Project 365, Week 20

As is typical for this time of year, we had quite a few "end of" events. I'm grateful to have so much to celebrate.

May 15

We met for breakfast to celebrate our mom and see her since she's been back from Florida. 

Family night was also May fondue.

May 16

I love when the porch becomes a gathering place.

May 17

Aiden had two days of math testing at his potential future high school. I walked the parking lot with podcasts while he toiled over Algebra.

May 18

Another day of testing, this time for Geometry. Praying for wisdom and guidance as we make this big school decision for him.

He squeezed in soccer practice and then his last middle school concert. My favorite part of the evening was when we saw the beautiful sunset driving home, he insisted we stop at the farm and take in the view from the top.

May 19

It was Jack's senior night for baseball. Before the game the coach spoke about the two seniors and the team presented them with a gift. Jack got to pitch the game and he also had a triple. 

There was a mob there supporting him, including family and friends and three pastors. Jack loves people and is great at planning and doing things that bring people together....the crowd there definitely reflected the kind of person he is.

A new Senior Night tradition began at youth group, giving special recognition to the 10 seniors. The invitation was extended to parents so I went while Shaun was watching Aiden have an outstanding game in goal. Amanda served on the worship team and I got to sit next to Avery and my heart was full.

May 20

We did some things around the house and also finished this puzzle that has been out since February-ish. I suggested cleaning it up without finishing it but Shaun and Avery wouldn't hear of it, so the three of us happily saw it through.

May 21

My niece Renna excels at just about anything she decides to do.

Shaun set up a workbench for me so I could take care of my plants and flowers. 

 

May's 10 on 10

10 pictures on the 10th day (Wednesday) of the month! 

{Document a snapshot of your life...find beauty among the ordinary things in your day!}

Clean kitchen before work and fresh flowers from the neighbor's stand. Happy sigh.

Poor puppy being prohibited from scratching at the wound on her face.

I SO enjoy the windows in my office.

Home for lunch and some sun.

A woman came to pick up her tax return. Her husband, who was Shaun's age and client, died suddenly a month ago. She and I were the only two in the office, so we talked for a while about some hard things. 

Life, even a long one, is short. I recently saw this on a post:

Time is short. Tell your people that you love them - loudly and frequently. And then...stop playing games with eternity. Because...here me clearly...time is short, eternity is long and the veil is thin.

Aiden was trying to give Ginger a pill with peanut butter but she was able to strategically get around it. 

So proud of Amanda for finding and buying her first car. She took me for a spin in the office parking lot just moments after it'd been signed over to her. I hope its a reliable car for many years.

Avery was working, so I got to take Amanda and Aiden to Mid Week. It was a lovely evening so I walked a surrounding neighborhood while they were meeting.

 

Numbering Days, Week 39-42

My last treatment was nearly two months ago but it feels much longer than that. Life has "normalized", except that so much now seems like a miracle to me. Every day that I get to live and breathe is one more that I didn't have before. By no means am I walking on sunshine 24/7, but I can so often, so clearly see the gift that is this moment.

After getting the green light for a pause in treatment, it didn't take me long to switch gears from a patient to a mom and wife and all the rest that my life consists of. Sweet, ordinary life!

Once tax season ended, I started walking 3-4 miles a day and lifting weights too, but making an intentional effort to not push it. It helps me feel strong and alive and mentally healthy and its been a life-giving rhythm to my days for 35 years. I'd also like to drop the few pounds that steroids and being extremely sedentary have put on so my clothes fit more comfortably. 

Florida was such a special trip, as it always is. Several of the years its been in question if I'd be able to go or do the car ride, etc but its always worked out for me to join the family and I just think God is so kind. Being at the ocean...watching the set rise or set over the water, listening to the waves crash, looking out over the expanse of water...it helps to remind me that there is order to the universe. I am not at the center of it and I am happily not in control. What peace that brings!

Who taught the sun where to stand in the morning?

And who told the ocean, you can only come this far?

The very same God that spins things in orbit

Runs to the weary, the worn and the weak

He commands the waves...what do I have to fear?

We talk about how sweet life is. We speak of our love. We discuss business. We stumble into the hard conversations about the future. We talk about raising teens. We recall our list of blessings. 

This guy...he's always been the one for me.

Aiden and Ginger are my gym buddies every morning.  :)

On Wednesday, my Dad drove me to New York for a blood work check-in. Admittedly, it seems ridiculous to drive two hours one-way for a 10-minute appointment, or really for any of our care. Over the years we've tried it different ways but we've always circled back to just making the drive to the #1 cancer hospital in the world.

And anyway, we had a nice drive with just a little traffic to deal with.

Back in town, we had a call with the oncologist. The lab results were not in yet, so we just re-reviewed my last scans.