On the Road Again!

Just an update...I am leaving in the morning to head back to TX. I'm traveling with Mom, Dad, and Isaac. I have appointments on Monday, and we'll head back sometime after that. It's going to be hard to head home to this cold weather and possibly snow next week...it's going to be in the seventies in Texas! My appointments are just follow-up appointments, and I'll get a treatment while I'm down there as well. If you think about it, pray for our traveling safety, and for good results on the check-ups. Also keep Jeff in mind as he'll be holding down the fort at home. Thanks to Krisi and Larry and Roberta for helping with the boys after school. You are such a huge help!

Hope you and yours have a great weekend.

Blessings,

Leslie

Snow Business

Jeff and I were looking in wonder at these photos of snowflakes. They are amazing, and you can see more of them at www.snowcrystals.com. Anyway, we were scrolling through some of them, and then we came upon a microscopic photo of man-made snow. You know, the stuff they spray when there's not enough snow on the slopes (nah...I don't know either, but I've read about it! Never been skiing myself!) Anyway, Jeff just laughed a bit and said, "Yah...look at the man made stuff! It's a mess!"

And isn't that the truth? Any time we try to mimic His perfection, we can't even come close! Just a reminder...when we try to do it on our own, the results may look acceptable to the world, but upon closer inspection, we are no where near what God can do! Now...that'll preach!





Excerpt from snowcrystals.com website on Artificial Snow:

Artificial Snow




Snow machines shoot a mixture of water and compressed air out of nozzles. The water comes out as fine droplets, and the air cools as it decompresses, causing the droplets to freeze. A fan blows the ice particles onto the slopes.
You can see from the picture at right (above in my blog) that artificial snow is made of frozen water droplets, with none of the elaborate structure found in real snow crystals.

Can We Talk...Week 1

Well...what did you think? I am telling you, of all the weeks for me to try to get control of my mouth! Did you find you were given ample opportunity to completely blow it? Did you? Well, sister, let me tell you I DID! I blew it WAY on yonder out of the water. I told my friend Krisi that I saw this week's study fly right by my head and out the garage door! "The difference," I console myself by saying, "is that NOW I'm at least conscious of it!" Yah...that'll fly on judgement day. Good grief!

Let me tell you a little story about me. I have always had some type of "in"...somewhere. It might not have been a big "in", but it was an "in". An exception to a rule in some arena. For example, when I was little, my mom played the piano and organ at church (not at the same time, mind you). Therefore, at times when she was practicing, I was (occasionally) at the church when to all others the doors were closed...(as far as church hours...don't get righteous on me...just hang in there!)

As I was growing up, my daddy was the HS coach (of several sports) as well as the Athletic Director, so I was afforded entry to the school when other children my age were not allowed. I "practiced" with the varsity squad when I was 5! (So what if I was on the stage while they were on the court...it counted!) I also came into the ballgames with dad, so...no admission charge! He also took me into the hospitality room during tournaments (did you know they had those for each team's coaches and school administrators!? Well, they do, and while everyone else is munching on popcorn...which is yummy in it's own right, I was in the home-ec room of some tournament-hosting school eating chili and crackers and homemade cookies and drinking free pop!) It's true!

During High School, my daddy was the principal, which wasn't always a blessing to me. However, I did get into the bldg. before and after hours, and was able to get to my locker before the rush began. Not really a biggee in a 1A school, but it's an "in" anyway. Also, if I forgot something in my locker, I (usually) could get back in the building to get it...if it was ABSOLUTELY necessary.

(I hope these things aren't just totally surprising all of you non-teacher's kids! It's just how it works.)

Then, I had a job at SMSU, both pre-graduation and post-graduation. I had an "in"! Discounted room and board, discounted admission to events, discounted graduate tuition (which, sadly, I never took advantage of!), discounted...ummmm...well, I can't remember much more, but it was an "in".

Married Jeff...his family is well known and liked and they sing all over creation, so...back door entrance to churches, dinner with pastors and professional singers (just once, but it counts!). Stop to fuel up in some town somewhere, and the people recognize and know you. AND...Jeff's daddy worked for the Highway Patrol, so...hypothetically speaking, of course...say someone was perhaps speeding just a little...the trooper recognizes my husband...issues a warning rather than a ticket...totally hypothetically, of course! You get the idea? IN...IN...IN!

I have always had an "exception to the rule" card I could play for my own benefit. So...(hang in there...I'm getting to the point)...when studying scripture, I have the (surprising) knack of applying my imaginary "E.T.T.R." card when I am to apply something that is inconvenient to my human nature.

"Control my tongue? (quick mental elbow to Gabriel's ribs) You KNOW that is NOT my style! Too bad for those other sorry souls, hmmm?" (As if I'm tight with the angel Gabriel...leanin' back against the walls of heaven, scopin' out all those sinnin' people!)

And then, one day at Titus 2 Bible Study at a church in another town, my friend lovingly said, "But the Bible doesn't say, 'Except for you, Leslie. You sweet thing! I made you sarcastic, so you just keep on keepin' on!'" OUCH! Was that necessary? Okay...maybe it was. I am not the exception to God's rules. There...I said it...please don't tell my husband! heehee

So, I have tried to apply that to this week...the fact that I am in no way the exception to God's expectations. I don't get a 'get out of minding-what-you-say jail' card to whip out when it's convenient. I am called to be accountable for what I say. Something at which I obviously need lots of practice!

Overall, I'd give my performance this week a strong D! My conviction, however, gets a strong B (couldn't be an A, or I'd have whipped that D up into a C!) I am working on it, and I must say the "exfoliation" left me rather raw and angry (at myself), but hopeful that although I cannot do what is required on my own, my heavenly father, who loves me more that I love my own kids, can give me the strength and wisdom to bite my tongue, and to be sweeter and gentler in my speech.

Amen!

Blessings,
Leslie

What a Difference!

May I just share these photos? This is a photo of me taken January 24 of last year in Houston. That's me with my Aunt Teresa, and my cousin Jenny's children (Alex, Miguel, and Gabrielle). I haven't shown any photos of me shiny bald, but...here you go! My hair was actually starting to come back in on the 2nd round of chemo drugs! The other photo was taken this morning (by my in-house photographer, Owen) in our living room. Eight months without chemotherapy does wonders for your hair! WOWZER! It needed documentation, and I think I'm tough enough to just put it out there! Can you believe that?! What a crazy year 2008 was! And...for all my friends still going through those nasty treatments...look at me now! If I'm not living proof of God's power to heal and transform, I don't know who is! Have a great week!

Leslie

Can We Talk--Beginning Study

Hey ladies! How are things in your home today? I hope you are planning on joining us in the study entitled, "Can We Talk?" If you haven't seen my post inviting you to join, and explaining the study, scroll down 2 posts, and you'll see it there.

I realized that when I invited everyone to join me, I didn't specify whether we'd be just beginning week 1 or discussing it today! Oops! Didn't quite think that one through. Although I have read the week's studies, I have not technically begun...that involves writing something down, doesn't it? So, I am starting Day One today, and will continue through the week. I'll try to post a reaction to my week's studies next Monday, and you be sure to let me know what you thought of it, too!

I am already intimidated...Week One is on controlling the tongue! Not my forte, if you know what I mean! Let me preface my future writings with this disclaimer. I am somewhat...ummm....sarcastic! Yes...there...I said it! I was disappointed to learn that sarcasm is not one of the spiritual gifts listed in the Bible...I was SURE it was mine! I seem to come from a long line of ladies who believe it is our job to bestow our opinion on all those who would lend an ear. Found out this summer that that character trait runs long and deep in my family (I am speaking solely about those ladies we gazed upon in those black and white and sepia toned photos, naturally! No one I met in person!)

Most usually, I feel God "leading" (I say this with a cough and a sputter) me to share my insight with others. As if I'm his mouthpiece, and he created me specifically for this job...to open the eyes of the ignorant as to their misguided ways! Sometimes, though rarely, this is the case. Other times, it's just my big, bad self layin' down the law.

So, this week promises to be abrasive to my spirit. But, then again, who couldn't use a good exfoliation every once and awhile, hmmmm?

If you've already completed week one, GREAT! Pour yourself a cup of hot tea and coast through the next week reviewing what you've studied. If you're like me, though, and are just beginning your 'Soul Stirring Conversations with God', let's high five, and get to it! I am so excited about what I am going to learn. Let's pray this week that our distractions may be few, and our hunger for the word may continue to grow as we dive into this study.

Blessings,

Leslie

"Porch Swing News"

I have changed the name of the 'Leslie Update' to 'Porch Swing News'. PSN was the name of my original blog pre-c-word. I enjoyed blogging about my kids, my family, etc. Then came my diagnosis, and instead of polluting my family blog with medical updates, I decided to start a medical-update-only blog for all those inquiring minds. Long story short, I am weary of journaling with my medical history in mind, and am trying to merge my first blog with my second blog. Hopefully, I'll be able to copy those entries into this blog, and we'll just go from there. I'll still post updates on my health, prayer requests, etc, but would like to shift the focus of my blog back to my family and our everyday, not-so-normal, ordinary life. Hope you check back!

Love,
Leslie

p.s. The photo is of the cousins at Grandma Bootsie's and Grandpa Coach's house! What a couch full of love!