Saturday, February 12, 2011

7 Quick Takes Friday (Volume 2)



-1-
This week, I had a breast cancer re-staging PET Scan.  I think that's just a technical name for "checking to see if the cancer is back".  It is always a very emotional time for me.  In my day to day life, I can pretty much (not always) put this whole cancer nightmare behind me.  That is, until it's time for the regular testing that will be part of my life forever.  During this time, I cry a lot...my temper is quick and I'm pretty much a big baby!  Intellectually, of course, I know that to worry is not very constructive.  I also know that God is in control no matter what...but I am human and weak and I often fall into the trap of satan's lies.  The good news here for this week is that I've been blessed now with my 2nd CLEAR PET SCAN since being diagnosed in July of 2008!  There is NO CANCER in my body right now!  You have no idea the weight that was lifted from me upon hearing those results.  It's like you've been given a new life...one that is fresh with opportunity and possibilities.  The bottom line is that I can be a wife to my husband and a mother to my children with a whole lot less stress and with a renewed spirit.  Thank you all for your prayers, encouragement and support of me.  I am blessed beyond measure!

-2-
This week was stressful in other ways too.  Unfortunately, the decision has been made to send our children back to school next year.  I am devastated that we will no longer be homeschooling.  I can't tell you what a joy it has been for the last several months to have my kids at home with me!  I have learned so much right alongside them!  Homeschooling was never something that Dan wanted.  It was something that he agreed to because we didn't have other any other option at the time.  Since Dan and I both work part time, some of the homeschooling responsibility has fallen on him and this is just something that he is not comfortable with.  Homeschooling needs to be something that we BOTH agree on and are both committed to.  Dan has found a Charter School that he has visited and feels comfortable with.  I am disappointed because things were finally coming together and for the last several weeks, we were getting through Nathan's math without much difficulty.  I had finally decided on curriculum for next year and was looking forward to a homeschooling convention during the summer.  Well, things change and we must move on.  I'm sure I'll have much more to say about this as time moves forward.  Pray for my children as they are about to experience the Duval County Public Schools for the first time.  Lord have mercy!

-3-
Dan finally broke down and agreed to take the bird to the vet!  As I mentioned before, we found the bird outside a couple of weeks ago.  It was in the cat's mouth and we rescued it, but, not before his foot was injured.  As a matter of fact, he is missing a toe on the left side.  His top toe has been a little red and inflamed since he joined our family, but yesterday, it looked to be getting worse.  So, off to the tropical bird vet in our area we went.  ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY dollars later, we returned home with 3 different medications for his infected foot! Have you ever tried to give a small parakeet medication?  Nearly impossible! The good news is that other than his infection...he's a healthy bird.  I keep calling it a "he" but actually, the bird is very young and according to the vet, it's hard to tell if it's a male or female right now.  We have a follow up appointment on the 21st. 

-4-
Today (Saturday), Nathan has his first Altar Server Training! I'm so excited!  Soon, my son will get to service on the altar for the first time.  Is this every Catholic mother's dream...or is it just mine?
I know he will take this job seriously and do his very best.  What an honor!

-5-
Have you ever been on a pilgrimage?  God willing, I will be attempting to go to Rome for the beatification of Pope John Paul II on May 1st.  When Pope Benedict announced the date for the beatification, I felt a very strange sensation go through me.  It almost felt like an electrical current.  I can't exactly explain it in words, but it was a feeling in the depth of my being  that I needed to be there for this historic event.  I have made accommodation and airline reservations without a clue in the world how I'm going to pay for this.  I know I will be in good company as there are expected to be upwards of 3 million other pilgrims  in attendance.  There is a new website that the Diocese of Rome has set up for JPII's cause.  Click here for more information.  Join me in praying this prayer.

-6-
I am still reading the book on Padre Pio that I started several months ago.  It's hard to find time to sit down and concentrate on reading for any length of time.  However, I've added two new books to my library.  The first is called "Making Brothers and Sisters Best Friends-How to Fight the Good Fight at Home! by Sarah, Stephen, and Grace Mally.  The second is called "Left to Tell" by Immaculee Ilibagiza.  I saw a recent interview with Immaculee and I was riveted by her story of surviving the Rwandan Holocaust in 1994 by hiding out in a tiny bathroom with seven other women for 91 days!  What an amazing story!  Hopefully, I will find some time to read in the coming weeks!

-7-
For several years, my camellia tree outside the front of our house has had a weird condition.  I think it's some kind of fungus. It resembles a fine white powder on the bottom of the leaves.  Anyway, I thought for sure that this year I wouldn't get any blooms.  As a matter of fact, most of the leaves are gone now...the tree looks bare.  There are some buds, but not many.  Usually, I have many buds already flowering by this time of year.  All the other camellia trees/bushes in the neighborhood are covered in blooms!  Not mine....until this morning!  I see one tiny bud opening up to pink petals!  I'm so happy!

Visit Jen at the Conversion Diary for more Quick Takes!

3 comments:

Barb Szyszkiewicz said...

Congratulations on your excellent PET scan result. Rejoicing with you!

Sarah Oldham said...

I'm so grateful for your great PET results!!! God is awesome! You are a wonderful woman - a good wife and mother! God wants you right where you are . . . a lot longer!!! Many prayers for you.

As far as the home schooling goes . . I am considering packing Christian off to a charter or Catholic school . . . he's bored to death. Seton is just boring as hell. It isn't that he isn't learning (he is), but he's bored and we do not ever seem to get around to any fun projects or field trips. Either I really "marry" this so we can start (right now) to have more fun times or I'm hanging up my hat. He's a great kid - no problems with him other than sheer boredom. I am bored, too. I would join a local home school group, but I don't want it always to be about religion either. It can be a bit much and off-putting. However, if I were to join a non-denom group, some of those folks aren't Christian and it gets uncomfortable. So, we avoid joining groups. Maybe I'll sign him up for classes at the Hickam AFB craft center. See? I'm thinking out loud now.

anyway, I am blessed that Dan is on board with home schooling. I didn't think he would be after our wobbly times in Maryland

I'm glad you rescued that bird. I love birds. Prayers for its healing. You can usually tell the sex by the colour on their nostrils/beak).

Love ya, girl.

Hugs,
Sarah

Judy Dudich said...

I truly admire the way you have accepted and submitted to Dan's decision, even while your heart feels something sooooooo differently. This is an inspiration and encouragement to all wives...you have shown great trust in your husband.
My eldest son served the Mass all through middle school and high school.
It is especially beautiful, I think, when we see our TEEN sons up there...seniors in high school...still serving! Jake serves now and Joseph is starting to voice his interest...I am so happy for Nathan and know that he will receive a tremendous amount of grace and blessing being so near to Our Lord as Mass!