I like to think I’m getting pretty savvy with hospital life.  For example, I remembered to bring an extension cord with me so that I can charge/access my electronics without getting out of bed.  A friend loaned me her aromatherapy mister, so I now have the prettiest smelling room at the hospital.  I’ve memorized the menu from which I can order my meals,...

Surgery is done!  NED (No Evidence of Disease) prevails.  Thank you God! I am sitting in my hospital bed, Brad is next to me working on organizing photos, Maren and Greta are having a school night slumber party with friends.  We are all healthy and happy.  Yay NED!  Our village is covering our many, many logistics.  Thank you Village!  We literally could not do this...

I love Christmas cards.  December mail is the highlight of the mail year.  We tape the cards up on our pantry doors in the kitchen.  We marvel over growth, coo over cuteness, and giggle over the jokesters.  I take a picture of the card and assign it to the sender’s phone number in my phone so that when my friend from faraway calls me in July, I see her sweet...

For a week that I thought was going to drag on forever, it seems like it went fast.  Weird! Knowing I would likely be having surgery kicked me into overdrive, so I was more productive than usual.  I also soaked in more snuggles and made more moments-that-matter.  Because, you know, perspective.  I’ve got it.  To love and be loved; that was my week.  I’m...

Tonight Maren and I were sitting at the kitchen counter eating out of a small bowl of pistachios and going over her Christmas gifts-to-give ideas and spelling words.  How’s that for multi-tasking? I said, “Man, these pistachios are hard to open.” She giggled, “I know!” she said.  “I ate all the easy ones a few days ago.” It...