Friendship

Last night was supposed to be Beth Moore study group with four of my fellow homeschooling moms. But they had other plans.....and I am so glad they did!

You see, yesterday was my birthday. The girls brought an incredibly yummy cheesecake and homemade salsa. We put on some coffee. (I sent my boys upstairs to watch some long awaited TV shows that we'd recorded in the last week...that kept them busy).

There we sat, all 5 of us women. Eating, laughing, sharing, sipping coffee and laughing some more. It was grand.

A memorable moment was when Parker, my seven year old, came down. Parker loves to be a part of the grown-up fellowship whenever he can get a chance. He said something like, "Oh, chocolate and ladies. It doesn't get any better than this."

Friendship. It's priceless.

Just Keep Swimming!

Look out Dori!

It wasn't long ago that I took up swimming....or was it that swimming took me up? Hmm.....maybe both.

I started with a floaty around my middle, a kickboard under my hands, and flippers on my feet. Taking the advice of that lovable blue fish from Finding Nemo, I went back every week and just kept swimming.

A few weeks ago the unthinkable happened. Without my floaty and without my kick board I swam an ENTIRE MILE in the pool. That's 34 downs....and 34 backs. Wow!!!

Is this bragging? It's not meant to be. (Though I don't mind a pat on the back....oh, thank you!)It's meant to encourage. Someone out there needs to hear the message. "Just keep _______!" Maybe it's swimming, maybe it's praying, maybe it's loving your teenager, maybe it's folding laundry, maybe it's praising God in the midst of the storm.

It wasn't long ago that I took up swimming.....or maybe it was swimming that took me up.

I'm D-U-N....Done!!!

I received the best Christmas present ever on Tuesday of this week:

MY LAST HERCEPTIN TREATMENT!!!!!

Hip-Hip.......Hooray!!!!
Hip-Hip.......Hooray!!!!
Hip-Hip.......Hooray!!!!
*********

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.

to him who alone does great wonders,
His love endures forever.
who by his understanding made the heavens,
His love endures forever.
who spread out the earth upon the waters,
His love endures forever.
who made the great lights-
His love endures forever.
the sun to govern the day,
His love endures forever.
the moon and stars to govern the night;
His love endures forever.......

to the One who remembered us in our low estate
His love endures forever.
and freed us from our enemies,
His love endures forever.
and who gives food to every creature.
His love endures forever.

Give thanks to the God of heaven.
His love endures forever.

Psalm 136:1-9,23-26

You'd Really Like It Here

It's been awhile. Many things have happened here in the last month, but one thing stands out. Through a series of well placed inquiries and investigations, Sean and I were able to take a trip with our boys to the place where 'dreams come true.' Yes, we went to Disney World!!!

I'm very proud of my man, but this trip cemented in my mind that he is a whiz, that he is brave, and that he is an incredible provider!!! First, he turned in most of his reward points from his overnight trips for work and got us free tickets to SeaWorld and a rental car for seven days!!! Second, he used priceline.com to secure, at a very good price, two adjoining rooms at the Holiday Inn and plane tickets for all six of us. Why Holiday Inn....because all four boys can eat there for free for breakfast and dinner!!! Another bonus!!!! Third, he used a great tip from our friend Tisha, to buy us 4 day passes to Disney World, plus a one day pass to a specialty park. The cost of these tickets was nearly half what it would have cost had we bought the tickets at full price.

What a wonderful, fabulous, exciting time we had as a family! So many memories were made there. One of the best memories of all was how the trip began.

This trip was a complete surprise to the boys. We kept it hush, hush around them. So, the Friday after Thanksgiving, the boys spent the night with my mom and dad so that Sean and I could pack up everything for the trip. On Saturday, Mimi and Papa (my mom and dad) spent the day entertaining the boys. They nonchalantly mentioned that they wanted to take the boys to see the new airport. As they walked through the mid-way, checking out all the new structures and all the people, heads bobbing from left to right, and up and down to see this impressive place......there stood Sean and me. One by one their eyes fell on us and all the backpacks and suitcases surrounding us. "What are you guys doing here?" they asked. "Oh, we thought it would be a good time to take a trip. Anyone want to go to Disney World?"

The looks on their faces and there expressions were priceless.
"You mean, now! You mean, all of us!"
"We're going today......in a plane!!"
"What?! What?! Are you serious?"
"Mommy, did you pack my swimsuit?"

Nearly every day we'd call Mimi and Papa to tell them of the previous days festivities and the plans for our new day. They enjoyed the updates. Of course, their heartstrings were pulled each time they spoke to Parker. "Mimi, you really need to come down here with us. Can't you just come down tomorrow? You'd really like it here."

Psalm 131

My heart is not proud, O Lord,

my eyes are not haughty;

I do not concern myself

with great matters

or things too wonderful for me.

But I have stilled and

quieted my soul;

like a weaned child with

its mother,

like a weaned child is my

soul within me.



O Israel, put your hope in

the Lord

both now and forevermore.



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Thank you, Monica! What a perfect follow up to 'More than Watchmen Wait!'

More than Watchmen Wait

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord;
O Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive
to my cry for mercy......
Psalm 130:1,2

I've been crying out loud to my Lord and he has been regenerating my soul.

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
and in his word I put my hope.
My soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen wait for the morning,
more than watchmen wait for the morning.
Psalm 130: 5,6

I wonder what it is like to be a watchmen waiting for the morning. The writer of this psalm thought it was important enough to mention it twice. So it must have some significance. At pre-dawn, he must feel tired, anxious, and weary after his constant vigil through the night. But what are his feelings toward the coming rays of light? I think he would be hopeful....he would be anticipating the new day.....Why? Is it because the new day would bring rest from his work?

I am tired, anxious and weary from my constant vigil as I continue with my treatments. I've put my hope in God, but not fully. Some of my hope has been in my 'work'---my research, good news, and my good days.

Tomorrow is a new day and I will rest from my 'work.' Sure, there will still be schooling and laundry and dishes and cleaning. That is not the rest I need. I will allow my soul to wait for the Lord. I will put my hope in his Word. I will be anxious for nothing, but in all things, through prayer and petition, will present my requests to God. In doing so, His peace will transcend all understanding and will guard my heart and my mind in Christ Jesus.

Tomorrow, in the midst of 6 times 8 equals 48 and /b/ says 'bu'......in the never ending cycle of dirty clothes and dishes.........and in the entropy that pervades my home.......Tomorrow, my soul will be still and know that God is God.

O 'Michelle,' put your hope in the Lord,
for with the Lord is unfailing love
and with him is full redemption.
Psalm 130:7 (personalized by substituting my name for Israel)

Regeneration

I've thought to mention this many times, but have been hesitant. The truth is.....I'm a Star Trek fan. Okay...I said it. Now you know!

Well, the very first time the nurse accessed my port, I envisioned Seven of Nine plugging into her regeneration machine. The idea of being 'regenerated' helped me through my first chemo treatment. It also prompted me to dig into God's word. What could I find there about regeneration? This is what I found:

The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. (Psalm 19:7) Plugging into God's word.....every day.....is my greatest source for regeneration. As Paul tells us in Hebrews 4:12,13: For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Have you ever experienced the pain of having your soul spiritually 'uncovered and laid bare' before your Creator? It's kind of painful, isn't it? But the result is such freedom.

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. Psalm 23:1-3.

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31

Seven of Nine and her Regeneration Machine.......I love how God inspires me to dig deeper into His Word and to find his truths in this fallen world.