A New Journey

Just when I thought my life couldn't get any crazier! I have been so caught up in my own little world lately, finishing the kids' school year, music, painting the church nursery, organizing VBS, working on the house, and the list goes on. In the midst of all that came one of those phone calls everyone hopes to never receive. I knew my grandmother had been losing weight for a while with no explained reason. The doctor was getting concerned and after his own testing could not find out the cause. He sent my grandmother to get a screening to see if there was any cancer anywhere in her body. I knew a phone call was coming, but it wasn't what I wanted to hear. It was Saturday, June 6th. I was on my way to Dubuque for a graduation party when I talked to my mom on my cell phone. I asked how her appointment had gone the day before. The devastating news followed that she did have cancer. The waiting game began to find out specifics about the cancer. All we knew was it was stomach cancer and that there were also spots on her liver. A week and a half later came "the rest of the story". It was bad, stage 4, with less than 6 months of life left, maybe a few more if she takes chemo pills.

Crying is an understatement. Those of you that know me well can just imagine the river of tears that followed. This is my grandmother. The lady I lived with for half of my childhood, who took my mom, brother, and I in. She and my grandfather provided the security and family stability my brother and I probably would not have had otherwise.

My grandfather passed away in 1997. My grandmother has held her own for the last 12 years. She has never driven, and even my grandfather did the grocery shopping when he was alive. My mom has taken the reins and takes my grandmother places she needs to go and visits with her frequently. People from her church faithfully make sure she arrives each Sunday morning.

The first week and a half I had a terrible time sleeping as my mind would start imagining the scenes that will someday take place. I can't help but wonder will she have to suffer? Will she outlive the doctor's estimates? Will God perform a miracle? What will her funeral be like? What will it be like to go home and not go to her house anymore? Then it's the other questions of when can I go see her? Can we afford this trip? How long will I stay? Will Sean be able to go? Will I really have to drive 17 hours in 2 days with 3 kids?!

I am learning to let God take control of all these questions. I can honestly say I am really not worrying about any of it now. I am confident that He will take care of all her needs and He will provide my needs and work out the details for our family.

This is getting long, but a few things about my grandmother...
Her name is Doris Evelyn Nichols
She is 83 and remembers some of the first cars and getting electricity for the first time.
She loves teaching Sunday School to adults and writes all the verses she studies over and over and over to help commit them to memory and keep her mind sharp.
She loves the 23rd Psalm.
She hasn't been hospitalized in over 27 years (I think I remember that right). :)
She told the doctor she is so blessed she is to have cancer at the end of her life instead of in the middle of it.
She is going to try the chemo pill so "others will know she's trying and wants to live".
She is happy for what awaits her after this earthly life.
Her maiden name is Watkins.
She is the only grandmother I've ever known.

Family update

Life has been busy in our household! In about the last month EMM got some cool new glasses with an updated prescription, HEM got her braces, and the girls had their dance recital which was last night! We also celebrated Mother's Day and AWANA awards night. Rather than ramble about all of it I will post pictures for you! ;) Sorry I don't have pics of EMM in her new glasses yet though.













































The recital was really good. There were 80 performances. The girls were in 3 (tap, jazz, tumbling) and HEM was in a special number with various other girls outside of her class. We were SO proud of them.

Quick update

Mother's Day has come and gone. It was a wonderful day. The girls were their usual affectionate selves. :) I had praise team at church so after getting home I was able to get lunch done (which I had started the night before). My in-laws joined us and it was a lot of fun. I got a new bathing suit that day, too. Later in the day we joined our friends where Sean and Scott prepared steak dinner for Lori and I. I even came home with a dozen roses. It was a fun day.

HEM is gearing up for a new smile. She gets the top braces put on next week followed by the bottom ones early June.

May 30th will be the girls' dance recital. They're excited and looking forward to wearing the costumes. I'll post pics as soon as I have them.

Not much else going on at the moment. Winding down another school year. Not sure what our summer holds yet. We're planning to do some landscaping and finish our back deck. I'd also like to get our sunporch repainted and cleaned up. It doesn't look like we'll be going to Georgia this year. I'm kind of sad because I look forward to seeing my family, but it's just not in the budget with the braces being needed.

I hope to finish this month without too much stress. May is a little crazy as everything winds down. I'm going to be getting into full speed for VBS too.

Colossians 3: 23 - 24

Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.

VBS is underway. I am going a totally different direction with it than I anticipated due to unforseen circumstances, but God is good and His hand is in it all. We are doing another Answers in Genesis program, Operation Space. Today it was reaffirmed for my by God as I took the 2 older girls on a field trip to the planetarium and the presenter talked about the meteorite that was 25,000 years old and that no one could have made it, it needed time to form. Also listening to the presentation about the age of stars and such...well, it was clear that these poor children in that room were being fed lies mixed with the truth. It gave me a great teaching time with the girls on our way home about who really did create it all and how we know God really exists. We talked about "age" and how God made some things look older from the beginning. Adam wasn't created a baby, animals were created as adults along with plants and such. The world certainly looks for its own explanation in ways to raise man's intelligence, I guess. As I worked on my Bible study tonight the topic of humility was covered and I suppose that it's one of man's biggest weaknesses. Man doesn't know how to put itself under God, it's our sin nature. We must practice putting God at the top by prayer and staying in the Word (and having good Christian friends holding us accountable helps, too).

Almost back to normal!

It's been exactly six weeks today since my accident. It has been so aggrivating going to the chiro 2 - 3 times per week (though I appreciate my chiro and the definite improvement from going), driving a rental and worrying who will damage it, and waiting for my own van to be repaired. I am happy to say that the dealership called today!! I answered the phone and he asked for me. When I said this is she his response was, "You won't believe it!" I asked if my van was ready and of course it was!! I was able to pick it up shortly afterward! It felt good driving my own van although it was making a high pitched sqeal so I'll probably take it back in the morning. (Go figure!)

I am so thankful for people that have prayed and asked about it from time to time. It showed me that people were thinking of me and hadn't forgotten. :) Now we just have to wait to make the final settlement with the insurance.

I will be so grateful when this is over! I don't understand those people that "fake it" just for the insurance. The inconvenience and work of it all would drive me nuts!!! After this week we should be able to visit the chiro once a week a few times before going back to our normal every other week.