Thinking Out Loud

Yesterday a friend (thanks, A) introduced me to a children's book about a cat walking in different coloured shoes, depending on different circumstances. I was struck by the moral at the end of the book: "No matter what you step in, keep walking along and singing your song....because it's all good." (Eric Litwin). Then as I read a devotional this morning the author talked about the best day not depending on what I've done in a day but rather on who I am in Christ. I think of myself so often as a music teacher and I love to plan what I can do in a day. I am easily discouraged when I can't do what I want to do. It is in Christ that we live, and move, and have our being. In the circumstances that I am in now, I can only keep walking along, singing God's song because I live in Him. That doesn't mean it's always easy, and that doesn't mean I don't need a reminder every day, but I know that I go with my Saviour, step by step, singing in His loving care. And thanks for the concert today, C. You helped me keep on singing in His steps.

Love,

Sandra

Tuesday Entry

Today was a good day. My doctor called this morning to say that I didn't have any infection so I could go off of the antibiotics. I also had to go off the blood thinner because my blood is way too thin. The blood thinner medication interacts with my chemo pills so the two together do cause problems. But...I felt good and I was able to enjoy the day - relaxing, reading, and visiting on the phone and in person.

"The Lord is good.

He is a fortress in the day of trouble.

He knows those who seek shelter in Him." (Nahum 1:7)

Sheltered in Him,

Sandra

This is My Father's World

Don't you just love this beautiful, sunny weather we're having? I think a bright day just makes me feel bright! I've been busy today journalling and updating my scrapbooks. Nice work! And my brother came over and put a shelf together for me. Thanks, bro!

Yesterday I went to see my doctor. I have a bit of infection so since I'm at my low point with my chemo pills, he put me on some antibiotics. Hopefully, that will clear things up. I will check in again on Monday to make sure everything is alright. So that means no church for me tomorrow. Just not safe to be among crowds right now.

"This is my Father's world, and to my listening ears

All nature sings and round me rings the music of the spheres."

Singing His praises,

Sandra

A New Bed

Today my new bed arrived and it's adjustable. I'll be able to sit up in bed or sleep at any angle that's comfortable. Really I can't wait to go to bed tonight. It could be a long sleeping-in tomorrow!! Of course, if it is as sunny as it was today I'll want to get up and enjoy that warm sunshine.
I'm noticing the effects of my chemo pills. My fingertips are getting very cracked and sore. I can especially feel it on my thumbs and pointer fingers. I'm lathering them with cream, but I can't keep them moist. The skin is just drying out. Oh dear... hope it doesn't get too much worse.

In His love,
Sandra

Changing of the guard

My sister from Alberta just left to return home so we have had a changing of the guard! Now my sister who lives close by has come to stay with me for a couple of days.

Yesterday I had my nephrostomy dressing changed (I have to have that done every week) and then I went for some routine blood work. All of that went very smoothly and that's good. I get rather uptight if I don't know what's going on, or if something is painful!

Well, I've got to get back to my knitting! I'm knitting with very fine yarn right now so this project will take awhile, I think.

Resting in His faithfulness,

Sandra

How great is our God!

What a glorious day it has been! I went to church this morning and though I sat away from the congregation, it was just so good to be in church worshipping with fellow believers. My sister was with me and after church we drove to my mom and dad's and spent the afternoon with them. One of my cousins joined us and it was just a "gezellig" afternoon (Sorry, non-Dutch followers- that word means "cozy"). Yes, it certainly was a good day. What a difference a week can make, and when I came home I just had to sit at the piano and play and sing some praise songs. "How great is our God, sing with me, how great is our God, and all will see how great is our God."

Singing His praises,

Sandra

P.S. Love those notes, T! I found more even yesterday. :)

Dancing

There is no box

Made by God

Nor us

But that the sides can be flattened out

And the top blown off

To make a dance floor

On which to celebrate life.

Kenneth Caraway

What a wonderful day I've had today. It 's just been so good to feel a little more energetic, and hungry, and pain-free. My sister and I even squeezed in a small shopping outing this afternoon. That was just plain fun! Tomorrow I begin the chemo pills again and I am hoping they go down smoothly and without side-effects.

Hail, hail!

Had a very good day today. Feeling so much better now that the kidneys are functioning well again. No pain medication at all today, absolutely no nausea! Thank the Lord - what a change!! Just feels so good to feel better, and eat, and dream, and adjust.
Had my appointment with my oncologist this morning. We are going to resume chemo again on Friday so I get to enjoy two more good days. Wonderful, wonderful!!
Just had to post some hail pictures. What a strange sight this afternoon to see hail in the blossoming heather.
Enjoy grandparents day tomorrow at school, students and teachers, and grandparents! Celebrate life and relationships and good days and sing, sing, sing!!!

Singing in His name,
Sandra

Nephrostomy

I'm finally awake enough to post a new blog. It's taken me all afternoon just to wake up. The procedure went well this morning at 11 a.m. I now have a tube straight from my left kidney to a bag outside my body. I'll have to get used to that and learn all the ins and outs of having a nephrostomy, but for now I think it's working quite well. There is still pain on the left side but mostly from the incision site and the surgery itself. Hopefully that will lessen and go away in due time. Home nursing care will be involved to change the dressings and help me adjust to this new "normal.". So glad I could return home again. I will have family staying with me at least for the next week - but don't hesitate to visit anyways! My sister just baked some delicious squares. Yum,yum....

Please pray that my kidneys will function well from now on and I can resume my normal chemo schedule on Friday again. Praise be to God, our Father, who knows what we need and when we need it!

Still leaning,

Sandra

God's Mercy

A quiet day with family,

Listening to sermons,

Playing scrabble on my iPad,

Talking with friends,

Enjoying my chair,

Listening to music

Eating meals (pretty decent sized ones, I'd say)

Being pain- free ( with the help of medication)

Exclaiming over the moments of sunshine

O, taste and see that the Lord is good. His mercy endures forever!

In His love,

Sandra

My Own Bed!

Surprise! I am home and loving it! Today I was allowed to return home for a couple of days since my blood levels were good and my surgery will not happen until Monday at 1 p.m. I am delighted to be able to sleep in my own bed tonight. My sister and brother-in-law are here with me through the weekend and I have enough medication to keep the pain under control. Thank you all for your prayers and for your continued love and support. Thank you for encouraging words and gifts. God wraps His arms of love around me even when the pain is unbearable, and the journey stretches out with more potholes than I'm willing to count.

Leaning on His everlasting arms,

Sandra

Delayed

The procedure is not going to happen until Monday. Sandra's blood is too thin right now for the procedure to occur. She is getting excellent care and has had many different experts and doctors checking on her today.

She had a great sleep last night. They've fixed up her space into more of a room and it's actually quite private and quiet at night. Again, she is requesting no visitors. If an infection sets in before the surgery that will delay it even more.

Thanks for your continued prayers on her behalf.

--written by Ardie

Speedy Answer

The prayers for a bed worked very effectively! Within a half hour of posting this blog, Sandra had a bed! I should have added a prayer request for a room too. Her bed's in the hallway, but it's in a spot that's actually more private than a shared room. We're looking at the positives of the situation. She has her own bathroom because of the worry of infection.

Also because of the worry of infection, Sandra is requesting no visitors at this time. She's just not feeling up to it and even though she finished her first round of chemo yesterday, she still is at high risk for any infection without the ability to fight it.

She had a good sleep last night and is awaiting surgery. I talked with the nurse a little while ago and she said surgery may not happen until tomorrow.

Pain is under much better control. Sandra is resting as comfortably as one can be in the hospital. She's been very strong and upbeat in spite of all of this. She radiates Joy.

Thanks for all of your continued prayers on Sandra's behalf.

--written by Ardie

Here we go again....

This is Ardie writing for Sandra. Unfortunately Sandra's in the hospital. The procedure done on February 18 to relieve the kidneys is not working. She's back to where she started less than a month ago. She will have a different procedure tomorrow to hopefully relieve the problem.

As I'm writing this she is not in a bed in the hospital. Please pray for the procedure tomorrow that it will fix the problem and bring Sandra relief. Also pray for a bed soon! The emergency room is not a good place to be when it's so overcrowded like now.

Sunshine!!

What a beautiful day it was today!! I went for a little walk with my sister-in-law by Mill Lake. I didn't walk very far or too quickly. I'm rather nauseous today so a very slow gait was the best I could do. However, it was just nice to get some fresh air, even if it was still a bit cool and nippy, and see the ducks go paddling by.

Love, Sandra

Only 3 more days

I've been keeping a low profile lately. I was hoping to do some things over the weekend, meaning getting out a bit, but my oncologist nixed that pretty quickly. It's been my "low" weekend when blood levels drop because of the chemo pills. So in between the bouts of nausea I've been sticking close to home. Now I'm counting the days before I get a week off from the chemo pills. Only three more days...

I sure appreciate the visits! Today my niece came over and we planned and bought materials for a craft. I'll show a picture when it's done, O.K? (Thanks, Janice). Then a friend came for tea.

Thank you for your continued prayers. I pray fervently that the chemo pills are stopping the cancer from spreading any more.

Resting in His peace,

Sandra

Welcome to March!

Before I fall asleep here I'd like to connect with you. I 'm so tired this evening. The last few days have been a little easier, although I still struggle with waves of nausea. I'm finished my first 7 days of chemo pills; now just one more week before I get a week off. I hope and pray daily that this chemo is working effectively and arresting the cancer.

I received a Puritan prayer from a friend (thanks, Karen) and just have to share a part of it that was so comforting to me. "Let me not be at my own disposal, but rejoice that I am under the care of one who is too wise to err, too kind to injure, too tender to crush.". What a great, loving Father we have!

Rejoicing to be in His kind and tender care,

Sandra