Thursday, August 18, 2016

Cancer - The Reason Why I Have Been Away

                                                     The Reason Why I Have Been Away

As you all know, I have not posted since March of this year. The reason being my husband was diagnosed with Breast Cancer, yes I said Breast Cancer. This is occurring more and more in men and even some young teen boys. I have my suspicion of why, but no real evidence, maybe the hormones injected into our meats, maybe the environment. I really can't say for sure, this is just my opinion. But I have been buying organic meats, eggs and other foods when I can to possibly prevent this from happening to my son, myself or other love ones. 

As my husband endures the evil of this disease, I realized that I knew nothing about what people who face Cancer experience. The surgeries, the chemo treatments, the medications, the way the disease takes over your life. The weight of dread hangs over your family. But then a ray of sunshine peeks through the stormy clouds, someone brings a meal to you, sends you a card, or someone tells you they are praying for you. You see God's love and grace shine in the faces of your love ones, friends and church family. His healing hand working through your doctors and nurses treating this awful disease. More importantly how God was at work this whole time. 

You see it was a blessing that my husband's disease was discovered, if you read my last blog from March you know I redecorated my house. During moving furniture, a drawer from the coffee table opened and caught a piece of my husband's chest in the drawer and when he moved the drawer closed  and mashed a place on his chest. He did have some pain, but we thought nothing of this and assumed he would probably end up with a bruise in the spot. Well after some weeks of it not healing, we were still unalarmed about the spot. Then after approximately five weeks, my husband woke up one Sunday morning and could not walk.  He said, (don't laugh) his big toe was in severe pain and he could not walk. So this forced him to go to a doctor, (not our regular doctor) but a doctor that worked at a walk-in facility. This doctor, whom I will ever be grateful, looked at the mass on his chest and encouraged my husband to see a surgeon in a couple of weeks if it had not gone away. After seeing the surgeon, within a week surgery was performed and the mass was removed, followed by a mastectomy, then a port. Then we saw an oncologist for Stage II Cancer.

But what I am getting at, is we believe that God was in control. A certain doctor, pain for only one day,  God put my husband's healing into motion. If he had not had this pain and gone to this doctor, we might have never discovered this cancer until it was too late. So yes, this was a blessing. My husband is cancer free yet still receiving chemo treatments as a precautionary measure. But, he is going to be fine. The side effects he endures is just temporary and we sometimes have to remind ourselves of this. I am so thankful to the Lord for his love and healing that he has shown us during this time.  Yes, I believe God performs miracles.

Monday, March 14, 2016

Blame It On Fixer Upper's, Joanna Gaines.

I was perfectly fine in my own little corner of the world with my dark, cherry wood coffee table and end tables that I have had for several years.  My chestnut wood lamps and my burgundy color rug and curtains. The pillows with dashes of gold and wine fabric that provided comfort for a sleepy head. The scarlet color candles that sat proudly in my slightly, aged candleholders, the gilded tones painted walls. The pictures that hung showcasing my home colors of gold with variations of red throughout. Yes, I was completely satisfied with my home. But then one day HGTV showed a marathon on a show called, "Fixer Upper." I sat on my couch fully immersed with the young couple that took old homes and converted them to dream homes fully furnished and decorated.  However, it wasn't so much the transformation of the home as it was the way Joanna Gaines decorated the house. The cool tones, the antiques, the signs, painted kitchen cabinets, open shelving, oh my, I'm hooked. So there it began my quest to redecorate my home. Gone are my heavy tables, which my husband has an injury to show for it. Gone are the dark lamps, the curtains, the rug, the candles. There it is an empty room. "Oh my goodness this is gonna cost a fortune," my husband states. Gradually, things appeared as I would spend my weekends shopping for just the perfect picture, mirror, antiques and tables. Linen, beige curtains hang proudly where the once dark burgundy and gold curtains hung. Taupe candleholders with cream candles now shown brightly. A whitewashed coffee table now gladly sits in its noble position. White and cream throws are placed meticulously on the arms of the recliner and loveseat. Yes, I have been converted. My living room, the dining room are so much brighter and I love it. Who knew that a little show could convert me from dark tone woods to a light tone girl. So thank you, Joanna Gaines. In this world overrunning with sadness, evil and darkness, we all could use a little brightness in it.