Day October 15, 2016 God Shines In The Courtroom

Yesterday was a big, heavy, long-awaited for day! To anyone who has been reading my blog knows that the day I had my biopsy on May 6, 2016 was the day my friend, Jordan Pieniazek, had his Celebration of Life service. He was killed on May 1, 2016 after being struck on his motorcycle while driving to work for the Cincinnati Fire Department. And after many months of tears, Jordan's wife, Liz, finally got to meet the young man who struck Jordan, Patric Tucker, and she forgave him and gave him a hug. Several of Liz' family members and friends attended the final sentencing yesterday at the Hamilton County Courthouse in Cincinnati. Patric, a 25 year old young man, stood next to his lawyer and apologized whole-heartedly to Liz and in return, Liz read a letter to Patric that had the courtroom silent and in tears as she gave the most loving, forgiving, genuine, tender-hearted discourse a man in his shoes could hear. Even the judge was in tears and the prosecutor was in tears and I believe Patric will become the man God created him to be because of the manner in which Liz and Jordan's family loved the Tucker family through this tragedy.
http://www.wlwt.com/article/man-convicted-of-causing-crash-that-killed-firefighter-sentenced-to-probation/6098382



I am thankful I have continued to feel exceptionally normal through all my chemo treatment this week. My feet are looking normal again, my energy level is steady, my appetite is almost too good, and I was able to do several activities that I am thankful for. I drove to Columbus, Ohio to help my daughter move, I went to the dentist and had a cavity filled (yes, even hygienists can get cavities!), I went fishing in my friend's pond and we caught more than a dozen keepers, and I was able to attend the final sentencing for Jordan's case.  Unbelievable that while undergoing chemo, I can live life fully! So thankful!

Today I will have the whole day free and I plan on getting soups made, laundry done, and the house ready for my Annual Girl's Weekend starting Sunday. Liz Pieniazek and Brooklyn Mesward will even join me on Monday for my chemo. I think we might have too much fun at the 'chemo salon' but I'm looking forward to the trouble we might get in! Our annual weekends usually have been filled with nursing or pregnant mamas, pranks, laughs, crafts, and good food. This year will look very different as all three of us have experienced extreme loss and difficulty in the past year. Job loss and moving out of state away from their friends and church home for Brooklyn, becoming a widow for Liz, and a breast cancer diagnosis for me. AND we all have the loss of each others loss on top of our own. I am thankful I feel well enough to even have this weekend with these beautiful ladies!