tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964682002220070792024-03-19T04:59:52.443-06:00For the Display of His SplendorCarolyne Hart's journey with triple negative breast cancer. Uplifting, gritty look at life during chemo and radiation. Humorous, heartfelt sharing about hair loss, chemo brain, neuropathy and living "in the fog" while maintaining life with active preteens. A testimony to the power of faith in Jesus. A reminder that life after cancer can be more meaningful and opens new doors, including Pressed In Press (www.pressedinpress.com) and my cancer support group, Faith Walkers (www.faithwalkers2.com).Carolyne Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16670589951971107438noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-896468200222007079.post-51924991381551622682012-02-26T15:06:00.000-07:002012-02-26T15:06:44.019-07:00Cancer Only Sucks on Days that End in "Y"...BUT...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjybzTuzbo-G9662EJZLa7okZxc6c9rkRFmNRM7PdJIPqQtvDNrL4hGX9_-2oN8rFRFQ1XQ3W-e01_DsLs37F-RluG8-7Q7EEWTp3IwH37I1glaJ3rmgKjBHKpxJd2C6D4MooFP6MOTUsQ/s1600/Please+Pray+cover1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjybzTuzbo-G9662EJZLa7okZxc6c9rkRFmNRM7PdJIPqQtvDNrL4hGX9_-2oN8rFRFQ1XQ3W-e01_DsLs37F-RluG8-7Q7EEWTp3IwH37I1glaJ3rmgKjBHKpxJd2C6D4MooFP6MOTUsQ/s320/Please+Pray+cover1.jpg" width="222" /></a>While doing some G2 on Amazon for possible book titles for Vicki Schreiner's cancer journy book that I'm publishing, I came across one that made me laugh out loud: <em><strong>Cancer Only Sucks on Days that End in "Y"</strong></em> by Scott Finestone. Too true but also totally off base for Vicki's book, titled, <strong><em><a href="https://www.pressedinpress.com/Please_Pray.php" target="_blank">Please Pray: A Testimony to the Power of Prayer</a>. </em></strong> <br />
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<strong><em>Please Pray </em></strong>is a gritty and gripping view into life as a mother of a kindergartner enduring a second cancer journey in three years. No doubt that there were many days for Vicki and for Ryan that seemed endless with pain, fear and mind numbing fatigue. But as Vicki shares in these 440 pages of CaringBridge journal entiries, she and Ryan experienced miracle after miracle in response to their walk in faith and the prayers of their family, friends, classmates, teachers and pastors. Day after day they felt the tangible presence of Jesus, walking along side them, providing strength, hope and peace...and ultimately healing. <br />
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Ryan is now a vibrant cancer-free 3rd grader and is excited to share "his book" with everyone. I would love for you to read it too because I know it will help you grow in strength and faith and hope and peace, just as I did during the two years of editing, design, layout and publishing this wonderful book. I am so proud of Vicki for her willingness to share this very, very personal story with others so that they might be encouraged and grow from her experience. And I am so excited to see how God will use this in ways we can't even imagine.<br />
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You can preview the entire book and purchase it from my publishing website, <a href="https://www.pressedinpress.com/Please_Pray.php" target="_blank">Pressed In Press</a> (the new and improved, i.e. trademarkable, name for Splendor Books). It's also available in the Resurrection Christian School offices, for those of you in the Loveland area. Carolyne Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16670589951971107438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-896468200222007079.post-29757385390296097782011-09-15T13:34:00.003-06:002011-09-22T11:26:35.200-06:00Sharing the Journey: Sharing Your Story<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-LcdwaYkdkA07Tm9ubi7yjdlgGrmYs6IzzNQ3e845aivzPGOKkZT23mDdPbJTizS9Bg0f_2fXyCTL3xzDxVO6jxq9JLaVAVMle1HegtqLdNod6mRzm_P99fmUKDJoledSUiF6AcnNF0/s1600/Sharing+Your+Story.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-LcdwaYkdkA07Tm9ubi7yjdlgGrmYs6IzzNQ3e845aivzPGOKkZT23mDdPbJTizS9Bg0f_2fXyCTL3xzDxVO6jxq9JLaVAVMle1HegtqLdNod6mRzm_P99fmUKDJoledSUiF6AcnNF0/s320/Sharing+Your+Story.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Today I have the privilege of speaking at Poudre Valley Hospital's Sharing the Journey cancer support group. I'll be sharing my cancer journey story and doing a mini-workshop about ways that we can each share our story with others. I continue to see such value in our life stories and hope to encourage others to share their stories, their lives with loved ones and friends.<br />
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I'm experimenting with how I can post this presentation. You should be able to <a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0BxyzKwOMUt7BZGRmOTc3NzItMjQ0Ny00MWVmLTg2ZTUtODQ2ZDFkM2E0ZTA1&hl=en_US">click here to download and view a pdf copy of this presentation</a>. I'd love to hear your feedback and your stories.Carolyne Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16670589951971107438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-896468200222007079.post-46924722308560612342010-01-23T17:09:00.000-07:002010-01-23T17:09:28.115-07:00Radiation Rhema: HOT off the press<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilyT0givlG9Kzc0rRwb92OSmpw-iIBRgOvP-in4zxB5IVoveD8hhMbYZzHwrPyptrCs3X1T6AweC7-vJAmkJi5f3cEioV03OSD5i2YJ3TcyXQHqfzuPXaPnaRDMOFM_Q3QCVXbtzmvyqk/s1600-h/Radiation+Cover+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilyT0givlG9Kzc0rRwb92OSmpw-iIBRgOvP-in4zxB5IVoveD8hhMbYZzHwrPyptrCs3X1T6AweC7-vJAmkJi5f3cEioV03OSD5i2YJ3TcyXQHqfzuPXaPnaRDMOFM_Q3QCVXbtzmvyqk/s320/Radiation+Cover+3.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
</div>Hot, hot, hot! I'm so excited to announce that the book I started when I began radiation treatment in August is now, literally, hot off the press. <br />
<br />
The reason I'm so excited is that I believe the scriptures that God gave me for this book are absolutely powerful and potentially life changing. That's because each verse in this book declares God's sovereignty and power, His love for each of us and His peace and strength in the midst of trials. <br />
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As I memorized these verses, day after day of radiation...for 35 days, I gained such rock solid strength. As I share this book with others who have also been through the fire, they too recognize the power and truth these verses hold. As Hugh says for all of my books: "Have the Kleenex ready."<br />
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I'd love for you to thumb through this book (by visiting <a href="http://www.splendorbooks.com/Radiation_Rhema.php">http://www.splendorbooks.com/Radiation_Rhema.php</a> and clicking the "Preview" button) and would be honored if you would purchase a copy for yourself or a friend. This makes a beautiful and thoughtful gift for anyone going through a fiery time, cancer or otherwise. I'll be happy to sign your copy or write a personal note to you or whoever you're giving it to. It's been humbling and such a privilege to be fulfilling the first orders for this and to be praying for each person receiving it. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: orange; font-size: x-small;">Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! </span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: orange; font-size: x-small;">Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: orange; font-size: x-small;">Do not be anxious about anything,</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: orange; font-size: x-small;">but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: orange; font-size: x-small;">present your requests to God.</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: orange; font-size: x-small;">And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: orange; font-size: x-small;">will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: orange; font-size: x-small;">Philippians 4:4-8</span></em><br />
</div>Carolyne Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16670589951971107438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-896468200222007079.post-92200970591755048222009-11-23T10:33:00.174-07:002009-12-04T11:07:49.448-07:00My Song of Praise<div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzA89HJ12RCTTt1pHGUPw66voj5HNcqRIeWvyvnut2k_eVuxO35JU18yi6XVjHWWfxwwGOfSzMy3wS9Zj3WmeykJ3vpxKSy3EmNnH9UnpySZ1GfjutpGlQt6T6lBvytD5FptsIVYC_PtI/s1600-h/P1010785.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" er="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzA89HJ12RCTTt1pHGUPw66voj5HNcqRIeWvyvnut2k_eVuxO35JU18yi6XVjHWWfxwwGOfSzMy3wS9Zj3WmeykJ3vpxKSy3EmNnH9UnpySZ1GfjutpGlQt6T6lBvytD5FptsIVYC_PtI/s200/P1010785.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Tomorrow is the anniversary of my biopsy that diagnosed breast cancer. In so many ways it seems like ages ago, and in other ways just days ago. I wrote about that period on my page on the Faith Walkers website (<a href="http://www.faithwalkers2.com/carolyne.htm">http://www.faithwalkers2.com/carolyne.htm</a>). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">God has been so faithful and His Word has proven life giving and true. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Yesterday and today I revised Samuel 22 (David’s Song of Praise) to be my own. Be encouraged. Through God, WE ARE VICTORIOUS!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Love you,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Carolyne</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">P.S. My new hair is curly and a different color than before (grayer and a duller sable brown). Time will tell if it stays curly or goes back to its old self. I think I'm my old self (in a good way).<br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>2nd Samuel 22</strong></span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>Carolyne's Song of Praise </strong></span><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">1 </span><span style="color: red;">Carolyne</span> sang to the LORD the words of this song when the LORD delivered <span style="color: red;">her from cancer and the fear of cancer. </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">2 </span>She said: </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"<span style="color: red;">You O</span> LORD <span style="color: red;">are </span>my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">3 </span>my God, <span style="color: red;">you are</span> my rock, in whom I take refuge, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">my shield and the horn of my salvation. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;">You are</span> my stronghold, my refuge and my savior— </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">from <span style="color: red;">disease and distress</span> you save me. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">4 </span>I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and I am saved from my enemies, <span style="color: red;">from cancer, from fear, from anxiety. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">5 </span>"The waves of death swirled about me; </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">6</span> The cords of the grave coiled around me; </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the snares of death confronted me. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">7</span> In my distress I called to the LORD; </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I called out to my God. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From his temple he heard my voice; </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">my cry came to his ears. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">8</span> "The earth trembled and quaked, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the foundations of the heavens shook; </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">they trembled because he was angry. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">9</span> Smoke rose from his nostrils; </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">consuming fire came from his mouth, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">burning coals blazed out of it. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">10</span> He parted the heavens and came down; </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">dark clouds were under his feet. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">11</span> He mounted the cherubim and flew; </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">he soared on the wings of the wind. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">12 </span>He made darkness his canopy around him— </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the dark rain clouds of the sky. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">13 </span>Out of the brightness of his presence </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">bolts of lightning blazed forth. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">14</span> The LORD thundered from heaven; </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the voice of the Most High resounded. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">15</span> He shot arrows and scattered the enemies, <span style="color: red;">each and every cancer cell, </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">bolts of lightning and routed them. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">16</span> The valleys of the sea were exposed </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and the foundations of the earth laid bare </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">at the rebuke of the LORD, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">at the blast of breath from his nostrils. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">17</span> "He reached down from on high and took hold of me; </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">he drew me out of deep waters. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">18 </span>He rescued me from my powerful enemy, <span style="color: red;">Satan,</span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">from <span style="color: red;">disease that was</span> too strong for me. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">19</span> <span style="color: red;">Satan tried to confront</span> me in the day of my disaster, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">but the LORD was my support <span style="color: red;">and He makes me a victor in all things</span>. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">20</span> He brought me out into a spacious place; </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">he rescued me because he delighted in me. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">21</span> "The LORD has dealt with me according to my righteousness; </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">22 </span>For I have kept the ways of the LORD; </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have not done evil by turning from my God. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">23 </span>All his laws are before me; </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have not turned away from his decrees. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">24</span> I have been blameless before him </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and have kept myself from sin. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">25</span> The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">according to my cleanness in his sight, <span style="color: red;">thanks to the covering, cleansing blood of Jesus. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">26 </span>"To the faithful you show yourself faithful, <span style="color: red;">O Lord, </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">to the blameless you show yourself blameless, </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">27</span> to the pure you show yourself pure, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">28 </span>You save the humble, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them low. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">29 </span>You are my lamp, O LORD; </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the LORD turns my darkness into light. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">30 </span>With your help I can advance against a troop<span style="color: red;"> in any battle</span>; </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">with my God I can scale a wall, <span style="color: red;">I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me</span>. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">31</span> "As for God, his way is perfect; </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the word of the LORD is flawless. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He is a shield </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">for all who take refuge in him. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">32</span> For who is God besides the LORD ? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And who is the Rock except our God? </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">33 </span>It is <span style="color: red;">you O</span> God who arms me with strength </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and makes my way perfect. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">34 </span><span style="color: red;">You make</span> my feet like the feet of a deer; </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;">you enable</span> me to stand on the heights. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">35 </span><span style="color: red;">You train</span> my hands for battle; </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">my arms can bend a bow of bronze and <span style="color: red;">uphold all who are hurting</span>. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">36 </span>You give me your shield of victory; </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">you stoop down to make me great. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">37 </span>You broaden the path beneath me, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">so that my ankles do not turn. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">38</span> "I pursued my enemies <span style="color: red;">-- cancer and fear --</span> and crushed them; </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I did not turn back till they were destroyed. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">39</span> I crushed them completely, and they could not rise; </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">they fell beneath my feet. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">40</span> You armed me with strength for battle; </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">you made my adversaries bow at my feet, <span style="color: red;">you made cancer my slave</span>. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">41 </span>You made my enemies turn their backs in flight, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and I destroyed my foes. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">42 </span>They cried for help, but there was no one to save them— </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">to the LORD, but he did not answer. <span style="color: red;">In His presence they are powerless.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">43 </span>I beat them as fine as the dust of the earth; </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I pounded and trampled them like mud in the streets. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">44 </span>"You have delivered me from the attacks of <span style="color: red;">Satan</span>; </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">you have preserved me as <span style="color: red;">a light to the world</span>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">People I did not know are<span style="color: red;"> encouraged by</span> me, and <span style="color: red;">drawn to you</span>, </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">45</span> and foreigners come <span style="color: red;">curiously </span>to me; </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">as soon as they hear me, they <span style="color: red;">soften to you, O Lord</span>. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">46</span> They <span style="color: red;">do</span> <span style="color: red;">not</span> lose heart; </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">they come trembling from their strongholds, <span style="color: red;">seeking you, O Lord, God of Carolyne, Creator of the Universe. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">47</span> "The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Exalted be God, the Rock, my Savior! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">48 </span>He is the God who avenges me, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">who puts <span style="color: red;">Satan </span>under me <span style="color: red;">and cancer behind me</span>, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">49</span> who sets me free from anxiety. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You exalted me above my <span style="color: red;">trial</span>; </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">from <span style="color: red;">deadly disease</span> you rescued me. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">50</span> Therefore I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations; </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I will sing praises to your name. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">51</span> He gives his<span style="color: red;"> daughters</span> great victories; </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">he shows unfailing kindness to his anointed, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">to <span style="color: red;">Carolyne and her</span> descendants forever."</span>Carolyne Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16670589951971107438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-896468200222007079.post-71405032313690910162009-10-12T15:21:00.008-06:002009-10-13T18:18:26.405-06:00"It is finished."<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidw7iE1LeN3Q8myNPXDq55Hz6Ed5hnGlNkwsS_1wklSbtAI-CrzVDFdALMeOYYx2sxgjUKKyQmhU9Rs4e0onroE7DBjeXWsZbrG29v2egl82Bd_WoZml4WxfsEdW4AcRDjBDQHDwIe4cQ/s1600-h/P1010324.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392234799866084642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidw7iE1LeN3Q8myNPXDq55Hz6Ed5hnGlNkwsS_1wklSbtAI-CrzVDFdALMeOYYx2sxgjUKKyQmhU9Rs4e0onroE7DBjeXWsZbrG29v2egl82Bd_WoZml4WxfsEdW4AcRDjBDQHDwIe4cQ/s200/P1010324.JPG" /></a> At 1:41 this afternoon, I walked out of the surgeon's office port-free and cancer-free. Jesus said, "It is finished." I just said, <strong><em>"Yahoooooo!"</em></strong><br /><br /><br /><div><div><div>Detecting that I'm cancer-free is medically a matter of faith at this point, though I'm quite certain of it. But there's absolutely no question that I am port-free. Unlike the procedure to put it in, I was awake for its removal. I can't tell you exactly what it looked like because they hung a curtain between my face and my chest, supposedly so I wouldn't contaminate the site with my breath or a sneeze. More likely it was there so I wouldn't throw up or strangle the surgeon if I watched.</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTlunJNMaOekX5Ht0pJ4zerz6auBhX9Na5gpz6j9iZqqKSNjMYwVx-OT2Gq-IVDzfcouhWw2UrOiFr-g6qGOFr0fbKxSzJkixJXQuCCKCGhsSNhin3NbUeslgoT9Z18fstuwrKVYKacPo/s1600-h/P1010321.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392229045727746914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTlunJNMaOekX5Ht0pJ4zerz6auBhX9Na5gpz6j9iZqqKSNjMYwVx-OT2Gq-IVDzfcouhWw2UrOiFr-g6qGOFr0fbKxSzJkixJXQuCCKCGhsSNhin3NbUeslgoT9Z18fstuwrKVYKacPo/s320/P1010321.JPG" /></a>The same surgeon who put it in almost seven months ago, took it out today, using the original 1-inch incision, a few inches below my right collar bone. After numbing up the area, he tugged and jimmied out the purple walnut sized rubber port along with the 7-inch long tube that had been inserted in a vein going into the main artery of my heart. Just like at the dentist, the numbing needles hurt as much or more than the real work they're doing; but from the sounds and sensations of him working, I could tell it didn't just pop out on its own. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I haven't bled to death, so I guess he was right that the vein closes in on itself when the tube is pulled out. I'm not sure what the lovely red body tissue is on the tray. I didn't ask to take it home, nor do I plan to use the port in a Cancer Journey Shadow Box, like one patient rep<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAREmVgiskNYP-BRLjJxDQGXkw3bx9N-01rHbcVgxcYDEyHKVyJh1r6y4Bp-2EAlEV_UmhB-We2uDUufMKzrBnmttd5YimsLIV6jHL1DzeCVyu0HV-m570DnLLZCXK4FeVDEo_h3Zaegk/s1600-h/P1010303.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 258px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 191px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392229058832743554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAREmVgiskNYP-BRLjJxDQGXkw3bx9N-01rHbcVgxcYDEyHKVyJh1r6y4Bp-2EAlEV_UmhB-We2uDUufMKzrBnmttd5YimsLIV6jHL1DzeCVyu0HV-m570DnLLZCXK4FeVDEo_h3Zaegk/s320/P1010303.JPG" /></a>ortedly made. Instead, I'll just preserve the memory through this beautiful photo I'm sharing with you.</div></div><br /><div></div><div>I'll keep the dressing on for a week and by then the stitches should have dissolved. It feels a little tender and itchy but nice to not feel the tube going up over my collar bone and the tightness and lump of the port coming out of my chest. I'm glad to have had it (way easier to get the chemo through it and to have blood samples taken from it)...but very glad to have it no more.</div><div><br /></div><div></div><div>(This photo shows how the port looked in me: the purple area on the left is it, sticking up from underneath my skin and the dot on my collar bone is where the tube came up and over it. Both felt weird to touch.)</div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioVWjOKItZKCcPjhllpU_RtgPxuDQXGEDriFYCjk2JPGsDxJsQdf81xhQS_Ac4jBEjVk02-24-zQOXQfV_Ym44uXToqj_3tKvCwglTh_hGEVyUPk8kWahF5j1Z_eUhp3Q3BhaB1CEyRyE/s1600-h/P1010203.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392224708008417506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioVWjOKItZKCcPjhllpU_RtgPxuDQXGEDriFYCjk2JPGsDxJsQdf81xhQS_Ac4jBEjVk02-24-zQOXQfV_Ym44uXToqj_3tKvCwglTh_hGEVyUPk8kWahF5j1Z_eUhp3Q3BhaB1CEyRyE/s320/P1010203.JPG" /></a>I finished radiation last Tuesday the 6th -- also a major <em><strong>"Yahoooooo!"</strong></em> because it marked the end of my daily treatment routine and back to a normal "my life" routine. Here's a photo taken in the changing room where I went everyday to don a lovely blue and white cotton hospital gown. When I own my own radiation oncology firm, I will supply my clients with colorful polar fleece gowns in a variety of colors and styles, and none with open backs and tricky ties.</div><div><br /></div><div>The radiology clinic staff did provide some nice touches though. Not only were they kind and fun to be with each day, but they always had jigsaw puzzles in the waiting room, an assortment of cookies to munch on and a "Happy Day" cake to celebrate my last day of radiation. </div><div><br /></div><div><br />The radiation itself proved to be quite painless and unobtrusive, except for the time it took out of each day. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKrG15rhgDgiVXIcRoSqQEUiwb3ejf3Fw95sgwR6OfWF6tWCkASRF9HKSwnxwwWb96EF4BRFqnqA8qZnsM87n1Ui8HV178JolZJzkbIoPwv5wL05WVyuhx_Ts2xqJ8l1d5ilnM0-Xhp4w/s1600-h/P1010204.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 257px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392224695162275970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKrG15rhgDgiVXIcRoSqQEUiwb3ejf3Fw95sgwR6OfWF6tWCkASRF9HKSwnxwwWb96EF4BRFqnqA8qZnsM87n1Ui8HV178JolZJzkbIoPwv5wL05WVyuhx_Ts2xqJ8l1d5ilnM0-Xhp4w/s320/P1010204.JPG" /></a>I didn't feel particularly tired and was able to get back to normal work and activities throughout the seven weeks of treatment. My dad drove out from Iowa <em>("Thank you, Dad!!!") </em>to drive with Hannah and I to a soccer tournament in Vail two weekends ago but I was fine doing all of the driving (3 hours each way) <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDuok8yH0NSVdip-np_q9yXoaxtJ3Aa7es_R9yAATKHre-iWMmVIw9MMewVbBDdeTla6odPuc11HnCtJCVZg8SzrrlwAuiw15uX-LBJmmU7ASgAnL9p3yLGEAOI93ELEUaJs2JTvBo17k/s1600-h/P1010018.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392224687317723602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDuok8yH0NSVdip-np_q9yXoaxtJ3Aa7es_R9yAATKHre-iWMmVIw9MMewVbBDdeTla6odPuc11HnCtJCVZg8SzrrlwAuiw15uX-LBJmmU7ASgAnL9p3yLGEAOI93ELEUaJs2JTvBo17k/s320/P1010018.JPG" /></a>and again this weekend when Hannah and I and our friend Vivian drove to Estes Park for a women's retreat. I even started an exercise program for cancer patients at the hospital and am doing fine with that. There's no question which breast got the radiation as my entire left breast and underarm was bright red, like a bad sunburn. A week after my last radiation, it's now starting to peel and get less red and should return to normal pretty quickly.</div><div><br /></div><div>The book I've been working on throughout radiation -- Radiation Rhema -- is coming together beautifully. It will have 36 days worth of verses and photos, telling the truth about God's love, light, peace and healing power. I hope to finish it in the next few weeks. Stay tuned here for links to it in my on-line bookstore.<br /></div><div>Our new Faith Walkers site (<a href="http://www.faithwalkers2.c0m/">http://www.faithwalkers2.c0m/</a>) is also going well. We've heard of women in China, Singapore and across the U.S. being encouraged by it, which really encourages us too! Feel free to share it with anyone you know facing cancer. And if you can donate to Jana Johnson's Koman Foundation 3-Day Breast Cancer Walk funds, I would be personally grateful: <a href="http://www.the3day.org/site/TR/Walk/DenverEvent2009?px=3156892&pg=personal&fr_id=1310">donate here</a>.</div><div><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em> </div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff6600;">Now faith is being sure of what we hope for</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff6600;">and certain of what we do not see.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff6600;"></span></em> </div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff6600;"><strong>Hebrews 11:1</strong></span></em></div><div><br /></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;">Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. </span></em></div><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;"><div align="center"><br />Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits-<br />who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,<br />who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,<br />who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.</div><div align="center"><br />The LORD works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.<br />He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel:<br />The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.<br />He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever;<br />he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.</div><div align="center"><br />For as high as the heavens are above the earth,</div><div align="center">so great is his love for those who fear him;<br />as far as the east is from the west,</div><div align="center">so far has he removed our transgressions from us. </div><div align="center"><br /> As a father has compassion on his children,</div><div align="center">so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;<br />for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.<br />As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field;<br />the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.</div><div align="center"><br /> But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD's love is with those who fear him,</div><div align="center">and his righteousness with their children's children-<br />with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.<br />The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.<br />Praise the LORD, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word.<br />Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will.<br />Praise the LORD, all his works everywhere in his dominion.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Praise the LORD, O my soul.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;"></span></em> </div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;"><strong>Psalm 103</strong></span></em></div></div>Carolyne Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16670589951971107438noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-896468200222007079.post-32490828527536375642009-08-28T18:25:00.011-06:002009-08-29T11:41:30.904-06:00Radiation RhemaThe good news now that my energy is back...is that my energy is back. The bad news? My energy is back, and I have eight months of pent up ideas and creativity that's been back burnered all through surgery and chemo, and now I feel like going 100 miles an hour to get back into the creative side of my life.<br /><br /><p>Two projects that I want to tell you about: </p><ol><li><strong><a href="http://www.faithwalkers2.com/">Faith Walkers</a>:</strong> a new website I developed with six other wonderful women -- five who have been walking the cancer journey recently and one who loves us all and wants to support us by walking in the Denver Breast Cancer 3-Day (60 Mile) Walk this weekend. Jana's idea was to wear a t-shirt that says "Faith Walkers" on the front and "Ask me about Carolyne...Sarah....Lynda...Vivian...Charlene" on the back. Then she's handing out business <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjABSxTa3_oqdxlUSMvu9fHbIs97WP4WEm87SUhd8K-3hId3FUoU6K9GSEOU1lUNqxb5eH1Z7r3Zcg_NHexHn5zN5RbibozzLBI1MI49v_V4HM_9TGQVm6jf9tn7D6pGYdvkGQOF0xYuq8/s1600-h/Jana+at+the+start+line.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 256px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375179361110213954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjABSxTa3_oqdxlUSMvu9fHbIs97WP4WEm87SUhd8K-3hId3FUoU6K9GSEOU1lUNqxb5eH1Z7r3Zcg_NHexHn5zN5RbibozzLBI1MI49v_V4HM_9TGQVm6jf9tn7D6pGYdvkGQOF0xYuq8/s320/Jana+at+the+start+line.jpg" /></a>sized cards with words of encouragement and our photos and the Faith Walkers website address (<a href="http://www.faithwalkers2.com/">http://www.faithwalkers2.com/</a>). On the website we share more of our stories about our healing journeys. It's still a work in progress but well worth the time to read these gals' stories -- amazing! Mine isn't fully finished but I'll keep plugging away at it now that the main site is finished. This was my first full website to build and launch and learned a lot in the process. If you'd like to support me vicariously, <a href="http://www.the3day.org/site/TR/Walk/DenverEvent2009?px=3156892&pg=personal&fr_id=1310">please donate to Jana's walk </a>fund raising; she had to raise $2,300 to walk and at the last minute a business that was going to sponsor that entirely backed out, leaving her with the entire amount to raise by the end of September.</li><br /><li><strong>Radiation Rhema: </strong>my first book project other than a few dabbles since December. I am asking God for daily words (scriptures), personal to me from Him (that's what rhema means) for each day I'm having radiation treatment. I'm trying to memorize each one (there will be 30 all together) and recite them throughout the day. Originally I'd thought I'd have all this time during my radiation treatments to memorize and recite...but now that I've had 7 treatments, each one lasting less than 2 minutes...I see that's not going to happen. The book already has 17 days of verses, each with a photo from this summer -- and as always, God orchestrates the perfect photo illustration for each verse. It's so energizing for me to be working on this and I can't wait for it to be ready to publish and share with you and with others going through cancer treatment.</li></ol><p>Radiation is going fine so far. The whole process is so different than chemo. It takes more time to put make up on and drive to my appointment than the actual appointment takes (3 minutes to take my put on a hospital gown, 3 minutes to get my tattoos aligned to laser guides, 2 minutes of radiation zapping and 3 minutes to get dressed again). It's all very private too compared with chemo where I was in a room with ten or twelve others going through hours of treatment. With radiation, it's just me and a few nice nurses and just like an x-ray, they leave the room when I'm being zapped.</p>I haven't felt tired or had skin "sun" burns yet but sounds like that may kick in after 2 or 3 weeks of treatment (I have treatments every weekday at 12:45, for 30 treatments all together...done around the first of October).<br /><br />My feet are still pretty numb, not any better or worse. I has an EMG test today by Dennis' (no my) neurologist and it showed I do have sensory neuropathy (which was obvious), but not motor neuropathy. That's good because it should get better as the effects of chemo fade (chemo has killed off the blood vessels that feed the nerves and as they rejuvenate, my nerves will too).<br /><br />My hair is growing fast. In just three weeks it's more than a quarter inch long. Very soft. Seems to be darker but with more gray. At first I was sad to see my totally bald and tanned head go away, but it's interesting to see what's coming. My eyelashes never fell out during chemo, even grew longer which was weird...but started falling out along with my eyebrows when my hair started coming back. I was bummed because it definitely gave me more of a sick/chemo look. But then I realized that new eyelashes and brows were starting to grow back in. There's a verse about a time for every season.<br /><br />School started two weeks ago, with a nice visit from Mom and Dean. Hannah and Hugh (and their parents) are back in the school routine, though I really miss my summer leisurely mornings on the deck. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilM_F4AbJPUDguE3EZMvGs-c3vqiwvQSUhNnpcMN3d2FX2gtwRVYLDCSHEXD0_v3MhmiaGH1CaDbBS22TCrWm3B8ubUYIorUm2U2vyg-igB1T0PuzTdnZqO2fVGzrWRp578HAit8brNJA/s1600-h/HPIM8225.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375193974499259746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilM_F4AbJPUDguE3EZMvGs-c3vqiwvQSUhNnpcMN3d2FX2gtwRVYLDCSHEXD0_v3MhmiaGH1CaDbBS22TCrWm3B8ubUYIorUm2U2vyg-igB1T0PuzTdnZqO2fVGzrWRp578HAit8brNJA/s320/HPIM8225.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK-E-sPC7zEYjXGMiKDTBi4AN1ON459U8gwz894Fbn9nOysMMIkjLb9Li4qBsg_BOhirkIB-ok4O0glneUbdyAxyCKS1bhhyec6156NpNqDJDVSgK82S3DhTrVTHP0vIGhqbvrsgu2Ta0/s1600-h/HPIM8235.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375195624447444578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK-E-sPC7zEYjXGMiKDTBi4AN1ON459U8gwz894Fbn9nOysMMIkjLb9Li4qBsg_BOhirkIB-ok4O0glneUbdyAxyCKS1bhhyec6156NpNqDJDVSgK82S3DhTrVTHP0vIGhqbvrsgu2Ta0/s320/HPIM8235.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p></p><br /><br /><p></p>I still get to enjoy my fun lunches with my B&B Club (Boobs and Books) girl friends. Here are some shots from Monday. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGP-Ve-H6AvtVV0NVWiXT-CibUxU0P7zDecA8MJ45Wp8ZLC1vDKHhJLFYPTB8rXC0gse6FwxiqQbbOvHm7C0KrG6tQTRFJ9zNvN5XOvggLhq3-g1_l9lOAtybUG3MDRQ_pi3o7YCxXVtM/s1600-h/HPIM8252.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375176497947216370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGP-Ve-H6AvtVV0NVWiXT-CibUxU0P7zDecA8MJ45Wp8ZLC1vDKHhJLFYPTB8rXC0gse6FwxiqQbbOvHm7C0KrG6tQTRFJ9zNvN5XOvggLhq3-g1_l9lOAtybUG3MDRQ_pi3o7YCxXVtM/s320/HPIM8252.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihR29fakoQACmC-wMpv3M3cNcLWKh3k2CsbKZYsoJCIOiEMFupbxQ4SKKOrnBIfIh6XRWkJqaPTBvb2527bvj71w9tS44imCcEA0TJh6hW4W96_NU5LPGczg-8LBTByO2wu9l5hIdKEFk/s1600-h/HPIM8257.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375176507195919474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihR29fakoQACmC-wMpv3M3cNcLWKh3k2CsbKZYsoJCIOiEMFupbxQ4SKKOrnBIfIh6XRWkJqaPTBvb2527bvj71w9tS44imCcEA0TJh6hW4W96_NU5LPGczg-8LBTByO2wu9l5hIdKEFk/s320/HPIM8257.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff6600;"><em><strong></strong></em></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff6600;"><em><strong></strong></em></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff6600;"><em><strong></strong></em></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff6600;"><em><strong></strong></em></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff6600;"><em><strong></strong></em></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff6600;"><em><strong></strong></em></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff6600;"><em><strong></strong></em></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff6600;"><em><strong></strong></em></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff6600;"><em><strong></strong></em></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff6600;"><em><strong></strong></em></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff6600;"><em><strong></strong></em></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff6600;"><em><strong></strong></em></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff6600;"><em><strong></strong></em></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff6600;"><em><strong></strong></em></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff6600;"><em><strong>Radiation Rhema Verses 1 & 2:</strong></em></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff6600;"><em>Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!</em></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff6600;"><em>Let your gentleness be evident to all.</em></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff6600;"><em>The Lord is near.</em></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff6600;"><em>Do not be anxious about anything,</em></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff6600;"><em>but in everything, by prayer and petition,</em></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff6600;"><em>with thanksgiving,</em></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff6600;"><em>present your requests to God.</em></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff6600;"><em>And the peace of God,</em></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff6600;"><em>which transcends all understanding,</em></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff6600;"><em>will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.</em></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff6600;"><em><strong>Philippians 4:4-7</strong></em></span> </p>Carolyne Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16670589951971107438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-896468200222007079.post-75626734546637599222009-08-04T15:00:00.000-06:002009-08-04T15:19:33.690-06:00Tatoos and ScarsNo offense to those of you with cool tattoos, but personally, I've just never wanted one, even with my new Biker Babe scarf look. Didn't really want any more scars either.<br /><br />But now I have both -- four new scars and four new tattoos. No photo sharing, just suffice it to say that my breast, chest and armpit have about 7 inches of scars from the lumpectomy done in January, the "re-do" done in February and the port implantation done in March...and now four freckle-sized black tattoo dots -- two on my cleavage and one on both sides of my rib cage. It took about two minutes to tattoo me but it hurt enough that I recommitted myself to a tattoo-free lifestyle.<br /><br />The tattoos will be used to align the radiation machine so that it zaps exactly where it's supposed to and not where it's not. I'll start radiation after school starts -- Monday through Friday for six weeks, but only 15 minutes each time. The primary side effects I should expect are sunburned skin all over my breast, tenderness and tiredness (though my friends who've been through chemo and radiation tell me the fatigue from radiation is nothing compared with chemo...hope that's true for me).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkrUWdjFf7bMpAix_nAsqkKQo4Yp7ZpcMYGrFVQeuNRttxh2n_ytzeZXcFKt-vFqWLXuPUrKke57zBBFGGshfboaJcFXBbhuRTTwDMvGon3kFoFfhbw_jX0n26y7a_UD1-SOB9NulLqJ8/s1600-h/HPIM8067.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 214px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366197049408300610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkrUWdjFf7bMpAix_nAsqkKQo4Yp7ZpcMYGrFVQeuNRttxh2n_ytzeZXcFKt-vFqWLXuPUrKke57zBBFGGshfboaJcFXBbhuRTTwDMvGon3kFoFfhbw_jX0n26y7a_UD1-SOB9NulLqJ8/s320/HPIM8067.JPG" /></a>Here are my scars and tattoos, all covered up, hidden from the world. Even my swim suit covers them, except the one under my arm pit.<br /><br />Hidden or not, my scarves, bald head and thin eye brows signal to others that underneath these clothes are scars that tell a story. Women often ask me if I'm going through chemo and share a story about their victory over cancer or compliment me on how radiant I look. It's always an opportunity for me to share something encouraging about my journey and to acknowledge that Jesus is the reason I'm glowing and healthy and joyful.<br /><br />As Stacy shared in Intercessory Prayer last week, it was Jesus' scars that God used to reach Thomas and others after his resurrection. It was his excruciating pain and suffering that bought our salvation, our rebirth.<br /><br />We all have scars -- physical, emotional, relational. In spite of the pain that came with them, God uses them...if we allow Him to. My hope is that my scars will cause you to seek Him for yourself. And with God's grace, your scars will also become testimonies of healing and strength and peace.<br /><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#993300;">Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve,</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#993300;">was not with the disciples when Jesus came.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#993300;">So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!"</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#993300;"></span></em></div><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#993300;">But he said to them,</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#993300;">"Unless I see the nail marks in his hands</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#993300;">and put my finger where the nails were,</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#993300;">and put my hand into his side,</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#993300;">I will not believe it." </span></em></div><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#993300;">A week later his disciples were in the house again,</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#993300;">and Thomas was with them.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#993300;">Though the doors were locked,</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#993300;">Jesus came and stood among them and said,</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#993300;">"Peace be with you!"</span></em></div><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#993300;">Then he said to Thomas,</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#993300;">"Put your finger here; see my hands.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#993300;">Reach out your hand and put it into my side.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#993300;">Stop doubting and believe."<br /></div></span></em><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#993300;">Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"<br /></span></em></div><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#993300;">Then Jesus told him,</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#993300;">"Because you have seen me, you have believed;</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#993300;">blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." </span></em></div><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#993300;"><div align="center"></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples,</div><div align="center">which are not recorded in this book.</div><div align="center">But these are written that you may believe</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#993300;">that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#993300;">and that by believing you may have life in his name.</span></em></div><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#993300;"><strong>John 20:24-31</strong></span></em></div>Carolyne Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16670589951971107438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-896468200222007079.post-20484965153296103942009-07-30T17:20:00.007-06:002009-07-31T16:15:30.804-06:00Last Chemo Treatment!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUZE6aRcJB_yKC9LGH9Hv4pu1ZPjtxxkqcoJw0ZIOOjhW3gN5GwejbC9hUYaWJrxt3HKiJ5v_Y1Sh3pGrRnVXiUlBrcrXuGsPTXpqbDUGLBjRuUgLPLxnwo3szkuM217laQp_WJceL3pA/s1600-h/HPIM7994.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355790211276887202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUZE6aRcJB_yKC9LGH9Hv4pu1ZPjtxxkqcoJw0ZIOOjhW3gN5GwejbC9hUYaWJrxt3HKiJ5v_Y1Sh3pGrRnVXiUlBrcrXuGsPTXpqbDUGLBjRuUgLPLxnwo3szkuM217laQp_WJceL3pA/s320/HPIM7994.JPG" /></a><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#6666cc;">This entry was started Tuesday, July 7...finished Thursday, July 30. Guess I kept busy this month.</span></em></strong><br /><br />98 days after stepping into the chemo room, Monday, July 6 I walked out of it, my last chemo treatment behind me!<br /><div><br /><div>I celebrated all day, beginning with my morning quiet time. I prayed about how I would mark this step in my journey and was excited when God showed me I was to celebrate communion....right there in the chemo room. Many times since I was diagnosed, I have visualized the healing blood of Jesus flowing through my veins. My friend Sarah had shared how she would pray that the His blood was surrounding every cell in her body, preparing the cancer cells to be destroyed by the chemo and protecting all of the other cells. I knew this was the perfect way to celebrate this divine healing power joining forces with the healing power of Taxol and the other drugs I'd be receiving. </div><div><br /> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC_OpXrnN8oJBAsuhGBOjw3yfBOyn_tVz2bJOM6Q_eZZ8roFffxv68vV-wrCXGrLviWY2WJbdkaueubmnv0viFpZ4DFM9exnEhXLdpGYAt__ydLalm1hdjwUFFbjOH_4LLtTvbCWiDuyI/s1600-h/HPIM7990.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355791956354638690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC_OpXrnN8oJBAsuhGBOjw3yfBOyn_tVz2bJOM6Q_eZZ8roFffxv68vV-wrCXGrLviWY2WJbdkaueubmnv0viFpZ4DFM9exnEhXLdpGYAt__ydLalm1hdjwUFFbjOH_4LLtTvbCWiDuyI/s320/HPIM7990.JPG" /></a></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>I envisioned serving others in the room too so I brought a full gallon of grape juice, a bag of thimble sized glasses (our special Christmas eggnog glasses) and Hannah prepared bread that could be shared. Maybe I chickened out but once I got settled in the chemo room and saw none of my chemo acquaintances there, I felt like this was to be a private thing for me. I waited until the two hours of blood tests and chemo-prep drugs were finished and then got my grape juice and bread ready.<br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div>After Kenna was done hooking up the Taxol, I began my private communion celebration, cocooned in my chemo chair...a sweet and joyous time...</div><br /><div>...until I tried to capture the moment with a photo. Balancing the large bottle of grape juice and a piece of bread on my laptop with my left hand, and positioning the camera with my right hand...well, that just wasn't a good idea. Your clear chemo-free mind probably already figured that out!<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Grape juice spilled <strong>all over</strong> my lap, dripping onto the floor (fortunately not all over my keyboard, though the space bar is a bit stubborn now). With the laptop on my lap, and me hooked up to the chemo machine, I was pretty helpless to deal with it. I sacrificed my scarf to try to soak up some of the juice in my lap but was I really needed a beach towel. At this point the four other patients in my chemo circle noticed that something was up and one who wasn't hooked up helped wipe up the floor spill. So much for a quiet, personal time with God, but no doubt He was smiling anyway. And as much as I'd like to have a photo of my lap covered in the healing blood of Jesus, it just didn't seem like the right thing to do at the time.<br /></div><br /><div>Since my pants were soaked with grape juice, I called "Hart 911" and within ten minutes Dennis, Hannah and Hugh had arrived with a full change of clothes. Not sure why Dennis needed to put my underwear on the top of the clothes pile he carried in, but hey, the chemo room isn't geared for total privacy and dignity anyway. Hannah helped me get out from underneath my laptop and unplugged the the chemo drip pole so I could go change clothes. I still had three more hours of treatment to go so I was really thankful for fresh clothes. I bet there aren't many patients that are such clothes horses that they were two different outfits for their final chemo treatment!<br /></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFrWCocMOO0PAPdpGY4GD4BU8z8FvP_cWfvL9f4ewQyxBXDey03TM2WOo4_gsygV2mQct2dgBwnbOs6zTaPlDUC60-VHKw4AiCX5sDve5-vaMN_LDT__nR6S3bzTiihxtV4SDD-rfiaFY/s1600-h/HPIM7993.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355790204991665218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFrWCocMOO0PAPdpGY4GD4BU8z8FvP_cWfvL9f4ewQyxBXDey03TM2WOo4_gsygV2mQct2dgBwnbOs6zTaPlDUC60-VHKw4AiCX5sDve5-vaMN_LDT__nR6S3bzTiihxtV4SDD-rfiaFY/s320/HPIM7993.JPG" /></a><br /></div><div></div><div></div><div>The rest of my treatment was uneventful. When I was done, the staff presented me with a signed bottle of sparking cider and six hours after walking in, I walked out for the last time. Just like getting home from a long trip, the first thing I did was unpack my "chemo bag" -- the cool J. Crew bag full of snacks and things to entertain me that my sisters and brother gave me. Felt good.<br /></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4lqukxzYaATTBrnfbuihEjDhj7DxtwIxC-YZxDJWFRftM7hUstY9X-7XgCSVMImvDgI4krxS8m1pOT4mk5mYCqegAb4cCjKTehyphenhyphensAjLwJsTF7iw-p0ukRcUbhXtuGKGC3sIm6Bff9m14/s1600-h/HPIM7999.JPG"></a> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><br />We celebrated with a crab dinner on the deck and enjoyed the sparkling cider. Doesn't get much better! </div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4lqukxzYaATTBrnfbuihEjDhj7DxtwIxC-YZxDJWFRftM7hUstY9X-7XgCSVMImvDgI4krxS8m1pOT4mk5mYCqegAb4cCjKTehyphenhyphensAjLwJsTF7iw-p0ukRcUbhXtuGKGC3sIm6Bff9m14/s1600-h/HPIM7999.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364406741008982178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4lqukxzYaATTBrnfbuihEjDhj7DxtwIxC-YZxDJWFRftM7hUstY9X-7XgCSVMImvDgI4krxS8m1pOT4mk5mYCqegAb4cCjKTehyphenhyphensAjLwJsTF7iw-p0ukRcUbhXtuGKGC3sIm6Bff9m14/s320/HPIM7999.JPG" /></a></div><br /></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>As with all of the previous Taxol cycles, I felt great until noon on Wednesday. And then, like clockwork, the chemo fog rolled in, blanketing me in intense fatigue and fuzzy headedness. I could still function physically and mentally (going to the kids' first swimming lesson, sending them off to Kids Camp for the weekend, making a few meals and even a fresh raspberry pie), but everything seemed to take extra time and concerted effort. And naps were glorious events.<br /></div><div></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1DstKkXGmt5TWpr-PTA5ZcaJ3jhKeFUyfG-pBe4mab7XgwfuJs_RGcFIk9nnkDSlMT_iyrmH-B-FiiFH4Rr61L48MU4dXqUUHRekLyg-zV8CMiSkffA3T91XrLE5G-YRgYMaXGqqTdSo/s1600-h/HPIM8002.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364406753680021282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1DstKkXGmt5TWpr-PTA5ZcaJ3jhKeFUyfG-pBe4mab7XgwfuJs_RGcFIk9nnkDSlMT_iyrmH-B-FiiFH4Rr61L48MU4dXqUUHRekLyg-zV8CMiSkffA3T91XrLE5G-YRgYMaXGqqTdSo/s320/HPIM8002.JPG" /></a></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><br />Friday at 5:00 p.m. -- as predicted -- the chemo fog lifted and though I was still sluggish, my head was clear and I felt like me again (maybe an 80-year-old version of me). Hannah and Hugh were gone from Friday noon to Monday evening at camp so Dennis and I had a quiet weekend together -- missing the kids but enjoying our adult meals and a house without TV on.<br /></div><div></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDRxwZ-ZvOLKKG2ovZ_9g1pCBk7f_tJtSWEIXY3wP525n_lJJKjoy6d0Y872WuzdSHoJyh-CVSzw0i8iITTiBlZMncpulFxSd5dMczg23y76NaFD8I9rxlFnPRWrdHjNCGkm-aGZeGkfg/s1600-h/HPIM8006.JPG"></a></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDRxwZ-ZvOLKKG2ovZ_9g1pCBk7f_tJtSWEIXY3wP525n_lJJKjoy6d0Y872WuzdSHoJyh-CVSzw0i8iITTiBlZMncpulFxSd5dMczg23y76NaFD8I9rxlFnPRWrdHjNCGkm-aGZeGkfg/s1600-h/HPIM8006.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364406745331794786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDRxwZ-ZvOLKKG2ovZ_9g1pCBk7f_tJtSWEIXY3wP525n_lJJKjoy6d0Y872WuzdSHoJyh-CVSzw0i8iITTiBlZMncpulFxSd5dMczg23y76NaFD8I9rxlFnPRWrdHjNCGkm-aGZeGkfg/s320/HPIM8006.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFrWCocMOO0PAPdpGY4GD4BU8z8FvP_cWfvL9f4ewQyxBXDey03TM2WOo4_gsygV2mQct2dgBwnbOs6zTaPlDUC60-VHKw4AiCX5sDve5-vaMN_LDT__nR6S3bzTiihxtV4SDD-rfiaFY/s1600-h/HPIM7993.JPG"></a>Saturday we drove an hour up into the foothills to be with our church cell group, enjoying a good meal, fellowship and fishing. Dennis caught a large rainbow trout that we brought home and baked Julia Child style, and enjoyed on the deck along with a beautiful sunset. Nice way to celebrate a blessed year and a blessed life.<br /><br /> </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"><br />This cup is the new covenant in my blood,</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;">which is poured out for you.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"><strong>Luke 22:20 </strong></span></em></div><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"><strong></strong></span></em></div><div><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"><strong><div align="center"><br /></div></strong></span></em><div align="center"><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"></span></em></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"></span></em></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"></span></em></strong></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#330099;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#330099;">"No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment,</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#330099;">for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#330099;">Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#330099;">If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#330099;">No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved."<br /><br /></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#330099;">While he was saying this, a ruler came and knelt before him and said,</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#330099;">"My daughter has just died.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#330099;">But come and put your hand on her, and she will live."</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#330099;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#330099;">Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples.<br />Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#330099;">came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#330099;">She said to herself, "If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed." </span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#330099;">Jesus turned and saw her.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#330099;">"Take heart, daughter," he said, "your faith has healed you."</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#330099;">And the woman was healed from that moment. </span></em></div><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#330099;"><div align="center"><br />When Jesus entered the ruler's house and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd,</div><div align="center">he said, "Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep."</div><div align="center">But they laughed at him. </div><div align="center">After the crowd had been put outside, </div><div align="center">he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up. </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">News of this spread through all that region.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><strong>Matthew 9:16-26</strong></span></em> </div></div>Carolyne Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16670589951971107438noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-896468200222007079.post-59548736687208724262009-07-27T17:51:00.007-06:002009-07-31T16:18:49.005-06:00Mom Told Me to Tell You I'm Fine<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYT-Hlb-wwQIHXF0OeJA5YFA9ud4VT4DqDiyrkx5ZLcVE2UzGD6XA_sxI_RNBmbXrDgzT3TqOWibnGP7W8JGEMp5ZBE-bi3_r9KUoe8TOxc8eixmhfFRzlNhwASHhmw5hatBBS0RAr-ks/s1600-h/HPIM8045.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 246px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363310454647317490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYT-Hlb-wwQIHXF0OeJA5YFA9ud4VT4DqDiyrkx5ZLcVE2UzGD6XA_sxI_RNBmbXrDgzT3TqOWibnGP7W8JGEMp5ZBE-bi3_r9KUoe8TOxc8eixmhfFRzlNhwASHhmw5hatBBS0RAr-ks/s320/HPIM8045.JPG" /></a>Just a quick post to let you know I'm doing fine...now 3 weeks exactly after my last chemo treatment. I started to write a post 2 weeks and 6 days ago the last day of treatment...and it will be worth reading when I finish it in the next day or so. But in the meantime, so I don't worry any more of you (sorry Aunt Sue, Carol, and whoever else came to my blog for an update only to see that I was still in the June 26 Fog Blog), here are some photos from this weekend's Passport To Purity getaway adventure to prove I am alive and weller everyday!<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Qf8Z7mn9DR7T3HdE30U9twSyO7ZxqId2GaKZKUdiZcPSdeKbqDOCoGdM_9DENXwKtj2lJjf4hR0GznWx4Z3ZUUDBEZlcFxxSUfvehu9FFOgjylwiu-5wV-Ehyphenhyphen9ARjLaxEJMppTe9x08/s1600-h/HPIM8053.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363310442886744530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Qf8Z7mn9DR7T3HdE30U9twSyO7ZxqId2GaKZKUdiZcPSdeKbqDOCoGdM_9DENXwKtj2lJjf4hR0GznWx4Z3ZUUDBEZlcFxxSUfvehu9FFOgjylwiu-5wV-Ehyphenhyphen9ARjLaxEJMppTe9x08/s320/HPIM8053.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Yx_YM06jqXDJdQiAGpb1or0R0tmd_6QUtIvvt70G3Bap7viyl4p9hKlyUb39tlBQdaLRdejiR4nYMpIXazKtVs_5z92p0cYi9m6O4gS83zn1YEvvJvyJuuvj130S6Iq1U_RYM3Ygt9c/s1600-h/HPIM8046.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363310453167181810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Yx_YM06jqXDJdQiAGpb1or0R0tmd_6QUtIvvt70G3Bap7viyl4p9hKlyUb39tlBQdaLRdejiR4nYMpIXazKtVs_5z92p0cYi9m6O4gS83zn1YEvvJvyJuuvj130S6Iq1U_RYM3Ygt9c/s320/HPIM8046.JPG" /></a><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ff6600;">Taste and see that the LORD is good; </span></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ff6600;">blessed is the (wo)man who takes refuge in him.</span></span></em></div><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"></span></span></em><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><strong></strong></span></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><strong>Psalm 34:8</strong></span></div></span></em><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><div align="center"><br /></span></em></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbG1DvfCVmO_7cL43nZnG6Kg3F7H5DWJfg9R0unVJdqSnwvoMD8QxDga6M8heMtZGvlc_vw_jLKwxDdVJG1EIcwM8Ph7lL1phu0ob9OthdZHx258mbyKWwDgyR0S0e60Xah8qqcka36s8/s1600-h/HPIM8043.JPG"></a>Carolyne Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16670589951971107438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-896468200222007079.post-13778802673777097122009-06-26T11:03:00.002-06:002009-06-26T12:44:37.251-06:00Fog BlogSeven chemo treatments done...one to go. The end is in sight, but not here yet. The pattern of these last three Taxol treatments has been very consistent:<br /><ul><li><strong>Monday - treatment day:</strong> 6 hours in the chemo room; no headaches or other real negatives. Strong white and red counts but my platelets are a bit low and I get nose bleeds and bruise easily. The neuropathy in my feet (as the nerve cells get killed off) is getting worse -- feels like my feet and toes are asleep and the tingling doesn't go away, but does feel better when Hannah rubs my feet or they're in the hot tub. It should get better once my treatments are finished but there could be some permanent numbing; doctors would rather give me the full dose of chemo and risk the neuropathy. So far it hasn't affected my fingers but my fingernails are a little tender and slightly discolored (but not as much as my other friends who took Taxol). The benedryll that is given to prevent inflammation with the chemo flow seemed to stop my dry cough that had hung on for weeks and weeks...nice side effect. The anti-nausea drug I take is a steroid and hypes me up in a nice, high energy way. Stayed up until 3 a.m. setting up the new computer we bought Dennis for Fathers Day and getting his old computer set up to be the kids' new computer.</li><li><strong>Tuesday</strong> <strong>- Neulasta day:</strong> in spite of staying up late, I was up in the morning taking care of health insurance and house refinancing stuff, then off to lunch with a fellow cancer survivor and Israel sojourner. Got my Neulasta shot (now at half dose) and went to the Breast Imaging Center for the first time since my diagnosis in November. It felt strange to be in the same waiting rooms, but nice to have a sense of peace and clarity about what they'd find: perfectly clear, normal healing of the scars and lumpectomy area. Next mammogram will be in November.</li><li><strong>Wednesday</strong> <strong>- Fog Day 0.5:</strong> gorgeous quiet morning on the deck, still feeling fine until about noon...then the fog rolls in. Headache, fuzzy head and achy muscles and bones, similar to having the flu. Still able to read and work on the computer but not at a very zippy pace. Kids went with neighbors to Cheyenne so it was quiet around here all afternoon. They were back by dinner and then were picked up at 10:00 for a sleepover. As soon as they left, I went to bed and slept all night aside from bathroom breaks because of all the extra water I drink.</li><li><strong>Thursday</strong> <strong>- Fog Day 1.5:</strong> total chemo fog day, start to finish. Feel really sluggish, tired, not able to move very quickly, low energy, very jet lagged. Weighed in this morning at 129, almost 20 pounds less than when I started...and back to my 20-something weight...another nice side effect. I'm eating well and have most of my taste buds back (after they were killed off by the first chemo drugs) but I don't have a desire to overeat. I've cut out some things from my diet that have certainly cut calories, fat and sugar: Starbucks coffee with cream and sugar has been replaced with hot water and fresh lemon juice every morning; no beer or soda and only an very occasional glass of wine; lots less cheese and dairy though I've put milk back into the mix most days. Basically smaller portions that fit my smaller appetite, and good mix of fruits and vegetables and not much dessert. Walked 3 or 4 blocks to get the kids to their swimming lesson and found that to be about as much as I could handle. Napped all afternoon -- nothing better than sleeping in the water bed when chemo fog is heaviest.</li><li><strong>Friday - Fog Day 2.5:</strong> tired and achy but alert enough to do my Bible study, read the paper, do some puzzles and bring my laptop out to the deck to write this blog. It's a beautiful summer day, kids are sleeping in and life couldn't be any more peaceful here on the deck. We had another rain storm last night so the air is clear and fresh. </li><li><strong>Saturday</strong> <strong>- The Fog Lifts:</strong> I'm expecting that by tomorrow (Saturday), the chemo fog will have lifted and though I won't have full energy back, I'll start to feel clearer in my thinking and able to start doing more things again...building back to almost normal throughout the rest of the week, including our favorite, Fourth of July neighborhood celebrations.</li></ul><p>Once my chemo is done, I'll start getting ready for radiation. Made an appointment to see the radiation oncologist on July 23rd. There's quite a bit of prep work involved -- making a custom mask to fit my body so the radiation is pinpointed exactly where it needs to go, and no further -- so I probably won't start that until mid to late August. August 17 is the first day of school so I'm thinking that will be when I start radiation -- everyday for 15-30 minutes for 5 or 6 weeks (end of September). With the break in between chemo and radiation, we should have a chance to get away for a short vacation or at least for a few days to do our Passport to Purity getaways (Dennis with Hugh and me with Hannah). Hannah's soccer practice starts up the first week in August so before we know it the summer will feel like it's winding down.</p><p>I was hoping to get my port out as soon as possible but my oncologist recommends we keep it in for awhile, just in case the cancer comes back quickly. The type of cancer I have ("Triple Negative"...estrogen negative, projesterine negative and HER2 negative) tends to be more aggressive in recurring but I feel that God has told me the cancer is healed and my oncologist is impressed with how well I've gotten through the treatments thus far and there's no reason now to think it will come back soon. As I get skinnier, the port sticks out even more (it's the size of a walnut, under my skin below my collar bone). Ugly and creepy feeling but not really an issue having it in.</p><p>Before I forget, I did want to share an odd side effect I've experienced, counter to the usual eyebrow and eyelash loss: my eyelashes didn't fall out and now are growing longer than normal. During the first four treatments, my eye brows thinned and my eyelashes bleached out to a blond/light brown color. Now my eyelashes have grown at least a quarter inch longer than normal and have come back their normal dark brown. I don't normally wear mascara, but when I do, boy, do I have long beautiful eyelashes, top and bottom. They even get in the way of my vision sometimes, to which Hugh (who has always had to-die-for eye lashes) said, "Welcome to my world."</p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;"><em>There is a time for everything, </em></span><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;"><em>and a season for every activity under heaven:</em></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;"><em>a time to be born and a time to die, </em></span><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;"><em>a time to plant and a time to uproot,<br /> a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,<br /> a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,<br /> a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain,<br /> a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,<br /> a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,<br /> a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. </em></span></p><p align="center"><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;">Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8</span></em></strong></p><p> </p>Carolyne Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16670589951971107438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-896468200222007079.post-37324956323704352022009-06-18T10:37:00.016-06:002009-06-18T14:16:31.708-06:00For the Display of HER Splendor?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqftgIAfLA5PSeYmKxkNLXFQME7N4nn3X2f1nH2t6vazQqa5ussEFjKVLe_oQLR5P1edtDmht0tUoJ0lAGOjlRG0BTEiitEnZwWK5Jx0qXezDOxzjtl32NgMj2bPeZAC5ykXillZ4-nD4/s1600-h/HPIM7708.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348730345038978178" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 157px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqftgIAfLA5PSeYmKxkNLXFQME7N4nn3X2f1nH2t6vazQqa5ussEFjKVLe_oQLR5P1edtDmht0tUoJ0lAGOjlRG0BTEiitEnZwWK5Jx0qXezDOxzjtl32NgMj2bPeZAC5ykXillZ4-nD4/s200/HPIM7708.JPG" border="0" /></a> I've been on a bit of a scarf buying frenzy the last few weeks. Not that I didn't have a number of gorgeous scarves that Mom brought in March, but now that every "what should I wear?" decision has to factor in headware too, I was feeling like a few more scarves in summer colors would help.<br /><br /><br /><div><div><div></div><div>Hannah helped me find the first two new scarves during a fun Girls Day Out. She correctly predicted that I'd find a hot pink scarf at Justice, a strictly for tweener girls store. At Aeropostale, we found a lemon lime tie dye scarf -- the only thing in the entire store that didn't have "Aeropostale" plastered across it (but now <em>you</em> know how totally cool I am, and if you don't know how cool Aeropostale is, you'll just have to ask Hannah or any other aspiring teenager). </div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggfaXKiKjaSBBYIxyy_d6wPYEt1X_CBPhXmm8RZcK2Rka9J5vCO_DecyfdJe1UvH5n1PwpZxucoFfk53PBM_A1JThw2KFR6no2aWZ53IrLZFGLexqqvHTJD-H8NfC0Jnwf07HzrIIoJ94/s1600-h/HPIM7738.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348738451110102882" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggfaXKiKjaSBBYIxyy_d6wPYEt1X_CBPhXmm8RZcK2Rka9J5vCO_DecyfdJe1UvH5n1PwpZxucoFfk53PBM_A1JThw2KFR6no2aWZ53IrLZFGLexqqvHTJD-H8NfC0Jnwf07HzrIIoJ94/s200/HPIM7738.JPG" border="0" /></a> Last Tuesday, still hyped up on Decadron, the steroid anti-nausea drug I get the days surrounding my Taxol chemo treatments, I went downtown to see if I couldn't find something a little more, well, sophisticated. No offense, Justice.<br /><div></div><br /><div>And boy, did I score! At Designs I found a beautiful hand painted green silk scarf (hard to see, but it's the shawl around Hannah's arm in this photos). At Nepal Tibet Imports, I found a loosely woven coral/pink/purple scarf that works with many of my summer things...and someday won't smell like incense.</div><br /><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiyOoKtamxAb_aY_gVAf_b0Wm57s-JQVBRBPayZW7usQjxooalF7kaBO5BxzDk_91bsRl7iq44JN56Id6WxOaiUzcSW79qo0mmn0qT8akL25CGRwzK0vC5A9-PrwS83pSn0cgwYcpmJc4/s1600-h/HPIM7744.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348747177637302114" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiyOoKtamxAb_aY_gVAf_b0Wm57s-JQVBRBPayZW7usQjxooalF7kaBO5BxzDk_91bsRl7iq44JN56Id6WxOaiUzcSW79qo0mmn0qT8akL25CGRwzK0vC5A9-PrwS83pSn0cgwYcpmJc4/s200/HPIM7744.JPG" border="0" /></a>My favorite is the one I found at Lizzy's at Julian's. It's the one I'm wearing in the photo with Hannah and the one after. What caught my eye was the beautiful free flowing design in a cornucopia of "my" colors. Gorgeous!<br /><br /><div></div><div>But what caught Hannah and Hugh's eye when I showed off my scarf conquest...what caused Hannah to look in horror and ask, "Mom, <strong><em>why</em></strong> did you buy <em><strong>that</strong></em> scarf?!?!?"...what I was totally oblivious to as I tried it on at Lizzy's: </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYVoB_SEry8WrA7n9a0YkDI33HiKKlYWdYWXWuOP181Kk19DW5iuV_hBiIs05bNCdZE9peZEVoxIe90OTNIZS3IYsX4_YYkvMvJyS-wzvsUO5YgF_SGUNuWum7JtIKBKK53hSPL-A9OXQ/s1600-h/HPIM7735.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348754025333441746" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 227px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 292px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYVoB_SEry8WrA7n9a0YkDI33HiKKlYWdYWXWuOP181Kk19DW5iuV_hBiIs05bNCdZE9peZEVoxIe90OTNIZS3IYsX4_YYkvMvJyS-wzvsUO5YgF_SGUNuWum7JtIKBKK53hSPL-A9OXQ/s200/HPIM7735.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div></div><div>You might wonder how I could possibly miss such a, well, noticeable part of the design? Chemo brain? Breast cancer breast blindness? Decadron delusions? I don't know but I love this scarf! And I'm thankful that her perky breasts fall right at the place I knot the scarf...our little secret.</div><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;">At that time Jesus said,<br />"I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,<br />because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned,<br />and revealed them to little children.<br />Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.</span></em></div><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"></span></em></div><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"></span></em></div><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><div align="center"><strong>Matthew 11:25</strong></div></span></em><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong><div align="center"></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#ffcc33;"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff6600;">He said to them,<br />"Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed?<br />Instead, don't you put it on its stand?<br />For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed</span></em></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="color:#ffcc33;"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff6600;">and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open.</span></em></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="color:#ffcc33;"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff6600;"><strong>Mark 4:22</strong></span></em></span></div>Carolyne Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16670589951971107438noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-896468200222007079.post-28384026616197918982009-06-02T19:58:00.006-06:002009-12-04T06:57:44.739-07:00Dry Bones, Come to Life<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Well no wonder</span> my bones have been aching! Instead of the usual pathetic 300-600 white blood cells in my 1-week-post-chemo blood count, today they have exploded to an unimaginably high 27,600 cells. Not only is that massively higher than usual, it's way higher than even my healthy rates (which seem to kick up to around 8,000 by the time I'm ready for another chemo treatment). This seems to indicate that Taxol (the chemo drug I'll be on for my final four treatments. starting last week) isn't nearly as brutal on my white and red counts as the chemo drugs used in the first four treatments.<br />
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They'll be able to cut my bone marrow booster dosage in half next week. In the meantime, when my legs, hips and shoulder bones ache I can dip into my post-surgery pain killers to dull the ache. My physicians assistant assures me I won't become a drug addict, just happier and more rested.<br />
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The other good thing about Taxol is it didn't give me any headaches the day of chemo. The chemo fog hit as usual, or maybe harder, the third, fourth and fifth day after chemo. It probably felt worse because I had to spend those days sorting through health insurance policies for Dennis and the kids. It would have been mind numbing work on a normal day, but definitely was a mind over matter task for my chemo brain. It got done anyway and time will tell whether the decisions I made "in the fog" had God's light guiding them; I'm trusting so.<br />
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I did experience some Taxol-related neuropathy that may get worse as I go through more treatments. The Taxol damages the nerve endings in feet and hands, making them feel numb or tingly. I noticed that the bottoms of my feet felt slightly numb when I woke up on Saturday. I'll need to be careful about not going barefoot outdoors and watching that I don't loose my balance. Hopefully it won't get much worse and regardless, it will go away once the chemo is finished.<br />
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My energy level is returning. On Sunday afternoon, we had a wonderful but draining trip to Estes Park to visit friends. Monday I was able to have a long, laugh-filled B&B lunch with Sarah and Lynda. And Wednesday I'll be in an all-day school board meeting/planning workshop -- so energy is a wonderful thing!<br />
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<br />
<div align="center"><em><span style="color: #663300; font-size: 85%;">The hand of the LORD was upon me,</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #663300; font-size: 85%;">and he brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me in the middle of a valley;</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #663300; font-size: 85%;">it was full of bones.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #663300; font-size: 85%;"></span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #663300; font-size: 85%;"></span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #663300; font-size: 85%;">He led me back and forth among them,</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #663300; font-size: 85%;">and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley,</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #663300; font-size: 85%;">bones that were very dry.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #663300; font-size: 85%;"></span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #663300; font-size: 85%;"></span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #663300; font-size: 85%;">He asked me, "Son of man, can these bones live?"</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #663300; font-size: 85%;">I said, "O Sovereign LORD, you alone know." </span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #663300; font-size: 85%;"></span></em><br />
</div><em><span style="font-size: 85%;"></span></em><em><span style="color: #663300; font-size: 85%;">enter you, and you will come to life.</span></em><br />
<div align="center"><br />
<span style="color: #663300;">Then he said to me, "Prophesy to these bones and say to them, </span><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: #663300;">Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD!</span><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: #663300;"></span><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: #663300;"></span><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: #663300;">This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones:</span><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: #663300;">I will make breath </span><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #663300; font-size: 85%;">I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #663300; font-size: 85%;">and cover you with skin;</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #663300; font-size: 85%;">I will put breath in you, and you will come to life.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #663300; font-size: 85%;"></span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #663300; font-size: 85%;"></span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #663300; font-size: 85%;">Then you will know that I am the LORD.' " </span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #663300; font-size: 85%;"></span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #663300; font-size: 85%;"><strong></strong></span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #663300; font-size: 85%;"><strong>Ezekiel 37:1-6</strong></span></em><br />
</div>Carolyne Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16670589951971107438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-896468200222007079.post-30926068074466843132009-05-26T13:23:00.020-06:002009-06-04T08:59:41.706-06:00Rare Please, With a Bag of Blood on the Side<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRoKa_fUKtoj1lujLHJJ10JP4YVgxSSNjNrwRLHDovZmEHq00o70ESw9EoKa5uecv0Cs_xs7U24kdwTifnrTMIpKxNnpVaaxYh9x0QW0hvMf49kGBcXoWMhZ6_7-a6yY4Es3vHKRX0wV0/s1600-h/HPIM7529.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340227551687771778" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRoKa_fUKtoj1lujLHJJ10JP4YVgxSSNjNrwRLHDovZmEHq00o70ESw9EoKa5uecv0Cs_xs7U24kdwTifnrTMIpKxNnpVaaxYh9x0QW0hvMf49kGBcXoWMhZ6_7-a6yY4Es3vHKRX0wV0/s320/HPIM7529.JPG" border="0" /></a> I am one of the rare people who likes their steaks and burgers rare. Really rare. If you instantly started thinking, "so that's why she got cancer!", then you must be one of those people who prefers their meat what I would call "dry and tasteless" and you would call "perfectly delicious and not in danger of walking away." At our house we say, "that's why they make chocolate and vanilla ice cream."<br /><br />Last Tuesday night I had a blood transfusion to turbo boost my anemic red blood count. During the six hours in the hospital transfusion room, I was offered the chance to order anything I wanted from the extensive hospital dining list. I chose Chicken Marsala (wine and mushroom sauce), mashed potatoes, green beans, lemon chiffon on a nut crust (the best part of the meal) and milk.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8G3t8GOP5w-QFJjoXDr-ll5XRcg7xOYHVNKPNmiQ4DAU2Me95f9I55PLhGd46ykybMuaEWJNXQNHOjRrH_Fh-2uNmIchv8YcadTT3QN8d_IW3O37esNuvZgA38e1K77QIYVxelCS81Xg/s1600-h/HPIM7526.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340229167178899298" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8G3t8GOP5w-QFJjoXDr-ll5XRcg7xOYHVNKPNmiQ4DAU2Me95f9I55PLhGd46ykybMuaEWJNXQNHOjRrH_Fh-2uNmIchv8YcadTT3QN8d_IW3O37esNuvZgA38e1K77QIYVxelCS81Xg/s200/HPIM7526.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhW5tKcPXY__2VkrPv51zIdSUHQT7dKci2wSo5nJP5qDSw9N1ydqN2kSBYg4r2s0gbAduF0tGZHnknl7z0NFrLGpL6QF-PWIu_colMYlVWw4_PtznV1EwR1VJmmeXPNukk9hbKIOe5eYE/s1600-h/HPIM7524.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340224611742206258" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhW5tKcPXY__2VkrPv51zIdSUHQT7dKci2wSo5nJP5qDSw9N1ydqN2kSBYg4r2s0gbAduF0tGZHnknl7z0NFrLGpL6QF-PWIu_colMYlVWw4_PtznV1EwR1VJmmeXPNukk9hbKIOe5eYE/s200/HPIM7524.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim9OyWZMQMVlVoqeOSNg4kNIrAvO0pQ2ug9ROlgUa2ypr-qfl6HHHNciP-YepOXK9jjT_ids9L_pT9upocEcQp9ABwsF6Pk2sYyBJBB4l5ggJobZioYZFvtKxxNLlH8eZdwBb8uayF1bc/s1600-h/HPIM7526.JPG"></a><br /><div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><div><br /><div><div>What I didn't choose was to eat my meal while plugged into the transfusion machine, with the blood bag drip, drip, dripping into me -- all within a foot of me and in clear sight. </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>When it was time to begin the second bag of blood, the picnic cooler holding it sat on the same tray where I was eating. It looks like the same kind of picnic six pack cooler you'd buy at Target but held the blood bag (and no harvested heart or liver for a transplant). Before they loaded up the bag on the transfusion tree, the bag of blood just sat there on my table, 9-inches away from my food. Even for me, that's more blood than I like to look at while I'm eating.</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>By the way, I my blood type is O Negative (unlike my sister, Lizann, who is proud of her A Plus grade). Someone told me they have JC Positive blood (Jesus Christ Positive), which sounds good to me. I am grateful to have the Holy Spirit living in me and know that He truly does cover every cell in my body with healing, love and life.</div><br /><div></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;">Jesus said to them,</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;">"I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood,</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;">you have no life in you. </span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;">Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life,</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;">and I will raise him up at the last day.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;">For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;">Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;">Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father,</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;">so the one who feeds on me will live because of me.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;">This is the bread that came down from heaven.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;">Your forefathers ate manna and died,</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;">but he who feeds on this bread will live forever."</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;">He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.</span></em></div><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"><div align="center">On hearing it, many of his disciples said,</div><div align="center">"This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?" </div><div align="center"><br />Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, </div><div align="center">Jesus said to them, Does this offend you?</div><div align="center">What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before!</div><div align="center">The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing.</div><div align="center">The words I have spoken to you are spirit </span></em><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;">and they are life.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;">Yet there are some of you who do not believe."</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;">For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;">He went on to say, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him." </span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"></span></em></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"></span></em></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"></span></em></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"><strong></strong></span></em> </div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"><strong>John 6:53-65</strong></span></em></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Carolyne Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16670589951971107438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-896468200222007079.post-30330634427080512552009-05-25T16:52:00.017-06:002009-05-26T12:37:58.696-06:00No More Bad Hair Days<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRHUKGTScDrfrrFUjumOhHzHtdjsQC4_DuLO-ILywejshmkWxF2lmHaIXrODL1Do_PRun9AhDKMrfzNFNqz6U0njiVm1jB5aGBYjbaDWWNsV-iu_NzyJc2TVN0Pf7GWQkzA2L8YEWX1lE/s1600-h/HPIM7631.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339923231898288242" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRHUKGTScDrfrrFUjumOhHzHtdjsQC4_DuLO-ILywejshmkWxF2lmHaIXrODL1Do_PRun9AhDKMrfzNFNqz6U0njiVm1jB5aGBYjbaDWWNsV-iu_NzyJc2TVN0Pf7GWQkzA2L8YEWX1lE/s200/HPIM7631.JPG" border="0" /></a> "Mom, you really <strong>do</strong> need to shave your head. It just looks creepy."<br /><br />It's been more than a month since most of my hair fell out and the remnants remaining have not only refused to fall out on their own, but have kept growing. So I needed a haircut and a miraculous styling job, or it was finally time to get the clippers out.<br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div>I've been cutting Dennis' hair for quite awhile and today, he got his turn to cut mine. Ann Foorman, our covemate, friend and professional photographer<span style="font-size:85%;"> (</span><a href="http://www.depthoffieldarts.lifepics.com/"><span style="font-size:85%;">www.depthoffieldarts.lifepics.com</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;">)</span> came over to record the event with my camera. </div><br /><div>A picture's worth at least 500 words, so I'll save mine:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq3DZkfDq-KtVqkRGXNE1vT9h_gtIm2PprUnKTHJBeLiHOkdyD3eLg0AcgdESTAVhCDYKfDYyyVRrxSopvHKm7c8M0YrLCL3mdCgOaLqSBCPVMclijEXXinKsgemmDZQTZd3sRNGEP54Q/s1600-h/HPIM7637.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339907293935430434" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq3DZkfDq-KtVqkRGXNE1vT9h_gtIm2PprUnKTHJBeLiHOkdyD3eLg0AcgdESTAVhCDYKfDYyyVRrxSopvHKm7c8M0YrLCL3mdCgOaLqSBCPVMclijEXXinKsgemmDZQTZd3sRNGEP54Q/s200/HPIM7637.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKPYL7CjXZoS7M2ftgfjq7zWnyg1vVDz9RU2KwEh-RLOqUtok3VlQAx8_Z3R2l7EWY6TIKwpbB44H5pXISHjsG85bfquAmtijmRpPBr14vmfLXrzatGsifo2k5RLIbjUrFQaj3ZhfLLn4/s1600-h/HPIM7647.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339907316267471490" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKPYL7CjXZoS7M2ftgfjq7zWnyg1vVDz9RU2KwEh-RLOqUtok3VlQAx8_Z3R2l7EWY6TIKwpbB44H5pXISHjsG85bfquAmtijmRpPBr14vmfLXrzatGsifo2k5RLIbjUrFQaj3ZhfLLn4/s200/HPIM7647.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHEL-y4ObA9VAb93WGkdUOjUIcbpPGPTriTHgvGLBo8EDyIQrf_5AvnrFtUQsMbjatojLSulYSJZFqdQr6xQTGLZwivAyDW1MzbSegrkSID-RBQFcCQdSTxzKERn6-S0uqwE8bsL7cMPM/s1600-h/HPIM7644.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339907306790605042" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHEL-y4ObA9VAb93WGkdUOjUIcbpPGPTriTHgvGLBo8EDyIQrf_5AvnrFtUQsMbjatojLSulYSJZFqdQr6xQTGLZwivAyDW1MzbSegrkSID-RBQFcCQdSTxzKERn6-S0uqwE8bsL7cMPM/s200/HPIM7644.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnpIs-hdwFPlapZJ2Hkh5eguUaTAwp9c5gp_vGNz6x5OJznkETAs6cDeoq38xTuTbLb-dW_ySOzgHKP-qSUn23-7m33OI8eIT6IfTQVBlMxMXRYVrcDCn9nf4tNI9g0ILwpojxQTTqVUQ/s1600-h/HPIM7642.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339907300480840594" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnpIs-hdwFPlapZJ2Hkh5eguUaTAwp9c5gp_vGNz6x5OJznkETAs6cDeoq38xTuTbLb-dW_ySOzgHKP-qSUn23-7m33OI8eIT6IfTQVBlMxMXRYVrcDCn9nf4tNI9g0ILwpojxQTTqVUQ/s200/HPIM7642.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIsnvZt9-KAUTjNhOm_PS1is9m8934G0L7zKszwbIEnTh2SNflf_DG9xJbsTFA88Z2jA7Im1jZF1XOpR_3RWad4RckC2b5OhA74jp5hyphenhyphenn0vcji8decxlyX6oR7loUar3kaicULvtpC52A/s1600-h/HPIM7667.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339915564492252530" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIsnvZt9-KAUTjNhOm_PS1is9m8934G0L7zKszwbIEnTh2SNflf_DG9xJbsTFA88Z2jA7Im1jZF1XOpR_3RWad4RckC2b5OhA74jp5hyphenhyphenn0vcji8decxlyX6oR7loUar3kaicULvtpC52A/s200/HPIM7667.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzq2EF3gPSrey8pq-F2cSujkNakSkTKBOSrE5cSc-3wgtj1hqCdQ7IygXke6YdkN785-4OkUSvDp-5GkdsiamJezLfqx5eMwt2V811kQsVyGkoB6ICay93iyovh5Wvu7yoXPOifuZBBDg/s1600-h/HPIM7661.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339927303098676178" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzq2EF3gPSrey8pq-F2cSujkNakSkTKBOSrE5cSc-3wgtj1hqCdQ7IygXke6YdkN785-4OkUSvDp-5GkdsiamJezLfqx5eMwt2V811kQsVyGkoB6ICay93iyovh5Wvu7yoXPOifuZBBDg/s200/HPIM7661.JPG" border="0" /></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339910205900015058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDcMbCAgzNh1z6DTk517MDlWQMQ97iCuldsKAPraZ-TpZOfXdqoiH4Xe7S-W_rj_cjfyJ-Hjsistr6TL9cNP3vHI-VtfaX4gn4LnSyGHw2lIWPb9HziDd89xOyu2elK4rACQCpZlG6sbQ/s200/HPIM7656.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLBWkeZ9zhompF7hC4Yg5l1eSjJ2mgXFt4j-0PDj-1Q8A6dWVQ4C21GFycE8imGlSNUpaDNV92sfDvRu_unDDVh14Kmxce5oq_jfLGFfnxotwxKJuo5A6-9JJb7yKhESaK9QOV9fLFJ18/s1600-h/HPIM7690.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339912286676260610" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLBWkeZ9zhompF7hC4Yg5l1eSjJ2mgXFt4j-0PDj-1Q8A6dWVQ4C21GFycE8imGlSNUpaDNV92sfDvRu_unDDVh14Kmxce5oq_jfLGFfnxotwxKJuo5A6-9JJb7yKhESaK9QOV9fLFJ18/s200/HPIM7690.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz2WyzJb2xTpbrxqourl3HbgV6iaR91jT-XN8YxWRITvRnSVUF8x1PdVPRZU_F6MYM-1ERwGofDTmRbpT02VQVDgHk-cgwckji_IZpdk62VQxf6egAsE2q_g2CG6CRzdUki4pGL6jL-F4/s1600-h/HPIM7691.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340202928866587106" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz2WyzJb2xTpbrxqourl3HbgV6iaR91jT-XN8YxWRITvRnSVUF8x1PdVPRZU_F6MYM-1ERwGofDTmRbpT02VQVDgHk-cgwckji_IZpdk62VQxf6egAsE2q_g2CG6CRzdUki4pGL6jL-F4/s200/HPIM7691.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMynzH1YBdL3y7vZLqgyAQqlztNuj_N-TyR8Mb708kpSFwOmPeNPkmSrrLMTLlwU1P3yyI2ddX6jctJ2FXrlXdiKapbJsxOFBmeKUFCAlzpY82Yv7V2DUwWxyobm2ybJcQMxQhSOCWlnU/s1600-h/HPIM7692.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339912288223149826" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMynzH1YBdL3y7vZLqgyAQqlztNuj_N-TyR8Mb708kpSFwOmPeNPkmSrrLMTLlwU1P3yyI2ddX6jctJ2FXrlXdiKapbJsxOFBmeKUFCAlzpY82Yv7V2DUwWxyobm2ybJcQMxQhSOCWlnU/s200/HPIM7692.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div><br /> </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMynzH1YBdL3y7vZLqgyAQqlztNuj_N-TyR8Mb708kpSFwOmPeNPkmSrrLMTLlwU1P3yyI2ddX6jctJ2FXrlXdiKapbJsxOFBmeKUFCAlzpY82Yv7V2DUwWxyobm2ybJcQMxQhSOCWlnU/s1600-h/HPIM7692.JPG"></a> </div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5K0CaZcprzQEEN5l_sJlLIaadNropBOlltHQWWKjSNNtbj-iLldCVtk-mE5OF62w97-u3_pEzIbkvZyZNNcNFRg3-G8uMZpsFR1FsiTDhckd0A-sVq8zxe7np7i2c3gXy8jjo9RSCHyA/s1600-h/HPIM7699.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339924501131243346" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5K0CaZcprzQEEN5l_sJlLIaadNropBOlltHQWWKjSNNtbj-iLldCVtk-mE5OF62w97-u3_pEzIbkvZyZNNcNFRg3-G8uMZpsFR1FsiTDhckd0A-sVq8zxe7np7i2c3gXy8jjo9RSCHyA/s200/HPIM7699.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_0-BiL_xqGzQ4Qidn85lzuH9V6ENPhwHPFEt2YlnoLKrl4rUwJaEV9jKP_juYuUjVAhTKt-aOgbm5g8sqAJPctU3NpWTDfTrjmlnxnkuIv4AnI4iM9RPiuqMBw6o2LHQ9qTc48nyHpss/s1600-h/HPIM7701.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339924503522780434" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_0-BiL_xqGzQ4Qidn85lzuH9V6ENPhwHPFEt2YlnoLKrl4rUwJaEV9jKP_juYuUjVAhTKt-aOgbm5g8sqAJPctU3NpWTDfTrjmlnxnkuIv4AnI4iM9RPiuqMBw6o2LHQ9qTc48nyHpss/s200/HPIM7701.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff0000;">My lover said to me, “Rise up, my darling!</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff0000;">Come away with me, my fair one! </span></em></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff0000;">Look, the winter is past,</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff0000;">and the rains are over and gone. </span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff0000;">The flowers are springing up,</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff0000;">the season of singing birds has come,</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff0000;">and the cooing of turtledoves fills the air.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff0000;">The fig trees are forming young fruit,</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff0000;">and the fragrant grapevines are blossoming.</span></em></div><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff0000;">Rise up, my darling!</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff0000;">Come away with me, my fair one!”</span></em></div><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff0000;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff0000;">Song of Songs 2:10-13</span></em></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Carolyne Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16670589951971107438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-896468200222007079.post-36730207986227230242009-05-24T16:23:00.002-06:002009-05-24T16:34:02.296-06:00Tender MerciesI went to church last night with chemo mouth sores that made it hurt to eat, cough or even talk. I asked God for healing and several different groups of people prayed with me/for me...and I left the awesome 3-hour service with almost no pain and am totally pain free today! Thank you, Jesus!!!<br /><br />I have felt so covered in prayer throughout this journey, seeing daily the peace and clarity that comes with that…but it’s really cool to see (and literally feel) a specific answer to prayer so miraculously answered.<br /><br />I thought about taking a picture of my mouth yesterday afternoon...didn't...but would love to be able to show you the sores are gone. Maybe that's my tender mercy to you...no pictures.<br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff6666;"><em>I will sing of the tender mercies of the Lord forever!</em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff6666;"><em>Young and old will hear of your faithfulness.</em></span></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff6666;"></span></em> </div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff6666;">Psalm 89:1</span></em></div>Carolyne Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16670589951971107438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-896468200222007079.post-38013247831435761292009-05-20T12:50:00.003-06:002009-05-20T13:24:28.753-06:00Chillin' -- Sister's ordersMy sister, Lizann, who I talked to last night while I was getting the blood transfusion and eating dinner (the subject of another post coming soon), sent me an e-mail this morning:<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#009900;"><em>Hi Carolyne -</em></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#009900;"><em>I want to hear today that you're just chillin'. Watch Oprah, Martha Stewart. Do your nails. Read People Magazine. I'm sending you some of my lazy genes that I seem to be the only one in the family to inherit. Which side do you suppose??</em></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#009900;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#009900;"><em>Love, Lizann</em></span><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#009900;"></span></em><br />Of course the answer to her lazy genes question (of which I have detected none in her), but if there are any they were passed down as a very recessive gene from some very distant slacker American pioneer relative. Because for sure it was not from either of our dynamo parents.<br /><br />So in the spirit of following Lizann's orders and chillin' (or good HP leverage and move on training), I'm posting may quick e-mail back to Lizann, to show you all that I am, more or less, chllin' (though the temperature is rising as the afternoon comes on the laptop on my lap on the lounge chair is adding another 10 degrees):<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#3333ff;">Does sleeping until 10, lazy read through the paper, 2 games of Chuzzle Deluxe, Mandarin Orange Sherbet with OJ shake on the deck, out of my fuzzy pj’s into my Mother’s Day summer pj’s, lounge chair and laptop on the deck sound like chillin? Oh yah!<br /><br />Of course I have the energy of a snail and my mouth feels like it has 20 canker sores under my tongue and my stomach muscles hurt every time I cough…but hey, could be worse. I went through the food for chemo cookbook looking for smoothy and other smooth recipes. Some sounded really good, until I looked at the cooking instructions. Not today, though I am going to ask the friend who’s making dinner for us tomorrow to make rice pudding (sounded so good but you have to stir constantly while the rice cooks, yah right).<br /><br />I do have to rouse myself in 30 minutes to go to the doctor. Maybe I should go without makeup and wear my chemo cap so I look really pathetic…more sympathy? Or more pokes?<br /><br />I probably will pass on Hannah’s last soccer game tonight at 6:30…or maybe I’ll flag down the guy on the golf cart for a ride out to the field.<br /><br />Hey maybe this will be a copy/paste for my blog…though I am already thinking about a “I like my steaks rare” theme for the photos of me and my dinner au blood bag last night.<br /><br />Enough brilliance. Chillin!</span></em><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#3333ff;"></span></em><br /><span style="color:#333333;">And since I'm "leveraging" today, here's the note taped to the inside of my bedroom door, greeting when I woke up at 10:</span><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;color:#333333;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#cc6600;">Good Morning Mommy,</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;color:#cc6600;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;color:#cc6600;">Hugh and I went to school, we'll pray for you there. I love you SO So much. Lots of hugs, Lots of kisses.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;color:#cc6600;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;color:#cc6600;">God bless your day,</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;color:#cc6600;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;color:#cc6600;">Hannah</span><br /><span style="color:#333333;"></span><br /><span style="color:#333333;">No scripture with the word "chill" or "chillen" so sharing this one with the word "rest" in it:</span><br /><span style="color:#333333;"></span><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;">And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;">and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;">He will come with his mighty angels...</span></em></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;">2 Thessalonians 1:7</span></em></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"><em></em></span> </div><em><span style="color:#cc0000;"></span></em>Carolyne Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16670589951971107438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-896468200222007079.post-814828941750012072009-05-19T11:08:00.002-06:002009-05-19T16:56:46.613-06:00Uncommon Treatment for the Common ColdI'm writing this from the oncology transfusion center at the hospital, getting my first blood transfusion. This will be a short post as the Benedryl they gave me to counteract something about the transfusion, makes me sleepy.<br /><br />I'm here because my red cells were way down yesterday when I went for my normal 1-week-after-chemo blood test. Red cells transport oxygen to the body and are important for energy and healthy functioning of the body. The blood I'm getting was processed to make it high in red cells. It definately looks like blood -- dark red and opaque. Thank you to whoever donated it.<br /><br />Last week (a chemo week) was typical -- very tired the days after but feeling much better by the weekend. This time though I started to feel a chest cold coming on and by Monday morning my stomach muscles were sore from coughing. My white counts, as usual, were also down, but this time at their lowest so far -- 300, and my blood pressure was also low. So instead of just getting a blood draw, they kept me at the chemo center for a couple hours of hydration (2 liters of saline delivered through my port)...and the scheduling of this blood transfuion...and orders to take extra precausions against infection.<br /><br />This meant that I didn't get to go to hear fellow Rez member, Dana Dunlap speak at the monthly ladies brunch about her journey with breast cancer. I was really bummed because I was going to get to hear her powerful story, and hang out with my breast cancer buddies, Sarah and Lynda. Fortunatley before all this came down yesterday, I had lunch with them, our every other week B & B session (boobs and books). As always we laughed and laughed as we reviewed the ground we passed during the two weeks since our last lunch. What a gift to have these two new friends in my life!<br /><br />Also blessed to have Dennis and Hannah and Hugh in my life. They are now doing the Tuesday after school schedule themselves -- 4:00 orthodonist appointment, 4:45 soccer practice, 5:30 guitar lesson, 6:30 soccer practice over...then home. I should be done around 8:30 tonight so will see here when they come to get me. In the meantime, I will post this and lay back to sleep and rest.<br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em><span style="color:#cc0000;">Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. </span></em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em><span style="color:#cc0000;">But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you,</span></em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em><span style="color:#cc0000;">for my power is made perfect in weakness."</span></em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em><span style="color:#cc0000;">Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses,</span></em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em><span style="color:#cc0000;">so that Christ's power may rest on me.</span></em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em><span style="color:#cc0000;">That is why, for Christ's sake,</span></em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em><span style="color:#cc0000;">I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.</span></em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em><span style="color:#cc0000;">For when I am weak, then I am strong.</span></em></span></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;">2 Corinthians 12:8-10</span></em></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div>Carolyne Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16670589951971107438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-896468200222007079.post-48333893790256314052009-05-14T10:46:00.004-06:002009-05-14T11:58:36.186-06:00Martha Stewart to the Rescue<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimnKnLLGTld8rEmYk04hPcxIQZt8u_Qf0uQJ6WaWVMTQjTvObd4Vy0E7LEkyHxQfLxXt-JJn4ljpyfy8qeCZ62C520W2yiI2I56rK7t3gDDoiYohWmSDLrjlwwfpW3_G_deHd3hRRotis/s1600-h/HPIM7445.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335731261719968418" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimnKnLLGTld8rEmYk04hPcxIQZt8u_Qf0uQJ6WaWVMTQjTvObd4Vy0E7LEkyHxQfLxXt-JJn4ljpyfy8qeCZ62C520W2yiI2I56rK7t3gDDoiYohWmSDLrjlwwfpW3_G_deHd3hRRotis/s320/HPIM7445.JPG" border="0" /></a> My sister, Lizann, flew out from NYC to help us all get through my 3rd chemo round. She arrived on Thursday, April 30, expecting to bask in the Colorado sunshine, drink smoothies and hop from football practice to soccer practice.<br /><br />Instead, we mostly had to bundle up with every Soccer Mom blanket and coat as we shivered through drizzly games -- one in Fort Collins on Saturday and another in Colorado Springs on Sunday. <br /><p>In between games, Lizann transformed herself into my personal Martha Stewart, tackling three key uncluttering projects:</p><ol><li>1. Bathroom transformation: discarding 47 pounds of half used lotions, cosmetics and various other treasures that had accumulated in the bathroom cabinets, drawers and every other possible storage surface. Thanks to her totally unattached, ruthless (some might say cruel) attitude about purging all but the most valuable items from our bathroom, we now have a bathroom that could be featured on one of those home makeover shows.</li><li>Magazine destacking: stacks and stacks of magazines sorted, tossed, recycled and removed forever...to make room for the dozen new ones that knock at our door each week. </li><li>Winter/summer clothes and shoes closet rotation: always a task but easier with Lizann's NYC apartment "it's got to be incredibly special to store" perspective. </li></ol><p>All this was actually fun, though my 25% energy level the week after chemo made it pretty tiring -- but energizing too to have these projects out of the way. Perfect prep for the summer ahead. </p><p> </p><p> </p>Carolyne Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16670589951971107438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-896468200222007079.post-16704298259292625722009-04-27T11:00:00.000-06:002009-04-28T13:33:52.817-06:00A Remnant, By Grace<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329819334932679058" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJiAM20aYqYrOukJfT1m03FnKFIz9XXnC7zTYn_0XRdAFUC7khrNV3_v1Z8FZ6MVoerf27Ull976mv7roCY9_SPbmYHnI_MZOBfAqFFdef0MlboHC8jL44h3RUh4S3Dh5uVV3Or4OQquQ/s320/HPIM7436.JPG" border="0" /</a>Writing from the chemo room, receiving treatment #3 (with Kenna, my sweet nurse, pumping that red chemo juice into my Power of God Port). This week as I've marvelled at the defiant hairs that remain firmly rooted in my head, I was led to dive into scriptures about <strong><em>the remnant</em></strong>. To me it seems like these remaining hairs -- maybe 10% of the original -- symbolize something about God's grace for his chosen people, be they the Jews throughout history or those of us grafted in through Christ.
<br />
<br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em><span style="color:#006600;">But now, for a brief moment,
<br />the LORD our God has been gracious in leaving us <strong>a remnant
<br /></strong>and giving us a firm place in his sanctuary,
<br />and so our God gives light to our eyes and a little relief in our bondage. </span></em></span></div><span style="font-size:85%;"><em><span style="color:#006600;"></span></em></span><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em><span style="color:#006600;"></span></em></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em><span style="color:#006600;"></span></em></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em><span style="color:#006600;">Ezra 9:8</span></em>
<br /></span>~-~-~</div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#336666;">In that day
<br />the LORD Almighty will be a glorious crown,
<br />a beautiful wreath
<br />for <strong>the remnant</strong> of his people.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#336666;"></span></em> </div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#336666;"></span></em> </div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#336666;">Isaiah 28:5</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#336666;">~-~-~</span></em></div><div align="center"> </div><span style="color:#336666;"><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><div align="center"></span></em></span><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;"></span></em> </div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;">Once more <strong>a remnant</strong> of the house of Judah
<br />will take root below and bear fruit above. </span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;"></span></em> </div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;"></span></em> </div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;">Isaiah 37:31</span></em></div><div align="center">~-~-~</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#663366;"></span></em> </div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#663366;">And what was God's answer to him?
<br />"I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal."
<br />So too, at the present time there is <strong>a remnant</strong> chosen by grace.
<br />And if by grace, then it is no longer by works;
<br />if it were, grace would no longer be grace.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#663366;"></span></em> </div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#663366;"></span></em> </div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#663366;">Romans 11:4-6</span></em> </div><div align="center">
<br /> </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9m6MCbxkoNGjVuYpLKeyd4EyCNSCQDx-DpyCBc-OQfJ12x24-aiqPwq-6j3DLg9sZ6-Jjso4viDL3KpCjn2ogEqEbnBzTqNCQl8i-CIwnuuLuhHCpYDNz1fJxjN_W-uk-GuRW3jIE020/s1600-h/HPIM7432.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329820585015162258" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9m6MCbxkoNGjVuYpLKeyd4EyCNSCQDx-DpyCBc-OQfJ12x24-aiqPwq-6j3DLg9sZ6-Jjso4viDL3KpCjn2ogEqEbnBzTqNCQl8i-CIwnuuLuhHCpYDNz1fJxjN_W-uk-GuRW3jIE020/s320/HPIM7432.JPG" border="0" /></a>Even though they are pretty pathetic looking, the remaining hairs make me smile. Yes, they are goofy looking, which makes me look goofy too. But they also represent a great "darn it, I'm staying" attitude that I appreciate as my life moves along this uncharted chemo path. And since there's no apparent reason why they should still be here when the others gave up so easily, I'll attribute that to God's grace, and not their works...or mine.
<br />
<br />The other amazing demonstration of his grace is that I've avoided any illness this week. Even though my white blood cell count dipped down to 600 with only 6% useful for fighting infection after my after the last treatment, a drippy nose was all that I experienced. And today, when they tested it before starting chemo, it has zoomed up to a healthy 8600 with 85% fighters.
<br />
<br />He is gracious!</a>
<br />Carolyne Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16670589951971107438noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-896468200222007079.post-60609012686743154642009-04-21T11:53:00.007-06:002009-04-21T19:27:11.793-06:00Who Needs Hair Anyway?<span style="color:#000000;">Well, no wonder. I just did scientific research (selecting the first answer Google produced) about the number of hairs on the average head. And even though I completely believe what Jesus said,</span><br /><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#6633ff;">Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies</span></em><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#6633ff;">?</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#6633ff;">Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. </span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#6633ff;">Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#6633ff;">Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#6633ff;"></span></em></div><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#6633ff;">Luke 12:6-7</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#6633ff;"></span></em></div><br /><div align="left"><span style="color:#333333;">knowing that the WikiAnswers gurus say it's between 100,000 and 200,000 explains a lot. </span></div><br /><div align="left"><span style="color:#333333;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#333333;">Maybe I chickened out. Maybe I naturally root for the underdogs. Maybe I'm in denial. Whatever the reason, I didn't proactively sheer my balding head this weekend. Instead, I've been singing that Loving Care commercial: </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiastJJ2Y8iofRAwKI2oO0a0NCaSmvTMRJtA0Xk1qK1OLwYUflflK4EqlbrWfHRaAFNHaYSHa_f19TCiauMdDIWMoBRfS_KyTu7WNJMSFT6XTmekC6zfYTtBAYtEDNVijGv2veIgw4msg4/s1600-h/HPIM7402.JPG"><span style="color:#333333;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327308357409157026" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiastJJ2Y8iofRAwKI2oO0a0NCaSmvTMRJtA0Xk1qK1OLwYUflflK4EqlbrWfHRaAFNHaYSHa_f19TCiauMdDIWMoBRfS_KyTu7WNJMSFT6XTmekC6zfYTtBAYtEDNVijGv2veIgw4msg4/s200/HPIM7402.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#333333;">"I'm going to wash that gray right out of my hair" as I've showered the last three mornings. And each morning, probably 25,000 hairs, brown and gray, filled the shower drain. </span></div><br /><p><span style="color:#333333;">With 25,000 fewer hairs on my head each morning, I've begun the new morning ritual: wig or scarf today? Monday I opted for scarf (thank you, Mom) to go with my new Chemo Care Package blouse (thank you Lizann, Pam, Robyn and Molly)...but first made Dennis take a picture of my obviously thinning hair. Other than Hugh telling me I looked like a biker chick wearing the scarf, I felt pretty o.k. with it.</span><span style="color:#333333;">I tried to Google the answer to my other question: why has the top and back of my head lost the most hair, <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFjpw_joNEfpIMVyRs7i2Q49xxMkXbyK-62OR0ofkvruQZaeRpbhPRDrH7r8jzD2RfwjAY7XGi3EElYdw8eoqtUdKDuzMjfnc8SQhr1Uz9b9gPLbn4atv9BouwXauVZsK2wDIhpV2RGs4/s1600-h/HPIM7416.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327308358834622818" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFjpw_joNEfpIMVyRs7i2Q49xxMkXbyK-62OR0ofkvruQZaeRpbhPRDrH7r8jzD2RfwjAY7XGi3EElYdw8eoqtUdKDuzMjfnc8SQhr1Uz9b9gPLbn4atv9BouwXauVZsK2wDIhpV2RGs4/s200/HPIM7416.JPG" border="0" /></a>just like men's male pattern baldness? I didn't find the answer, just lots of sites wanting to sell me hair loss treatments. I'll save my money.</span></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMxUl7pZ5Sf3O1wBXyCkX3zVA5eQsVX6HwMkL5VC7VPZC5zs2fcNTdQZ-QeoxZq3Dg-EpD43fKdbUqEWQaQ_Jt3VjAmcKGCsKSM3KakETNCrDBXpxRdwPvxjYcy7u_Vk8ec2foi2v84Y8/s1600-h/HPIM7413.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327308361738840562" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMxUl7pZ5Sf3O1wBXyCkX3zVA5eQsVX6HwMkL5VC7VPZC5zs2fcNTdQZ-QeoxZq3Dg-EpD43fKdbUqEWQaQ_Jt3VjAmcKGCsKSM3KakETNCrDBXpxRdwPvxjYcy7u_Vk8ec2foi2v84Y8/s200/HPIM7413.JPG" border="0" /></a> <p><span style="color:#333333;">Visited the oncologist for my weekly blood count work (way down again: 600 white blood cells per whatever, vs. 9,700 last Monday, and only 6% of them useful for fighting infection...so pray that they'll pop back up by next Monday, and I'll continue to have my Blood of Jesus Hedge of Protection from infections in the meantime). Otherwise, my doctor thinks I'm doing great. Attributes that in part to positive attitude, but I'd attribute it to Powerful God.</span></p><p><span style="color:#333333;">Way more fun than getting poked at the oncologist was my every-other-Monday B&B lunch with my two new breast cancer buddies, Sarah and Lynda. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvUZInStUT4ZbSi-L8uAjXUgDZ9Qh2xGZ4oO_cj88Hj0MERcm9GHDzqOyRpNSlmquV6lUrWapqT6d4AGrRni_oZ61Cs8pIXqoAdkQ-4cddJsuPIUXLLMmC0mb61br5joBKeZYB7Mx-syk/s1600-h/HPIM7417.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327316789440988450" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvUZInStUT4ZbSi-L8uAjXUgDZ9Qh2xGZ4oO_cj88Hj0MERcm9GHDzqOyRpNSlmquV6lUrWapqT6d4AGrRni_oZ61Cs8pIXqoAdkQ-4cddJsuPIUXLLMmC0mb61br5joBKeZYB7Mx-syk/s320/HPIM7417.JPG" border="0" /></a>They're both further along with their chemo and have been fabulous sources of tips, tricks, encouragement and belly laughs. B&B stands for Books & B..bs, since Sarah is an accomplished book designer...and you can guess the rest. Pray for Sarah as she's having surgery this Friday and for Lynda as she continues many weeks of treatment.</span></p><p><span style="color:#333333;">And to you who voted in my on-line poll (which will fall out first?), I'd have to say that the majority answer is turning out to be the correct answer, at least in my case: chemo is colorblind and it doesn't seem that brown or gray have a better chance of staying in longer. But like I said, who needs hair anyway?</span></p>Carolyne Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16670589951971107438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-896468200222007079.post-20287365976635113772009-04-17T10:44:00.003-06:002009-04-17T10:55:23.598-06:00Harry, Harrie and Hairie<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlhEq9e_DKik1q1qe-1JxjqYWHul6c5XHLjNVTJh9Ofc2a6_x_l9d_ir80iUGLlxBFuRheHmz0aF9Z7v_Jyswgd13l5gQH06vxMYLNV_JN5zB1kNP3y9rxTK0YrpOC6LnRKJVyH9xu_F4/s1600-h/HPIM7358.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325703147395451682" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlhEq9e_DKik1q1qe-1JxjqYWHul6c5XHLjNVTJh9Ofc2a6_x_l9d_ir80iUGLlxBFuRheHmz0aF9Z7v_Jyswgd13l5gQH06vxMYLNV_JN5zB1kNP3y9rxTK0YrpOC6LnRKJVyH9xu_F4/s320/HPIM7358.JPG" border="0" /></a>Friday Hair Update: <br /><p>Hugh's is the longest. </p><p>Mine is the thinnest. </p><p>Hannah's is the poofiest (she's wearing my wig). <br /></p>Carolyne Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16670589951971107438noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-896468200222007079.post-1946246543841761222009-04-16T12:41:00.002-06:002009-04-16T13:40:04.652-06:00P.J.'s at NoonStill in my fuzzy p.j.'s, though I've roused myself from a hibernation nap to check my e-mail and post a short update. I'm pushing through the post-chemo fatigue that sets in on the Wednesdays and Thursdays after a Monday treatment. Feels like swimming through Jello to move from one place to another -- slow going but without pain. <br /><br />Not bad since two of my three appointments for the day have been canceled: (1) a walking date with Carmen, who has a sore throat and didn't want to share that with me, and (2) Hannah's soccer practice, which was cancelled in anticipation of a snow storm headed our way. Debbie, just confirmed Appointment #3 -- a soup and pasta casserole dinner being delivered in thirty minutes -- making tonight an easy, healthy dinner night. The soup comes from a beautiful cookbook for chemo diners: <em><strong>One Bite at a Time</strong></em>. Time will tell whether Hugh's football game will also be cancelled or whether Dennis and Hugh will get to be tough football guys in rain or snow. <br /><br />My hair is falling out quickly now. A light touch sends dozens of hairs falling like the needles on our Christmas tree when we leave it up into January. The collar and shoulders of my fuzzy white p.j.'s are covered with hair, as if a shedding dog had made it's bed there. I hesitate to even try to brush my hair to straighten out the bed head from my nap, but when I do, it looks better. Maybe tomorrow, when the kids have no school and no football or soccer games, we'll have a shearing party. I am usually the photographer at family events, but I'll need to enlist Hannah or Hugh for that duty -- and then watch for photos here. In the meantime, there's still time to place your vote in the "which ones fall out first" poll.<br /><br />Ironic that my morning reading was in the early books of Isaiah, where in Chapter 4, he describes the women of Jerusalem, cursed with their bald heads, payback for their haughty vanity. I'll leave that to you to read, but instead will share this from Chapter 6, verses 1 to 3:<br /><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">In the year that King Uzziah died,</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">I saw the Lord seated on a throne,</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">high and exalted,</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">and the train of his robe filled the temple. </span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Above him were seraphs, each with six wings:</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">With two wings they covered their faces,</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">with two they covered their feet,</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">and with two they were flying.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">And they were calling to one another:</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff6600;">"Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty;</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff6600;">the whole earth is full of his glory."</span></em> </div>Carolyne Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16670589951971107438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-896468200222007079.post-28363991941387374712009-04-13T16:00:00.001-06:002009-04-14T15:46:56.052-06:00Round 2<div><div><div align="left">I'm writing from the chemo room today. Feeling like a pro today coming with my LaGrange/Swedlund Sisters J.Crew Care Bag of snacks, mega water bottle, laptop and new CD (Kaitlyn Stover's awesome "Our Cry" <a href="http://www.kaitlynstover.com/media/audio/"><span style="font-size:85%;">http://www.kaitlynstover.com/media/audio/</span></a>). So far, 2 hours into my treatment and the chemo head hasn't really kicked in yet. My bone marrow has kicked in tremendously though -- my white count is now up to 9,700 so I am well protected against infection. </div><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">Today my hair has started to fall out -- anticipated but strange nonetheless. A little pinch yields 10 or 12 hairs at a time. No tugging like when I pluck a renegade gray one, just a soft releasing of hairs into my fingers. I won't tell you whether the gray ones come out more readily now -- you'll have to wait until the voting closes on my mini-poll to find out. </div><br /><div align="center"></div><div align="center">The nurse tells me this treatment will be the last time they see my natural hair and they'll soon to recognize me by my new look -- wig or bald, whichever I wear for my upcoming treatments. The gal across from me is going bald and beautiful but I do spot some wigs around the room, and others receiving chemo drugs that don't affect their hair. </div><br /><div align="left"></div><div align="center">~*~*~*~</div><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="left">The kids have arrived from school so we'll now head home where I'll await the chemo fog.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCaekyQ4AQkH0leeNmF7wBRAYWTM3jGhkkWAcF_vG-zUqstMQ0SX-nteQOdgGY-3pnafYmKfc35_eI96bkS32JIJesy-NNY653gkjxQWxSnOpw_QbPNyGJpRECzODuJ76xSJW4cllN8yw/s1600-h/HPIM5786+(2).JPG"></a><br /><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em></div></div></div>Carolyne Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16670589951971107438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-896468200222007079.post-15334826858673896182009-04-10T14:58:00.005-06:002009-04-10T18:16:02.703-06:00Good Friday: So Good, So GodGood Friday is good, no matter what the circumstances. But for me today it truly is <em>Great </em>Friday. God answered the prayers of Hannah and Hugh's classmates and teachers in a great way -- with a white blood count that astounds me (and even impressed the nurse). 7,500!!! That's higher than my normal count (around 6,000) and vastly higher than five days ago when it clocked in at an eerily low 900. Humbling to see God's touch in such a measurable way.<br /><br />White blood cells are the soldiers against infection and when my count was at 900, I was warned to stay away from likely infection sources. Poor Dennis, who started to come down with a cold on Sunday night, has been exiled to the guest bed all week. I wore my Dr. Hart surgical mask when we took Hannah to the doctor on Tuesday (guessing that a family doctor's office ranks pretty high on the "really germy places" list). On Monday night and Tuesday, I was starting to feel the first signs of a sore throat, and my temperature was hovering around 100. The chemo education materials warn me to take my temperature daily and to call day or night if it reaches 100.5. I did call, and was immediately put on an antibiotic, just to be safe.<br /><br />By Wednesday morning my temperature was down and I felt fine. Though it was safe to assume that my infection fighting white blood cells were still pretty depleted. I prayed a hedge of protection around me and ventured into a known "really germy place" -- an elementary school. But this elementary school, Resurrection Christian, is filled with God's presence and kids and teachers who operate in God's power.<br /><br />The chapel service I attended with 400 1st through 5th graders focused on the tearing of the veil separating us from God, which happened at the moment Jesus breathed his last on the cross. At the end, the 5th graders spread out throughout the room and began praying with anyone wanting prayer, and though I know they are praying from me daily, it was sweet to have Hailey put her arm around my and pray again for my complete healing and protection from side effects. <br /><br />I am the healed! And 7,500 white blood cells per microleter is just one of many miracles to come!<br /><br />During this Easter weekend, I pray you will have an encounter with the living, true God who loves you more than you can fathom.<br /><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff0000;">This is how God showed his love among us: </span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff0000;">He sent his one and only Son into the world</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff0000;">that we might live through him.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff0000;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff0000;">This is love: </span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff0000;">not that we loved God,</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff0000;">but that he loved us</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff0000;">and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff0000;">for our sins.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff0000;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff0000;">1 John 4:9-11</span></em></div>Carolyne Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16670589951971107438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-896468200222007079.post-8004937275080390432009-04-07T14:00:00.001-06:002009-04-28T13:36:39.283-06:00Fake It 'til You Make It<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimo4sxFH27XXY_p-rxf4WIfKMKKPGJrXF7QoKvaHyoF4bI1Rqd9voRQQgT-t1VZIvUPTIPtl2oN9yCfWIa76y57tKLGEF7SBnakl-nuUwjLi6ZT_dZ3hN7t5BP4sGtCP5Iq6fkvEWsBPQ/s1600-h/HPIM7357+-+square.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323221945962124546" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 225px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 221px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimo4sxFH27XXY_p-rxf4WIfKMKKPGJrXF7QoKvaHyoF4bI1Rqd9voRQQgT-t1VZIvUPTIPtl2oN9yCfWIa76y57tKLGEF7SBnakl-nuUwjLi6ZT_dZ3hN7t5BP4sGtCP5Iq6fkvEWsBPQ/s320/HPIM7357+-+square.jpg" border="0" /></a> Is it live or is it <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Memorex</span>?<br /><br />Same could be said for my new <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">doo</span>, thanks to Cheri at Old Town Hair in Fort Collins. Today, Cheri styled my new wig to look pretty darn close to my current hairstyle. The wig has the potential for quite a bit more curl and poof than my real hair has, so we'll see how <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">adventurous</span> (or not) I feel when I start wearing it for real.<br /><br />At this point there's no sign of any hairs coming out (except the gray ones that I execute every now and then...to no avail). So my question to all you scientists and/or high fashion hair experts out there: <em>do you think the gray ones will fall out first?</em>Carolyne Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16670589951971107438noreply@blogger.com0