Saturday's Scribbles

Good Saturday to you on this hot and humid weekend in Iowa.   We are heading towards ninety degrees for both days and breaking records I expect. Summer has definitely returned and is not giving up easily.  

Joel got in a couple bike rides this past week, but certainly nothing like last summer.  He's been putting together a cart to hold some of his wood pieces and doing other worthwhile projects in the garage.  He did clean all the floors in the house.This week, which is a project in and of itself.  Mostly he's joined me as we played the waiting game for results of tests.  I have been recovering from the biopsies and the draining of the fluid. Managed a bit of house cleaning too.  And walking. 

Speaking of walking, on Friday, I had a glaucoma appointment at Mayo clinic and the ramp we usually use is closed.So we did a good deal of walking to get to my appointment in the Gonda building..  At least, I got my twenty minutes of walking in on Friday.  We did receive the results of the biopsies on wednesday and were quite shocked to hear that the cancer I have is a rare undifferentiated pleomorphic Sarcoma and probably from the radiation i  had.  It is rare and they do not treat it here.So I will be going to Mayo clinic to see a Sarcoma specialist.  We start all that business on monday.  

The past few weeks have us certainly taking one day at a time.  Intentionally enjoying the moments we have.  Like yesterday when we stopped last minute at a family members for pizza and hugs on our way home.  A memory made.  

So today, I am thankful for another safe trip to mayo clinic in rochester and for a good report from the glacoma doctor.  Grateful for a quick visit with Helen and memories made over pizza.  Grateful for porch sitting, for biking and walking, for laughter and for tears. Grateful for all that Joel gets done in a week to keep this house running.  Grateful for the phone calls that keep us connected to those we love and care about.  Grateful for emails and texts and photos that we get in an instant.  GratefulFor the many, many, many people who are praying forJoel and me. Grateful for all this, and so much more..

Enjoy your weekend!

 

Saturday's Scribbles

Good Saturday to you on another chilly September morning. This is my favorite season of the year but I expect we still have a few summer days ahead.  We've heard a few geese and run into a few that have gathered in the grassy area of our association, our park and even our street.  

 Our flowers are still blooming beautifully thanks to the organic fertilizer that Joel has added to them.   Soon we'll have to pick up some mums to add to the garden.  

Last  Sunday we listened to church and then drove over to Clear Lake to central park where we watched the people and the boats.  In one area there were seven sailboats racing.  It is the end of the tourist season.  Outdoor church was just getting over and people were heading to the bathroom.  Unfortunately in women's bathroom the word was getting around that there was only one of the six stalls that had any toilet paper at all.  I happened to be standing in front of that one, but there were others who were waiting in a  line out the door.  Someone was not doing their job.  I usually carry my purse and my purse carries kleenex for those just in case moments where tissue is gone or when the nose gets runny.  Anyway, after our people watching we came back, picked up Culver's salads and came home and ate lunch on our porch.  Monday, my sister, Kay and her husband Danny, came in the afternoon for a visit and strawberry rhubarb pie.  It was a nice, quiet labor day weekend.

Thursday, I had to be at the hospital at seven thirty a m for 2 procedures.  First, they went in through my back and drained fluid out of the chest cavity.  Then about a 1/2 hour later, a different doctor went in through my chest and took biopsies of the mass that they saw in the deep tissue of my chest wall. Both procedures,  using ultrasound,  went very well and I have been home resting ever since.  The results will come this week.  Then they tell me  a PET scan will follow.  The journey is moving And every prayer is appreciated and felt.  We have continued to see God's blessings. Hidden in plain sight in the kind staff and the excellent treatments and the encouragement and prayers of family and friends online and in person.  God is faithful.  Much to be grateful for 

Joel has been busy this week, just keeping busy.... He's been out in his wood shop, creating and reorganizing.  This is his go to activity when trouble shows up.  He Has managed a bike ride or two and kept meat company throughout.  

Today, I am very grateful for all the support over the last few years. I am still here because of the prayers of believers and the skills of doctors.  Grateful for the sun shining and the crisp fall air.  Grateful for all the phone calls and texts and so much more

Enjoy your weekend!

Saturday's Scribbles

 

It is labor day weekend, the last  weekend of august here in iowa.  My Saturday Scribbles is going to be a bit different today. And even has a title..... "Hidden in Plain Sight".

As some of you know, there was a spot or hazy area found on my lung, whe I had an x-ray for my ribs.  This past Wednesday's, I had a CT scan with contrast and the results were quite surprising.  My PA Oncologist called and told me that there is a large mass, deep in the soft tissue of my chest wall, and there is also fluid between my chest wall and my lung on the right side.  It appears the cancer has returned.  I was told there's no surgery or chemo or radiation for this, it will just be a matter of infusions or medication to hold the cancer back as long as we can.  A biopsy and the drainage of the fluid will happen the end of next week to tell us more.  . And then there will be a PET scan and the usual steps and getting to a final diagnosis.  This cancer was hidden in plain sight.... My blood work was good, my exams were good. There were hints because of my lack of energy. And weakness, but mostly every report i've received this year, has been good.  This cancer likes to hide, it's like a spider web, like cancer. It cannot be felt.  So we wait to confirm what the doctor believes.  We still hope for a miracle.   

Something else entirely was hidden in plain sight during the last three days... Blessings!  The young lady who did my CT ask me what the key was to a long marriage and I was able to share with her that God is the center of our marriage. That we were even prayed together as a couple fifty seven years ago.  A hidden blessing.  When my on oncologist called with the bad news at the end of our conversation she asked,  can I say a prayer for you? And she did.  That was a hidden blessing because even though we have mentioned God over there 6 years, I've been with her she has not.  On thursday, Joels colleague group laid hands on him and prayed for us and this morning, they all prayed at gabby, grandpas. Today we took a short trip to our beautiful East Park.  Even the movie we watched last night to distract us was a hidden blessing.

   I expect there will be a lot of hidden blessings along  this journey. And we have the hidden blessings of all the thoughts and prayers from friends and family.   I'm not going to pretend this is easy. It is extremely hard for both Joel and myself. We cling to hope with the biopsy for the pet scan, for the second opinion, with mayo clinic that we hope to get and we cling to hope most importantly because God is the God of Hope.  

Today, I am grateful for the hopeful,  God guided  hidden blessings in plain sight..  

Saturday's Scribbles

 

Good saturday to you from Iowa, where fall weather is teasing us.   The high today will be around 68 and I am so excited about that.  I know that summer will return....I wish Fall lasted twice as long as Winter!  Still, there is today to enjoy.  

The early part of the week, the weather just did not comply with heat and humidity and heat index was over a hundred one day again.  Joel did not get to ride his bike much but did get some office work done and little projects around the house, because this guy cannot sit still!  He does take a nap every afternoon, though.  Staying active!  Use it or lose it, right?  

Speaking of using it or losing it, we went to a medical equipment store this week. And picked up a very nice sturdy walker that medicare had approved for me.  The physical therapist I see at mayo clinic, wanted me to use a walker when i'm exercising, so that I can move faster and get my heart pumping more.  She thinks that will help with the low energy.  The day we picked it up, we took it right down to the river road path, and it worked well to help me keep my balance. So I continue to walk inside or out, and I did get cookies made for joel this week. Cleaned some.  There is still a little adjustment to the new eye drop, but it's going well.  Next week, I have a c t scan on the lung, and we'll see from there what the plan is, if any.  I've been off the anti cancer drug, 8 days, and what I notice is my mind is more clear.  It will take a while with the energy.If that's the cause.    

Moving on.... Yesterday, we had company in the morning for a couple hours and different  company in the afternoon for a couple hours..  A trip to the grocery store was followed by movie.  

Last night we watched an old movie. Called "6 days and 7 nights" with Harrison Ford and and Anne Heche.  It was funny in spite of sexual references..... We have been enjoying the show Happy's Place starring Reba M8cintyre.. I understand that it's been picked up for a second season.  We have enjoyed some porch sitting, but the mosquitoes have been horrendous this week.  

 We are finally getting to the end of our blueberries after six weeks and surprisingly they have done very well.  Today we'll be our last blueberry coffee cake.   They last a lot longer then the ones you buy.   Most of the time, fresh fruit in America has a different meaning than fresh fruit. Or fresh bread in europe?Where you buy one day's supply and a time.  I do still remember when we went to Washington, stayed in the early 80s, there was nothing that tasted as good as a fresh peach or apple flavored reshly picked. And fresh pineapple in the Philippines? Yum

It's time to put aside this "yawn' today....Grateful for0 getting the new walker to help me with my exercising.  Grateful for t v shows that distract us.  Grateful for walking outside and inside,  for fresh chocolate chip cookies, for joel for his biking, when he can.  Grateful for a friend that stopped by and shared her wisdom. Grateful for company from Minnesota, that stopped in. Grateful for blueberries and memories of fresh peaches, apples and pineapples.    Grateful for a movie that makes us laugh.  Grateful for phone calls from family.  Grateful for texts emails, and so much more.

Enjoy your weekend!

(Please ignore any errors. )

Saturday's Scribbles

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Good Saturday to you from northern Iowa,where the heat and humidity and storms have returned carrying more gifts of rain, and wind.  The river down below our cul de sac is quite full with a strong current as it travels by.  We walked along the river a couple times last week before the humidity returned.  It is a lovely place to enjoy nature since the city made the "river script road" into  nice biking and walking path.  Joel takes this route when he does his 10 nile bike rides east.  \

Speaking of humidity, we certainly do not miss this similar climate experienced in the Philippines.  We would wake up to eighty five degrees with high humidity every day.  Our first house we rented, did not have air conditioning.  You might wonder what we were thinking. Yes, it was was really dumb on our part, but air conditioning was kind of a novelty back in the early seventies.  We kept a lot of fans going and had a window air conditioner for the master bedroom.Because joel often worked nights as a Air Force weather forecaster and slept during the day.  We never did live in a parsonage that had central air either.. When we bought a home here in iowa twenty nine years ago, it was a priority for us.  Central air.  What a great gift!

We went to church on Sunday morning and on the way home we stopped and walked along the river.  On Monday and Tuesday, Joel worked with Habitat for Humanity wielding  a paintbrush or roller.  He did get some work done outside. On thursday, he headed to the pastors conference in a town half an hour.North of us.   Today he is off to gabby grandpa's.

Like I said, we went to church on sunday.. on Tuesday.I saw the retina doctor.  My wonderful retina doctor retired and I certainly will miss him, but the new guy is good too, and we were pleased with our visit with him.  Great hearing that everything is stable with  the macular.  Wednesday I had a bone density test and that turned out to be good news too.  Friday I saw the oncologist and my blood work was pretty good and the exam was good, and now we wait for the rest of the results. There's always the waiting and the watching, and the never ending searching for cancer to return.  I have learned too appreciate the oncologist. I have who is like a tiny pit bull in searching out where cancer could be hiding. Today we wait for results while being intentionally grateful to still be here.  And tolerating the new eye drop too!  

We are still enjoying the ten pounds of blueberries that we ordered from the mennonites.  I made blueberry coffee cake this week and Joel made us blueberry smoothies, besides adding blueberries to our yogurt and our cereal.  We have a thing for blueberries!

It is getting time for some of our grandchildren to go back to college or high school. A few are out in the working world.  It is hard to believe they are so old.  With the way the world is right now, a person could spend all their time on their knees, praying for the protection and guidance needed for those we love and care about.  And God hears every prayer.

So today, I am grateful that all those prayers that we bring before God are being heard by him.  Grateful for the power of prayer. Grateful God does guide and protect those we love and care about.  Grateful for a cool dry house thanks to air conditioning.  Grateful for a pit bull who seeks and searches to keep me healthy. Grateful for a new retina doctor.  Grateful  Joel was able to go and help with habitat for humanity.  Grateful for memories of the Philippines. Grateful for our short river walks.  Grateful that my daily walking is paying off regarding my bone density.  Grateful for blueberries..  Grateful for the phone calls this week, the texts and the emails.  Grateful for all this and so much more.

Enjoy your weekend!

Saturday's Scribbles

 

Good Saturday to you from this rainy morning in northern iowa.   It is tropical and we appreciate more than ever, our air conditioning.  We had a few days where the temperatures and  humidity were lower and the doors and windows could even be open. But right now it feels like a tropical paradise and  I use the word paradise loosely.... I am not a fan of the heat and humidity anytime or anywhere

Joel has been getting up and riding bike early, which has been nice. He's been able to get a little bit of yard work done, but mostly office work, a few indoor projects, and shopping.  And with gratitud he's helped me through a challenging time again with reactions to the glaucoma drop.

  Speaking of that, I attempted to take it a second time but had extreme anxiety and irritability again. So I am back on my old one until I hear from Mayo clinic.  I'm still walking 20 minutes a day. Indoors mostly. My friend Lana and I are doing a Bible study on Daniel and Esther together over the phone.  It feels good to be studying the word and she is involved in so much study of the word that it's beneficial to me too.  

This week we had new Wi Fi installed, which took several hours because in this house, nothing is simple.  We also cancelled the cable we've been getting for 29 years, and we are doing Hulu + live.  It is an adjustment for sure, but we're saving two hundred dollars a month, which is wonderful.  These oldsters can and will adjust to it.  We got this!?!

Do you recall that our oldest daughter and her family gave us a monthly scavenger hunt as one of our christmas gifts this year. Once a month, there is something new for us to do. And this month, we would go to the bulba tea shop here in town and give it a whirl.  The way our schedule was joel decided to just spring at home, and we would test it out here.  He purchased the mango boba tea with tapioca, black pearls in it.  Interesting.  Not really a fan.  Joel  remembers that when we lived in the Philippines fifty years ago, we tried it there, but I don't recall it all.  He was telling the clerk that waited on him that he had first had it 50 years ago in the Philippines, and the guy said,  during the Vietnam war?  Joel said yes....And he replied   i'm Vietnamese and born there.  I don't think we'll be heading back to that shop for tea, but it was fun to try something new and bring up old memories.  

Our oldest son, had an emergency surgery this week on his throat when something got lodged in his esophagus.  He is doing very well thankfully.  You just never know..... It is the suddenlys that send us running to God.    

A couple weeks ago, we ordered ten pounds of blueberries from the mennonites, so we've been eating a lot of blueberry muffins, coffee cake, smoothies, on our cereal or in our yogurt.    There are only a few days in the year that I do not have a handful of blueberries.  It is one of my indulgences. 

As I listen to the rain, I am grateful for it..  it ,  grateful for the rolling thunder. I'm grateful for the crops that grow when they are fed from above.  Grateful for boba tea and the fun times we've had with the scavenger hunts that our daughter and family gave us.  Grateful for the memories of the Philippines that have come up surrounding this drink of creamy milk and tea with tapioca, pearls, to add to it.  Grateful that I have the old eye drop to take while we try and figure out the plan for moving forward .  Grateful for being able to walk and ride and exercise.  Grateful for everything blueberry this week and last week.  Grateful for phone calls, emails and texts from the ones we care about.  Grateful for all this and so much more.

Enjoy your weekend !