Reflections of 2012

I have been a little emotional as 2012 comes to a close.  It is real easy for me to say "Good Riddance 2012!"  But somehow, I cannot accept that.  Sure there were very difficult times.  The moment my doctor told me on the phone, "unfortunately it is cancer," will forever stay with me.  Between the diagnosis, the surgeries, the chemo etc. I can easily say this was a horrible year.  But was it really horrible?  What if the breast specialist did not come back into the room to look one more time at that spot and become suspicious.  Or the first time I met with my surgeon, she said five different times in 40 minutes, "You are still in good shape! Women your age come to me in advance or aggressive stages."  God did intervene for me and my family.  Every doctor involved referred each other to me and I believe they were the best for me at this time.  My nurses gave me the support needed each time.  Our church family and those in our circle kept close tabs on my family and me.We had support from Alan's students and their families as well as mine.  Our families offered support as well, especially those who had already went through what we were going through. 

A dear sweet "experienced" lady from our church (she prefers that instead of old) who knows all about my Dad's side of the family shared many devotions with me through email.  She reminded me that not only my children are watching how I handle this, but the entire church is watching how I practice my faith.  I was so worried about my children, that I really did not think about the fact that I could teach others much less those older than me how to handle a crisis.  She was right!  Everyone was watching my little family.  I only missed two times singing on the praise team since March.  I read a book almost two years ago called, "Worship as it is in Heaven."  In one of the chapters it talked about the power of music and praise.  Historically musicians were out front of the battle line to scare/intimidate their opponent.   When I got off the phone with my Doctor on that March day, I had three thoughts......"What about my family, the praise team and my students?"  I heard in my head, "I guess you will have to quit the praise team now."  I immediately said, "No way, not an option." I refused to take time off the praise team because I knew I was in a battle and Satan was not going to win.

Cancer does not discriminate and neither does Satan.  Alan and I have held on to different verses from the Bible and one was on our Christmas card and Thank you notes.  

2Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4

I have no doubt that God allowed me to go through this in order to prepare me for the next level.  While I will never forget the events of this past year, I will not dwell on it but look ahead.  As I was receiving my last chemo treatment on November 8, I remembered another favorite verse;  

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12-14  

Our prayer is you have a blessed and happy New Year!

Christmas 2012

My parents came to our home for Christmas.  My Mom, Andrew and Anna made a Ginger Bread House together.  We decorated cookies and had our traditional Christmas Eve soup. After dinner we lit our Advent candles and my Dad read Twas the Night Before Christmas while my Grandparents listened on speaker phone.  Andrew decided he wanted to read the Christmas Story and he did a great job.  I was so proud of him for doing that.  After the opening of our presents, we made hot chocolate and popcorn with M & M's and watched The Polar Express.  The kids had a hard time going to sleep that night because they knew the stockings were coming in the morning.  They were not disappointed at all.  We got a surprise Christmas morning.............SNOW! We all had a great Christmas.

Fall 2012 Continued and Thanksgiving

Fall continued with Anna putting together a new outfit and the rest of us making candied apples.  I have made carmel apples but never candied apples.  The kids and I watched an episode of Trisha Yearwoods cooking show and she showed how to make candied apples.  Andrew, Anna and I decided that it looked easy enough to do and I had all the ingredients.  It was fun!

We stayed home for Thanksgiving and Christmas.  I really did not want to travel anywhere and risk getting sick by being in different environments.  I really needed to be in my surroundings.  I actually cooked a whole turkey for the first time.  I have done smaller turkey breast but never a whole turkey.  I was really proud of myself and Alan was quite impressed with the Thanksgiving dinner that Anna and I cooked together.  Anna loves to bake cookies, cakes and pie and she really enjoyed cooking with me this year.

Fall Fun 2012

We all went to a fall fun festival the last Saturday in October at the kids music teacher's church.  We all had a blast playing games, and eating.

Of course we have our costume for Halloween..........

Fall 2012

I didn't realize that I had not posted anything since September.  Time gets away from me.  My chemo continued until November 8.  Things are going well.......not sure when I will feel normal again. 

One morning during October, on my way to school, I realized that I had not done anything with the kids for fall like going to the pumpkin patch, making caramel apples etc.  When I got to school, I had an email from the librarian saying come by and pick up a treat from her.  So I did!  She said she had made gluten free cookies and icing for my kids and I to decorate.  She said she thought about me over the weekend and figured I had been too tired to do anything fun with my kids.  I teared up and told her that I had just thought about how I have not done anything "fun" with my kids yet.  We had fun decorating and  eating the cookies.