Hide' N Seek

Okay when you really want to find or see something and that other person doesn't want to be found...isn't there a message hidden in that? Breanne & Marc went for their ultrasound today and left being disappointed that they couldn't find out the gender of their baby - okay only one of them left disappointed as the other one does not want to know. The technician was even frustrated as she was unable (2nd time around)to get some of the readings that she needed to get. What should of taken 20 minutes, took 1 unsuccessful hour. The baby in the pictures that they got even gestured with their index finger to go away and then proceeded to roll onto his/her tummy and go into recluse. Me, I really wanted to know but when I think back to having my kids this wasn't even an option. Actually you took life the way it came - boy or girl is what you waited to hear the doctor say. Today some of the young people want everything - they want the perfect nursery with the right colors and they want all the proper clothes hanging in the closet. Me - I hung a knit baby dress for all three kids in their closet just because someone told me that it was for good luck. What's good luck - I have three great kids (2 girls & 1 boy) and I wouldn't change things for the world. Whether or not I was told in advance of their births I still wouldn't change their birth order or who they are or who they have become. I love them all the same and respect their choices for future spouses.
However next week is another test of endurance and patience for all of us as we await to see what God will give us. Me, I just want a healthy, happy, well adjusted crying (hopefully no colic) grand baby that makes our hearts melt when we hold them. I want to praise God for making this happen and be grateful for the moment which I know will last a life time as this is another phase of my life that I have looked forward to. Life just can't get any better.

Happy Father's Day

Today I arrived home and in time to celebrate with Jack on Father's Day. We always tease each other that he's not my father and I'm not his mother (and the fact that we don't have children together) but we still share with one another and feel blessed that we can experience the joy of parenthood together.

I was on my five hour flight (direct) from Newark and I'm glad to be home. However, I'm glad that I went there and was with my sister to support them in whatever way I could. My brother-in-law, Steph is home from the hospital and now we are just waiting the results of more bad looking lymph nodes. The surgeon told Steph that he didn't like the looks of quite a few on the one side and so surgery took a bit longer as he chose to remove them to be sent to pathology. My nephews don't like the look of their dad's bruised abdomen nor the staples that run down one side of his body - not cool for a 11 & 9 year old. I don't remember spending such good quality time with my sister in years. It was nice to hear about her life and her work at the kids school. They are a close family and I know that the next little while will be tough on them as they wait for the results as to whether or not Steph needs further treatments.
While I was away my dad (he lives in Saskatoon) also started his chemotherapy and had a few complications. He does 2 days (4 - 6 hours each day) of chemo and then he is on 6 pills a day for 4 days. Well on day 2 he took a reaction to the chemo and his blood pressure went to 185 so needless to say the nursing/doctor staff had a bit of a panic trying to get him stable. We know that God is also watching over him and I know that they have a great belief system. They are faithful Catholics and believe that God will be with them every step of the way, just as he was nine years ago when my dad had cancer and 28 years ago when my mom had breast cancer.
So begins another busy week with trying to get caught up with work, my husband and my kids. To all you Father's out there, a very Happy Father's Day!

I need Prayers & I miss you

Have you ever missed your spouse so much and yet you know where your place is to be? I miss you honey, and yet I know that my place is here with my sister. My brother-in-law, Steph is having his cancer surgery for his prostate and I am here in New Jersey helping my sister out. I pray that God will continue to walk with them while he is undergoing surgery tomorrow. I pray that God will be with me while I wait with my nephews for the outcome of their dad's surgery. Oh God this is where I need you the most to make me strong and be a help and not a needy person. I need to stay strong for all of them. When Steph showed me where all the legal paper work was and the letters that he wrote to each and every one of them, I just wanted to run away and cry. I can't believe this is happening to us...why us??? Please help us through this. I need my husband and family to surround us with whatever the results will be...please I ask anyone reading this to say a prayer for us. The more the better....please I ask of you and God.

Is God in Our Corner?

Do you ever ask yourself if God is in your corner? I know that lately I have been asking that question. With so much family having just been diagnosed with cancer, it makes you wonder. This weekend my grandmother who will be 90 in November, fell and broke her hip. After making a rush trip to Edmonton, we got told that they can put a pin in her hip, but that she might not make it do to her age. You see when people get older and there not mobile, they most likely die from pneumonia or a clot. Well, what kind of hope is that? Both my girls want her around as they grew up with her in their lives and they want her to see her very first great, great grand babies. We pray that God will allow her to continue to allow her time on earth and being part of our lives, but if we listen to the medical folks, we haven't got much hope.

I have to believe that when the doctors told my parents today that my dad has non-Hodgkin's lymphoma back, that we have to believe that 8 treatments and a 2 year follow up will be enough for him to go back into remission. Was God in our corner while my dad was in remission or will he continue to be there while he goes through this round of chemo?

Will God continue to be in both my girls lives while they go through some medical times with each of their pregnancies? I pray that they both will carry to term and deliver healthy babies and that neither of them will suffer during the delivery or post-delivery. Will God be watching over them during all of these times, I pray he will be.

I pray that my brother-in-law, Steph will have surgery next week and come out of it a healthy man. I pray that God will be there to say that I was just there to help with believing in him and the system for my sister and my nephews. I want to tell them that God is in their corner watching there loved one go through something that shouldn't be happening at his young age.

These questions are part of most folks lives, as I hear it when people are reaching out for help or assurances that there loved ones will be okay. I am hoping that my faith and my families faith will let us to continue believing that God is in our corner and that we can continue praying to him for re-assurance. As I believe in God and all that he stands for. What about you and your families situations, do you believe that God is in your corner?

Western Christian School

Last night we had a great time out at Barb & Gary's place. Western Christian high school kids came through on their road trip and performed for about 60 folks. We all gathered for a beef on a bun, salads, dessert and great fellowship and then the kids sang for us. It was truly a wonderful fellowship time. We talked about this having been the best turnout ever. Barb & Gary had a big top tarp built and so we had protection from the elements (which would of been okay if it rained but the weather was beautiful). One of the most memorable moments for me was watching all our new toddlers & pre-schoolers exploring the ranch. They just couldn't get enough visits with Pee Wee the sheep and Daisy Mae the goat. The huge fire pit was an attraction and kept everyone warm and mosquito free. A big thanks to Barb & Gary on hosting such a great evening of fun, food and fellowship. As well thanks Karen for bringing your team of talented singers to Calgary. I really believe that God is everywhere and last night was proof as I felt that warm glow of reverence.

God's Gift(s)

God is all around us and sometimes he gives us things that we never know about until we stop and think about it. My life is so crazy these days with weddings to plan, new son-in-laws to welcome and now we have more to celebrate. Just when cancer was striking us with my dad and my brother-in-law, we were given the news that both Breanne and Nicole will be mother's at the end of this year. So that makes me a true Grandmother - soon to be 50 years old and a Grandma. Whether the girls planned this or not, we thank God for 2 little miracles that will be here later in 2009. At first I wasn't sure how to feel about this, but this is not my decision or my way of starting out life with just getting married. If God has allowed these girls to become mother's, who I am stand and judge. I can only support and pray that things will go well for both of my girls and help out where I can. We believe that God lends us our children to teach us about life and in return Grandchildren are given in the same way. We are here to be examples of Christ followers and not to be the judge & jury.