August 4, 2009

For Today August 4, 2009

Outside my window... already HOT here in Florida but hold on the rain will come in at some point and cool things down

I am thinking... how HAPPY I am that Dad is doing well, Bailey (the horse) is VERY MUCH improved after his surgery and I get to be home with my honey and my kids in 5 days :)

I am thankful for...oh so much.....time here in Florida, the laughter my husband brings me when we talk on the phone :) and skyping my kids is such good medicine for me but I will see them soon :)

I am wearing... shorts and my pink muscle shirt

I am reading...When Jesus Speaks into your sorrow by Nancy Guthrie, Take 2 by Karen Kingsbury

I am hoping...to see the hand of God move in the lives of the people on my friend Beth's blog!

Around the house...I will be mowing all day tomorrow! We have had soo much rain but I think I will be able to get out there tomorrow.

One of my favorite things...learning new things about my Dad and seeing him be silly is such a gift!

A few plans for the rest of the week: We get to see Dads oncologist on Thursday before chemo which is good so I will know the plan of action before I head back to Oklahoma. Mowing. Spending time in the barn with Bailey :)

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

Our son has an infatuation with Canada and we have NO IDEA why ....maybe missions work there? who knows?? Some of our friends go there quite often and surprised him last night with the jersey! HE WAS THRILLED!! My Husband took this silly pic of Jantzen wearing it and emailed it to me.....Thanks Babe!

Love of A beautiful horse named Bailey

I have shared "some" of this story with my friends on Facebook but I wanted to share it here with you all where I can
truly "tell" the story. As I have told you my Dad lives on 50 acres and has many pastures along with a barn that holds
2 beautiful horses, Jackie and Bailey.

Bailey is a rescue horse. He was living on a farm with some people who did not feed him properly. The animal patrol
seized the animals. Dads veteranarian Erin, and her assistant Nicole, heard about this and they went to the property
and both women agreed that they would rescue Bailey from the glue factory. (yes you read that correctly, these poor
animals were on their way to the glue factory, isn't that awful!) So the ladies bring Bailey to my dads since Nicole does
not have a barn but has been helping out my Dad and stepmom with their horse (since dad has been sick)~ Let me
explain something here ~ When horses are not fed properly their feet don't develop properly and they end up not able
to walk without pain. Horses put most of their weight on their front two legs so if they are in pain they will have to be
put down because they don't have any other options. For the past year Nicole, my dad and stepmom and the veteranarian
have all worked, loved and cared for this beautiful and sweet horse. I met Bailey when I came here in June and fell in love! During that time I was here he was feeling good but this trip has shown the affects of what his previous owner has done to him and Bailey is struggling. We have spent many nights out there wrapping his feet, feeding him a certain diet, only letting him out for a little bit in the pasture because it has rained soooo much here in florida and being wet causes more trouble for
his feet! This past week I have asked my Facebook friends to pray for Bailey but today I am here asking you all.

This morning, as a last resort Bailey had surgery and is truly the last resort. If this does not help they will have to put him
down. He is out in the barn and they cut his tendons which I am guessing is a helpful thing or else they wouldn't have
done this. But he must stay down and quiet. Can you all please say a prayer for this beautiful and precious horse?

This is Bailey a couple of weeks ago, after the vet Erin had removed his casts and put new ones on in an attempt to help bailey.


This was about a week and a half later, he was out in the pasture. Not walking alot but enjoying being out of the barn



Bailey was giving me hugs



and now kisses!!! :)


Oh how I love this sweet boy, please pray for him! I will keep you all posted

Spiritual Sundays

Romans 12

Living Sacrifices

1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual[a] act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

This scripture hit me this week in a whole new way~ but isn't that the way of the Lord! He will take His word and allow it to speak to you as HE so desires! There was a day this past week that I was struggling. I was REALLY missing being at home and just about everything was a struggle. Well, when I talked to my husband he was quick to jump into my "pity" party with me. *Let me just say right here this post is NOT against him AT ALL* It is about seeking GODS WILL. His~ good pleasing and perfect will.

I am the type of person & friend, who will tell you the truth. I have been told by some.....I tell it like it is. But I also in return want that same thing. Don't sugar coat it, don't try and make me "feel" good. Even if it's gonna hurt~ tell me. I know some personalities tend to go toward the negative, while others are positive and upbeat. I am married to a melancholy and He will be the first to tell you how the Lord has helped him to see things in a more positive way. He has learned to allow the Lord to help him NOT conform to the patterns of this world and to renew his mind. This example is alot of how I have viewed this scripture until this week.

While having my pity party~ there was something I knew before I made the phone call to my husband. I knew he would be completely on my side and jump in wholeheartedly with me. I also knew that this would be "no good" for me and would make things worse. You see, I needed him to encourage me to stay strong. I shared this with him and knew I needed to renew MY mind & to seek the LORD in this situation! Which I did!!! During my prayer time I didn't experience the release or the peace that I needed but I knew that I had surrendered and laid it all at the feet of Jesus. Early the next morning in the Word the first words I read were "Peace and JOY" and continued on to read Romans 5. The Lord was showing me to continue on, to continue to renew my mind and to have peace and joy!

You see, when we are having struggles our flesh wants to be stroked, or to be fed. Sometimes, this is done merely by people agreeing with you. (even if it is your sweet husband who is just trying to be there for you in the way he knows how sometimes) Surrounding yourself with "YES" people will not prove to be a good thing at all! God tell us where there is TRUTH, there is freedom. Sometimes the truth hurts but it will ALWAYS set you free if you allow it to. Conforming to the patterns of this world, will feed your flesh and be the easy path, while renewing your mind and allowing the Lord to speak truth into you will set you on the path to HIS will. HIS GOOD PLEASING AND PERFECT WILL!

for other Spiritual Sunday posts go here

Dads note within a note :)

Doug Woods: The Sandpiper
This week has been a good week for Dad as you will read in "his" note. I have made plans to go home on the 10th of Aug so that I can get my kids ready for school. Now that the plans are made it seems time is moving so quickly and I am even more aware of how special time here with my dad is. The Lord has shown me so many things during this time and I know this is one Life lesson that I will use for HIS glory! I thank each of you for your continued prayers for my dad. We covet each one.
Dad wrote a short note himself and then shared a story his secretary gave him. She is a sweet lady and has done so much for dad during this time and I am ever so grateful to her!



Here is Dad
Once again, this week‘s medical treatments were very similar to last week’s. I finished 5 more radiation treatments (bringing the total to 13 of the planned 28) and another chemotherapy treatment (for a total of 3 of the planned 4). One of my doctors – I have three now – told me that she thought that I would continue the chemotherapy treatments as long as the radiation treatments so I may have as many as 6 or 7 chemotherapy treatments. I’ll find out next Thursday when I meet with my oncologist.

So far, I feel good and haven’t suffered any significant side-effects from the chemotherapy. The only side-effect I am beginning to feel is coming from the radiation treatments. My throat is starting to get sore. It’s a side-effect they told me would come during week three or four. They said it will last a couple of weeks and that I will be hard to swallow. For me the swallowing is a little tough, but the worst thing is they said I need to avoid spicy foods, which means no Mexican food. In my world, that is the penultimate sacrifice. Besides that, I am still very grateful that everything has gone as well as it has.

I may have seen a breakthrough too. After yesterday’s chemotherapy treatment and radiation treatment, I noticed that my cough was not nearly as bad as it had been. For most of last night, I hardly coughed. I am cautiously optimistic. It was not bad again today, which was another positive sign. This may be the first positive sign to come from all of the treatments.

The following is not my writing. It is a story my assistant, GG, sent me. Actually, GG runs the division and I work for her. This story says it better than I would. I hope you enjoy the Sandpiper by Robert Peterson…

The Sandpiper
by Robert Peterson

She was six years old when I first met her on the beach near where I live.
I drive to this beach, a distance of three or four miles, whenever the world
begins to close in on me.

She was building a sand castle or something
and looked up, her eyes as blue as the sea.
"Hello," she said. ;
I answered with a nod, not really in the mood to bother with a small child.
"I'm building," she said.
"I see that. What is it?" I asked, not really caring.
"Oh, I don't know, I just like the feel of sand."
That sounds good, I thought, and slipped off my shoes.
A sandpiper glided by.
"That's a joy," the child said.
"It's a what?"
"It's a joy. My mama says sandpipers come to bring us joy."
The bird went gliding down the beach. Good-bye joy, I muttered to myself,
Hello pain, and turned to walk on. I was depressed, my life seemed
completely out of balance.
"What's your name?" She wouldn't give up.
"Robert," I answered. "I'm Robert Peterson."
"Mine's Wendy.... I'm six."
“Hi, Wendy."
She giggled. "You're funny," she said.
In spite of my gloom, I laughed too and walked on.
Her musical giggle followed me.
Come again, Mr. P," she called. "We'll have another happy day."
The next few days consisted of a group of unruly Boy Scouts, PTA meetings,
and an ailing mother. The sun was shining one morning as I took my hands out
of the dishwater. I need a sandpiper, I said to myself, gathering up my coat.
The ever-changing balm of the seashore awaited me. The breeze was
chilly but I strode along, trying to recapture the serenity I needed.
"Hello, Mr. P," she said. "Do you want to play?"
"What did you have in mind?" I asked, with a twinge of annoyance.
"I don't know. You say."
"How about charades?" I asked sarcastically.
The tinkling laughter burst forth again. "I don't know what that is."
"Then let's just walk."
Looking at her, I noticed the delicate fairness of her face.
"Where do you live?" I asked.
"Over there." She pointed toward a row of summer cottages.
Strange, I thought, in winter.
"Where do you go to school?"
"I don't go to school.. Mommy says we're on vacation"
She chattered little girl talk as we strolled up the beach, but my mind was
on other things. When I left for home, Wendy said it had been a happy day.
Feeling surprisingly better, I smiled at her and agreed.
Three weeks later, I rushed to my beach in a state of near panic. I was in no
mood to even greet Wendy. I thought I saw her mother on the porch and felt
like demanding she keep her child at home.
"Look, if you don't mind," I said crossly when Wendy caught up with me, "I'd
rather be alone today." She seemed unusually pale and out of breath.
"Why?" she asked.
I turned to her and shouted, "Because my mother died!" and thought,
My God, why was I saying this to a little child?
"Oh," she said quietly, "then this is a bad day."
"Yes," I said, "and yesterday and the day before and -- oh, go away!"
"Did it hurt?" she inquired.
"Did what hurt?" I was exasperated with her, with myself.
"When she died?"
"Of course it hurt!" I snapped, misunderstanding,
wrapped up in myself. I strode off.
A month or so after that, when I next went to the beach, she wasn't there.
Feeling guilty, ashamed, and admitting to myself I missed her, I went up
to the cottage after my walk and knocked at the door. A drawn looking
young woman with honey-colored hair opened the door.
"Hello," I said, "I'm Robert Peterson. I missed your little girl today
and wondered where she was."
"Oh yes, Mr. Peterson, please come in. Wendy spoke of you so much.
I'm afraid I allowed her to bother you. If she was a nuisance,
please, accept my apologies."
"Not at all! She's a delightful child." I said, suddenly realizing
that I meant what I had just said.
"Wendy died last week, Mr. Peterson. She had leukemia
Maybe she didn't tell you."
Struck dumb, I groped for a chair. I had to catch my breath.
"She loved this beach, so when she asked to come, we couldn't say no.
She seemed so much better here and had a lot of what she called happy days.
But the last few weeks, she declined rapidly..." Her voice faltered, "She left
something for you, if only I can find it. Could you wait a moment while I look?"
I nodded stupidly, my mind racing for something to say to this lovely young
woman. She handed me a smeared envelope with "MR. P" printed in bold
childish letters. Inside was a drawing in bright crayon hues -- a yellow beach,
a blue sea, and a brown bird. Underneath was carefully printed:
A SANDPIPER TO BRING YOU JOY

Tears welled up in my eyes and a heart that had almost forgotten to love
opened wide. I took Wendy's mother in my arms. "I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry,
I'm so sorry," I uttered over and over, and we wept together.

The precious little
picture is framed now and hangs in my study. Six words -- one for each year
of her life -- that speak to me of harmony, courage, and undemanding love.
A gift from a child with sea blue eyes and hair the color of sand
-- who taught me the gift of love.

NOTE: This is a true story sent out by Robert Peterson. It happened over 20
years ago and the incident changed his life forever. It serves as a reminder
to all of us that we need to take time to enjoy living and life and each other.
The price of hating other human beings is loving oneself less.
Life is so complicated, the hustle and bustle of everyday traumas
can make us lose focus about what is truly important
or what is only a momentary setback or crisis.
This week, be sure to give your loved ones an extra hug, and by all means,
take a moment... even if it is only ten seconds, to stop and smell the roses.
This comes from someone's heart, and is read by many
and now I share it with you...

May God Bless everyone who receives this! Never brush aside anyone as insignificant. Who knows what they can teach us?

I wish for you, a Sandpiper."
Doug Woods


love and blessings to you,

Thankful Thursday

Sonya hosts Thankful Thursdays and today I am joining her :)

1. I am thankful for the Lord! His Peace and Joy, that today, is definately my strength! Early this morning My daily reading began in Romans 5. The Lord knows just what we need every day and I am thankful for His word that is a lamp unto my feet.

2. I am thankful that even when I didn't know quitting work last May was going to be such a blessing and provide me opportunities like this to be here for most of my summer with my Dad. God already knew :)

3. I am thankful to have the opportunity to see my Dad in a whole new light. To see his strength and perseverance in the battle of his life! Wow.

4. For the prayer covering that my husband gives me daily. Knowing that I am covered provides strength, peace and an assurance that I cherish more than I could ever describe!

5. I am an animal lover and being here has allowed me a new type of love. A horses love. Oh my, When I was preparing to leave the first time to drive my kids back home I went out to tell the horses good-bye. Bailey, a rescue horse is huge! He is only 4 1/2 yrs old but is the sweetest horse I have ever known. He wrapped his head literally around my neck and gave me a hug in a horse way. It was so powerful and touched me deep! I have been praying for Bailey because he has some serious issues with his feet and might not make it. But everytime I spend time with him in the barn I learn how loving these animals are. I am so thankful to have experienced Gods creature and the love that he gives.

Thanks Sonya and for other thankful posts go here

Ritzy Misfit Giveaway!

Ok I am not one that watches the Bachelorette ......BUT......Through you all I have learned about Jillian and her chosen one, ED.
Anyway, Jillian was sporting this awesome necklace and we have an opportunity to win one!!!



Isn't it awesome! If you would like to enter the giveaway the rules are posted here but hurry the giveaway ends tomorrow night at midnight!! Hope somebody we know wins!!! I chose the Red "L"


Love and Blessings!

JULY 28, 2009

For Today...

Outside my window... sunny Florida day ....

I am thinking... how grateful I am my Dad is being treated at Mayo and how blessed we are to share these days together. How much I cherish my husband who seeks the Lord for our family and leads us just as the Lord so desires him to.

I am thankful for... my friend Lynne, who months ago (prior to my dads diagnosis) gave me a book by Dennis Rainey. "The greatest gift you can give your parents" It is giving a tribute to your parents in writing. I had started this for my dad prior to all of this and then the Lord had me back off because I began writing in fear of losing him, but last night I was prompted to get back to it and I finished it. I am now praying as to when I give this to my dad. I can't wait!

From the kitchen... lots of fish and veggies. Dad taught me how to make fish tacos.....oh my they are YUMMY!!

I am wearing... my pajama bottoms and shirt watching a movie with Dad. He is working from home today. He has been extremely fatigued lately.

I am reading... When Jesus speaks to your Sorrow by Nancy Guthrie, Take 2 by Karen Kingsbury, The Principle of the Path, and Leotta's Garden by Francine Rivers

I am hoping... my daughter gets her summer reading completed before school starts!! ;)

I am praying... for Alleluiahbelle (Happy Birthday today) and her husband Ron, Ellen, Mary, some friends back home and my husband and Dad. His fatigue is high and his cough has returned and is strong again due to reducing the steroids further this week.

Around the house... things are quiet. Dad is resting alot so we are watching alot of movies together. He has his own Blockbuster video storeright here at his house....seriously :)

One of my favorite things... SKYPING my family every night, seeing their sweet faces before I go to sleep is such a gift!!!

A few plans for the rest of the week... Dad lives right down the street from an outlet mall so I am going to go get some shorts for my husband and mail them to him. Dad has chemo on thurs along with radiation every day this week

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you..



These are flowers my Dad gave me this past Sunday :) aren't they gorgeous! He picked them out and put them together...just for me

love and blessings to you all!

p.s. Some have asked about the blog interview. Kat posted it last sunday. To read it go here

for other simple women dayposts go here

A blog interview and an award

The Lord gives us creative ideas, nudges us with kind words or scripture for others in need and drops things we might do in order to help others in certain ways! Well, this is just what HE has done for my dear friend Kat over at HEART2HEART. She heard the Lord speaking to her about sharing new blogs with her readers and also uniting us with even more "believing" bloggers! How awesome is that! God is sooo GOOD! When I was reading this idea I told KAT how awesome I thought it was and couldn't wait to meet the new blogs that she would be introducing. Little did I know she would email me and ask if I could be her first interview!
I was and am very humbled but I also knew the Lord was allowing this opportunity for His purposes! Thankyou Kat for hearing the call and being obedient.....

A few days prior Kat also gave me an award!



The only rules are to pass it on to others, and let them know on their blogs :)

Lori at Girly Muse

Mary at PILE OF SMILES

Laurie at My heart Speaks

Jennifer at Studio JRU

Nicole at Taulman Times

Steph at StephTmomof3

There are others but Kat already gave them this award at the same time!!!!

Thankyou Kat you are a treasure! I can't wait to see what God has in store for you and may HE bless you 7fold!!!

Spiritual Sundays

Today I just write with a grateful heart and want to share Psalm 118:28-29

28 You are my God, and I will give you thanks.

you are my God, and I will exalt you.

29 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.

I received an email this week from a friend back home and she shared a devotion with me about praise....it says:

The Way of Praise.

I AM teaching you both My Way of removing mountains. The way to remove mountains is the way of Praise. When a trouble comes think of all you have to be thankful for. Praise, praise, praise.

Say “Thank you” all the time. This is the remover of mountains-your thankful hearts of praise.


I know the best way to get rid of a down-trodden spirit is to have yourself a praise party! Isaish 61 says praise is a garment :)
May we wear it daily no matter what comes our way!!

Please visit Ginger and Charlotte for more posts from Spiritual Sundays

Blessings to you all

A Note from Dad this week

I skipped last week, not on purpose, but just failed to post Dad's note. This week, I wanted to share this and thank each of you for your continued prayers, love and support. Walking this out with the Lord has taught be so much. I have had to dig deep and praise the Lord, the deeper I dig, the deeper the Lord takes me. I also couldn't have done this without all of you~ your daily encouragement, the assurance that I have in knowing you truly are praying because I get to see the manifestation before my eyes, is one of the greatest gifts I have ever been given ! This week I have experienced God in some powerful ways and truly want to express my gratitude from the bottom of my heart and from my Dads as well. There is no way to deny the Lord in any of this. Here is Dad's note from Facebook for this week.


Doug Woods: Why I Am Grateful I Have This Disease

Doug's Notes|Notes about Doug|Doug's Profile
Why I Am Grateful I Have This DiseaseShare
Yesterday at 10:30pm
This week‘s medical treatments were very similar to last week’s. I finished 5 more radiation treatments (bringing the total to 8 of the planned 28) and another chemotherapy treatment (for a total of 2 of the planned 4). So far, I feel good and haven’t suffered any significant side-effects. I am still very grateful that everything has gone as well as it is.

It may be sometime before I know what effect the treatments are having on the tumor. I can’t really tell if there is any improvement or not. I am very hopeful, but, at this point, there aren’t any tell-tale signs - one way or the other. I met with my radiologist this week and she was pleased with my health but she doesn’t have any other information about the impact the treatments are having on my tumor. It is a wait-and-see situation.

Before I point out a few of the positive things that cancer has brought to me, I want to share a little story. When I first started attending AA meetings there was one man who caught my attention. His name was John S. He always wore tennis shoes, slacks, a plaid shirt, and a red baseball cap. Like me, he was bald and said he wore the baseball cap because people accused him of streaking if he took it off.

John was sober 34 years at the time I met him (1977). The thing I liked most about him was that he was the happiest person I have ever met in my life. It was his contagious happiness and smiles that caught my attention. He had what I wanted. Over the next two years he taught me more about dealing with life than anyone I’ve ever known.

John always introduced himself by saying he was grateful he was an alcoholic. After hearing him introduce himself this way, I pulled him aside one night and asked why he said he was grateful he was alcoholic. I told him I wasn’t a bit grateful to have the disease and that I didn’t think I would ever be grateful to be an alcoholic. John just smiled and told me that I would be grateful someday but it was going to take some work. He explained that his life was the best it had ever been and he gave the credit to the fact that he was a sober alcoholic. He suggested that I begin introducing myself in the same way and that I would find within a few weeks or a few months that I was becoming grateful to be an alcoholic. Another way I’ve heard this described is: “It’s the action you’re taking against your thinking that will make you different”.

At my next meeting, I introduced myself by saying that I was grateful that I was an alcoholic. I almost choked when I said it, but I continued to introduce myself that way and over a period of a few months I found that I was becoming aware of how grateful I was.

This may sound very weird, but there are times that I feel grateful to have this disease. Dealing with this disease is teaching me many things I would not have dealt with. It has improved relationships that might not have been amended and there is more.

One thing contracting lung cancer has shown me is how powerless I am. Being powerless is a hard pill to swallow, but I have done it before. The first time I had to admit powerlessness was when I tried to stop drinking. I couldn’t do it on my own. I needed spiritual help and I needed the help of others like me. I needed the help of my family and friends, and the help of many others. When I finally admitted that I couldn’t do it on my own, I was able to begin to deal with the problem. Cancer is even more compelling, because for some cancers (like lung cancer) there isn’t a cure – but there is always hope.

I’ve mentioned several times in the past few weeks that this cancer has taught me how to deal with my fears. I live “one day at a time” and I believe the outcome is in God’s hands. I’m doing everything I can – maintaining a positive attitude, eliminating sugar, eating a healthy diet, resting when I need to, etc. I believe all of these things are helping.

There are several other things that I find are beneficial from having this disease. For instance, as a result of contracting this disease, I have a new appreciation for what I have in my life. The relationships with my wife, my daughter, my son, and numerous friends are closer now than they have ever been. My children and I talk daily and our focus is on important things.

Another benefit of this cancer is that I don’t hang on grudges or resentments – they aren’t worth the time or the pain. My experience with grudges and resentments is that they eat away at me. The person for whom I hold the grudge or resentment goes unscathed. I’m the one who suffers. Letting go of grudges and resentments and things that bother me makes my way to recovery free of several obstacles.

In this same vain; little everyday annoyances bother me less, in part because I feel more justified in releasing myself from negative people. Since the future of my disease is unknown and unpredictable, my time is too precious to waste. I want to focus on living in and savoring the present moment and getting as much out of life as possible.

In many ways I have become stronger, more confident, more aware of my personal resources and less socially inhibited. In several instances, I found my voice and I was more likely to stand up for myself. I have emerged out of the awareness of how alone I am in living with this life-threatening illness and how I must be my own advocate in the arena of the medical world. I have learned to ask for help when I need it and I have seen how people have rallied around and supported me in my time of need. I feel more loved than ever before.

This cancer is not something I wanted, but now that I have it I can see that it has driven me to make some needed changes. In this respect, I am grateful I have it.
Doug

May you all have a blessed weekend