The Holiday Weekend!

Hey there!  Yes, it has been since Thursday since I have been on here at CB, but it is difficult when there is not a good reception on your phone and your at the lake.

It has been eventful I must say. Thursday night Pat and I went out to eat and went to pick up the RV.  It finally started after a few hours of charging, but we new it needed a couple of new batteries.  So Friday morning Pat took care of that and I got the house cleaned and went to the grocery store.  As I was leaving the store about 3 PM, Pat asked me to go to the auto store to get some starter fluid.  To make a long story of four hours short, the RV was parked in front of our house, but would not start.  It so happens that Garrett's girlfriend's dad has an RV business with mechanics, so he stopped by Friday night and took a look at it.  He told us to expect his repair men the next morning.  They fiddled around with it and got it started quickly.  So, we loaded up and was out of here by Saturday at noon headed to Lake Whitney.  

When we arrived at 1000 Trails at Lake Whitney, most of the good spots were taken around our friends that we were joining, so we finally found a good place.  We set up and ready to have a good time. While we were there Garrett and Matt had great luck fishing.  Elizabeth and I had some good pool time.  Pat went scouting around Whitney to locate his great, great grandfather's grave.  

Saturday after lunch the boys wanted to go back to the cliffs and jump and asked us to go with them.  All five of us loaded up and walked on the trail to the cliffs.  Matt gets up there, about 30 ft. and jumps, followed by Garrett.  There were a couple of other guys jumping too. The boys talked Elizabeth into jumping and she gets right up to the edge and off she jumps.  Pat, Cash and I watched them for a bit and  I hear, "Mom, you try it!"  I said, "Nah, I don't want to."  One kid says "Aw, come on Mom, you can do it. Why not?"  I answer, "I really don't want to do my hair".  (That answer didn't work either.)  They kept trying to talk me into it and I heard Pat say, "Mom, you can do it!".  Okay, I decided I would (too quickly).  I take off my earrings and wedding ring and go to the edge.  The water looks far away.  I peak out there and look down.  I stand there.  I stand there.  I keep standing there.  The kids are encouraging me.  Pat is telling me that I can do it. There is a guy next to me and he says, "I did it with my shoes on".  I am thinking so?  All three of the kids said they would do it again and I can watch.  Garrett jumps.  Elizabeth jumps and they both are treading water.  Matt is sitting bedside me as I stare into the water.  He quietly says, "Mom, this is what it was like at Camp Redcloud when little kids would stand there for three hours before they did ropes".  Well, I wasn't going to take three hours.  My mind was convinced that I could do this, but I was scared to death.  I couldn't picture myself jumping.  I wasn't scared of the water, I was scared of the feeling of jumping.  You know the stomach in the throat feeling.  After about ten minutes Pat said "I am not waiting anymore."  I said "Wait! I will".  I stood there another five minutes and all were tired of waiting.  I wanted to jump so bad.  A couple of times I had a false start and I scared them and they all yelled at me.  Finally,  I said I am going to do it and I did!  I plunged into the water and when I came up I heard cheering!  I survived and it wasn't that bad.  No, I didn't do it again!

We had dinner each night with our friends the Greens, Vernons, Haralsons and the Williams. They are all camping pros, and had this group thing down.  What fun!  It was time to load up and head home this morning, but we were going to make a stop at the donut shop on the way home.   The boys were riding in the RV with Pat and Elizabeth and I were each driving a pickup.   We arrive at the donut shop and the boys get out and said that they heard a loud pop and all of the dash lights were blinking. It wouldn't start.  We go into the donut shop and they have about 12 donuts left and not too many of our favorites. (The trip was going down hill by the minute.)  We each ordered and head back to the RV to sit and make some calls. Pat and I sent the kids home with the food and two and a half hours later, the tow truck came and off it went with the RV and we head home. That is our weekend full of fun and frustration, but we had a great time together.  

Tomorrow Elizabeth starts her new job working two days this week while finishing up her other part-time job.  She is excited and we are too!

Pat has been feeling pretty good.  He has what we call episodes where he feels an extreme fatigue and has to work through that, but overall good.  He gets another two weeks off before we return to Tulsa.

Hope you enjoy your short week this week.

Hugs!

xoxo

Wow! What A Day!

Today has been one of those days that began great and had good things happen all day...kinda of a high that really doesn't go away.  I am thankful for these type of days when I am given one and it is hard to keep it to myself. 

Today Pat's care manager nurse, Adaline, called to check on Pat.  She has a wonderful accent and if I concentrate I can memick her a bit.  She was so excited with Pat's tumor markers and were bragging that they were at 105.  I immediately said, "Wait.  They were 114."  She no that was two weeks ago!  Wow!  I called Pat and told him his markers are still going down and he didn't have to go anywhere.  How exciting! 

This morning I woke up earlier than normal, got my coffee and sat down in my chair.  Today's reading in my 365 day Bible was 2 Samuel 7.  I have to admit that I am not one who loves spending all of my reading in the Old Testament, but God certainly got my attention this morning.  Before I go further here with my thoughts, I want to go back to October.  When Pat was diagnosed and we started this journey, God gave me Exodus 14:13: "But Moses told the people, "Don't be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today.  The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again.  The Lord himself will fight for you, just stay calm." In the past months, he has shown me this verse again.  Several weeks later he directed me to Exodus 34:10:  "The Lord replied, "Listen, I am making a covenant with you in the presence of all your people.  I will perform miracles that have never been performed anywhere in all the earth or in any nation.  And all the people around you will see the power of the Lord--the awesome power I will display for you."  Of course when I read these verses, they leaped out at me...kind of that jaw dropping aha moment. 

So, if I look back at the very beginning of my walk with Christ, I claimed Jeremiah 29:11: "For I know the plans I have for you..." as my life verse.  When June of 2008 arrived and Pat was diagnosed with esophageal cancer, he showed me my new life verse, John 13:7:  "You don't understand now what I am doing, but someday you will."   I felt that God gave me a visual of where we started to where we are now.  His reminder that He is in control and there is purpose and meaning in the midst of all of this. 

Okay, back to 2 Samuel 7:23.  It reads "You made a great name for yourself when you redeemed your people from Egypt.  You performed awesome miracles and drove out the nations and Gods that stood in their way."  Verse 23:18 "Who am I, O Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? "  That is how I feel.  Lord that you have been so faithful to this family and that you have blessed us in Pat's remarkable fight.  So humbling.

God revealed Himself to David and gave Him many promises in this chapter, and when I read this my first thought is "Lord, are you revealing more of yourself to me?"  "Are these promises for me?".  Only God knows right now, so I right down these verses and my thoughts to wait.   I get up and get ready for work not really knowing how to process all of this.  Just before I was to walk out the door, I got an email from a guy named Wayne, who is one of the radiologist at the Cancer Center and he has a Healing Ministry.  He also has a son who was diagnosed with leukemia which is how his ministry was started.  He sends out frequent emails with his teaching and devotions.  They are usually quite lengthy and I am surprised that I read it this morning, but what I read was amazing. 

I would like to share a scripture that speaks of writing down
God’s vision. We make it clear so that we can keep it in front of us so we can be
reminded of it. This is from the Good News bible translation.
>
> Hab 2:1 I will climb my watchtower and wait to see what the LORD will tell me
to say and what answer he will give to my complaint.
>
> Hab 2:2 The LORD gave me this answer: "Write down clearly on tablets what I
> reveal to you, so that it can be read at a glance.
>
Hab 2:3 Put it in writing, because it is not yet time for it to come true.
But the time is coming quickly, and what I show you will come true. It may seem
slow in coming, but wait for it; it will certainly take place, and it will not be
> delayed.

I wrote it down. I will wait.

Sweet dreams,
Paige
xoxo

No More Storms

Those storms are too close for comfort!  At 4:00 today I was watching OKC television on my laptop and I actually had tears in my eyes watching the radar around Kelly's house in Yukon.  Fortunately, we have technology and I found her via text while she was in a friend's basement. They didn't have any damage, but Brianna's graduation was canceled.  Later, I find that Mom had to go to the cellar and my cousins in Flower Mound were all in the closet!  I am thankful everyone is well, but my heart goes out to those who are facing devastation now in Oklahoma and Missouri. 

What a great game last night!  Mavs beat Thunder!  The Texas cousins would say to the Oklahoma cousins,"Texas beat Oklahoma!" Pat went to bed early last night and missed the grand finale. 

Speaking of Pat, he has had a couple of good days.  The biggest thing he fights is extreme fatigue.  It makes such a huge difference when he doesn't have to have the Neulasta shot and I feel he is going to have a good three weeks before we return to Tulsa. 

Have a great night and watch the radar!
Paige
xoxo

Thankful!

The Mavs are playing again!  Two of the guys are watching the Mavs and one is at the Ranger's game.  If you know my boys, you know what kid is watching what game.  

You want to hear a cool story? I talked about my dad and his barn being blown apart from the tornado that passed through Madill in April and he was featured on television. (Click here to see the news coverage video.) I saw my dad this weekend at my sister's and he told me that his church family, First Baptist in Madill, was building his barn back next month.  I want to thank Rick Clement and his buddies that are coordinating the barn raisin!  What an amazing gift to give my dad. This has been a huge burden for dad and to know that he doesn't have to worry anymore just warms my heart. Kelly and I are so thankful that he has friends and a church family that loves and cares for him so much. 

Speaking of Rick, he and his wife, Carla have been a huge inspiration to me the past couple of years as they have walked a similar journey as Pat and I are walking now.  They have both encouraged and prayed for our family and have been just a phone call away. Rick's journey began with Leukemia in February 2007 and he went to MD Anderson for a bone marrow transplant in the fall of 2009.  Recently, he had bad blood counts, so they are headed back to Houston tomorrow.  I ask that you pray for Rick and Carla as they make the trip not knowing what lies ahead.   

Again, please allow me to remind you how precious life is and that each day matters.  God has all of our days planned and He only wants us to trust Him each day.  

This is what I read in my devotion today:  "Approach each day with desire to find me.  Before you get out of bed I have already been working to prepare the path that will get you through this day. There are hidden treasures strategically placed along the way.  Some of the treasurers are trials.  Others are blessings that reveal my presence:  sunshine, flowers, birds, friendships, answered prayers.  Search for deep treasure through the day.  You will find me along the way.  Col 2:2-3; Isaiah 33:6.  Sadly I have another friend who is facing a medical crisis and I sent this to her early this morning.  

We are all "In His Grip",

xoxo 

God Rocks!

This girl is doing the happy dance! Pat's tumor markers have gone down from 152 to 114!  I am absolutely humbled and thankful for this wonderful news.  Pat's doctor said he is getting amazing results with his treatment and she is excited as we are.  We are making huge progress with this type of cancer.  He didn't lose any weight either so that is another plus.  Thank you, prayer warriors!  I know your prayers make a difference and you are faithful to pray when I ask.

We left the house at 5:40 this morning and this girl is pooped!  I have gone to bed too late this week and it is catching up with me.  It also rained all the way here so that caused my knuckles to grip harder on that steering wheel.   A big thanks to Garrett for allowing us to use his new truck.  It is very challenging to have the perfect seating arrangements with  6'3 and 6'0 men and a nice comfortable place for all of the heads to rest!  I read on Elizabeth's FB status that she wished she was an only child for about four hours this morning!  My kids crack me up.  Thank you Murray and Misty for meeting us on the freeway (when I got lost) and picking up the kids. 

It looks like we are going to get out of here earlier than expected.  Pat began his chemo treatment about 3 PM and that will put us back in OKC earlier than we expected.

This weekend will be about Brianna and all her friends and family gathering on behalf of this precious graduate.  She is speaking Sunday at baccalaureate and I am so proud of her. 

Going to close my eyes for a bit.

Praising God,
xoxo

Congrats Garrett!

Hello!  We are proud parents tonight!  Garrett was awarded the Performance Excellence Award in Basketball.  That is so cool!  Garrett is one of those players whose heart and soul has been in this game since he was a little kid.  He is loyal and dedicated and has definitely earned it!

Tomorrow morning we leave very, very early for Oklahoma City and then on to Tulsa.  There ought to be some great conversation this weekend over Thunder vs Mavericks! 

I ask that you pray specifically tonight for Pat as he needs extra strength and stamina.  Today has been a hard day for him.  What I hate about it the most is that I feel helpless.  Tomorrow we are praying specifically for those tumor markers to come down.  Please join us.

I am keeping this short as I have to go pack!

Blessings,
Paige
xoxo

My Impact Player

Hey there!  I was MIA last night, but it is crazy around here and time gets away from me. 

May18th is a big birthday day for eight people who have a birthday today and four of them are really good friends....Laura, Brenda, Jeanie, and Gen.  Hope you guys had a wonderful day!

Tomorrow night Garrett has awards night at school and then we leave about 5:30 in the morning on Friday to get to Oklahoma City, drop the kids off and head to Tulsa for a 12 appointment.  We are looking forward to seeing family this weekend, but the kids are not happy about the car ride...I may have to split them up! 

Pat has really struggled the past two days with a some nausea and extreme fatigue.  He just feels whipped and he is tired of feeling this way.  Pat is beating the cancer but some days are just simply hard.  In the mornings when he gets up he is slow moving and at night time he is extremely tired after dinner, so he usually has to go to bed early.  But, he is so strong, determined, and disciplined with his regiment and routine and does not like to complain.  I was listening to my podcast while on the treadmill this morning and I heard something that stuck with me and I actually emailed my kids to share with them.  "God must think you are an impact player if he is allowing you to go through unjust suffering".  Pat is my impact player and my hero.

I ask that you continue pray for Pat's stamina, strength, endurance, peace and healing.  If it were not for God and His loving presence in our daily lives, this journey would be impossible.  I can't imagine having to go one day without Him.  Pat and I were driving to Hico Saturday and we were chatting.  We both agreed that we can honestly say that if you took the cancer out of our lives, we are happier than we have ever been.  So, I remind you that there are many gifts hidden in the trials....just watch.

Sweet dreams!
Paige
xoxo

Time to Exercise

How was your Monday?  It was a good day.  Pat had a fair one, but was really tired and dragging by this evening. 

Today I got back on the treadmill.  Last October was the last time I did any type of exercising when I was training for my first 5K.  Our church staff was challenged and I decided to try it.  I was training with the Iphone app Couch to 5K and it was working pretty good for me. Running a 5K is on my Bucket List and would love to run one and finish.   About the time I was to get to the longer running sets, I stopped due to Pat being hospitalized.

Exercise has always been a part of my life, but I took huge advantage of my new normal life that I ignored the fact that I needed it and sure didn't want too!  Now, I am in the worse shape I have ever been in and I finally said that I have had enough.  I lifted a few (and I mean few) weights last night, and I am quite sore today.  Actually the doctors at the cancer center have advised Pat to walk, so we need to be getting into that routine. 

I loved the message I read from my devotion today:  The most important thing to determine is what to do right now. Instead of scanning the horizon of your life, looking for things that need to be done, concentrate on the task before you and the One who never leaves your side.  Let everything else fade into the background.  This will unclutter your mind, allowing Me to occupy ore and more of you consciousness.  Trust Me to show you what to do when you have finished what you are doing now.  I will guide you step by step, as you bend your will to Mine.  Thus you stay close to Me on the path of Peace.  Here is a message that I need to hear everyday as I feel overwhelmed with the items on my to do list! 

Good word, uh?

Sweet Dreams!
Paige
xoxo

Great Weekend!

I hope you had a good weekend?  We did!  It was full and I fell asleep on the couch last night in Hico and forgot to stop in and say hello!

Saturday was a busy day and quite the highlight and memory maker day for Garrett!  Pat, Garrett, Paxton and I went shopping for G a truck.  Considering we started at 8:30 and found one by 12:00 was not bad.  He knew what he wanted and we set out and found it in Irving!   It was quite the God thing as the truck met our criteria at our price.  Pat surprised Garrett Wednesday night after church by telling him that we were so proud of him, his great grades, his maturity,  his good choices as well as his God choices, and we had a reward for him....to go shopping for a truck!  The look on Garrett's face was absolutely priceless.  Mr. Easy going, not-going-to-get-excited-kinda kid was pumped! 

Saturday evening we went to Hico.  When we arrived about 8 PM the electricity was out and all of the food in the freezer was ruined and a mess.  It didn't take the electric company too long to get there.  By the time we got everything cleaned up, it was bedtime.  Garrett and his friends spent all of their time fishing in Hico and had some good luck.  See the lovely snake he killed? Today was a perfect day with no wind!  It was just nice to get out of town and enjoy the country!  Pat and I went out this morning to mow and weed eat, but neither the lawn mower or weeder were working, so we came home to take care of our yard at home.

Matt is home for the summer and even has his room put back together (thanks Missy).   Yay!  We are excited. He starts work tomorrow at Choice Windows.  I just love how God worked it all out so that he could come home and return in the fall to finish school.

Busy week this week!  We will be leaving for Tulsa early Friday morning along with the kids.  My niece, Brianna, has her graduation party on Saturday and will be speaking at baccalaureate on Sunday.

Pat has felt good this past week.  Sometimes he just gets tired and has to rest, but overall, such a better two weeks after chemo than the last treatment.

Hope you have a great week!  Celebrate Monday...it is a gift!

Hugs!
Paige
xoxo

Friday!

Aw! Friday night and just relaxing!  It has been a good day.  One reason is that I spent it with Pat in the office this morning and we were able to have lunch.  I am enjoying being off on Fridays, but this is one of the first Fridays that I have been in town.

Matt's last day of work was yesterday and he moves all of his stuff out of his apartment and back home this weekend.  He will go back in the fall, but this summer he will be working with Pat and learning more about Choice Windows.  It will be good to have him home this summer and Loco too!  So, all three kids home now!  Garrett made me laugh a few weeks ago when he said, "I will never be an only kid at home"!  What I do know is that he is very glad that his brother is home.  My boys have always had a very close relationship. 

I hope you enjoy this great weather this weekend and I pray you cherish each day!

Paige

xoxo

Friday!

Aw! Friday night and just relaxing!  It has been a good day.  One reason is that I spent it with Pat in the office this morning and we were able to have lunch.  I am enjoying being off on Fridays, but this is one of the first Fridays that I have been in town.

Matt's last day of work was yesterday and he moves all of his stuff out of his apartment and back home this weekend.  He will go back in the fall, but this summer he will be working with Pat and learning more about Choice Windows.  It will be good to have him home this summer and Loco too!  So, all three kids home now!  Garrett made me laugh a few weeks ago when he said, "I will never be an only kid at home"!  What I do know is that he is very glad that his brother is home.  My boys have always had a very close relationship. 

I hope you enjoy this great weather this weekend and I pray you cherish each day!

Paige

xoxo

Faith!

Everything is possible for him who believes (Mark 9:23)

The everything mentioned here does not always come simply by asking, because God is always seeking to teach you the way of faith. Your training for a life of faith requires many areas of learning, including the trial of faith, the discipline of faith, the patience of faith and the courage of faith. Often you will go through many stages before you finally realize the result of faith--namely the victory of faith! 

I read the above this morning from a devotional (Streams in the Desert) I read over six years ago. I open it up and faith is the subject. I want the victory of faith! 

It has been a good day for this family today!

Hugs!
Xoxo

Good Morning!

This song had me dancing on the way to work this morning!  

Monday

It is Monday, but not a bad Monday.  It was nice to be back at work after being gone since Tuesday.  Such a refreshing place to be!

I was getting out of my work clothes a bit ago and I saw my book, One in a Million, laying there in my closet.  I took it to the conference with me hoping I would get the opportunity for Priscilla to sign it.  I opened it up to see her signature and realized that she wrote down a verse that I hadn't looked up.  Her signature read:  Paige-You are the one! Priscilla  Numbers 14:24, 30.

Verse 24: But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it.

Verse 30:  Not one of you will enter the land I swore with uplifted hand to make your home, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.

Here is her description of "One in a Million".  When approximately two million Issrealites left their slavery in Egypt and wandered in the wilderness for an entire generation, only two made it safely to the Promised Land.  That's One in a Million who were brave enough to put abundant life to work no matter where they were, no matter how easy it became just to blend in and be average.

I keep picking this book up because we are still walking in the wilderness.  God used her writing to continue encouraging me.  When I chatting with her I told her our story and I opened the book and said, "see (all underlined with colors) we are doing that wilderness thing!"  She said, "Girl, look at that".  It is just so cool that God heard me whisper "Lord, I would love to meet Priscilla while I am there and get her to sign my book". 

Back to Monday.  Sometimes Mondays can be hard and it is the way you look at it.  A lot of times it is attitude, which is really the only thing we can control, but it is hard if you don't feel like fixing it though!  There are just days that you think "we are tired of this journey and ready for healing so Pat will feel better and we can claim the victory and move on."  We are in God's will and He has us here in this particular time in order that we can experience Him.  "God can do anything, you know--far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams" Ephesians 3:20 (The Message). So I will wait, but in order to wait patiently I need to feel His presence and receive His peace and joy.  

Just today I have talked to two people who now have cancer and their journey is just beginning.  One has esophageal and the other pancreatic.  I ask that you pray for these families as God knows their names.

The journey is long and tough, but I know God is up to something!

In His Grip,
Paige
xoxo

Happy Mothers Day!

Happy Mother's Day!  It has been nice to be home and be with my family!  This morning Garrett had his last game at the tournament at UTA and they won it winning all their games! The team he is playing on is the guys that are on his school team, so they are getting good practice for the summer and enjoying the time they get to hang out with each other.

The only thing I wanted to do today was take a nap, and it was wonderful!  I woke up in time to watch the last two quarters of the Mav game...what an ending to this series! 

Tonight we celebrated with my favorite, Meat lover's Pizza from Pizza Hut!  Elizabeth gave me a sweet necklace that I picked out at the conference that simply says "Hope".  What I loved about the boys' gift is that they bought me boxes of candy....junior mints, butterfingers and hot tamales!  I find it special that they truly knew my favorites!  Most of all I loved the card they gave me that made me smile, laugh, and cry!  My kids are so precious and they make me feel so loved and special as well as their dad! 

Speaking of dad, he is feeling good.  The biggest struggle he has is just being tired.  I am praying for him to have a great week!

You have one too!
xoxo

I Can Fly!

Oh my I am running on fumes and can't wait to sleep in my own bed as it has been since Monday!  I am glad to be home and see my three guys, but I did have an incredible time at the conference.

I have really been thinking about what I heard from God through those who spoke at the conference.  Before I arrived on Thursday, I knew that God had me there (and Elizabeth too) for a reason and I wanted to make sure I came away with a message that I knew that I was there to hear.  I believe the message was that God has me where he wants me and I am to do what he has before me although at times I will truly not know what that is nor will I understand. There is purpose in this journey and God will use it to glorify Him if I will just trust him each day with what I am given.  I am not to guess, fear or predidct what my future holds as only God knows and there will be many surprises along the way!

The theme "Fly" was so beautifully illustrated and demonstrated through media, song, dance and the messages.  We as women are to step out on obedience and trust that after we make that first step he will equip us with exactly what we need to be successful and what he has for us after we are obedient will be beyond anything we can ever imagine and will unfold as we exercise our faith. 

Happy Mother's Day to all of you Mothers!  I know that I am blessed with a precious mom who I adore and love!  I love you, Mom!  Being a Mom is the ultimate gift and I love my three....Elizabeth, Matt, and Garrett and their father!


Hugs!
xoxo

Flavour!

Hello!  Elizabeth and I are at the Flavour's Women Conference at Fellowship Church this weekend that began on Thursday night and lasts until Saturday.  What a weekend.  My niece, Lauren and her mother, Kim, bought Elizabeth and I tickets to the event last November and gave them to us as gifts.   God knew just what we would need six months later!  

I had journaled early this morning about the speaker last night and the experience, but with Elizabeth and I were blowing drying our hair at the same time this morning we blew the breaker and I lost it!

Today I got a huge God hug as I got to meet Priscilla Shirer and get my picture made with her. I am a huge fan of hers and particularly her book "One in a Million" as I have read it three times.  She signed my book and we chatted for just a bit. What a beautiful person inside and out and one who's words have been such an encouragement to me.  I will post my picture with her soon!

While riding home from the train on Thursday I met a girl who sings on the Praise Team at Gateway, Erin.  We were talking about authors and she recommended Charlotte Gamble's books.  Guess who the speaker was on Thursday night?  It was Charlotte!  She is from England and her accent was entertaining and her message was inspiring.   Many of us go, go, go, but in order to go you have to get on your mark, get set and then go!  We have to hear God's voice when we are on our mark and then we are to receive his anointing when we get set and then we Go! 

Elizabeth and I have had a great time and Southlake is a great town for shopping.  There was even great shopping at the conference.  The name of Fellowship's Women's ministry is Flavour, so that is where the conference name comes from.  Also, Pat's nephew, Kenneth, is one of the children's pastors there, so we got the grand tour of this incredible church!  

Pat and I are not usually away from each other this long, so I feel like I am missing my right arm!  He has been feeling pretty good since we arrived home from Tulsa on Thursday, but he is extremely tired and has been fighting some nausea.  I feel that he will have a much better week this week.  He is such a trooper!

I have got to get to bed as more fun to be had in the morning then I leave here and drive back to Burleson to get Garrett to his game at UTA.

Goodnight!
xoxo

Sittin in Tulsa

Hey there!  I am at the Cancer Center and Pat is snoozing while getting his chemo.  It looks like we are going to get out of here earlier than usual, but we did leave very early this morning from Kelly's.

They did not run tumor markers today as they like to run them only once a month.  Pat did lose 4 lbs and that is not good.  It is very important that he continue to keep consuming those nutritious calories, but it was a challenge this last two weeks because he felt so bad.  So, we will focus heavily on his nutrition the next two weeks.   Pat will continue to take the oral chemo pill (Tarceva) until June, so the doctor did decrease his Gemzar (chemo) dosage so that he can tolerate both of the drugs.  When we return the first of June they will be doing a couple of scans.  It is amazing how fast time flies when you schedule your life two weeks in advance.  

We are so thankful for this place.  I saw a girl my age this morning in the clinic who had the "white band" on her arm carrying the new patient briefcase, and I felt the nudge to introduce myself. I found out that she is from Kentucky and while chatting with her, I could tell she was nervous.  I just wanted her to know she too was in the right place. While we were here in October and we carried our briefcase for five days, many times other patients and/or caregivers would approach us and tell us the same.  It was such a confirmation that the Center was truly where the Lord led us.

Pat is waking up, so I will catch you guys tomorrow from the train on our way home!

Hugs!
Paige
xoxo

Cruisin!

Hey! We are cruising on the train and just left the old Gainesville station. We also had our dinner from the snack bar and it was pretty good. The lady who served us was from Chicago. She said she rides this train for five days before she returns home. Did you know National Train Day is May 7th? We are celebrating early!

When Pat starts feeling good we know that treatment is around the corner. We will see doctors tomorrow, have chemo and return to Kelly and Brian's. We are so thankful for them helping us so that we can travel this way.

I finished my book by Priscilla Shirer this morning called "Life Interrupted" and it ended with some "underline the whole page" good stuff. What stayed with me the most was: Surrender! It's the only way to navigate the unexpected.

Surrender is probably the hardest things for me to do daily and totally. Gosh! She is right! I find that the more you hang on to something the more God will challenge me. That challenge is usually the person or thing that causes me the most worry, and the first thing that comes to my mind when I type this is my children. I bet you nod your head too! I have found in my experience as a mother, particularly now that their all in their teens and twenties, that it is at this age when it is the hardest to surrender them. I know they have to make their own mistakes and build their own testimony, but that makes my stomach flip. I haven't gotten this down. It is something I know, but find it extremely hard to do. So, my goal for surrender is to trust God. I can honestly say in looking back on the rough spots of motherhood, He has never failed me. He has taken some rough times and made them good "according to His good purpose" just as the scripture states. You know, I'm relieved He is in control because I know me and it could be ugly if I was!

Well, the train has rocked Pat to sleep and I may have to join him.

Join us in praying for a good report. You guys are so good to Pat and I and we are humbled.

All aboard!

 Xoxo

Yes, It Is Still Raining

 Yes, it is still raining and we are loving it.  It is muddy around our house because we put out all of that dirt this weekend.  Poor Cash now knows to stop at the door and lift his paws so we can wipe them off! 

We leave tomorrow for Tulsa on the train.  We have an early appointment at the Cancer Center Wednesday morning, so we will be departing from my sister's in OKC early, early.  Hopefully, since our day is starting earlier, we can get back to Kelly's earlier that evening so we can visit!

Congratulations to my friend, Becky Tirabassi and her husband, Roger (The Coach & the Counselor) in their new daily radio program Little Changes Big Results!  Their launch was today and they did a great job!  You can listen to them streaming on-line, Monday through Friday from 3:30 to 4 CST at KPRZ.com. (click here to hear today's show.) For 30 minutes every day, Roger and Becky will be taking calls and answering questions about relationships, fitness, addiction, parenting, faith and culture.  The number is 866.577.2473.  Becky and Roger have been such good friends and prayer warriors for Pat and I and they walked alongside us when Pat was diagnosed with cancer in 2008.  Becky is a spitfire and you will like her instantly!

Gotta get off here and go pack.  We are praying for a great report on Wednesday.  I will catch you from the train tomorrow night!

Hugs!
xoxo

Thankful for the Rain

I am so thankful for the rain this morning!  Sometimes the rain reminds me of renewal.  As he refreshes our needed ground, he refreshes us, if you ask Him.  I did this morning.  It is funny how you can go to bed so peaceful, thankful and full of joy, and then you wake up and you ask yourself what happened while I slept that caused me to wake up different.  I just got on my knees this morning and asked for a renewal.  After all Lord, I have so much to be thankful for. I have seen your presence this weekend and I am watching you work all around me, literally touching lives.

I woke up to an email this morning that touched me and caused me to think.  My prayer warrior and friend, Monica sent me the following prayer.  We have all heard the first four lines that are familiar, but the rest of the prayer is just as important.

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.  Living one day at a time, enjoying each moment at a time. Accepting hardship as the pathway to peace.  Taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it.  Trusting that You will make all things right, if I surrender to Your will. So that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with You forever in the  next." Amen.   

Surrender we have to do, everyday and if we do, God promises to go before us and behind us and carry us when we need Him. Thank you, Monica, for that God hug!

Enjoy the rain today!

Hugs!
xoxo