Thursday, May 31, 2007
KARON’S PROGRESS
Hello again.
Karon saw the Oncologist Monday, May 21st. The tumor marker count had gone back up to 80 from 70 last month. But the doctor said to give it some more time to see if this is a new pattern. So she had the usual chemo infusion treatments. She was scheduled to have CT and bone scans done June 11th.
However, her left leg has been giving her such terrific pain in the spot where the cancer first showed up after it had metastasized to the bones from the Breast. So I got her an appointment with the orthopedic doctor yesterday. His X-Rays did not show any reason for the pain. He arranged for the CT and bone scans to be done today instead of June 11th. We hope to get the results of these tests early next week. Sure hope they can figure out why she is in such pain so they can provide some relief. It has been a rough few days for both of us because of that situation. She is also suffering from a severe hernia which, when it comes loose, gives her a lot of pain also.
We do appreciate all who pray for us. God is good—all the time.
Jim
posted by jim 8:43 PM 0 comments
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
GARAGE SALE A "WASH-OUT"-- LITERALLY
After our weeks of working to move things to our garage from our storage area; sorting, organizing and pricing--the sale was a "wash-out". The sale was Friday night, Saturday and Monday.
It rained Friday night, it rained Saturday off and on all day. We got so tired of taking things in and out of the garage. We finally just covered things when it rained. We decided Monday we'd just leave everything out and cover it. We had lots of large plastic leaf bags which we had cut open.
It didn't rain Monday but neither did people come! We had maybe six all day Monday! Oh well, more things to sell in the neighborhood garage sale June 16th.
When anyone mentions "garage or yard sale" in my presence it is almost like cursing! I hope I never do this again. I sure don't plan to! But we had good help from our family and from friends from our old church, Countryside.
And we had good family time. Everyone was at our house and we got to spend a lot of time with the grandchildren. Our oldest, 2 1/2 year old Jackson was a
delight. And he enjoyed "helping" and being with his Granny, Pappa and his two aunts. I did talk to a few very interesting people!
I was glad to go back to work to "rest up"!
Jim
posted by jim 7:02 PM 0 comments
Sunday, May 27, 2007
STILL ANOTHER GOOD BOOK
The pace of our life hasn’t slowed down any since my so-called “retirement” from ministering at Countryside, as I had expected and hoped that it would. I still have hopes, however, that the pace will slow and the demands and obligations be reduced. (That may just be “wishful thinking”, but we’ll see. One can always hope!)
In fact, some aspects of my life have actually increased. This is especially true of my “day job”. The job encompasses a lot more than previously and the travel has increased. At home we have had the garage sale for which to prepare. That has been no small task! I’ll Post about the garage sale experience after the last day, which is tomorrow (Monday). Well, it is the last day until the neighborhood garage sale June 16th.
One “positive” of my increased travel has been the opportunity to “read” more—both by the use of audio books and actually reading words printed on a page. Traveling last week, one evening I had the opportunity to spend some quality time in a Christian Book Store. There I found several good books and bought three!
Two of them I gave to my wife for her birthday last Friday. One of those I intend to read some day. But the third book I bought for myself and am currently reading it. So far the book is living up to my expectations. The title is, “PINOCCHIO PARENTING”, by Chuck Borsellino. The subtitle is, “21 Outrageous Lies We Tell Our Kids”. I plan to give this book to our daughter and son-in-law to help with the raising of our two grandchildren.
The book discusses 21 common “sayings” or “quotes” that many of us have heard from our childhood. This book clearly points out why telling these to our kids potentially can have a negative effect. Then the author points out what we SHOULD say—that which is the truth.
I like the book because almost all 21 of these are “sayings” with which I am familiar and have heard or even said. “Sayings” such as, “You Can Be Anything You Want to Be; “Looks Don’t matter--It’s What’s On the Inside That Counts”; “It’s the Thought That Counts”; “It Doesn’t Matter Whether You Win Or Lose—It’s How You Play the Game”. You get the idea.
Of course Pinocchio in the title comes from the story of Pinocchio’s nose growing every time he tells a lie. The book is well written and holds my interest.
In my opinion, this is a great book. I recommend it not only to parents with children but to grandparents, parents anticipating children and anyone who has been tempted to use or actually uses some of these sayings.
This book is probably available in any Christian bookstore or on line. It’s probably even available in secular book stores. I only paid $18 for a hardback version.
If any of you read it, (or have read it), leave a comment and let me know what you think.
Jim
posted by jim 5:15 PM 0 comments
Friday, May 25, 2007
I THINK WE'RE READY. . .
For the garage sale, that is! Thanks to hard work by some of the family and very expert assistance by some friends for our old church, Countryside, everything is organized and priced. I had to be out of town for work Monday night and Tuesday night. Tuesday night they got a lot accomplished. I was able to get back in time to be of some assistance (I think) Wednesday night. Now we have just a few last minute details which need to be taken care of and we'll be ready for tonight.
We hoping and praying for good weather. But what's a garage sale without some rain--especially on the 500 race weekend! It's like I told the family, the main goal is not to make money but to get rid of all this "stuff"! I'm not sure they totally agree with me--about the "not making money aspect". Karon says I'm spending more than I'll make but that's hopefully not true. It is true that I spent money on newspaper advertising and I bought a couple of large, durable signs with wire frames for a couple of intersection corners. I consider both of those a good investment!
Karon had chemo Monday so she's now suffering the side effects and feels pretty miserable. Hopefully this weekend won't be too much for her.
I'll let you know how the garage sale turns out. We're having it tonight (Friday), tomorrow and Monday. When they were setting up Tuesday night they sold a lamp to a neighbor. This morning early a couple of guys stopped by inquiring about the sale. Hope that interest continues through the weekend.
What we don't get rid of this weekend we'll try to sell in the neighborhood yard sale June 16th.
Blessings,
Jim
posted by jim 9:15 AM 0 comments
Saturday, May 19, 2007
ANOTHER BOOK
I finished another book. I recommend it. The book is, "TRAVELING LIGHT", by Max Lucado. I usually like Lucado's writings--some more than others. But for me this one was very practical and written in the usual outstanding style with which Max has been gifted.
As the cover states, the books deals with "releasing the burdens you were never intended to bear". It is a treatment of Psalm 23. I must say, the most unusual treatment of that psalm I have ever read.
In the book he talks about various "burdens"--worry, fear, guilt, etc. And he connects each one to a portion of the 23rd Psalm and shows how that part of the psalm deals with that specific burden.
In my opinion, the book is well written, a quick and rather easy read--and very helpful. I can recommend it.
Now I'm reading one of my "relaxing" books, a mystery.
TOUGH WEEKS
The next couple of weeks appear to be kind of rough. If all goes as planned, Karon will have another Chemo treatment Monday. I will be in town to go to the doctor with her. We'll find out if the Chemo treatments are still being effective in lowering the cancer count. Then I have to leave town for a couple of days and nights. Get this: I'm going to Santa Claus, Indiana, and I'm staying at Santa's Lodge! :) I'll get back Wednesday afternoon and be gone again Thursday, but not over night.
Now all this wouldn't be so bad, except Karon had decided long ago that we need to have a Garage Sale. (She's right--we need to!) But we're not "garage sale people". And she "drew a line in the sand" that the sale would take place Memorial Day Weekend.
So we're "Babes in the Woods" as far as knowing what to do and how to do it. We have had only one other one in our married life and it was sort of a disaster. Of course we're hoping for a better experience this time. The garage sale is scheduled for Saturday and Monday. Friday is Karon's birthday and we'll be busy getting final preparations completed for the garage sale. One of my "gifts" to her is that I'm taking the day off to complete preparations. Another "gift", is that I'm going to try to do all this without my usual complaining!
I'm hoping for some "expert" help, but that may be just wishful thinking. I do have someone in mind to ask to maybe help us a bit in getting ready, especially with arranging and knowing how to price items.
This experience is compounded by the fact that about garage sale time, Karon will not be feeling at all well as a result of the Chemo treatment she'll have Monday.
Hopefully we'll all survive this entire experience! Hopefully I'll be able to post a follow-up!
Jim
posted by jim 8:44 AM 1 comments
Sunday, May 13, 2007
ANOTHER WEDDING
It was my privilege to participate in another wedding of one of my friends yesterday. I should explain that weddings normally are not my “forte”. There are other things where I am more comfortable and seem to be a better representative of my faith.
But recently (the past four months or so) I have been privileged to be a part of several very special weddings. For some I have had the pleasure and opportunity to spend time with the couple before the wedding. For some I’ve done that and have participated in the ceremony. Today I just participated in the ceremony.
The ceremony was “Christian” in more than name only. It was held in a church but that is not what made it Christian. (That’s really not what makes any wedding Christian.) It is the commitment the couple has to Christ and to having their wedding a place where Christ is comfortable. That was true of the wedding yesterday. The couple is committed to serving Christ with their lives and through their marriage. They waited for the right person and they waited until they were the “right” person.
It was a simple wedding (the best kind, in my opinion). The music was totally Christian. The wedding reception was simple with lots of excellent food. And best of all, we had the opportunity to visit with each other and with the Bride and Groom and the others in the wedding party. There were not a lot of nauseating interruptions that you experience at most wedding receptions. Yes, I have no doubt that Christ was a welcome guest at this wedding.
It was a gorgeous day, weather-wise. The couple left the church in a horse and buggy! I wish the couple much happiness. I pray they will be used by God—and I’m sure that they will. It was a good wedding.
My very favorite wedding of all-time (other than my own, and that of our youngest daughter, who was married 5 years ago yesterday) was the wedding rehearsal, rehearsal dinner and ceremony in which I was privileged to share this past New Year’s Eve day. THAT was a terrific wedding. (I blogged about it recently. See the post dated April 14th). Those two days are two days I’d like to re-live. They were wonderful. Yes, the counseling sessions and the rehearsal, rehearsal dinner and wedding ceremony and reception were very special times! The wedding of Eric and Jamie was so special to me. That couple and their wedding party mean so much to me. I’m blessed to have such friends.
Jim
posted by jim 8:12 PM 0 comments
Sunday, May 06, 2007
A GREAT BOOK ABOUT HEAVEN
Yesterday I completed what I consider a really great book. Now before I write about it, you have to understand that when I say I “read” a book, I “read” with my ears! Due to my travel and the amount of time spend in a car; I take advantage of the time to listen to audio books. I have “read” some great books that way—both fiction and non-fiction; secular and religious.
Driving the moving truck back from Georgia to Indiana last Monday, I had a lot of time to “listen” to this book, but it wasn’t enough time to finish the book until yesterday.
I “read” the book, “HEAVEN” by Randy Alcorn. He does an extensive treatment of what the life after death will be like for the Christian. I won’t spoil the book but telling you what he says. Beside, that would be too time-consuming. But I highly recommend this book for at least four reasons:
1. IT IS BIBLICALLY BASED. All that he says has a sound basis in God’s Word.
2. HE CLEARLY STATES WHEN HE IS SPECULATING. And there is plenty of that in the book. But even his speculation has a biblical basis. But I especially like that he clearly says what is his speculation and states how his “speculation” is based on the Bible. There is A LOT of Scripture quoted in the book.
3. When I finished the book I felt like I had read a lot of other books on the subject because he quotes extensively from many other authors’ works on the subject. Of course it didn’t hurt my impression any that he quoted from two of my favorite authors—C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien. Having read all of their most notable works, the quotes were especially meaningful to me.
4. And the final—and maybe the major reason why I liked the book—Alcorn greatly expanded my thinking regarding what the after-life and heaven MIGHT be like.
I have been greatly blessed by the book. I recommend it. I’d love a discussion with some of you who may have read the book—or with some of you after you read the book.
God bless,
JimLabels: Literature
posted by jim 11:38 PM 0 comments
Thursday, May 03, 2007
CONTINUED PROGRESS
Karon saw the doctor last Monday and had another Chemo treatment. I was not able to be there as I was driving a Budget Rental Truck from Georgia to Indiana!
Her tumor marker count has gone down from 84.5 to 70.6 so that is going the right direction. Again it has to be less then 35 to be under control and then has to stay there.
I've been going crazy, almost literally, with everything--flying to Atlanta, helping with our daughter's move to Indiana, driving the moving truck a day and half. Then two days and one night at a Mega Conference at the Indianapolis Convention Center. All this means that emails and other things at work are continuing to pile up at my office.
I'm trying to take one day at a time and to be grateful and to express gratitude to God for His strength for each day. I'm forgetting about any kind of rest for the time being!
Better get to bed now. It is 1 a. m. my time and I have to be up early and down to the Convention center again all day.
Jim
posted by jim 12:52 AM 1 comments
