Make Music!

Oh dear - I'm a little behind in posting an update, aren't I? This past week has been full of appointments and sitting long times in physio rooms - but I also got in a lot of reading! My shoulder continues to be sore, but if I don't make the wrong movements, I can keep the pain somewhat under control. I will only be going for one more lymphapress treatment next week. I will be fitted then with a compression sleeve so I don't need my arm and fingers bandaged up all the time. Yay, I'll be able to play piano again!
" I shall sing (and play) to Yahweh all my life,
make music for my God... (Ps.104:33)
Just feeling better today - able to look forward, hopeful in the treatments, abiding in God's love, feeling strengthened by your prayers and encouragement in this long journey!

Love in Christ,
Sandra

Away...

Had a wonderful weekend away with my brother and sister-in-law and nieces. We were in Seattle and it was the first time I walked through Pikes market and saw them throwing fish around! We had such a good time and the weather was even warm enough for a picnic in a park with the Seattle skyline in view. I slept long this morning because I've been waking up in the night with such a painful left shoulder. No fun! Tomorrow morning I go for physio again and put the arm in the lymphapress. Please pray for healing in my shoulder, and the swelling to go down in the left arm.

In Him,
Sandra

Shoulder to Finger-tips

OK - I'm getting better at this one-armed thing. I'm so bandaged up actually, that it feels like my arm is in a cast, from shoulder to finger tips. I spent three and a half hours at physio this morning. Lots of work - this recuperation business. Actually two of those hours my arm is in the lymphopress and I can sit and read comfortably. The physiotherapist thinks I may have the beginnings of "frozen shoulder," therefore, the pain in my shoulder with so many of the movements I make. So, more exercises, and heat, and TENS machine, etc.
The remainder of the day was spent quietly at home, reading and resting.

Love, Sandra

All Wrapped Up

This is going to be short. My left arm is so wrapped up in bandages that it's hard to keyboard, or do anything with it. I have to keep moving it, but that's pretty hard to do. It could be a long next couple of weeks! Sure hope it helps!!

My Left Arm

What a gorgeous, warm day today! Perfect weather for an afternoon stroll. Tomorrow I have to go and pick up supplies so I can begin my lymphedema treatments in earnest on Wednesday morning (finally). My physiotherapist will teach me how to wrap up my arm myself. I hope I can do that. Sounds like quite the procedure! She says even my fingers will be wrapped so I won't be able to play the piano! That's going to be hard on me - I'll have to play songs with the right hand only or get a piano with wider keys so even bandaged fingers will fit on them! I'm just relieved that we're getting started on my arm - it's pretty sore and getting more and more limited in its movement.

Love, Sandra

More Concerts

A week later and I'm going to another VSO concert tonight! I'm very excited about it - tonight is a concert with acrobats and jugglers, called Cirque de la Symphonie. Sounds good, eh? I wonder how they'll combine the circus with symphonic music!
Last evening I heard Brahms German Requiem - a gorgeous musical work! It was beautifully sung, and it always is better when you have your own connection to the music. I sang that work myself in a choir years ago, so I could sing along "in my head."
Just have to leave you with a quote that I read this morning: "Through surprise our inner eyes are opened to the amazing fact that everything is gratuitous. Nothing at all can be taken for granted. And if it cannot be taken for granted, it is gift." (D. Steindl-Rast)
May my life be open to the surprise of God's gifts each and every day!

Blessings,
Sandra

Cute Little Lambs

This afternoon I went to my mom and dad's for tea. We sat outside on the deck because it was so beautiful and warm!! And I got to visit with the new baby lambs! My parents are bottle-feeding two of the tiniest lambs because they've been rejected by the mother ewes. So I got to feed one of them their afternoon bottle! They are just so cute! And of course, they love people and being cuddled.
Tonight it's off to the middle school fine arts evening! Maybe I'll see you there!!

Love, Sandra

The Day After

It was a great birthday yesterday! I really enjoyed the day. Thanks to all of you for birthday wishes, cards, gifts, phonecalls, emails, ecards, visits, and "Happy Birthday" renditions. It was all so celebratory and I just had such a good time!
Today has been a very laid-back day after all the festivities. The frustration of today was that my lymphopress treatments got postponed for another week. Now they won't start the wrapping until next week Wed. (Apr.21) because apparently they don't have the supplies here. I just want it to be done so I have my arm back... but I have to wait again!! Another lesson in patience, or something like that.
Time to go -talk to you again soon.

Love, Sandra

Special Day Coming!!!

It's VSO night tonight and we're going to listen to a piano concerto by Grieg, I think! The concerts are always good and I'm looking forward to it. First, it's out for dinner and then it's concert time. Relaxing, refreshing, and enjoyable.
And it's Birthday Eve - tomorrow I can celebrate another year! How grateful I am to be able to enjoy my birthday this year. Last year I had just finished chemo treatment number one. Thank you, God, for life, and the true joy and anticipation of days ahead!
Bask in God's love tomorrow as you worship Him with fellow believers!

In Him,
Sandra

Tulips and Snow!

Can you believe it? I woke up to a dusting of snow on the ground this morning! Snow in April with the tulips blooming and the rhododendrons just starting to appear. What's that all about?
Last night as I was sitting at my dining room table, I heard an owl hooting in the trees just behind my place. It sounded so close by. Maybe he was warning me about the snow!
My car is up and running again. I was able to get it repaired on Tuesday so I had it back by Tuesday evening. It was the starter motor that was broken and without that - it just won't go!
I am feeling good but my left arm continues to be very sore and I have to be very careful how I move it because it can be very sore. I hope that goes away over the next couple of weeks with the lymphopress treatments.
Have a good evening!
Love, Sandra

Generosity

I've been carless yesterday and today - my car refused to start but it's getting fixed now. Hope to have it by this evening again. Just been enjoying my tulips at home, and reading, and crafting, and visiting, and washing, and ironing, and just relaxing.
"Gratitude takes nothing for granted...
You acknowledge that you are surrounded by God's indescribable generosity.
You awaken to the fact that your life is a gift." (Don Postema)
My life is certainly a gift; each new day is a gift, too.

In Him,
Sandra

HE IS RISEN!

Hallelujah, Christ the Lord is risen today! The glory and the power of the resurrection give us hope and joy! Just had to post the tulip pictures (photographs courtesy of JEB) taken this afternoon when we walked through the tulip fields and gardens in Washington. After attending a jubilant Easter service and singing those powerful Easter hymns, seeing the fields of tulips just spoke of new life! The colours were so magnificent!
Now I'm back home again and there are vases of tulips all over my house. It was a great few days away and I enjoyed the change of scenery.

Singing His praises,
Sandra

Away for the weekend!

I know it's pretty late but I had to touch base with you. A friend and I are away for the weekend, enjoying (enduring?) the April showers (and blustery wind). We're hoping to see some beautiful fields of flowers but today we went shopping instead. The weather was just not conducive to tip-toeing through any tulip fields (but we bought enough shoes to go tip-toeing)!! It's just fun to be away for awhile - I'll put up with a few raindrops. At least I don't have to worry about my hair in this weather. These curls are staying in!!

Love, Sandra