Dear Mr. Obama

Listen to the youtube message of this Iraq Vet. Powerful and moving. It made me tear up. Called "Dear Mr. Obama" -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TG4fe9GlWS8

Rehab for K

For anyone who's following the progress of my sister-in-law, I have more good news. She took eight steps yesterday! This qualified her for rehab, so she has been moved to a rehab center. I hope she's walking well soon. I had never heard of drop foot before this. I'm not sure how long it will take for her to recover from it, but I hope she's running around in time for Christmas shopping!

I made spaghetti and meatballs for dinner. I had two very interested critters watching my every move as I shaped those meatball, and sang my favorite meatball-making ditty: "On top of spaghetti..." Noah joined in on the last verse, "...nothing but MUSH!"

After dinner, we waited for trick-or-treaters. We only got 6. Noah and I had made up a bunch of goodie-bags for them, each with 2 treats and little kid-friendly booklets about Jesus. I figure - if people are coming to my door, I'll give them a "map" towards ever-lasting life. On this devilish holiday, I love to turn the table on Satan by giving out the gospel of Jesus!

Visit from Faith

My dear friend, Faith, came by to hang out with me today. I have been a tad too busy the last two days, and by last night, I realized that today I needed to lay low. So I invited Faith to come over and watch a movie with me. She brought chai and these "mock oranges," and we immediately tried to fit them into the decor, as they are not for eating. I think they make a very unique arrangement. They remind me of something Snow White might have put together while the dwarves were away working in their mine.

I've never seen these fruits before - aren't they interesting? Faith found them all over the ground outside the gym she goes to. Ben cut one open tonight, and it smelled like pine, and was sappy as well, nothing like an orange!

Here's Faith with little Cosmo. They are very find of each other, and snuggled much during the movie.

I am so blessed by Faith. A kindred heart, she makes me laugh, and makes me think. She isn't pretentious, but could be, she's so clever. Above all, she is kind-hearted. We met through our sons, when they were in the 8th grade. I'm so glad we did! We have much in common, and have been able to encourage one another in very knowing ways.

God has provided me with so many good friends, each like a different gem, having her own different color, shape, and properties. Each delightful and enriching in their own way.

They knocked me out and took all my wisdom!

Due to gum pockets, which is infection around the bases of teeth, in my case my wisdom teeth, all four had to come out. And so they did, yesterday. My mom took me there and back, and cared for me most of the day, til Ben came home and his "shift" started. Ben made me my first meal, chicken Ramen noodle soup. That was all I was allowed to have if I was really hungry. For dessert, I had a pina colada Italian ice.

Now I will have to start all over in getting wisdom. I've decided to store it in my ears this time. They are usually left on a person for their whole life.

My recovery has gone very well. This is probably due to the fact that the teeth were erupted, years ago. And they come in so straight, and helped to close a slight gap between my two top front teeth, you know the "rabbit teeth?" (One would think I would know their names and even dental numbers, with my husband having once worked for a dental supply co, but I do not. However, we do have a neat little cache of co. discarded fake teeth in his underwear drawer, just in case we should even need them.)

David was so concerned for me, remembering his own wisdom tooth extraction in his teens. Also, sadly, a boy recently died during a wisdom tooth extraction. And that had him worried. I think the boy had a reaction to the anesthetic. So far, I've never had a problem being knocked out, just nausea. When David got in from work, he brought me a big bunch of fall flowers and a container of Edy's French Silk ice-cream. What a sweetie...

















Here I am with my special ice-pack headband and cheeks full of gauze:





















In other news, my sister-in-law continues to improve. She had a brain MRI that showed no damage from the septic shock, as well as NO tumors - praise God! She's talking, getting rehab, and has even been gotten out of bed for roll-abouts. Do pray for her feet though. She has drop foot in both, and this will take some time in rehabilitating. We are still believing God for a total healing from the cancer in her body. For now, we know it is in many lymph nodes in her chest. She has had all the chemo and radiation she will ever be able to. So it's up to alternate treatments, and God's continuing mercy. He has been so good.


Here are K and my brother, Steve, after her first surgery last October.

Steve has been an amazing care-giver. He is so sweet and nurturing, and has gained much knowledge about cancer. But it seems to me , through this journey, he and K have gained even more Bible knowledge, as well as richer prayer-lives.

So sad...

I learned shocking news yesterday. The day before, the younger sister, 37, of a good friend, accidentally struck a police man with her SUV. He was thrown over an embankment and killed instantly. He had been setting up cones around a fatal accident scene from a couple days before, and was bent over on this bad curve of a 55mp highway when she hit him. I feel so bad for his family, a wife and 2 young kids. He was only 31. My friend's sister is devastated. My heart goes out to her. But really, you'd think he wouldn't have put himself in that dangerous spot w/o placing a flashing cruiser before him on the highway. He was working on a fatal crash from days before at the same spot! He should have considered the possibilities, and taken precautions. And it was rush hour! What a tragedy. Two families now struggle to come to grips with the whole thing.

I will be praying for the policeman's family as well as my friend's sister.

Better and better!

Wow - K is speaking! She asked for water the other day. Her mom, who was there, and all the medical personnel were ecstatic! She is still very weak, but her kidneys continue to improve. Today Steve told me she was stirring a lot, even wanting to get out of bed. But she needs some therapy first. Due to the the septic shock she was in at one point, there may be some motor skill issues. It's like she had a major concussion. This was one reason the doctors were concerned about her not talking sooner. She'll be having an MRI tomorrow, I think.

It's so amazing to us that she's recovering. Her docs now expect her to get through this crisis. But, really, is anything too hard for our God? He who made this world and everything in it, who holds it in place in the solar system? No, indeed! Cancer is nothing to Him. We are looking to him for a complete healing.

God is good!

I am happy to report that two days ago, my sister-in-law, K, was moved from the ICU to a regular floor. Her kidneys have started to function again, and her liver is also somewhat better as well.

Since K can't take any more chemo, the doctors' goal is to get her through this crisis so she can go home with my brother and enjoy the time that's left. Of course, we're all praying for a miracle. And I totally believe it can happen. The fact that K is still with us is amazing, considering her first diagnosis, back in Fall 2005, was inoperable metastatic (spreading) adenocarcinoma (aggressive cancer).

Thank you to my kind readers who are praying for K. The Lord is certainly hearing our prayers!