Therefore
Romans 12:1-2: Therefore, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not be conformed any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing, and perfect will. Our pastor has been preaching through Romans. It has been so good. I think if I could only have one book out of the Bible, I’d pick Romans. I could read every day about what a wretched sinner I am (Romans 1 and 3), how God chose to save me through the death of His Son, Jesus Christ (Romans 3:23-25, 5:8, 10:9), that there is no condemnation for those who are...
Read MoreRACK Recap
Our Random Acts of Christmas Kindness project is over for 2011, but my kids are still talking about it, pointing out ATM machines as we drive around town. Our Christmas by December 1 effort really made the Random Acts of Christmas Kindness project possible, because I was relaxed and able to put the time into it. Next year I’d like to plan ahead for the RACK project and have bags decorated and labeled for each day of December, like an Advent calendar, with cards inside to let the kids know what we are doing that day. (See my friend Karen’s blog for photos of her bags.) If you have never tried finishing your Christmas preparations early or Random Acts of Christmas Kindness, I would encourage you to consider it for 2012. Just make a mental note or...
Read MoreRACK Update ~ Carols, coffee, and candy canes!
We have been having a blast with our RACK projects in the last few days. On Tuesday, we called our church office and got Starbucks orders from our pastor and church secretary and took them coffee and coffeecake. It was so fun to see them and chat for awhile! The boys are both very enamored with Pastor Chris, so I think they were thrilled to do something for him. On Wednesday was my FAVORITE of all our RACK projects. We went with some friends to sing Christmas carols in the chemotherapy treatment room at the oncology clinic. Last December, when I was there receiving chemo, some nurses got together and sang carols for us. I decided then that if I was able, I would bring my kids to sing the next Christmas. So it was very meaningful to me to be able to...
Read MoreRACK Update ~ Six days until Christmas!
We have really been enjoying our Random Acts of Christmas Kindness project! Last Thursday we went out to eat with our friend Tara, who was visiting from out of town. I wanted to pay for someone else, but the check process at the restaurant where we were made that a little complicated. So Tara suggested giving our server a huge tip. It was a great idea! We paid on our way out, and I gave the green RACK card to the cashier and asked her to give it to our server. Once she realized what was happening, she was happy to be part of it. Here’s a photo of Tara and the kids at the restaurant . . . The next day, we went to the mall to double-up on RACK projects since I didn’t think we’d have time to do something over the weekend. We went to...
Read MoreRandom Acts of Christmas Kindness 2011
I have a friend from college who has amazing ideas. (She will tell you she gets them from other people, but she herself is pretty amazing.) She is the one who inspired my Christmas by December 1 project. And now she has inspired my what-to-do-in-December-when-you’re-done-shopping-and-wrapping-gifts project. I’ve wanted to be like her when I grow up ever since freshman year. So I am excited to tell you about what I’ve learned from her this time . . . now that I’ve sufficiently embarrassed her . . . it’s Random Acts of Christmas Kindness (RACK) 2011! My friend has done a great job explaining it on her blog. The idea is that each day of December leading up to Christmas, you do something kind for someone else. She has...
Read MoreAre You Ready?
I thought I should check in with my Christmas-By-December-1 friends . . . how’s everybody doing? We went on vacation for a week before Thanksgiving, so I’ve had to cut myself just a little slack this year. I have a couple of loose ends to tie up, but for the most part, all my gifts are purchased and wrapped, and one has even been gifted. (You know who you are, waffle girl.) I’m tracking down a few more addresses, but the bulk of the cards are in the mail. My house is decorated, which is extra special because my sweet friends decorated for me last year when I was receiving chemo–and that was so great of them, but this year unpacking all those boxes myself made me smile. :) Plus, I made these red sparkly letters to put on my...
Read MoreScans
There are many difficult aspects of life in Cancer World, even when you live there as someone who is blessed to be currently cancer-free. For me, the quarterly check-ups are one of the most difficult parts. When you’ve had cancer, especially one as aggressive as angiosarcoma, you know your cancer-free status can be snatched away at any time. A lump, a symptom . . . the possibility is always lurking, but never as ominously as when you go for those scans. I will make trips to Houston every three months for a CT scan of my chest, abdomen and pelvis to check for a recurrence. My scans are coming up soon. And I’ll be honest, it is a struggle to keep the anxiety from taking over. It feels like I’m standing on a beach. The sand beneath my...
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