My Good Week

 This past week was a welcome reprieve. I felt good enough to drive and leave the house on my own. True, for most things, one hour and just one errand used up my energy, but it is quite amazing how refreshing everyday things can be:

• v  several shopping trips to Walmart and Aldi.
• v  picking up prescriptions from CVS.
• v  browsing at Goodwill.
• v  enjoying a delicious lunch at Jude’s just because.
• v  picking up four more caps in different colors from Hopestone.
• v  working at my Good Shepherd office for an hour one day.
• v  going to church Sunday, for the first time since October 13!

Best of all, I did two 4+ hour visits with my grandchildren (and their parents, of course). The kids were fascinated by my lack of hair, especially Ava (6) and Elijah (almost 3). Those two wanted to touch and rub my head a lot, which was fine with me. Ava was the one who asked if I would please take off my cap. Josiah inspected my head as well. Benjamin did not recognize me at first. Joelle, being a more grown-up 11 ½ year old, was not as focused on my bald head.

You might wonder why I did not do anything with friends . . . because I didn’t feel like I could plan ahead.

To be perfectly honest, there were also some struggles. My hands and forearms itched intensely several times a day and during the night. The only thing that helped was ice packs. Yesterday, the itching stopped thanks to the steroids I take the day before chemo.

Also yesterday, while Joelle and I were playing charades, I decided to act out being a cheerleader, which I was in eighth grade. I stood up to do the Saugatuck High School song and cheer, which I have remembered all these years. Except I didn’t even quite remember the first move, and the rest was simply gone. And, in the evening when I was doing my stretches, which I had finally memorized a couple weeks ago, I couldn’t remember the whole sequence and had to look at the printout to do them.

All in all, though, it was a great week. Today I do chemo treatment #2 and will take it really easy at least for the next week (and remember to take my pain meds when I need them). Just think: two down, two to go.

A Precious Blessing

 Last Saturday evening, I saw an offer to help on my Facebook page. It occurred to me that instead of simply responding with a “thank you,” I could do what is harder for me and make a request. All week I had been thinking of how soothing watermelon is for a sore mouth and sensitive stomach. So, I asked, and the happy result was a Sunday delivery to my front porch. In a bag decorated with a bow were two items: a container of watermelon chunks and a tea towel.

The drop-off was accomplished by the ring of my doorbell. I hurried to the door in time to see Cindy and her husband in their truck ready to pull out. She blew me a kiss as her husband smiled. I sensed God’s blessing on them as they shared in this moment of ministry.

In the house, I put the watermelon in the refrigerator and unfolded the tea towel imprinted with a verse from a favorite hymn:

When peace, like a river,

attendeth my way,

When sorrows

like sea billows roll;

Whatever my lot,

Thou hast taught me to say,

It is well, it is well

with my soul.

 I read the verse and remembered that Horatio Spafford had penned these words during a time of profound grief. I thought about times in my life when God has given me inexplicable peace amid great sorrow.

And a little later, I savored every soothing bite of watermelon.