Can't believe it's nearly another year done.......

This year has been a whirlwind and needless to say I will be glad to see 2008 leave and a brand new year come. Lots has happened since the last post, but then it feels like it's been routine. Mom only has 2 more chemo treatments and then she'll start radiation. Nana has started her weekly treatments and should be finished mid-February. It's been amazing to see how family and friends have rallied around mama and Nana and the rest of us. I am making it, some days are better than others. God continues to stretch me and I know it's for a reason but I don't really enjoy it!:) I am looking forward to Christmas and some time off to spend with the family. Don't take your family for granted, because none of us are guranteed tomorrow.

Here are some pics of recent happenings.

Girl's Weekend to Boone, NC

Homecoming game with Kendra

Meghan's Wedding!!!!!

THanksgiving

Hannah's Graduation

Amazing Song

I went to see Fireproof this past weekend while up in Winston-Salem, NC visiting Kendra, Meghan and Angela. The movie is good and I know will be used by God to help restore marriages. The one thing that really stuck out to me from the whole movie was a song that is by John Waller called While I'm Waiting. The lyrics of this song is my life right now.

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait
I will move ahead, bold and confident
Takeing every step in obedience
While I'm waiting I will serve You
While I'm waiting I will worship
While I'm waiting I will not faint
I'll be running the race
Even while I wait
I'm waiting I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it's not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve you while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting on You, Lord

One down, five to go....

Mama made it through her first chemo. I went home on Friday after work and just hung out with mama and daddy. Mama had her chemo on Thursday and had to go back to the doctor for a shot to increase her whiteblood cells on Friday. She didn't feel well on Saturday. She ran a low grade temp and just felt like crap, but no throwing up. She was better today though her and I laid around and didn't make it to church. Nana seems to be doing well. She had her chemo on Friday and I've talked to her for a few minutes today and she sounded good. Dad and I did some small projects around the house. We put up two new light fixtures, one in the kitchen and one in the entrance way. Now we won't hit our heads when we walk through the front door. I did get a good laugh in this weekend, the kind of laugh that makes your sides hurt and you can't catch your breathe. Too bad it was at dad's expense!:) He was trying to find something in the garage in the dark and busted it! At first I thought we were going to have to make an ER visit, but he was fine and thus the laughter began! This week I am heading to Winston-Salem on Thursday after work to hang out with my best friend Kendra! I can not wait. It'll be a good time away from everything where I can just have fun and laugh and just try and forget about all the things going on in my life! Just have to make it through four days of work!!

No words

There are no words for the past week of my life. What we thought would be a simple surgery for my mom ended up being extensive and the doctor found more than we were barganing for. My mom was diagnosed with uterine cancer about two weeks ago. She had a hysterectomy on Tuesday and the doctor found that it had spread to one of her ovaries but her lymph nodes were clear, praise the Lord!! I honestly do not know how I survived each day of worrying and watching my mother in pain both physically and emotionally. Let's just say it's a testimony to how God gives you strength when you have nothing left. I know God has a reason for all of this and we are trusting in Him but sometimes you just want to sit in the middle of the room and yell THIS SUCKS! God wants all your emotions and hurts and joy and I have given Him every bit of my emotions this week. My God is big enough to handle all of this and more. Praise Him! As I go back to work tomorrow I pray that the Lord gives me the peace to be away from my family for a couple weeks. I must put it in the Lord's hands daily. Jesus help me, hold me up, strengthen me, in your name, AMEN.

Lots going on

So I have been very busy in this month of August. I got to spend an amazing weekend in Asheville with some amazing hilarious women!:) We had so much fun and laughed 75% of our awake time during the few days we got to spend with each other. Why can't Winston-Salem and Anderson be neighboring cities?

I love these women!

The next weekend was spent in Columbia attending wedding festivities for Brooke and Ned. Brooke is a friend from grad school. It was so good to see some of my classmates I haven't seen since we left Charleston. It was such a beautiful wedding too. Here are some pics.

This past week has been a whirlwind of emotions for me. Over the past 10 days or so I have found out that my nana has been diagnosed with breast cancer and that my mom has had some test come back not so good as well. Nana has had her lumpectomy and seems to be recovering well. We will find out pathology reports Monday so then we will know what the next step is in her treatment. Mama goes to the doctor on Friday. Don't know why it seems to all happen at once but I know the Lord has everything under control. We don't understand it but we trust in Him.

WOw....it's been a long time!

Yeah, so I have been slack about the whole updating thing. I have thought about it quite often but just haven't gotten around to it! Well, I had a blast in Kentucky. We saw 8 people come to know the Lord and saw many people helped. We also just loved on the kids all week. I ended up helping in the 1st-2nd grade class more than doing the sports camps. I met many new friends which I am excited about!! One of the girls was my age and single so we hung out all week. God knows what He is doing that's for sure. I was worried it was going to be me and a bunch of retired elderly couples, but even though there were lots of them (of which I love and had a BLAST with) God knew Rhonda and I would be on the trip together and be able to start a friendship! Yeah God!!

I've gotten my bridesmaid dress fitted for the wedding I am in in a couple weeks in Columbia. This weekend I am going to Asheville with Kendra (my best friend) for her 30th birthday weekend!! I am so excited! THis morning I spent at church with the children (well 2 of them came) and the leaders of Wednesday children's activities decorating for Christmas in August. We are collecting items to send to a missionary in South Carolina to help in his multi-housing ministry. We got everything done! Shelly and I went and told them we wanted to renew our lease here. It's SOOOO hard to believe we have been here a year! This time last year I was freaking out about taking my boards. God has brought me a long way and taught me a ton along the way. God is good!!

Blessed

This past weekend I had to work on Saturday and on Friday unlike most of the other people in this country. On Saturday morning I was at work and I had one of those good God moments. As I was wrapping up my treatment of my many patients, I had one patient that made my soul smile. See, this patient is a 98 year old little lady who still plays the piano for her church every Sunday morning. She's been asking us to bring the piano in the gym so she could play it. At the end of her treatment I wheeled her over in her wheelchair and let her play. With her wrinkled hands and weathered eyes, she sat there and played hymn after hymn. I thought to myself how amazing to be her age and still able to play that well. Not only the music but her sweet aging voice singing sweet hymns to our Lord just fed my soul. I could have sat there all day and listened, but at last, she had to go and get her some lunch!;) It's times like those that I am glad that I went into the profession I did, so I could meet amazing people with so much wisdom and love for the Lord.

I leave on Saturday for Kentucky for a mission trip. I am excited to just have God time and be able to be used by Him to maybe make the kids' summer a little brighter. Pray that things go well and smoothly and that the people are receptive to His love and His word.