"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand..."

"...that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you." I Peter 5:6-7
Today was a very early day, had to be at the hospital by 7 then the MRI early, and it was not so bad. Then to Sarah Cannon, blood work, and being checked on. The worst part of the morning was the three times the radiologist had to do the needle to get the blood draw. That hurts so bad! He finally got in on the third time. I took the Atavan so I would not dread the MRI then was so nauseous probably from that and I think next Tuesday at the next MRI I will just do without. It is really not that bad. They play Frank Sinatra through head phones and that is good.
John and I went to the library and he looked up the old house that stood across from his home when he was growing up. The original owner of the property was a pioneer with James Robertson, who founded Nashville. (Also remember that our first Grayson ancestors came across the mountains with this party and went to Alabama instead of Tennessee.)
The first house build on the land there on Gallatin Road (where later the Gates Rubber Plant was built) was built in 1857 of hand made bricks, yellow poplar beams and rosewood paneling. The owner was John Adam Payne. A town sprung up nearby called Edenwold. Later, many of John's relatives lived in this tiny "town" and one of Grandma's sister-in-law's had a general store there. She was Aunt Lizzie Patton, she was a tiny little woman, but she sure knew how to run a store and she always wore a gun on her side! I can barely remember her.
More tomorrow about Edenwold! I have five days without any chemo or treatment and that will be nice!!!Happy holidays!!!

"My help comes from the Lord..."

"I lift up my eyes to the hills--where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.....the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore." Psalm 121:1,2,8
Today was another blood drawing, EKG and checkup at the doctor's. All was ok, just a few "blips" in the EKG which was from the steroids yesterday. They also kept me from sleeping much last night. I need to just schedule my house cleaning on Monday nights, since I will be awake anyway..!!!
Tonight I went to a fund raising for a domestic violence shelter, and a young lady spoke and told how she finally had the courage to break away from her violent husband. I came away thanking God for my wonderful husband who has always been so protective and especially through this cancer for over six years has taken such good care of me. I know he gets tired at times but he never fails to do for me.
Tomorrow is another MRI and see if any at all can be told with this new chemo, if any difference can be seen in the cutting back of the tumor's blood flow. As always we pray for there to be something changed and for something to be improved. My friend, Gene in Florida is approaching his esophageal surgery. They have been preparing him for several months, with radiation and chemo. We are praying they can cure him with the surgery in July.
The sunset tonight was just radiant, fiery red, colors indescribable, and I wonder if I could find that color of paint to reproduce that. God is amazing .

"Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons...: (and daughters...)

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him, endured the cross..." Hebrews 12: 2,7
Today was an long, hard, day! I left here at 6:15 am and got home at 7:45 pm. I had four (one of these about 8 sticks that never hit the vein) needles, one in the port for the chemo, and the other three trying to hit a vein in my arm, for the many, many blood draws during the day. I also had many, many EKG's and the steroids I had to take last night for the chemo today, then more steroids today, so I may never sleep again!!! Also this was "funny"...they gave me Darvon to keep nausea down, and it knocked me out for five hours today...all in all, kind of evened it all out..:-)
My oncologist came and sat and talked before he went home and he feels very optimistic about this new experimental chemo...It is supposed to kill the blood flow to the tumors in the liver. I get another MRI this Wednesday to see if the first chemo has done anything to the tumors. Four chemo's in eight weeks is considered a "round" then if it is working we will do another round. I am optimistic most of the time, then I have a few times I think about all this going on and on and on. Then I think about how blessed we are with this beautiful apartment, joy of being with our family and knowing God is blessing us beyond measure and pray daily that I am living for Him and His plans for my life.

Our precious great grandaughter stays about two Sundays a month with our daughter and son in law (her grandparents) and now that we are here, she is establishing a pattern of eating Sunday breakfast with us. What a treat! I never in my wildest dreams thought we would have regular breakfast with our great grandaughter! She is so funny and will soon be six, and is losing her first tooth! Papa John told her he could tie a string to the tooth and to a door knob and she did not want any of that! Since she and our other great grandaughter who is four have each been about two I have shown them patterns and fabrics and let them "design" a dress or shorts outfit for me to make. They are really enjoying this, especially this six year old! She had on a new dress (I had made her) today and went to find the pattern and draw the next one to be made like that in a different color. The four year old asked lately when her next outfit was coming? (They live away from here) What a priviledge to be involved in their lives and to be able to sew for them, to be able to have joy with them in their lives!
I remember one great grandmother who died when I was about six, and I was not with her much. She lived in the country in a dog-trot cabin, along with her eldest daughter. My GGM was 98 and her daughter was about 82 and they looked just alike as I can remember. Daddy and I went swimming in the creek nearby and she let me take a nap on a featherbed. I wish I had a picture of the cabin! I hope my greats can remember us when we are gone.
Psalms 71: 17-18..."Since my youth, O God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds. Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, til I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come."

Friends

For some reason, this blog does not want me to publish my feelings about friends....It keeps stopping and posting it first. I tried it last night, got it all written and lost it! So here we go again.
I am being a nervous nellie, counting down the days until Monday, wondering how I will react to the new chemo.
I have been with friends this week, some I have know since high school, and others since elementary school. There is a "cute saying" going around the Internet where a mother tells her daughter that "life goes on, people come and go, but always keep your girl friends--they will always be there for you, no matter what". This is so true. Collectively about 10 of us could write any soap opera, the life traumas we have been through. And we are still going through much as our children and grandchildren are continuing with life's problems. All my friends are Christians and we share this faith and God's strength, and praying for each other. Proverbs 18:24 tells us that "there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."
Also, Proverbs 17:17 says "a friend loves at all times..."
So I love my "girl friends" and we will always be "girls" to each other and we will still laugh about what we did that many years ago and "do you remember?..." God blesses us with these friendships.

friends

Friends

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith..."

Hebrews is one of my favorite books of the Bible. The language is beautiful and the ideas flow of wonders to come; later, it talks about "living in peace with all men..." Wouldn't that make a wonderful world!
I found out yesterday that the reason cancer patients have low grade fevers is because the body is fighting the tumors and setting up a resistance and battle against the cancer. That was very interesting.I am still sleepy from the Ativan I took yesterday...I will never take two at once again! I am trying to not go to so many doctors--I feel like I am just surrounded by nothing but doctors! I feel like my life is taken over by everyone and I have nothing left for me!!!I would love to wake up one morning and have nothing I have to do! I would love to lie there and think.."what shall I do today?" I doubt that will ever happen! If this heat wave breaks, I want to do some gardening, and hope and pray the new chemo REALLY does not have any bad side effects!
Meanwhile, I pray I can "run the race" I am supposed to run..All these parts of verses are from Hebrews 12...

"The Lord is good..."

More on the Alabama farm---John and his brother always spent a week or so there each summer with their cousins, seeing what was going on all over the farm, riding the trucks through the fields. The first 21 years of his life, John never went anywhere but to Alabama. Two things John always remembers about his uncle---he always called his wife "sugar" and his favorite saying was, "two much sugar for a dime". It was said that when his father in law married, he had $2 in his pocket and when he died, he was a millionaire and he made his money by buying farms. John's aunt was left land from her father and his only stipulation was that if sold the money had to be put back into land. That was one reason they ended up with so much land/farms! During these years, the boll weevil invaded the south and helped ruin many cotton farmers. After that they sold to the Space Center and moved on to another farm. John's brother was so impressed with this farm that he was majoring in agriculture when was taken in the air force for World War II and ultimately was killed in the war. He was the only cousin who died in the war.
I have several recipes of his aunt: Here is one of them...
Hot fruit casserole
1 large can each: peaches, pears, pineapple Drain well, arrange in casserole, sprinkle with 1/2 tsp. salt, 1/2 cup sugar, 2 TBSP flour...Add 1/2 cup butter. Bake one hour at 300 degrees, add drained stem red cherries, and 2 TBSP sherry extract, baking another 45 minutes. This is so good with ham or pork...especially in the winter.
More great family memories. We have the family Bible from the 1840 era Family that John's uncle gave to us, and our son has the family dinner bell, from that last farm. We are so blest with all these family memories.
Today was my two MRI's, and along with a very nice medication, I hardly knew it happened. I almost slept through the entire hour and a half. The best way I know to do an MRI!!! The head on was good, with no tumors! Thank you God!!!The liver MRI will be explained on Monday when I go for the first chemo of the new kind. Meantime, much happiness for more good days. Psalm 118:1, "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever."

"I will praise you. O Lord, with all my heart..."

We sold our house!!!!!!!! We actually sold our house!!!!!!!!!!
Only God could have arranged this sale in this recession we are in. The circumstances are beyond anything man could do.
John and I have been married 57 years and in that 57 years he has NEVER (I say NEVER) gone up to a stranger in the grocery and started talking to them! He does not know why, he just had an urge to do this. So he started talking to this couple and we realize we know alot of the same people and in fact they live 2 streets over from us. And, they have a sister-in-law who needs to move here from Louisville to be close to them. They come to see our house the next week and the s-i-l comes here the next week and they decide our house is perfect for her!
A few obstacles were thrown in our way---like a banker who could not decide what to do and delayed the closing for nearly a month.
But we made it and we are so thankful for the relief of having moved into this apartment and not to have the house to still take care of.
I have two MTI's tomorrow and start the new chemo on next Monday, then more MRI's next week, and lots of blood drawing--not fun! I am sure counting on this new chemo being the one to cure this cancer that has grown in my liver. I am running a low grade fever (don't know what that means) but not enough for the mid night run to the ER!
Psalm 9: 1-2 says "I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High."

"I love you, O Lord, my fortress..."

"...and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and my salvation..." Psalm 18:1-2
If nothing else goes wrong, we might close on the house tomorrow. When it is over, I will tell all about it.
If nothing goes wrong, I should start preparations for the new chemo this Wednesday (MRI's and whatever else) I am praying God keeps us under His wings and keeps satan away from our family. One of our greats has surgery tomorrow and I am praying for his safety and success in this surgery.
While we were with family, we talked about the kin in Alabama. They were John's Dad's brother and his family. Others lived there part of the years. The family back in the early 1800's started their home there in Alabama close to the Tennessee line. But this uncle of John's and his wife and children, had several large farms (they kept getting bought out by large corporations) and there were two main ones John's family went to, for two years during the depression and all through the years, at least once a year. The one I knew best was about 1500 acres, had a dairy farm, grew corn, and lots of other things. They also sold off pine trees ( and fox hunted when the weather was cool). The house was (and still is) like a plantation. It was built for a large corporate family back in the late 1800's and our relatives bought it in the 1950's.Some of their family still is there.
Going there was like a dream vacation--each bedroom had its own bath, there were shutter doors to keep air circulating, the main meal was at noon each day and they everyone took a nap...their men returning to the fields for the rest of the day. What wonderful food was on that table each day and all fresh out of the garden. John's aunt always made a fresh cake each day while her cook was preparing the main meal. I have several of her recipes and they are so good! Our children learned to drive at age 8 or so as the uncle took them out in a field and a pick-up truck and let them drive around! What fun!!! There were a bunch of houses out in the back field there and all the workmen lived there.
Just more of the really great times with cousins and other relatives. These families grew up working hard but were very successful, starting out with very little, but realizing many blessings along the way.

I am back.....

On this Father's Day, I am back. John and I have been in the mountains of NC and to visit our son and daughter-in-law, two of their children and spouses, and three greats....We had a wonderful trip and such fun to see and touch and hold the grand babies. Such enjoyment and satisfaction to see and hug and talk to our grandchildren. Such wonderful times to enjoy and talk about family and love our children! This is one of a few Father's Days that we have been to our son's for this day and that made it very special. We visit them several times a year and this time of the month is usually not in our routine. We talked a lot about family memories and family history...who did what, when, what changes have we seen in our lifetimes...a lot! I think the greatest change John and I have seen is the freedom we had to roam in woods, from house to house, visiting family and/or friends. Today's children (out of fear) do not have this freedom. Also, very few children live next door to grandparents and we both did. We grew up in a very simple society, no or few electronics, play was pretty much "make up your play as you go".
I remember Daddy and John's Dad and what fine men they were and how we honored and respected them, and loved them dearly. We were blessed by their discipline and their teaching us (individually) to be their adults we are today.
Psalm 112 speaks of such men..."Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who finds great delight in his commands.---His heart is secure, he will have no fear..." (verses 1 and 8)

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts..."

I am on my second try at a posting tonight...I wish I knew things about the computer, like how to do all the little what to do when it "fails" or how to save something when it says "error" --all that stuff.
Oh well, another wonderful day without chemo. This is Sunday and tonight was our care group annual ice cream supper. We always have about 6-7 kinds of homemade ice cream, and especially the men just stand around and "graze" and everyone eats about 2-3 bowls full. We make very little attempt at eating "real food". It is always so good. We laughed about how all the women would be on a "sugar-high" tonight and get all kinds of housework done before going to bed! We were outside on a farm, and the sunset was beautiful, and our devotional was about summers we remember from long ago, and how God gives us peace and joy in our lives.
We do not think like God and we probably miss out on lots of peace and joy in our lives because we look for luxurious things and miss out on the peace and joy of ordinary things like sunsets, friends getting together, and homemade ice cream!
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts..."Isaiah 55:8-9

God's love and justice...

"I will sing of your love and justice; to you, O Lord, I will sing praises." Psalm 101:1
When I wrote yesterday's blog, I hit the wrong key and it was finished before I meant for it to be and I did not know how to pull it back and edit it..therefore the errors...I will not ever learn I do not think!!!
O well---today, was the end of the "moving sales" and all our "unwanted possessions" went to Good Will. The lady doing the second sale, was there three days and today was the end of all our "stuff". It really hurt to see 3 trucks loading up things no one wanted, and I wanted to cry, "wait, I want that", but I did not. I do not believe any of our family truly knows how painful this has been. We have a lovely, well appointed apartment, with every beautiful fixture anyone would need, lovely "things" surrounding us, but I could cry to see family dishes, little things, linens, just carted off to the final place.
We have all we need and more. I hope God forgives me for being sad at this. There comes a time when we come down to ,like Grandma did ,with her one small basket. (In the nursing home, all her special things were carried in her little basket) There is a lesson in that---we only have possessions "on loan" for a while, and we shall carry nothing with us when we leave this life. Down sizing is just another step along the way.
So I ask forgiveness for greed, wanting what I don't need, and being unappreciative of the blessings we have. God is so good and gives us our every need.
Another day without chemo is a "day full of sunshine!" I am enjoying having a month off the "poison" but also anxious to get the new kind and see what it can do to these liver tumors. That will start the week of June 28..a month from the last chemo.
Have a blessed weekend.

my hope, o Lord

On TuesdayI was writing this blog and all of a sudden, everything was dead---no keyboard, no E mail, nothing, so it took several days to get my friend who is a computer guru here and we had several problems which I hope are fixed now!
I had my CT on Wednesday and on Thursday saw my oncologist. The liver tumors ( three of them) are growing, not good. Also, the chemo I was on was not doing its job, so we are off that. There is a new (first study) chemo just for liver cancer (or cancers in the liver) and there was one space left in that study (isn't God wonderful, how He provides?!). I will start on the getting ready for it, three MRI's, ekg, lots of blood work, etc on week of June 21, then start this chemo on June 28-29. This runs for 8 weeks then a CT to see how it is doing. This will be my 7th chemo in a little over 6 years. I am tired ot all this but then I get excited at the possibility of a "cure" or a remission, or a discovery of something wonderful where cancer is concerned.
I have one more cookbook to tell about. This is a Kerr Mason Jar booklett given away when these jars were bought. It has been well used. I can remember Grandma and her sisters making "chow-chow" ( a wonderful way to use your green tomatoes at the end of the season) or 13 day pickle (where you use a very large crock and fill it with cucubers and change the vinegar/water/salt mixture everyday for 12 days, then make your pickle recipe and finish the wonderful ready to eat pickle!
The booklett is well used and falling apart. Does anyone still "can" preserves and pickles like this? They sure were good.
Psalm 71 says in verse 5, "For you have been my hope O sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth."

"satisfaction in all his toil..."

Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 ..."I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil--this is the gift of God."
John and I were at the other house tonight, I was cleaning out the flowerbeds a little, they sure have been neglected lately! The violas that Cindy planted in October just now "gave up" and I was pulling them up. They bloomed all winter, through snow, all spring and until this last week when it got so hot and we are not there to run the watering system. When we started home, we opened all the windows and talked about how people used to drive around on hot summer evenings to "cool off", and the car windows had little vents that opened on the front side window and you could roll them out and angle them toward you. The men would always keep their arm on the side of the car and their hands on the top of the door, kind of a macho pose!!! Women did not worry about their hair and enjoyed the wind rushing through the car. (And there was no hair spray then.) This same era, people would take chairs out under the trees in the evenings and sit there until dark. Air conditioning sure is nice and we are "hooked" on it, but we miss alot of community by closing ourselves up inside.
Tomorrow is my scan, and I will find out on Thursday, then Thursday we will decide if I do chemo again. I have felt so good today, normal. That is the way it goes, feel so bad, then be back good just in time for the "rat poison" again.
Grandma used to say "if a person could sit up and take nourishment he was doing ok"..That about covers all of it, plus I think God meant for us to work, and not just lie around. I love these verses that God means for us to be happy, eat well of what He has provided and stay busy! Happy night!

How great is {His } love...

I talked to one of my nurses at SCRC (Sara Cannon Research Center) where I am so blessed to get the chemo...I know, I am a guinea pig, but the tests cost me nothing and just think of that wonderful blessing. Along the way what if we discover a wondrous cure for a certain cancer? That would be amazing. I probably cannot get well anyway, even though I have survived going on 7 years now, so I might as well be a useful human being, medical-wise! Well, the nurse said I might as well just wait and come in Thursday at the Dr visit time/chemo start another cycle time.
I get nervous when the CT time draws near...what will it show? I am still tired from just everything this past month. I am sure I am not the strongest, and all this moving and stress and nerves strung out. When I am tired I think "can I do another chemo?" and "Do I really want to live like this, doing doctor stuff all the time?"
So far, every time, there is enough going on in our lives that I would hate to miss out on, so here we go again!!!!!
I John 3:1 tells us "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!"

Angels--ministering spirits

A few Wednesday nights ago at church we discussed angels--do they exist today and are they there for us?...Of course there are those who say not, but John and I totally believe there are guardian angels and they are here to protect us. We have in fact had experiences with angels which I have told you about....plus I believe our everyday life is guarded and protected by angels.
Hebrews 1:14 says "Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?"
Well, that is my thought for today. We have had times I KNOW an angel was riding in the car with us, or helping me get through a rough time, there to be called upon!
Our son and Daughter-in-law called this morning and said if I did not rest she would come up here and make me rest. Well I did--slept four hours this afternoon. So I feel better, still have a fever, not 101 but more than normal. Since nothing showed up on the multiple tests Friday night, I don't know what is causing this fever, even with antibiotics.
Well tomorrow is another day, few boxes remain, the worse part is over, but still lots of address changes to be done. Moving is for the young and strong!!!

"For I know the plans I have for you..."

I realize I use this verse often, it is my stand-by scripture (among others) that comforts me knowing God is always there.
Yesterday was not as we thought it would be. I had a small temp in the afternoon, then it got more and by 9 PM it had reached that "magic number---101", where you are to call the doctor. We called and went to the Er and were there until 3 AM today. They did all kinds of blood work, cultures, Xray, heart tests, urine, and gave me a bag of antibiotics and by 3 the temp was down and they sent me home with a RX for more antibiotics. Tonight I had a temp again but not as much as last night. The nurse told me that a week after the chemo cycle is finished is the crucial one when you can get the sickest.
Our moving/estate sale was this week for three days and we still have things left over. I am so exhausted that I cannot handle any more packing/moving/storage...I am not a quitter, but this time I seem to be! We will probably get someone to just take what is left and pay us a (small) amount for our precious family treasures. I said I would not do that again---but here I am!
Jeremiah 29:11 says "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
When I tell you the circumstances surrounding our home sale, it will astound you, God is so in control and His timing is so perfect. We will talk about that after we sign the papers.
Also, our realtor has given immeasurable help--far and above the call of duty! God sent her to us also!.
One recipe tonight...Gran (John's mother)'s cookbook has a note in the back.."this recipe given to me when I married, October 1920 by Mrs. Dysart...(John's aunt). The recipe is for Corn Light Bread. This Mrs. Dysart is the grandmother of our Missouri cousins.

4 cups buttermilk
1 cup flour
1/2 cup lard (Crisco)
4 cups meal
1 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon soda
1 egg
There are no directions but I remember Gran using a large iron skillet, heat it with some of the Crisco, mix all together, pour the mixture in the hot skillet and bake
I have the same recipe she gave me which say, "bake 400 until brown, then 300 for an hour"
This is a sweet bread, to be cooled and sliced.

Blessings on all our friends and family...Thank you all for cards, and prayers.

"Do not forget to entertain strangers..."

"...for in so doing, some people have entertained angels without knowing it." Hebrews 13:2
Years ago, our children were small, and this young man suddenly appeared at our garage asking if he could work for food. John told him there was no work needed and I said I will fix you a sandwich. I hurried up stairs, had ONE piece of lunch meat and ONE can coke. I made him a sack lunch and gave it to him. He thanked us and walked away. John said "give him my older raincoat". I ran and got it and the man was NOWHERE!!! We looked up and down the road and everywhere and he was GONE! He was our angel, we think.
Tonight I am looking at Grandma's little ledger, full of handwritten recipes, again all from those long gone, friends and relatives of years ago. Here is a recipe for "beaten biscuit"---does anyone even know what beaten biscuits are? Here is a "chocolate almond cake", and one of Grandma's sister's recipe for fruit cake...does anyone make fruitcake anymore?
I would go by and have lunch with Grandma often and she would have different little things--like, a lettuce leaf, a banana sliced in half and crushed peanuts on top with a little mayonnaise. This sounds strange but I remember it being very good.
I see names of long dead cousins, I had forgotten even existed. But they were all good cooks and their recipes here testify to such. In my mind's eye, now I see them and remember them being at those famous "bowl dinners" I have told you about.
Hospitality has always been a great part of my family and I love that heritage.
My feet are still swollen today--this is something new this cycle..wonder why this is happening? I will tell them next Wednesday. I don't want to interrupt my "week-off" with any thing!
Other than that I feel normal and am enjoying this feeling.

"Offer hospitality ..."

I Peter 4:9 just a little short verse...."Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling."...Another day of throwing away boxes...getting things in order, finding things I forgot I had. The sale is tomorrow at our old house--things we could not keep--I have reconciled myself to this, and realizing we have plenty to use and keep house with in our smaller manner.
As I was putting things away, I came across some old cookbooks that I have "carted" from house to house, and cannot part with. I have an old "composition tablet" that was Mama's, with newspaper recipes and written notations of things to cook, recipes from friends, etc..On one page, December 25, 1938, she wrote "I cooked my ham 4 1/2 hours", and on another page if the recipe for pecan pie (that came from Mama's best friend's mother (who was Grandma's best friend)...This is the pecan pie I always bake and recently put it in our church cookbook. I think it is the best pecan pie ever, and I think the secret is the dark Karo.
Pecan Pie...make a 9 " crust. Mix together, 2 eggs, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 cup dark Karo, 1/2 cup butter, 1 round tablespoon flour...pour into crust, sprinkle pecans all over. Bake 350 35-40 minutes or until center is firm.
One of the greatest pleasures in life, to Mama, was to entertain. All the names in here of recipes is going back in memory---cousins, aunts, friends of the family, all gone but leaving this family legacy of good food!
This has been a good day, feeling almost normal. (I love these
"off" weeks!) I sewed, cleared out, arranged stuff, almost organized!!!

"Lord, you have been our dwelling place..."

"...through all generations. Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God." Psalm 90: 1-2
Another day of "freedom" without the poison...but the effects linger. Today my feet are swollen, but no nausea. I think all the time, "if it is working, I can stand it!" But I did lots of "running" today, changing address on everything.
My friend Gene in Florida is suffering so much. He has lost so much weight, the doctor will not give him the last chemo. Gene needs to regain 20 pounds in the next three weeks so he can be healthy for the surgery (esophageal cancer). His wife says he is eating everything in sight. Once he came off the chemo and the effects of it lessened, he can eat again, and he is!!! Please pray this wonderful family can have many healthy years together, and that he can watch his teenagers grow up.
John calls our apartment "the tree house". It is high on the living room side and we look out our windows into a large tree. We plan to have some bird feeders and maybe a bird house here to watch.
We will finally get a telephone tomorrow and nearly be back in civilization. No matter where we are, John and I are together. I know, I am quick to moan about how we gave up our house and had to give up so many pretty things. I hope God will forgive me for this selfish attitude. We are blessed beyond measure, with more than enough of everything! John and I will have less "work" around the house and have more time to take a day out for fun. No matter where we are, God is our "dwelling place."