Jill's tattoo

Jill looks a little worried

getting ready

ta-da: This is a Norwegian (which Jill is) symbol, or word

for strength - and what her last name means

I'm going to start another blog about my cancer journey but i can't decide what to call it.

I'm tired of trying to think of a name.

Today I went out of the house for the first time and I think did a little too much because

now I'm extremely tired and I hurt. But it was good to get out.

Getting ready

layout

owie

ford Vickie with cracked left headlight

Just a short update.

Surgery was Tuesday.

Dr. said everything went well.

Slept most of yesterday.

So far so good today.

I don't know what's wrong but my pictures wouldn't load today.

We went to church yesterday and Pastor Coleman prayed for us. Then we went to Mom and Dad's for lunch and cards and had a nice visit. My brother and Mom set up a meeting at their church for my Dad and I to be prayed for. It was a very good experience. They have a cancer ministry at their church and have ladies who make prayer shawls. It was just a very comforting and uplifting experience and I'm very glad I went and it made me feel more hopeful.

We (me, Chuck, Corey and Stuart) went to Chili's for lunch because my bus kids gave me a gift card it was a good lunch.

This evening Chuck's mom and Frank came and visited and blessed us even more. It was a nice visit. Then Corey did my nails and Jesse called and we talked. Good, blessed day.

Create for the day: Just some daily happenings.

Elsie thought she was a queen when she was

allowed on the blow up mattresses. I told her

"no" so she ran and hid under Corey.

Chuck and Corey made dinner yesterday.

They made pot roast, potatoes, carrots,

onions and gravy. I find it hard to not

get in the middle of it all. I did ok.

One of our days spent going to 3 Dr. appointments.

Trying to rest in between because it can really

get exhausting.

The view from my window while trying to rest.

We saw this food truck yesterday.

It just seems a huge contradiction.

Korean BBQ tacos.

Actually going to church today. Should be interesting.

Corey's Home, YAY!

Little dog and Elsie doing time together

This is Renny's bed. Elsie likes it better than hers.

Little dog can't be comfortable

Renny wasn't happy about the other 2 being in his bed.

So he was sulking under ours.

He just gave up.

I'm going to try to go back to Create for the day but it may

be different than before - maybe more writing.

Today I was reading from Streams in the Desert, June 2nd and

it said:

I will never forget the statement which that great man of faith

George Mueller once made to a gentleman who had asked

him the best way to have strong faith; "The only way to know

strong faith is to endure great trials. I have learned my faith by standing

firm through severe testings."

How true this is! You must trust when all else fails.

I am trying.

Today I am counting as my first "real" day off because

I had to go get a work physical yesterday, which praise God, I passed.

Got to hang out with Tracy a little which is always a good thing

for the spirit, heart, and soul.

This morning, took my coffee outside, it actually felt decent.

Took pictures of

Little dog, ok his name's Dexter

little dog and Renny

my almost ready tomato

my new live by statement:

Endurance is not just the ability

to bear hard things

but to turn them

into Glory

This journey isn't going to be easy. I'm really dreading

the surgery Tuesday but I know that it's necessary in

my road to recovery.

I know God is with me through this and I expectantly

wait to learn what I need to in this process to possibly

help someone else.

The last few days.

Thursday Dr.'s all day.

Friday Dr.'s 1/2 day.

My family Dr. told me to get

this book and start eating this way.

Donna, my sister in law, sent me these

really wonderful books that I enjoy reading

every morning.

Jesse and little dog are staying here for a couple of

months to help me out with things.

Pretty flowers my friend Karen from work gave me.

More art journal pages. I figure the next couple of months

I'll be filling these up. My friend Tricia gave me these little

stickers that I put on random pages and when I get to them

they'll help me with ideas for things to write, or paint. This one

says "the art of life"

"possibilities"

just some swirls

this makes me think of the ocean

and my personal favorite "live in the moment"

which I've been learning to do since this cancer

thing started. I actually put some flower petals

on the page - I hope they keep their color.

Create for the day: Can't believe I did anything.

I worked all day and am paying for it pain wise.

Even though, I wanted to paint these flowers

because I liked the colors so much. They were

a gift from my friend Karen at work, very sweet!

The original watercolor

and a couple of played with photoshop versions

fun, fun!

I had so much fun creating journal pages I made a bunch more.

Going to try to go to work tomorrow.

Create for the day: Haven't done in awhile

Tracy asked does painting give you energy?

sometimes but sometimes it's very draining.

Making journal pages, on the other hand, is

energizing 'cause I don't put a lot of thought

into it. I just start tearing and gluing and whatever

I feel like doing. Now to fill these up with thoughts.

More flower pictures

I started a watercolor of some of the flowers.

This past weekend was recovery from the

bone biopsy. It wasn't as bad as I thought it

would be. But it's a weird feeling when they

scrape the bone. I think the pain after is worse.

I decided to stay home today and try to go back

to work tomorrow. Thank you to everyone

who has been praying. I felt very calm Friday

when I went to get that done and I believe it's

because of people praying, so thank you!!

Someone from Jesse's work, Konnie, a little girl

(not really little early 20's - to me little),

found out what is going on with me and sent me

flowers. I've never met her. She truly sent me a

blessing. What a sweetheart.

I've made it to work 3 days in a row. That's really good

considering how I feel lately. Unfortunately, tomorrow, no.

I'm very tired and have a Dr.'s appointment. Looks like

Friday may be the bone biopsy - not looking forward to it.

I liked this a lot so here it is:

When I was a kid, my Mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. And I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work. On that evening so long ago, my Mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage and extremely burned biscuits in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed! Yet all my dad did was reach for his biscuit, smile at my Mom and ask me how my day was at school. I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that ugly burned biscuit. He ate every bite of that thing... never made a face nor uttered a word about it! When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my Mom apologize to my dad for burning the biscuits. And I'll never forget what he said: "Honey, I love burned biscuits every now and then." Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his biscuits burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said, "Your Momma put in a hard day at work today and she's real tired. And besides - a little burned biscuit never hurt anyone!" As I've grown older, I've thought about that many times. Life is full of imperfect things and imperfect people. I'm not the best at hardly anything, and I forget birthdays and anniversaries just like everyone else. But what I've learned over the years is that learning to accept each other's faults - and choosing to celebrate each other's differences - is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship. And that's my prayer for you today... that you will learn to take the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of your life and lay them at the feet of God. Because in the end, He's the only One who will be able to give you a relationship where a burnt biscuit isn't a deal-breaker! We could extend this to any relationship. In fact, understanding is the base of any relationship, be it a husband-wife or parent-child or friendship! "Don't put the key to your happiness in someone else's pocket - keep it in your own." So, please pass me a biscuit, and yes, the burned one will do just fine. If this reading has touched your spirit, feel free to pass this along to someone who has enriched your life. Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

I forgot to put the crab pictures on here

yesterday. I couldn't resist another sky photo.

Chuck kept playing with him

He flipped it over. The tail is wicked.

Working today. Glad it's not so hot.