Cancer Hits Close to Home

I never thought we were exempt from Cancer, but always hoped that John & I would get through our lives without facing it personally.  Which I'm sure is more common than not for people.  Yes, we have close loved ones who have or are working through various types of cancer,  however, John & I have been so well, other than arthritis pain for myself and chronic pain syndrome (Fibromyalgia), we feel so blessed overall. 

So, here we are in our 60's, both of us now Retired, and Cancer hit!  But, the prognosis is excellent and "peace, like a river, attendeth our soul/s". (from the song "It is Well with my Soul") .   How can that be?  Attitude, attitude, attitude!  And a deep knowing within my soul that my God is still in charge .   So that when such a THING like this comes along, my heart & mind immediately goes to that Truth.  John also is facing this new challenge well and that gives me peace of mind.  Will see how he copes once treatment starts!  I'm so grateful that he had already planned to retire before being faced with this challenge since, he won't have to struggle trying to continue working and being tired or whatever the side effects will be.    

I know that Cancer is still feared and people still don't want to talk about it - known as the big "C".  But, then when I constantly reminded myself that we weren't exempt, it has helped considerably!  I use to say quite regularly that "why not me/you?" when someone would complain that something happened to them which just didn't make sense - especially, since we were Believers on Jesus Christ!   That in itself didn't make sense to me!  So much so that nothing that happens, unexpectedly, causes my heart to jump, fear to grip me, or start questioning "WHY ME?" Why not me?  We live in a fallen world, and I'm still part of the human race - yes, I have been forgiven my sin, cleansed and set free from it's power over me, BUT, I'm still living in this world and God's Word does say that "rain...sun...rises on both the righteous and unrighteous..."(Matthew 5:45) Guess I take this to mean that we aren't exempt from the sufferings of this world or the blessings which are common to all men - evil or good.  However, the greatest promise of all to us who are God's Children - part of the Family of God, apart from knowing our future is secured and we do have an Eternal home to look forward to, is that His presence is always with us and His power is in made perfect in our weakness & continually at work in us!  That is the best truth to know especially when the big "C" hits close to home!   

So...now John is facing Radiation/Chemo over a 3-4 mo. period beginning January 5/12.  The cancerous tumour is in the right side of his neck.  He was happy to know that he didn't need to shave off his beard!  Even though he could loose his hair, he's not going to rush to shave it off!  The Nutritionist said he can't afford to lose the 15-20 lbs. that is very likely with the treatment, so they will keep a close watch over him and has given him tips today that I'm sure he'll have no problem with except getting food down when his throat is sore!!   

Personally, I will also have to pace myself physically and discipline myself  when there are things to be done & he won't necessarily have the strength himself to do all that I have come to depend upon him for.   Guess Cancer, or any chronic illness or sudden accidents, etc., is never an individual thing, huh!   Family, friends, and faith in a loving God who will "never leave us or forsake us", prayer support, all help to move us through to success!!   Because, we both know in our hearts that success is there for us and the strength to bear up when weakened is ours through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen!

Still feeling blessed,  Jeanine 

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path." Proverbs 3:5-6

John decorating the Christmas Tree and looking forward
to seeing all of our kids & grandkids over the
Season.  

New Life Challenge

Since we've moved into our new home - an apartment, John put his notice in at work for the end of the year, adjusting to new surroundings - life continues to bring new challenges. 

About 5 wks ago John went to the Doctors to check out the swelling in his neck, on the right side, that came & went over the past 3 months.  It was discovered there was a lump through x-ray and MRI.  Therefore, an appointment was made with the ENT Specialist.  That has brought us to our new life challenge - CANCER! 

The Specialist booked him an appt. for a tonsillectomy and almost 2 wks. ago he had his day surgery.  Everything went really well and he was awake & alert when Elisa & I were brought into the recovery room.  But, ever the comedian, he could talk and wanted to know what time it was.  Not just once!  But many times!  So the nurse, Janet, brought over a small desk clock and set it on his legs! 

He went back to sleep...and Elisa & I went to the Cafeteria to get some supper until we could take him home.  Also, we had a challenge with getting his pain meds. since the Dr. forgot to put down the quantity!  I was so grateful for Elisa!! She did all the running around that was needed between pharmacy (where I ended up waiting) and the 3rd flr. & the nurse! FINALLY, it was all done and we were able to get his meds and bring him home around 6:30! 

Then...we told the nurse to catch John when he came out of the washroom if she wanted him to sit in a wheelchair for the trip down so I could pick him up! He wouldn`t have agreed to that so readily, so Elisa & I headed out to get our cars right then.  It was really great having her there with me all afternoon and to have a second pair of ears to grasp what the nurse said as to the next step. 

It has been a positive recovery and he did everything he was suppose to - rest, drink lots of liquids, and eat according to the day by day schedule & take his pain meds every 4 hrs.  Yes, he did have some pain, sore ear when chewing, and very tired!  But, overall he did really great. Having Michelle, Dan, Elijah & Dakota here for a couple days was also a positive!  She really helped me to make the move especially to walking to the grocery store & to get his paper which is not far away, but I'd never walked it yet!  So encouraging for me having her here as usual during these periods of change. 


We went back last Tues. to get the pathology results and it is positive for squamous cell carcinoma in the surrounding tissue, and positive for a tumor.  That means further treatment of Radiation and or chemotherapy.  We will know all those details on Tuesday afternoon this week.  


John opening Get Well Card from our American Thanksgiving gang and belated
birthday gift and cards from Elisa, Darek, McKenna & Jaden



The general atmosphere around here has been good and positive. God has really spoken to my heart with a verse from Romans 12:12 "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."  That has been His directive to us and I know that God is faithful and will lead us along this part of our journey together! Whatever is next, everything will work out for our good and, in Christ, our hope for the future is bright!    

A Lifetime of Memories

John & I celebrated 40 years of marriage yesterday!  It really went by quickly and can't even imagine having had that many years of marriage with any other man.  Why & How did you get this far when so many marriage barely manage 3 years and can even break apart after 35 years?

I believe the answer lies in the fact that I sought my God's will from the very first moment of the relationship. 

Looking back:   January 1971 I changed jobs from Claims Examiner at a firm downtown T.O. to a brokerage firm handling claims specifically for the company John worked.  I found him to be the "best bet" to get any answers or action and dealt specifically with him for 4 months.  During that period, an interest started forming for both of us thus prompting both of us to discover what we actually looked like!  And, above all else, who we really were as seen by co-workers. 

May 1971 We made a 1st date for lunch on Bay St. since we both worked along there.  He wasn't all that confident that I would really follow through with the date and low & behold I couldn't - but, not by my own choice!!  We were going to meet on the Monday and on Friday after lunch I slammed a heavy wooden file drawer on my thumb!!!  PAIN - throbbing pain until around 2am I called some friends who came over and got me to the hospital where they proceeded to put a needle into my nail and withdrew the blood that had been collecting there!  From there I ended up going over to the Toronto Island to another friends and stayed with them over Monday!   No Date!!  Not cool of me!   I finally realized that I'd missed our date on the Tuesday morning when I got back to work.  So, we rebooked immediately and within 6 months we were married!

Now to my comment "I sought my God's will..."  At the beginning of that year I had begun to seek God's face again after approx. 10 years of rebellion of going my own way turning away from all that I knew to be true.  That being my confession of faith in Jesus Christ and becoming a Christ-follower when I was approx. 12 yrs. old.  When I was 18 I joined the Army and met my first husband while we visited the Air Force base for a weekend.  Thus, bringing me to Canada eventually in 1965.  After only a couple years our marriage broke up, leaving me here in Toronto without any family. 

That event started a couple more years of doing things that I knew weren't exactly best for me.  I'm sure we can all say that about our choices when in our teens or 20s at some point.  But...I also knew in my heart that my God and Saviour was calling/wooing me back into a love-walk with Him.  So I started following my heart and began looking for a church to attend in the area I was living and praying for His Will for the 1st time in a few years. 

When John came into my life, I had no intent to actually find a husband!  Surprise was the emotion I experienced when he asked me to marry him that Monday - a week after our 1st date and on our 2nd date - realizing that the answer was a resounding "Yes!"   We were both surprised!  When John countered with "you love me!"  "Yes, I do!".  How could that be?  Thus, started a 4 - 6 mo. getting to know each other period.   Which we now can look back upon with amazement after 40 years together we love each other!

God did the leading and the restoring of the years lost in rebellion.  He is a God of restoration and provision - fulfilling our deepest desires even when we didn't know what they are/were. 

More to come...Still in Love with my God and my husband!

Transitions

TRANSITIONS can be tramatic, smooth, exciting or fearful!  For me, this transition has been part of my 2011 forcast:  "looking forward with great expectations!"  It has been so true and I still am excited about how the year has unfolded for us. 

When in May we decided to put our house up for sale there were a couple reactions - "why would you want to do that?" and "where will you be going?"  Well, we weren't going anyWHERE even though our daughter, Michelle, sent her dad information about living in Huntsville!   No, we were still staying in Scarborough - not moving to the westend either, though we had a couple family/friends that thought it would be a good idea. We went forward with our decision - sell and become apt. dwellers and renters!  "No! You shouldn't do that - waste money renting when it could go back into a house or condo!

Well...here we are...renters, apt. dwellers and DEBT FREE!  YES!  For the 1st time in our 40 years of marriage, owning 3 houses, raising 2 children and now being grandparents of 5 absolutely gorgeous grandchildren, we are debt free!  John has put his notice in at work this week and will finally FULLY RETIRE at the end of the year!

Transitions?  These have been the best moments of transitions and only causes us to become more and more relaxed and at ease where we are.   We celebrate our 40th on the 29th of this month and are really happy!  So...I am still looking forward with great expectations to what the future holds - with God it can only be GOOD!  

May all of your TRANSITIONS be faced with a sense of hope and excitement - even when you have no idea what may lie ahead - for God is good and He cares about us, holding us firmly in His Hands and guiding, directing the paths of those who believe in Him!   

Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths."

God's Blessings,
Jeanine, Happy with Transitions and the opportunities they offer! 

STUCK...

I am really STUCK this morning - stuck in a rut, just not moving forward, should do's but don't have the "up & get going" energy.  As I sit here and look around me, boxes, piles of things to pack, cubbyholes that still need to be weeded out yet can't get to...overwhelming.  I know in my mind that I need to get moving and after I've written this I know also that I will do just that.  

We went to our new apt. last evening and had the windows measured for blinds.  We haven't done this EVER!  We've had 3 homes and lots of windows, but have always measured them ourselves bought standard drapes or sheers, or here for 18 years and lived with what was originally on the windows! And after placing our order and thinking about the money we just put out to cover 8 windows actually made me excited!  Where I know my husband, my dear husband John, was not feeling the same emotions as I!  I think I've gotten to the time and place in my life where I am so tired of "good enough"!!!  STUCK!   HELP!  I need to get UNSTICK! 

So, guess this morning's moment of being STUCK reflects a deeper issue of where I'm at emotionally as well.  However, now I must get UNSTUCK physically and move it "up & get going".

Hope you have a great day!  Blessings

First Time Blogger...

I love to journal every day and thought this would be a great venue. Over the years I have written in a Journal which always includes the date, day, time, and usually the weather conditions. Why do I do that? At the end of the year, I enjoy looking back and review where I was and where I am now.

With this in mind...this gives me the format to do just that without storing up Journals in book style or on paper! Especially, where I've now had to really "downsize" my storage area (more on that later) putting my thoughts for the day on my laptop will help.

So...I hope to do a little bit every week, or whenever I feel the call to post something of "Life's Little Landmarks" as they touch my personal journey or the lives of those I love and how it effects me.

May God show me how to speak the words on my heart, and mind, in a concise logical? way so that it "makes sense"!

Today is just the beginning....