April 13, 2009

• Only One Remaining Boarder

  We're back down to just JoAnn staying with us!  And, right now, only the 3 girls and I are here at the house.  Jesse and JoAnn have taken Nikki and her family to the airport.

  I have uploaded some pictures (I have LOTS) and will share a few a day from the past week in our house.

  A question was posed in my last post (due to my pictures of empty pans), "What did the food become when it grew up?"   My answer is, "It became MEXICAN FOOD!" 

  I've had my fill of Mexican food for a while!  We ate out several times at Mexican restaurants and my sister-in-law, Angie, made a delicious meal that night (the night when the groceries were piled all over the kitchen table) of cheese, beef, and chicken enchiladas with refried beans.  Everything was as good as any restaurant food I've ordered.  I was quite impressed.

    
  A 1/2 brother to Jesse, Richard, and his wife Angie.   The ones who made the enchilada meal.

  AND . . . Richard and Jesse assumed the kitchen clean up duty!
    

   
  We stuffed ourselves and one person's belly (who will remain nameless!) was given the nickname of "Buda" - but I'm not exactly sure why! LOL  What do you think???  Pretty impressive size, huh?
         
  
  
  I'll post more pictures as the week goes on because I took so many and I have limited time on here.  My port is being "installed" in the upper right side of my chest on Wednesday and Thursday is my first round of chemo therapy.  I'm not sure what to expect, but there are a few things around the house I definitely want to do before those two days.

  ==================

  I found the neatest wig on Saturday - not cheap - but I figure I'll be wearing it for years until my hair is a long enough length to pull up into some sort of bun or whatever.  It's platinum like my own hair with dark roots.  Although the wig is long hair and on the thin side, it is still thicker than my own hair - but such a close match.  I think it might be a little shorter than my own hair, but I'm so happy with it.  The dark roots in the wig (looks like a bleach job that needs a touch up) accent my brown eyes and I didn't look so pale as the single color wigs made me look.  The gal at the store is a two time cancer survivor, she was full of helpful hints, and VERY nice.  She had an irate customer to deal with while we were in the back in a private room playing with the wigs, etc.  She said was appreciative of our patience and said (yet another person) she couldn't believe how great my attitude was about the whole diagnosis and assured me my attitude, sense of humor, and relationship with God would make things much easier to bear.  She wanted to hug me after we were finished paying, as she said there was "just something about me" . . . I'm sure she saw the peace that belongs to God flowing through me.  I still feel like I'm "just me" and haven't noticed a change in my personality.  Maybe that's what others see, I'm standing firmly on the Word of God and not wavering under the pressure of a scary diagnosis.

  It's rare to have these 3 together, and I took advantage of sister and brothers bonding!!!
    

  Of course, they *are* sister and brothers and they can only behave for so long . . .
    
  
  
  Anyway, I had a great birthday yesterday.  We went to church, the elders prayed after church for me as the Bible instructs us (James 5:14-15).  We came home and ate leftovers for lunch (more enchiladas!!!) and I fixed a roast chicken in addition to the normal Passover meal of leg of lamb, horseradish (just a touch on one little piece of meat, as horseradish isn't exactly compatible with the flavor of lamb!!!), and I made unleavened bread. We read in Exodus of the night God told His people to roast the lamb, put the blood over the doorposts, etc. and how they would be protected and the evil would pass over their homes.  Then, we discussed Jesus as the lamb of God and HIS blood and its significance.  Some of our guests weren't aware of the parallel of the New Testament fulfilling the Old Testament and I was glad I decided to go ahead and fix the usual meal.  Stephanie and JanaLyn were here and Stephanie fixed broccoli, carrots, cheesy potatoes, and rolls.  All I did was bake the unleavened bread, prepare the meat, and read from the Bible.  Son-in-law, Jason, finished the dishes and ran the dishwasher.

  After eating and before cleaning the dishes, we squeezed in my birthday.  Since there were so many baked goods, there wasn't a need for a birthday cake.  I received perfect gifts.  By perfect I mean, new nightgowns that will be easy to get in and out of (after surgery), kitchen towels (I can never have too many), those Listerine breath papers (I can never find them, but love them), a new purse from Annamarie (and BIG, too!), a snap down the front gown and slippers from Luci,  and some headphones from Rissy so I could listen to my Christian music without bothering others.  They are the big kind of headphones that are like sponge cups over your ears - the wearer hears, but no one sitting next to the wearer can hear a thing.

  
  JoAnn (a sister) sitting between two brothers (Richard & Jesse) didn't really stand a chance!
    
  Richard was worn out after they were done tickling JoAnn!

  
  Today will be spent with a few projects I need done (still haven't hung the valances in the den or our bedroom) and planning a few menus, so I can eat the foods that I love for the last time, before chemo starts.  They keep saying I shouldn't feel much nausea (maybe some) and mainly my taste buds would suffer and my food wouldn't have much taste.

  Today's To Do List:
  *  Hang valances
  *  Put decorative things either on top of the kitchen cabinets (up high) or pack them up & store them
  *  Clean the top of my dresser.  I started and am almost done
  *  Make a turkey breast for dinner with sweet potatoes & cranberry sauce
  *  Still try to relax and spend time memorizing Bible Scripture

  Be Blessed  ~

   
  

  • 1:40 pm
  • 9 Comments