Made it to the end of December!

Christmas 2022!!! Thank You, Lord that I made it to this day!!

Since my last infusion it’s been several beautiful days of friends and family Christmases with yummy food and fun! 

Starting with my dear beloved Cassinari’s, here Liz and Journey enjoy a cup of tea from the new teapot and regifted demitasse cups! 

Then Lynn-time was very special as I got to experience the gift of meeting her parents who all have been prayer warriors over me! 

I was so thankful to have my kids over on Friday despite the Arctic forces that almost kept me from snuggles with my granddaughter & laughter with my kids. My mama & grandma cup got filled up with so much love!  

My husband, John, aka Santa hosted a Christmas family skate at the ice rink Friday night where he offered a night of free skating for all his hockey players and families. Since I really can’t skate with new blisters on my feet and the risk of injury of my fragile ribs due to the potential of falling, I got to take the ice hockey sled out on her maiden voyage before John donates it to the ice rink for our disabled friends to play on the ice! 

Physically, I’m feeling great! The only minor side effects I’m noticing are occasional bouts of digestive upset from the meds causing me to use a bit of Imodium, but it’s no biggie. Then a couple weeks ago the joints in my hands started feeling achy and I’m not quite sure why. Perhaps it’s from the meds or possibly the start of arthritis?? Lastly there are some skin issues I am not sure if or when they’ll heal but the most noticeable is several blisters that just randomly showed up on my left foot. It’s my newest goal that they heal within the next 2 weeks because I’m planning a winter hiking/camping trip to Wisconsin mid-January. 

Then came Christmas Eve and beyond in Illinois where I was filled up with lots of love with so many family get togethers. I was thrilled to see all my nieces and nephew, sisters and brother in laws, cousins, parents and aunt plus a night out with more cousins, especially this 97 year old jewel, my first cousin once removed, Sally!! Lord let me live as long and as well as her!

And to top off my Christmas, I got to go to my favorite farm at my dearest Wendy’s and was showered with love, friendship, delicious food and liquid gold, aka, fresh goat milk!! And no one can darn my homespun wool socks better than the farmer that knit them!!

So here I am, relishing the fact that God deigned that I should live to see the year come to a close. For this I’m oozing with so much thankfulness. I experience my days with the keen and very real knowledge that each day is a gift. Yet I vacillate between forgetting I have a cancer diagnosis and wondering if I’ll be here next Christmas. I make plans for our WonderVan life where we dream of all the magnificent places we will travel and at the same time, I joke about when I’m cremated and will have little jars of my ashes for everyone to take home as my parting gift so they can have a piece of me! I enjoy reading a book like my spare time is as normal as anyone’s and then on the same day want to distribute a version of John Cross’ book I’d hope everyone I know and love would read. This would be my last chance at sharing the most important reason I believe I was even born…to share my faith in a clear way so everyone I know has an opportunity to at least understand what gives me such hope and purpose in life!

I’ll close this weeks blog with what I call my Life Verses:

Going to Weekly Posts

It’s been 249 days since I reopened my Breast Cancer Journal detailing my daily activities, medical appointments and procedures, thoughts, prayers & meaningful songs. I am beyond blessed for the Million Little Miracles that have been generously given and the gifts of time, love, letters, prayers, lives & beautiful things so many have shared in these past 8 months!! I’ve had a caring husband by my side every day with patience, understanding, assistance, grace and chauffeuring me to every appointment but one!! There are cousins, Mary and Kathleen, who’ve sent me handmade cards practically weekly!! I’ve had dozens of family and friends demonstrate Christ-like love in ways that teaches me how to better love on others. I’ve had so much that I have Gratitude for! 

I’ve decided that 249 days has been long enough to blog daily so after today’s infusion visit, I’ll only blog weekly unless something significant happens.

 I’m feeling great and other than my infusions every 3 weeks, scans every 3 months & minor side effects from the meds, my life feels normal and my days are just regular. I cook, clean, hike and backpack…

bike…

go to the grocery store, hang out with friends…

wash my car, read and sleep just like many of my readers. Yes, I have a crazy terminal stage 4 breast cancer diagnosis but it sounds way worse than I feel, so I’m choosing to just live my life and only write weekly about the highlights. If anyone wants to know more, then reach out and text or call me. I even video chat with friends across the world from my Korean daughter in England…

to my Prayer and Bible reading with my former husband’s  former fiancé who has become a dear prayer warrior and friend.

Only God can weave the tapestry of my life so uniquely and beautifully into something that will bring Him such glory!! I’m reminded that this life IS NOT about me being happy and comfortable, but about what Yahweh is doing in and through me however that looks! He has taught me that if I keep an open mind, if I don’t sit in judgement of others or think better of myself than I ought to and if I trust that God’s ways are way higher and way different than mine, then I’ll get to experience the most wondrous things this life has to offer. 

A dear friend wrote this today and sent it to me. Aimee has been faithful in sending me scripture every day for years!! Today’s writing is good food for thought. 

 “God gifted this day with the beauty of a full-on sun, giving light and warmth, despite the chilly air, where we have been lacking for weeks. As I made my way around my path, I approached a familiar tree, with a familiar view of the water. Today, I was drawn toward it, to stand under its canopy, sorely depleted of foliage, turn my face to the horizon and just soak in the bright warmth. As I opened my eyes, my gaze fell on the branches above my head. I noticed the few dead leaves that clung tightly, refusing their grip, while the ends of the branches already boasted tiny buds, eager to grow. God revealed to me, in that moment, that there is no "hard stop" to one season we sit in, wishing and waiting for the trial to end so we can be free and happy again. The seasons are bleeding into each other continuously....the growth with the pain, the joys with the sorrow, the abundance with the scarcity. After a long time under the tree pondering this truth, I turned to walk away and noticed the roots, gnarled and knotty, above the ground and then disappearing deep. I looked at those roots a long time, understanding that yet another "season" will soon be hitting, and they will be invisible, covered in a blanket of new, white, sparkly snow. But, yet, the tree will remain firm and draw its strength, throughout all those seasons, because of its  roots. Check your "roots", remain firmly planted and allow the time of each "season" to meld with all the rest.”

 by Aimee Arreguin 

Wonderly Christmas Gathering

Oh my! Time does fly! It’s been a few days since my last blog and it only feels like a minute. 

Thankfully my health feels great and other than working out in our woods for the past couple days that wore me out, I’m still doing really wonderful!  

This week I read a special story to a dear friend, Judy, in France. It’s called The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans. The story had us both in tears as we were touched by the sweet first gift of Christmas. 

 I did get to a little Christmas baking with these family favorite marshmallow wreaths, thanks to my Aunt MaryAnn.

Then I helped move logs John cut up for our annual bonfire at our Christmas Gathering with some friends. All day Friday and Saturday we cleaned up and set out lots of candles throughout the woods that lit the trail down to this massive bonfire! 

Then last night we had the gift of several friends come and join us in singing Christmas carols, listening to the Christmas story in Luke 2:1-20 read from Santa aka John Wonderly and warming up next to this inferno. 

Then today I got to enjoy my dear friend JO at a Christmas cantata before she moves out of state! I just love how God orchestrated this sweet friendship! 

As I approach the week before Christmas I’m thankful for the opportunity to meet with some friends this week, then I will have an infusion on Tuesday and before I know it, my kids will be here and I’ll get to see my beautiful granddaughter again! I can’t wait!

Anniversary Celebration Continued

As John and I wrap up a 4 day celebration of our 10 year wedding anniversary, I would like to acknowledge and thank my God for His miracles and mercies toward me every day. Without God in my life, I’d be lost in every way. 

We had 2 full days of hiking in Red River Gorge and saw several natural stone bridges and thoroughly enjoyed a friend’s log cabin! We are astounded at the love shown to us by so many friends on this journey! Tonight we thank Tom for the gift of his family’s chalet!!!

This evening we ended our anniversary celebration at a concert in Dayton listening to a local Cincinnati group called ‘4-Way Quartet’ playing Christmas songs, including several from The Nutcracker. I was surprised at my initial physical response to the overwhelming beauty of the strings and gratitude in my heart. Tears flowed freely as I realized how blessed I am to be alive and see illuminated candles surrounding the musicians as they entertained us with perfectly tuned instruments in worship of the coming birth of the Savior of the world! As we sat down in the Dayton Arcade, an historical building that’s been beautifully restored, God had us sit next to three lovely women starting with Darlene who’s almost 90! She was accompanied by one of her daughters and her grand daughter whom we’re all lovely and such angels! Darlene was so sweet and encouraging! I just thank You, Father for orchestrating all these miracles from the people to the music! In a span of one hour I saw His love poured out on me to gushing!!! I’m so blessed!

Now that I’ve met my 3 goals since this second diagnosis, I need to think about my next goals. One is to definitely finish building out our WonderVan, sell our belongings and house and embark on a dream life of traveling the country and world for many, many years to come! Another is to visit my new little granddaughter every month or two and watch her grow and develop into a gentle and loving little girl. And third …well, I haven’t decided my third goal yet. 

As for how I’m feeling physically, I am practically perfect in every way, except for a few minor inconveniences like occasional rib pressure, general muscular tightness when I stretch or breathe deeply and a few skin issues that need more healing. But I’m really feeling amazing overall! 

Again I’d like to personally thank you if you’ve prayed for me, reached out to me, sent me anything, called or visited me or even just thought about me! 

10 Years and Celebrating

In April, 2022 when given a stage 4 terminal diagnosis, I was asked by my oncologist if I had any goals. I told her that I wanted to see my 1st granddaughter, make it to my 10 year anniversary to John and ride my mountain bike again! As of today, I’m praising God for His miracles because I’ve met them all!! 

John and I were gifted a friend’s log cabin for the week in Red River Gorge so we’ve been out hiking all day and will continue tomorrow as well. It’s really sweet when two people enjoy doing so much together as we do and I’m over the moon thankful that my lungs and body can do these hikes!

Just for fun I’m posting some pictures from our wedding day in our woods on 12-12-12!

Home

It has been one month since I’ve been home and I am so deeply grateful for the gift of this time where I have seen incredible natural beauty in Wyoming for 3 weeks…

and have fellowshipped with so many beautiful friends… And of course I’ve been given the great gift of seeing my first grandchild!

But I must admit that it is wonderful to be back home and sleep in my own bed again. 

John and I are now looking forward to celebrating our 10 year anniversary this weekend! Every one of these things I have spoken of is a manifested miracle and I thank God for them all! 

Today I was grateful to be able to spend time with my son.

I love creating and currently I’m constructing a book for Advent where I am taking some of my favorite photos from the last month in Wyoming and Florida and over laying Bible verses on them. I will make them into book to give to my granddaughter for a future Advent seasons. Here are a couple more samples.

 

I love it how God shows up in my life! Last night when I was on the plane flying home from Florida, the sun was setting and casting a beautiful pastel color over the eastern sky where the colors were combining and painting the most beautiful moonrise I have ever seen in my life! While I was watching it, I was listening to a song on my iPhone called “I took a walk through snowy wood“ by David Wolfenberger. I’ve tried to find the lyrics to this song all day but I have failed. What I can understand from the lyrics is a beautiful prayer and God spoke to me in the words and confirmed it with the moon rise and sky!