We Got the Call

The call came. I thought it was to tell us there is a problem with our home study. Surprisingly it was for a child. I had one of those moments when you praise God with dancing and singing. Sunny joined in the jumping and crying. Elliott sunk deep in his chair embarrassed I would behave this way in front of his friends. Nothing can contain the joy I feel. 

This journey has been so long. We began talking about adoption after we lost our twins, it was my third pregnancy. We knew I really shouldn't have children. Then Sunny came along. We started the process after losing another child. We were looking into different agencies when our heart was opened to the need for children in foster care. We chose a local agency and started the home study. The next week we found out Elliott was on the way. A few years passed but the longing deep inside never went away.  Again we found a local agency and started the process, Jim became injured and out of work. Everything was put on hold. Started back up, Sunny was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes.  We had no idea what was ahead, we again stopped the process.  Next a lupus flare. As I would look at my prayer journal. My unanswered prayer would bring a deep ache. I grieved adoption, like giving birth to more children, was a lost hope. My prayer was Adopt in 3-5 years. I wanted to write no for the answer. I could never bring myself to do it. Last year we started the process again. We were hit with trial after trial during this process. This time we did not give up. I truly believed the time is coming. After 13 years, we got the call. We now wait to see if we match. This one may not be our child, but there is one out there for us and we are officially ready. God did hear that prayer and one day soon their name, not no, will be written as the answer.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. James 1:2-5 NIV

Too Short To Not Be Intentional

We are settling into a summer routine. Sleeping till 10 AM (Sunny, when I forgot she is not at school), eating ice cream for breakfast (Elliott thinking I was still in bed, while I was having my quiet time). It is turning out to be a very relaxing summer, although it may have something to do with my resting from surgery.
Thankfully this surgery has reminded me of a few things. Resting is good. We will survive the dishes in the sink and the laundry basket full.  I have amazing friends and family. And I want to be intentional. Intentional authentic relationships. The type of relationships that grow and need cultivating.
Last summer was quiet. My kids and I went our separate ways. They are older, what teen and tween want to hang out with their mom. At least what I thought. I think I missed something. I forgot how much my kids still need me. How much they need my focus, my intentional time.  Since the start of summer, we've had more conversations, more goofy moments, more intentional time. It takes effort but it has been so worth it. Not only do I know my kids better but I am learning some things about myself.
Realizing years ago that nurturing isn't one of my natural gifts, I began to pray for it. I have been blessed by trials to learn the true meaning of nurture. One of the gifts hidden amidst Type 1 Diabetes. Each day becoming a better mother. Not perfect but better. My next prayer is to be intentional. Remembering no matter what stage my children are in they will always need me in some capacity, even when they or I may not think so. Giving them all of my focus in our time together. Life is too short to not be intentional.

One Step Ahead

I feel as if I am going out of my mind. I have now been down for 4 weeks straight, almost 5 with at least 2 more to go. I found I have a slight complication, an abscess in an incision. It's being treated with antibiotics and more rest. I was actually glad to hear it is an abscess, I really didn't want to hear "I told you, you're overdoing it". But I am now resting again as told, I even confided in friends that 2 weeks of being down was not enough and would gladly take any meals offered. You know you have good friends when they scold you, then give you a hand up.

I will say this whole hysterectomy path was a wise choice. After all the troubles I had, I do feel amazing! And when I say amazing, I mean AMAZING! PRAISE GOD! Of coarse unless I overdo it. My doctors are all very happy with me. I listened.  I have also decided after being encouraged by two cancer genetic counselors, to have the BRAC 1 gene test for breast cancer. It really was not hard. I had to spit which really grossed out my 13 year old. Added bonus. My insurance company actually wants to pay for it. I think my family may cost them a little more than the average family and will do anything to lower their cost. And what will it do for our family, give us a little direction and peace of mind, knowing for once we may be one step ahead.

Look For Your Invitation, My Inspiration to cook

I am enjoying my time down. O K, I am really trying to. When I am healthy I do a lot. I had to stop looking at Pinterest. It can be depressing when you are a doer and all your allowed to do is sit on the couch. I have made quite the  progress on the kids quilts and read some good books. My favorite, Bread and Wine by Shawna Niequist is a great book about gathering around the table with friends and family. Just to let you know I am planning on having dinner parties as soon as I am able. I can tell you the company will be wonderful but can't say the same about the food. I'm not saying I am a bad cook. I worked at a catering company and picked up a few lessons from the chefs. Unfortunately after my last flare I had memory loss and it seems it wiped out my cooking skills. Or possibly they were bad to start with and  my family is really nice. Part of it comes from growing up Italian in Southern California, I can make a mean pizza (not frozen) and my pasta is perfect, always al dente. Our family has a standing Taco Tuesday and Pizza Friday.  I do enjoy baking and have made progress in that area. My progress is due to some excellent recipes I've been given by friends. Usually after Jim has eaten the majority of cookies at any function we attend, I know I need to ask for the recipe.

So I guess what it comes down to is I don't have the right recipes. I know the techniques, just not the ingredients. I started figuring this out early in my marriage. I really don't know how to cook traditional "Midwest" food. Jim wanted to have beef and noodles, I asked how to make it, he laughed and said beef and noodles. I also asked how to make pot roast. 

One of the benefits of being down for 6 weeks is all the meals our friends have blessed us with. My family has noticed how wonderful these meals are. Not just because they taste so delicious, but we can feel God's love through their service. These meals have also inspired me to read more cookbooks and use my Allrecipes App more often. I am planning menus for those dinner parties, I'll try a new recipe every week, and its never to late to learn to cook. I promise I will test it out on my family first. They tend to be brutally honest when it comes to my cooking adventures. Look for your invitation, I promise you'll have a good time and we always have frozen pizza as a back up.

My Slice of Humble Pie

We are rejoicing in The Lord, non cancerous calcifications! I do have what is believed to be abnormal cells. Of coarse, I have abnormal cells. My life wouldn't be normal without them. So now we wait for the University of Michigan's opinion. If they also find me abnormal I get to go in for a lumpectomy. 

The phone rings. I get the results. Benign.  We post all clear. We release the breath we didn't know we were holding. 

The phone rings. 

Can you come in tomorrow to see the surgeon? 

You already called, everything's fine. 

Well the surgeon has the report, he'd like to discuss it. 

Ok?!?  NO!! NO!! NO!!

He tells me my cells are borderline atypical. Not normal. Borderline, sounds familiar. At 15 I was told I had borderline Lupus, two years later I had Lupus nephritis (kidney disease). Not borderline Lupus anymore. To tell if more cells are atypical a large tissue sample needs to be taken or I can wait to see if it changes. I tell him no. It just comes out, without thinking. I'm tired. I can't. I'm done. I have been having problems with my reproductive organs. They're scheduled to come out. I have put it off twice for my breast biopsy. I can't take the pain anymore. I want it fixed. So I say no. I ask my doctor to remove my ovaries. She asks why. I may have the BRCA 1 gene. I was advised to remove them at 32, to lessen my risk. I thought it was silly. Not so silly now. My surgery is done. My ovaries were enlarged, they need to be biopsied. Now we wait.

I am in a be patient and wait on The Lord mode. I realize this should be my mode at all times. Do I really know what is around the corner? I think I should know how to fix control, solve control, and answer control all my problems. They're mine. I should have control.  I said it. I don't really want to have patience. I want control. It turns out I need to be patient and wait on the Lord to answer, lead, and guide me. My health, marriage, children, friendships, all these could benefit. If I just stop trying to fix, solve, answer all my problems on my own. How many times has God shown me I don't have to endure alone? Plenty. Unfortunately I battle a giant monster called pride. I know the solution to pride. Humility. I've had a few tastes of humble pie. Nothing says We'll be ok, we don't need your help like losing the feeling and muscle control from the neck down. Learning to walk again with a walker. Humble pie. Coming home from the hospital to find your home cleaned and laundry done. The laundry you couldn't do because you couldn't raise your arms. Humble pie. 

This time I have said yes. Prepare our meals, do our laundry, clean our house, drive our kids, pray for us. Yes, I will let people in. Allow others to serve us, to encourage us, to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Now I can rest. Rest in the arms of a God who has blessed me with friends and family who have asked to serve us, has a plan to carry me through the waiting of gene testing and biopsy results, and will walk along side me as I face new trials. I will rest, wait, and enjoy my slice of humble pie which is teaching me to allow others to serve me with grace.

I breathe deeply.

My forehead is red. Waiting for the mark to go away. I found myself in the most awkward position. IV in, face down, arms behind my back. Take a deep breathe. A new test. A new day. A new normal. I should be recovering from a partial hysterectomy. Instead I am waiting for a full hysterectomy and going through test after test. Laughingly, I tell the technician, I've been through a lot of tests but nothing like this.

I am thankful God's timing is perfect. Since my partial hysterectomy was cancelled I decided to have my yearly mammogram. It was supposed to be routine. The next day the call came. I pray. I breathe. We are used to those calls. We need you to come back. Something abnormal found. We take another picture. The next day the call came again. We need to biopsy. MRI scan to check for more clusters. Is this a dream? I have lupus. I can't be suspected of having Breast Cancer too. Our new normal has begun. They review my history, I have too much risk. So today I find myself in the MRI machine. In an awkward position, trying to slow my breath with prayer, searching my mind for every calming verse His word has spoken to me.... I fear.... How can this be? It has to be a mistake.... I remember who is in control. Who loves me. Who never forsakes. Who asks to carry my burdens. I breathe deeply. His peace fills my lungs.

I have heard all about you, Lord. I am filled with awe by your amazing works.  In this time of  need, help us again as you did in years gone by... Habakkuk 3:2

Beautiful Creation

On our flight home from California we flew over the Grand Canyon. Pictures and movies can not do it justice. I can't begin to imagine the wondrous beauty it would be to behold from the ground! It amazed me, the vastness, the time it took to be created, and is taking to be created. Millimeter by millimeter it is being carved out. Only God knows how deep and wide he has visioned it to be or which minuet piece of sand and rock will flow through to bring it to completion.

I realized we are similar to the  Grand Canyon process. I too am being shaped. By the friends and family I have, my struggles with my Lupus, the consequences of my sins, the lessons I learn every day, each one is a minuet piece of sand and rock shaping me. God is slowly carving me into who I am meant to be. He is the Living water to bring all the rocks of hurt, disappointment, and sin in our fallen world into something beautiful. I am one of God's beautiful creations. How often do we think of ourselves as a beautiful creation? We were created by God to be his beautiful creation. But we have damaged his creation through our sin. He so eagerly wants to restore us to the beautiful creation he has visioned for us. If we stand firm and allow him to shape us with the freeing grace found through Christ and follow him in obedience we will become the beautiful creation he has visioned us to be. Even more wonderful than the Grand Canyon.

Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” (John 7:38 NIV)

You answer us with awesome and righteous deeds, God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas, who formed the mountains by your power, having armed yourself with strength, who stilled the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, and the turmoil of the nations.
The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders; where morning dawns, where evening fades, you call forth songs of joy. (Psalm 65:5-8 NIV)