You Are God Alone

You are God alone
From before time began
You were on Your throne
You are God alone
And right now
In the good times and bad
You are on Your throne
You are God alone

The above words is the chorus from the Phillips, Craig, and Dean song, "You Are God Alone". Part of the chorus has been running through my mind over the past few days. I was doing my homework for the Esther Bible study, and had to look up a verse in Isaiah, and came across the following verse that I had underlined in my Bible: "When you pass through the waters, I w ill be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze." Isaiah 43:2

I am sad right now, and ready to cry. I have been debating or not to post this, because it is not about me, but about one of my loved ones, and the more it sets in, the harder it becomes for me. Somebody I love dearly, has been diagnosed with breast cancer. (I am not saying here who it is.) Surgery will be this Thursday, and from there will know what stage and exactly the treatment this person will have. We do know for sure, this person will have radiation M-F for six weeks. I did tell God this morning, that I would rather move up to stage 4, than this person be stage 3 or 4. People have lived years at stage 4, because they have gone into remission. I do not know how one of my favorite verses fits into this. Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." How is cancer to prosper you and not to harm you? I do not know why this person has breast cancer, and I do not understand. We have seen God's hand in this, in how this person was diagnosed. Even I Thessalonians 5:18 says, "give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." I have told God that I am not thankful, I mean my heart is not thankful at all, but I have thanked him anyway. I know someday my heart will be truly thankful in this. God will be glorified in all of this. God knows what He is doing. I do not see it. I am hurting inside, and those who read this, I do ask for your prayers.

All of the verses I have written are from the NIV.

New Baseball Season

We are almost two weeks into the new baseball season. The Indians have started their season at 4-8. They are not doing too good. There has only been 3-4 good outings of our starting pitchers, so far. The whole pitching staff has had their ups and downs. We have given up a grand slam, but we have hit two grand slams so far. Both the defense and the offense can do better. Our guys have struck out way too many times! We lost five games before we won our first game. This week we have won four games. We have had basically, 3 season openers this season. The Indians opened their season in TX against the Rangers and were swept by them. Then we came home and lost the first two games against the Blue Jays before finally winning. Went to Kansas City and won only one game. We opened the first home series at the new Yankee (The Enemy) stadium.

The Indians messed up the Yanks home opener by winning 10-2, Grady hit a grand slam in a 9 run inning. Yesterday's game, we went back and forth and lost the game. Pitchers gave up too many home runs yesterday. Today's game...what can I say? It was an awesome game! Yanks starting pitcher only lasted 4 outs, we sent him packing in the top of the second inning. The Indians scored 14 runs in the second inning. You read that correctly. Cabrera hit a grand slam in the second inning. They have hit two grand slams so far this season. Two grand slams in the same series. The Indians hit the first two grand slams in the new Yankee stadium! We hit six home runs today! The final score was 22-4! is that a blowout or what? They did make some mistakes, but they did a great job. Carmona went six innings. The Yanks runs came on two home runs, all gave up by Carmona.

I am worried about my guys, but they have had two great games. I enjoyed those games more than I did reading my articles about or written by Joseph Schwab.

Why Are You Weeping?

"Then they said to her 'Woman, why are you weeping?'" John 20:13

Mary Magdalene could vividly remember the day Jesus delivered her from her demonic bondage. She became His devoted follower that day (Luke 8:2). She watched Him heal the sick and teach people about God's love. Her life was transformed as she experienced the joy of being with Jesus.

Then her world seemed to fall apart! Her Lord was arrested and brutally murdered. The crowds that had shouted "Hosanna!" at he beginning of the week cried "Crucify him!" by week's end. A final blow came when she went to anoint Jesus' body at the tomb. She saw that His tomb was empty. Someone had apparently stolen His body. AS she sobbed in despair, angels asked the poignant question, "Why are you weeping?" She was standing before an empty tomb! Jesus had risen, just as He had promised! Knowing that Jesus was alive put everything back into perspective, and Mary joyfully raced to share the good news with others.

The Christian life is not always easy. There are joyful moments of walking with Jesus, but there are also times when nothing makes sense and when your world seems to be crumbling. The world will mock your Lord, and you may grow discouraged. AT those times, you need to peer into the empty tomb. It is the abandoned tomb that gives you hope, for it symbolizes the life that is yours from your risen Lord. The empty tomb promises that nothing not even death itself, can defeat the purposes of your Lord. Are you weeping beside an empty tomb?

This was today's devotional reading from Experiencing God Day-By-Day written by Henry T. Blackaby and Richard Blackaby. They have written two devotional books and I use them both. This book, here, I have been using since October 2000. They have even written a Bible study based on this theme, Experiencing God. That was a good study.

Esther-Waiting-Time

I recommend doing at least one time, a Beth Moore Biblestudy. I am currently doing Esther, the newest one. The video sessions of listening to Beth teach these past two weeks have been very good. Last week, was from Esther 4:11-17 on our greatest fears. I know I have shared them at various times in previous posts. Last night's session, was from Esther 5:1-8. I know God was speaking to me. First, I will share the four points, then I will share my notes that I jotted down in the margins.

Sometimes God forces the issue of time. Amazingly other times He seems to entrust it.
Reflect on the importantance of knowing...
1. When it's time.
2. When it's time to wait.
3. When it's time to wait for someone elses time.
4. When the meantime is God-time.

Sometimes your emotions are not going to precede your actions. Genesis 22:4, Luke 4:1-13, Acts 1:4-5 Our culture is training us in impatience. We are reminded in Ecclesiastes 3:7, "...A time to be silent and a time to speak." Sometimes we need to be silent even when man invites us to speak. Esther wasn't there about a grudge, but for deliverance (the first banquet she hosted for King Xerxes and Haman.) Is it the time or not the time? I can humble myself, or God can humble me. Ezekiel 28:1-19, I Peter 5:5 Never in my wait, is God inactive. Proverbs 16:18 My strength will be depleted when I wait upon the thing/event/person/job. I have seen that happen. A man who lets his ego go, can not get enough honor (Melissa Moore).

Gd is making me wait for my desires for a reason. I need to be thankful for his best. I just need to keep doing what was the last thing He has commanded me to do. His timing is better than my timing. God's best is better than my best.

Beverly Lewis writes Christian fiction about the Amish. I enjoy reading her books. She has a new book that has just come out, and it is called The Secret. It is the first one in a new series. She is doing book tour this month in OH. Yesterday, afternoon, April 7, she had a stop at Cornerstone Book and Supply on Canton Rd. (Since this is spring break) I went there. I bought the new book, stood in line to get her autograph. She signed my book. I had my picture taken with her and I also too a pic of just her. Those are the two pics below.

April Winter Wonderland

It started snowing yesterday morning, but didn't really start accumulating until sometime in the evening. I think it looks gorgeous outside. The trees in the back have leaves that are budding, so they look kind of funny with snow on them. I had to take pics of them. I walked down the driveway this morning to get the newspaper, and took my camera with me, do I could take pictures of the beauty that God bestowed upon us. Below are three of the pics that I took.

2nd Quarter Onc Visit

To start off, I am cold. That is what bugs me, I am not a cold-natured person, but I am cold about all the time. I saw my onc this morning. I have gained a few pounds, which I am not surprised, that is what happens when you eat too much sweets (chocolate and cookies). My port will come out in October or November if I am still clear. I'd rather keep it, just because my veins do not like to cooperate, very hard to access. My port was flushed and blood was drawn. CBC was checked and the blood was sent over to the hospital so that my thyroid could be checked. My thyroid was checked because I complained about being cold just about all the time. My white blood count is at 3.7, basically what it was back at the end of December, still makes it low. My RDW is high, but everything else is normal. Will probably talk in July about doing a CT scan in the fall before I see him in October.

Joy is Straight Ahead

"The genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ." I Peter 1:7 (NKJV)

Trials have a purpose in our lives. As a smith heats up gold to purify it, God heats up our lives to make spiritual impurities rise to the surface. If we cooperate with Him, sin is skimmed off our lives, purifying our faith. Cleansed lives bring glory to God and joy to us. If a trial lies before you today, envision the joy ahead.

The above comes from Everyday Encouragement by Pamela McQuade. I got this book in September 2007 at a women's retreat. I am in my second time through in reading this book. I read it as part of my devotions. I've been doing a study of Joy as part of my devotions as well, and it as been pretty good. The Beth Moore study on Esther is also really good.

God has been leading me down roads to work on my faith in Him, to work on my joy. I have had periods of doubt, but then I remember Jeremiah 29:11, "I have plans to prosper you, not to harm you." God has plans for my life. At the right time, He will reveal them to me. It is hard to wait for His timing. But His timing is way better than my timing. God knows what is best for me.

My Summer

I have had some afternoon! I was so hoping to go to Dallas this summer for a few days, now I don't know if it will be possible. I have scheduled to take 2 classes this summer(May 18-July 11 and June 15-July 18), and had applied to take a certain science class for my content hours that is this summer and fall. i got accepted to take the science class. This class is all day August 3-6 and 10-14 plus 3 Saturdays in the fall. So far that is 11 hours. My other science (content classes) I have to get okay from the department, because they are undergraduate classes and I am a graduate student. Because I got aid to help pay for grad school, I am going to see about taking a science class this summer which is June 22-July 25. (I have to find out if that will work with my aid I got). If I can do that, that will be 14 hours this summer. I will have a very busy summer.

Yesterday, at the job fair, someone suggested to me to find out how to get a middle grade science endorsement added to my teaching certificate. I made phone calls down to Columbus, I found out that I am Highly Qualified, and I would need to take a test. I registered to take the Praxis II middle grades science test for June 13 at 7:30 am. It is a two hour test. Middle grades is 4-9. I am already certified K-8, and can teach all subjects up to the 6th grade, here in OH. The science endorsement would be a plus. I have the science endorsement and math one on m y TX teaching certificate.

Plus, with my busy summer, I am planning on attending two weddings, and my 20 year high school reunion. Plus, I get to spend one day a week with my wonderful niece this summer. Is this a busy summer or what?

If I get a job somewhere in OH then I can still come home for the Saturday class, but if I get a job out of OH, then I will be in trouble, either have to come home on Friday, or release my seat. Lord, what are your plans for me this fall? Am I staying in OH or moving out of state? Will I be subbing or teaching full-time some place? Your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. I trust you for your best for my life. Thank you for my busy summer that I will be having. The more hours I take now, means the sooner I will be done with my Masters.

NOTED and Curriculum

Yesterday, April 2, was NOTED (North East Ohio Teacher Education Day), in downtown Akron, hosted by 10-12 different local universities. We had between 2-2 1/2 hours of meet and greet time. That was good, but with over 500 attendees, and over 80 school districts, that makes for long lines. By 10:30 am, I had one interview scheduled for the afternoon. I couldn't get any more interviews, either they were full, only doing so many, or not doing any interviews at all that day. I was disappointed. I gave out over 20 resume packets. I wanted more interviews. Even though I was, and am still, disappointed, I know God knows what He is doing? He has a plan to prosper me, not to harm me (Jeremiah 29:11). I just have to keep my faith in God and wait for his timing. I kept my talks to NC and OH schools. I had a list of schools I was interested in checking out, plus I added a few more once I got there to the site yesterday morning.

My interview didn't go very well, basically we just went over my resume. The interviewer kinda took it part and told me what to do it make it better. She told me to add back a school I was only at for 3 months. I was told to take it off of my resume. By putting it back on, it would not show any holes on my resume. When I fill out applications, I don't even put that school down, I skip it.

I was able to get a couple of other interviews by walking around the room looking for empty chairs and asking if they were free. I think the second interview was a good lead. I was told to call up ODE to find out how I am Highly Qualified in teaching science, and how it get it as an endorsement on my OH teaching certificate. It is on my TX teaching certificate. I sent an email to somebody in ODE last night. I will give them today to respond, then I will start calling them next week to get answers to my questions. The third interview, I thought was weird. I couldn't tell if the person, who was talking, was giving me reasons to move to that area or reasons to stay away. It didn't seem like an interview. Didn't ask me questions at all.

All I can do is give it all over to the Lord and wait to see where He leads me in all of this. I have a few more applications to fill out and figure out to write thank you notes to.

There is a month left in this semester. I am registered to take two classes this summer, and I am going to try to take a third class. There are a couple of classes I am interested in for the fall. I have four projects due between May 6-9. One of them I have to present, as well as turn in a written report and hopefully before it is due, so that it can be graded. This project I am doing it on Staff Development. I am having a hard time narrowing it down. I started my research the other day. I have an idea on how to narrow it down. There is a paper on a curriculum theorist I have to write. I found a couple of books, but he only wrote a small portion of the book. Somebody helped me find some articles on this person. I just have to print them up and study them. A classmate, in another class, let me borrow articles for this person, since I am doing the same one she chose. Next week is spring break, so that gives me time to do some research, read, and work on them. It is all mind boggling!

Back in the Hospital

On Tuesday, St. Patrick's Day, I was told that my brother was taken from school to the ER. They noticed that one of his knees was red and starting to swell. Group home was called and was taken to the ER. He was admitted to the hospital. Doctors said this time the infection was caught early. Back in January, just before his birthday, he spent a few days in the hospital due to an infection in one of his knees. Mom thought he would went home today, but he didn't. I will see him sometime this weekend.

Mom, got a call this afternoon, saying that somebody from the hospital was going to call to get permission to put my brother's feeding tube back in. I do not remember the hospital calling in the past, to get permission to put it back in, when it came out. As, I said, his feeding tube came out last night. Around 5 pm or so, mom got the phone call, and she gave them permission. She asked how they fed him today without his feeding tube. Get this, they didn't feed him all day! He went over 18 hours without food. He probably signed food and drink all day, and they probably had no idea what he was saying, but then since he is in restraints that probably makes it too hard to sign. My mom is mad and is going to go and complain tomorrow. She even asked them about going all day without food. My brother does not talk, and as no way to express what he is feeling or thinking. He does not understand what is going on.

All of my brother's problems started back in November 2007, with the first infection that was in his finger. Since then, he probably has been hospitalized about 10 times. There has got to be something wrong besides getting infections too easy. Mom says doctors have been running tests and can't find anything wrong. Why else would he keep getting infections, if there isn't something else wrong with him? Only God knows.

When Dreams Die

This afternoon, I finished the autobiography of Phil Vischer, titled, Me, Myself, & Bob. Was a very good book. I found out what lead him to start VeggieTales and the problems he had with it. It is the lessons he learned from the collapse of his company (yes it is still around, but not owned by him.) There is something I have thought about off and on for the past three years, and something that Phil said in his book, brings it to home for me. I know, I am dancing around the mulberry bush.

During my years in Dallas, I noticed, quite a bit, that I would but Christ on the back burner of my life during the day. It wasn't something I did on purpose, it just happened. It wasn't pleasing to God. My job became my idol. Three years ago, I felt like I was in a desert, spiritually, at least. I think it was God starting to get my attention. Let me share something that Phil Vischer heard on a sermon cd. "IF God gives you a dream, and the dream comes to life and God shows up in it, and then the dream dies, it may be that God wants to see what is more important to you-the dream or him." What was more important to me? My teaching job was. I said God was, but I think it was my job. I know my last year there, God was working to get me home for cancer diagnose that would happen in May 07, but I still think God let my dream die.

I am ready to now teach full-time again, and I have a new dream starting to form. That is to teach science staff development to elementary ed teachers. I do know that I need to get my master's and get back into the classroom first, before that can happen.
Father, i am sorry for making my job an idol. That was wrong and a sin.

I have started a new Bible study. It is the new Beth Moore one, on Esther. I completed week two's homework today. It is very good.

I have another dream, that God hasn't allowed to come to pass. I can guess at the reason why, but only God really knows, but one thing I do know, that at times, I have allowed that dream to become an idol, as well. That is also a sin. I am also sorry for letting that dream to become an idol.

Please be careful with your dreams. Make sure you are not allowing them to become an idol and replacing God with them.

2009 Animal Collection

I know it is only February, but guess what! The first animal of 2009 has been caught in the trap! A skunk was caught today. I came home and took a picture of the skunk in the cage. The pic isn't as good, but you can see it in the cage.

Book Review

Robin Lee Hatcher has a new book being released in May 2009. It is called, A Vote of Confidence. It is the first book in a new series, about the Sisters of Bethlehem Springs. Gwen Arlington was born in Bethlehem Springs, ID, but raised back East. She now lives in Bethlehem Springs, and the year is 1915. In 1896, Idaho gave women the right to vote, this was before the Constitutional amendment was added allowing women to vote in 1920. Gwen decides to run for Mayor of her town after hearing that the other candidate is the town drunk. The same day Gwen puts her hat in the ring for Mayor, , Morgan McKinley, the owner, of the new health spa that is being built north of town also puts his hat into the same ring. They meet and start to get to know one another. How does this new relationship affect the Mayoral race? Who wins the Mayoral race? Besides this being a love story, it is also a mystery. Somebody doesn't want McKinley to open his new health spa. Somebody causes problems? Who is it? Why does this person want McKinley to fail? Will Morgan McKinley and Gwen Arlington fall in love? Gwen has help in her bid for Mayor, her twin sister helps Gwen on her campaign. I enjoyed the book and I am looking forward to the next book in this series.

Curriculum Weeks 4 & 5

Last week and this week for my Thursday night class we had to read some articles, online, about Marzano. Kinda read and did discussed his book Classroom Instruction That Works. He gives 9 strategies. I had two questions that I had to answer and then respond my classmates' answers. Reading what they wrote was interesting. Having to think how I have used those strategies in my past classrooms and now as a sub was interesting.

For my Wednesday night class, I had to read a book by Counts, that was written back in the early part of the 1930's. This book is also true about right now. Democracy and how that works in the schools. This past week, I had to read the first two chapters of Pedagogy of the Oppressed. That book was written 38 years ago. Was first written in Portuguese, because the late author was from Brazil. This book has been widely sought after. The first chapter is about the oppressor and the oppressed. How the oppressor does not want to give up his power, because then he becomes the oppressed and will be treated like how he had treated the oppressed. The second chapter is on how education is based on the "Banking Theory", teachers just deposit the info and the students just store it away. In that way, the teacher is the Oppressor and the students are the Oppressed. Education needs to change, where the students have more power and will actually think.

I also had to read the second chapter of To Kill a Mockingbird. We took this chapter to help us understand this project that we have to do for this class which includes spending a few hours working in a group in somebody's classroom and mapping the power struggles between the various people and how it affects the learning process and other things.

I have started the initial research process for my Thursday night class which I want to do on staff development. I have gotten in touch with two school districts in this area, and have been unsuccessful in getting in touch with three other school districts. I sent my prof an email to night about including staff development from other countries. i will blog more about this project later.

Snow Day!

Today was a snow day! Even the Universities are closed today, that meant no class tonight. Today was either snow day 4 or 5 for the school districts around here. That means if there are anymore snow days, school districts will have to make them up. More systems are on their way. So gorgeous up here. The snow reminds me of what God does for us when we ask for forgiveness of our sings, He makes us white as snow. I got to try out my new boots this morning. I picked them up yesterday afternoon. There was so much snow, that if I tried to take the car out, I probably would've gotten my car stuck in the driveway, so I walked down to get the newspaper this morning. The snow in the driveway was about calf deep. The yard next to the driveway seemed about knee deep. I had to check it out. The snow on the deck, looks to be about waist deep. As usual, I took pics this morning. I took both the camera and my phone with me on my walk. I was going to walk back down later this afternoon, but our driveway got plowed, and my dad had to move his van so that area could get plowed, so he drove down for the mail. There will be school tomorrow and my other curriculum class as well.

My mom saw Timmy on Monday at the hospital. He was admitted last Saturday night. Mom talked with a nurse on Monday, and was basically told that Timmy has MRSA. That would explain why he keeps getting infections and have been in the hospital so much in the past 15 months. Timmy's birthday is this Friday, so I will go to the library, check out a few books then head over to the hospital to see him. No birthday presents until he gets out of the hospital. I so feel for him. I wonder if this is God's way of telling me I need to let him go, loosen my grasp on him. I love him very much, and my time with him is pure unconditional love.

Curriculum Week 2

Last night, we listened to, looked at, and discussed the following book, Nokum is My Teacher The story is a conversation between a Cree grandson and his Grandmother. He is going to a white man's school and asking his grandmother why he as to go. He even thanks her for what and how she has taught him over the past few years. The grandson is a young boy. Then we had to discuss and answer four different questions on community, conceptional and operational curriculum, pedagogy, and the boy's (narrator) teacher's moral responsibility of teaching him. (I have ordered the book and it hasn't arrive yet.) I wrote my paper, but will look over it and my answers this week, then send it to my professor. The paper is due by noon on Sunday. For next week I have to read a 50 page book, and an article that is on a cd burned with articles we have to read during the semester. Here is the ironic thing about this cd, it was burned on a MAC, but my MAC can't read the cd.

Tonight's class, we, again this week, sat in a circle. We discussed the website we were supposed to read on Revised Bloom's Taxonomy. Bloom's was changed from nouns to verbs. We discussed it, then we discussed a different topic before having to use the six levels of Blooms, and using them in writing a question on any subject area concept that we might use in our classroom. I haven't thought about Bloom's taxonomy (higher order thinking type questions) in three years. I have had a bit of a problem with H.O.T.S in the past. This was a bit difficult for me tonight, but I did to it. I did it with the three states of matter (solid, liquid, and gas). My professor likes our class, but we are afraid to get into a good discussion on whatever it is that we are talking about. Pus our backgrounds an experiences we bring, helps to make it more interesting.

Curriculum, Week 1

I started back to grad school this week. I am taking two classes this semester, and they are both curriculum classes. One meets on Wednesday night, and it is called Concepts of Curriculum and Instruction. The other one meets on Thursday night, and it is called Trends and Issues in Curriculum and Instruction. When I think of curriculum I think about the objectives and concepts that I am supposed to teach. There is more too it, in different ways. I will be doing a lot thinking, reading, researching, and writing this semester. There are doctorate students in both of these classes.

Wednesday night, we started our final exam. Yes, you read that sentence correctly. There are three parts to it. We will do the second part next week, and the third part is due by May 9. Here are the questions I had to answer Wednesday night.
1. What is curriculum? (I had to think about both conceptual curriculum and operational curriculum. I had to give
examples and experiences.)
2. What is pedagogy?
3. In terms of curriculum and pedagogy, what educational purpose should the school see to attain?

This paper I wrote, I have to use it and comment from it in later papers. This was hard!!!

The night before I found out that i had to buy books for this class, get to class and find out there is another book I need. The bookstore didn't have the latter book that i need. I went to last night's class, and found out that I needed a book for that one as well. I came home and went to Amazon.com to order both of my books. My homework for last night's class is reading about Bloom's Taxonomy. I know somewhat about it, but I printed it up so I can sit and read it.

I like last night's class, will see how both of these go.

All Clear

I saw my onc this morning. My scans came back clear. He said that the lymph nodes that had been showing up on the previous scans weren't there this one. He thinks they were just reacting the interferon. He also said that there is no sign of melanoma. I passing on the good news.

For now, I have decided to keep my port in. I will have to have it flushed every 4-6 weeks, basically monthly. I am planning on getting a medical ID bracelet saying that I have port.

I had extra blood work done two weeks ago, because of seeing my family doc next week. My bad cholesterol is a little high, but my good is a little low. My blood pressure is normal. I was weighed and my weight is the same as three weeks ago. I have lost 58 pounds in the past 18 months.

Grad school starts tonight. I am supposed to go back into town, but the roads are not very good. Here at the house, we have about a foot of snow. This is all since last Friday. The temperatures are really cold, in the teens for the high and the lows in the single digits.

Faith Means Moving Forward

I bought a new devotional book last week, and started it on the first. (I love devotional books.) It is called Walking with the Women of the Bible A devotional Journey Through God's Word. It is by Elizabeth George. Today's devotional is called, "Faith Means Moving Forward"

"Abraham took Sarah his wife...to the land of Canaan." Genesis 12:5

"Oh, the heartache! Will it ever go away?" Perhaps these words darkened Sarah's thoughts the day she followed her full-of-faith husband out of Haran. Leaving Haran was bad enough, but going to the land of Canaan made it even worse! Canaan was 600 miles away from her family and friends. Abraham had announced they were going to Nowhere Land , as far as Sarah was concerned.

Just when Sarah was getting used to Nowhere Land, a famine struck. They had to move to Egypt-300 miles away! Oh, if only I were still in Haran, Sarah may have thought.

But backward gazes can be dangerous and impede spiritual growth. But how can we look forward and faithfully follow God when circumstances are bad? Here's a great acronym!

Face Forward. Real life happens in the present, and Gods blessings happen now and in the future.

Accept your circumstances. God uses the difficulties of life to help you mature and grow in Him.

If you're following God, you will find Him in all of your circumstances.

Trust in the Lord. God will keep you in perfect peace when your mind is focused on Him.

Hope for the future. God is a bright start who will light your path in the present darkness.

Dear God of Sarai, grant that such a one as I may see the good and bad and the faith to be bad...following Thee!

After I got done reading this, I knew I had to share it with others. It is hard to be content and have joy in your present circumstances, but it is something that we need to be. I am asking God to help me be content in being single as that is what He wants me to be right now, but it is not what I want. God's will is better than my will.

Normal Counts

Last week, I had my port flushed and labs drawn. My white blood count is at 3.5. Still low, but getting closer to normal. Normal white blood count is at 4.0 and above. I had extra blood drawn, because I am seeing my family doc on the 19th for a physical, and he always wants to have your blood tested for certain things. I got a letter in the mail telling me about my blood test results.

Blood sugar, liver and kidney tests are perfect. My thyroid stimulating hormone and T4 are normal, which indicates my thyroid is working properly.

CT Scan

Last night about 11 pm, I drank the first dose of the "yucky" stuff that is the contrast for the CT Scan with contrast that I had this morning. Because of the weather/roads, my mom dropped me off at the hospital about 9:15 or so. A good hour before I had to be there. My appointment was for 11 am. They misunderstood me when I asked for ice to numb the area around my port. They thought I was asking for something else. I was given a glove of ice to numb the area. Took two nurses to access my port. The first one had a hard time, because my port chose to move around. Once they start, it doesn't take long to take the x-rays. I was done by 11:40 am. I will get the results next Wednesday when I go see my onc.

My brother was supposed to be discharged from the nursing home this afternoon and go home to the group home where he lives. That means he gets to open his Christmas presents this weekend.

I am scheduled to see the dermatologist next Monday, and my family doc the following Monday.

Happy New Year

Had a nice evening last with people from my class. We had a ball. Was a dressy affair, most of us girls were wearing black. Ate, laughed, talked, danced, took pics. Made plans for going out Saturday night to celebrate a friend's birthday that is this Sunday. I got home about 1:15 and got up about 8:30 this morning.

Woke up yesterday to snow! Went to go see my brother over in the nursing home. I woke him up, but he seemed sleepy. I stayed about an hour. He was supposed to finish the antibiotic yesterday, and should be going back to the group home soon.

Christmas Skunk

As you know we caught a couple os skunks in a trap this summer. For Christmas, my dad got the best and funniest present. From my sister and niece, he got a skunk webkinz (stuff animal) in a small cage. It was funny, when he opened it up. I did take a pic of him holding the cage, but what you see above is just a pic of the skunk in the cage, taken from three different angles.

Didn't have a white Christmas, that is two years in a row.

Heard from the hospital this morning, my brother's feeding tube was reinserted yesterday, and he is moving to the nursing home this morning. Hopefully, he should only be there a week. I didn't go see him yesterday, but I should have. If I don't see him today, I will definitely see him this weekend.

Merry Christmas

If it weren't for Christmas, we wouldn't have Easter.

Another Timmy Update

On Sunday, my parents visited a nursing home to check it out. Sunday morning, he pulled out his feeding tube, and it had to be reinserited. My brother was supposed to be discharged on Monday. That didn't happen. They were waiting on a certain person to go to the hospital to see my brother, we have no idea if she showed up or not. Then they sad yesterday, and somebody didn't want him going to the nursing home in the afternoon/evening, so they post-poned it until this morning. Guess who decided to pull out his feeding tube again? That is right, Timmy did it again. There was nobody at the hospital to reinsert it, and so it will be out until Friday. He still has the mickey tube, and can be fed through that. As of now he might or might not go to the nursing home on Friday. Timmy keeps telling people, that he doesn't want his feeding tube anymore, but nobody is listening. I don't want him to have it anyway, but there is nothing I can do about it. Sorry kiddo, you will have that tube for the rest of your life. He is not able to take anything via mouth ever again, and he so badly wants to.'

'I saw my family doctor this morning, and I have excema around my mouth, I have had it for about two months. I was told to never use Neosporin, because it makes the rash or whatever it is worse.

Good News

The doctor called here not too long ago. Timmy didn't have surgery this afternoon, but he was put to sleep, so they could put a scope with a camera down his throat. The infection that is in his blood has not touched his heart. His heart and the valves are fine. That is wonderful news! Now it is up to the infectious disease doctor what they will do next.

Not Working

Timmy has been on antibiotics since last Friday, adn they are not working! He had surgery this afternoon, went in about 2 pm. They have been doing blood cultures, and have seen that the infection is growing, not going away. He had surgery to see if the infection is growing around his heart, to see if it is affecting his heart in any way. As of now, he is not transferring to a nursing home.

I am not, will never be ready to give him up. I know that when he dies, he will go to Heaven, but I am not ready to let him go. I will always need him. I call him my baby.I know he is nowhere near being a baby, but that is what I have called him for years. Please keep him in your prayers.

A Nursing Home We Will Go

My mom went yesterday afternoon to see my brother. She said that he looked good and acted fine, just like what I said on Sunday. Doctor thinks that maybe when he has gotten his previous infections, that when they kill it, it doesn't completely die. So it goes to "sleep" and it "wakes" back up at sometime. The doctor wants to prescribe a really strong antibiotic that they will give him every 12 hours for twenty-five days. A pic line is being inserted, to make it easier for the IV and being given the strong medicine. A social worker at the hospital is going to check into the same nursing home he was in last year for him to go to again. Depending on when he can go, will determine if he will be discharged from the hospital this Friday or next Monday. He will be in the nursing home over Christmas. :(

I've made comments to my mom that he has been in the hospital more since he recieved his feeding tube 6 1/2 years ago, than before that time. She said something about asking /making a comment about that to whoever if that could be a possibilty of him getting sick more easily. My brother has to have one on one care, because of him being active, able to get into things, pull out things from his body, etc.

Please pray that there is no problem of him getting into the nursing home, and that this antibiotic does the trick, adn he gets no more infections.

Back in the Hospital

NO, I am not in the hospital, but my brother is, again! This is his fourth or fifth stint in the hospital this year alone. Since re received his feeding tube, 6 1/2 years ago, he has gotten sick more easily than before that time. Before the feeding tube, he was rarely hospitalized since he was a baby (he spent time in the hospital for awhile then.) I do admit he was in the hospital a couple of times after moving to the group home, but nothing like this past year.

He has an infection. The doctors believe this infection started in a kidney, then moved into his bloodstream. The worse part is, this infection is immune to a lot of different antibiotics. A doctor who specializes in infectious diseases is being called in to see about prescribing a much stronger antibiotic, to kill this infection.

I went after church and lunch to go and see him. My brother sure didn't act sick. I was told that he was very sick. I went into his room, saw him and started complaining. Why would I complain? I saw his hands in restraints. I warned my parents in advance, that if I saw him in restraints I would have a hissy fit. Don't get me wrong, I understand why, but I do not like it one bit. My brother can not express himself and tell us what is wrong, but being in restraints is a scary thing. I should know, because I woke up in in ICU on a respirator and my hands in restraints, a little over 6 years ago. That is another story for another time.

When he saw me, he became agitated and started moving around, and trying to get out of the bed. He got his arms tangled up, and the IV to stop working, and causing one of his hands to become blue from not getting any blood to it. They had to undo the restraints, and allowed them to stay off while I was there. They did try to put them back on, but he started to have a fit. (Such a good boy.) I read to him, and it was very uncomfortable to hug him and sing to him, but I did do that. When I was getting ready to leave, one person mentioned how well my brother obeyed me, and not them. He doesn't always obey me. They put him back into restraints after I left. Please keep him in your prayers. I will never be ready to let him go to Heaven, but some day, it will be his time to go home to Jesus.

God Intervenes

Genesis 9:1b "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth." God said this after the flood. Fast forward about 1000 years, and guess what? Do you think they obeyed God's command? No way! Genesis 11:1-9 "Now the whole earth used the same language and the same words. And it came about as they journeyed east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. And they said to one another, 'Come, let us make bricks and burn them thoroughly.' And they used brick for stone, and they sued tar for mortar. And they said, 'Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name; lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.' And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. And the Lord said, 'Behold, they are one people, and they all have the same language. And this is what they began to do, and now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them. Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.' So the lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of the whole earth; and they stopped building the city. Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of the whole earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the f ace of the whole earth." Because the people chose not to obey, God came down and created a lot of new and different languages, and cause them to speak them and to scatter to different parts of the world. If we choose not to obey, there might come a time, that God will intervene in our lives so that His will be done. I know thee are times, where I have not obeyed God. Has God had to intervene in my life so that His will be done?

I wonder what was that universal language that they all spoke before God confused their language and caused them to scatter? How many different languages did God create at that time? All of the ones that are spoken here on Earth, were they created at that time, or did they come around later?

God came down to Earth at other times. It was mentioned this morning, another time where God intervened, so that his will would be completed. Mark 16:15, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation." We, humans, sure do not like to obey! Acts 8:1b, "And on that day a great persecution arose against the church in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles." God allowed the early church to be persecuted, so they would obey and preach the Gospel to other parts of the world.

There are a couple of others things that I wrote down in my Bible, but that one is in the car. The scripture I typed here comes from the New American Standard, my mom's Bible. I am really enjoying this current sermon series. For next Sunday, we are to read Genesis 12, 15.

Prosperity Returns

"Then I will make up to you for the years that the swarming locust has eaten." Joel 2:25

"Those of us who rejoice in God can trust that even though the consuming locusts of life destroy our blessing/ God will replace them. Though hardship makes us struggle awhile. God turns the situation around and pours out blessings on His faithful people. Prosperity returns to those who love Him well, if we determinedly love Him. In heaven or on earth, the blessing appears again."

I read the above this morning from Everyday Encouragement by, Pamela McQuade. I received this book in September 07 at a women's retreat. I am in the second time through reading this book. I like it a lot.

Genesis Thoughts

At church, we are in the midst of a new sermon series on the book of Genesis. There has been two sermons so far, and they have been good. The first one was on the first two chapters, and this past Sunday was on chapters three and four.

The first chapter was more broad and the second chapter gave details about creation. The first three days was about God forming the earth, and days 4-6 on how he filled the earth. The first poem in the Bible is in chapter 1. The second poem is in chapter 2. God created rest, which is day 7. Rest is good for us.

Chapter 2, God tells Adam that he is free to eat from any tree in the garden. Choice is a good gift from God. God allows us to choose. We make all kinds of choices every day, they can bring honor to God or not to him. Verse 18 tells us that God said it was not good for man to be alone. God already knew that, but that Adam had to discover that for himself, that animals do not make a suitable helper for man, only another human does.

Eve was the first legalistic in the Bible. She added to what God said about the tree in the middle of the garden. I wrote in my Bible, that I always thought it was Satan who said to Eve what God said-in adding/changing what God said about the tree in the middle. It was Eve. Genesis 3:2-5. Compare that with chapter 2, verse 16 to see what God had actually said.

The second half of chapter 3, verse 15 is the first prophecy of Jesus. God says to the serpent (Satan), "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel." That is saying that Jesus will defeat Satan. The Israelites kept looking for the fulfillment of that prophecy and were disappointed that it wasn't fulfilled, that when Jesus did come, they didn't believe.

Every time I sin, something dies. Death in the Bible means separation. When Adam and Eve sinned, their death was separation from God.

The first sacrifice is mentioned in verse 21 in chapter 3, when God clothed Adam and Eve. God had to kill animals so that their hides could be used as clothing.

Chapter 4 wasn't mentioned in Sunday's sermon. This coming Sunday, we will study chapters 6 and 7. I've been reading the chapters for the next week's sermon as part of my devotions during the week. Just thought I'd share these with you.

Deer in Snow

Gorgeous View

Winter Wonderland

November Labs

After school day, went to the cancer center to have labs done and my port flushed. My report I received about 5 minutes later is different from what I got during the past year. I do not understand it as well as the other ones. My white blood count is up to 3.4, Red blood count is 4.06, and my Hemoglobin is at 11.4. They are all low, but to be expected. They will be higher next month. They are close to the normal range.

The nurse asked me what they would be testing. I told her I had no idea, whatever my onc wanted. She said that she hadn't read my chart/orders yet. I go back again December 30.

Interview

A couple of months ago, my dad saw this add for a job about doing hands on science at different schools for a certain organization. I sent off a letter of interest and my resume packet. They sent back to me an application and I forgot all about it. I received a phone call last Saturday about it. I was sent the application via email, filled it out and faxed it back Sunday afternoon. I had an interview for it this evening. Would work 20-35 school days total during the school year at different schools. Plus there is prep time and time to contact schools and selling the program to them and staying in touch with them. Each lesson lasts about 45 minutes. There could be about 6 a day and would be at the same school 2-3 days at a time. These would be booked in advance, so the other days, I would be free to sub. Sounds interesting, would be a stepping stone for what I want to do in about 10-15 years down the road. Will see. Because I am thinking of maybe moving for a teaching job, could be a hindrance for me. Also, because I do not like cold calling, could also be a hindrance for me. Will see. God's will be done. He will provide something for me full-time in his time, not in my time.

Texas, Here is Some Snow!

To all of my wonderful friends in TX here is what I woke up to! I can not stop smiling or praising God for the beauty outside of my house. I do have to drive in it today to work.

Dancin Snowflakes

I didn't go to church yesterday, and my ear and throat felt much better. Since I had called off from ushering the night before, I chose to end up staying home. They both bothered me a tiny bit, but nothing like the previous days.

I worked today. Wasn't a bad day. The coolest part was during lunch duty. It started to snow, which usually puts a smile on my face. At first it didn't look like it would stick to the ground, but then it started to come down pretty hard. The flakes seemed big to me/ Then it looked like they dancing. It was so cool to watch. The kids there were amazed as well. They are hoping for a snow day for tomorrow, but I don't think it will happen. 4-5 kids ended up outside without any coats on, and they were enjoying it. The birds were fun to watch. Seemed like the snow was confusing the birds. Looked like they were diving into the snow. The s now did let up, and by the time school got out, the snow was gone. I truly enjoyed the snow, and thanked our Father for it.

After school, I had an appointment with my family doc. He called me "waxy" for all of the wax that was in my ears. I do have a small ear infection. I was given a prescription and had it filled.

The snow came back late this afternoon, and soon I will be able to take pics of the snow. I so wished I had my phone with me this morning to take pics of the snow.

Not Feeling Well

It has been a month since I ended Interferon. The side effects lasted about three weeks. Off and on during that time, my throat would bother me, and my head felt like it was at the end of a cold. Earlier this week, my throat started to hurt again, this time, on the right side. Wednesday night, my right ear started to hurt. it has been three years, since I've had an earache. I am going to call and see about seeing my family doctor on Monday. Next Friday, I am having labs done and my port will be flushed. Yesterday, I'd thought about waiting until Friday and tell the nurses, but I've changed my mind.

About three weeks, I started ushering at church. I went ahead and called off for tomorrow. Here is the kicker, I don't look sick or really feel sick. Just that my throat and ear hurts. I haven't slept well the last three nights. Thinking about not going to church tomorrow.

Worked everyday this week. When I see my family doctor, will ask if I should call my onc and let him that I'm not feeling well. My counts will be slightly screwed when blood is drawn next Friday, since my body is fighting something. I have been praying about this.

Colors of Fall

Here are pics of many colors that make up autumn. Pictures are great, but it is a wonder to see it in person. Enjoy!

End of Treatment Party PIcs

These are the pics from my nurses to people who came to help me celebrate finishing up my treatment for Melanoma.

They Won!!!!!

This afternoon was the final basketball game before the tournament starts next week. I missed the first half, because where I worked today, I wasn't done till about 3:50 pm. My niece played the fourth quarter. I I took a video of the 4th quarter on my mom's camera. I got there just after the third quarter started. When my sister got to the game the score was 2-0. They scored first and led the whole game.

They did pretty good. I took a few pics of the scoreboard. At one time, they were only 1 basket apart in the score. My niece did have to dribble the ball, shot a couple of times, but missed. She had a chance of shooting a foul shot, but also missed that. Guess what?! She did make a basket. That was so cool! The final score was 31-18. Their record is 1-2.

The other team made two technical fouls in a row.

I have decided now that my scrapbook will be for the whole month of October.

October Onc Visit

I saw my onc this morning. I gained 2 pounds in the past 16 days. My current weight is at 250.7 pounds. Daily, I'm up and down as to how good I am in watching what I eat. I've started eating yogurt again the past three weeks, so I know that will help. With working just about every day, not walking as much, but grad school starts in January, so walking on campus will help.

Labs were not done this morning. It has been three weeks since my port was flushed. My labs were low, but okay this past year. Labs will be done next month, and my onc says my levels should be normal by then. Labs drawn and port will be flushed the Friday before Thanksgiving. The same thing will be done again on December 30. Scans will be January 7. Will change my derm appointment to a different time that week or later in the month. Will next see my onc on January 16 (no school day). I should get my lab reports within a few minutes each time they are done.

Come January, will talk about follow-up and what will be done with my port.

My brother was discharged from the hospital today, and is back at the group home. I'm thinking of seeing him tomorrow. (I checked out a few books at the library to read to him.) My mom did tell someone from the group home that I was very upset to seeing him in restraints while he was in the hospital. Hopefully, that will be discussed and will not happen again.

Went over to AU and filled out the paper requesting to change my advisor. Hopefully, that will be okayed. I am still not sure which classes to take first in January. I need help in deciding that. I need to finish my app for grad assistantship and get my recommendations written, so I can turn them all in.

Going to a Halloween party tomorrow night. I will be going as a domino. Will wear black and safety pin colored circles onto my shirt and pants. The circles will be made from construction paper. Will post pics at a later date.

Still have problems with posting pics, printing pics, and, printing from my email account. Once all of that is fiured out, I will post pics on here.

Basketball and Brother

This afternoon was my niece's second basketball game. She played the third quarter. I had my mom's camera and I recorded the whole quarter, so mom and grandma could watch it this evening. Mom and grandma didn't go to the game. The team did better, and was a little more aggressive. They seemed to pass the ball a lot, and then would loose the ball, because they were making long passes, and the other team would get catch the ball. The point guard would drive the ball to the black line by the basketball and try to make difficult shots, that wouldn't go in. Nobody threw a foul shot today. Jump balls are no longer done. My niece did have to dribble/drive the ball to the basket, and the shot she made didn't go in. This week's score is what I expected for last week. Final score was 12-26. Her team lost again this week. There was minutes of time when nobody scored. I did see improvement in the girls.

I found out this evening, after supper, that my brother was taken to the emergency this morning. They got him up for school, he had a fever, and went back to sleep. They think he has pneumonia. Will see how long he will be in there. Depending on where I am working the next few days, will determine if I can co see him. Hopefully, I will see him before Friday. I will be downtown on Friday, so I can definitely see him then. I thought about seeing him yesterday, but when I called after church he was napping, and sounded like they didn't want me to wake him up. My dad said he went to the hospital because I didn't go see him yesterday.

Party Time

Last night was my party! I will post pictures later this week or next week. It takes time to upload pics to the computer and any websites I might use. We have a working computer now!

Little over 30 people came out last night. 3 couples from my parents church was here. My cousin and her son, my sis, niece, and sis' boyfriend. 12 people from my class, one of those brought her kids, and a few of my nurses showed up. Basically, they all left around 8:30-little after. A couple from my class showed up around 9 pm. Then about 30 minutes later, my nurses showed up at the front door. It was great to see them. They were all gone by 10 pm, a few minutes after. We ate all of the ice cream cake. Taught somebody from my parent's church how to play Phase 10. We never seem to finish playing Phase 10. The first time, we got close. I took pictures, about 40 with both my mom and my camera. I'm glad for all of those who came out.

Lingering Effects

It has been a week since I've finished Interferon. Takes about 30 days for the side effects to be gone. (From reading the mpip board, a few might never stop experiencing a few effects.) I still have had small headaches this week. I 've had low grade fevers start in the middle of the night and last till sometime in the morning. Hair is still thinning. According to my mom, there is new hair growth. ( need a hair cut, hair has been fly away.) Fatigue is up some at various times. Also, been having some brain fog.

Worked 2 1/2 days this week. Party is tomorrow evening.

Fireproof Colors

I had one of my favorite meals for supper on Friday. Lasagna, my mom made it to celebrate that I was done with Interferon. She made two pans, with the second one in the freezer.

On Saturdays, I do not come downstairs until 10 am or later. I listen to the radio from 8:30-9:30 am. Then I do devotions and watch tv. I listen to "Down Gilead Lane" and "Adventures in Odyssey". I love those two shows. I went downstairs around 10:30 or so on Saturday. The backdoor bell rang around 11 am or so. FedEx dropped off a box, which was from me. The box came from ProFlowers out in CA. It was a box of chocolates from my SS class in honor of me finishing my treatment. That was so sweet and thoughtful of them. The chocolate is good. There is a packet of coffee in the box, which my dad is drinking.

Saturday afternoon, both my parents and myself went to the movie theatre to see Fireproof. The movie stars Kirk Cameron, and it is very good movie. Kirk plays a captain in the fire department and has been married about 7 years or so. His marriage is on the rocks. They are always snapping at each other, there is anger and bitterness between them. His wife wants a divorce. Kirk's parents come to see him (they live 4 hours away), and he tells his parents about impending divorce. His father tells him to hold off and that he will send him a book for him to read. The book is called "The Love Dare". Kirk's character reads and follows the directions in the book. The Gospel message is given throughout the movie. There are a couple of nail biter, edge of your seat rescue scenes also in the movie. I will not give the ending away. God see this wonderful movie for yourself.

Yesterday, I spent sometime with my brother. I hadn't seen him in about 3 weeks. It is always good to spend time with him.

When I got home yesterday, I stopped in the driveway to take pics of the trees. I so enjoyed my view walking down the driveway this morning to get the newspaper. The leaves are these gorgeous colors of yellow, gold, red, orange all intermixed within the still green leaves. It is a beautiful picture that God has made for us to enjoy. When people come for my party on Saturday, they sure are going to enjoy the drive up the driveway. Once we have a working computer, I will post pics of this year's fall colors.

I'm Done!

Today was my last day of getting my Interferon treatment for Melanoma! Yeah!!!!!! I showed up about an hour early, I was done subbing early. (I worked every day this week, and I worked in three different school districts.)

My weight was not checked today. But as of two days ago, I have lost 56 pounds, down to 248.5 pounds. Labs were not done, since I received my last Interferon injection today. Labs will be done in two weeks. Will see where I am in two weeks when I see my onc.

They had a little party for me. Two of my nurses weren't there. I got a hug from each one. There was a certificate congratulating me on finishing my treatment. I was given two balloons, they had crepe paper up, and a cake. This was not just any cake, but ice cream cake! They bought an ice cream cake for me.

I in turn had a thank you card and a container of brownies for them. My nurses have been wonderful! While my temp was being taken, the pharmacist came out and did a quick jig for me. I started laughing. It was funny! The nurses are coming to my party next week.

Party is in 8 more days! It is a week from tomorrow. Will be food, fun, and fellowship. Celebrating the end of my treatment.

I see my onc in two weeks, and a week later, a derm to check out a spot on my right thigh. I will have a full body check in January. When I see my onc, will find out more about follow-up and will make a complete decision about my port.

No more injections!!!!!!! No more injections!!!!!!!!!! No more Interferon!!!!!! My car is not going to know what to do on Monday. It is so used to driving over to the hospital three days a week. What will be helpful is seeing my niece play BB Monday afternoon. Let's just praise the Lord!!!!

Met With My Advisor

Yesterday afternoon, I met with my academic advisor (aa). I might get a new one, this one is a reading person, and I am a science person. Will see... I need to talk to the science person to see which science classes I can take for my 15 hours of content, part of my program. I will be getting my Master's in Elementary Ed in curriculum studies. I went through this schedule last night, looking at different classes that are being offered next year. I am thinking of taking two classes in January, and try to take two in both summer sessions. Will see if I can handle that. I am also going to check into scholarships and grad assistantships. I will write more when I get more info.

I only worked 1 1/2 days last week. So far, I have worked 2 1/2 days this week. My White blood count is up to 2.2, and platelets are up to 142. My body is fighting something, my fatigue level has been up, and I see to get a low grade fever sometime in the middle of the night to about mid to late morning. Then it goes away.

I am done on Friday. Yahoo!!!!!! I have a thank you card for my nurses and I am baking them brownies as a gift. When I am done here at the library, I'm thinking of stopping in Wadsworth to order my ice cream cake.

Funny Brother Story

Wednesday was the quarterly IEP meeting for my brother. My mom goes and she told us at supper that night a couple of stories. I was laughing, because my brother is smart.

There is a girl in his class who wheres a helmet. When she is sitting at the table they take it off. They placed the helmet up high above the cabinets. My brother eyed it, and eyed it some more. He went over to the counter and started climbing. He got stuck while he was climbing. The teachers watched him and he got himself unstuck and climbed onto the counter. He reached up and pulled the helmet down. (When my brother was younger, we allowed him to climb onto the furniture.) They couldn't believe that he did it. You have to stay one step ahead of him, because he will figure it out.

They had a jumpsuit made for him. It zips in the back, purposely. My brother likes to pull out his feeding tube. When he gets to the workshop, he takes off his pants, so he can put the jumpsuit on. He likes wearing the jumpsuit.

It is a new policy at the Infusion Center to be weighed every time you go in. My vitals are taken every visit, as well. I was weighed this afternoon, and have lost a couple of pounds. I am down to 249.9 pounds. One more week of injections are left!!!!!! I worked 1 1/2 days this week. Stayed home all day yesterday. Had a fire in the fireplace going the last two nights.

New Cancer Center

4 more injections left!! Today, Summa opened their new Cancer Care Center. It is a really nice building. No more parking in the parking deck. No more walking the bridge and long hallways. Actually, I will miss that.

Go in the building and go up one flight of stairs. My onc is next door to where I go. That will make it easier to see my nurses when I go in for a checkup. The waiting room is much bigger than the old one is. A small coat rack is there. A nice new tv, but none of the tvs are hooked up yet.

Go to the back and there are like about 20 chairs/beds. The beds are enclosed in rooms with a door. The chairs look out the window and have new chairs and tvs. They are both nice. They each have a curtain for privacy. There is a visitor's chair for each chair. Way, way bigger than the old room. Good size nurse's station. Head nurse has her own desk off to the size. The oncology pharmacy is also back there, instead of calling, they can walk over to the window to order what they need. They actually now have their own ice machine. Before they had to walk over to the floor to get ice. (That is important, I get a glove of ice on Fridays to make my port area nice and cold before my port is accessed.) Each nurse has her own phone to use while at work. They can call each other when they need help. Let's just say, Summa did good by them.

I took my camera this morning, so I could have my pic taken with my nurses. Had two pics taken today. One is off on Wednesdays, and another one was busy with a patient. I will take it again on Friday. The nurses have been invited to my party later this month.

Went shopping afterwards and bought three new pairs of pants. Because of the material and how they are made, I got them in 18/20S (small, the other ones I tried on were too long). The 22/24 seem a little big. I am not officially down to a 18/20. I need to start eating yogurt again. Yogurt really does help in weight loss. Had lunch at CiCi's Pizza (my favorite place to eat at.)

Sleep

I am currently tired! Only 5 more injections! In the past few months, when I wake up in the middle of the night, a lot of nights, I have a hard time getting back to sleep. I have that problem from my dad. You wake up for the RR, and for whatever reason you have something on your mind. You start thinking, and that will keep you awake for awhile. I am in bed between 7 1/2-9 hours a night. I go to bed tired and wake up tired. I am just not getting enough sleep at night. I have had this problem for years, but would not effect me very often, but it is getting more and more frequent.

It doesn't help that I am up 2-4 times a night. I spend about 95% of the night, laying on my back with my right leg elevated. Laying on my back, makes me wake up a lot at night. Every time I wake up, I basically will roll over and hit play on my cd player, so I can play my Praise and Worship cd. The cd lasts about 80 minutes, and it plays a few time through every night.

I have worked 12 days this month. I worked 3 1/2 days last week, and so far only one day this week.

This past Saturday night, I did a small scrapbook in about 2 hours. It is a Picfolio and holds 24 pics. I did it of my birthday, back in July. I'm thinking of doing another one from next month's party. Hopefully, I'll take a lot of pics that night, so that I can make one.

Praise God!

7 more injections then I am done!!!!!! I posted on Tuesday about something stupid I did on Monday. When I left the library I was at on Tuesday, I stopped at the one I was at on Monday. Guess what! My flash drive was there behind the computer on that desk. I am so hoping, nobody looked to see what was on my flash drive. I am so thankful that it was there.

We are now in my favorite season, fall/autumn. The leaves have started changing on the trees in my yard. It is a slightly early, but still beautiful.

I have gotten into Akron U's Grad School. I will start classes in January. I will be getting a letter soon, telling me who my advisor is and will call to make an appointment.

New Stocking

Last Friday, I picked up my new stocking. I wore it for the first time on Saturday. It fits fine, but it bugs me at the top of my thigh. Saturday, it left a red mark. It is tighter than my old one. With the temps in the 70's and colder at night, you'd think the lymphodema would decrease, but it doesn't look like it has.

Labs were done as usual, last Friday. My white blood count is down from 2.0 to 1.9. Looks like my platelet dropped, too. They are now at 121.

I worked 4 days last week, kinder. I have worked both yesterday and today for this week.

8 more injections!

The Indians have won 7 in a row, and are actually 2 games above .500. Before Sunday, the last time they were above .500 was back in May. Cliff Lee pitches tonight and again on Sunday.

I saw 3 deer last Thursday morning.

I've been taking lots of Tylenol in the past week and half, trying not to take a pain pill. It has been a couple of weeks since I've taken a pain pill.

I did something really stupid yesterday. I need some prayer!!! I went to the library yesterday afternoon to get online. (First time online in 6 days.) I connected my flash drive to the hard drive, so I could send an attachment to an email to somebody. I totally forgot about my flash drive and left it there, connected to the computer. This flash drive is very important, all of my resume stuff is on it, along with a copy of my driver's license and I think also my ss card. When I realized it this afternoon, I had my mom call over to the library and nobody had turned it in. Please pray that I get it back and nobody uses it to try and mess up my identity. I still can't believe I did that. It is tough not having a working computer at home.

Skunk II

**UPDATE**
The skunk went "bye-bye" yesterday morning. I think you can figure out how he went bye-bye. I will give you a hint. Three letter word, and starts with a g.
The Indians will have a pitcher two years in a row win the CY Yound Award. Cliff Lee won again last night. He is now 22-2.


I was awake for a couple of hours last night, at some point, I heard what sounded like the trap door closing. Lo and Behold, we caught an animal. A skunk, a good sized skunk. A skunk, not an albino skunk. I told my dad, he went out to look, he threw something at the cage, and guess what the skunk did? He sprayed! My room smelled, I had to close my windows and it still smelled when I went downstairs. I didn't see it spray, but I sure could smell it. At first, it looked like two animals in the cage, but there is only one. I wonder how long we will have the skunk until it goes "bye-bye".

Last Day

Monday, was my monthly appointment with my onc. I only lost 1 pound this past month. I ate more and drank more pop than I should've. I will see him again on October 24. I received the lab results from Friday's labs. My WBC went down from 2.3 to 2.0. I expected that since I battle fatigue all of last week. My platelets went up from 107 to 139. I had the normal lows of other things.

Last day of Interferon treatment will be Friday, October 10. Yeah!!!!!!!!! Can you believe that the year of treatment is just about done? That is such good news. I will have labs done on October 24 with scans in early November. After that, if things are good, I can have my port taken out. I will ask about followup first and go from there. Please pray that I will make the best decision about my port and what to do with it.

Thank you again for all of your prayers! I so do appreciate them.

I am working on applying to grad school to start in January. I worked yesterday. So far, I've worked 2 1/2 days since school has started. It will pick up, but I'm not worried.

My Teachers

I attended Chapel Hill Christian School for elementary school in the late 70's and early 80's. Since I have graduated from college and have my teaching certificate, I have subbed for three of my elementary ed teachers. Before I ever moved to TX, I did sub at CHCS, and subbed for my PE and my sixth grade teachers. Subbing for my sixth grade teacher was so cool! My fourth grade teacher is teaching in the city school district that I do sub for. This afternoon, I was her sub. That was cool for the both of us! She is now teaching third grade.

This Past Week

Friday afternoon, we left for IL for a wedding that was on Saturday morning. There were 5 of us in the car. Cramped, but I tried hard not to complain. The only driving I did over the weekend was Sunday morning.

The wedding was nice, started 30 minutes late, that is okay. The groom washed his bride's feet. That was different. The bride, groom, matron of honor, and best man, were the only ones to partake in communion. Bride's mother married them. Brunch reception, and dancing after we ate. Groom's sister made the wedding cake. She did a great job.

Spent the night in IN. Sunday morning, drove to Sandusky to spend time at Kalahari. Nice place, fun and expensive. Did get some sun. Sore calf muscles, feel it more in my left than my right, but knees are bothering me. They have a wave pool, four hot tubs, water slides, and other things to do.

Left Sandusky around 5 pm on Monday to head for home. I called the hospital (nurses' station) to let them know I would be in between 7:30 and 8 pm. That is so they could call pharmacy to have my injection. They knew I would be in sometime on Monday, because they had my chart. I get there about 7:30 (mom drove me, I was very tired). Guess what? My injection wasn't there. They called down to pharmacy. I didn't get my injection till around 9 pm. I was bored, so I played with my phone and watched Indians a bit. About 8:45 called the sub systems to see if there was something for Tuesday, there was and I accepted it.

Woke up Tuesday and called the system trying to cancel, couldn't. I was so tired that I couldn't function and sore. Dad drove me to school and my mom picked me up that afternoon. Had a headache most of day, finally took a pain after supper, 6 pm. The pain pill did its job.

This morning, had my follow-up with the surgeon about last week. Appointment was for 8:45 am. Was called back to a room, a little after 10 am, waited still another hour to see the doctor. Confirmed the bakers cyst, and said I was probably starting to get arthritis in my knees. Was told to follow-up with my family doctor. Will wait awhile before I do. It was noon, when I finally left the hospital area, after getting my injection.

I didn't get my lab results on Monday. I got them today. My WBC was 2.3, up from 2.1. I thought it would've dropped since I was tired all last week. I didn't eat breakfast on Friday, and my glucose was at 107, that was odd. My platelets had dropped down to 107. I was expecting that to drop. Will get new results next Monday.

This Friday, I am planning on getting measured for a new compression stocking. I won't if I sub. Seeing my onc next Monday afternoon.

Last Friday, the Indians winning streak was ended by Seattle, and Seattle swept the good guys. We did win Monday and Tuesday and lost today. Monday, Cliff Lee pitched and won his 20th game of the season. Let's see how many more he can win. He won AL pitcher of the month for August, second time this season. He is in contention for CY Young award. I hope he wins it.