A few snippets
Jan 09
Last night was the first time in 90 days that I didn’t end the day by taking a handful of oral chemo pills. My symptoms from that chemotherapy drug should wean away soon. I’ll be glad to be in the sun/daylight without breaking out! The photosensitivity has been no joke. I wore a 3/4-length shirt on the sunny Midwest December day we drove home over winter break, and as a result of the sun coming through the windows while I was driving, I broke out a rash that was almost hive-like on my forearms. For this outdoors girl, I will be glad to be able to be in the sunshine!
I think my toes might be healthy enough for the first time in more than three years for me to have a pedicure. I think I am going to try to squeeze one in before my new chemotherapy treatment starts on Monday; this chemo drug will be bad for the toes, so I have to do it now if I’m going to do it. Is that crazy?
If your kids interact with my kids at all, please be super-duper thoughtful in what you say to your kids about my health. I realize I’ve flung the door open wide with my blog and over-sharing on the internet, but it is intended for the adults in my world. If you want to know what to say to your kids, I can email you and/or blog on that topic if there is enough interest. I need Maren to be able to talk about all of this on her terms, and having it brought up on the playground by someone other than her is not in her best interest. Thanks for helping us with that.
I’m moving forward with things that bring me joy. Taking the cue from my last blog and new inspiration, I am working on quotes (a long-held passion) to hang and write and design and display. Do send me quotes (mine or other sources), verses, or other snippets that you think should be in contention. If you have graphic design or art skills please feel free to apply them on my behalf. (Haha!) It’s good for my brain to work on this constructive activity.
I’m making a very conscious effort to be present and not have my medical status dictate my hours, days, movements and actions. (That’s something I’ve been practicing for years, and for good reason.) I got up on Thursday morning and channeled my mojo to have a really good workout. I got the darn tires rotated on the car. I kept all the appointments I had this weekend. We’re hanging out with friends, as planned. I ran today, and made myself charge (okay, slog) up some hills.
I think I would be remise if I allowed my circumstances to dictate my mindset. Rather, I must choose to have my mind overcome my circumstances.
Today I wore the necklace that Maren made for me for Christmas. I enjoyed watching the pang of delight and pride come across her face as she saw it around my neck. She almost blushed she was so pleased that I found it worthy (of course I would!), but it is so fun to see her wowed by something she created, loved, and gave away. I love her love for making people happy.
Greta has a recent habit of approaching you with more enthusiasm than you can imagine. If I call her into the room, she often comes racing around the corner and runs pell mell at me as I simultaneously flinch and grin in anticipation. She leaps a few steps before she gets to me and I’ll tell you — it’s good pain when Greta crashes in to you like that. Truth: there is nothing better than my Greta with her heart fixed on something good.
Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. — Colossians 3:2
Please post a pic of your pedi toes! xoxo
I am learning to do lettering and working on learning to draw. I would love to swnd you something if you are comfortable emailing me your address.
Yes! Yay! Emailing you today. 🙂 Thank you so much.
Hugs 🙂
Love to you all!! Continued healing prayers your way
“I have heard there are troubles of more than one kind. Some come from ahead and some come from behind. But I’ve bought a big bat. I’m all ready you see. Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me!” – Dr. Seuss
Love this quote for anyone fighting life’s challenges. Prayers to you.
Jen, you never cease to amaze me. Despite the fact that you’re “one hot mess of emotion” on the inside, you’re keeping everything in perspective and continuing to “Do Today Well”. WOW! Just WOW. I’m learning so much from you. We all are. ♥p
‘if we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone elses, we’d grab ours back.’ here’s to counting our blessings!
Each post you write about your blessings that ate intertwined with problems. Seems fitting.
I love reading your blog – you are a true inspiration. Carry on, amazing mama!
Hi Jen. When you asked for quotes, I thought immediately of these two. I copied them out onto index cards years ago and keep them in my bible. They’re both from “The Story Girl” by L.M. Montgomery (more famously the author of Anne of Green Gables). She’s my favorite author and my go-to “comfort reading.” Here are two passages from that book…
“We did, indeed, pray most sincerely for Peter’s recovery. Even skeptical Dan prayed, his skepticism falling away from him like a discarded garment in this valley of the shadow, which sifts out hearts and tries souls, until we all, grown-up or children, realize our weakness, and, finding that our own puny strength is as a reed shaken in the wind, creep back humbly to the God we have vainly dreamed we could do without.”
“Truly, we had had a delectable summer; and, having had it, it was ours forever. ‘The gods themselves cannot recall their gifts.’ They may rob us of our future and embitter our present, but our past they may not touch. With all its laughter and delight and glamour it is our eternal possession.”
I find this quote by Mother Teresa lovely: “I used to think that prayer changes things, but now I know that prayer changes us and we change things.”
She stood in the storm,
and when the wind
did not blow her way,
she adjusted her sails.
Elizabeth Edwards
I admire people who choose to SHINE even after all the storms they’ve been through.
One of my life long favorites…
“Faith is believing what only makes sense in reverse.” – Cynthia Heald
Thank you for continuing to spell out what “doing today well” looks like. You continue to be on my heart in my prayers in the middle of the night.