Hello dear prayer warriors!
I still seem to be humming along with minimal side effects to this go round of the chemo. The achiness from the Neulasta shot is worst at night but is actually getting better overall. I am sleeping and eating well. I even worked out yesterday and pumped a little iron. Can you believe it?
Yesterday I had a fun day with my sister Shannon. We took some pictures in our new GOD IS SO MUCH BIGGER than cancer shirts, did lessons and cleaned. We spent the morning missing our other sister Mitzi when what should happen but a package arrived. It was from all her neighbors and our dear friends in King George, VA. Inside were 3 beautiful lapel pins called "The Three Sisters." Shannon called it a Godincidence because the timing was extraordinary. (Thank you all so, so much. They are already a family treasure to us and we are wearing them proudly). We then went downstairs, read the wonderful comments from the blog the last couple of days, emailed Mitzi and had ourselves a good happy cry.
Laura and Leslie seem to be adapting well to my new bald head. The only funny thing is they want it covered all the time. I think the change is a little much for them. As long as I have a hat or wig on though they are fine. I don't mind wearing something anyway. It gets a little chilly up there! Every once in a while Laura and Leslie will ask to rub my head. They think it's fun. They are sleeping at night together more. Laura seems to really need the security in that and I believe it is helping her cope. It was a habit I was trying to break before the diagnosis but am letting it slide now. Yesterday Laura and Leslie were hard at work pulling one of Leslie's loose teeth. As a result, we had a visit from the tooth fairy last night complete with a note and fairy dust. They were so excited. I've read the note to them at least twice this morning.
I feel like this go around I am free to be me. I have to take it a little easier but I am doing the things that I enjoy. I cannot tell you how much that means to me. I plan to call Julie at the radiologist's office and drop some of the cancer shirts off in the next couple of days. I was reading Hannah's prayer in I Samuel 2: 1-2 this morning and it captures some of my emotions now at being able to enjoy the day to day things of life.
Then Hannah prayed and said:
"My heart rejoices in the LORD;
in the LORD my horn is lifted high...
for I delight in your deliverance.
"There is no one holy like the LORD;
there is no one besides you;
there is no Rock like our God.
Enjoy your day to its fullest as well! Lots of love,
Kerry
I am so glad to hear that you are feeling better this time around.. I am testing the comments to see if tweeking the settings will make it easier to post. I pray that this week continues to go smoothly for you..
ReplyDeleteTrying to post a note. Hope it works. I just finished typing one out and I hit something by accident and poof it was gone. I will rejoice that you a doing will with chemo. You are strong and beautiful. Met a new sister on a survivor blog. She invited other triple negatives to her email. May I give her your blog? Our God is Good. Love, Evie
ReplyDeleteKerry, Im so glad to hear you're feeling good and Im also glad you liked your pin. God is so good, He is so faithful. Keep up the good work- you're doing great!!!
ReplyDeleteHugs and God Bless
Renee
Kerry~ You are such an inspiration to me. God's perfect love is shining so bright through you. You are beautiful!! Erica
ReplyDeleteKerry,
ReplyDeleteI haven't been able to write in a while, so I have much to say.
I love your Kodak picture! What I say to my husband who is balding and now boldly shaven is, "Not everyone can do the bald look. You have to have a great smile and beautiful eyes." I have to admit he and you have that hands down!
You do not look like boy at all! You are way too pretty. Kids are cute, they say the funniest things. When I became a mom, I didn't want to limit my children. I tried not to stereotype and say dolls were for girls and trucks were for boys. For Sam's 2yr old check up the Doctor asked him to point to the girl in a picture of just a girl and a boy. Well, I never taught him that. The modern mom in me didn't want to say only girls wore dresses, had earings, and had long hair. As a result, he failed that test and we were on a mission to teach him what the difference was. Let's just say God has a sense of humor and soon after our long stereotypical explanation, we passed a man with long hair, earings, a nose ring, and tatoos. Sam pointed, excited with his new understanding and yelled, "Mama, that's a girl!"
I read your blog about what amazing love truly looks like. It's funny how we really do look at the outward appearance. We are obsessed with it sometimes. When you had your hard day at the plastic surgeon's office. I wanted so to encourage you, I looked up all these websites about shaving one's head. I even came across Demi Moore's shaving head scene in GI Jane, which I never saw. It was cute. She smiled during it, depicting empowerment I believe, but it was missing something. I was looking for something more than just appealing to our need for respect and freedom. I should always remember God is handling everything and doesn't need my help. He was tenderly bringing you to a place that you needed to go.
I agree about the irony of breast cancer. The emotional pain that breast cancer brings to women in particular can be devestating I'm sure.
Why are we scared about haircuts, anyway? Even the act of a bad haircut can bring us to tears! And breasts, what is the deal about size, shape, whether they sag or not, and who's are real. For once, I'd like to see the women in the magazine industry come together and refuse to publish such degrading material.
Even if they don't our God is so awesome to set us straight. He turns even wicked things around to be used by Him for His good purpose! I believe breast cancer has brought so many women together. That pink ribbon of hope sends a message that we're in this together. Praying and hoping and choosing not to be defeated even when the enemy strikes us in our most vulnerable spots. I have said this before, never have I felt so connected to a practical stranger. God has used the trauma of breast cancer to unite the hearts of women who were guilty of judgement, comparison, beauty as idolatry, you name it. Christ makes the love between sisters great!
I'm so glad he pointed out Hannah's prayer to you. Do you know the Jews even today use it as their model prayer like we use the Lord's prayer? Even in that very patriarchal community, they uphold her as one who was so faithful and blessed by God.
It must have been the hardest day of her life. She had weaned her baby Samuel. A child given to her by God as a gift in her desperate hour. Now she would keep her promise to Him and give him back. You would think she would have been dragging her feet that day filled with doubt about that decision. Remember how she was grieved before she met him, you would assume she would have been overcome with new grief at having to lose him now. But, listen to that prayer, she is a changed woman! She is thrilled to do this for her God. Her mouth boasts of Him. She is delighting in His deliverance. "Those who stumbled are armed with strength"! She was given more than a child. She had been delivered by her Savior. She had been rescued from her fears and doubts of self worth! "The Lord brings death and makes alive, brings down to the grave and raises up" Isn't that a beautiful picture of Christ! He gives us this same power. "He guards the feet of his saints." It is not by strength that one prevails...He will give strength to His King and exalt the horn of His annointed." And Christ then gives that strength to us.
In 1 Sam. 1:12, it says, "While she was paying in the Lord's presence, Eli watched her lips". That phrase, "in the Lord's presence" actually means a revelation of God, standing before his face. She experienced an encounter with God! This was no drunken woman. Eli's "go in peace" was not what gave this woman back her appetite. God revealed His promise to her and to her alone. So much so, it changed her completely. She was able to do what most of us can't even do for an hour or two. Leave her child for someone else to care for. To trust God to do that.
I don't know if God has revealed himself to you that completely, I suspect, but I pray for it every day anyway. I pray for that peace that understanding of deliverance no matter my circumstance. I want that for me and I want that for you!
God bless you beyond your imagination today,
Joyce
Kerry,
ReplyDeleteJust a short note to let you know that you continue to be in my thoughts and prayers. Keep up the good work, you are doing GREAT!!!
Love
Lorrie
Hey Kerry!
ReplyDeleteHow are you? You sound so good today, Kerry. I am so thankful. I was worried about this round of chemotherapy. I hope that you continue to "hum" along.
I can't wait to see my sister pin. I saw some of those great King George women today and thanked them. I feel like I can never express how grateful I am, but I am going to keep trying. They are truly the best!
I also talked to your friend, Melany, on the phone. She is great as well! God was so good to us to bless us with such wonderful friends in both states.
I missed being with you and Shannon yesterday, but am glad that you were together.
One of my favorite verses is 2 Samuel 22:29-33, "You are my lamp, O Lord; the Lord turns my darkness into light. With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall. As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him. For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God? It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.
Take care of yourself, Kerry.
Remember how much I love you,
Mitzi
Kerry, I am so thankful that you had a good day with Shannon. It would have been great if Mitzi could have been with the two of you in person, but I know that you were together in spirit. You are connected by the prayers and the love. Sisters are wonderful, aren't they. I don't know what I would do without my two.
ReplyDeleteToday, I am thankful for your good day. Tomorrow, I pray for another good day, and I thank God for His care of you.
Nana
Dear Kerry,
ReplyDeleteI had such a good time together yesterday and am so glad you are able to do all that you enjoy. Today I wore my "Three sisters pin" and got a lot of comments from friends who know how special my sisters are to me. With my work badge, breast cancer pin and "Three sisters pin" I was almost as adorned as you and Mitzi are so good at being :-) I even wore a necklace that clashed with the other three, but I just had to wear them anyway! I think I might have a smidgen of that Booth diva im me, at least as much as one can at a Christian School:-)
Mitzi, I know patience isn't one of the Booth girls many gifts, so I have already mailed you the pin and shirt :-) We were with you in spirit just like Nana said! Just think, "Sister's Weekend" is coming up soon!! You know, I think we should have a Sisters in Christ weekend and get everyone together!!!
Thank you all for your prayers and support of Kerry. Together we will help her keep "humming" along.
Your big sis,
Shannon
Kerry,
ReplyDeleteI haven't posted in a few days, but that does not mean I haven't been thinking about and praying for you. I check this site faithfully many times a day to see what you have been up to and also to read the many encouraging, uplifting messages from others. I just want to tell you that you are beautiful both inside and out! I have never met Randy, but I can tell he is a wonderful man! What an unselfish thing he did by shaving his head in support of his wonderful, loving, Godly wife! I am so happy that you have felt well enough to enjoy doing some fun normal daily activities. My prayer is that your body continues to accept the chemo with little to no side effects and that Sponge Bob and the gang disappears forever! Sleep well and have sweet dreams.
Love,
Shelly
Hi Kerry
ReplyDeleteOur Youth Pastor shared your story with us as we were studying the story of Hannah and Samuel. Your amazing attitude reminded me of Hannah and we will keep praying for you and your family. I had an aunt who had breast cancer with a young family (two boys) and I just hope your family will only be able to come closer together in this time because that really helped us. By the way, your family is beautiful. Remember God is in control and loves you more then you can even imagine or fathom.I will ask some of my friends to join us in prayer for you. God Bless.
Your Sister in Christ sending love from rainy Belfair, WA.
Kristi