Joy to the World

I can't believe it's only one more week of school before Christmas holidays. My body is tired and I'm looking forward to the break, but I'm also very thankful and delighted to have been able to teach this whole term, with only a few days off here and there, and only one cold.
Today we lit the candle of joy in the Advent wreath. "The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing. " (Zeph.3:17). Rejoice! Joy to the world, the Lord is come!

Singing Christmas praises,
Sandra

A Real Relief

Just had to share some good news with you all. Yesterday I received word from the Cancer Hereditary program that I do not have the BRCA gene. I had the risk factors for the gene so doctors thought I may have it, but thankfully, I do not. It's great news for my family because that means it's not a genetic form of cancer that I had, as far as they know right now. Of course, research is ongoing but at this time, it's a real relief.
It took over a year to get the results of this testing, so it's been a long wait, but that's over. Another stepping stone on the journey to being well again. Praise God!

Love, Sandra

Cold, cold, cold!

It has turned to winter this past weekend with very cold temperatures. Brrrr! I can't believe we're into the second last week of November. The school year is just flying by. I can tell that I've been teaching for awhile now. I do need my weekends to catch up and rest. I'm praying for strength in this time of the school year. This week we have parent-teacher conferences and report cards are just around the corner. Busy, busy. I think my shoulder is a little better, though. Occasionally I am reaching back to put my arm into my coat sleeve, and I haven't been able to do that since about February.
Have a wonderful week, enjoying the cool, winter weather.

Love, Sandra

Sing Praises

Last week was a very good one. Teaching went well and I had a good amount of energy each day. I sure enjoyed some of the beautiful sunny days we had. I hear the rain pouring down on my skylight right now. This week will have a break in it because on Thursday there is no school due to Remembrance Day.
"Sing praise to God who reigns above, the God of all creation,
The God of power, the God of love, the God of our salvation."

Singing His praises,
Sandra

A too-long delay!

Sorry about the long delay in blog entries. I was going to stop, and then I thought I should continue on, and then I was sick, and the excuses could go on... but anyways, I'm doing alright. Teaching continues to be a great joy and, of course, that keeps me busy each day. I am at school from 9-3 each day, and I can tell I have been teaching for two months. I caught my first cold but I am feeling better again. I struggle with the lymphedema causing pain in my left arm, and my shoulder continues to be sore. That's probably the most frustrating for me right now. I am still going for massage therapy and that has helped me the most lately.
Thank you for your continued prayers and ongoing support. Let me see if I can get back on track at keeping this blog a little more current. I do enjoy connecting with you. Time for some new pictures, too, don't you think?

Have a great week!
Love, Sandra

Thanksgiving weekend

It's Thanksgiving weekend! Tomorrow our family is coming together to celebrate Thanksgiving with a traditional turkey meal. Just being together is thanksgiving enough for me - the meal is an added bonus!
Last evening I went to a Gilbert and Sullivan symphony concert. It was a lot of fun with singing, and a little acting, and some on-stage antics. Pretty entertaining!
Give thanks with a grateful heart... for God's love is enduring!

With gratitude to Him,
Sandra

God's timetable

This morning when I came home from church I read our church "magazine." In it there was a quote that really said it all: "The promise of the kingdom is not that we shall escape the hard things but that we shall be given grace to face them, to enter into them, and to come through them. The promise is not that we shall not be afraid. It is that we need not fear fear." What a comfort; what a promise! How true! As I've faced various family hardships, as I've worked at being back at school, as I've adjusted to my "new" normal, I know that I'll be given grace to come through it all. God's timetable is so different than our own, but He knows us and He loves us and He'll hold us in the palm of His hand.
This week is a short teaching week because we have teacher's convention on Thursday and Friday. I can't believe it's already October. The first month of school is already over! Have a good week.

Resting in Him,
Sandra