Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Overdue Update

Good grief! I can't believe it has been so long since I've blogged! Why didn't someone remind me? Don't y'all know I have chemo brain and can't be relied on!

I was going to blog today about a few various things I've noticed or thought of but I guess I better give an update instead. Maybe next time I will remember what I had started to blog today...vicious cycle isn't it? Welcome to my world.

Two weeks ago Steve and I went for my regular treatment. The trip was routine, nothing spectacular - just the usual toxic cocktail and then we are on our way. We stopped by my old office to see my friends. They have all been so loving and supporting to us and I really miss seeing them every day. The visit wore me out so I was looking forward to getting home and hitting the couch. We had just settled in at home when the nurse called and said my blood work was "concerning" and could indicate renal trouble. I arranged to go back to the cancer center the next morning for more blood test. Praise God the first test was a fluke! All counts were fine and we got to come back home. That was good news...but the best news of the day would come later in the afternoon. My tumor marker number dropped dramatically! Woohoo! That is the first drop in about 5 months! I was elated!!!

We thank God for the "fluke" test and for the lower tumor markers! Our God is Great!!

Glory be to God!

Thursday, February 10, 2011

White as Snow

Steve and I headed out for another treatment today. The scenery was a little different than usual because of the snow...yes, more snow in Birmingham - hard to believe!

This time of year the drive down Highway 31 or Decatur Highway or 26th Street...whichever name I choose to use on a given day...is depressing. Most of the buildings or houses are boarded up or burned. There is nothing green, nothing blooming. There are no evergreen trees so all the trees are brown...and the sky is gray (sorry, I drifted off into a 1960's song for a minute)...I thought about how ugly and dead the trees look in February...how there is no sign of life or beauty, no evidence of a redeeming quality to them. But today was different - it was a beautiful sight! Each branch, limb and twig was covered in glistening white snow. Even the brown under brush was dusted with beauty.

Isn't this so much like the redeeming love of God? We are dead in sin, ugly in our transgressions, but when we accept Jesus as the LORD and SAVIOR of our life He washes us as white as snow! Like the brown trees covered in snow, God makes us beautiful, glistening...a new creation!

So, today I'm thankful for the snow, for the God who sees me as I can be and doesn't remember how I was, and for the signs He gives us to remind us He is right with us...even on the cold road to another chemo treatment.

To God be the glory, great things He has done!

Amy