thread for middle age to older Christian women.

bandwoman1234

Teka, I am glad to hear that. That is God's spirit comforting you. I pray that you can bask in His comfort and calm throughout these next few days as you have the scans and wait for results.

Amen to that Debbie. Powerful!

NeverForsaken

Praying everyone here is having a good week so far. I enjoyed the company of two of our daughters spending the weekend with us..We stayed up all night watching movies..one bout sharks which we all fear even though none of us lives near an ocean, lol!

I have six rads left (counting today) which I am getting ready to go to. My skin is holding up very well, and I am only dealing with fatigue which started last week. yesterday was my Herceptin/Perjeta infusion, so today I am more tired than usual, but I wanted to come on here to check on everyone, and to pray for those who ask.

This morning I was singing praises to the Lord and crying as I felt the Spirit shining light through and around me..I remember feeling like I could not wait to shed this earthly body in order to praise Jesus in the spirit and in truth without hindrance...I needed to experience this again (this is not the first time) because lately I have been feeling very down about dying..I get so depressed thinking about how much I will miss my husband and daughters, and the beauty of this world (even though there is much darkness and ugliness here too)..I have encountered angels throughout my life..both angels of God and fallen ones as well, so I have always known that the "afterlife" is real, but sometimes I get so caught up in the things of this world that I forget what I know to be the true things of God..this is not our home. We are only passing through. Somehow, and I don't know how..God will wipe away all tears and we will not miss our loved ones left behind when we go home to heaven..I believe this with my whole heart..but my sorrow is for those who will mourn us..that is always on my mind. I pray for the peace that surpasses all understanding and the comfort that only Jesus can give when that time comes for each one of us, whether we are the one who is called home or the one left behind.

As I've read through the issues with each lady posting on here, and seen both the answered prayers and the issues which are still looming, I have a sense of everything being perfect in His will for each one of us. I hate suffering, as I also hate to see anyone have to go through suffering..but I know there is a purpose to everything..and God is the only one who we can trust..and sometimes it is through our deepest pain that we experience His strength and his love for us...In fact, I can attest to this through my own experience of when things seem to be going very smoothly, I can surely lose sight of God and begin to trust in my own strength, or in the things of this world (like money)..I know this is human nature, and even the Israelites forgot God from time to time even though they experiences Him over and over again during their travels through the desert.

These are just my thoughts of the day as I write this I just want you ladies to know that I am praying for all of us..Our families too! And God is forever faithful and capable and He does care about each and every detail of our lives!

I want to encourage everyone to just simply praise Him today..God inhabits the praises of His people..and in His presence is fullness of joy..and the Joy of the Lord is my strength..and I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me!

"But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel." (Psalm 22:3)

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (psalm 16:11)

Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." (Nehemiah 8:10)

IntoLight

Thank you, Neverforsaken, for your beautiful words of praise. I know God has a perfect plan for us all here on earth and in heaven. I am with you--sometimes I long for heaven but other times I mourn the thought of leaving this world and my beautiful, loving family. I struggle with not wanting to leave my family with any debt or sadness. I am reluctant to pursue a cure at all cost just to live a few more months. Is this wrong? I don't know. I am not suicidal at all, but rather I choose life lived in the fullness of God's love and have faith God leads me in His perfect will. I take care to treat this broken temple of God well, and do what I can to be as healthy as possible. I have worked hard all of my life so that I can have the resources I need for this very scenario. I believe God has led me all along the way and I am here to praise Him and serve His people as long as He gives me breath. Sorry to ramble, but my servant's heart just wants to be faithful. I know all of my thoughts and desires are covered in the blood of Christ, and He loves me the way that I am.

I shared with my choir last week, after being absent for over a year (a story for another day). It was tough, but God spoke to me out of Romans 8, my life chapter, and I know He led me to share it with them. "There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus...³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,^[k] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Oswald Chambers said ""Faith is not some weak and pitiful emotion but is a strong and vigorous confidence built on the fact that God is holy love. And even though you cannot see Him right now and cannot understand what He is doing, you know Him."

Thank you for allowing me to share.

NeverForsaken

Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and especially your "life scripture" with me today, Into light.

I understand how you feel when it comes to just how much are we willing to do in order to prolong our earthly life..I know this is a very personal issue for each one of us and I believe there are no right or wrong answers.

The only exception, I believe are the people who have never faced a real (in your face) life or death illness or other situation who make the statement that they would never do anything like chemo etc..in order to live, but would rather just be taken home early..I have heard this from two friends..each never having a terminal dx themselves..and I would caution them that they simply cannot know exactly what they would or wouldn't do until the time came and they had to walk this road. I like to tell people that sometimes we will not have what we need until we need it.. We don't carry a heavy toolbox around with us just in case we may need something from the toolbox..That would be very exhausting! lol..instead The Lord comes up beside us and he hands us the tools we need.

I know I have asked myself from time to time just how much time, effort, and resources am I willing to put into prolonging this earthly life..and at this point, the answer seems clear that I will do whatever is needed..but that does not change the fact that there is coming a day when I will know that the only answer is that it is time to go home..whatever time remains here on planet earth is but a mere fraction of our true eternal life anyway. I have what I call my "joy meter"..that simply means that as long as I am able to experience joy in being here each day..even though that joy may be fleeting..I want to soak in as much as I can..and hopefully, bring joy to someone else. When that is no longer possible then I think I will be ready to go. After all..it is the love of Christ that transcends through all time, so our love for family and friends will never be lost if we are in Him and he in us.

Thanks so much for allowing me to ramble on here..I know the subject is pretty deep today..but this is what has been on my mind more and more lately. Again thanks for sharing and allowing me to share too!

Ade

Chris and Lisa thank you for sharing your hearts. The rest of us may not have been diagnosed with advanced stages but we are certainly aware that you may well be speaking for us someday. You are women of courage and faith (as are the others who face going Home perhaps sooner than they'd imagined). Know that you are in our prayers for the Lord to wrap His arms around you and calm your fears and ease your pain (physically & of leaving loved ones). May the hope of Glory give you great encouragement and even joy in suffering.

I am going through some very dark times as my husband is having personality changes and his frequent disdain for me breaks my heart. He is Jeckyl and Hyde - probably a normal thing after 2 heart attacks - but I pray I can remain loving and kind, as Christ endured ridicule and accusation without retaliation, I may too. I poured my heart out to the Lord and He gave me His Word of comfort and love and in a devastated state I found that I was eager to praise Him. These are different circumstances I know, but we share this faithful love of our Savior getting us through the worst times. It is in the trials He draws us near and we're so thankful for that.

Have to share a praise with you. We faced losing our home as the new tax assessment took our taxes far beyond what our fixed income could bear. Without going through the details, the Lord had them cut the bill nearly in half and we will get to keep our home!!! Praise His Name!

Nancy, so glad you are working through that big task with your sister, it's quite the process but it's not forever. Hope your mom had a lovely Mother's Day. I didn't get blessed with a kind, loving mother - but she worked full time and my grandmother pretty much raised me. She was the kind of loving "mother" that I truly needed and I look forward to seeing her again someday.

Praying for you all -

With love,

Ade

Ade

Springtime in the high desert. We don't have many crocuses or tulips so the cacti do their part.

IntoLight

Ade, I am so excited to hear the news about your taxes. Yay! I have been praying for a major reduction in your tax situation, and I pray daily for you and James. God hears and knows, and most importantly, loves.

HersheyKiss

Ade, is that a flowering ocotillo? They are beautiful blooms!

Ade

Hershey - that's a choya (spelling???)

This is an ocotillo (blooming now here)

(Thank you Chris!)

EMAW

New to this group,

About ready to fall asleep as it is late here for me, but wanted to thank you, ladies, for your kind words of godly wisdom.

I was DX'd Stage IV de novo in Nov.2010.

While I had seen this thread at least a couple years ago, I vaguely thought that my age kind of made me too young, but I'm 57 now so maybe you'll letme in if I mostly listen. But I had read of some of Ade's tax troubles the other day and now, after Never Forsaken's this evening, I want to join in.

Been a Christian since age 13 but this cancer is one of the most wonderful opportunities for the Lord to test my faith and force me to give a better testimony. Looking forward to another day when I have a bit more energy to respond more intentionally.

Will write soon.

Thanks so much for you all.

Miriam (picture ispost brain surgery August 2017 - BC had crossed the blood brain barrier & a tumor in the back or subocccipital region had to be removed)

bandwoman1234

Good evening dear sisters,

I wish I had more time and energy to respond to your heart felt posts. My goal while at my Mom's house is to see her at her facility each day or night as much as I can and still have the energy to make headway clearing out her house. Progress is being made and I know that in the Lord's timing all will work out. As I look back over this journey with my mom's dementia is is so clear how God's timing was involved. My first year of retirement is when it was like some switch in my Mom's brain had been turned off and she seemed fine one minute and the next definitely not. I was able to travel back and forth from my home to hers to see if she was able to live alone. Then in my sister's first year of retirement is when it became evident that my mom needed to go into a facility for her own safety. Again it was clear that God's timing was perfect. I could not have done this move living three hours away if my sister had not been there to help with the move long after I had to return home. I know that God's hand will be evident as I look back on this time. That doesn't always make it easy when the going gets tough and there seems to be no energy to do the things I need but it does give me peace that I am not alone in this and never will be.

Lisa, I appreciate you being so open and honest with what you have and are going through. I had a pretty good friend from my church who knew I had such a difficult time with my cancer drug the last four years say why don't you just stop it. Is it just fear that makes you want to take it? I think she stopped herself in mid sentence and realized how insensitive and inappropriate it was to say that. No one fully understands what we are going through unless they too have walked in our shoes. I have not walked in your shoes either and I have NO idea what it feels like to be Stage 4. I appreciate your openness and I do agree that God's plan in each of our lives is perfect. Praise is such a powerful tool and I appreciate your wisdom.

Chris, I have known very, very strong and committed Christians who have chosen totally different paths when they both knew their cancers were not curable. One chose no treatment whatsoever and chose quality of life as her decision and the other worked up until she went to the ER and died shortly after she did everything medicine had to offer to live more life with her family. I don't think there is a right or wrong way but as you say you will know when it is time. I think God's voice during those times is probably pretty clear. I am glad you got to share with your choir. Romans 8:28 has become my verse after bc so it is a very special chapter for me as well. You will have to share your choir story sometime.

Ade, I can't tell you how thrilled I am at your good news regarding the tax situation. There is so much power in prayer and I just knew God would not leave you both stranded with no place to live. I love your cacti pics. Yes, the desert is certainly beautiful in spring. I will continue to pray for your situation with James. I can understand fully of what you speak as this has happened in my family. I will continue to pray for this.

Welcome Miriam. We have talked about the age limit that the name of our thread suggests and even tried to have the name changed to be more inclusive. We accept anyone who loves the Lord on this Christian thread. We even had a 27 year old for a time who was Stage 4 and believed she was miraculously healed. Please feel free to post anytime and we are glad to have you even though we always wish we were meeting under different circumstances. You have obviously been through alot and we would appreciate hearing about your journey with bc.

Hershey, good to hear from you. How are you doing?

Lita, how are you?

It is very late and my brief post turned into a long novel. Sorry. I have an unspoken prayer request regarding my mom.

Have a good night dear ladies. I will post when I can. Ade, thank you for reminding me that this house situation will not be forever. When I am feeling overwhelmed I need to remind myself of that fact.

Love,

Nancy

Teka

*Good Morning Everyone*

Ade, such lovely blooms!!

My annual bilateral 3D mammogram was okay (NED).

Thank You one and all for prayers.

NeverForsaken

Hello, Miriam..So happy you decided to join in here! I am 52..and I was hesitant at first too, then after being re-diagnosed I decided this forum was where I needed to be.

Ade..Praise the Lord! I am praying you will still be able to feed your beloved deer too..and the flowering cacti is absolutely gorgeous.

We have a strange plant growing here in our Northern Michigan yard that normally onlt grows in warm climates..My neighbor from Arizona was astonished to see an 'Agave' plant in full bloom a couple years ago. It was dormant for five years and then it suddenly bloomed the most gorgeous, fragrant flower!

It has not bloomed again (yet).

Nancy, it is such a blessing that your sister is able to help. I know it is hard to imagine that this whole thing with your mom will ever settle down and things will return to some sort of normal..but that is what I mean about the Lord not wanting us to carry around a heavy toolbox ourselves..trust God to carry this burden and as you know already, he will hand you whatever it is that is needed, when it is needed and not until. At least that is what I am learning these days.

God bless everyone today~Lisa

NeverForsaken

Love that song, Joanne..and I am a fan of Charles Stanley.

Because you shared some of your dx specifics with me while I was going through the genetic testing for that mutation..I understand the severity of your dx. Many people live for years and years with a stage 4 dx..some people go pretty quickly..It just goes to show that it is God who numbers our days.

This really grabbed me:

" if God is calling you home and you pray for healing he will give you agreement in your heart with his Will."

I realized after reading this that we sometimes try to bend God's will until we have convinced ourselves that the only way we can have peace is if God agrees with our prayers..our will. Unfortunately, when it comes to sickness..even some churches teach that it is God's will to heal based on the scripture: "...by His stripes we are healed.." Isaiah. 53:5 And as a result they may even blame the sick person for not getting better because of their lack of faith.

Here is a good commentary on this passage: Source : https://www.gotquestions.org/by-His-stripes-healed...

"But He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds (stripes) we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24).

Although these two verses are central to the topic of healing, they are often misunderstood and misapplied. The word "healed" as translated from both Hebrew and Greek, can mean either spiritual or physical healing. However, the contexts of Isaiah 53 and 1 Peter 2 make it clear that they are referring to spiritual healing, not physical. "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed" (1 Peter 2:24). The verse is referring to sin and righteousness, not sickness and disease. Therefore, being "healed" in both these verses is speaking of being forgiven and saved, not being physically healed.

Recently I had a friend tell me that she would not undergo the cancer treatments if it were her because she knows God would either heal her through her faith or take her home. I replied that I believe God uses many people and resources to treat illnesses, such as doctors surgeons and medicines..and it is he who gives all good gifts to be used here on earth..but the ultimate goal for each believer is to be with our Lord in eternity, so whether we are allowed to stay here longer or not is up to him..maybe I can still be of use to the Kingdom if I stick around a bit longer. But, like you said..I do not have perfect peace with going home yet either.at least not today. (And I do believe the peace that comes from God will be a perfect peace..with no doubts. * James 1:17}

I had to look that song up on Youtube..Very good! Thanks, Joanne for posting it again. ((hugs))

zjrosenthal

Well I was finally able to access this thread. Go to some violent storms and a couple of tornadoes yesterday we have been without power more internet with no word of when it will come back.

zjrosenthal

Well I was finally able to access this thread on my phone . Due to some violent storms and a couple of tornadoes yesterday we have been without power, TV or internet with no word of when it will come back. We have a generator, water, some lights and refrigeration but are basically cut off from the outside world. It is a strange feeling. I am trying to be grateful that all our family is safe but this made me realize how much I take forgranted. There was a child killed in the next town and I can't imagine what the family must be going through. I am glad that Ade got to keep her home. My hubby also went through a season of terrible mood swings. He is much calmer now. Praise Jesus. He surely never gives me more than I can handle. Love, Jean

Ade

I just heard this song this morning and felt the lyrics are worth sharing (Rather long but it ministers to me & I hope to you too.)

EYE OF THE STORM ~ RYAN STEVENSON

"Eye Of The Storm"
(feat. GabeReal)

In the eye of the storm, You remain in control
And in the middle of the war, You guard my soul
You alone are the anchor, when my sails are torn
Your love surrounds me in the eye of the storm
When the solid ground is falling out from underneath my feet
Between the black skies, and my red eyes, I can barely see
When I realize I've been sold out by my friends and my family
I can feel the rain reminding me

In the eye of the storm, You remain in control
In the middle of the war, You guard my soul
You alone are the anchor, when my sails are torn
Your love surrounds me in the eye of the storm
Mmm, when my hopes and dreams are far from me, and I'm runnin' out of faith
I see the future I picture slowly fade away
And when the tears of pain and heartache are pouring down my face
I find my peace in Jesus' name

In the eye of the storm (yeah, yeah)
You remain in control (yes you do, Lord)
In the middle of the war, You guard my soul
You alone are the anchor, when my sails are torn
Your love surrounds me (Your love surrounds me)
In the eye of the storm (in the eye of the storm)

When the test comes in and the doctor says I've only got a few months left
It's like a bitter pill I'm swallowing; I can barely take a breath
And when addiction steals my baby girl, and there's nothing I can do
My only hope is to trust You
I trust You, Lord

(CHORUS)

In the eye of the storm, You remain in control (yes you do, Lord)
In the middle of the war (in the middle of the war), You guard my soul
You alone are the anchor (ooh), when my sails are torn
Your love surrounds me in the eye of the storm,
Oh, in the eye of, oh, in the eye of the storm

I know You're watching me, yea, ay
When the storm is raging (when the storm is raging)
And my hope is gone (and my hope is gone, Lord)
When my flesh is failing, You're still holding on, oh whoa
When the storm is raging (the storm is raging)
And my hope is gone (and all my hope is gone)
When my flesh is failing (my flesh is failing)
You're still holding on,
When the storm is raging (when the storm is raging)
And my hope is gone (and my hope is gone)
Even when my flesh is failing (flesh is failing)
You're still holding on, holding on
The Lord is my Shepherd
I have all that I need
He lets me rest in green meadows
He leads me beside peaceful streams
He renews my strength
He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to His Name
Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid
For You are close beside me

Hugs & prayers for all of you ~

Ade

Ade

It is a contemporary sounding song so many probably won't like it but the words surely ministered to me. Glad they did to you too, Joanne.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sx8wTnnfSc

bandwoman1234

Ade, I listen to that song all the time and I do love it. I am going to share a song that has impacted me the last several weeks. Since I am a musician I like to post the music as well. Here goes.

Before I post I wanted to say Teka I am relieved for you as I know you are as well. I have been so busy and worn out and I had an episode yesterday at my mom's house where I was overcome with sickness and terrible stomach pain out of the blue. I am dragging today and my sister is down sick now so it has been a hitch in our plans.

Here is the video.

Love,

Nancy

zjrosenthal

Generator stopped working yesterday. We are supposed to get power restored by tonight. It has been out all over this large area since Tuesday. It has been like indoor camping. I've also been a bit stressed about a minor skin cancer that has to be removed. The procedures scheduled for August. Love, Jean

zjrosenthal

And God said let there be light and there was light. Praise the Lord we finally have power restored. Love, Jean

Ade

BEAUTIFUL song, Nancy. Thank you for posting. I play flute & James plays drums at church so we're music folks as well. Praying you and your sis are feeling MUCH better very soon (SO sorry!)

Jean, thankful your electric is back on! We had ours go off for about 6 hours Thursday and it got SO uncomfortably hot in here! So thankful to have AC & ''flushing power" again! :oD

Teka - thanking the Lord for good test results! It must give you the peace you needed.

Joanne we cling to the hope those scriptures promise us and it is ALWAYS a blessing to be reminded - thank you.

Thursday we were to have our good friends in for supper. It was time for them to come when the power went out! (You just can't serve hot soup with no AC when it is in the 90s out! So they invited us to bring supper to their house where their generator was running the air. After a meal & sweet fellowship we returned home and sat on the porch as it was dark & nice & cool with a breeze - and our power was back on. There were wonderful constant thunder rumbles and lightning and our prayers were soon answered with a lovely soaker rain that we needed SOOO badly here. And the blessings didn't end there! We saw a slow moving green fireball with blue circumference and sparkling red orange tail (like fireworks!) swoop across the sky for what seemed like a whole minute! We were awestruck as we've never seen anything like that before. I looked it up and there were over 165 sightings of it and they said it was a meteor (as opposed to 'space junk') The Lord is full of surprise blessings and we thank Him for these.

Have a wonderful weekend and keep watch for unexpected blessings!

Ade

bandwoman1234

The caterpillar thought it was the end but everyone else saw a beautiful butterfly.

It's been a tough few days for me physically and emotionally. I read online that cleaning out your parent's home was like open heart surgery without anesthesia. I can vouch for that statement.

I found out that my supposed wind damage was actually a septic line falling. I am very frustrated with the contractor as he forgot to check on my house and when I called him many days later he admitted he forgot. He did finally check things out a few days ago and left me a message to call him. When I tried to call his cell phone is full and I could not leave a message. I am expecting this will be in the thousands to fix this problem when I have researched this online. My plans for some home improvements will not be happening now. God is stretching my faith muscles.

My Mom is doing pretty well. I have seen her everyday except yesterday when I just didn't feel well.

I will be back home this weekend and will be more present. Thank you for your prayers and encouragement.

Love,

Nancy

IntoLight

Nancy, I am so sorry this has been so hard for you. When I cleaned out my folk's home, it was like mourning their absence over and over. And I wasn't sick! I pray for you every day, that somehow through the clutter you will find some joy.

My parents both died of cancer within 4 months of each other, so my sickness has been hard. I lived far from them and only saw them twice a year while they struggled. It is one of the few things I regret--not being with them more. I understand all things on a deeper level and I both love it and hate it.

HersheyKiss

Nancy, I understand and share what you are experiencing. I just returned from my trip to the Midwest to help with my Mom. Her health is failing, and it appears that assisted living will be the next step for her. We discussed that option in depth, and Mom is NOT on board. My sister, a geriatric nurse, is there this week and plans to visit a couple of assisted living facilities in the area. This transition from family home to an assisted living arrangement shapes up to be a battle royale with my Mom and is so hard on everyone.

Praying for comfort and strength for all.

Ade

Joanne, thank you for sharing that incredible journey with us and the encouragement that it gives concerning the Lord's getting you through it. He is faithful!

Nancy and Hershey I know how difficult this is for you and I am praying for you!

Lita you're always in our thoughts and prayers!

My sister and I agreed that she would care for Mom and I would care for Dad since we were each most like that parent. Dad went downhill first and we moved him from Montana to Ohio to live with us. We cared for him until he passed and were blessed that we didn't have to send him to a facility. It's never easy to take on a parent, especially when you're raising kids too - but it was a labor of love and the right thing for us to do. When he passed I was the estate executrix and gave my sister half of his little inheritance and first pick of his belongings.

When it was my sister's time to care for Mom she took her in for a short while, then when Mom had an episode she put her in a nursing home. Mom blamed ME and I wasn't even consulted in the decision! So Mom changed her will (sister knew about this) and gave me 25% and my sister 75% plus all of the belongings and jewelry that was promised to me prior - and sister gladly took it.

I don't care about the money or "stuff" it was the betrayal by both sister and mother that to this day still stings. I have forgiven her and turned her greed over to the Lord - as she is a Christian and He will deal with her on that, but we don't have a closeness at all. Instead the Lord has given me BEAUTIFUL mothers and sisters through the Church and I am SO very blessed. God is faithful when human family often isn't.

James is in bed more and more with intense migraines. He will never let me make a doctor appointment for him - will just refuse to go if I do - so I pray he will make that appointment soon and find some answers and relief. It is affecting his life and I hurt for him. He never did get that cholesterol medication two doctors were supposed to help him to get. (

Praying for you all with love,

Ade

NeverForsaken

Ade, I can relate to family betrayal. i think most can in some way..It is exactly how you said..not about the money or possessions..it's the betrayal. I have experienced seeing the worst come out in families, both on my side and my husband's when it comes to the possessions left behind when parents pass on. This is why over the past few years I've been giving my children and grandchildren little trinkets here and there,,some are valuables and some are just things I know they like, or have been in the house since they were little. To this day all I have of value jewelry wise is my antique wedding rings from my grandmother, and a ruby cross necklace from my husband, a single diamond earring (from my mom) which I lost the mate to, and a bent up gold ring that one of my daughters snuck out from my jewelry box when she was little..I later found it outside by the swingset. I hope to have the diamond removed from the earring and set into the ring once it gets straightened out and give that to my oldest daughter since she was the only one who did not receive a ring from me yet. (and yes, it was her who took it from my jewelry box when she was little).

I remember the pain from going through both my grandmother's house and then my mother's things after they died..Your description, Nancy, of it being like open heart surgery without the anesthetic is spot on!

Good news!..

I am done with radiation!!

I will try to get some pictures up and post more about this soon.

Thanks for all the prayers throughout these last few weeks.

bandwoman1234

TO LISA FOR FINISHING RADIATION TREATMENTS!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

bandwoman1234

Thank you all for your support and prayers and encouragement during this difficult time. The last push is on before leaving for home on Saturday so I don't have time to respond to each person but I certainly appreciate all of you and realize how much you are all going through. My sister and I were going to spend time today at the house and her husband is having pain like kidney stones so she probably won't be coming. I will spend the evening with my mom. I have been playing Bingo with her to help encourage her to get back to playing when I am back home. My mom is really interacting with her friends at her table in the dining room and that is such a miracle and blessing to see. I have much to be thankful for. I just need energy and stamina on this last push before leaving.

Love,

Nancy

bandwoman1234

Thanks Joanne. We had a HUGE break through with an issue with my mom today and I am SO thankful. It is a personal issue which I won't go into. I need strength tonight. I have had so many problems sleeping that tonight I feel like a limp rag. I have to press on. Time is short now. Thanks for your prayers. Praying for you too.

Love,

Nancy