September 2023

"May God give you intentionality to shape your weeks with his word, ingenuity to shower your days with his voice, and creativity to punctuate your life and the lives of those around you with fresh routines for regularly availing yourself of his life giving words."

~David Mathis, "Habits of Grace"

The sweet book "Habits of Grace" encouraged me to keep pursuing the Lord, even through the worst of the chemo. It's not a cancer book, more of a spiritual growth book, but reading it refreshed me.

Something else that refreshed me was my gym buddies. Katherine captured my friend, Barbara, jumping alongside me after her workout. She noticed that I was struggling with box jumps and stuck with me until I had finished.

Working with the orchestra encouraged me, too. These students and teachers never failed to bring a smile to my face.

My grandmother's annual family reunion always brings joy. Her siblings and their descendants continue to gather, year after year.

The "big six" chemo treatments (the ones with all four drugs) continued to do their work in my body, every three weeks.

The cards continued to flood in and line my walls with hope and prayers.

Speaking of prayers, this book of prayers from Kate Bowler beautifully articulated many of my thoughts and prayers. For someone like me, who doesn't put together words very well, "The Lives We Actually Have" was a gift.

Another gift was spending time with Sarah Kate, a former student. Her son is growing fast, and it was good to go on a walk together while we caught up.

Aaron continued to work with the translation team as they had the finances and opportunities to come into Honiara where internet makes it possible to connect with each other.

And our Arkansas Black apple tree was absolutely loaded with fruit that made it through dry spells and squirrels and neighbors.

Back to School 2023

School started up in August, and I was halfway through the BIG 6 of the worst chemo treatments. We took every opportunity to transform doctor's appointments into coffee dates.

And my chemo bag always included snacks like Trader Joe's crunchy freeze dried okra. For some reason, it satisfied me during the long days of chemo. The sessions usually lasted about six hours. So I took lots of water, a family picture, and either ear buds to listen to a book or a real paper book.

I continued to receive encouragement in so many ways, as befitted each giver's personality. This bookmark came from one of our adopted kids.

The steroids I received at the beginning of each treatment usually made sleep challenging. I often found myself awake at 3 or 4 a.m., heart pounding and brain racing. So I made the most of it and got some things done, like dusting!

My gym community, including Katherine, kept me motivated and encouraged, even when I didn't feel like moving. I knew that by continuing to lift weights, I was giving my body its best chance to fight the cancer and to keep my immune system healthy.

Youth orchestra began rehearsals again, and Katherine thrived in the cello section. Her rehearsals gave Aaron and me a built in coffee and calendar date each week.

School also started back, and once again, I had the joy of working part time with the orchestra program that I love so much. The teachers and students were incredibly kind and encouraging and flexible with me. Every bit of energy that I had went into those few hours each day at school.

We made a trip up to JBU to help Olivia get settled in her new townhouse on campus.

No visit to Siloam Springs is complete without coffee at Pour Jon's

and a walk along Sager Creek.

When "Play Music on the Porch" day came around, a few brave students joined us for brunch and some music making.

Katherine started back to school, too. Her sophomore year included taking a class across the street at Central Baptist College as a dual enrollment student. We hope this is something she can do more often in the future!

Every three weeks, I went back to the chemo infusion room. We are so grateful to the people who gave us coffee gift cards to help make those long, uncomfortable days a little bit brighter.

 

What's Saving My Life...Cancer Edition

Modern Mrs. Darcy occasionally features "What's saving my life right now" on her fabulous blog. So here is my cancer version :)

During the worst of the chemo, I alternated the strawberry popsicles with the blueberry popsicle recipe to help calm the sores in my mouth and give me nourishment. 

I read books, including "Strong Like Water: Finding the Freedom, Safety, and Compassion to Move Through Hard Things --- & Experience True Flourishing" by Aundi Koldber.

I benefitted from friends who know me well and shared happiness in the form of a cheerful tea infuser (because I drank copious amounts of tea during chemo) and zinnias from a two-year-old.

And always, always, Aaron and I walked in the mornings. My goal was to hit 10,000 steps, no matter how slow, each day. This particular morning, I could only manage a short route, but the Lord provided a smile in the form of a raccoon family going home after a busy night on the town.

 

Summer 2023

"There are only two ways to live your life: survival mode or prayer mode. Survival mode is simply reacting to the circumstances around you. It is a pinball existence. And to be perfectly honest, it's predictable, monotonous, and boring. Prayer mode is the exact opposite. Your spiritual antenna is up and your radar is on. Your reticular activating system is on red alert. Prayer puts you in a proactive posture. In fact, the Aramaic word for prayer, slotha, means 'to set a trap'. Prayer helps us catch the opportunities God throws our way."

~Mark Batterson

"In a Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day"

I wanted to be as proactive and observant as possible while going through the prescribed year of cancer treatments. That meant taking lots of naps, but it also meant jumping on the opportunities God sent our way.

-Spending time with the Brigglers, dear friends who live way too far away but occasionally come visit our hometown.

-Taking almost daily walks with my sister-in-law and her darling little one

-Reconnecting with DJ when she drove through Arkansas

-Bumping into former students at the gym

-Soaking up every bit of summer produce we could find at the farmers market and preserving it to use throughout the year

 

Chemo Round #2

As I'm going back, catching up on the blog, and looking at the last year of God's faithfulness, I'm overwhelmed.

My community pulled together like crazy to support me and my family. The medical team at CARTI can't be beat. Aaron has logged hundreds of hours in waiting rooms, continuing his translation work.

People gave me fascinating books, like Brain Rules, to read while I sat in the chemo chair.

Others gave me gift cards for coffee to cheer me during chemo, and many others sent encouraging cards and notes. Every time the meds poured into my body, I took the family picture. These guys are my biggest cheerleaders.

 

July 2023 Birthdays

Five July birthdays bring so many reasons to celebrate with our extended family!

So we pulled out the card game, Goatlords,

ate birthday cake, passed around the baby, and just enjoyed the precious time together.

Hair Cut

We were advised to not wait until my hair fell out on its own,

but to be proactive.

So we had a haircutting party.

Since I was cutting my hair so close to my head, I had enough to donate.

Each of my girls cut two ponytails off.

And then came the clippers.

But I don't walk this path alone.

Benjamin shaved his head.

And we had a Zoom hair cutting party for two orchestra students in Arkansas,

my cousin in Louisiana, and a good friend of Sarah's in Pennsylvania.

 

In addition, my fabulous students have been sending me pictures of how they are supporting me with their hair choices.

Some are cutting and donating all the way from Spain,

some said "This is as short as my mom will let me cut my hair!"

And some just went with a cleaner look. I am overwhelmed and encouraged by all of these thoughtful people who want to love and support me through this cancer journey!