Reflecting, Renewing, and Rejoicing

I had an awesome day yesterday - seeing people I hadn't seen in a very long time. The anniversary celebrations were just superb and it was great to connect with teachers I had taught with so many years ago. I visited dear friends in town as well and my friend and I even drove past the townhouse that we had rented way back then just for old-times sake. Great fun!!
This afternoon I am heading out to my aunt and uncle's for the week. I may be unable to connect with you for awhile but I'll write again as soon as I can.
The weather is still beautiful - sunny and warm. Just lovely!
A wonderful church service this morning - by faith alone; in Christ alone. How comforting to know!

In Him,
Sandra

Keeping the Beat

Well, it has cooled down a bit today. Now it's just warm and pleasant. And we didn't get a thunderstorm last night as predicted. Yeah!
You know we are in the age of technology when the teacher asks "How do we know where the whales are?" and a student quickly replies, "With a fishing GPS."
I taught a music class this afternoon and we sang, and clapped, and played instruments, and kept the beat in our feet. Great fun!
Now it's the weekend and I am looking forward to it. Tomorrow I go to the 50th anniversary celebration of the first school that I taught in after completing college. It'll be neat to connect with people I have not seen for a long time.
Enjoy your weekend, too!

Singing His praises,
Sandra

Hot and Humid

Here I am in Ontario and it's hot and humid! I had a good flight yesterday without any glitches. Always a good thing! I am sitting in the classroom at my friend's school right now and that is very refreshing because it is air-conditioned! I did ask for no thunderstorms while I'm here but that's highly unlikely. One is predicted for this evening. If you know me, you know I do not like thunderstorms at all, but it's Ontario, after all.
I'm enjoying the time away - a break from appointments. The compression sleeve is working on my arm and the flight and the heat are not making it swell up more.
"This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."

Love, Sandra

Off to Ontario!

I'm packing my bags and flying away tomorrow to Ontario for a visit and an anniversary. The school where I first began teaching many moons ago is having their 50th anniversary, and I'm going to celebrate with them. That'll be fun - and I'll be able to connect with a lot of people, I hope. I'm going to visit my aunt and uncle there as well and enjoy some time with friends.
I had another physio appointment this morning and my shoulder is doing better. The range of motion is improving and the pain is a little less.
So back to my suitcase... The next post will be from out east!

Love, Sandra

Long weekend

Just waiting for my mom and dad to come over. We're going to celebrate an uncle's birthday this afternoon. Yesterday I was at school again - can't stay now!! It was so good to be there and I'm dreaming and planning for next year already. I am feeling good and my arm is doing well in the new sleeve. My shoulder is slowly improving and I am thankful for that. Have a wonderful long weekend - I'm hoping for that sun to come out brightly sometime soon!!

Love, Sandra

More Than We Ask

I'm still smiling and I just can't stop. I didn't realize how much I wanted to hear my doctor say I could return to work. Thank you so much, dear family and friends, for all your prayers. Sharing my excitement with me through your encouraging emails, your phonecalls, and your face-to-face chats has made this time even more special.
"Glory be to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine." (Eph. 3:21)

Singing His praises,
Sandra

YES!!

I went to see my oncologist this morning and we had a very good visit! She asked if I'd like to go back to work in September. Of course, I said YES!!! I am so excited to be able to dream about my music classroom again and all my wonderful students! My doctor was pleased that the lymphedema is under control and hopefully the sleeve will keep it that way. I'll continue with physio for my shoulder (it's still pretty painful) and I'll stay on the pain medication for my legs. I will see my doctor again at the beginning of August - she is definitely keeping close tabs on me. I'm fine with that.
I'm just excited and smiling from ear to ear! It's the best news I could have received. Thank you for your prayers, even as I know you said them this morning while I was at my appointment. In health and strength day by day, let Christ be glorified. To God be the glory, great things He has done!

Singing His praises,
Sandra

True Hope

"The mystery in a nutshell is just this: Christ is in you, so therefore you can look forward to sharing in God's glory." (Col.1:27 The Message) That's true hope - that's the only hope. Because Christ lives in me, my image is restored and I can glorify my Saviour!
In every song we sing, in the praises that we bring,
let Christ be glorified.
In the service that we give, and the lives that we live,
let Christ be glorified.
To worship with God's people and be renewed in hope and strength - that is the joy of today!
Please pray that the visit with my oncologist tomorrow morning will be only encouraging news.

Love,
Sandra

New Sleeve

This afternoon I got my new compression sleeve and it's so much more comfortable, better fitting, and I know it'll be more effective, too. I'm so glad it came in today. Finally the lymphedema can be properly managed. What a relief!
What another beautiful day, too! It feels like summer, doesn't it? It's time to put my patio furniture back on the deck so I can sit outside again.
I've been thinking back to last year at this time - still in chemo, no hair, and staying away from crowds. As I think ahead to Monday's visit to my oncologist, I pray that all will stay well. I need to keep on trusting, knowing that I can lean on the everlasting arms.
"The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms." (Deut.33:27)

Trusting in Him,
Sandra

The Lymphedema Saga...

Isn't it just gorgeous weather? I love the sunshine but I am getting a little tired of my lymphedema saga. And it continues... This morning I went back to physio after one week away, and wearing my new compression sleeve. Well, my arm was not good - it had swelled up considerably in places. That meant the sleeve was not working. So I was fitted for another sleeve, and had a treatment this morning, and another one tomorrow morning, and yet again on Friday afternoon. Oh my, oh my... I'll get lots of reading in this week, won't I? Hopefully, by Friday my new sleeve will be in, too. The good thing is that for now I'm not wearing a sleeve at all - because it's not working anyways. Freedom!!
I've been talking to several people lately about prayer - sometimes there are answers we clearly see, and sometimes it seems as if no answers come at all. But maybe, as I was reading yesterday in a book, our fervent, pleading prayers are meant to "absorb all manner of pain, and transform it into hope." I like that because I live in hope - constant, God-given hope.

Hope-full in Him,
Sandra

Music "Stuff"

Today has been a full and busy day! This morning I practiced with the praise team for Sunday. I'm going to play piano in church on Sunday. My left hand and shoulder were sore and tired after I had played for an hour or so but it settled down quickly. I'm still trying to get used to the sleeve on my left arm. It's not always very comfortable.
This afternoon I went to school and taught the grade 3 music classes. That was such a joy to do! I loved being in the music room, singing and talking about music "stuff."
My deck just got pressure-washed this afternoon. I hope it stays warm and sunny over the weekend and then maybe I'll even be able to sit outside for a bit.
Enjoy the weekend!

Singing His praises,
Sandra

Hair Cut

I just went for my first haircut in over a year this afternoon. I needed to get it trimmed and shaped a little - and the curls are still there, especially in the back. My hair styles nicely all on its own. My hairdresser didn't have to use any product, or dry it with the blow dryer. Isn't that so cool? I've never had hair that styles itself!!
I'm wearing my new compression sleeve, too. That will take some getting used to. I don't find it really comfortable and I have to get used to it being over my thumb and hand. More adjusting... But at least I can play piano again and that seems to go fairly well.
This morning I went for physio on my shoulder again. Though it's very sore right now because it was manipulated, it is feeling better than before. My physiotherapist says we caught it before it went into a frozen shoulder, so hopefully this treatment will prevent that from occurring.
OK - time for a cup of tea.

Love, Sandra

Music Monday

This morning I went to school so I could listen to the students sing for Music Monday. I love Music Monday! I love the idea that all across Canada, at the same time, students are singing the same song; sharing their love of music! You did a great job of singing, students! I really enjoyed the song Sing, Sing. Usually we sing outside for Music Monday but that sure wasn't able to happen this year! It was raining, and hailing, and windy, and just plain cold and miserable. And now the sun is shining, and it's much warmer - how fickle the weather is today!
"I'm gonna sing, sing, sing, sing, sing out loud..."

Singing His praises,
Sandra