November 2024

Typically I have been fastidious about journaling on the day I have my infusion to report all I’ve done in the previous weeks, however, I’m not feeling like a lot has happened to me that’s so blog worthy so I have dragged my feet this time. Really, I don’t see much different in my life than in most others. In fact, mine is somewhat regular and mundane at the moment so I hesitate to even post this. But for sake of consistency, I will anyway. 

A few days ago I had my routine 3 week infusion of HP (as the oncology nurses call it). It stands for the drugs I’m given, Herceptin & Perjeta. While there I was informed that my iron is too low which may be the cause of my frequent charlie horses. Therefore, my medical oncologist, Dr. Kai Johnson, is having me take 6 treatments of IV iron at my next 6 HP treatments. He says it’ll take an additional 2 hours and I may have allergic reactions so I’ll be on Benadryl and have steroids ready and waiting if needed.  Since my electrolytes always read perfectly, this is his next solution. He also indicated that many of his long term HP patients need to get the iron infusions. 

John and I flew to Florida for my granddaughter’s birthday last week which was lovely but way too short of a visit. Seeing her and hearing her incessantly call out my name, “GRANITA!”, with her arms stretched up for me to hold her literally lights up my life & makes me feel so wanted! I love it! Thank YOU God for the gift of time! We went to Great Wolf Lodge to celebrate making a birthday bash easier to pull off than all that goes into a party at my daughter’s home right now. 

I also got to finally see my son, Jonathan, after almost 3.5 months and got to hear all about his travels. What a blessing he has had the opportunity to travel to China and Japan thanks to my Chinese son Alex! I’m so grateful for their brotherly love and concern for each other!

Physically, I’ve only hiked a little here and there to keep my bones moving. Recently I found out that because I was diagnosed 2 years ago as terminal, and I’m still alive, our Government requires that I go on Medicare. One benefit is that I now have a free membership to Silver Sneakers (that just sounds old!!) which offers free membership to most YMCAs, Anytime Fitness and Planet Fitness!! If only I liked going to the gym. I’m seeing it as my opportunity to have a free, long, hot shower when we are eventually living in the Wondervan!! As it stands now, our water tank in the van will only allow for 4 minute showers!

Spiritually, I want to share something that I don’t typically do and that is a clip from my church where for 20 minutes my pastor, Roger, shared this message that I really liked. No need to watch the whole thing. If you want to go from approximately time 17:30 to 37:30 minutes you can listen. Roger, like me has recently battled cancer and is being given more time to live on earth thanks to God! His teachings seem to be much more impactful to me as I listen. I think we both are keenly aware of the treasure and responsibility we have to make our little lives matter for the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. Cancer can be a gift because with it life becomes so much more palpably fragile and living on purpose to share about the love of God through Jesus’ sacrifice has emboldened me to become unashamedly transparent in my purpose. Also, I’m watching an Amazon Prime video docuseries Jonathan and Jesus where actor Jonathan Roumie shares about his journey playing Jesus. He’s an inspiration and I’m grateful how God is using him to bring Christins together in unity around Jesus alone! I’ve been reading in Scripture most mornings and staying close to God as His Word soaks in and reminds me of His faithfulness. In fact, today I finished reading in the book of Joshua. Here are a few of my favorite verses from there. 

“Make sure you obey every command and instruction Moses, Yahweh’s servant, gave you. Love Yahweh! He is your God, so walk in his ways and obey his commands! Cling to him and serve him diligently with all your heart and with all your soul!”

‭‭Joshua‬ ‭22‬:‭5‬ ‭TPT‬‬

“Now therefore, worship Yahweh with holy awe and serve him in authentic love and loyalty. Remove from your hearts every false god to whom your fathers bowed down beyond the Euphrates and in Egypt and serve Yahweh. If it seems wrong in your eyes to serve Yahweh, then make your decision today which gods you will worship—the gods which your ancestors worshiped in Mesopotamia or the gods which the Amorites worship in the land where you are now living—but I and my family, we will give our lives to worship and serve Yahweh!”

‭‭Joshua‬ ‭24‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭TPT‬‬

Back Home Normalcy

Since returning from almost 2 months in Canada and Michigan, I admit that it is nice to be back home. Home to my warm soft bed and a washing machine, home to all the conveniences of a house, and home to all my friends nearby.

The past few weeks I’ve been hiking a little more on the Buckeye Trail with my friend Liz. On one of our jaunts while hiking next to Caesar Creek we had the rare opportunity of seeing a buck in full rut chasing down a doe. I missed the video of her but 10 seconds after she crossed the path in front of us, this big boy came shamelessly crashing through the woods in hot pursuit. What an amazing thing to see! We considered how God is like this with us…pursuing us to show His love and to give us life! Maybe a stretch but it’s always my goal to find the lesson in everything!

Loving the cool mornings to get out and be able to hike and breathe fresh air into my lungs. Of course Brandon Lake’s song, Gratitude, came to mind as I inhaled going up the inclines and was washed over with a sense of so much thankfulness that I can do this!! Out of 1444 miles we have almost 14 miles under our belt now! I love it that Liz and I pick up trash along the way to beautify the BT for others! Honestly I’ve noticed more and more stiffness in my muscles in general and I’m not exactly sure why but hoping it’s just from the increased activity and not from some reason related to the drugs I’m on for cancer treatments. It’s been my experience that when something physical acts up that I can’t specifically explain, my brain likes to tempt me into thinking it’s something cancer related! Then I need to give it to God and remember these words from this song. In fact, if you read my blog from when I recently spent a month in the Canadian wilderness, you’ll remember that God literally calmed the waves and wind for me! He does miracles like this to remind me that His eyes indeed are on me through it all!

While John works on the WonderVan, I’m finding time for little projects like cutting firewood, sanding and staining a wooden bench, making Christmas gifts from Petoskey stones I got in Michigan, mountain biking our local trails, reading a good book trilogy called Out of Egypt by Connilyn Cossette and hiking with other friends. This is a photo special lady who shares a medical journey similar to mine where we can both say how grateful we are to God for giving us more time. I got to share my bench with her and we sat and worshipped together singing Gratitude!

I’m headed out tomorrow to visit my kids in Florida! Jonathan has been in Asia for the past 2 months and I can’t wait to give the guy a mama bear hug! My granddaughter turns 2 and this Granita will go celebrate being given the miracle gift of time with her which was one of my goals over 900 days ago!! So yes, I’m ringing my Gratitude Bell to thank God for all these precious sacred gifts that I do not take for granted!!