Chemo #3 Day!

As I write this I sit at the Cancer Center at Bronson Battle Creek having my third chemo out of four.  Things are going well.  Kyle took the day off  to come with me, his first time of being here for chemo.  It hasn't been too boring.  I spent the first 1/2 hour sending out e-mails.  Then the genetics counselor came and met with us.  Nothing new regarding my genetics testing.  She had given me the results over the phone but needed to do it formally in person.  The two genes they tested have no mutations detected.  She said there are other genes that could carry a mutation but they don't have testing for those yet...someday maybe.
Then shortly after she left, my Mom & Dad came in with Gavin & Alexis.  We decided it was a good time for them to see the cancer center & check out how chemo works.   They were also going to lunch.  They didn't seem overly impressed with the workings of chemo but then again it's not really that exciting.  Just a lot of sitting around:)
Kyle packed his lunch & I had an egg salad sandwich that they brought around.  He's breezed through his magazines so I think I need to finish up this blog so he can use the iPad...otherwise he might fall asleep on me!
Speaking of sleep, I woke up at 4:30a.m. and never got back to sleep.  This was after waking at 1:45a.m. roasting hot and waking at around 2 something and 3 something as well.  At first I was puzzled as to why and then I remembered the Decodron that I take the night before chemo and the night of chemo.  Not sure how I had forgotten but each time I have done the same thing...funny how 3 weeks is just long enough to forget some things:). So back to the 4:30a.m. thing...I laid there and tried to go back to sleep for an hour.  At 5:30 I had given up so I got up.  I sat in the living room & read my scripture book from my Aunt Loretta.  Then I decided to de-ornament the tree & take it down.  Funny what you can accomplish by 8a.m.!!

Christmas came and went rather quickly!  It was a good one for us, nice and simple but full of family, food and fun.  The kids are quite content with their goodies and I was excited (probably too much so) about my 20 piece Pyrex glass storage set from Kyle.  We took some special pictures in front of the Christmas tree. 

The Box

We had an experience this week that just blew us away!  It was a gift to us by people who we will never be able to thank personally...because we don't know who they are.  We only know that they are from "the community and beyond".  Pastor Don delivered this box on Thursday and said I had to wait until Kyle could open it with me.  So that night after being out late for Gavin's scrimmage in Charlotte, we gathered around as a family and opened the box.  Our jaws dropped, we were caught by surprise and truly amazed at the number of gift cards (46) in all different amounts and from all different places.  Lots of gas cards which will come in very handy when I am driving to Battle Creek everyday for radiation this Spring.  Lots of Meijer & Wal-Mart cards, many restaurant cards and some Visa cards.  Wow!  We were at a loss for words but before the kids headed off to bed we took some time to pray.  Kyle prayed that each person who had contributed to the box would be blessed because of their kindness.  It is a prayer I still say when I look at the box.  People can say all the negatives they want about our little community.  I've been caught expressing some negative attitudes before in my life, but my cancer experience has taught me so much.  This Maple Valley community is really just a big family and the people are kind and caring and generous.  I know we feel fortunate to live here and raise our children here.  So if you are reading this and you had a part in this gift to us...we say thank you and may God bless you!

Another thing that happened this week that shows how our community is a family was when I went to the pharmacy.  I was picking up the meds needed for my next chemo treatment.   I paid and was about to walk away when Jody, the pharmacist, stopped me and said they were going to need an update on what was going on with me because people ask them all the time.  She said in fact 2 people had asked them just that day.  So after giving her a quick update I was on my way feeling SO cared for by our community!

So on this Christmas Eve day, I find myself feeling a little more thankful, a little more blessed and a little more in love with a God who not only provides for us but puts wonderful people in our lives.  I hope that you will think of Him in these next couple of days and reflect on what Christmas really means.

This verse was inside our box:
1Peter 4:9-13. "Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.  Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms.  If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God.  If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.  To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever.  Amen."