffini, Miriam, Erin, Jeff, and Kevin for hanging out at the diamonds all day! And Sean....you are my all time #1 favorite fan....Thank you for helping me be a part of this day! And Thank you to so many more of you who came out during the day to watch the event. And finally, thank you to those who supported the event with your time, your talents and your treasures.

Well, now I must try to get up from this chair and get to bed. It'll be hard. This body of mine ain't what it used to be. Every muscle from head to toe is screaming with every move I make!!

To Die is Gain

Before I explain my title, I wanted to thank many of you who have been emailing me and asking how I am. Now that homeschool is back in session things have been rather busy here. Between schooling and football practices and other extracurricular activities......treatments, doctor and physical therapy appointments.....oh, yes, and the never ending cycles of life (the dish cycle, the washing cycle, and the eating and cleaning cycles)......well, I haven't had much time to do my 'blog' therapy. I've missed it.

Tomorrow (Saturday) is the 2nd Annual Striking Out Breast Cancer Tournament through the Sweet Melissa Foundation. We continue to pray that the rain will miss us!!!

I've struggled with how to share the following information. It just breaks my heart. One of the benefitting families for the tournament has recently had a tremendous loss. Yvonne, a wife and mother of four, lost her fight with cancer almost 2 weeks ago. Although I didn't know Yvonne, as I'd only met her once, I could tell that she was a beautiful, kind-hearted person. My heart just broke for her family when I heard the news. Please, pray for Yvonne's family as they continue to grieve.

When I was first diagnosed with breast cancer, death crossed my mind.......for a moment. And with that thought came the verse from Philippians, the epistle written by Paul as he awaited his trial. He wrote in Chapter 1, verses 20-22:

"I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know!"

I think of Yvonne again. And I say, "You go, girl! You fought with courage, and now you have been set free!"

I think of Yvonne's family again, and I grieve with them. For it's never easy for those of us on this side of the finish line.

Screaming Therapy

A couple of weeks ago we had the rare opportunity to take off for three days. We packed up the pop-up camper and headed south to Lincoln State Park and Holiday World. I checked with my surgeon prior to 'take-off' and she said that I was 'cleared' to ride any roller coaster I wanted to. My port wouldn't be a problem. Yippee!!!

We had a BLAST!!!!! At first, I took Brenner and Parker to ride all of the kiddie rides and Sean took Spencer and Trevor to ride the BIG rides. After awhile, we discovered that Parker was tall enough to ride most of the BIG rides if an adult rode with him. He was begging me and I was easily persuaded.

So, I did.
And I screamed the entire ride!

When Parker found out that you could wait in line to sit in the front seat, he begged, "Please, Mommy! Let's go on the Raven!"

So, I did. And we sat in the front.
And I screamed the entire ride!

By then, the whole family was back together, so we walked over to another BIG ride. The Voyage. Spencer had had enough of the big rides by this point. He stayed with Brenner while the rest of us jumped into line. (Thankfully, it wasn't a crowded day and we didn't have to wait long for any of the rides).

Trevor said, "Will you ride with me, mommy?"......"Absolutely," I said.

So, I did.
And I screamed the entire ride!

Wow! What a day! I think that was the best cancer therapy I've had yet. You can really let out a lot of unsuspecting, pent up anxiety with unadulterated screaming. Whew! I know the boys had a great trip, but of all of us, I enjoyed it the most!

Snakes, Snails...and Soy Sauce?

My family has been so blessed during this journey with wonderful homecooked meals from many people. I can not begin to explain how much they lifted a burden during the more intense times of my treatment. We even had several meals come precooked and ready for the freezer so that we could pull them out whenever we needed them.

Of course, the boys haven't always seen these gestures of love as favorable. There's something about seeing food prepared in a way you've never had it that can really mess with a kid's palate. Overall, I'd say they did well, though. I never did have to make something different for them to eat....though on occasion I did have to butter some extra pieces of bread! :)

A few months ago, the boys started mentioning that they really missed the meals that I cooked. As sweet as that was to hear, I had to laugh because cooking has never been one of my strengths. Even Sean was a little perplexed when he heard their requests. He should know. He grew up with a mom who could make a feast out of nothing, and then he married me....As long as I keep a good supply of ketchup, barbeque sauce and soy sauce handy, Sean is content with whatever I make. Bless him, Lord, for being so gracious to me!

Tonight, I made one of their all time favorites. It's called 'Snakes, Snails, and Puppy Dog Tails.' Honestly, I have no idea why we named it that. It's a mixture of peas, rice and pieces of polska kielbalsa. There's still controversy at the table as to which ingredients are the snakes, which are the snails, and which are the puppy dog tails. How sweet it was to see my Parker's eyes light up when he saw what I was cooking! With great anticipation, he ran to tell all of his brothers.

We sat at the table. All six of us. Five of us barely able to keep our forks out of our bowls before the prayer.

Then after we prayed, the sixth said....with a smile...."Could you pass the soy sauce, please?"

The Best Barber

I've taken all of my boys for their first haircuts. What a sweet memory of them sitting in the big chair, wrapped in their smocks, eyes wide open and then sometimes shut tight as the beautician trimmed away their baby hairs that had grown for so long. Each one emerged as a new creation....no longer my babies, but toddlers. Ready to take on the world with attitude!

Well last week, I experienced my 'first' haircut since chemotherapy. I sat in a big chair and was wrapped in a smock. Sometimes my eyes were wide open and then sometimes shut as the barber trimmed around my tender ears. My hair hasn't been growing for too long, but it was becoming unruly on the borders. It needed a pick me up.

The best part of the ENTIRE experience was having my new hairs trimmed by the Best and Most Seasoned Barber in Broadripple.....my Grampa Jude! He is so dear to me! Grampa, who is in his eighties, continues to work three days each week at the barber shop. He's been cutting some of his patron's hairs for over 50 years!!

I surprised him when I walked in after my dad on that Monday afternoon. He didn't hesitate to help me out. He trimmed my frizzled fringes and had me looking good again. I walked out of there ready to take on the world! Thank you, Grampa!

And, Dad, thank you for the wonderful trip there and back on your motorcycle! I really enjoyed your company and the sweet ride!

Prayers for a Friend

We had the opportunity to get away this week. What a treat for all of us! (I'll share more about that later).

While we were gone we found out that a friend of ours was in a life-threatening accident. He's the husband to Jill, daddy to Kylie, and friend to many. The accident has affected his vertebra and spinal cord at L-1 (just below the rib cage) and has caused burns over 30% of his body. He's in critical condition right now and is in and out of surgery and physical therapy each day to care for his burns and his range of motion. His name is RD.

Please, pray for him. Pray for his family and loved ones who are ministering to him and to each other. God's presence is there and His power and love has been revealed, even in the midst of these circumstances. If you know RD, you can find out more information on his Caring Bridge Web page. He posted a video to thank those who have been praying and those who have been taking care of his family, and to encourage us to continue. In the midst of his pain he is giving glory to God! What a testimony to RD's faith and God's love!

*******
Hear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.
Guard my life, for I am devoted to you.
You are my God; save your servant who trusts in you.
Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I call to you all day long.
Bring joy to your servant, for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you.
Hear my prayer, O Lord: listen to my cry for mercy.
In the day of my trouble I will call to you, for you will answer me.
Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord;
no deeds can compare with yours.
All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, O Lord;
they will bring glory to your name.
For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God.

Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth;
give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.
I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart;
I will glorify your name forever.
For great is your love toward me;
you have delivered me from the depths of the grave.

Psalm 86:1-13