Casting Crumbs

Today Mom called to say that she got her report back from her blood work. (They did the test a week earlier than normal to see if the tumor marker was still going up. If it was, they would look at doing something different than the chemo meds she was currently taking.)

I leave you with a passage that I keep meditating on. I love this! This is true of my life. . .

From Psalm 18 (The Message)
But me God caught—reached all the way
from sky to sea; he pulled me out
Of that ocean of hate, that enemy chaos,
the void in which I was drowning.
They hit me when I was down,
but God stuck by me.
He stood me up on a wide-open field;
I stood there saved—surprised to be loved!

God made my life complete
when I placed all the pieces before him.
When I got my act together,
he gave me a fresh start.
Now I’m alert to God’s ways;
I don’t take God for granted.
Every day I review the ways he works;
I try not to miss a trick.
I feel put back together,
and I’m watching my step.
God rewrote the text of my life
when I opened the book of my heart to his eyes.

The other evening we were scrambling to get everyone ready and out the door for Julian’s little school musical. I had finished dressing everyone and was getting myself ready and I hear all this commotion and laughter from the boys room.

Literally, in 5 minutes or less they had done this. . .

A boy is a joy!

A few weeks ago I was talking with an older and wiser friend. We were talking about mealtime and I stated how I loathed the evening meal at my house. I felt like a short order cook because of my picky eaters. I always would fix Tom and I a nice meal but the kids might eat three different meals. I just felt like I never could sit down and eat with the family, couldn’t get it all “done” at the same time and on the table. I was usually angry by the time we would sit down to eat because of all the work!!

She looked at me and said “I don’t want hear about it. You are doing that to yourself! You should fix one meal and the kids can eat what is on their plate or go hungry.” At first I admit I was taken a little aback by her very matter of fact words but the more I thought about them, the more I realized she was right.

Now I realize that all of you reading these sad words are probably agreeing with my friend and can’t believe that I, being of mostly sound mind, would actually allow this ritual in my home. I must give myself a little space here. . .part of my problem was just the evolution of small babies to children. Jaden and Evely are so close in age and I seemed to have little ones for the last two years that either ate baby food or cheese and fruit and the likes. I just never really quit feeding them like babies and it was ruining my mood and my nerves!

So I say “thank you” to my friend Rhonda for being so honest with me!! That is the mark of a true friend – one that can say the hard things so lovingly and bring about a huge change in a life. She did.

The next week I put my foot down and counted to three. No more Short Order Cook Karen! I now fix one meal, incorporating some kid-friendly stuff too and that is what we eat. I must admit that mealtime the first week was like dragging them to get a shot. The groans and crying were horrifying. You would have thought they were sent to a concentration camp! However, I am so pleased to announce that several weeks later I am only fixing ONE meal and they are trying all kinds of new food. They don’t always like it but it is making my life so much more peaceful.

I also figured out if I can rope them into helping me make the meals and feel a part of it, they seem to want to eat it better. Julian is the key: if he likes it then usually the other kids will try it.

Here’s a picture of the kids “decorating” pizza’s for dinner.

Yes, this really is how Jaden looks when he is home – the clothes come off!

Tuesday my Mom had her 2nd round of chemo. Yesterday she received the results of her tumor marker test from the blood work they did on Tuesday. The marker went up to 151. This was not the news we were hoping for. It didn’t rise at the high rate as it had been, but with the chemo it really should have dropped.

So, in two weeks she will have another tumor marker test done and they will see if the chemo is having any affect at all. If not they will look at changing what they are doing before her 3rd chemo treatment.

I know many of you keep up with her from this blog, so I wanted to let you know the latest. Thank you so much for praying for her. We know that regardless of what Doctors and medicines say and do, we can count on a very Heavenly Father that loves us and has our best interest at heart. I am grateful that we have Him to trust in every outcome.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2 Corinthians 4: 16-18

Wednesday was Tom’s birthday and I failed to get his post done on his special day. I can’t let it pass without saying how much I love my hubby and I hope that this 37th year of life for him is wonderful and goes beyond his dreams for it.

It was a pretty normal Wednesday for him, he did receive a big balloon bouquet at work from me and the kids. He brought home a chocolate cake and some bagels too. We went to Longhorn for his favorite meal – Prime Rib.

Here’s his rib, so that if you are a prime rib fan you can salivate. . .

For those out there that don’t know Tom that well. . .and for those who know him better than you would like. . .here is some things I love about him.

1. He never knows a stranger. He has a knack of making anyone and everyone feel very welcome.
2. He’s funny! That is the first characteristic that I loved about him when we first met. We were in English 101 at college and he just cracked me up.
3. He’s faithful. He knows what he has to do and he does it with a great attitude. He can stick with things long past the point that I would.
4. He loves to “project”. I make fun of his ability to make long lists of projects and not quit the day until all of them have been checked off. BUT I do love that about him. He can get more accomplished than anyone I know.
5. He loves the kids and it shows. I love the way they run to greet him everynight. He is the celebrity that makes all their tickle wishes come true.
6. He loves me. He sacrifices so much so that I can stay at home. It really is a big sacrifice, but it is worth it.
7. He is my favorite. I have always told him that he is always the answer to the question “What is your favorite. . .?”
8. I couldn’t do this life without him. That statement is true on soooo many levels and I am just so thankful to go through life with him as my friend, partner and husband.

Thank you, hon, for being here for me. For your love and sacrifice. Thank you for sharing your years with those of us who are very proud to know you and call you friend. You’re the best!

Happy Birthday to you!