A day of Thanks

I was very worried about how this Thanksgiving was going to turn out, because these past few days have been very difficult for me in all sorts of ways. But through every one's help and prayers, I feel pretty good about how things turned out.

Here was the menu my mom, dad and I were somehow able to put together. Turkey (we cheated....ordered one from a local restaurant...but it was good) gravy, spicy green beans, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, black eyed peas, macaroni and cheese, stuffing, creamed onions, sauteed mushrooms, crescent rolls, cranberry sauce, and apple Waldorf salad. My mom did most of the cooking of course.

And then we have some desserts of course. A chocolate tart, peach cake, pecan pie, pumpkin pie and ice cream.

Along with my mom and dad, my godson Carlos, who goes to school in Minneapolis, had dinner with us as well. Although it of course wasn't our usual Thanksgiving travel circumstances (we usually travel over Thanksgiving and this year we were supposed to be in Atlanta), it was nice to still have family around.

My husband also printed out a Thanksgiving story for Cameron to read to us at dinner time. Max was asleep as we sat down to dinner, but I managed to eventually shake him awake. And Ella, well, she wanted nothing to do with eating. I think she had a bite of a roll, and then just went in the family room and played. We all wanted to just eat in peace, so we just let her play...that little munchkin!

I just want to once again thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for all their prayers and help through all this. You are all amazing.


“Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good. For His lovingkindness is everlasting.” 1 Chronicles 16:34

monday

(No Mommy. I like to pick my nose!)

I almost don't know what to write anymore on this blog because it's just the same thing happening everyday...or at least nothing exciting. So I'll just update.

Made it through the weekend. It was not easy. I did get to church, and that is always one of my goals, so I am very grateful for my family who helped me get there, and then for my friends who hung out with my kids after church. I've been very depressed and jittery and bored and confused and just overall feeling lost and uncomfortable. I hate it. I don't want to feel this way. I want to just close my eyes, wake up from this nightmare and just laugh and laugh and laugh at this crazy dream.

But that's not reality. So I've got to continue to get a grip and grab onto the people around me who continue to enourage and uplift me.....so everyone.

Today I went to physical therapy for my right arm weakness. I have exercises to do each day now. My dad will keep me on top of that. Seems hard to exercise something you can't move!

I want to send out a special THANK YOU to all my former colleages at Crossroads Middle School in New Jeresy. Tony, what a wonderful video you made for me, and I so enjoyed watching it and seeing all of you. You all truly mean so much to me!!!!!!! Thank you.


Psalm 27:14"Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD."

Thankful

Tonight I decided that despite all this anxiety, uneasiness, dizziness, fogginess and confusion floating through my head, I just really need to take a moment and be so incredibly grateful to just be alive right now! I mean a little over a week ago my brain was exposed. Any kind of complication could have occurred, leaving me lifeless. But through medicine and the healing powers of Jesus, I am here today. And I really need to relish in that fact.

I made it to church today, and it just felt good to sit there and let the music just wash over me. I must admit, I have no clue what our assistant pastor was talking about half the time today, but I just felt God's presence and needed that sense of peace for the small amount of time that I was there.

After this holiday weekend, I'm getting myself on the phone to whichever doctor I'm supposed to be linked with now and we're going to figure out what's going on inside this head of mine. Surely this isn't some permanent condition, and we're going to figure it out...we are. Because I need me back.

To Be Thankful

When your life is turned upside down, you can’t help but see and recognize all that you should be thankful for, and this year I have so much.

I’m thankful for my mom, who dropped everything to fly out here 1000 miles away, putting her life on hold for a few months to help me through the hardest parts of this cancer.

I thank my dad urging her to go.

I thank my husband for the love, knowledge and support he’s given me through this whole process, and for putting up with all the bad stuff that I throw at him.

I thank my kids for getting me out of bed every morning and keeping me laughing.

I thank my nanny Sara for just being so flexible, being around whenever I need her.

I thank my Mom’s Spiritual Spa group; individually and collectively you’ve been such an inspiration and support the 2 ½ years we’ve been together.

I thank my wonderful neighbors and friends who have supplied me with flowers, goodies and lots of meals.

I thank my family and friends for all of their much-needed prayers.

I thank my long-distance family and friends for all the little gift packages.

I thank all my blog readers for their thoughts, prayers, comments, and e-mails.

I thank my doctors, nurses, and modern medicine for helping me fight this cancer and keeping me healthy.

And most of all I thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for the strength, peace, and enlightenment He has given me during my time of need.

“Don’t worry about anything, instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” Phillippians 4:6.

You're awesome...thanks mom!!!!!

My friend Andrea, who has had the strength of an oak while her husband has been away in Iraq for over a year (he was supposed to be home by now, but Bush had other plans), asked me how she can teach her kids to be more appreciative.

Me…she asked me….

The one whose son says, while we’re hanging out at MGM Studios in Florida, “I don’t want to go to this park. I want to go to a different park.”

Me…she asked me…

The one whose son cries because his father will not play Lego Star Wars with him, although he spent almost the entire weekend with him, going bike riding, fishing, having dinner, going for a walk, hanging out at a park, etc.

Me…she asked me…

The one whose son said to her after she brought us dinner from Boston Market, “Thanks for dinner, but next time, can you bring Tinucci’s?” (a local restaurant where we often get takeout chicken).

Me…she asked me…..WRONG PERSON to ask!!!!!!

Anyone have any ideas?

How do you teach your kids to appreciate what they have and what we do for them?

(Young kids that is….teenagers are just a lost cause.)