Win A Wii!!!

Ever consider buying a Wii? Here is a way you can win one for as little as $10 AND help our friends Bryan, Kim, and Jenna bring their new family members home from Ethiopia!

We are selling raffle tickets to win a Wii...and the proceeds go toward the purchase of plane tickets to bring everyone home from Africa. It's a wonderful cause, and a great way to win a Wii for a small contribution. Visit their blog at A Blissful Heart to purchase tickets. You can even help them sell tickets! The person who sells the most can win $50! You can't beat that! (by the way...I'm not in the competition to sell the most tickets, in case you were curious!)

I hope you'll stop by their website, and if you are able, make a contribution toward the purchase of a plane ticket. Wii would be very grateful!

Blessings,

Leslie

How's it going?

Well...I'm slacking again on keeping my blog updated. We seem to get progressively busier as the year goes on. I had a herceptin treatment here locally this week. I was pleasantly surprised at the wonderful care I was given. Big shout out to the Outpatient Chemotherapy dept. at Cox. They were top notch. Why wasn't I offered that as an option last year? It was very clean, which was a wonderful thing.

Yesterday, Isaac was battling a stomach bug. He finally won the battle this morning around 2am when he woke me up and announced he was "Verwy verwy thursty." Ice chips only, buddy...momma's not into middle of the night surprises! Before I got to the kitchen this morning at 6:30, Owen had already fixed Isaac a bowl of Life, and he was munching like there was no tomorrow. Will it stay down...time will tell!

Last night was our tax appointment. Ordinarily, I do our taxes at home. However, with all our medical and travel expenses this year, I opted to pass the baton to a professional. Found out what I can and cannot deduct. Evidently you can't deduct meals/food while traveling for medical care. Hmmmmm....didn't know that. Thinking about getting a 2nd opinion on that one. Anyway...glad that Jeff took everything in and let me stay home with Isaac. I wasn't looking too super by 5pm last night. Come to think of it...I'm still not!

Owen has his last ball game this Friday night. Those little guys are un-undefeated! They haven't won one yet...so hopefully this one will be THE ONE! They don't lack for enthusiasm, though. Oh, to have the energy of a 9 year old boy!

Jeff is super busy at work. He didn't get home before 7 or 8 any night last week, and probably won't the rest of this week either. I am always reminded of a comment made by a sweet lady at Fellowship Bible Church. As she listened quietly to a room full of young mother's complain about how their husbands can't put the dishes in the dishwasher, or their clothes in the hamper, or how they always work soooo late, she just smiled. When everyone had vented their frustrations, she spoke up.

"For years, after my husband left me and my children, I got up every morning before dawn, made breakfast, rushed children off to school, worked all day, and came home just in time to feed the kids and put them back in bed. Now that I've remarried, I thank the Lord every morning that my husband is willing to leave the house to go to work to provide for us. I get to sleep in until 6, I know my bills will be paid, and I am glad to be able to cook and clean for him. I don't care where he puts his dishes...he takes care of me, and that is such a relief! You should always remember what a blessing it is to have a husband that works to provide for your family. Many aren't so blessed." The attitude of the class was never the same. And...I am very thankful for Jeff working for our family. He's able to do that and remain pleasant...WOW! Am I loved or what?!

I hope you are having a good week. And I hope you are able to find a blessing amidst all the chaos that's going on in your life today.

"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever!"

Blessings,

Leslie

Wouldn't you like to be here...?

Picture of the Day

Isaac at Aunt Anita's enjoying hot chocolate! Ummmm Ummmm Good!

Honestly....

I haven't been posting about Can We Talk Bible study because, frankly, I haven't done it for a week or two. I've just been so hit and miss with it that I hate to post anything about it. I've been slacking! I want to...really, I do. I just get busy and then I get tired and then I put it off...again! I'll catch up soon...now that the boys are well, the van is repaired, and my taxes are...oh, dear...my taxes! Gotta go...I knew I was forgetting something!

Leslie

The Latest Good News!

Hello again! We made it home from TX...3 days later than planned, but home none the less. There was a terrible winter storm the day after we left, and although we were fine and dandy in Houston, the weather and roads at home wouldn't allow us to return. So...we roughed it in 60-70 degree weather for a couple of extra days! We even ran down to Galveston to have a look at things post hurricane Ike.

Thank you for all your prayers and phone calls while we were on the road. I received excellent reports, and have put off any upcoming surgeries until the boys get out of school. I think we've all had enough disruption for awhile! I was also given the all clear to once again pursue treatment locally, so I'll be going to the oncology department 10 minutes from my home instead of traveling to Tulsa! Yeah!

I questioned the physician on this, and his response was that although he once thought I was too complex for the promised nurse practician here in Missouri, he now thinks I am just fine to continue my treatments here. His words were..."You remember when you began this treatment and I told you that technically you were incurable? Well...I think we may have cured you anyway!" WOOHOO! Sounds good to me! The first day home I called the local office, and already have an appointment for my next treatment this month!

I'm still a little uneasy about not going to TX, but my nurse assured me that this is a normal feeling for cancer patients who are through with treatments...you feel a bit uncertain about going back to your regular doctor. "Leslie," she said, "let's not make this any more complicated than we need to. This cancer has already taken up enough of our time. Let's get on with livin'." Well...alrighty, then! Sign me up for livin'!!!

Since my return, I've been dealing with rescheduling appointments, preparing for our tax appointment (or not), taking our van back and forth from the repair shop (seems as if someone has worn out the brakes this past year...as well as a few other things), shuffling kiddos to and from school, ball games, and practice, cheering for the Cardinals...and just plain getting back to life.

I hope your past weeks have gone well. Leave me a note when you can. I love hearing from you all.

Blessings,

Leslie, Jeff, and the boys