All is well...

Just a brief update to let everyone know I made it to Missouri all in one day.  Didn't have any trouble and it actually was an enjoyable trip.  I had 11 1/2 hours to think, pray, worship, and just contemplate the goodness and God's love and mercy.

Got into my parents place around 7:45 pm their time Saturday evening and Sunday we worked sorting their personal belongings and packing the camper and storage trailer.  Went to church Sunday... their service is at 4:00pm and they only have one service on Sunday at the church they were attending in Missouri.

Monday was a run errands and last minute lab and prescriptions, etc. including a trip to Springfield for Dad's lab work.  I kept the rental car 2-extra days until I was sure all the running around was completed.  I did not want to drive the truck with the camper on it anymore than I had to around town.

However, I did find that with the extended mirrors I didn't have any problem driving the truck.  I only had to back the trailer twice and that was a comedy act.  When you can't see the trailer you're trying to back... it gets a little hilarious.  I can back a trailer if I can see where it's going... otherwise, its direction is anyone's guess!

I will write more... this is the first time I've had a chance to spend more than just "email check".  I know we will all get into a new routine... and we will all adjust to the differences in routines.

Almost time...

Well, I've not done as much to the house as I anticipated doing. With working full time and not being able to devote a WHOLE day to a project, it's rather difficult to complete them.  I'm in the middle of several!

I'm off this Friday or Saturday morning early (3:30am) to drive to Missouri and move my parents into our home. Thankfully, hubby is all for this. We both (us and my parents) have some trepidation about how this is all going to work out... they not wanting to feel like they're giving up their "independence" and us giving up our "empty nest". I know it will be challenging, but if we keep our attitudes in adjustment... it will work out. They will be 83 this July and I know they do not want to live in a nursing home and I can't see them in a nursing home as active as they are in mind and body. We cannot afford an assisted living apartment... my mother-in-law lived in a beautiful assisted living apartment until she could no longer take care of herself. She refused to live with any of us and later went into a nursing home where she had been the recreational director when she was much younger.

I request your prayers for me on this trip... there and back. I will be driving a BIG dullie pickup truck with a huge camper and pulling a small trailer. I find that just a little intimidating... the trailer pulling part! Because with the camper I can't see the trailer I'm pulling. I'll have to make sure I do all "pull throughs" so I don't have to do any backing up :).   I will take photos along the way and post them later. 

I know this is very difficult for my parents.  Giving up their home sorting through all their belongings and moving to a different State at their age.  Please pray for them.  Pray for a SAFE and uneventful trip. 

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Procrastination Guilt...

Technorati Tags: procrastination,flowers,yard,excuses,family,decluttering

Today has been a typical Saturday morning. All the intended plans have been forsaken for impulsive or should I say spontaneous activities. I guess spontaneous sounds more exciting and a little less dysfunctional.

The day was supposed to be totally spent doing decluttering in the house and garage in preparation for my parents coming to live with us in TWO weeks! Instead, Bud (hubby) took my car to have a wheel bearing replaced. So now I have a perfectly good Ford Tempo to commute back and forth to work in and no excuse to buy another vehicle! On the other hand, his Buick needed more than a front end alignment and new front tires... it needed another $250.00 worth of work that will have to wait until the end of next week.

Instead of working in the garage, Bud is out planting azaleas bushes and a rhododendron bush and just fooling around outside. I was tempted for a few minutes and trimmed my fern and another hanging plant that I've forgotten the name of. Then the guilt set in and I wandered back inside. However, I have yet to settle down to one particular project! This is my downfall when it comes to decluttering. The mess before the decluttering just about does me in! Choosing the place to start is another one!

Now don't write me and tell me to read all these books on decluttering, organizing, cleaning, and simplifying... I've got shelves full of them. They're all excellent! It's the implementation of the principles that is difficult!

As you can surmise... this blog is just another attempt to stray from the job at hand... so, off I go... I'll try again!

Another Life leaves this world...

Technorati Tags: family,death,grief,sorrow,sadness,missin you,memories,time,life,spirit,body

Mom, my own heart stopped for a few seconds and the tears fell unashamedly when I heard you were gone.

Never more will I catch a glimpse of your mischievous smile or the ornery twinkle in your eyes.

Never more will I sip a cup of coffee over trivial chatter or "go out" to lunch after shopping.

Never more will I watch you carefully choosing your fresh baby spinach at the Farmer's Market and bartering for the best price.

Never more will I read a favorite recipe hurriedly written in your tight little script.

Never more will I watch you fix a meal, and oh, how you loved to feed us.

Never more will I walk with you in the yard, checking out your newly planted spring flowers.

I will forever hold those precious memories in my heart!

I know your body was tired Mom, but I miss your spirit already!

Your daughter (in law),

Pam

http://www.legacy.com/TheSouthern/Obituaries.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonID=106274040

We're Back from Pigeon Forge...

This first photo was taken about 30 minutes before service time. We had to get there early to get good seats. We like to sit close to the front. Eight of us and Anna Rose our newest baby went this year. I rented a 15-passenger van... we had plenty of room to spread out and we took the back seat out so we had plenty of room to stack our luggage and snacks for our room. I had made reservations in January and we were able to get adjoining rooms. That was nice because we didn't have to run back and forth in the halls to get to our rooms. We really enjoyed our time together. Of course, we did learn who snores, who grinds their teeth and who takes the longest showers on earth! LOL

Sis Cindy Miller aimed straight for the heart matter of living for God. It was excellent. She's a great teacher and teaches from the Word! I truly enjoyed her. I had read her books but had never heard her speak.

Nap time for Anna Rose and Sis Margaret.

This is what you could call a "hair fixing" production line. I thought it was cute. It was an effort to save time and trying to get everyone ready at the same time. LOL It worked!

Amanda - Results of work.

Ashley, "lookin' good."

As you can see we did have a GREAT time! God was good and even though it started snowing... we stayed for the Saturday morning session and by the time we got on I-40 and I-75 the snow had pretty well let up. We had a safe trip there and home! God is good and we're already looking forward to next year.

Tennessee Ladies Conference 2008!!!

Once again it's almost time for our annual trek to Pigeon Forge, TN for our Tennessee Ladies Conference.  This year our main speaker is Sister Cindy Miller and Sister Carla DePriest will also be speaking.  I'm looking forward to another GREAT year.

This is such an enjoyable time of bonding for our ladies.  I truly enjoy the time I spend with them in such "close" quarters.   :)   We discover our similarities and our differences  very quickly  LOL! 

We each always come away with something just for us and also

for us as a "body" that is actively trying to live like JESUS would desire! 

Having some fun... I don't think she thought I'd really take it.

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There is POWER in PRAYER and FASTING...

"A lot of water has gone under the bridge" since I last posted.  Let's see, where should I begin?

GOD is GREAT and GREATLY to be PRAISED!  I had been diagnosed with Bladder Carcinoma back in 2002.  Had some minor surgery since the CA was barely in the T1 stage.  Which meant the cancer cells were only on the surface and could be scrapped and fulgurated (cauterized).  This was done and I had to have  cysto exam follow-ups every 3-months for 2-years and then every 6-months.  I was just getting to the 1-year follow-up exams when another spot appeared.  The specialist I was seeing at that time changed hospitals and no longer had privileges at the hospital my husband works at.  I had to change physicians in order for our insurance to cover more of the cost!!!  As it turns out... I'm glad I did!  The above Urologist/surgeon had done a biopsy in his office and it came back from the pathologist as CIS or Cancer Insitu!  This was NOT good news!  Bladder cancer spreads very quickly if not caught in time and that is why the frequent cysto exams once diagnosed.

I prayed about another physician, I didn't want to change, but knew I had too!       :(    I had asked my husband to check around with some of the nurses where he worked and find out who they thought were good physicians/surgeons in this field of medicine.  Finally, I had one to call.  He saw me within a week and I was scheduled for the Surgery/Biopsies within another week.  I was scheduled for surgery on January 24th at 7:30am. 

The surgeon wanted to do several biopsies at different locations from my bladder. He warned me of the possibility of a total Cystectomy.    In the mean time, once Bud knew that I was going to have surgery with the possibility of a Cystectomy,  he started a fast without a definite ending date.  He ended up fasting 11-days. 

Now for the GOOD NEWS... after prayer and fasting... there was NO CANCER INSITU and while there were cancer cells present... they were like "lint" on the surface of the bladder... the surgeon did some major fulguration and I'm supposed to have the same thing done again at the end of April.  This was done on an "inpatient/same day" surgery with the possibility (depending on what they found) that I could be "admitted". 

Through all this... after the initial prognosis,  I found a PEACE in the middle of the storm and the fear and worry of the unknown left me. 

All this occurred during our 30-days of prayer!  What a blessing for me! 

I haven't questioned God with "WHY ME"... that isn't important.  We are all on this earth and exposed to many different diseases.  I'm not any better or less than anyone else.  Do I want to live?  Of course, I want to see my children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren grow up.  No, I don't want death to come to me before my parents... I don't want them to go through that at their age... I'm an only child.  My death would be devastating to them.  Am I fearful of death?  NO... it would take me to my Heavenly home with Jesus!

Once you've been exposed to the horrid word, "cancer" life is never the same.  Each day is a realization of the Newness of Life and each day is of the greatest importance. 

I have rambled enough... perhaps I've not expressed this as I'd like... but I want to give my God all the PRAISE, GLORY and HONOR He deserves!  God is good all the time... Good and Bad times!  He is there all the time!