Quick summary of the Summer of 2016!

We have had quite the summer and it has been some time since the last post....
Kevin and Rachel were married on July 30!!!! It was a glorious day, we had so much fun and our only regret is that we were not able to get around to visit with everyone at the reception.

 Kevin Rachel and their cakes....The Tree cake and the Norwegian Wedding Cake

New Friends!

And then there was the mission trip to Alabama and South Carolina....We went as families. So many blessings and stories to tell....

And the last week we have been exploring and having a great time resting and renewing! Coloring books and puzzles have been the most important things we have done, and touring the Daytona Speedway....a new fan was born! Oh and we survived Hurricane Hermine!

Abraham and Isaac......

To start with....I am complicated, and I am difficult (I announced on Saturday that David is difficult. And he is! I confess I am too, and somehow together we make it work. There I have confessed, now to back to the story)

I tell you I am complicated, because before I get to the point there are some things you might need to know. First, I love to do Lectio Devina. I like to do it alone, and I like to do it with groups...It is quiet time, where I fall head first into the Word and let it surround me like a warm bath. I just fall in and let the words just run through my brain and then I listen to what God is trying to day today....

The second thing is that in addition to who I am today and what I do today, I have a past full of experiences of a Social Worker....I love that work, and sometimes I miss it. But I love what I do now. And sometimes the two things are intertwined...but I digress....when I wanted to get a kid to talk, we went for a walk. And they talk they did....

So here is where those two random thoughts collide....Today's Bible reading from one of the email devotions I receive is from Genesis 22. I cut and pasted it below if you are interested. It is the story of when God tests Abraham by asking Abraham to sacrifice his beloved son Isaac....Does the story line sound familiar? (It should! The same plot line happens again a few thousands of years later.) 

If you do Lectio Divina you know that you read the text. And then dwell in the word for a little bit. Then read it again and pick out the words or phrases that speak to you......Today I was struck by the words, "the two of them walked together." Abraham and his young son, Isaac were walking together. We can only imagine what Abraham was thinking and feeling or what they talked about. But what we do know was that God was testing Abraham and had asked Abraham to sacrifice his son. After all they had been through....God promised a great nation would come from Abraham's family and here was the start the nation, of the Israelites ...

How could this be? In the end the angels stopped Abraham and there was a nation.

Abraham had a unique relationship with God....Abraham was faithful in the face of the unthinkable. And in the end God provided. Personally I find hope in this amazing story of faith. I can't help that when the two were walking, God was there too. Everyday we walk with God, even when we may not know it..... 

Genesis 22:1-14 (NRSV)

After these things God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." He said, "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I shall show you." So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac; he cut the wood for the burnt offering, and set out and went to the place in the distance that God had shown him. On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place far away. Then Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey; the boy and I will go over there; we will worship, and then we will come back to you." Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together. Isaac said to his father Abraham, "Father!" And he said, "Here I am, my son." He said, "The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" Abraham said, "God himself will provide the lamb for a burnt offering, my son." So the two of them walked on together.

When they came to the place that God had shown him, Abraham built an altar there and laid the wood in order. He bound his son Isaac, and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to kill his son. But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven, and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." He said, "Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me." And Abraham looked up and saw a ram, caught in a thicket by its horns. Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place "The LORD will provide"; as it is said to this day, "On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided."​

You Are Mine.....

You Are Mine...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sgm9lkTNQmc

When Peace Like a River

One of my favs....
When Peace Like a River....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmvnE6erj6I

The Sun is Always Shining....somewhere!

I am at the point where I am beginning the process of reflecting on the Unplanned Adventure. So here is the first in what I hope to be many! I Pray that it is over, but petrified that the cancer will come back....Look Cancer: I have a certificate that it is over! So Cancer, you are not welcome here!

I don't think cancer cares....This is what I think of cancer:

yup....Cancer Sucks! I want to buy the tee shirt....

I like this better:

 Or This:

TeeHee!!!!

So what brought this all up again? Next week I go back for the first three month check with both Dr. B. and then a week later with Dr. C. On one hand, I am confident, on the other hand. One never knows. Kinda like life! So we pray some more, and we wait. Something we are learning to do.

One of the refections that I am still "chewing on"....because I am a stewer and just can't let things go until I have thoroughly explored every possibility and outcome...is that while cancer is physically devastating, it is the most emotional thing I have ever dealt with. I suppose that might be obvious to many, after all we all have been touched by cancer's ability to take away our family and friends too soon....but for me, it was way more 'everyday'. Cancer, and let's not forget the exceptionally strong drugs that go along with it, have the ability to steal joy and the simple things that are enjoyable in life.....Food and drinks did not 'taste right'. I drink way to much Pepsi...I like pepsi, but not after treatments. I couldn't even drink it. I enjoy pizza. That didn't taste right either. And anything with a tomato based sauce, nope, not for me!

For me, the blander it was, the better it was. Chicken and noodles, chicken noodle soup, yogurt, frozen fruit, puddings, not chocolate tho, Poppy Seed Chicken, popsicles, Schweppes Ginger Ale, and Ice Cream were favorites!

Anyway, cancer and chemo stole enjoyment. I fell asleep during movies. I had no energy to do anything. (So thankful for the gift certificate for the house cleaning!).

Yes, yes, I was surprised at how hard the emotional fight was. So here is what got me through it.....you! your prayers, your support, your love. The messages and cards (I count Facebook messages too) The care packages with things that I needed, that I didn't know I needed. The goofy hats! (I never did get a wig, but I liked the hats!) and faith. And I will say my faith was tested.

But here is the thing.....when I felt like I was at the end of my patience and sanity....it was the community around me that held on and kept me from falling over the edge where I often stood. They pulled me back when I couldn't.

Sometimes I didn't want to get out of bed in the morning....not because I was in pain or not feeling physically well. I just didn't have the umph to put my feet on the floor. That was when I got a push from my beloved....he would say "get out of the bed, take a shower, and let's go....." I hate to admit how much I needed him to do that and how much I love him for doing that....." He did not allow me to feel sorry for myself. We all need someone to do that for us. Even when we do not want to hear it.

Which brings me to how I coped....Well first of all prayer, lots and lots of prayer, and reading the Bible, and then the community and all they said and did....music and inspirational sayings, and I passed them on through Facebook, writing them on post it notes......There were so many that I can't possibly share them all. But one thing I will say, is that when I needed one, it appeared. I cried. I felt better.

All in all, compared to others, I had it easy. I missed out on some of the things that people have to endure. I continue to pray for them. I am thankful that I was able to tolerate the chemo and had minimal side effects.

The other day....I remembered when we went flying the last time, it was cloudy and stormy when we left the air port. As we took off and went above the clouds, the sun was shining. It reminded me that even tho in our everyday lives there are storms and difficulty. Somewhere the sun is always shining. God is always there for you and for me....we just can't loose sight of it....and remember to look up, you never know what you are going to see!

Blessings on your Adventure, Elayne

Soli Deo Gloria!!!!!

I am honored, I am humbled....To God be the Glory!

Look at this....

http://metrodcelca.org/2016/05/gift-from-an-unplanned-adventure/

Just So You Know.....

This is the place where I put things that make me feel better when I am down, and Just make me happy....hope they help you too....
My Playlist if you will.




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaQdwTsVtCY&list=RDRw5pk5wuANY&index=8