Beauty from ashes

Aug 29

Beauty from ashes

When we were on vacation, we sat on the balcony and watched a storm roll in from the ocean.  If you’ve never done this, I highly recommend it.  It is a majestic experience. When the storm hit, we scurried around.  We brought dry things inside and moved the furniture away from the rain.  We prepared for the storm, just as we are now preparing for my surgery and...

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This week

Aug 26

The other day, my friend Joy was walking behind her daughter and my Maren.  The girls were chattering away, as five-year-olds do.  Joy tuned in to hear this snippet of their conversation; it’s Maren describing to her friend what the plan is for the coming week(s): Maren, “My mom is going to the hospital to have surgery.”  Gesturing to her chest,...

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Back on track

Aug 24

So, I have this whole heart-may-be-damaged-from-chemotherapy-and-it-may-or-may-not-be-reversible thing going on. Kind of a big deal. I try not to worry.  Instead, I pray.  I’ve done a lot of praying.  At this point, I’m still more worried about the cancer than the heart.  You know, I worry about things in order.  And then I remember not to worry, and to...

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“Your PET scan looks…”

Aug 23

“…good,”  These were Dr. Wonderful’s first words as he sat with Brad and I today in the consult room. It may not sound like high praise, but Dr. Wonderful doesn’t throw around positive adjectives unless he means them.  “Good” from Dr. Wonderful is worthy of a fist pump and a high five.  The treatment has been effective...

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Free

Aug 21

Free

    In my early twenties, I had a ring that said “free.”  Free is a word that has had significance for a while: its a word that I feel God gave me, it’s direction on how to live, it’s an attitude, it’s a name.   For a time, I gravitated towards quotes, inscriptions, and verses that had the word free in it.  The...

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