Rain Go Away

Well it has rained all week and the children have been restless. Children need to go outside.

Eighteen second graders who did not get to go out during recess at all nor for physical education were wild all week. And of course it was a near perfect attendance week.

Two teenagers who did not get to go out to shoot hoops nor mow lawns have driven me wild. I kept trying to tell them the more it rained the more lawns would need to be mowed and they have all week before HYC. (Holiday Youth Convention)

Praise God the weather is nice and the sun is shining. It is suppose to be nice and bright all week. Easter is coming, enjoy the time of everyone remembering our Lord.

the Answer

They (Cancer Treatment Centers of America) called and said everything looks like a go. They are suppose to be sending me the paperwork. They said it will cost me $25.oo plus the hotel and that is all. Glory to God.

Please Pray for Direction

Anyone who knows me well knows that I always pray for God to open up the doors to His will and to close those that are not.

Well, I talked with Cancer Treatments Centers of America today. I had read they are doing a second phase trial on a vaccine for ovarian cancer. From what I understand they take the tumor or a piece of it from your body and create a vaccine for you. They will do the trial this summer and you need to be a patient of theirs to be considered for the trial. So I asked what I needed to do for that. She is checking everything out (meaning my insurance company) and is suppose to get back with me in a few days.

So, pray Saints, pray for the Lord to open up the doors to His will and close those that are not. Of course if He opens the door to go I want it to work and He knows that.

They seemed very interested in me since I am the type of person they are trying to help. Someone who has had all different types of chemo and wanting to fight.

They pay flight expenses and all the cost of treatment for the trial. The only thing they do not cover is hotel expenses. The trial will be in Zion, Illinois and I don't know anyone in Illinois but I guess I could meet some people.

Thanks in advance for all your prayers, I know so many of you have been faithful since the beginning in praying for me. I even have little ones in our church who let me know they pray for me. I could never express the comfort that this gives me.

Shopping online is Great

I have all three dresses now. Not that anyone other than me really cares, but this blogging has to be about something. I now have my wedding dress, rehearsal dinner dress and my Easter dress. And never had to go to a store. Isn't that great? Of course one of the dresses, in fact two of the dresses are not exactly the shade I was expecting, but oh well, I still look good in them. LOL All of you who know me that was a joke. LOL Have a great day all.

Update on Cancer

Well, I am claiming everything is shrinking in Jesus Name. I had a pain that would not go away for a few days. I had a few people agree with me in Jesus Name and the pain is no longer there. Thank you Jesus. For those of you who know anything about anyone who has had cancer and had it progress on them, my bodily functions are working better, in fact normal today and that is a blessing. Sorry to be so blunt, but in all things give thanks, and I am thankful to the Lord for the many many times He has touched my body.

For those of you who don't know I have been battling an ovarian cancer recurrence since Jan. 05. Ovarian cancer is an ugly cancer, but it will not get the best of me.

Thanks once again for all your prayers. Thanks for the phone calls that come at times when I need them. Thanks for everything. I can not name all that friends and family have done for me.

the Joys of Parenting and trying to parent

Since Jody wrote such a "sweet" blog about teenagers and my son wrote about spring it kind of leaves me with "Oh what should I blog about?" I have to blog about something, I don't want to get on the bad list. So this is a quick one so I can take a nap and make it to church "bright eyed and bushy tailed".

So they are teenagers, and I did not have them all their lives so I am trying to teach them things that should have been taught when they were very young. So why does it surprise me that on of the boys thinks I should make the other one play with him because he "should share". What about just wanting to be left alone?

And then the kids at school, who seem to have no parent at home teaching them right from wrong. There is a book out that is by the same author of "Why Johnny Can't Read". It is "Why Johnny Can't Tell Right from Wrong". We blame society and the things they hear at school. What about he responsibility of the parents? Why is it always the other person's fault? It seems society (if you want to blame someone other than the parents) is allowing excuses for everything. " He made me do it." I am so tired of children trying to blame others and not taking responsibility and parents who allow this type of behavior because so and so made their child upset. What will happen when the child goes to school and shoots the other children. Is it their fault because they made fun of him and didn't treat him right? Come on parents let's teach our children to take responsibility for their actions.

Ok I will get off my soap box for today. Have a great day all!

Nothing like it

Nothing makes you feel better than seeing someone new come to God. The best is when they receive the Holy Ghost and get baptised in Jesus Name, but we don't always see that right away. This morning a man came to church that Joe had invited years ago. He recognized Joseph and went up to him. After Joseph introduced him to me I had to go to the nursery and cry a minute, but I got my act together real quick and came back out. I am sure he was touched by God's presence because I don't believe you can come to God's house and not feel his presence unless of course you don't want to. And for the life of me I can't understand anyone not wanting to feel His presence. Well I look forward to seeing him again.

These are the blessings of God that can not be bought. What a great pick me up to have someone that Joe had invited to church come. God is sooooooooooo good.

What a great spring break!

It has been a great week. Didn't get done all that I wanted to , but then I knew that would happen. It has been beautiful outside. The weather has been very spring like, some days of rain and yet beautiful weather. It has gone up to 80 but has not felt that hot. We have had the windows open and the fans going. Hope everyone else is enjoying the weather.

In Dallas

Here we are in, well not really Dallas, it has some strange name though. But it is part of the metroplex. We went to dinner (Papadeaux) with Jason and Julie last night and their Uncle and his family had come up from San Antonio. We had a great time. In fact it was their Aunt Cerice's birthday and we surprised her after dinner and had a little cake (Baskin Robbins) and fun at Julie's house.

She has a very nice home. She put the younger boys and me up for the night and Joseph went with his brother to where "he lives". To the contrary of what some believe Jason does not live with Julie yet. I know he is counting the days, but that day is not here yet. LOL

They are so much not in love all you see are pictures of them wherever you look. It's cute! We are going to meet Jason in Denton for lunch and then head on home. It was a quick visit, yet a very nice one. See most of my fellow bloggers in church tonight, Lord willing.

Have a great day.

From Beyond

The boys and I cleaned out Joe's old van yesterday. I went through everything trying to determine what it was, was it worth keeping, and looking for the title. I still have not found the title. The boys put all the papers in a box. I came across an envelope. Joe always was buying cards for others. He would remember birthdays and such and then forget to send the cards out. Well, I figured that is what I had but when I opened it up I just started crying. It read:

For my wife,
the woman I cherish
I love you for being you...
for the friendship, affection,
and happiness you bring...
and I celebrate the
precious gift of your life.

a scripture was on the card:
"A woman who fears the Lord
is to be praised."
Proverbs 31:30

Jody was here and came running over to where I was and said what? Then she started crying and said, "Uncle Joe loved you so much". It was a time of tears and joy. I will keep the card forever.

Have a blessed day everyone! We are going to have dinner with Julie and Jason tonight. I use to hate to go to Dallas and never had any reason to go. Now it doesn't seem so far and it holds something very precious to my heart.

Spring Break

Well it is here! Spring break and am I ever having spring fever. Wishing I could get so many things done. Of course that is what spring break is all about. You save so many things thinking you can get it done during spring break, and then spring break comes. The list is long and you don't know if you will ever get through it all. Yet if you accomplish items on the list, that is things that needed to be done and they are done. Make sense? Only to those of us who wait and then want to relax. How can you relax during spring break and still get so many things done? Good thing I won't be upset with myself if everything doesn't get done. I will just be thankful for the things that do get done.

Enjoy the beautiful weather outside. It is just gorgeous in northern Texas. I have the windows open and the fans on. Enjoying that fresh air. The grass needs cutting, (or should I say weeds) and the trees are budding. I opened my windows this morning to hear the birds singing. (I love birds singing)

Everyone have a great spring break! Or just have a wonderful day, week or hour. This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.

Who's Report Will You Believe

I know you all are probably tired of this cancer stuff. Believe me, no more than I! Well when I came back from MD Anderson they were not very positive. Well I had my doctor's appointment here on Thursday. I cried all day. He was not very positive either, in fact he was more negative than the doctor from Houston. He just said a few negatives like I could go downhill really fast. Well, I was concerned about that. I have a wedding I plan on being a major part of in July. (Major part being mother of the groom) and I told him I had a wedding in July. He said he could not make any promises. Well, that was the pits. And then I found out the other patient he had that had ovarian cancer has died. Soooooo... God knows some times I become a doubting Thomas. As I told one of my boys, we have had many conversations about it. (God and I) I am trying to be as positive as I can. I am now taking a chemo pill everyday. We are trying to trick the cancer and come at it a different way.

Let's pray specifically about the tumor that is bothering my colon and bladder. This is the one that he says if it blocks things up will make me go downhill really fast. I asked about surgery and he said that may make me go downhill even faster. Well, I never liked going downhill except on a sled so let's just rebuke that ride. And of course I still want the complete miracle. I do remember (as my sons keep making me quote) that the Lord gave me the scripture "this sickness is not unto death, but to bring glory to God, that the son of man may be glorified thereby"

Thanks again for all your prayers. I am just trying to keep everyone informed. Have a good joke to tell me when you see me. God is good.

God, Family, and Friends

You can face anything with God. Family and Friends make it easier also. This week has been one filled with the grace of God and family and friends by my side. Family feels the lose with you and friends help out in every way possible. I wonder what people do without these three.

God of course makes all the difference in a life. No matter what you go through, you know it has gone through God first. He is with you and He knows the outcome. Everything has a reason, we may not know the reason but we can trust in God. We know His word and that all things work together for good. We know that we can stand because He would not have allowed the trial if He didn't know we could handle it. God is good, all the time.

Family is there for you. Loves you no matter what and family not only extends from your biological family but to your church family. Those you love and those who love you. Those you pray for and those who pray for you. What do people do who alienate themselves from their families.

Friends, old and new are precious. As the old girl scout motto says, one is silver and the other's gold. Friends are like family, those you love and those who love you. Those you pray for and those who pray for you. And all a person has to do to have friends is show himself friendly. So many of my friends have helped me this past year over some very rough times and I am so thankful that the Lord has allowed me to have so many loving friends.

Joseph had said he prayed for me and wanted an encouraging angel to come and minister to me. Viola May said she wanted to be that angel. She is and so many more people are. Then I realized as I was encouraging someone else and she said, "I should be encouraging you and here you are encouraging me". That was an angel. We feel no better than when we can minister to others. It makes us forget our problems.

So, what am I trying to say? Just rambling. Just thankful. Those things which we can not buy or sell are the most precious.

Great Surprise

What a great surprise, my sister came to church tonight. I was so happy to see her. Love you bunches, Ann!

My Forever Valentine

I can't believe it has been a year since my Valentine went to be with the Lord. It does make heaven that much sweeter. Remember to smile as you think of Joe, that is what he would want. You can always visit at the memory page on the web.

Home Again

I pulled in right at 9:00. I had a great time with friends in Shepherd, Texas and they are such a blessing to me when I have to go to MD Anderson. I want to thank everyone for their prayers. God hears and answers prayer. I know it will all work for good and God's will will be done. So I will see my precious church family in the morning, and all others, expect only good things.

Test Results

Well, it wasn't good. What can I say. I will be coming home and will be starting something new. Everything has progressed and there are some side effects from some of the tumors pressing up against some organs. I am staying positive. God is still in control. Just pray that we (the doctor and I ) will make the right decision with the next choice. I want to be in God's perfect will.

Love you all and thanks for your prayers.

I'm in Sheperd

Just to let you all know that I am in Sheperd at my Friend's house. Had all the tests run yesterday and will get the results in the morning. It is beautiful weather down here and having a good time. See you all Sunday or whenever.