Thank you so much for visiting and writing comments of encouragement and prayers regarding my last post! I've hesitated to share my health issues as I want to encourage others and not appear to be complaining. Kathryn's commentmade me realize that by sharing, I have the opportunity to be prayed for by my loving blogging community! Secondly, I remembered the origins of this blog and thus, have decided to remain true to myself and continue to provide updates on my continued journey with Triple Negative Breast Cancer.
Happy Fourth of July to my readers in the United States!
I hope you all are doing well! I am rejoicing as I celebrate another 6 month breast cancer check up.
However, this summer two acquaintances have passed from cancer. This naturally led me to dealing with Survivors' Guilt yet again. This time, I decided to face it head on and find some guidance and comfort in God's Word.
I hope you enjoy this Thought for the Week, my crafting, stitching and gratitude photo journal!
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
I found Parkview Health's article on Survivors' Guilt very helpful. I'm sharing some highlights from their article as well as my own thoughts and Scriptures that came to mind.
"You have a tumor in your breast. It's really deep in
there. You need a good surgeon because this type of tumor cannot be
handled by just any surgeon."
My heart stopped beating for a season.
November 13, 2015.
After 6 months of chemotherapy and 42 days of radiation, I reached
the last day of treatment!
As I drove home, I erroneously believed I would immediately return to the person
I was before.
It's been 2 1/2 years and I still live with the effects of chemotherapy.
I told my daughter one day, "I just want the old me, to be normal
again."
She wisely said, "You are normal, this is your normal - you're alive."
I stopped in my tracks! Praise God! I'm alive! Furthermore, I'm getting stronger every day.
July 17, 2018. My heart is beating again....I guess it's been beating for
some time.
Here's the
story behind the song.
Are
you going through cancer?
Are you going through a trial?
Are you heartbroken?
Has your heart stopped beating?
Your heart will beat again.
You will thrive again.
You will appreciate life more than ever before.
Tell You Heart To Beat Again.
Slow Stitching
My dear readers, please be careful when cutting fabric with a rotary cutter. This week I cut my finger pretty badly - 1/2" long, about 1/4" deep. I decided not to go to the hospital choosing instead to treat at home. After a phone consult with my surgeon, (I called him because I cut on the same side as my ancillary node dissection and we have to be careful with that side.), he was pleased with how we're treating it, though he felt I should have had stitches. Please be careful, my friends.
Consequently, there's not a lot going in the stitching department. I can, however, type with both hands now! :)
I did make these yo-yo's
and embroider a bit. Still Stitching continues to give me time to rest in Him and remember His Word and lessons.
Saturday's Song I've never done this before, but I am posting a really long song this week. It begins with Bart Millard's testimony - it's real - no velveteen rabbit stuff here. I listened. I cried as I thought of my cancer, my beautiful grandson's lungs (damaged by RSV) and his life threatening, environmental and ingested nut allergy and each of you and your various challenges. So here it is.
I sent it to my kids and husband. I sent it to a few friends. I cried as Jesus touched my heart. Tonight, I praise God for MercyMe and will lift them up in prayer. Please take a few moments out of your life to listen with an open heart. Your life may just be changed.
I Win - PERIOD! Bart (the speaker on the video) mentions an aunt with cancer. You know, God chose to use doctors, nurses, techs, chemotherapy, radiation, and surgeries to heal me. And that's ok, because I win. I was winning when I was on my knees throwing up. I was winning when I was too weak to bathe myself. I was winning when I scared my (third) grandson with my bald head. I was winning when I could't walk 3 feet without assistance. I was winning when the pain reduced me to a bowl of Jello. I was winning. I still am. Period. Slow Stitching Sunday. Today has been jam packed with cleaning after babysitting my three grandbabies for two days straight. It was wild, fun and exhausting! Tonight, after dinner, I'm looking forward to relaxing with these projects! My invisible thread tested my patience and ended up in the trash. Instead I'm using gold metallic embroidery floss to stitch up the Nativity Advent Calendar.
See this ball of yarn?
It's roughly 2 ounces of yarn.
But, after tonight it will be a hanger cover,
God willing.
I just love using
covered hangers
for my sweaters and nicer tops!
Stash Report Very little sewing time this week, so numbers are the same.
Fiber
Stash Report: October 8, 2017
(started
6/11/17)
Fabric used this week
11
yds
Fabric used to date
33
1/8 yds
Fabric Added this
week
3
3/8 yds
Fabric Added this
year
20
¼ yds
Net Fabric
12 7/8 yds
Yes, I had so much fun petting and bringing home some yarn! I'll be sharing next week!
via GIPHY Can you tell that all my exams went well? Mammo: "normal and benign" Bone Density: "normal" - even after spending 2015 and most of 2016 in bed/a wheelchair! Colonoscopy: I'm on the 10 year plan! Survivors' Guilt: Thanks to the encouragement from my friends in my Cancer Care Group (most who are dealing with incurable cancer, metastasis, recurrences or new diagnosis) , my family and friends, I am living life to the fullest! I see my oncologist this month and have a full physical next month. For some reason, the imaging center I went to gave me the reports and CDs early! :) Saturday's Song This song lists the basics I try to utilize. If you're going through a hard time, you may want to consider them.....
Here is the list:
Be strong in the Lord and,
Never give up hope,
You're going to do great things,
I already know,
God's got His hand on you so,
Don't live life in fear,
Forgive and forget,
But don't forget why you're here,
Take your time and pray,
- The Words I Would Say by Sidewalk Prophets
Please know, God's got you. You will come forth as gold. Trust Him. (Job 23:10)
Slow Stitching + a Finish I've been doing quite a bit of slow stitching in the form of binding the Panel Baby Quilt! The recipient was so grateful that he almost made me cry! I can't believe I forgot to take a picture of the finished quilt! Here it is with the borders:
I machine quilted the borders and hand quilted the bears.
I'm hoping to make even more progress on Prayer Shawl #2. It's already about 48" long!
By the way, I saw this pattern on Fiber Flux. Her directions are fabulous! It's really interesting to see how different it looks with a bulkier yarn!
Slow Stitching Weekend! Here's my projects! I was in the mood to make dishcloths! Here is one from scraps of some I gave away. I used Lily N Cream white with purple tulle cut into 1" strips. Yes, you're right, they do get a bit stinky after a day or so. I simply use a new one every day! :) All the more reason to make more! :) I made four as gifts, but forgot to take pics of them!
