"Hope is the whisper..."

"Hope is the whisper in our soul that tells us all will be well."

My sweet friend Shannon sent this beautiful verse to me with abundant words of encouragement.  I love that she could "see" me in this card.  I think when we see a piece of someone else in something, its because that something is a reflection of ourselves.  

My cousin Jennifer sent this in a card to me also:  "The most beautiful stones have been tossed by the wind and washed by the water and polished to brilliance by life's strongest storms."  

I think its beautiful and true and remarkable that someone- that she- would see those words and think of me.  

You all do so much for me.  

It was a rough week last week.  

I sailed through the first few days of radiation last week. Until the day I went to swallow my vitamins and each one felt like a shard of glass ripping through my digestive system.  I felt each one burn all the way down.  I swallowed the first of my lidocaine and antacid mixture and felt the instant numbness take over.  Sweet relief.  But short lived.

I have been in digestive discomfort the better part of the past few days.  By nightfall, I am swigging away at the lidocaine in the hopes that I can fall asleep and numb my mind as much as all the heartburn and acid reflux.  We had hoped the full effects of the radiation wouldn't settle in until the end of treatment, but with a week to go I am a little apprehensive going into this coming week already experiencing so much discomfort.

I will see Dr. Foster after treatment tomorrow.  I know he has seen worse.  I know he will do something to help.  One more week.


One of my bright spots in the day is going to get the mail.  No matter how many bills and appointment reminders come from Sanford, every time a card comes, I am instantly filled with joy.

This is just a sampling of the cards that were at hand and I am sorry if I left anyone out.  I am hopeful to send some thank you notes out soon!

I only met Cindy a few weeks ago.  It was such a pleasant surprise to have this show up in the mail! Thank you Cindy.

My Superman brought this in Saturday morning.  The timing was impeccable... and the sentiment was perfect.  John and Heidi- you completely made my day with this!  My kids still don't understand the nature of the party- but rest assured- I'm so there!!

Sunday afternoon I was deep in sleep.  I am finding a portion of the day spent resting in bed and I'm just going with it for now.  But when 3 cute girls from the Moorhead Spuds Girls Hockey Team show up at your door?  You don't want to miss it!  I was seriously caught off guard in a good way- and did not want to burst into tears in front of them, but Rick and I are so awestruck.  THANK YOU!  I read through the names, some unknown, some very well known to us, and we are deeply humbled by our hockey community and their ongoing support and generosity.  

The girl's team also brought this beautiful Easter Lilly and signed their own card to us.  I noticed right off that it was pink!

I believe the radiation treatment will work for me.  I believe that going through some discomfort in the short term, will benefit the long term.  I believe hope still whispers in my soul.