New Woman

After a day or so of treatment (for laryngitis, sinus infection, stuffiness), I started to notice a difference.
I felt a spring in my step.
What WAS that wonderful feeling???

Oh, AIR!
I was starting to get significant oxygen into my lungs, into my brain, into my bloodstream, rushing all through my body with health!

I was starting to feel like a new woman!
What a good way to begin a New Year!


I remembered the chorus of an old hymn, maybe from childhood, "There is Power in the Blood":
"There is power, power, wonder-working power
In the precious blood of the Lamb..."

Giving thanks for Jesus, my Life-Blood.

I'll Be Home (sick) for Christmas

For a pastor's family, family traditions are highly related to the church's traditions and schedules.

John and I, in various places we have lived, have had a tradition that I would be his Christmas Eve liturgist (reader).

This year, however, I was out with laryngitis.
-Thanks, capable college student Julia Wahl, for helping to lead worship on short notice!

I missed the Sunday service as well.

By Monday morning, I was ready to see a doctor. I was stuffy, and my face hurt. John kindly called to make arrangements and took me in. I came home with antibiotics for a nasty sinus infection that went along with the laryngitis. I was also told to use a nasal irrigator, which I had never done before, so we chose Ocean Complete Sinus Irrigation from the pharmacy shelf. Eager to feel better, I took the first antibiotic pills right away, with the office drinking fountain. Then I carefully read the directions for the nasal spray and tried it as soon as we got home. It had instant and dramatic results, and was probably one of the most disgusting things I have done. But it was also strangely satisfying and amusing.

Time out from the "sick" story...
On December 19, John and I attended a lovely farewell event for music director Stacey... and Gary Becker at a previous church in Northville. While there, we also saw friends who mentioned a lack of entries in my blog. So to friends that I do not see regularly: "Thanks for noticing and caring, and always for prayer! You are in my heart."

Visiting Dr. Malviya

John and I just got home from my Dec. 8 appointment with Dr. Malviya. I am doing well. My Nov. 30 CT scan (pelvis, abdomen, and chest) was fine. Sigh. And bravo!

I go back for the same process in six months.

While waiting in the exam room, I quietly practiced some choir music (not because I am so diligent, but because I did not do it earlier). It was good for both my spirit and my breath.

"Peace, peace, peace on earth...
and good will to all.
This is a time for joy....."
(Words and music by Rick and Sylvia Powell)

And now, it is time to sleep.

Thank you, Holy God,
for health,
for moments of life,
for loving us,
for people to love...
and now for rest.

Mom in Recovery

Dr. Malviya talked to us about noon, and said they were finishing up with Mom's surgery, and that things went well. No big surprises. They will have more test results probably by the end of the week. He expects things to go well.

We (Bonnie, Allan, Dad, and John with me) just ate lunch, and expect to see her when she is out of "recovery".

We are so thankful, so thankful.
Always, God holds her and cares for her.
We are thankful.

Jesus, please heal my Mommy.

Jesus, please heal my Mommy.
This is my prayer.
A simple child prayer.
I stand back in awe, knowing You are love, knowing you have all knowledge and power.
Knowing that you hold me in your arms as a little child.

Where did I learn about that love?
And how did I learn to feel it?
I learned as a child.
I learned from my Mommy and my Daddy.

And if You hold me, then certainly, You hold them who taught me.

Tomorrow morning, in just a few hours, my Mommy will share my surgeon, Dr. Malviya.
He will take out the cancer inside her.

Please bless Dr. Malviya.
And please help him and the team as they do their work.
Thank you for their wisdom and compassion.

Please help my Mommy to be strong through surgery and recovery.
Please help us to trust You with child-like faith.
Jesus, please heal my Mommy.


And may we live your love with every breath.



Matthew 18:3-4 (Contemporary English Version)
"Then Jesus said:
'I promise you this. If you don't change and become like a child, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven. But if you are as humble as this child, you are the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.'"

The Envelope Please - CA-125

My most recent test results arrived in the mail on Saturday.
Open the envelope.
CA-125 score (from a week ago Friday) was 11.
Good.
The ones from three months ago and six months ago were both 10.
So I don't like 11 as much.
But I would be told it is not a significant change.
I won't complain about 11.
In fact, thank you....thank you... thank you, God, for healthy cells.
Each day, each moment, each cell is a gift.
I am grateful.
Please help me take care of them...
and to be the whole person you want me to be...


Romans 5:1-2 (CEV)
By faith we have been made acceptable to God. And now, because of our Lord Jesus Christ, we live at peace with God. Christ has also introduced us to God's undeserved kindness on which we take our stand. So we are happy, as we look forward to sharing in the glory of God.

Late Night Note

I just read a Facebook posting that a dear friend has died.
I was working on the computer, and should not even be up this late.
It seems that it cannot even be real.
I will check again in the morning....

In the meantime...
I attended a lovely wedding today, at which Neal Harris played the piano. One of the songs he played, "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" really helped to set the tone for worship. It stays with me now.

Theme:
Lamentations 3:22-23
"Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness."

Lyrics:
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.

Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Words: Thomas O. Chisholm
Music: “Faithfulness (Runyan),” William M. Runyan

CT News

The report of my May 26 CT scan arrived in the mail today.

"Stable appearance of the CT of the chest, abdomen and pelvis without evidence to suggest metastasis or recurrence of the tumor."


"Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever."
Psalm 118:29

CT Scan Day

I arrived at Providence Hospital Imagery Department at 7:20 am, was checked in, was given my special "milk shake", then walked around the hospital perimeter a couple times and then over to and around the local mall. Dr. Malviya likes me to walk for 90 minutes (instead of sitting for someone else's sixty), the better to move the contrast through my system.

Then onto the table I climbed, with my feet pointed toward that big doughnut (Multi-grain Cherrio?)-shaped machine. After two more contrasts (rectal and IV) and the pictures, I was on my way.

A day in the life....

Someone recently commented that he thought I was done with the medical thing.
That may be a logical thought.
(Or at least hopeful.)
But no. I am not done with the medical thing.
How do I explain my experience?
And how do I understand it myself?

The hysterectomy and the washing out of my abdomen and then the nine rounds of chemotherapy were supposed to remove and kill all the cancer cells they could find.

But it is Stage IIIA , which means some loose cells were found beyond the original site.... And it is a rare kind called uterine papillary serous cancer, which means it is sneaky. It tends to come back.

So no, I guess I can't say that I am out of the woods. I live in the woods. And yet, as far as I know, and hopefully, today's CT scan will not change that, the woods are not currently on fire.

And as long as I'm here....I'm going camping!

Jo Bargy: Memories

When I was celebrating my high school graduation (1973), I received a covered box in the mail, decorated with flowered paper. It was from Cal and Jo Bargy, our relatives up north by Kewadin. When I opened it, I found a beautiful soft green nightgown, a grown-up nightgown, different than my usual flannels. I was so surprised and pleased. I put it away to save for when I got married. But often, I took it out to admire.

Josephine Bargy died yesterday.
She had not been well for some time.
And John and I recently saw her in a nursing home in Bellaire, during our week of vacation after Easter.

Our family used to go up to their farm every year as we were growing up. Sometimes we would camp out for a few days, and my dad would help on the farm. I would often find a corner and read. Jo would feed us good farm food, fresh whole milk and fresh vegetables and fruit (I especially loved the cherries). I developed a small understanding, but eventually a great appreciation for farmers and farm life.

I remember the feel of rough gooey calf tongues licking (sucking) my hand as I tried to pet their heads. I remember once being allowed to climb the then-new blue Harvestore silo. I remember taking my own family back there, of visiting the barn with my small son in my arms, when suddenly, a cow "Mooed" with a much louder bellow than I remembered. And I remember learning that their granddaughter Anna, also a farmer, had a job at the post office as well. Farms and farmers are so important. Farmers are faithful to their disciplines, from early mornings to long nights, whatever the weather, whatever the holiday.

We had a little more connection the eight years my own family lived in Traverse City, when Jo would also talk to John about his job and churches and people we might know in common.

But mostly today, I am remembering that Jo is the special woman who sent me a graduation gift that seemed to say, "You are a woman now. Welcome."

I miss her.
I am thankful for her Homecoming, and look forward to seeing her again someday.


"Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies."
Psalm 36:5

Uncle Buel

Wednesday morning, March 10, John and I visited my Uncle Buel, and also Aunt Betty, cousin Mike (from NM) and Uncle Ron, in Livonia.

Then John went to his staff meeting at church, and I walked from church over to the "South Oakland County Business Expo", where I was particularly interested in "The Royal Oak Community Farm" and "Vivid Digital Concepts" (business of friends Tom, Kip, and Ryan Tull).

Walking home, I stopped at the dairy to sit down with a drink of milk. When I checked my cell phone, I discovered a call from my brother Allan.

The news was that Uncle Buel had died about 12:30.
Before Wednesday, we had seen Uncle Buel at Christmas time when my folks were down.
They were also over at Allan's for Thanksgiving (see earlier photo). He had looked weak then. But he always hugged me and said, "There's my girl."

So now, there is Visitation Friday and a Funeral Saturday. Their minister has not been well, so they asked John to do the funeral. So that is what John is working on now.

Bonnie and Charlie are coming. And my dad is coming, representing my mom, whose recovery from back surgery, including nursing home with physical therapy, is keeping her up north.

More later....