Breathing easier

Today was the best day of this week. It wasn't so painful to breathe and that made a huge difference on the day. I'm literally breathing a sigh of relief. I had more energy and so my niece and I went to visit my sister and my parents. We had a nice afternoon, even though the weather was rather dreary and wet. I'm just amazed at how mild it has been this winter so far.
And I am amazed and encouraged by God's love shown through His people - phone calls, a beautiful calendar, visits, family time, prayers, cards in the mail, meals to the door, and gentle hugs.

Love, Sandra

The small things

Today another of my nieces arrived to stay with me for several days. I love the company. I had another niece here for a week and a nephew stayed a couple of days as well. The last few days have been difficult because my right side is rather painful. Both my GP and my oncologist think it is pleuritic pain caused by some sort of irritation to the lining of the lung. So every breath is rather painful and it's best when I am very still and not doing too much of anything. I am very good friends with my recliner chair right now, that's for sure!
My nephew installed a new faucet in my kitchen this morning. Now I don't have to worry about the handle flipping off, like it was doing before. Ah, the small things that make such a difference!
It's nice to be blogging again, just keeping in touch with you. I'll have to put up some new pictures on this post. And the last few days really affirmed for me that I cannot teach right now.

In His love,
Sandra

2012

Just thought I'd like to start blogging again...
As you may already know, the cancer is once again present in my body, specifically in the lining of my left lung. I can tell that I have to work harder for my air, especially when I am lying down, and when I'm trying to sing a long phrase. I will not resume teaching in this new year and that I will desperately miss. However, I know that I need to rest right now. My body is working hard - I am on blood thinners for a clot in my left leg, and my kidneys have decreased in function, probably from all the drugs I've been on. I am now on a new drug and that new drug has to do two things by Jan.24, when I next see my oncologist. It has to lower my tumour marker, which continues to rise, and the fluid in my left lung has to stop piling up. Please pray with me for healing.
It's 2012, a new year, and I have no idea what this year will hold. But this I know for sure - God will be in this year - in His faithfulness, His love, His care, His compassion, and His grace. In Him alone I place my hope. In Him alone I go down this road of uncertainty.

Blessings to you in 2012!
Sandra

I Miss the Lupins!

As you know, I'm back home again in B.C. It sure was a great two weeks in Newfoundland and I miss those beautiful, purple flowers on the side of the road everywhere we went. I finally got my pictures on my computer so I could post some of them here. Have a look - what a beautiful province!

It's just nice to have free time to read, and walk, and play piano, and sew, and do some ironing! Summer holidays - oh, how lovely!

Relaxing-ly,

Sandra

Newfoundland continued...

Festival 500 is over. It was a fantastic week and our grand finale concert on Wednesday night was absolutely fabulous. It was held in Mile One Stadium and there was a crowd of about 5000 people. It was an incredible experience and I'm still humming the songs! Now my niece and I are being tourists once again and exploring the area. We walked around in the city of St.John's yesterday and picked up a few souvenirs. We went to The Rooms, a museum and art gallery, and a very big old church, the Basilica of St.John the Baptist. We had to dodge the rain a bit because yesterday was very cold (only 7 degrees!) and rainy. Certainly didn't feel like a summer day. Today is warmer but still wet and somewhat foggy. All part of the Newfoundland experience. Now we're off again to do some more exploring...and maybe even see whales again!

Way out east,

Sandra

Still singing...

We had a great practice today! The songs we are singing at Festival 500 are just wonderful and challenging, too. It's so exciting to be part of a large choir. Last night we went to an awesome concert and an Indonesian Children's Choir was singing. They were phenomenal!! It was so inspiring to hear and see them. They do a lot of dancing along with their singing. It was incredible! Tonight we go to another concert with some different choirs. I love it! Right now it's the middle of the afternoon and I'm taking a break so I have the energy to keep on going. We start every day at 8:30 a.m. with choir practice, and that carries on into workshop sessions, and then we end with choir concerts at 10:00 p.m. Definitely a full day! The weather continues to be sunny and warm - today there's a nice, cool ocean breeze.

I hope you are having a good summer, too.

Love, Sandra

Festival 500

Hello and welcome back to my blogspot. Just thought I'd let you know about my exciting and thrilling adventure!! I am in Newfoundland!! I flew here with my niece on Saturday and we are staying near St.John's at a friend's place. We've already had three exciting days of sightseeing and visiting and finding out what it's like to be a Newfoundlander! We've seen whales and gannets galore and my niece saw dolphins, too. The weather has been beautiful for the most part and today is actually quite warm.

This afternoon Festival 500 begins. This is an international choral festival held here every other year for one week. There are about 23 choirs from all over the world, clinicians and conductors, and vocal ensembles. We have concerts every evening and tonight is the Opening Gala concert. My niece and I are participating in a choir as well so we will be rehearsing our songs every morning for the next 6 days. Joy, joy!!!

If I knew how to get some pictures of Newfoundland on my blog (I'm not on my own computer) I would do that but for now just believe me when I say it is spectacular here!

Singing His praises for sure!!

Sandra