thread for middle age to older Christian women.

Jean, thank you for the verse and beautiful photo.

Nancy, so glad you and your mom had a good celebration day. I hope the celebration continues.

We are still celebrating here in our own way with simple meals and much laughter trying hard to keep the four year-old under control until the big day. I am so thankful I am still here. God is good!

Wishing everyone a Blessed Merry Christmas.

He is the Prince of Peace ~ Blessings upon your Christmas eve!

Ade

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. We celebrated two days before Christmas Day and had a great time with our family. On Christmas Day I spent time with my Mom at her facility. I took her church Hymnal and asked if it would be okay if she played the piano in the dining room. She played and some people came into the dining room and were shocked and amazed that she could play. One of the CNA's came up and was totally bowled over that my Mom could play and no one knew it. She is rusty from not actively playing like she used to but she can still play by ear. The challenge is remembering all the songs she used to play. Once it clicks she is pretty amazing considering she is missing two fingers on her right hand. It was a good day and one I had hoped for and planned on for a long time. The people clapped when she played something they knew. It was a great boost for her and for me too.

Joanne, so glad your DH's surgery went well and I hope he is recovering and doing well by now.

It is hard to believe that we are going to be closing the book on this decade. Think back to all of the great things God has done for you. I have heard recently that if you start your day with your gratitude list being longer than your expectations list it will affect the outcome of your day.

Let's try to make 2020 and the beginning of a new decade start on the right foot with praising God for all the blessings He has given us and ask Him to help us with that other list that really tends to bog us down if we let it............ the list or problems and challenges.

Love,

Nancy

We spent Christmas Day alone this year - no gifts - no parties - no hoopla - just remembering the real meaning of the day...and it was nice. Then on the 27th we spent almost the whole day at our son's house here with his family and it was a wonderful time. His wife, Marissa, has gal bladder problems and they will all head up to Lubbock to see her surgeon. She has been in such misery but was ok for our little get-together, thankfully. Please pray all goes well for her. She is such a blessing to our family.

Yesterday we said goodbye to my dear DEAR friend and sister in the Lord, Betty. She was 88 and a true saint if ever there was one. She spent Christmas with her Lord this year and will be missed terribly here. Sadly, her daughter was in ICU up in Odessa and missed her mother's service yesterday, but she has since been moved to a room and is doing better now. Betty ALWAYS answered her phone, "Hello, Jesus LOVES you!". What a blessings she was to everyone who knew or met her! Hallelujah no more sickness or pain!

Chris, I'm sorry about the coughing - but glad the sunny sky cheers you up - it does me too. I will surely miss these days when we move back to GRAY Ohio winters!

Joanne, I thank the Lord with you for your hubby's successful surgery and pray for a quick recovery with no complications. I pray your new year is so full of God's blessings that you're praising Him everyday, all day!

Nancy, Cammie looks so content in the photo I can almost hear her purr! A happy kitty is therapeutic, as is a dog's wagging tail. So glad your mom got to enjoy piano again. Maybe now it will become a 'thing' there!

The cardiologist thinks James may have Autonomic Neuropathy. If so, that is a bleak prognosis. We would have to go to Dallas to confirm it and that isn't possible, so we may go to the Cleveland Clinic when we move. I am fighting fear and depression over this - but I must trust in the Lord and in His mighty healing power. What a journey this life is. My devotionals have all hit the fact that trials strengthen our faith walk with Christ lately so I will take that seriously, as you all do! We will just run this race with perseverance in His strength.

Sisters, I Pray that each day of our new year of 2020 brings unexpected blessings for you and that you can find joy even when circumstances would not indicate it's presence. OUR joy comes from the Lord, His love for us and His faithfulness, not from the world. He hears every prayer, and understands what we are going through and we are the sheep of His pasture.

Lord bless and keep you,

Ade

Jean,

In my prayers one and all.

Happy almost New Year to all.

Ade, I pray Marissa can get some relief soon from her gallbladder problems and that she will feel comfortable meeting this surgeon. I am sorry for your loss. My aunt that we recently lost was named Betty also. Knowing they are rejoicing in heaven with past family and friends takes the sting out of the loss somewhat. I know you are so concerned about James and I pray that you can not get overly burdened with the what ifs until he is actually diagnosed. I know that is easier said than done but Jesus will take all of those burdens if we can leave them at His feet. ( I have to remind myself of that over and over.)

Chris, is this a new cough or what you have had from a long time ago? At any rate praying you all can get well soon. My Mom went to another get together on Sunday. Her church closed it's doors in June but the members were so close they still get together once a month to stay in touch. My Mom went to this for the first time and my sister and I were with her. She had not been to church for a long time as it got very challenging. She played the piano and again everyone was amazed and didn't realize she played and some didn't know she was missing two fingers. My Mom was master at hiding it from everyone even in her state now.

Jean, I hope this New Year will be a good one for you and your family.

Teka, I LOVE that banner. My photography allows me to do that so that is why it is such a gift. Praying we can all take time to smell the roses. I realize that may take months for you in snow country!!!!

Have a good night of ringing in the New Year. When my Mom was at her house I would open the front door at midnight and scream Happy New Year. I am sure if anyone heard me they would thing I had lost my marbles. It always gave my Mom a laugh and that is why I did it. I won't be doing that now but I will smile thinking about it. Afterall, I don't have that many marbles left to lose!!!!!

Love,

Nancy

Joanne, very timely words from Billy Graham even though they were written twelve years ago. Thank you for those wise words from a great evangelist. Your banner looks like the fireworks I set off last night. LOL Just kidding.

Ade, thank you for your prayers and you know we all are praying for you and James.

I always start each year with great hope and a fresh beginning. I am praying for a great year. I hope you are too.

Love,

Nancy

O dear Serene, how disappointing. You must be quite overwhelmed. We will be praying for you. Jean

Serene... I am sorry to read of your news and feel the fear and pain of your decisions. I will pray God sends you the best medical advise and help for this situation. Sending personal hugs too.

Victoria,

I am so sorry to read your post and the new diagnosis you have received. I went back to read your posts from the past to get a fresh idea of your stats and treatments. If I am remembering correctly from what I just read did you have a sentinel node that was positive? I remember your Onco Type of 1 and the big difference in the size of your tumor from when first diagnosed.

I know this has to be a huge shock. In March I thought my cancer had come back and it sent me in to months of an emotional tailspin. During that time I had researched if a surgeon would do a lumpectomy twice in the same breast and my findings were that they usually don't. Before I had my biopsy I had an apt with my surgeon and I point blank asked him if my cancer has returned would you do another lumpectomy and he said no. When he said he would refer me to my oncologist I assumed that meant chemo as well even though my Onco Type was 16. The good news for me is that my cancer didn't come back but it was scar tissue. My surgeon didn't really want to discuss the what ifs until my biopsy results but I got the info out of him I was looking for.

It makes it very difficult for you that your medical team is not on the same page. I am praying for wisdom for you during this most difficult time and for peace after you make your decision. If your surgeon wants chemo he/she must think this is a fast growing tumor. This surgeon would know this from the path report and it would be the proliferation rate.

Please let us know what decisions you make so we can pray for you whatever kind of surgery or treatments you may have. I know you have your daughters for support and of course the Lord. I will be praying for you.

Love

Nancy

Thank you all SO much for your replies! Nancy, what your surgeon told you about not doing another lumpectomy if your cancer had returned is in line with the research I've found online since yesterday. So it looks like a mastectomy is in my near future. I will send an update once my scans are done and more is determined. Thank you all again! 💖

Nancy, lifting you up. I havent been on in a while and I just read your last post. It will take weeks to get caught up on all the post.

I pray that everyone is doing well and had a blessed Christmas and New Year.

Nancy and everyone here, sorry to hear of all the problems happening and praying for all of us. I’m sorry to be absent lately but I’ve been in a bad place mentally and physically. I know that my physical pains affect my mental attitude and I’m now scared and worried about upcoming PET scan on Thursday. DH had an ER visit on New Years which was a large kidney stone and complicated removal and now needs tests for prostate cancer. Please keep us in your prayers as I certainly keep you all in my prayers. Please God, no more cancer or financial or other health issues for any of us. Give us the strength to persevere in the face of all our trials. In Jesus name, we pray, Amen

Love and prayers

Faith (in the future).

Thank you all for your support and prayers and comforting words and scriptures. I have had some good days with my Mom. I don't usually play games with her but I have the last few days and she seems to really enjoy that.

We are making good progress with the prepaid funeral and I just need some clarification on some things as my sister was with the funeral people as I was dealing with the VA and my Mom's financial person.

Even though I am emotionally and physically exhausted I can see how the Lord is using this whole VA fiasco for our good. I have a lot of work to do still when I get back home but it will work out according to God's plan for us and for my Mom.

Thanks Vargadoll for your prayers.

Chris, thank you for you encouragement. I know this period of watching your granddaughter while your daughter is in nursing school is going to be a challenge. We will certainly pray that God gives you an extra portion of strength to handle this daunting task.

Faith, I know you are overwhelmed with everything and I completely understand as I have been in that same place. I know you have the added worry of you DH plus your upcoming PET scan on Thursday. I am praying your scan will be good news and that there your DH's test will be good news as well. Are you finished with your PT now? I will be starting mine a week or so after I get back home on Friday. Did you find it helpful? Hang in there. We WILL get through this difficult time.

Ade, thank you for all of those scriptures. I have read that God is more concerned with our character than our comfort. I know in these stretching of our faith muscles period it is certainly uncomfortable but hopefully it is building character is us. I pray that things will be falling into place for you and James to relocate. Spring seems a long way off but time has a way of flying by so quickly. I can't believe the holidays are over and we are well into January already. I pray that you will find the perfect house in the right location with great doctors just waiting for you and James to be their new patients. I pray that the perfect buyer will get your home and treat it will all the love you and James have put in with your upgrades and sweat equity.

Victoria, praying that you will have a clear path in front of you in how you will proceed in your cancer journey. Please let us know how things are going so we can pray you through each phase.

Take care dear sisters.

BTW, My cousin's husband was an auditor for the State for 40 yrs and not 40 hrs as I typed previously. That mistake made me laugh.

Love,

Nancy