Last Day of Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month

Hello!  The Spartans lost by 3 darn it!  Pat's Aunt Jeri & Uncle Mike were able to watch Garrett play and they played a good close game. They have a tournament in Santo this weekend, so we will be back from Tulsa on Friday and hopefully catch that game.

Today has been a good day for all.  Pat worked most of the day.  Clear Choice is busy so Pat has plenty to do!  I worked some today and spent the afternoon with Jeri & Mike and Elizabeth.  

Not a lot of chatter from me today, so this is one of those short posts for tonight! 

As my friend, Carla ,always says, "Sweet Sleep"!

Hugs!
Paige
xoxo

PS Last day of Pancreatic Awareness Month!    

My Husband Rocks

Hello!  Hope you had a good Monday!  Pat and I both went to work for the morning.  I loved seeing everyone today at the church and feel all of the hustle and bustle of Christmas.  FBC is a busy place. Did I tell you that the Promises Community Christmas dinner are expecting 700 plus guests this year!  Whew!  We had 525 last year. The program is so big that they are going to divide our guests into two groups.  One group will begin with the meal and the second group will begin with the Christmas program.  I miss being a part of this wonderful ministry, but I am so thankful for Katie and Alison who stepped up to take on this major event. You girls are doing awesome and it will be better than ever!  May I take this time and ask you my FBC friends to volunteer now if you haven't done so.  Many more hands are needed this year.

How fortunate our community is to have a ministry such as this.  It has been a hard year for many families and the Promises Ministry services provide help to those families that need a hand up.  It takes many volunteers to make this program happen.  

Pat has not felt very good this afternoon.  He has had the chills and has pain in his back and a bit in his bones. I know that he is prayed for by many of you and it is an amazing feeling to know that you are interceding on his behalf.

Garrett and I just returned from the store to buy him some dress slacks, shirt and tie.  The basketball team has to dress nice tomorrow at school and Garrett will be looking sharp.  I loved watching Pat tie G's tie for him tonight!  Go Spartan...home game tomorrow night.

Oh I can't wait until tomorrow when I get to wear my new t-shirt that my life group girls gave me!  Want to know what it says on the front?   "My Husband Rocks"!  Yep, I will be wearing that t-shirt out as he is My rock and so proud to be his!

Hugs!
Paige
xoxo

If you're not daring to believe God for the impossible, you're sleeping through some of the best parts of your Christian life. ~Steven Furtick  

Love My Sundays!

It is Sunday and it has been another great day!  We started the day at church with the boys and a quick lunch afterwards.  The Christmas card pictures were made today.  The wind wasn't very cooperative with the hair, but it was a pretty day.  Thank you Chelsea for coming over and taking our photos. We can't wait to see them. 

The rest of the afternoon I finished decorating the house for Christmas then we went to Life Group at the Rosses for a great dinner! I am sad that Matt had to go back to school to Waco today, but it was sure nice having all my kids home together.  

This week looks like it is going to be pretty busy.  Pat's aunt and uncle, Jeri and Mike, will be coming into town from New York and we are very excited to see them.  Garrett has a home basketball game Tuesday night.  It has been too long since the last game, so we are ready!  

Not a lot to blog about this evening, but that is okay because I like uneventful sometimes, don't you?  We hope you have a great week as you get back into your routine after a long weekend.   

Blessings!
Paige
xoxo 

The Tree Is Done!

Christmas 2007

Hello!

I am typing in red because I am trying to get into the Christmas spirit.  I just finished decorating the tree, but as I sit here on the couch and look at the mantle there are two pumpkins that need to be removed, but that will wait until tomorrow.  Pat and the boys helped me get the tree down and all of the boxes and they watched and commented on my decorating the tree while they watch the Mavs play.  Matt was questioning my brown ribbon with my red ribbon as he thinks brown doesn't work as a Christmas color.  There is red in the brown ribbon ......just hush and watch the Mavs Matt! :)

Today has been of the best days we have had for such a very long time.  It hasn't been good because we did anything special or went anywhere.  It is special because Pat felt so good today and was himself!  We have laughed and joked all day with each other.   I know that he is really loving it that his boys are sitting here on a Saturday night watching the game with him. Elizabeth has been here all day too, but at the moment she is out with her boyfriend, David.   

As I was driving to Lowes to get a string of lights because my pre-lit Christmas tree has some lights out, I was singing and thanking God for his goodness and giving us days like this!

It has been nice having a long weekend and I am looking forward to church tomorrow. After church we are having what the boys call "the dreaded" Christmas card picture.  We were just discussing the colors that we need to coordinate for the picture...bahaha you should have been a fly on the wall.  My family is the best and I love you four so much!

Goodnight!  Go Mavs!
Paige
xoxo  

Surrender

Pat's nephew, Kenneth and his wife, Lauren

Hello Friday and Black Friday known to many!  Did you go out today? My sister called today and said that they were at Walmart at midnight and Kohls at 3 AM.  She said you have to see it to believe it and yes, she got some great deals.  I wasn't planning on going out today.  At 1:30 I was still in PJ's and couldn't decide what I wanted to do as Pat went to Hico for the day to purchase some cubes for the cows. Elizabeth talked me into going with her to run around, so we went to the mall.  The mall really wasn't that crowded at 2:00. I think I bought one Christmas present, but we enjoyed ourselves.  

Pat feels so much better than he did yesterday and said he really had a good day.  You know he said to me that today he didn't even think about cancer until this afternoon when a friend asked him about it.  When you are given a diagnosis as we have been given, it very rarely does leave your mind.  Sometimes you feel it is so surreal and the reality hits you and other times you feel moments of joy and are privileged to walk this journey.  

Our Life Group has been studying Chip Ingram's Bible study, the R12 Christian which is about Romans 12.  Romans 12 provides a relational profile of an authentic disciple. In session two of the study it was titled "How To Give God What He Wants The Most".  What God is looking for and wants most from me is me---all that I am and all that I have.  When you take your family, your future, your money, your gifts, your dreams, and all your possessions and you given them all to Christ.  It is like signing a blank check over to Him. What I learned in this session is "Surrender is the secret to God's best. Surrender is the channel through which God's biggest blessings flow. "  I signed the check on September 28th, 2010 and and this is what I wrote in my journal "I can't do anything without you Lord!  I give you my husband, our marriage, my three kids, our finances and our future."  On October 7, 2010 Pat was told he has Pancreatic Cancer Stage IV.  You see, I surrender and  I want God's best even though it is scary.  I have asked myself the following question several times this past month: "Would I sign that commitment again of surrender if I knew what I know now?" "What if my not signing it would have prevented it?"  God has a plan whether I sign or not, but what I am trying to say is I want what God wants.  If he is asking Pat and I to go through this for a purpose, we say yes.  We surrender.  Yes, I would sign it again. At the same I am always asking God to help me to trust Him to believe and have audacious faith.  To give me his peace each day.

 The last sentence in this session Ingram says " When a man or woman takes this step (living by faith) life is never the same.    He's right.

Hugs!
Paige
xoxo

A Blessed Thanksgiving!

My sister, Kelly

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am so full and but not quite miserable. We had a great day. I am so sorry that my Uncle Robert and Kathy as well as Shaunda and her family were unable to come due to the weather and sick kids. We missed you! 

We had lots of fun, food, laughing and pictures! Thank you Kelly and Brian again for coming up early to help, prepare and serve. You truly made it very memorable and special. I agree with Elizabeth and we need to try to find you guys jobs here so we could all live close together. 

Thanksgiving is an important holiday and one that easily gets pushed aside quickly because of Christmas marketing. We truly need to be thankful and cherish all that we are blessed with. Blessings have been abundant to the Easterlings and you, our friends and families, are at the top.

Moms out there, there isn't anything better than having all of your kids together under one roof is there? I just loved listening to them today as they hung out with the family. I heard one say earlier "he's touching me and won't move over" (20 and 23 year olds). I heard the boys yell at the TV while the Cowboys were playing, saw Elizabeth demonstrating to us in the kitchen her hip-hop exercise routine, and I now hear them removing leftovers from the fridge to eat some more. Lord, thank you for my family and they we were all together today!

Pat is feeling really tired tonight and actually has a small grade fever. He held off of the pain pills most of the day and had a good day! I know that he loves this cold weather, the crackling fireplace and all of his family that was here today! 

I am not a Black Friday shopper, so all of you early birds have fun in the morning! You really get up at 3 AM? I have never done that yet! Shop til you drop! 

Enjoy your weekend and stay warm! 
The Easterlings
xoxo 

Almost Thanksgiving!

Shelves Full of Cards...What great friends and families

Hello!  I am excited because my sister, Kelly, and her family are here! She is so precious!  She bought me a bracelet that says "A sister is a forever friend".  Kelly and I can say that as we are truly good friends and love, love each other.  Just wish she lived closer. Thanks sweet Kelly!  I love you!

The smells in the kitchen have begun as we start preparing for tomorrow's feast for 25.  I also whipped up some chicken and dumpling for ten of us tonight and it is all gone. Tomorrow is going to be a great day with both sides of the family joining us.  I pray that you enjoy your Thanksgiving Day and cherish each other.

The photo you see is a picture of our bookshelves in our living room holding all of our cards that have been sent to us.  How blessed we are to have friends and family to love on us as we go through this journey!  Thank you!

Gotta get back to cooking!  

Lots of love,
Paige
xoxo

The "How We Met Story"

September 8, 1984
Lake Murray Chapel
Ardmore, Oklahoma

Hello!  I am blogging early this afternoon as we are going to Garrett's game in Stephenville tonight.  A friend of mine, Tomi, wanted me to share how Pat and I met.  This Texas born, Oklahoma raised gal meets Texas born and Texas raised guy!  I have a personal blog www.paigespetals.blogspot.com where I have been blogging for about three years now and this was a post I wrote on September 8, 2009, our 25th wedding anniversary. I am posting tonight in the color of "Mauve" as that and blue were my wedding colors!

 

Today Pat and I celebrate our 25th anniversary. This is a lot to brag about! I remember years ago thinking how far away our 25th would be. It came in such a hurry. I have never written in the blog how we met. It is a really cute story, and a memory I love to play over and over in my head. I was 19 and in between my freshman and sophomore year in college at Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant, Oklahoma. I was living at home in Madill and working at Lake Murray Lodge as a reservationist. It is a resort near Ardmore, Oklahoma. On July 8th, Pat came in to the lodge to check in. He was a “business man” with the corporate car and was in sales. According to him, he was to go to Mexico with a friend that backed out at the last minute, so he joined his mother, Aunt Virginia and his sister, Dianne and her boyfriend. Pat arrived early and because he was so good looking, I was trying to impress him and I upgraded their small villa to a large villa. After all, this was one of the most major requests that we had with our visitors. He proceeded to hang out in the lobby and wait around on his family. By the way, he had on hirachi sandles (what I call Jesus sandals). That struck me as odd because I had never seen any guys around my town wear those. Oh well, he still had my attention. You know what he noticed on me? My yellow pants. Now, I would like to think I could be remembered by something else like my perfect hair, or my wonderful personality. Nope….just the yellow pants or as Pat calls, britches! We kept making eye contact while he hung out in the lobby. His Mom finally arrived and she came to check in. I informed her that her son had already got the keys and I had the pleasure of upgrading he reservation. Bad mistake! She got furious with me and really let me have it. She said that she did not want the large villa because she did not want to hear Pat's Aunt Virginia snore. So, I fixed the reservation. A little while later, Pat called to ask for a roll-away and before he hung up he asked if I was able to date my tenants? Yes I said. So, he asked me out on a date. Well, I had some fixing to do as I had already accepted a date earlier that day with a guy named “Matt” who hung out at the lodge a lot. I had to break the date. I told him that I had to go back to Madill and return money to my mom that I borrowed. After I broke my date, Matt and Pat were playing pool or something in the game room and Pat said “I got a date with that girl up there". Matt's reply was“oh really?” Matt confronted me and I was caught. Oh well! Pat and I went to Ardmore and ate the Pizza Inn. It was great date as we got to know each other. It was Friday now and Pat was leaving to go back home to Arlington. I asked him if he wanted to go to a rodeo and watch my mom ride? He said yes. We went to watch and then he came home to my Mom’s house and spent the night. I must say that looking back on this, this was totally out of Pat's character to spend the night at a strange house with people he barely knew. We continued to have a three year long distance relationship as I finished college. I was cheerleading and involved in sorority for a while, but eventually dropped it and made many trips to Texas. Three years later on April 24, 1984 he proposed and I said “yes” and I would say it all over again!

Good Night!

Paige

xoxo  

No Matter What

Three days and counting until we are all so stuffed and miserable!  

Hope you had a good day.  Pat felt a little better this morning and went into work for a bit, although I am not sure he felt up to it, but he was home by 11:30 AM.  His fever went down as we prayed, but he has a headache tonight.  

Today I worked from home and went to a Celebration of Life today for a friend's father.   Her father had been battling Alzheimer's for several years and her journey has been a tough one.  As I was driving away from the graveside, I felt encouraged.  She stood before her guests today and shared with us just how faithful God is and how she was able to get through each day with prayer, God's Word and just trusting Him.   She allowed God to be the conductor and she described her journey as a train going through a dark tunnel.  Just because it was dark, she couldn't just jump from he train because she was scared.   She had to trust the conductor as the conductor knows all about the dark tunnels and what is ahead. Lana, I may have not gotten your beautiful story down just as you shared, but I got your message...I am trusting the conductor!  I pray God's comfort and peace for you and your family in the days ahead. 

I am reminded of the following song that is on Christian radio. When it first came out and I heard the words I really liked it and even downloaded it.  And I do remember thinking to myself, this song really doesn't describe anything going on in my life right now, but I love this song!   The description soon fit.   Here are the lyrics of "No Matter What" by Kerrie Roberts.  

I’m running back to Your promises one more time
Lord that’s all I can hold on to
I gotta say this has taken me by surprise, but nothing surprises You
Before a heartache can ever touch my life
It has to go through Your hands
And even though I keep asking why, I keep asking why

No matter what, I’m gonna love you
No matter what I’m gonna need You
I know You can find a way to keep me from the pain
But if not, if not, I’ll trust You no matter what, no matter what

When I’m stuck in this nothingness by myself
I’m just sitting in silence
There’s no way I can make it without Your help, I won’t even try it
I know You have Your reasons for everything so I will keep believing
Whatever I might be feeling, God You are my hope
And You will be my strength

Anything I don’t have You can give it to me, but it’s OK if You don’t
I’m not here for those things
The touch of Your love is enough on its own
No matter what I still love You and I’m gonna need You

No matter what I’m gonna love You, no matter what I’m gonna need You
I know You can find a way to keep me from the pain
But if not, if not, I’ll trust You
I know You can find a way to keep me from the pain
But if not, but if not, I’ll trust You

No matter what
No matter no matter what
No matter no matter what
No mater no matter what

No matter what, Lord
Paige
xoxo 

A Cherished Find

Pat checking the deer feeder

Hello! 

So glad Pat felt like going to church this morning, although difficult because his body started hurting as we were leaving.  All afternoon he has been relaxing and sleeping.  Right now he has a fever of 100.  We have seen a pattern of feeling this way and sometimes a fever about 48 hours after chemo.  If you read this tonight, please pray with me that his fever does not climb.  If it gets too high (100.4 is their guideline) we should go to ER or doctor.  I feel it will be okay.

Today I have been cooking and cleaning.  I have had to get use to the fact that we rarely eat out anymore.  Since we have cut out sugar in our diet and eat organic, restaurants do not have that much to offer.  Another challenge I have his getting Pat to eat six or small meals per day, which is  mostly protein, fruits and vegetables.  I have to admit I am sure missing pizza!  

Elizabeth went to the doctor this afternoon and can you believe she has strep?  Good grief. I have band her to her room and she calls me on her cell phone!  We can't have Pat getting strep.

I went into Lifeway last Thursday looking for that book.  That books means the one the Lord wanted me to read.  I can tell you that every time I have prayed for him to show me the book he has for me, he has without fail. I searched for a while and couldn't find one.  I was running out of time and Elizabeth was patting her foot. I did find a great devotion for Elizabeth, but I kept searching.  I just needed to find someone who has written a book that could help me in this journey.  Someone who could enlighten me or perhaps could just share some insight. I found it..."Don't Waste the Pain. Learning to Grow Through Suffering".  Be prepared for me to share with you what God is showing me.  I started reading it on the plane ride home Friday and immediately had many paragraphs underlined.  I even asked Pat to read the following.  I will share it with you:

"We have no promise from God that we will live another year.  And we have no provision from God that will numb whatever suffering lies ahead.  But like you and me, we do have both promise and provision from God that when we go through deep waters we will not drown, that we are precious to God, that we are empowered to reveal His glory and to become more like His son in any circumstance.  Deep faith grows in authentic community, that embracing where we are in our story releases us to live in the joy and hope of His story and that those who walk ahead of us on the narrow road to life can give us courage to follow, to not waste our pain, to learn what it means to grow through suffering.  God is always doing us good, even in the worst of times, when all the lights go out.  Dawn will come.  We will not only survive.  We will live."  

It is the book for me for now. 

It is going to be a short work week for many this week and no school for the kids.  We are looking forward to Thursday when all of the family gathers!  

Hope you have a good week!

Hugs!

Paige

xoxo  

Bubba's Buck

Hello!  It has been a quiet day today and  Pat and I have been hanging out at the house.  Sometimes there is nothing better than sweats and no makeup, but Pat might not agree!  Pat feels a lot better since last night.  The bone ache is going away slowly.  

Matt shot a big buck at the ranch a bit ago and he is excited!  He was also proud that he gutted it himself.  Looks like we will have more venison in the freezer and a nice wall mount in Matt's room. I am excited for you Bubba!

Garrett went to the Baylor/OU game today with friends and Elizabeth has been in and out also hanging out with friends.  

So, this blog is short and simple tonight!   Going to join Pat and watch the "Open Range" with him.

Enjoy your Sunday tomorrow!  

Hugs,
Paige
xoxo  

A Fun Game

Hey there!  Just got home from Garrett's game.  They lost by 9 or 10 points to Dublin High School, but the team played a good game. Make your free throws boys!  This game was actually a varsity game.  Centennial High School is a new school which only has 9th and 10th graders.  They will be playing some JV games as well varsity games throughout the season.   Pat and I are so thankful we were able to get an earlier flight out of Tulsa so we didn't have to worry about being late.  Our good friend, Earnie, surprised us by showing up at Garrett's game.  Pat's sister, Dianne, picked us up from the airport so she was able to see G play too!

Today was a really good day!  Dr. Strestha, Pat's oncologist, feels really good about his numbers and his response to the chemo and his tumor markers have gone down really well.  We were very excited to hear that Pat will get chemo every other week, which will put us home next week during Thanksgiving!   After our appointment with her, we both felt such a peace and comfort as she will give us all the time we need to ask questions and even discuss other treatment options we have heard or read about. He will also be getting an injection at the same time he gets his chemo to aid in keeping the white blood cell count up.  The side effect from this drug is bone pain.  Unfortunately tonight, he is really hurting and quite miserable.  

It has been a long day!   So, good night.   Hope you have a fantabulous weekend!

Hugs from us!
Paige & Pat