Sunday Activities and Pain Increases

Yesterday was a busy day for the family. Our daughter was baptized and then after lunch we helped Mike & Judy get their yard sale items down to my mother-in-law's house. Next weekend is the annual yard sale in my MIL's neighborhood. It was a beautiful Sunday and it was a great day to spend time together.

Mike is ornery as ever and was in a good mood yesterday. His pain is getting worse and he has had to increase his pain pills from two a day to four a day. He is also wearing a morphine patch. He has been having severe pain in his ribs and back and Judy thought maybe he cracked a rib carrying two 50-lb. bags of sand up to the swimming pool. He had tests done and they found that he didn't crack anything.

Mike said his iron levels have went back up some. He seemed to eat pretty good at lunch yesterday, too.

Testify to Love

All the colors of the rainbow
All of voices of the wind
Every dream that reaches out
That reaches out to find where love begins
Every word of every story
Every star in every sky
Every corner of creation lives to testify

For as long as I shall live
I will testify to love
I'll be a witness in the silences when words are not enough
With every breath I take I will give thanks to God above
For as long as I shall live
I will testify to love

From the mountains to the valleys
From the rivers to the sea
Every hand that reaches out
Every hand that reaches out to offer peace
Every simple act of mercy
Every step to kingdom come
All the Hope in every heart will speak what love has done

Chorus
Chorus

Two Cups of Coffee

I received this below from Judy via email and thought it was really neat. I wanted to share it here...

Subject: 2 CUPS OF COFFEE
A MAYONNAISE JAR AND 2 CUPS OF COFFEE

When things in your life seem almost too much too handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front
of him.

When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty
mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the
students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar.
He shook the jar lightly.
The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then
asked the students again if the jar was full they agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into t he jar. Of
course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar
was full. The students responded with a unanimous yes."

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and
poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space
between the sand. The students laughed.

"Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want you to
recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the
important things- your God, family, your children, your health, your
friends, and your favorite passions--things that if everything else was lost
and only they remained your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, and
your car.

The sand is everything else -- the small stuff.

If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room
for the pebbles or the golf balls.
The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small
stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with
your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out to
dinner.
Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the
disposal."

Take care of the golf balls first -- the things that really matter. Set
your priorities. The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee
represented.

The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no
matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups
of coffee with a friend."

Judy's Email on Mike

Here is the latest update on how Mike is doing. Judy sent this email out earlier this week:

Hi everyone. Sorry I didn't get this out sooner but we have been really busy and I just forgot to send this out. Mike saw the Dr. on Fri. the 11th of April. He gained another 2 lbs. He is anemic so he will be getting a shot every Fri. until his count comes back up.

He sees the Dr. again on 5/23/08. He has blood work done on 5/01/08 and again on 5/22/08 if his count isn't up on 5/01/08. This is part of the reason he is so tired. So maybe after his blood count goes up he may not get as tired.

The Dr. told us that Mike won't be able to go back to work until he has the PT scan which won't be until sometime in July. He was hoping this Dr. (chemo) would tell him he could go back to driving & to work. The radiation Dr. is the first Dr. that told him he couldn't work or drive. He has 8 weeks of chemo & than he will have blood work done to see if his tumor count came back down.He is keeping busy helping get ready for yard sales. Plus he has mowed the yard & is getting the pool ready for the summer. Now that it is getting a little warmer outside he finds things to do out there. But he does find time to take nap during the day. He has been going to Justin's (our nephew) volleyball games and soon he will be going to other family members softball & baseball games. This will help to occupy some of his time. He likes sports. Plus having our grandchildren here sure helps us alot too. I guess I have covered everything for now. Thanks for all your prayers.

Love always,

Judy

Mike's Our Hero!

Anyone living daily with cancer is a hero and Mike is no exception! Of course, to all of us he is a hero for many more reasons. His kindness, unselfishness, giving and carefree attitude and spirit is amazing to us all!

The Family Together Again!

Saturday my husband and I celebrated our tenth wedding anniversary with over 50 of our friends and family in attendance. We renewed our wedding vows, danced, ate and had a great time.

Mike, Judy and Austin surprised us by showing up and it was great having them there. They had previously had plans but they fell through at the last minute so they were able to join us.

I kind of knew though that they would be there - that's just how she and Mike are. I had this feeling that somehow they would show up and they did!

It has been a while since I had seen Mike so yesterday was the first time I saw him without any hair at all. When I asked him how he was doing he said he was hanging in there and was going to the doctor this week. He had to walk outside a couple of times during the party because of his dry heaves.

My brother-in-law, Bobby, and sister-in-law, Chris had us all laughing hard with their dance moves. They are very entertaining. They like to shake their booty! We had a fun day and it was great having everyone together again!

The video above is the Keeper of the Stars that Bill and I have always said was our song. We forgot to play it yesterday, though so here it is now!

Mike Went to Doctor's Today

Mike had his doctor's appointment and he was rather disappointed when he left. The doctor told him that he can not return to work for at least another 2 - 3 months. He has to have another pet scan but they can't do the scan for another 2 - 3 months due to all of the radiation in his body. He's still not allowed to drive either.

The good news is that Mike gained a pound and he is feeling pretty good.

Keep saying prayers for Mike, as not being able to work is really hard for him.

Donations For Mike

Mike has been unable to work for quite a while now and it is still unknown whether he will be able to go back anytime soon. He is the income provider for him and Judy, so with only short-term disability coming in, I'm sure it's starting to get financially tight. If you would like to make a donation, just click on the Donate button below and you will be taken to a secure Paypal site where you can do just that!

We thank everyone who has made contributions for Mike. The support has been greatly appreciated.

Inspiration For Today...

Don't give up
It's just the weight of the world
When your heart's heavy
I...I will lift it for you

Don't give up
Because you want to be heard
If silence keeps you
I...I will break it for you

Everybody wants to be understood
Well I can hear you
Everybody wants to be loved
Don't give up
Because you are loved

Don't give up
It's just the hurt that you hide
When you're lost inside
I...I will be there to find you

Don't give up
Because you want to burn bright
If darkness blinds you
I...I will shine to guide you

Everybody wants to be understood
Well I can hear you
Everybody wants to be loved
Don't give up
Because you are loved

You are loved
Don't give up
It's just the weight of the world
Don't give up
Every one needs to be heard
You are loved

Cold

Judy said Mike is having trouble staying warm. He's been trying to keep busy around the house to help pass the time. They have been working on cleaning out their basement and doing some other needed chores so at least he has something to do. She said they work a while then rest a while.

Mike hopes he can go back to work soon once he's able to drive. It's hard for Mike to not work. That's all he's ever done is work constantly. His body needs the time off though.

Comments on Moderation

I have had to put comments on moderation because people have been posting spammy links and stuff on here and I don't want anyone clicking on anything that could lead to a virus.