This is what the staff from The Roger Maris Cancer Center told kids at the boys school yesterday. I thought it worked equally well for both our 2nd grader, as our 4th grader. We've been as forthcoming as we can with them, and just make every assurance Mommy is going to get better.
A few more goodies that brightened my day... pink blush roses. They are gorgeous and I stop and get a good smell of them before I leave in the mornings. Thanks Melissa! They're truly the perfect shade of pink.
I also got a wonderful visit yesterday from a friend whom I haven't seen in ages. She brought me a throw for over my shoulders, a book to read and her bright cheery self. Thanks Carrie, I'll be seeing you soon!
I've also received cards, some gift cards for dinner out, and numerous other thoughtful things. Please forgive me if I forget to mention something here. Each and every thing is such a blessing to us and I fear I will overlook someone or something.
I love this next thing. One of my first years as a hockey mom I started to form some casual friendships with some of the other moms. One of the first ones, was with my friend Amy. To my delight we both discovered we loved to read. After Anne by Roxanne Henke was one of the first books we bonded over. Roxanne Henke happens to be a North Dakota native and is a Christian Fiction writer. The book, ironically enough, is about a budding friendship between two unlikely friends, and a journey through breast cancer for one of the friends, is at the center of it.
Amy wrote an email to Roxanne who sent me a lovely card with a wonderfully inspiring message. She offered to send me one of her books. I was thrilled! Imagine my delight when the package arrived, she gave me not 1 but 4 books total.
Here is what I would like to do. GIVE ONE AWAY! I can't begin to thank you all enough for this outpouring of love and support, and I can pay it forward with this little gem of a book. So if you would like to win an autographed copy of Roxanne's book:
1- let me know you are a follower and leave me a comment that you want to enter-
2- become a follower and leave me a comment that you want to enter-
In your comment, please answer the following: what is your favorite inspirational quote, or bible verse.
Please only leave 1 comment and I will select the lucky winner through random.org
You have until Friday at 9:00pm to enter. Good luck!
Just a couple more thoughts. If you are in our hockey community you may know that Becky K., was hospitalized at Essentia yesterday. She is being evaluated for an abscess in her lower stomach and is expected to stay in the hospital through the weekend. I went to see her today and she is in some pain, but being a trooper while they figure out what they need to do. I will send updates as they become available, but I know she would welcome your positive thoughts and prayers.
Laugh for the night... Nolan:" Mom, but how do they do the surgery on your BREATH cancer?" "I just don't get it!"
Just so you know I am not making light of anything, I faced the stark reality of what the MRI is going to be used to scan on Friday... brain cancer. You would think that because I've heard breast, liver and spine involvement, that brain involvement wouldn't be any different. But it shook me to the core, and I openly wept as that possibility sunk in.
Dr. Panwalkar, Dr. Nordstrom, and Dr. Bouton all tomorrow.
We'll see how good their dandelion eradication program is.
All shall be well. All shall be well. All shall be well.
My prayers are with you... "god gives us nothing we can't handle" "You are never alone"
ReplyDeleteFootprints...."THIS is when I carried you...."
Sincerely
Tammy from Iowa
It's really hard to think of a quote, as I seem to be a collecter of sayings, quotes, etc. But there are two that went through my heart over and over and over as I journeyed down that same path as you: One is by Elisabeth Elliot and she said it was the answer she got from the Lord when she begged Him to tell her what to do just after her husband was murdered and she was left in the jungle with a 2 year old daughter. Simply, "Do the next thing." Doesn't sound very deep, but soooo practical. And that's what I kept on doing --- just the next thing. Another one that meant so much was, "All that I have is all that I need." Maybe not all that I WANT, but it's ALL that I need, no less, no more. I hung on those two!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the update Vicky. I think about you everyday and you are always in my thoughts. Nolan's comment was priceless.
ReplyDeleteYou really have some great friends and I hope you are finding comfort in their love for you Vicky.
There are two particular scriptures that give me peace when circumstances loom hard ...
ReplyDeletePs. 56:3 - What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee
and
Habakkuk 3:17-19 - Tho the fig tree does not blossom, and there be no fruit on the vines; tho the product of the olive fail, and the fields yield no food; tho the flock be cut off from the fold; and there be no cattle in the stalls; YET I will rejoice in the Lord, I will exult in the victorious God of my salvation! 19 The Lord God is my strength, my personal bravery and my invincible army; He makes my feet like hinds feet, and will make me to walk [not to stand still in terror, but to walk] and make spiritual progress upon my high place of trouble, suffering or responsibility.
His love for you is all encompassing ... may His peace be with you dear Vicky ...
All SHALL be well, one foot in front of the other. Prayers from Connecticut -
ReplyDeleteThrough my breast cancer..."He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty." Ps.91:1 It is real and there is peace, rest and even joy despite circumstance there. You brought back the memory of my brain MRI...I will be praying to the God of love and miracles.
ReplyDeleteDeb
That was really wonderful about the author sending you those books. I don't want a giveaway...I just want to let you know I'm praying for you daily and asking God to hold you and your family in His loving arms throughout your journey. Knowing you can turn to Him makes such a difference, doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine how difficult it would be to tell your children about cancer, to explain the unexplainable. I am so happy that they got this lovely detail from the people at the Cancer Center. That feels good.
ReplyDeleteI pray for you and for your good health and, above all, for hope. So my quote is focussed on hope:
Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul.
And sings the tune
Without the words,
and never stops at all.
--Emily Dickinson
much love to you!
Praying that God will envelop you with his peace, comfort, love, and grace.
ReplyDeleteI am a follower and my favorite Bible verse is:
Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed,for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23)
Vicky,
ReplyDeleteI too share the love of Christian fiction and love Roxanne Henke...another you might want to try is Lauraine Snelling. Know that my thoughts and my prayers are with you...this is my favorite scripture passage..."Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:34 Mary Engelbreit also writes "Worrying does not empty tomorrow if its troubles...it empties today of its strength." Live for today and fight like a girl!
Vicky...I will be thinking of you as you have your MRI. I am praying that the results are good....
ReplyDeleteAnd I didn't know anything about Becky. Wow! I may be a hockey mom, but I am one out of the loop hockey mom...
Vicky ...you are so brave and courageous. I am praying for you and my thoughts are with you and your family daily! God Bless you.....
ReplyDeleteDeb in Iowa
i bopped over here because i read your post on robin's blog about the hockey players asking the principal about everyone wearing pink. awesome!
ReplyDeletei like your mantra--all shall be well. keep believing it, sister, and don't forget that my friend holly tabor is still available for you to talk with. she's waiting to hear from you when you have time.
You are such an inspiration. I will be praying for the results that you deserve from the MRI. You are A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking about your..."All shall be well" saying and that old hymn It Is Well With My Soul kept ringing in my head yesterday. I sang that song for you throughout the day.
ReplyDeleteLove and prayers.
Jen
Take a deep breath Vicky and do one step at a time and it will all be disclosed and dealt with.
ReplyDeleteNo point to worry about anything.
It doesn't help. Just go forth and fight the best way you know how.
Every one has cancer Vicky.
Just that the immune system fights it every day and the answer therefore must lie therein. So eat and keep strong and let the doctors do their work.
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
I love the Dandelion Eradication analogy...
ReplyDeleteYou are in my Prayers!
All shall be well, that I pray for you. Also, courage, strength and HOPE! God bless. XO, Pinky
ReplyDeleteI am still standing with you, with the image of a green lawn filling my inner landscape.
ReplyDeleteDandelions! I love it! Woke praying for you this morning.
ReplyDeleteThe flowers you received are beautiful and I loved the dandelion approach to explaining it to kids - in fact it is just a useful way all around. Hoping all goes well today with the scan! All shall be well!
ReplyDeleteOh Vicky, I've been absent from blogging for over a month and all I can think of as I read this and previous posts is how much I love you and your family. I know we have never met, but you are a shining star in my life.
ReplyDeleteI come in and out of my spirituality, but I never question it when I'm reading your blog. Yes, all will be well. I want to tell you about my life-long friend who is a 8-year victor over stage 3 breast cancer. She appeared in one of my posts as the friend who brought lunch to me and my mom - my angel friend, Cathy. click here
I will wear my bracelet and pray for you many times a day.
Two verses were special to me eight years ago when I had breast cancer. They were Psalm 139:5 "You both precede and follow me. You place Your hand of blessing on my head."
ReplyDeleteAnd Psalm 40:17b "the Lord is thinking about me right now." (NLT)
Thinking of you and your family often and holding you up in prayer. Blessings!
all shall be well...all shall be well...all shall be well.
ReplyDeleteThinking of you always my friend.
I think the dandelion analogy works very well for children.
God bless you and your family.
I have been out of town, Vicky, and missed this post. I'm so glad for the person who won. God knows just what we all need.
ReplyDeleteI join with you in "All shall be well..." and claim it for you. I can't imagine all you're going through but we both deeply love the one doesn't need to imagine, but knows. I trust Him. You are in His loving hand and heart. And if you CAN make light of things, do. Laugh loud and often and long, every chance you get. Never apologize. It's medicine. Much love to you.