After the last BLOG I read this....

I get a daily devotional by email during the week and was just doing some catching up (I always read these several days later, okay truth sometimes I don't read them and they get deleted)when I came across the following email... I feel like it goes along with the first blog I did today and what I was trying to say.... TO FEEL THE JOY. This is going to be my prayer to myself for the next couple of weeks.... I really like the part about the women's husband. What a great way to see life. JOY JOY JOY....


Choosing Joy
This devotional was written by Jim Liebelt

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.—James 1:2-4

The story has been told of an elderly blind woman who was being moved to a nursing home. When she arrived, she was taken to her room. She entered and told her attendant enthusiastically, "I love it!" The attendant questioned the woman, "How can you say you love it, when you've never been in it before - and you can't see what it looks like?" The woman spoke up, "Seeing the room doesn't have anything to do with it. Happiness is my choice. I have decided to love my room. Every morning, I have a choice on whether I focus on what I don't like about my life or what I do like about it. I'm choosing right now to love the new room where I'm going to live."

Life has its share of trials and everyone will face situations that are less than desirable. Yet, so much about the quality of our lives is determined not by the situation itself, but rather how we respond to it. Honestly, I don't know if I could handle being moved into a nursing home with the grace demonstrated by the woman in the story. I hope I would, but I'm not sure.

I am always amazed at stories I read or hear along life's journey of people who choose joy, and even happiness, in the face of difficult life situations. Recently, I saw another example of someone choosing to celebrate in the midst of pain. I learned of an acquaintance who died at the age of 46 of melanoma. In the obituary, the reporter remarked how the man's wife didn't sound like someone who had just lost her husband. Instead, she was smiling, beaming with pride, because of the life and character of the man she had been married to for 20 years. This is not to say the woman is not experiencing deep pain and grief. I'm certain she is. But it is remarkable to me that even in the midst of grief, she chose joy.

One thing we all can count on for sure: Our lives will not be lived without trial, struggle and pain. It would be ridiculous to suggest that we ought to be happy when tragedy strikes. Still, it is clear from the Scriptures that God can bring good even out of life's most difficult situations. Here's a most important question: How will we respond to difficult seasons in our lives? Within ourselves, we all have the power to choose joy. It's God's desire for our lives that we do so, and I believe that for our own sakes, joy will always prove to be the better option over bitterness or despair.

Today, choose joy.

Holding My Breath

I think I just realized today that I am holding my breath every once in awhile. Big scans, blood work and doctors appointments for Rich this Friday and the following Monday. REMISSION, no signs of cancer are the words we are praying to hear on Monday April 7th when we meet with Rich's team at the City of Hope. I am not letting my brain go any further than those exact words. March has been a great a month and I am kind of sad to see it end. Rich feeling better, birthday's, trips to Vegas and Easter, Jeff, Mike and Meghan doing just fine and living life. Yeah, it has been a good March 2008. This weekend was really good, Rich had his first glass of wine since last November, went to friends for dinner Friday, a surprise birthday party last night, he went and hit a bucket of golf balls, he walks around the lake nearly everyday. You don't realize how much you like your normal life til it goes away for a short (I say short - now) time and comes back. Love NOTHING, just the everyday.... in other words just taking a walk, hitting some golf balls, watching TV, having a glass of tea. Who needs excitement (although we still have plenty at Hyland's Island), when Normal feels so right. AMEN! Love to everyone along with lots of ALOHA spirit and enjoy the last couple of days of a GREAT month MARCH. Off to try and be creative...

VEGAS, BIRTHDAY'S & EASTER

VEGAS, wow what a wonderful get away. Time with the "SISTAS" - originally from New Jersey... The adventure started when we (Susan and I) left Sunday from Lancaster around 10 am and it was Vegas or bust. Let me tell you Susan (one half of the SISTAS) knows her way by back roads, byways, highways and outlet centers with clean restrooms right to her SISTAS Liz's (the other half of the SISTAS) beautiful home outside of Vegas. Hardly time to unpack and Aunt Liz was whisking us off for birthday dinners at the most unusual Mexican Food Place I had ever been to. The food was not that unusual it was the decor. They had all these religious baby size sautes all over the place stair-stepped. Jesus was there, Mary and probably Joesph too! I wasn't sure if I was in church or out to dinner! After a great meal it was time for our property/casino inspection of the new PALAZZO hotel, that opened in January on the strip. No sooner were we back in the car headed back to the finest accommodations in Vegas (Liz's house - great food served there too!), then Liz was saying "what's on the schedule for tomorrow"? And that was only 1/3 of the first day we arrived. The shopping, trips to Bellagio, tea, gambling- the list goes on and on keeping up with these two ladies is not easy. They only slow down long enough for a glass of tea. I could go on forever about the fun and frolic we had during the time we were there, but most of all the trip was about spending time with these two amazing sisters (and getting away for my birthday and yes, Rich survived and thrived). I have seen lots of sister relationships in my time, even tried one or two myself but these two and their relationship is just awesome to observe and they are the best of friends. Probably one of the most important things I learned was "housework is bad for your fingernails". Another reason not to dust! and to much money in your purse if you happen to win playing slots is called lettuce. Susan's birthday was Wednesday and was for the most part celebrated in the car on the ride back to California. It was a great ESCAPE and one I will treasure for a long time.



BIRTHDAY- I didn't like my birthday's much as a child, teenager and young adult. NOW I love them. My new birthday motto is that the older you get the fewer birthdays you will have so you need to celebrate them for a longer time. I think one to two weeks is good. Of course Rich thinks I celebrate for a month. Part of it is your friends want to take you to lunch or have coffee with you and there are times it could take a month to get that birthday lunch booked and celebrated. I know I am richly (no pun intended) blessed with great friends. Thursday the actual day of my birth according to my mother, my tennis friends took me to lunch and it made me feel good to know the best gift of all is that these ladies are there for me, as I am for them anytime, even though we might not see each other for days or talk on the phone. Cards from friends, by snail mail are always nice too. Knowing someone took the time to think about you by standing in front of the cards at the card store looking for the one that best applies to you and your personality. Mostly my friends give me cards about certain body parts sagging at this age.... I did receive a very special card this year from my Aunt Nancy in Kentucky. I know she reads this blog and I just want her to know that she is in my thoughts and HAPPY BIRTHDAY to her too! Thank you for thinking of me! The other unexpected card was from Lisa and the kids (nieces and nephews) in Maryland. I am blessed.

EASTER- Last night we went to Good Friday services at our Church and it was really good. We were invited to hammer a nail into a cross up by the alter and as we did so to reflect on the sacrifice Jesus made for us. Very humbling. When Pastor Ryan read the seventh lesson from Matthew with a Timpani for sound effects of the earthquake at the end of Christs life you could feel everyone in the Church become very somber, including me. Going to Good Friday services with the church all in black just makes Easter Sunday that much brighter. Makes me think how brilliantly colored life can be all the time if you make that decision every day to let joy, family, friends and the light of God shine in your life. He has Risen - He has Risen indeed. HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE.

Scrappin More part II

One more cute photo page from Jon's book and the other's are from the previously mentioned post of the 1st birthday book. I tried the smaller version of the pictures to post from Googles Picasa and I think if you click on the picture it opens it larger in another window. Well at least it did on computer (cyber space is stiall a mystery to me).


This weeks blood work for Rich at the City of Hope was again very encouraging. He is making white cells and platelets. YIPPPEEE!!! the big test is in early April when he has to have the scans. He even shaved this week for the first time in about 5 weeks. yaa hooo... Oh the little things one misses. I am off to LAS VEGAS on Sunday for a few days of fun and frolic. Yes, Rich will be home alone! Just he and Gracie.
I know they will do just fine and so will I.... Aunt Liz you better get those Cosmo's ready.

Scrappin Some

It may only be March but, I have completed two albums (mini would be the word when saying completed). Jonathan's 10th birthday which we celebrated back in August when Jeff turned 30 on the fishing boat. Being 10 I thought he deserved his own little mini album. I like the way it came out so I am sharing a few cute pic's. The other Album is for my friend Francheska's baby who just had her 1st birthday. No pictures in this one - it is wallpapered and ready for her just to insert her photo's. Sometimes I think it is harder to not work with photo's. You will see the separate post for those pic's since Blogger won't let me do more than a few at a time.

Good Week

It is going to be a good week.... NO TRIPS to the City of Hope. Last weeks doctor appointment was very encouraging. Platelets were going up white count was down from it's previous up but that was also an artificial number since Rich had been given a Nupagen shot. Doctor feels the body and the new bone marrow cells are working but it could take 6 months for him to be 100%. Personally, I found this news to be very good. I hope the 57 freeway does not miss our vehicle too much this week. Actually, pending any complications the next blood test aren't scheduled til
March 12. The first PET scan where we find out if we (he) is in remission will be the beginning of April. Still holding our breath and praying for good results.

Saturday night is really different around here. We still do Date Night but, it is from the recliners in the family room. Last night there was so much excitement around this place I almost busted from the fun... We sat in our chairs and watched FLIP THAT HOUSE and an episode or two of My 1st Home. EWWWeeEEEee... FUN... I am not complaining I am just comparing to what we used to do. We will get back to our old ways soon. I see Rich getting more and more energy everyday and becoming more of his old self. He is still really afraid of crowds and sick people as he should be til the white count and immune system gets better.

Friends continue to come and visit which is always a great distraction and I am spending a lot more time at home since Rich is here and I am actually getting more scrapbooking done and "I THINK I LIKE IT. A week ago last Saturday Donna and I went to a 16 hour crop at our local Scrappin store SCRAPBOOK OASIS. It was so very much fun. Yes, I feel a little guilt - Rich was home alone. Well he did have Gracie here so he did have some dog companionship. I will try and get some pic's posted later of my latest scrap project a Birthday mini book for Jonathan from his 10th birthday when we all went deep sea fishing.

Jeff, as of yesterday, was in Corpus Cristi Texas he has a new blog posted (2-29) and we are so excited Mike and Meghan will be headed to St. Thomas in April. We exchanged one of our Marriott weeks and they got in... WOW the U.S. Virgin Islands in April. They are so excited. I am excited for them. Can not wait to help Meghan with that scrap book...
LOVE-PRAYERS-ALOHA-HUGS-KISSES and Blessings...to you!