Wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

I bowled and played tennis last weekend, and I was at my snow-covered home in the wilds of Worthington!

I am not a fan of video games (although I admit to a fling with a lime green Game Boy in my 30's.)

My daughter's boyfriend brought over his Wii. Morgan and Bobby demonstrated with baseball (which Morgan whined all the way through). We both, however, liked bowling. Tennis was fun, but made my arm tired. Wii-ing is real exercise--it's not your father's (or mother's!) sitting-on-your-behind video game!

Burger even tried his hand at bowling. (When I tried it, I dropped the ball behind me, and all the little bowlers on the TV screen jumped up in the air and said "Whoa!" in unison. Very funny.)

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Meet Faith, Hope, & Charity

Meet my new bears--(L to R) Faith and Hope are my "Life" breast cancer survivor bears. Charity is my Armstrong County Community Foundation mascot. They will be making appearances around the county . . . . where will they show up next?

Good News and New Shoes

Praise God for good test results from Tuesday's bone scan and CT scans! God is so good, and I am so grateful to my husband and daughter, family, church, and friends for fervent fasting and prayer. I continue to be blessed and overwhelmed by your love and kindness.

I am scheduled for a segmental mastectomy on February 15th. They will also be removing the lymph nodes from my armpit--yippee. The pit part will probably be the worst; I will have a yucky drain for a while. After the surgery and pathology reports, we will discuss my tx.

I will be off work for a few weeks (that's what they think! Okay, I'll stay home, but I have a laptop and will be working. I love and need my work.) I will also be watching DVD's and reading books, a luxury I hardly ever have. I will post a wish list of DVD's I would like, and would appreciate any recommendations of fun movies you have enjoyed.

My niece Mandy bought a new pair of shoes for walking on her treadmill . . .

What a sweetie she is.

I love you all. Keep praying! "The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much" [James 5:16]. Your love and prayers have already done more for me than I could ever express. Thank you.

Cats Rule and Dogs Drool

My nephew Jason took his mom (my sister Kay), his friend Brian, and me to see Cats at the Byham Theater last evening. So much fun! I really need to get out more.

Cats is Andrew Lloyd Webber's adaptation of T.S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats to the musical stage, and is the longest running show in the history of Broadway. Cats even has a very detailed entry in Wikipedia. I bought this book for Morgan when she was almost two and her cousin Mandy was in a student production of Cats at West Hills School--my kitties still play with the feather boa I bought for her tail! (Click on the book cover to read about Jellicle Cats, Mungojerrie, Rumpleteaser, and my favorites--Jennyanydots and Grizabella.)

My life as an M & M

I knew if I ate enough of these, this would happen . . . !

My friend has cancer; what can I do?

Since becoming a cancer patient, I have realized that my response to others in this same situation has not always been ideal. I'm always afraid I may upset them by calling. What if they don't want to talk about it? So, in order to help others who have a friend with a serious diagnosis, I have started a list of "things you can do for your friend." Feel free to comment, especially if you have been in this situation--what did you really appreciate or need?

Phone call, email, or card? (Trust what you know about them--are they an email person or a phone person? Do what you think would be most comfortable for them, but do respond to the diagnosis in some way.)

DO something; Do NOT say "Call me if you need anything." (They probably won't.)

So, what can I do?

Pray

Let your friend know that you are praying, and that you have enlisted others to pray, as well

Call, email, send a note or a card (whichever is best for your friend)

Continue to keep in touch (most people will neglect this after a while)

Gift ideas:

Fresh fruit, fruit salad

Case of ginger ale

Case of water

Soup

Supper (in a disposable or container you don't need returned)

Soft, cozy blanket

Parking money for the hospital

Chauffeur service to the hospital/treatments/doctor's office

An aromatherapy candle (lavender is supposed to be relaxing)

Check on the house/apartment; feed the pets

Paperback novels

Fun DVD's (America's Funniest Home Videos, Murder She Wrote, Diagnosis Murder, whatever genre or star or series you know that your friend likes)

Stuffed animals, if they are the type that likes them

A comfortable pillow for resting on the couch

Homemade cookies

1/2 day of maid service

What would you like or need? Please comment!

Lion in the Mirror

Test results today--cancer in the lymph nodes . . . .

BUT, a friend sent me a cute email with this image:

The Lion of the Tribe of Judah lives in me!