Hey! Check this out!
http://www.amazon.com/Reflections-Ramblings-Diary-Cancer-Survivor/dp/1440444722/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1228093432&sr=8-1
My oldest son pulled together the first year of my blog postings and I am now a published author! Imagine that. I have had so many people encourage me to publish my writing that I went ahead with it. While I am not sure why anyone would want to read my rantings and ravings, I am happy to oblige those who have asked.
So feel free to order or pass the link on to friends who might be interested. Mostly though, I hope others who are battling cancer might find some small measure of comfort in these pages, perhaps identify with some of the little battles cancer patients deal with. So if you know someone with cancer, and feel so inclined, please send them a copy. And let me know if you get anything out of it.
Thanks.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Seven Eleven
Our worship service usually begins with a choral call to worship sung by the adult choir. The music is an invitation to enter into worship, to invite the presence of God, to help us focus on eternal matters.
This week, we were blessed to have the Roberts Wesleyan College Men's Barbershop Quartet. They call themselves Seven-Eleven. Why? Because they all started college in 2007 and will all graduate in 2011! So 7/11. Before the service began, they tried out the sanctuary to see how the space works. Then they warmed up properly in one of the Sunday School rooms. The place was abuzz with excitement.
They were decked out in bright red jackets with gold buttons - several of which went awol in the hallway right before service. One of the ladies in the choir scurried around and found a small sewing kit and worked her magic in making them jump back on the jackets and stay there.
What a joy to hear songs like "I'll Fly Away" and other gospel style music. I asked them to sing in as many places in the service as I could manage to wedge them. It added such a wonderful touch to the theme of passionate praise, one of our topics in the series pastor is teaching on. I'm working on convincing them that they should join the choir since three of them attend the church on a semi regular basis. Nothing like augmenting the ranks now and again. But of course, their lives are hectic and crammed with all the things college students love doing.
But its a definite booking for next year! And the next. I sure hope they get a few freshmen to take over after they graduate! I could get used to this tradition.
This week, we were blessed to have the Roberts Wesleyan College Men's Barbershop Quartet. They call themselves Seven-Eleven. Why? Because they all started college in 2007 and will all graduate in 2011! So 7/11. Before the service began, they tried out the sanctuary to see how the space works. Then they warmed up properly in one of the Sunday School rooms. The place was abuzz with excitement.
They were decked out in bright red jackets with gold buttons - several of which went awol in the hallway right before service. One of the ladies in the choir scurried around and found a small sewing kit and worked her magic in making them jump back on the jackets and stay there.
What a joy to hear songs like "I'll Fly Away" and other gospel style music. I asked them to sing in as many places in the service as I could manage to wedge them. It added such a wonderful touch to the theme of passionate praise, one of our topics in the series pastor is teaching on. I'm working on convincing them that they should join the choir since three of them attend the church on a semi regular basis. Nothing like augmenting the ranks now and again. But of course, their lives are hectic and crammed with all the things college students love doing.
But its a definite booking for next year! And the next. I sure hope they get a few freshmen to take over after they graduate! I could get used to this tradition.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
That Can't Be Good
Blood. Its never a good sign. Especially coming from parts of the body where it ought not to come. I mean, that's how this whole thing got started! Really, its just a small dot - nothing to be concerned about. Question is, why? Did I do something to trigger it? Eat something inappropriate? I have been experimenting with eating more of the healthier foods, and so far it has gone well. Is the exercise making things raw?
I worry that the amazing internal reconstruction job my surgeon miraculously performed only a few short years ago will suddenly come unhinged and without a moment's notice I could end up with a permanent stoma! The very thought makes me shudder. No way. Hold on to your wild imagination. No need to go down such a drastic road.
Still, I have been here before. And the first spot got my attention. This second one is concerning. If I see any more, I will be calling the doctor and trying not to panic. Repetition of this initial symptom is a difficult one to deal with.
At this point, I am merely lying low, pulling back from experimenting with fiber foods, not going to the Y for a couple of days, easing up.
And I am preparing for the "just in case" scenario. Just in case I end up in the hospital for some reason, I want to make sure that the emergency drawer has some cash in it, that my toenails are clipped and my legs are shaved, that the cupboards have some modicum of food in them, that the car gastank is full, that the bills are paid up, that Kiel knows where the important paperwork is and that its all up to date, that my phone is charged, that I have a small bag packed with essentials, that life will proceed smoothly without me should it need to for a few days. You know, the basics.
Darnit - a green light followed by a caution light. Well, maybe I am just making a fuss over nothing. Maybe the pain in my side is just gas and I am imagining things. Still, it never hurts to be ready.
I worry that the amazing internal reconstruction job my surgeon miraculously performed only a few short years ago will suddenly come unhinged and without a moment's notice I could end up with a permanent stoma! The very thought makes me shudder. No way. Hold on to your wild imagination. No need to go down such a drastic road.
Still, I have been here before. And the first spot got my attention. This second one is concerning. If I see any more, I will be calling the doctor and trying not to panic. Repetition of this initial symptom is a difficult one to deal with.
At this point, I am merely lying low, pulling back from experimenting with fiber foods, not going to the Y for a couple of days, easing up.
And I am preparing for the "just in case" scenario. Just in case I end up in the hospital for some reason, I want to make sure that the emergency drawer has some cash in it, that my toenails are clipped and my legs are shaved, that the cupboards have some modicum of food in them, that the car gastank is full, that the bills are paid up, that Kiel knows where the important paperwork is and that its all up to date, that my phone is charged, that I have a small bag packed with essentials, that life will proceed smoothly without me should it need to for a few days. You know, the basics.
Darnit - a green light followed by a caution light. Well, maybe I am just making a fuss over nothing. Maybe the pain in my side is just gas and I am imagining things. Still, it never hurts to be ready.
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