It's absolutely gorgeous outside. Birds are singing, the sun is shining and it is a privilege to just be alive. How grateful I am for how far I've come since diagnosis on April 23rd.
Yesterday was a good food day. I went to Body Designer and moved up to level 6 for my arms and level 8 for my legs. Kathie reminded me how important it is for me to walk to continue getting the chemo out of my body so I took Chipper for a walk after I got home. My last two chemo sessions were with limited meds because my blood count was so low. When we were in Colorado at Christmas, a manicurist said the when her mother was going through chemo and her blood count dropped, the oncologist told her to walk every day and that was the best thing to restore her blood count to normal. Now that I'm feeling better, I am going to try to do that daily along with other exercise.
I'm still experiencing nausea in the evenings and the neuropathy in my feet has now spread from my toes to the pad of my feet and now to my heels. It feels like I'm walking with someone else's feet. I guess I'll call Dr. P on Monday to report this. I had expected it to improve some by now instead of getting worse. Of course, if that's the worst to come from all of this, then I am grateful.
I received a message on FB about a little girl named Sadie from Magnolia, Tx., who has been diagnosed with brain cancer. She has had surgery at Hermann and is on her way to St. Jude today. You can follow her journey on FB at Sparkle on Sadie. Her journey makes mine seem like a walk in the park and just reminds me again of what a dreaded enemy cancer is.
Two people forwarded Joel Osteen's daily message to me this morning. It is about the same thing I've been writing about this week and that's honoring God with our bodies by taking care of them. In responding to one, I wrote that I can only imagine how happy God is when He sees us loving and caring for our bodies like the treasured gift that they are. Life is a gift and it is a gift from God.
" I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Psalm 139:14
Precious Lord, Jehovah Rapha,
Thank You for another day on this incredible earth that You created just for us. We are grateful.
I ask your traveling mercies and healing mercies today on Sadie and her family as they travel to St. Jude to have the newest and best treatments to help rid Sadie of brain cancer. I pray for total success Father as she embarks on the next let of her journey to cured.
I ask Father that each and every person reading this blog today be inspired to take better care of themselves, to fuel their bodies with the right food and to exercise their bodies so that they are strong and resilient. Let them honor You as they show their gratitude for the life you have given them by caring for that gift as the treasure that it truly is.
These things I ask in the name of Jesus Christ, the name above all names.
Amen
Friday, January 11, 2013
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Day 263 I'm So Excited
I don't know if it was waking up to the sound of birds singing after days of dreary rain or if it's the fact that, other than my hands and feet, I'm finally starting to feel normal, but I am so excited about today. Maybe it's a combination of the two. How great to see some sunshine today. We need things to dry up a little before the next round of rain.
I had a wonderful day yesterday. Cooked baby limas and the cabbage and I'm posting the recipe here for you today. Delicious ........... to me anyway. Hope you like it. Then I worked out 30 minutes of a 45 minute workout dvd. I can't believe I lasted as long as I did. Very proud of myself. I'm a little sore this morning but that's okay. I like the feeling. I just feel like I'm doing exactly what I'm supposed to be doing to get myself back to precancer condition. Thank You Father.
Here's the recipe for:
Sweet and Sour Cabbage
1/2 red or yellow bell pepper, chopped (AA)
1/2 white or yellow onion, chopped (AA)
2 slices turkey bacon, chopped (AA)
1 carrot, chopped (AA)
1 apple, chopped (AA)
1/2 large head of cabbage, shredded (AA)
2 tbsp white vinegar
1 tbsp olive oil (AA)
1 tbsp water
2 tsp brown sugar (use stevia if you're avoiding sugar)
1 1/2 tsp dijon mustard
Salt and pepper to taste
Cook bacon in a large skillet until crisp. Add the veggies and saute, tossing gently. Combine vinegar and next 5 ingredients in a jar and shake well. Poor over cabbage and continue to cook until it reaches the desired doneness for your taste. I like mine a little crunchy so I don't cook it very long.
Also, I have made it without the bacon using a small amount of olive oil to saute the veggies in and it works well. I add salt with the veggies rather than into the sauce but that is up to you however you want to do it.
(AA) - Antiangiogenesis foods that inhibit the growth of blood vessels that feed cancer cells.
Plans for today: FO/CC smoothie, apple/carrot juicing this afternoon, visit to Body Designer and then back here to paint.
"In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight."
Proverbs 3:6
Precious Lord, Jehovah Rapha,
Thank You for this glorious day and for another chance to honor You in all that I do.
Thank You for making my path straight to my healing and for the privilege of sharing this journey to recovery with others.
Thank You for the privilege of praying for others fighting this dreaded enemy.
Thank You for giving me power over the enemy and for instilling the knowledge into researchers of how to eradicate the enemy.
Thank You for guiding me to the best doctors and for guiding me to the best way to care for my body and to honor You while doing that.
It's all You, Lord, all You.
I am so grateful for even the smallest thing. I know it's all from You.
Thank You, Father.
Thank You.
In the name of Jesus Christ, the name above all names.
Amen
I had a wonderful day yesterday. Cooked baby limas and the cabbage and I'm posting the recipe here for you today. Delicious ........... to me anyway. Hope you like it. Then I worked out 30 minutes of a 45 minute workout dvd. I can't believe I lasted as long as I did. Very proud of myself. I'm a little sore this morning but that's okay. I like the feeling. I just feel like I'm doing exactly what I'm supposed to be doing to get myself back to precancer condition. Thank You Father.
Here's the recipe for:
Sweet and Sour Cabbage
1/2 red or yellow bell pepper, chopped (AA)
1/2 white or yellow onion, chopped (AA)
2 slices turkey bacon, chopped (AA)
1 carrot, chopped (AA)
1 apple, chopped (AA)
1/2 large head of cabbage, shredded (AA)
2 tbsp white vinegar
1 tbsp olive oil (AA)
1 tbsp water
2 tsp brown sugar (use stevia if you're avoiding sugar)
1 1/2 tsp dijon mustard
Salt and pepper to taste
Cook bacon in a large skillet until crisp. Add the veggies and saute, tossing gently. Combine vinegar and next 5 ingredients in a jar and shake well. Poor over cabbage and continue to cook until it reaches the desired doneness for your taste. I like mine a little crunchy so I don't cook it very long.
Also, I have made it without the bacon using a small amount of olive oil to saute the veggies in and it works well. I add salt with the veggies rather than into the sauce but that is up to you however you want to do it.
(AA) - Antiangiogenesis foods that inhibit the growth of blood vessels that feed cancer cells.
Plans for today: FO/CC smoothie, apple/carrot juicing this afternoon, visit to Body Designer and then back here to paint.
"In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight."
Proverbs 3:6
Precious Lord, Jehovah Rapha,
Thank You for this glorious day and for another chance to honor You in all that I do.
Thank You for making my path straight to my healing and for the privilege of sharing this journey to recovery with others.
Thank You for the privilege of praying for others fighting this dreaded enemy.
Thank You for giving me power over the enemy and for instilling the knowledge into researchers of how to eradicate the enemy.
Thank You for guiding me to the best doctors and for guiding me to the best way to care for my body and to honor You while doing that.
It's all You, Lord, all You.
I am so grateful for even the smallest thing. I know it's all from You.
Thank You, Father.
Thank You.
In the name of Jesus Christ, the name above all names.
Amen
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Day 262 Back on Track
It's a dark dreary day and I'm going to put some baby limas (AA) on to bubble on the stove. Days like this require that a pot of something be simmering on a back burner sending a comforting aroma through the house.
I went Monday to spend the night with friend Darlene so I could take her to the hospital early Tuesday to have her gall bladder removed. She came through like a trooper and had her home by just a little after noon. God is good. She reports this morning that she's only a little sore at the main site of the removal.
Friend Lisa had her first chemo yesterday and I've checked in with her to see how it went but haven't heard back yet. I know she's glad to at last be able to do something proactive to eradicate the myeloma after weeks of nothing but testing.
Yesterday was my first day up by an alarm in a long time and it was a shock. I drove home in the fog and rain, hit the couch and then moved to the bed and slept for almost 11 hours, for goodness sake. I feel good today. Had my coffee (AA) this morning with some almond butter (AA) on 1/2 slice of toast and then my flax oil/cottage cheese smoothie with 1/2 banana, strawberries (AA), and a little coconut milk to thin it. Delicious! Today I plan to cook the beans and then the sweet and sour cabbage (AA) I cooked for New Year's. If it turns out as well as it did before, I'll share the recipe on my next post.
I'm about to call and check on a time for Body Designer today or tomorrow. Maybe tomorrow since it's storming right now and 11:30 is my favorite time to go in. I'm getting stronger every day in every way.
"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your body." 1 Corinthians 6: 19,20
Precious Lord, Jehovah Rapha,
Thank You Lord for the rain that is coming down on us today to nourish and prepare the plants for spring growth.
Thank You Father, for my strong body that is healing from the extreme infusion of chemicals and thank You for the privilege of honoring You by taking the best care of my body that I can. I am so blessed and grateful.
Help me and everyone praying with me to make the right choices in the foods we eat today and the liquids we drink. Let us feel empowered by those choices rather than feeling deprived of the junk that only serves to harm rather than to nourish us. Thank You for Your guidance and constant reminders that we are in control of the choices we make and to focus on the choices that honor You.
These things I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, the one true Messiah.
Amen
I went Monday to spend the night with friend Darlene so I could take her to the hospital early Tuesday to have her gall bladder removed. She came through like a trooper and had her home by just a little after noon. God is good. She reports this morning that she's only a little sore at the main site of the removal.
Friend Lisa had her first chemo yesterday and I've checked in with her to see how it went but haven't heard back yet. I know she's glad to at last be able to do something proactive to eradicate the myeloma after weeks of nothing but testing.
Yesterday was my first day up by an alarm in a long time and it was a shock. I drove home in the fog and rain, hit the couch and then moved to the bed and slept for almost 11 hours, for goodness sake. I feel good today. Had my coffee (AA) this morning with some almond butter (AA) on 1/2 slice of toast and then my flax oil/cottage cheese smoothie with 1/2 banana, strawberries (AA), and a little coconut milk to thin it. Delicious! Today I plan to cook the beans and then the sweet and sour cabbage (AA) I cooked for New Year's. If it turns out as well as it did before, I'll share the recipe on my next post.
I'm about to call and check on a time for Body Designer today or tomorrow. Maybe tomorrow since it's storming right now and 11:30 is my favorite time to go in. I'm getting stronger every day in every way.
"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your body." 1 Corinthians 6: 19,20
Precious Lord, Jehovah Rapha,
Thank You Lord for the rain that is coming down on us today to nourish and prepare the plants for spring growth.
Thank You Father, for my strong body that is healing from the extreme infusion of chemicals and thank You for the privilege of honoring You by taking the best care of my body that I can. I am so blessed and grateful.
Help me and everyone praying with me to make the right choices in the foods we eat today and the liquids we drink. Let us feel empowered by those choices rather than feeling deprived of the junk that only serves to harm rather than to nourish us. Thank You for Your guidance and constant reminders that we are in control of the choices we make and to focus on the choices that honor You.
These things I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, the one true Messiah.
Amen
Monday, January 7, 2013
Day 260 Character Building
I finally made it back to church yesterday and it was a blessing. My church family was welcoming and I felt wrapped in their love. God is so good. Pastor RO was talking about attitude and he said, "No more bad days. Those are character building days." So that is my new mantra. On days when I feel like I'm back sliding into the symptoms of six months of chemo, I'll just call those character building days. Each one makes me stronger and more sure that God and I are in charge of my total healing.
I saw this posted today on FB and it was so profound I had to share it.
"And once the storm is over you won't remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won't even be sure, in fact, whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm, you won't be the same person who walked in."
I visited after church with beautiful friend Lisa who starts chemo tomorrow, not today as I posted. She is strong in her faith, excited to get started on the path to complete healing and coming out of the storm totally cancer free. What an amazing example she is of hope and love and overcoming.
"Show me Your ways, O Lord, teach me Your paths, guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my savior, and my hope is in You all day long." Psalm 25:4,5
Heavenly Father, Jehovah Rapha,
Thank You for another day on this beautiful earth, the temporary home You created just for us.
Thank You for the strength You have installed in Your children, the strength to weather the storm and to come out even stronger than before they went in.
Father, keep Your healing arms around Lisa tomorrow as she starts treatment to eradicate the dreaded enemy from her body. Love her and bless her so that she may be a pure example of all that You can do. You are a God of miracles and we are asking for those miracles to show up.
I ask also Father for Your healing arms to cradle my friend Darlene as she undergoes surgery tomorrow. Make her healing quick and easy and bless her for being the loving friend that she is.
These things I ask in the name of Jesus Christ, the one true Messiah.
Amen
I saw this posted today on FB and it was so profound I had to share it.
"And once the storm is over you won't remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won't even be sure, in fact, whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm, you won't be the same person who walked in."
I visited after church with beautiful friend Lisa who starts chemo tomorrow, not today as I posted. She is strong in her faith, excited to get started on the path to complete healing and coming out of the storm totally cancer free. What an amazing example she is of hope and love and overcoming.
"Show me Your ways, O Lord, teach me Your paths, guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my savior, and my hope is in You all day long." Psalm 25:4,5
Heavenly Father, Jehovah Rapha,
Thank You for another day on this beautiful earth, the temporary home You created just for us.
Thank You for the strength You have installed in Your children, the strength to weather the storm and to come out even stronger than before they went in.
Father, keep Your healing arms around Lisa tomorrow as she starts treatment to eradicate the dreaded enemy from her body. Love her and bless her so that she may be a pure example of all that You can do. You are a God of miracles and we are asking for those miracles to show up.
I ask also Father for Your healing arms to cradle my friend Darlene as she undergoes surgery tomorrow. Make her healing quick and easy and bless her for being the loving friend that she is.
These things I ask in the name of Jesus Christ, the one true Messiah.
Amen
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Day 258 Backsliding
It seems like I'm back in the middle of chemo. I thought I was working my way out of it but apparently not yet. Nausea was present all day yesterday and the neuropathy seems to be getting worse instead of better. Hard to type with numb fingertips. My feet felt like they were thawing out all day from extreme cold.
I did go to Body Designer in spite of the nausea. Had a good workout at a higher level than last visit. That was good, but it's hard even to smile when I feel like this. Other than a little cold there, I have stayed warm with layered clothes and two pair of socks. Once home from BD, it was to the couch for the rest of the day. I didn't have enough energy to empty the dishwasher and just let dirty dishes pile up in the sink.
Better today. I cleaned the kitchen this morning and am dressed for the studio. I need to go open a window to let the fumes from the oil paint and turp out before I go back in there to paint. I'm planning on keeping my food portions very small today to see if that helps with the discomfort in my tummy. Enough of this already.
"My times are in Your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me."
Psalm 31:15
Precious Lord, Jehovah Rapha,
Thank You for getting me through another day. Forgive me for being disappointed in how I felt yesterday. I am grateful just to be here and give You all praise and honor for taking me through this journey so far.
I ask special healing mercies for my friend Darlene who is having surgery on Monday and for my friend Lisa who is starting her chemo on Monday. Let them both heal quickly and easily. Thank You for putting the two of them in my life. I am honored to pray for them.
I ask that same healing for everyone fighting cancer today. Bless them and heal them so that they are never faced with this enemy again.
These things I ask in the name of Jesus Christ, the name above pain, the name above cancer, the name above all names.
Amen
I did go to Body Designer in spite of the nausea. Had a good workout at a higher level than last visit. That was good, but it's hard even to smile when I feel like this. Other than a little cold there, I have stayed warm with layered clothes and two pair of socks. Once home from BD, it was to the couch for the rest of the day. I didn't have enough energy to empty the dishwasher and just let dirty dishes pile up in the sink.
Better today. I cleaned the kitchen this morning and am dressed for the studio. I need to go open a window to let the fumes from the oil paint and turp out before I go back in there to paint. I'm planning on keeping my food portions very small today to see if that helps with the discomfort in my tummy. Enough of this already.
"My times are in Your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me."
Psalm 31:15
Precious Lord, Jehovah Rapha,
Thank You for getting me through another day. Forgive me for being disappointed in how I felt yesterday. I am grateful just to be here and give You all praise and honor for taking me through this journey so far.
I ask special healing mercies for my friend Darlene who is having surgery on Monday and for my friend Lisa who is starting her chemo on Monday. Let them both heal quickly and easily. Thank You for putting the two of them in my life. I am honored to pray for them.
I ask that same healing for everyone fighting cancer today. Bless them and heal them so that they are never faced with this enemy again.
These things I ask in the name of Jesus Christ, the name above pain, the name above cancer, the name above all names.
Amen
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Day 256 Moving On
I'm so excited to relate that I went to Body Designer for 30 minutes on the machines yesterday. Wasn't sure I could last that long and had Kathie start me out at a very low level. Well, I lasted the 30 minutes easily and before my time was up, I was way up on the level of intensity. That tells me that I'm going to be back to normal much sooner than I expected. I have another appointment for tomorrow and I'm going to speed things up even more. Thank You Father.
Today I need to clean house .............. not gonna happen. I've aired out the studio and need to start some more paintings to replace the sold ones in my galleries. I haven't painted since right before Christmas and I'm itching to get back to work and today is the day. Thank You again, Father.
Isn't the body an amazing and resiliant creation?! To have poured chemicals that were so strong they can't even be touched into my body for six months and in just three weeks out I am starting to recover. There can be no doubt that we were created by a Master Mind with the most intricate wiring and the ability to heal encoded in our dna. Praise God.
"Forgetting what is behind, and straining toward what is ahead, I press on..."
Phillipians 3:13
I have been diligent to keep AA foods in my diet. I juiced yesterday and loved every sip of my apple/carrot/purple grape juice. Adding a little crushed ice makes it doubly refreshing. I'll do that again today. The fridge froze while I was in Colorado and it's thawing and being repaired today so everything is on the counter and no room to fix the flax seed/cottage cheese smoothie. I'll probably have to buy new cottage cheese after setting out for several hours at room temp but that's okay. Hopefully by tomorrow I'll be back on that program as well.
To find out more about the flax seed oil, go to www.beating-cancer-gently.com .
Blessed Father, Jehovah Rapha,
Thank You for another day to enjoy life here on this earth that You created. Thank You for the crisp air, the sunshine and the gentle breezes. Thank You for another day in which to praise and honor You.
Thank You Father for the amazing creations that are our bodies, for the healing properties that You made part of them, and for the intelligence You imparted to the researchers and doctors to fight this hated enemy. I ask that You continue to impart that understanding until a solution is found that will blast cancer to oblivion, never to be seen or felt or experienced again.
These things I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, the one true Messiah.
Amen
Today I need to clean house .............. not gonna happen. I've aired out the studio and need to start some more paintings to replace the sold ones in my galleries. I haven't painted since right before Christmas and I'm itching to get back to work and today is the day. Thank You again, Father.
Isn't the body an amazing and resiliant creation?! To have poured chemicals that were so strong they can't even be touched into my body for six months and in just three weeks out I am starting to recover. There can be no doubt that we were created by a Master Mind with the most intricate wiring and the ability to heal encoded in our dna. Praise God.
"Forgetting what is behind, and straining toward what is ahead, I press on..."
Phillipians 3:13
I have been diligent to keep AA foods in my diet. I juiced yesterday and loved every sip of my apple/carrot/purple grape juice. Adding a little crushed ice makes it doubly refreshing. I'll do that again today. The fridge froze while I was in Colorado and it's thawing and being repaired today so everything is on the counter and no room to fix the flax seed/cottage cheese smoothie. I'll probably have to buy new cottage cheese after setting out for several hours at room temp but that's okay. Hopefully by tomorrow I'll be back on that program as well.
To find out more about the flax seed oil, go to www.beating-cancer-gently.com .
Blessed Father, Jehovah Rapha,
Thank You for another day to enjoy life here on this earth that You created. Thank You for the crisp air, the sunshine and the gentle breezes. Thank You for another day in which to praise and honor You.
Thank You Father for the amazing creations that are our bodies, for the healing properties that You made part of them, and for the intelligence You imparted to the researchers and doctors to fight this hated enemy. I ask that You continue to impart that understanding until a solution is found that will blast cancer to oblivion, never to be seen or felt or experienced again.
These things I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, the one true Messiah.
Amen
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Day 254 So Long 2012
2012 is over and done with. Praise God. As I look back, it was mostly about illness. The first part was searching doctors to find out why I was feeling so poorly and the second part was treatment once it was discovered what was ailing me.
I can tell you that a diagnosis of cancer is a shock. It sort of reverberates through the body but I was calm about it because I thought I could tolerate the treatment easily. I've heard stories of people working through their entire treatment and not missing a day's work. I had no idea that the treatment planned for me was going to be so difficult. A couple of times I felt so bad that I thought maybe death wouldn't be such a bad alternative. Now that I'm starting to emerge from the effects of chemo, I do see the light at the end of the tunnel.
I'm just back from five days in Colorado with my precious daughter, son-in-law, and grandson. With temps reaching eight degrees below zero, I didn't venture out much but I did have a large condo with a big fireplace and a wall of windows that looked out on snow covered mountains. The travel part was tiring and required recuperation and my muscles are still too weak for me to step up into an SUV without a push from behind - not a pretty picture - but the nausea is minimal limiting itself to evening time and never bad enough any more for meds. The main side effect is the neuropathy which continues in my hands and feet and mouth. My fingertips are numb, my toes are numb, my tongue feels like after I've eaten something too hot and burned my mouth. Weird. These symptoms don't seem to be letting up but hanging in there for the duration. However, if that's the worst I have to deal with, no problem.
So, now it's time to look forward to 2013. Recovery and clean tests are what I'm looking forward to most. Then rebuilding my inventory of paintings and venturing off into some new series is next. Staying busy filling painting orders kept me sane through this process while this blog and the Bible and Jesus Christ kept me grounded. How grateful I am to serve such an awesome God, who loves and protects me...a God who allows me to venture out and experience life even in what seems to be the worst of conditions, yet continues to comfort and protect me..... a God who allows me to continue to create through the entire process. I feel truly blessed and so very grateful.
"The Lord your God will bless you in all your produce and in all your undertakings and you shall surely celebrate." Deuteronomy 16;15
" ...and as long as he sought the Lord, God make him to prosper." II Chronicles 26:5
Precious Lord, Jehovah Rapha,
I thank You for the days just past where we celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ. I thank You on behalf of every cancer warrior for another year in which to heal and the beginning of another year in which new medicines and treatments will be developed to fight and eradicate this dreaded enemy.
I thank You, Father, for giving me the strength through the treatments that I underwent to continue to paint and produce art that speaks to the heart of others and for bringing new collectors into my life.
What a kind and loving Father You are.
As we all begin a year anew today Lord, help us to set our goals and make plans that will please You and bring us closer to You in everything we do and say. Let us feel the strength of your healing mercies and know that we are always wrapped in Your loving arms.
These things I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, the name above all names.
Amen
I can tell you that a diagnosis of cancer is a shock. It sort of reverberates through the body but I was calm about it because I thought I could tolerate the treatment easily. I've heard stories of people working through their entire treatment and not missing a day's work. I had no idea that the treatment planned for me was going to be so difficult. A couple of times I felt so bad that I thought maybe death wouldn't be such a bad alternative. Now that I'm starting to emerge from the effects of chemo, I do see the light at the end of the tunnel.
I'm just back from five days in Colorado with my precious daughter, son-in-law, and grandson. With temps reaching eight degrees below zero, I didn't venture out much but I did have a large condo with a big fireplace and a wall of windows that looked out on snow covered mountains. The travel part was tiring and required recuperation and my muscles are still too weak for me to step up into an SUV without a push from behind - not a pretty picture - but the nausea is minimal limiting itself to evening time and never bad enough any more for meds. The main side effect is the neuropathy which continues in my hands and feet and mouth. My fingertips are numb, my toes are numb, my tongue feels like after I've eaten something too hot and burned my mouth. Weird. These symptoms don't seem to be letting up but hanging in there for the duration. However, if that's the worst I have to deal with, no problem.
So, now it's time to look forward to 2013. Recovery and clean tests are what I'm looking forward to most. Then rebuilding my inventory of paintings and venturing off into some new series is next. Staying busy filling painting orders kept me sane through this process while this blog and the Bible and Jesus Christ kept me grounded. How grateful I am to serve such an awesome God, who loves and protects me...a God who allows me to venture out and experience life even in what seems to be the worst of conditions, yet continues to comfort and protect me..... a God who allows me to continue to create through the entire process. I feel truly blessed and so very grateful.
"The Lord your God will bless you in all your produce and in all your undertakings and you shall surely celebrate." Deuteronomy 16;15
" ...and as long as he sought the Lord, God make him to prosper." II Chronicles 26:5
Precious Lord, Jehovah Rapha,
I thank You for the days just past where we celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ. I thank You on behalf of every cancer warrior for another year in which to heal and the beginning of another year in which new medicines and treatments will be developed to fight and eradicate this dreaded enemy.
I thank You, Father, for giving me the strength through the treatments that I underwent to continue to paint and produce art that speaks to the heart of others and for bringing new collectors into my life.
What a kind and loving Father You are.
As we all begin a year anew today Lord, help us to set our goals and make plans that will please You and bring us closer to You in everything we do and say. Let us feel the strength of your healing mercies and know that we are always wrapped in Your loving arms.
These things I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, the name above all names.
Amen
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