Goodbye to March

What a wonderful Wednesday! I went to school this morning to talk to a class; then went to the staffroom to celebrate a baby's arrival. After that I went to a friend's house for lunch, and finished off my galavanting with a trip to the library. Since I came home I have been reading in my recliner. I finished a book entitled The Cello Suites about J.S. Bach, and a famous cellist named Casals, and the mystery of the original manuscripts of the music. I was intrigued and thoroughly enjoyed the book!

Happy reading!
Sandra

Lymphopress treatment

This morning I had my first lymphopress treatment done. The physiotherapist measured my arm before and after the treatment and there was even a difference already! Amazing, eh? She didn't wrap the arm afterwards today - this was a trial run! We'll start the treatments in earnest on the 12th of April and then the arm will be wrapped up in cloth bandages in between treatments. I'm sure learning all about lymphedema. What an education! My physiotherapist said we caught it nice and early, however, and we should be able to get it under control, but lymphedema, though manageable, is with me to stay. Just one more side effect of this past year!

Sandra

Hosanna!

Before I turn off my lights for Earth Hour this evening, I'll post a note here. It was a slow, but pretty good day today. My legs have been a little sore the past two days, and my arm continues to feel tight and painful, but I am doing my exercises as much as I can.
Tomorrow is Palm Sunday. Hosanna to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords! Easter is fast approaching. It seems to have come so quickly this year. Blessings on your Sunday tomorrow. May you be encouraged and built up in the faith through worship with God's people.

Rejoicing in Him,
Sandra

Lymphedema

I went for my first physiotherapy treatment this morning and that was really good! I got a lot of helpful information, and exercises, and tips about lymphedema. The physiotherapist was very glad I had come because the swelling is significant in the upper arm, and she said it's better to catch it early. So on Monday I will go again, and she will add the lymphopress to try and get the lymph fluid to move out of the arm. I have lost a lot of movement in my left arm and I really want that back again.
There's always something, it seems, but at least it's not chemo...!!! Better get to work and do my exercises now!

Love, Sandra

THANK THE LORD!!

YES!!! The news is good. The final test came back negative and I will NOT need to have any more chemo! I am ecstatic, and relieved, happy and so very thankful. Now I can once again go into recovery mode, and recuperate fully from the second surgery, and gain my strength back. My oncologist looked at my left arm, the side from my surgery last year. She said lymphedema has developed and so I need to wear a compression sleeve, and go for physiotherapy and massage therapy. My left arm has gotten very sore in the last two weeks, and the range of motion has really diminished. The neuropathy in my legs continues to bother me so I will stay on the pain medication as well. I will see my oncologist again in two months (in May) so that she can continue to monitor my progress and make sure all is going well.
Thank you so very much for praying and pleading to God on my behalf. He is gracious and good, isn't He? A weight has been lifted and I can go on with this business of recuperation. Praise God!

Love,
Sandra

Springtime

Yesterday afternoon my niece and I went to Harrison. It was just so beautiful with snow-covered Mt.Cheam sparkling in the background. We walked around and took in the warmth of the sunshine, marvelling at the beauty of God's creation around us. I'm just so enjoying the springtime this year - the blossoms seem so lush and brilliant in colour, the sun feels so warm already, and the trees are taking on the bright green hue as the leaves get ready to burst out.
It's been good to have things to do and see and have family around to keep my mind off of Monday's appointment, but I can feel the nerves setting me on edge every now and again. I wonder what my oncologist will have to say -- will there be more chemo ahead, or are we finished? Please pray for good final results to the additional tests and for peace and strength to listen to my doctor on Monday and take in what she has to say.

Leaning on Him,
Sandra

God is Enough!

Another beautiful day! Sunny and bright! My niece and I went for a walk around Mill Lake and then walked around downtown poking our heads into some little shops. What fun!
Here's a song that the Dordt College concert choir sang on Monday night at the concert, accompanied by the cello, and it was beautiful. The words really spoke to me even though they were written hundreds of years ago by St. Teresa of Avila (1515-1582):
Let nothing disturb you,
nothing frighten you,
all things are passing.
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things.
Whoever has God lacks nothing.
God is enough.

Resting in Him,
Sandra

With My Niece

My sister left early this morning for home. It was so good to have her here. Tonight my niece and I are going to a choir concert of my alma mater, and her college presently. All this wonderful music! Yesterday I played for our church services for the first time in over a year. It was exciting to be behind the piano again. I hope and pray that life will soon return to "normal" and I can do the things I love to do, without thinking about treatments, and pain, and cancer. For now, I will enjoy the week with my niece.

In Him,
Sandra

Chopin Concert

Now my niece from Dordt has arrived here as well. She's staying with me over her Spring Break. I love it! People in the house! Last night my sister and I went to a Chopin concert here in Abbotsford. The pianist was Janina Fialkowski, a Canadian-born musician, living in Montreal. I got a CD of her playing Chopin and then she signed the CD after the concert. How cool is that!
I'm feeling pretty good - my left arm from the surgery last year is quite sore and I can't stretch it out. It swells up usually each day a little, probably not a good thing, but I'll tell the doctor about that next week.
Have a good weekend and blessings to you all.

Love, Sandra

Quilt of Belonging

Yesterday my sisters and I went to see the Quilt of Belonging at the Surrey Art Gallery. What a magnificent work of art! It was spectacular! It is a quilt made up of 263 squares representing 192 immigrant nationalities and 71 aboriginal groups found in Canada. It is 36 metres long and 3.5 metres high. The squares are just so beautifully crafted, each one a work of art in and of themselves. Some of them have 3-dimensional objects on them, such as the Dutch square with its tiny little silver wooden shoes. If you get a chance to see it, go for it. It is truly worthwhile! You can look it up online as well, I think.
It's so good to have my sister here and to do some things together. Today we ran some errands in town and went for a walk around Mill Lake, even though it was a bit blustery and cool.

Take care,
Love, Sandra

Family Ties

On Sunday we celebrated my sister's 50th birthday and therefore I had to post a new picture! I'm feeling much better - hardly any nausea and more energy again. I'm so excited because my sister from Alberta (Sharon) is coming tomorrow and then my niece, who is attending Dordt, is also coming for her spring break! I'll have a house full and things to look forward to! How wonderful to be able to get together with family and enjoy each other. And then to think that our heavenly Father enfolds us into His family and loves us so dearly that He sent His only Son for us!
How great is the love of the Father, the love He has shown to us-
So great that He calls us His children, and children of God we are!

In His love,
Sandra

VSO tonight

What an absolutely gorgeous day! Just love that sunshine! I'm all dressed up and ready to go to a Vancouver Symphony Concert this evening. It's going to be an evening of Chopin! It will be good, I'm sure. I am feeling a little better - the nausea isn't so strong anymore. What a relief! My stomach has had a rough week but it's beginning to settle down now. Yeah!

Love, Sandra

My Saviour's Love

Yesterday I went to school in the morning, participating in grade 5's music classes, and singing the song of the month. It was in my head all afternoon!
How marvelous! How wonderful!
And my song shall ever be:
How marvelous! How wonderful
Is my Saviour's love for me!
Still struggling with nausea - eating just isn't a favourite thing to do right now. I hope it goes away soon.

Love in Him,
Sandra