Choices - A One Year Reflection

One year ago, I was driven to the Emergency Room at Cooper Hospital in Camden, NJ. By mid-afternoon, it was apparent that I would be having emergency surgery to  repair a larger hernia. I didn't have a choice. Hernias do not repair themselves. As I was prepped for surgery, I don't remember much except a feeling of peace that all would be well. 

When I awoke many hours later in Trauma ICU unable to speak due to a breathing tube down my throat and connected to a bunch of machines, I still had this incredible peace. I still don't remember much about that day, but I do know that while in surgery they made a life saving choice. They called the on call doctor for gynecological issues who happens to one of the "top" doctors in the country. He called my family and told them that I had he need to remove a large mass. My family had no choice but to give consent and allow him to "save" my life.

While recovering, I too, had a choice. I could mope around, whine and complain, and be a miserable patient, Or I could choose to be joyful, despite my circumstances. I chose joy, thankfulness, and smiling through it all. I wasn't in pain. I just had that nasty tube down my throat and was hungry! And thankfully, they released me the day before Thanksgiving.

As I was recovering, again, I could have chosen to be mad at God, wondered why me, and become bitter and angry, but I chose thankfulness and joy. When I received the dreaded cancer diagnosis, although shocked, I chose to see it as part of God's plan for my life and I was going to do my very best to live for Him. 

At times the past year hasn't been easy, but the choice to live for Jesus was never hard. This past weekend, the my choir family & I sang a beautiful song based on the hymn, "I'd Rather Have Jesus." The song lyrics talk about some of the choices we make in life. Do we live to get more & have more things??? Do we live to have houses and lands in several different places around the world??? Do we live to be the CEO of a major corporation??? Do we live to be the next American Idol or "Voice" or Top Chef or the Next Top Model or designer??? I'm not saying that having these things or achieving success is a bad thing, but what I am asking is what are your priorities??? If any of these things take away from your relationship with God, then maybe you need to make a choice.

Here is George Beverly Shea singing "I'd Rather Have Jesus." 

Over the past year, if I learned anything, I learned that I would rather have Jesus in my life while walking through a diagnosis of cancer and 6 rounds of chemo, than living one second without Him.

Have you chosen to believe in Christ??? It will be the best choice you will ever make!!!


As always, thank you faithful prayer warriors for upholding me with your prayers, encouragement. You are a big part of my healing!!!


Only by His strength,
Sandy

Summer - Part 3 - August & September and Early Autumn (October) + a Doctor appointment

In some ways August & September flew by quickly and in other ways it seemed to drag on and on. Not that summer is a bad thing, but working from 11am until 8pm doesn't leave much time to enjoy the warm sunshine.

On the morning of August 3rd, I had 2 medical appointments. The first was an ultrasound for my thyroid. My family doctor thought it was a bit enlarged during a regular appointment and wanted to make sure that there were no problems. The test was super easy and painless. My second appointment was my first follow-up with my wonderful oncologist, Dr. A. and he gave me a good report, gave me the okay to return to the gym, and ran his hand in my fuzzy hair. We laughed and he said, see you in 3 months!!! Yeah!!!! After that, I stopped in the Oncology/Infusion services to get my port "flushed."

Weekdays are busy assisting government employees from the Department of Commerce to various destinations around the world. I'm really enjoying the variety of places they travel and the people I talk to on each call.

As you'll see, my weekends have been filled with fun activities throughout August, September, and October. The first Saturday in August, we had dinner at a fabulous smorgasbord in Lancaster, PA with our friend, Peter, who was in the States from Japan. He teaches at a girls' school that sends a group of girls to Lancaster County (Amish country), PA for several weeks to experience American culture. Because Peter is fluent in both English & Japanese, he is one of the chaperones for the group. While in the States, he visits with his family and with my family. Here is a picture before we part for another year.

Peter, me, Janet, Mom, Dad. Too bad the photo taker's finger was in the way.

Not only was August 9th our Annual Choir Picnic, but it was the first time I was going to go "public" without a hat. I chose this day because the Choir is family. They have prayed for me, encouraged me, and helped me get through the past 9 months. It was so fun to arrive without a hat!!

The next weekend, August 16, one of my best friends took me out to lunch to celebrate my birthday. We always have such a wonderful time talking and catching up with each other. I wish we could get together more frequently, but my crazy life sometimes makes that impossible.

As a member of the Philadelphia Modern Quilt Guild, we sometimes bring in guest quilting instructors for workshop & lectures. On Saturday, August 23, I participated in the Jackie Gehring workshop. About 20 quilters played with fabric and some new techniques for the day. Below is my effort for the day.

The following weekend was Labor Day weekend. My sister and I planned to leave after work on Friday night and drive the 2 1/2 hours to the Poconos, but last minute we decided to leave early Saturday morning. We stopped a 2 quilting stores on the way up and arrived there around noon. The rest of the weekend was spent sewing, sleeping, eating, and laughing. All too soon it was time to pack up and return back to home.

September was a blur. Between being extremely busy at work, our online quilting business was part of an online shop hop, plus all the normal church activities were starting back up. Weekends were spent growing the business and trying to catch up doing things around the house.

One of the good things in September is that my hours changed a bit. I'm praying that they will change again sometime in November. I really miss attending choir, Bible study, and quilt guild meetings.

The first weekend in October, my Mom's side of the family had a cousin's reunion at their home. My Mom's father was one of 12 brothers and sisters. It's those children who now are attempting to keep in touch more and get together more. Someday, I'd love to include the next generation when we do a get-together, but since my generation is scattered all along the East Coast, it might be fairly difficult. Here is a picture of all the cousins in attendance.

The next weekend, October 11, I laid low recovering from a nasty head cold and a night with no sleep. Ugh!!! Thanks to lots of prayer, I was feeling better sooner than usual.

On Saturday, October 18, I was invited to attend the wedding of my friend Meredith. She is marrying her college sweetheart, Jesse. It was a sunny & warm October afternoon to attend an outdoor wedding. The bride was beautiful & the groom was handsome. The ceremony was touching and the reception was so much fun!!! I even got to Wobble!!!! Here is a picture of me with the happy couple.

From October 23 through October 27, my sister & I flew to Houston to attend Quilt Market. This is a huge buyer's show for those in the quilting business. Since we run an online quilting store, we went looking for the best in modern & contemporary quilting patterns and more. We were not disappointed!!! If you are reading this and you are a quilter, come check us out!!! www.thequiltersbazaar.com

In anticipation of my doctor appointment, I had my blood work done on Thursday. What will my numbers be now??? 

During October, work was busy, but not too crazy.

Finally, another follow-up appointment with my oncologist, Dr. A on Tuesday, November 4. He's always so pleasant and cheerful. He makes me smile. After checking everything, he said, see you in 3 months. Yeah!!! Everything is good!!! Praise the Lord!!!!!

I did ask him about my fatigue and he suggested swimming. I'm thankful that the gym I go to has a pool. So I'll do as Dory says ....

This passage has been on my mind the past few weeks. It's 2 Corinthians 4:7-10, 6-18. "But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies." "So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."

John Piper on his website, www.desiringgod.org says this about 2 Corinthians 4:7, "...you should use your gift for the good of others and the glory of God is that your ordinariness is no reason not to. Too many people say, "I'm so ordinary, so average and undistinguished. I can't do anything significant." 2 Corinthians 4:7 shows that this argument is wrong and why. It says, "We have this treasure in earthen vessels (or clay pots!) to show us that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us." God's concept of ministry is so different from the world's concept. The world stresses the classy container, not the glory of God in human weakness."

My church has been going through a series of messages called "Connect" based on our mission statement. It really pretty simple. We need to first Connect to God, then we need to Connect to God's People, and lastly, Connect to God's Work. By having this passage on my mind over the past several weeks, maybe God is reminding me to keep using my gifts & abilities for His glory. 

What about you??? Are you using your "treasure" to serve Him??? If not, start praying about where & how to serve. It doesn't need to be flashy or showy, it just needs to be done in love & for Him!!!

As always, thanks so much for praying!!! Here are a few things to continue to pray about for me:

- motivation to get to the gym & swim!
- increased energy level
- my former co-worker, Corinne, who was just diagnosed with cancer

Only by His Strength,
Sandy