Oops...

Sorry, no pictures right now. This blogger site has changed and I don't know how to post pictures anymore. I'm not really much of a "tekkie." I'll have to learn how to navigate this new site first.

An Anchor For Our Souls

A new week, and the last day of April. I've posted a picture of the new quilt on my bed. I pieced the top of the quilt already more than a year ago and had it actually quilted by machine just recently. I love the colours and it's a very warm and cosy quilt. Thanks, K, for all your help in getting this project completed, and for the beautiful sham you so competently designed. My oncologist checked in with me this afternoon and hopefully, this week, we can get a handle on the pain. I will go for a nephrostogram on Thursday and maybe that will shed some light on the persistent pain I'm experiencing. Pain can be rather debilitating and it's been exhausting to go through it day in and day out. I'm hopeful for a solution very soon because I'd really like to be up and around more than I am. I'd like to be more mobile. My chair is comfortable but...all day is a bit much. Yesterday I listened to a message on hope based on Hebrews 6:19. "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure." What a rock-solid promise. I like the picture of hope being an anchor for our souls. Anchored in His hope, Sandra

Cold Flour

Today was a good day. I was able to get out a little and run a few errands. My hands are pretty red and sore tonight so I put some flour in the freezer. Once I take that out it should feel good to cool off my hands without being icy cold which can sometimes end up "burning" them. Now does that make sense? It was a suggestion from a cancer survivor in my online support group. I'll give it a try. I was really supposed to begin the chemo pills again today but my oncologist suggested I wait a bit to give my hands time to heal. So maybe tomorrow or Sunday instead. Love, Sandra

Standing on the Promises

An ordinary day...more chair-sitting and this afternoon I had a dentist appointment. Just wish I could do more but the pain stops me from over-doing things pretty quickly. It's nice to have my niece here with me. She is a big help and today we were setting things up again in my bedroom after it had been painted. Well, I was sitting on my comfortable bed giving orders and she carried them out. Please continue to pray for relief from pain and an answer to the kidney problems. I'm just thankful that in all things God is there and He will not leave me. Relying on His promises, Sandra

From my chair...

It was a take-it-easy weekend. I really have to sit a lot in order to manage the pain and stay on top of it. This afternoon I checked in with my own doctor and he just reminded me to stay ahead of the pain. So that's what I'm trying to do. My feet are feeling a little better but my fingers are still pretty tender. Good thing I don't need my thumbs when I make this message because they are the most painful. This evening my niece is arriving from Alberta and will stay for 10 days or so. I'm looking forward to the visit. I have a nice, new quilt on my bed. I had pieced the quilt when I first got sick in 2009 but had not finished it. Now it's all done! Thanks, K, for helping me finish it. It looks wonderful! With such beautiful warm weather maybe I can put out the patio furniture and sit outside. Today was certainly warm enough for that. In His grace, Sandra

Praise God!

I'm just so excited that I have to tell you all about it right now. My sister and I got back from my appointment with the oncologist this morning and my tumor marker has gone DOWN!!!!!!! That's what we've been praying about for so long now. That was the best news in a long time. The chemo pills are working and so I will stay on them and we won't have to change to an IV drug. The kidney situation is still not great but I just felt better knowing that the tumor marker is moving in the right direction. God is answering our fervent prayers! All praise and thanks to Him! WOW! The chest x-ray showed the fluid has not increased significantly so I will not need my lungs drained right now. That's also because the chemo is working. My hands and feet are pretty raw right now so my onc. lessened the dose a little. She said I should wait with starting the pills again until the pain is gone in my hands and feet. It's a good thing I have a week off now. So the sunshine is brighter, the flowers are more beautiful, I am more hopeful and I know that God hears our prayers! Just so very thankful, Sandra

Mashed Potatoes

As I'm sitting in my chair I'm feeling my feet tingle and burn. This morning I woke up to sore feet. They had been doing so well but today I was surprised by how quickly they turned sore. All part of the side effects of the chemo pills. Walking around just got a little more difficult.
It's been a good day, though, because I've been visiting and talking up a storm with my friend from Newfoundland. It's been so good to connect again. We've seen each other three times within a year and she lives way on the other side of the country! And now she's cooking a balanced supper meal, and the main ingredient is mashed potatoes. Yum, yum...
Friendship is a wonderful gift!

Blessings to all of you - friends and family,
Sandra

Hope

"Blessed are those who receive help from the God of Jacob. Their hope rests on the Lord their God, who made heaven, earth, the sea, and everything in them. The Lord remains faithful forever.(Psalm 146:5-6)

What a wonderful promise! I was feeling discouraged after my visit with the urologist on Friday because he didn't seem to have any answers for me. He said I could have another nephrostomy tube on the right side, but I'm not willing to go that route yet. I will be patient...and continue to take it easy. That is the best way to go for now, I think.
Today was a restful, quiet day. Some of my family came by to visit and we had tea together. It was good to visit, reflect, and relax.

In hope,
Sandra

Blessed Beyond Measure

Oh my...what a wonderful day yesterday. A great, big, humongous thank you to everyone who made the day so special - from singing choirs in the staffroom and over the phone... to emails galore...to visits from friends and neighbours and family,... to flowers (my house looks like a flower garden today)...to more cards than I can count (thank-you, students!) and on and on. It was just a fantastic day. And of course, I must mention the sneaky person or persons who put up the balloons and birthday banner outside my front door. Did you do that in the darkness of night, or early in the morning? You are sneaky as a cat, quiet as a mouse. Pretty fun!! I feel so blessed and loved and spoiled rotten!!
Today is a quiet, restful, put-up-my-feet kind of day.

Content in His grace,
Sandra

Feeling Thankful

Don't you just love this beautiful, mild weather? I am enjoying all the flowers coming out and the trees coming into bloom. I continue to feel pretty well as long as I'm not on my feet too long. This evening I had a surprise visit from some students and they treated me to a small concert. How lovely that was! Music can be such a great pick-me-up. Playing piano myself is getting increasingly difficult because my fingers are so sore. I'm wearing gloves during the day, too, just to protect my fingers and then I can keep them more moist.

Tomorrow is a special day! I'm going to celebrate my birthday. God is good. He has given me 55 years of life and I'm so thankful for His goodness and love all these years.

In His abundant love,

Sandra

Happy Easter!

He is risen! He is risen indeed!

Glory, hallelujah!

Singing at church,

getting together with family,

enjoying the sunshine and warmth of spring.

Love, Sandra

Good Friday

Good Friday, the day we remember Christ's death for us on the cross. What a sacrifice He made for us so we can have eternal life. Thank you, Jesus, for the cross. Thank you for Your deep, deep love.

It's been a good week because I have been feeling pretty good, especially if I don't overdo it and take it easy. That means a lot of sitting in my chair. But it's been an even better week because I have had a dear friend with me this week and it has been deliciously wonderful. Friendship is so important and I have so many caring friends. Thank you, all of you, for your care, and love, and prayers.

In Jesus' abiding love,

Sandra

Cancer Clinic Visit

My excuse for not writing sooner is that I have a friend staying with me this week and we're so busy visiting and chatting that I'm just not getting around to my blogging. Yesterday was my regular visit with my oncologist. I had a lot of questions answered and I got a better understanding of the plan in place. The tumor marker continues to rise but that can happen before it actually stabilizes or goes down. I will do one more round of chemo and if there is no further change, we will change chemo medication. There seems to be a build-up of fluid in the lungs again so after my next round of chemo pills I will go for a chest x-ray to see if that needs to be drained. We continue to work on stabilizing the kidney problem and my hope is that new stents can be put in on both sides and if they work well the nephrostomy tube can be removed. That would be such a treat. Next week I visit the urologist to see about that. Please pray for this chemo drug to work, meaning the cancer activity is stopped and pray, too, that the kidney situation will be stabilized. Meanwhile, I am feeling pretty good and able to enjoy my days. My fingers are very dry and the skin is peeling. It's difficult to do some daily activities, like buttoning up my shirts and turning the lids on jars. We keep thinking of new ways to do ordinary household things. I think I should just wear gloves all the time.

In Christ alone,

Sandra

SNOW????

OK - was that an April Fool's joke? Really... Snow on April 1st? Actually this afternoon it was beautiful and sunny outside. Spring is slowly, very slowly, making it's return. I went to church again this morning and it was so good to fellowship with God's people. How blessed to be able to worship in freedom. Hosanna!

I went out for lunch and had a lovely afternoon. I am amazed and surprised by my energy today. Sure feels good! I'm really noticing, however, that my fingertips are getting very dry, cracked, and seem a little numb. I can feel it when I play piano, or even make up this message on my IPad. I'll just keep lathering on the cream!

Have a wonderful week!

Love, Sandra