A wonderful Sunday Afternoon

I had a good day yesterday! My papers ran on time, YEAH! I was able to get home, take a shower and head off to church. Our Pastors are going through the book of Hebrews right now so we are learning some very important writings.

I am so humbled by my church body right now. All of their prayers and little gifts of love, cards, emails, calls. Then there is all of my blogging friends! It really brings me to my knees in thankfulness to the Lord for putting me where I am right now. My dear friend(Marion and her daughter's) and long time sister in Christ remembered me yesterday with a little gift. I was reminded of our Jr. Choir days together, years ago. I don't know how this dear sister put up with me being the director. I was so stressed all the time. Oh dear, I'm glad those days are behind me. I work much better under our new Jr. Choir director; the pressure is off.

After church I still felt really good so me and the hubby made pancakes, sausage and eggs for my families lunch. The boy's seemed to enjoy that. I then relaxed with my hubby until he had to head off to work.

Believe it or not I still felt really good so I headed off to a graduation party for a dear friends daughter. Bri was so little when Joe and Jen started attending our church. Joe and Jen's little ones are the boy's I spend a bit of time with. They call me Nana and think it is a treat to come to my house. I just love those babies so much. I got big hugs and kisses all day from them. I worked it out with their Mama to get them next week. I promised they could play at their Nana's park. It is really a little swing set and sand box out back of my house.

I had so much fun talking to people at the party last night, I didn't get home until 9:00 p.m. I did help clean up instead of just talking all night.

It was a wonderful ending to my day.

One last things, I am reading Knowing God by J.I. Packer. If you have never read this book, you are really missing out. I'll update a little of what I am learning each week. I just love it!

God continues to caring me through each day.

My little get Away

I wanted you all to know that I won't be posting anymore Cancer updates on "Living for the simple thing in life" blog. I want to leave this blog open to write about my Walk with the Lord, family, home, friends and loved ones. What I've been up to and just a fun relaxing time to get away from it all.

I did open up my Cancer blog this A.M. I will write in it daily for anyone who is wondering how I am doing. You can just click on my profile and hit "My Journey with Cancer".

See Ya

Family Update

I have had a bit of a busy week. I felt really good so I wanted to fit in as much as I could before my second Chemo treatment today. The last time I was down until about Thursday. I know now, that I will have a good week and a not so good week. I was able to weed all my flower beds and trim back all my rose bushes. All the new plants I planted in the early spring, are all starting to bloom now.

A special thank you goes out to my walking buddy Maria. Thank you so much for driving me to Chemo today. It was really a lot of fun!

Bo's soccer is now all over. We are sending him to a soccer camp for a week in July but that is right by our house. He had a great season; his travel team finished with a very close second. Only losing by one point. It was a great season plus his coach was wonderful. I could really tell he cared about this group of boy's.

The twins are doing well! They are relaxing this summer. Oh, they help me around the house. We all do Monday cleaning now instead of it just being me. They seem to like cleaning with mom. We all have a different job we do so it goes really fast. The boy's also take care of the yard work now.

Some good news

My Sailor is coming home to see us again. He flies in next Wednesday and will be here until Sunday. He deploys in September so this will be the last time I get to see him until next June. We talk everyday right now so it is going to be a bit of a shock to my system when he is gone. He has already warned me this week that he won't be able to email everyday. I might not hear from him for weeks at a time. Sometimes it is so hard to be a mom.

My son Bret, Jess and my little grandbabies are in Kentucky right now. Bret is opening two more Auto Port plants there. They will be gone for a bit. I miss them already!

Becca is back in Texas now and is doing well. I sure loved seeing her after my surgery. She came and helped her Mama get back on my feet and ran my routes when her dad got sick. I miss her too!

Prayer

My step-dad hasn't been doing very well. His red blood count is really low. Please pray for him, my mom and my little sister's.

I'll try to blog again soon! I just wanted to thank you all for your continued prayers. It wouldn't be so bad if I didn't know I was going to start losing my hair in about 5 days. They told me 18 days from my first Chemo my hair would start falling out. I feel like I'm on some kind of a count down. Yikes!! Oh, I'll live through all of this (prayerfully) but I sure am feeling a little anxious about it all this morning.


I pray you'll have a great weekend!

A New Look

I woke up this morning thinking it is about time for a change. I've gotten rid of some weighty things this morning so I was thinking. Self, it is time to brighten up your blog. Make it fit me a little better. I don't have much time this morning for a long post. I just finished my hour work-out and I now have just enough time to take out the trash and run down to the local Barber to get my boy's hair cuts beforehead I head off to work.

Now be honest, if you don't like it, just let me know and I will try another look.

I am one step closer to my last Chemo Treatment

Little update:

I'm doing really well today. The port being put in was like a really bad dentist appointment. {I've blogged about how much I love going to the dentist} I had that put in at 7:00 a.m. and my first Chemo at 9:00 a.m. They first put in all the Anti nausea and vomiting medication. I then had to chew on ice to help my mouth from the sores that would form. It is funny they actually have to make up the Chemo after they check your blog (My blood not my blog, ROFL, thanks gregc for pointing my typo out) and get you check in. I'm sure the Chemo is costly. The AC {Really hard Chemo} took 20 minutes going in. The nurse has to put that through the IV because it could burn the skin. The last Chemo took about 1 1/2 hours to go through my IV. We were at the hospital until 2:00 p.m. It took a bit of time for my first section.

It all really did seem to go smoothly. Besides sores in my mouth and of course my chest is sore where they put the port. I was a little nauseated and I did wake up with a really bad headache and stomach ache this morning. I took my meds like a good girl and after I laid back down for a few hours, I was good to go. I'm doing pretty good now. The meds make me more hyper than I already am. I couldn't get to sleep until midnight the night of my chemo. I thought if I worked the night before I would be calmer and could fall asleep when I got home. I only got two hours of sleep that night so I should have been tired.

Keep praying for me, I know your prayers are working. BTW-Thank you for being such faithful prayer partners and some mighty good blogging friends.


Lori

Happy Birthday Mom

I want to introduce you to my mom, her name is Diane.












Happy Birthday Mom! You don't look a day over 29. Thank you for all of your love and support these last few months. Thank you for being at the hospital for Jim during both my surgeries, for watching me on Friday evening after my second surgery so Jim could work and not worry and last but not least, Thank you for the Butter pecan ice cream. It was so yummy! Please don't worry I'll be o.k. We will be out around 7:00 p.m. I didn't get a good list so I'll have to think of something good to get you all by myself. Hmmmmm, this happens every year. LOL!



With God's help I pray I will be able to fulfill this all by your next Birthday.

This is the list I received from my Mom.

For my Daughter to Be Healthy
For My Daughter to not get sick
For my Daughter to be Carried through all these days coming up!
For My Daughter to BE BLESSED BEYOND MEASURE!
This is my list precious Daugter nothing can compare but to see God carry you through these next weeks.
You ask and this is my desire for a Happy Birthay!
Love MaMa

With God's help Mom! I pray I will be able to fulfill all of these requests. I pray by your next Birthday I will be all better. I should even have a cute little hair cut by then.

A little about my Mom; she is now 62 years old, she has been married to my step-dad since 1977, she has 4 children, 27 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren, she adopted two little girls, one is 11 (From China) and the other is 6 (from Cambodia), she home schools both girls, she works at home as a secretary for my brother's carpet cleaning business.

Sorry Mom about the age and year you were married. LOL!

Mom

I love you very much!

My Love Letter

Months ago, I said I would post this love letter from my dear husband, as soon as I found it. I finally found it tonight, while unpacking more boxes from our move four years ago. I received it in this pretty frame so I had it hanging on the wall in our old home. Every time I would feel insecure, I would stand and read this. This man has stood by my side through many things in our lives and he is still standing. As I type this letter into the computer, tears are streaming down my face, just as if it were the first time I read it years ago. I don't know what I did to deserve such a wonderful man but I know, I have been blessed.

The Love Letter from my Husband of 22 years

For my lovely wife, the jewel amongst all cut glass;

You are so beautiful my love! You are so beautiful. Your eyes draw me in and captivate my being. When I look into your gaze, my thoughts become fuzzy. They are clearer than the bluest water. You are as a lily among thorns when with other women!
Your voice is a tinkling stream on a hot dry, day. Its sweet melody brings peace and calm to my spirit. I long to hear you speak to me when I am away from you. Your lips are full and desirable! They beckon to me when I am near you. I love to go to the mountains of sweet perfume, to the hill of fragrance. Your tenderest places awaken the lion that sleeps within me. You stroke up a flame of desire within my bosom. To hold you is all that I want. To feel your tender caresses eases my soul. Turn your eyes from me because they overwhelm me. You are perfect, without blemish. There is no imperfection in your beauty. You are a true lady of God. Your spirit grows everyday. The Lord is your master and king and for this I am eternally grateful. You have come so far with Jesus, I am excited to see where you will be in years to come. You challenge my soul. Truly, God gave you to me as the one who makes me complete.

My love, I know that sometimes you wonder about my love for you. I regret that so very much. I have always loved you with all my heart and my love for you grows as the years pass. You can be as confident that I will always be there for you, as God rules, as you are that I am your brother in Christ! You are so precious to me. There is nothing I have that shines as even a distant light in comparison to you. I pray that our love grows, even as your beauty and spirit have already grown.

Your Beloved Forever

I had A most enjoyable Day

I sure enjoyed my day! It was a bit warm but I enjoy the warm weather.

I love my welcome sign my mom and my step-dad bought me for Mother's Day a few years ago. I want everyone that visits my blog to feel as welcome as if you were visiting my home..Welcome to my home.

I started out this morning by going to my Chemo class. You know, it wasn't so bad. God is doing a work in my heart. As I sat and looked around the room at the other women that will be taking Chemo. I can truly say, I fell a piece about the whole thing. My arm that was affected by the lymph node removal is almost 100 percent back to normal. My Chemo is on the opposite week that I lead Worship. There are just to many blessing to count.

I was blessed to be able to head off to work after my Chemo class. One doesn't realize what they have until they can't do it anymore. I'm blessed to be able to serve God, take care of my family, work, clean, work in my flower beds and sing on the Worship team. I get to do so many things that I have taken for granted over the years. Isn't God good!

This picture was taken Thursday June 5th, 2008.I just took this tonight Sunday June 8th, 2008. My rose bushes came alive.

I have to confess, I did take a little rest on my front porch swing this evening. This swing was given to us by an old friend of ours. Let me tell you, it is very comfortable! I love to grab my Bible and sit on this comfortable swing and read.

It was a beautiful evening here in MI. I enjoyed walking around our home watering my flowers and enjoying working in my flower beds. I planted two peony bushes a few years ago. One finally bloomed.

My husband and I have been busy the last month pulling, planting and pruning our flower garden My rose bushes came live! I just love all the pretty colors.

More of God's beauty.

More of our flower beds.
And more....

And more....


Yea! We got the garden planted.

Last but not least. I am now sitting at my computer, downloading my post for today. I am just really enjoying my life. This picture is old but I think you understand what I'm doing.

God is working in my life! I have been praying that God would help me deal with things I can't change and accept and learn from what has been given to me. Like how I see my husband and my children; I want to enjoying each and every moment with them. I am going to take all the changes that I have had to make lately and count them as blessings from the Lord.

May God bless all of you, as He has blessed me.

We're moving on UP! No we're not the Jefferson's

Oh were to start! We've been a bit busy with soccer and the end of the school year events. Bo has a game Saturday at 5:00 p.m. and a game Sunday at 2:00 p.m. those will be his last games of the season. He has tryouts on Monday for the fall season and then, we will have a little break.
It rained pretty hard on Bo at last Saturday's game.
Bo in action!

Our twins are moving up to 9Th grade next year. Last night we sat with about 1000 other people while there children, grandchildren, nieces or nephews moved up.

In a letter sent home from school, it stated that this was not like a graduation. The students were not to dress formally. Well, I dressed my boy's in causal clothes. Dress pants and a collared shirt. My boy's were way under dressed. I can't believe I forgot my camera at home. School will soon be out for the summer!

Oh, I've also been busy in all of my flower beds. I'll have to run around and take pictures. We also have lots of graduation parties to attend the next few weeks and then it will be time to kick back and relax for a while. LOL! Well, we will see about that.

My schedule for the next Year

This blog is not for the purpose of bringing everyone down when they come to visit me. I just wanted to let my family, friends and blogging friends know dates to pray for me. If you know anyone that has taken these Chemo drugs, I would love to know how they did on them. Please leave me a comment or email me at lorihouseholder@gmail.com.

I need prayer for my vanity! I'm a tough woman and I'm not really afraid of getting sick or being tired. The unknown is a bit scary. Losing all my hair is freaking me out. I laugh and joke about it but I really don't want to lose my hair. Please pray also that I will be able to keep working and singing on our Worship team. I'm just afraid I won't want to leave the house if I don't have somewhere to be.

I called Thursday to get my port rescheduled and my echo cardiogram. It will be sometime in the next two weeks, before Chemo anyway.

I had to rescheduled everything to do with my chemo because my husband got sick and had to have surgery. He had to have a gallstone surgically removed and he had to have his gallbladder out. Like I said, it has been crazy around my house. I still have to write about our (not just mine anymore) wonderful surgeon. I promise it is an unbelievable story. You will be able to see how God's hand was directing us to find a Godly Surgeon, through blogging mind you. I'll tell you all the story soon but I want you to meet this dear woman right now. She is one of our dear blogging friends. You can visit SJ here

I have a Chemo teaching class June 5th

I Met with Dr. Chottiner get blood work June 10th

Update as of the mail today, June 2nd.

I will have my echo cardiogram at 2:30 p.m. on June 10th.

I get my port put in at 7:00 a.m. on Friday June 13th and my first Chemo will the same morning at 9:00 a.m.

Chemo June 13th-Friday the 13 how appropriate LOL
Chemo June 27
Chemo July 11
Chemo July 25th

This is the Chemo I will be taking: Adriamycin & Cytoxan I will be having this together IV once every 2 weeks for four times.

I then will have Neupogen shots to raise my white blood count back up.

After that Taxol Weekly for 12 weeks

Radiation will start after Chemo is finished for 38 visits Monday thru Friday

I then will be on Tamoxifen for the rest of my life.