Rejoicing…

For a week that I thought was going to drag on forever, it seems like it went fast.  Weird!

Knowing I would likely be having surgery kicked me into overdrive, so I was more productive than usual.  I also soaked in more snuggles and made more moments-that-matter.  Because, you know, perspective.  I’ve got it.  To love and be loved; that was my week.  I’m blessed.

Greta wrote a secret message to Santa.  Um, help?  She was actually cackling at me as I tried to persuade her to translate.  See?  Cackles!  I’m in trouble…

Maren pulled the Nutcracker ornament off the tree (her souvenir from last year’s ballet–such a fun gift we received), and put a small piece of pistachio in it’s mouth.  “Look mom, the Nutcracker is cracking a nut.”  She cracked up (my pun intended) thought this was hilarious.  However, I think she thought she was the first person to ever take that literally.  Dear girl.

On Wednesday I got a message “Princess Jen! … Your Fairy Godmother is paying you a visit tomorrow, courtesy of some of your biggest fans.”  That’s what I love about my people.  They don’t pause to ask me what they can do… they take off running and dream up an idea and execute it.  Having a clean house makes me feel calm and relaxed.  Having it cleaned by someone other than me makes me deliriously happy–seriously, perhaps too happy; I have issues.  Thanks friends.

I’ve had a couple of friends over and we’ve sat in a sea of Happy Thought Bubbles whilst they choose their holiday gifts.  It’s pretty fun to chat and catch up and ooh and aah over color and sparkle and iridescent bubbles.  I have a stash of about seventy Happy Thought Bubbles if anyone local wants to shop visit me.  I can also mail them to you on Monday.  My mom has a stash at her house too, though she has admitted that she leaves a bin of them in her car at all times because people ask her to see them so often.  ‘Tis the season!  I’m wrapping up teacher gifts and sending them to school on Monday.  Checking off my checklist!  Woo!

I called Dr. Wonderful’s office every day to get my blood results, but apparently the cell search test samples travel to California.  I think they stopped at the Grand Canyon (can’t blame them) on their way because it was a long wait.  Finally, this morning, I got the result.  When Nurse answered at Dr. Wonderful’s office I said, “Nurse!  I’m looking for a big fat zero on my cell search.  Please make it official.”  She looked it up and said (squealed?) “Zero!  That just made my day Miss Jen!”  Me too, Nurse, me too!  This means there are no? few?  let’s go with no cancer cells floating around in my bloodstream.  It makes it more likely that if I can get this one small spot out, I can re-continue my NED status.

Let’s just pause for a moment to let that soak in and acknowledge it for the miracle it is.  Thank you, Jesus.  

Christmas shopping is almost done.  There will be a dirt track from the street to my front door with all the deliveries coming in this week.  Let the wrapping begin!  I love gift-giving… it’s not about the stuff, it’s about speaking to my people’s strengths in what I find for them.  Goodness breeds goodness, kindness breeds kindness, generosity breeds generosity.  The greatest moments of joy for me are when I succeed in making others feel happy, loved, special, important.  I’m so grateful for this, the language of my life.

Maren and I have had several conversations about cancer this week.  It’s hard, and it’s the closest I get to angry: thinking about my little girl having to conceptualize and deal with her mama’s cancer.  She is handling it with grace and poise beyond her years, and thus I am right back to my happy place: gratitude.  We’re doing this, and we’re doing it well.  I burst with pride over my two girls.

I went to Dr. Wizard’s workshop today.  He’s still got his Harry Potter glasses, and he’s ready to wave his wand and take the ugly spot out.  Surgery is set for early Tuesday morning.  Woo!  This time he’ll be taking out the entire upper lobe of my right lung, and may have to open me up instead of doing it with a scope.  Nonetheless, I was downright gleeful when we set the plan.  Countdown is on for me to be back to NED!  T minus 84(ish) hours.  I’m so so so grateful!

Thank you for the many prayers and kind thoughts this week.  Rejoice!  Rejoice in this day…