The end of Blue Willow, for now...

Today was a sad day...I started packing up my studio for closure. Our best friends arrive from out of state tomorrow afternoon. On Monday, Matthew and T will empty out the rest of my furniture and equipment and Blue Willow Skin Care will be no more.

My lease is up at the end of the month and with circumstances what they are, I am not able to see clients at this time. So I made the oh-so-hard decision to close...for now.

Today was a sad day.

Not quite Siskel and Ebert, but...

Well, we made it to the movie yesterday!! My Sweet Hubby wanted to get out for a little bit yesterday, so we used the opportunity to see the movie Fireproof.

Now, as I confessed in my last post, I'm no movie fan and I'm certainly not Siskel and Ebert! But I know what I like and I LOVED this movie!

If you've seen it, I'd be willing to bet you're like me and want to see it again! If you haven't seen it - what are you waiting for?? Go NOW!!

It's got something for everyone's tastes...humor, drama, romance and it's all wrapped up in the love of God! Some great music too!

It's rated PG, and totally appropriate for your "tweens" and up...One of my friends told me it opened a dialogue between she and her young daughter as to God's plan for marriage! How awesome is that?

It was just a special day...we were able to witness a tender moment as a son helped his elderly, wheelchair bound mother into their car - such great compassion... When we commented to him on his love and care for her he said, "It's nothing but the Lord!" Oh amen! Isn't it so?!

I'll close today as the movie closed yesterday...

"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

"That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9

A little late...

On Friday, September 26th, the movie Fireproof premiered at several local theaters. Our church had bought out one of the premiere showings so that we could all attend together. My Sweet Hubby and I had our tickets weeks in advance and were eagerly looking forward to this film.

Now - a little history...I do not like movies. Hard to believe, I know, but it's the truth! Something about sitting still that long, usually in a too-cold theater. Not for me. And my enjoyment factor does not go up with a DVD for home viewing. Movies just aren't my "thing." But, this movie was different and I was actually counting down the days!

Finally, the BIG day arrived! September 26th...my Sweet Hubby had an oncology appointment in the morning. And by noon, he was hospitalized. We offered our tickets to friends, who thankfully were able to go and enjoy the movie in our place.

But we were so sad to have to miss the premiere and the opportunity to watch it with our church family. We have talked often about going to the theater and seeing this film as soon as my Sweet Hubby felt up to it.

Well, it looks like we'll be going either today or tomorrow! I'll let you know what we think of it! For now, here's a sneak peek for you - enjoy!! (**Remember to scroll down and pause my player first!)

Have a Blessed day!

A whole new ballgame

Please keep my Sweet Hubby extra close in prayer, if you would...He began his new chemo regimen today. The meeting with the oncologist was, hmmmmm, shall we say - futile?

On October 24th, my Sweet Hubby has an appointment to meet with a new oncologist. This is the one originally recommended to us by the GI doc back in July. He is a Christian. We hope he's an aggressive, go to the wall for his patients, won't roll over to cancer kind of oncologist. We're prayerful.

We have church tonight...looks like we might miss it. They medicated my Sweet Hubby pretty heavily today as this chemo regimen causes nausea. He slept through most of the infusion and is passed out now. Sleep is good. Restorative. Tomorrow will be a better day.

"The disciples therefore said, "Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover." John 11:12

Blessed beyond measure

That's how my Sweet Hubby and I are feeling right now.

You see, only a handful of my Sweet Hubby's coworkers knew of his illness. And they've obviously been doing a darn fine job of keeping the info on the QT! Yesterday, we sent out an email to all of his coworkers letting them know why he is no longer at work...

This evening, my Sweet Hubby turned on his work laptop and there waiting for him was email after email...offering prayers, blood donations, vacation time donations and anything else he might need. I kid you not when I say we sat there in tears as we read them. It's no surprise to me that my Sweet Hubby is well loved by all who know him...he's such a wonderful, kind, caring man. But it sure touched his heart to see the outpouring of affection for him! Wonderful medicine, I can tell you that!

His office is trying to coordinate an on-site blood drive utilizing the Red Cross bloodmobile with all donations being made in my Sweet Hubby's name. How awesome!

The best part is that my Sweet Hubby is now on so many more prayer chains! Hallelujah! Because we all know that the Lord is always listening...

We are blessed.

"Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be given to you. For with the same measure you measure it will be measured back to you." Luke 6:38

Strength for today, bright hope for tomorrow

The past few Mondays have gotten away from me due to my Sweet Hubby's hospitalizations. But I'm here today with a selection for Music Monday! I've missed this...

Did the title of today's post give it away? I love today's song...I know - surprise, surprise! I'll get to it in a minute, but first I want to share what a wonderful Sunday School class we have!

This great group has been keeping us close in prayer. Asking healing for my Sweet Hubby and strength and comfort for me. Cards, visits and offers of help flow our way. But by far, the best and most powerful "thing" they do for us is pray.

Yesterday, at the end of our Sunday School lesson, everyone gathered around my Sweet Hubby and laying our hands on him everyone prayed as they felt led. What an incredible blessing to us...Even now I'm so moved by their words and compassion. We are so thankful to God for bringing these people into our lives...

"Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much." James 5:16

And now for today's song! I hope you enjoy it...remember to scroll down and pause my player first!!










Great is Thy Faithfulness ~ Selah

I usually like to post videos that have the lyrics, but I really like Selah and Todd sings this song with such feeling. I'm posting the lyrics separately below...powerful, wonderful words!

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.

Refrain

Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Refrain

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Refrain

All I have needed, thy hand hath provided!! Thank you Lord!

The Saturday that "got away"

Sorry for the late post today...neither one of us slept well last night. So it's been a rather lazy, try to catch up on some rest kind of day. But I didn't want to let the day get away from me without taking the opportunity to wish you all a most blessed Sunday!

My Sweet Hubby and I are so looking forward to church and Sunday School tomorrow...we've missed the past two weeks due to hospitalizations. We did our SS lesson this evening, so we're prepared - it should be a great class! Tomorrow's lesson focuses on King Saul and the topic is "obeying the Lord completely." It never hurts to be reminded of that!

"And Samuel said, 'Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of the rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected you from being king.'" 1 Samuel 15:22-23

Let me know how your church service and SS class went..."See ya" Monday!

When hope is ripped away

Today my Sweet Hubby had a follow up appointment with his oncologist. He was also supposed to begin his next round of chemotherapy.

Instead, the oncologist said there would be no chemo today. And he recommended that my Sweet Hubby stop treatment. Altogether.

Earlier in the week while my Sweet Hubby was in the hospital, they repeated his CT scan. It showed that some lesions had increased in size and there were possibly some new lesions as well. Which would indicate that the chemo had been ineffective.

We questioned another regimen. He was not at all encouraging. But here's the thing...my Sweet Hubby wants to fight this beast called pancreatic cancer. He wants aggressive therapy. And it is his right to want to continue treatment.

At the end of the appointment, the doctor agreed (in his own words) to "reluctantly" begin another regimen with different drugs next week.

Which means I have a week to find a new oncologist for my Sweet Hubby. One who will fight with us, not against us.

Why is this so hard?

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to proper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

A little hope right about now would be most welcome...

Liberty

The debate between the Vice Presidential candidates is tonight. I don't know about you, but I'm about "politicked out." Still, I feel an obligation to watch, listen and learn. We have much to be thankful for in this great nation of ours. And the fact that we have the liberty to hold such events is a good place to start.

Last October, my Sweet Hubby and I spent a few days in Philadelphia. We had a wonderful time taking in the history of that city...

"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."
2 Corinthians 3:17

May it always be so. Amen.

Taking stock...

As I sit here this morning, in my own home, with my Sweet Hubby sleeping on the sofa next to me I feel the need to take a moment and count the blessings of the past week. Indulge me?

These are in no particular order, just noted as they come to mind...

I am grateful for blood donors. Unknown faces who truly give the gift of life. My Sweet Hubby was a blood donor. Full circle.

I am grateful for a hospital that allows family to stay 24/7 with their loved one.

I am grateful for a nurse named Catherine who made sure my Sweet Hubby got his blood transfusions quickly and efficiently. And who showed such great compassion...truly above and beyond.

I am grateful that my Sweet Hubby was assigned room 316. It was a hug from above!

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."
John 3:16

I am grateful for my friends who brought me coffee, green tea, food...because they knew I was not leaving my Sweet Hubby's side.

I am grateful to our church...we had wonderful pastoral support and we appreciated the visits and prayers so much.

I am grateful to our Sunday School teacher, Bruce, and his wife Sandy for their visit, prayers and daily emails.

I am grateful to our Sunday School class for keeping us in prayer.

I am grateful to friends who are willing to drive hundreds of miles just to spend 5 minutes with my Sweet Hubby.

I am grateful to our youngest son who as he was preparing to leave on vacation, changed plans upon receiving my phone call Friday morning, drove 2 hours and met us at the oncologist's office. Then spent the weekend in the hospital with us.

I am grateful to my parents for loving us so well and so deeply.

I am grateful for wi-fi in the hospital that allowed me to stay somewhat connected.

I am grateful that we live in a country where my Sweet Hubby and I could continue our daily Bible study even while in the hospital. And could speak to others about our faith in God.

And last but certainly not least...I am beyond grateful that I can gaze upon the face of my Sweet Hubby right this very minute. Thank you Lord, for prayers answered.