My times...

Just got back from spending some time at school. That never fails to make my day! I love to go there and now that I'm driving again and more independent I am able to get out more. I was helping out in getting new songs set up for the month of June - last month of yet another school year. Can you believe it? May is already over! And speaking of time, and how quickly it flies by I'm just comforted immensely knowing that "my times are in Your hands" (Ps.31:15). Thank you, God. I just have to keep reminding myself to live day by day, knowing God has my life (and yours, too) in His loving, caring hands. As a result we can cast all our cares on Him. It never overwhelms Him. Isn't that amazing and wonderful?

In His hands,
Sandra

Appointments

Yesterday was such a full day of appointments so today was a laid back day. Yesterday I had three medical appointments and I talked with my oncologist on the phone. They were all good visits. I am at a better place now especially since I have so little pain and I can move around better. That is due in large part to the morphine but for now that is alright.
Well, this won't be too long because it's definitely bedtime. Good-night and blessings on your day tomorrow.

Love, Sandra

Pentecost

What a wonderful day! I went to church this Pentecost Sunday and after church my sister and I went to my mom and dad's. Just driving down the freeway was beautiful, even though it wasn't as sunny today as the last couple of days. Yesterday afternoon I sat on my deck most of the afternoon. I was reading a good book, but I kept falling asleep. However, in between the naps I did manage to finish the book.
Looking forward to a good week. I do have several appointments but I hope the week goes well. Please pray that the kidney problems can be remedied so I can go off the morphine. I would really like that a lot.

In the Spirit of Pentecost,
Sandra

Running Errands

Well, not running, but just doing errands with my sister. It's nice to have her here so she can drive. We do a little bit every day. Today I even went to the grocery store! Haven't done that in ages. I just walked along while my sister did all the "hard" labour! Of course, I still needed my nap this afternoon, but at least, I'd done some work for it :)
My sister found an amaryllis growing in my garage. Some leaves are coming up so I wonder if it would bloom at this time of year. We'll see... And I have two orchids upstairs that have new buds on them again. Yesterday my other sister was commenting on how exciting it is to see things grow. New life! It's such a miracle and a wonder! God gives life - in Him we live and move and have our being. In Him, we also have something even more exciting - the promise of eternal life. How amazing that will be!

In His love,
Sandra

Victoria Day

Happy Victoria Day! Not a day you wanted to be outside with all that pouring rain but maybe some of you had great weather for planting gardens or walking outside. Tomorrow evening my sister from Alberta is coming for a week. I've already made a list of things we can do together ( well, probably mostly things she can do for me). I'm doing better on the morphine. I still need a nap during the day but I can go for longer stretches and keep my eyes open longer. Yay!! Looking forward to a good week. Hope yours is just fine, too.

Blessings,
Sandra

Awesome!

Today was a good day and it got even better. This afternoon my oncologist called to let me know that my tumour marker had gone down significantly since the last round. So exciting! The chemo drug is working and I hope the tumours are shrinking, too. We'll only know that if another scan is done and that won't happen until my kidney problems are under control.
And I could sit and play piano this afternoon, too. My fingers are healing and are not so sore anymore. Maybe some extra time off from the chemo pills will help them heal even more.
Our God is an awesome God, He reigns!!

Rejoicing in Him,
Sandra

God's throne of Grace

Before I fall asleep here I just want to update you on this day. I went for my regular visit to my oncologist. She was pleased that I'm making progress in controlling the pain with the morphine. She wants me to be totally pain-free and I'm with her on that. The tumour marker is on a downward trend, albeit rather slowly. My hands and feet are not as sore this round but because the kidneys are as yet not stabilized I am going to postpone starting another round of chemo for an extra four days. That means I won't start again until next week Wed. I'm fine with that.
We had Bible study in my complex this afternoon and a verse in Hebrews 4 was such a comfort and assurance to me. Verse 16 says: "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." God continues to hear our fervent prayers and I am finding that help in Him alone. Thank you, Jesus.

Trusting Him,
Sandra

Blessed

Wasn't it an absolutely gorgeous day today? I loved all that sunshine. Good thing my parents put out my deck chairs so I could even sit outside this afternoon. The long- lasting morphine pills are working and today the pain was minimal. It just felt so good to have some relief. I'm so glad my oncologist called to check up on me yesterday afternoon. When she heard I was still struggling with pain she prescribed long-lasting morphine pills. They do make me rather groggy and sleepy but I suppose my body will get used to that.
I got my haircut this afternoon and the hairdresser noticed my hair was getting a little thin in spots. My oncologist said I wouldn't lose my hair although it might get a little patchy. Oh well, I still have a wig I could pull out.
Tomorrow is Sunday. Blessings to you as you worship with God's people. "Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Christ, God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing that heaven has to offer."(Eph.1:3)

In God's loving care,
Sandra

Flowers in the flower boxes

It's been a rather rough week again because of the pain. I am on steady morphine now so I can keep the pain under control. Of course,that does make me rather groggy and sleepy. So I nap in my chair when my eyes won't stay open anymore. My mom and dad are staying over night tonight. There are always friends, and neighbors, and family, checking up on me or calling and that is really wonderful!
Yesterday my sister and I went to a nursery and picked up some flowers for my flower boxes. Audrey planted yellow, white and purple flowers in one box and all pink flowers in my second flower box. It looks so pretty but will look even nicer when they grow more and are filled with blossoms.

Blessings, dear friends and family,
Sandra

Back to the tube

This morning I was able to listen to the students sing for Music Monday outside on the parking lot of our school. It was wonderful to hear their voices praising God, with smiles on their faces. Just great to be there!
This afternoon was another story altogether. I went into the hospital to have my nephrostomy hopefully removed. But that didn't happen. Instead I was sedated so they could "untangle" the tube from the stent. Possibly that was causing all my pain. Tonight I am still in a significant amount of pain and back on morphine. Tomorrow more appointments as we continue to try and solve the kidney pain. My sister is here with me now as I am not allowed to be on my own. She's playing piano while I write to you. Thank you, dear family, for always being there for me. You are amazing!!
What more can I say? I rest in God's loving embrace.

Love, Sandra

Weekend

What a glorious day! I was able to attend church this morning and this afternoon some of my family came to visit. I continue to feel pretty good, meaning less pain but I don't think the kidneys are working right. My left foot is quite swollen and that means I'm retaining fluid. Not a good thing...oh dear. It's been a good weekend overall, however, just because I like being free of the nephrostomy tube.
Tomorrow is Music Monday, a day to celebrate music! Stand outside at ten o'clock tomorrow morning and you'll hear student voices from across the country singing or playing their songs. Hopefully, it'll be another beautiful day and the birds can sing along, too. Sing and praise God with your beautiful singing voices, ACES, and I'll be listening!

Singing His praises,
Sandra

Let the good news keep on coming!

Surprise! I came home today without a nephrostomy tube! When they did the nephrostogram the doctor discovered that the stent was working on the nephrostomy side. So the tube has been clamped shut for the weekend and if the stent keeps working well the whole tube apparatus will be removed on Monday. If the stent were to relapse this weekend then of course, a new nephrostomy tube will be put in place on Monday. Please pray that the stents will both work well and the pain will go away. There is still pain on the right side but at least the left side pain has subsided a little. Yeah! It just feels good to be freed of a tube.

Thankfully,
Sandra

Nephrostogram

Back on morphine because of the pain and I'm having a hard time staying awake. Tomorrow I go for a nephrostogram to see what is causing the pain and whether the nephrostomy tube is actually working well. I really hope that test will give us answers about what to do next. Please pray that the tube and the stent will work properly so I can be relieved of the pain. I would just love to be able to get out and do more.

In his care,
Sandra