There's Power in the Blood

Blood isn't a common topic in social circles.  I've thought about it a lot lately, especially Sunday night at communion and as we anticipate the most sacred of holy-days...Easter.  Last Thursday at my doctor's appointment, feeling rather down and worn, it was revealed that my hemoglobin had dropped to a point where I needed a blood transfusion.  Sarah and I spent the day on Friday at the infusion lab.  As the blood of an unknown donor dripped into my body I had plenty of time to contemplate this situation.

-we can't live without blood
-there are 4 "groups" of blood but many different "types"
-typing and crossing blood takes time
-it takes 2 hours to transfuse 1 unit of blood, I received 2 units
-I have no idea who donated, but boy am I thankful they did
Can I ask you a blunt question?  If you were going to die...would you accept blood from your worst enemy in order to save your life?
As I think of Christ's death and the blood he shed...it was for EVERYONE!  Even His worst of enemies...Jesus shed His blood as the PERFECT sacrifice for our worst of sins!  It is absolutely amazing that the very life giving substance that ran through Jesus' veins is what paid the price of our guilt!  Without His blood there would be no forgiveness of sin.

"If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work,

conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth;

knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold

from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers,

but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.

For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world,

but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you who through Him are believers in God,

who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God."

I Peter 1:17-21

 

Do you have faith and hope in the ONE Who gave His lifeblood for you?

I pray that this Easter brings you a new and refreshed sense of why Jesus gave His blood for you...to give you life...abundant and eternal life!
Tuesday brought more doctor appointments and I am so thankful that my sister-in-love, Cheryl, was able to take me.  I was able to have my last drain removed!  Woo Hoo...I'm free at last...from drains and the restriction of driving!  I'm giving praise!  My next doctor appointment is on April 11th with the radiologist.  Please join with me in praying for clarity and wisdom as to whether I should pursue radiation treatment.

Giving Thanks:

Thank You Elaine Hess

Thank You Geetha Rivera

Thank You Suzanne Homoelle

Thank You Dave, Alicia, Tucker, Sam, Paisley & Elsie!

Thank You O'Roark Family

The O'Roark Family...You're TOO much!!

Thank You Jennifer Deskins...you make me laugh!

This is Tom's "prized" Swiss Army Knife...

He lost this knife prior to his diagnosis and he was very upset because he had looked everywhere!  When Tom was no longer able to drive we sold his 1992 Bonneville to Jacob Deskins.  While Jacob was on his Senior Trip to the Dominican Republic last week, his mom cleaned his car and found Tom's knife!  Thanks Jen

Thank You Jeannette Swetnam

It really is Spring...just hard to see it with snow on the ground!

Brady (Benjamin), Haydon (Joseph) & Noah (Napthali)

I am so thankful I was feeling well enough to go see my cousin's sons in their high school musical, "Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat".

Not only was I amazed at the talent (especially of the 3 pictured above) but for the fact that a public high school was willing to share one of the Bible's most profound lessons about family, tragedy, and the healing power of forgiveness!

After the show we were hosted at my Aunt "J" & Uncle Jim's home for a delicious lasagna dinner.

Thank You...Greenwich, Ohio family!

Thank You both Cathy Smith & Merino Family

Thank You Carylee

Thank You Stephanie LaMonte

Thank You for the awesome meals:

-Suzanne Homoelle - Meatloaf

-Terri Parrish - Mexican Chicken

-Jeannette Swetnam - Creamed Chicken & Biscuits

-Ulrike Brennan - Chicken Paprikash

 

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,

who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able

to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort

with which we ourselves are comforted by God."

II Corinthians 1:3-4

Florida

Monday, February 18, 2013 couldn't have come soon enough...getting on an airplane to head south for a couple of weeks to visit my parents and share time with two very special friends was so anticipated and now it has come & gone too quickly!

Ginny & I arrive safely in Florida!

"Now on the first day you shall take for yourselves the foliage of beautiful trees,

palm branches and boughs of leafy trees and willows of the brook,

and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days."

Leviticus 23:40

Some of my mom's welcoming hospitality!

Beautiful weather to bike with Mom & Dad!

When the days are like this...

And evenings like this in February...can I ask, "Why do I live in Ohio?"

Ginny & I enjoying a Florida sunset at the Jetty

Look who we ran into at my parent's Sunday school class' chili dinner...

Ginny, Linda Heiman & I reconnect!

Linda was the WCS elementary school secretary while our children were there.

Enjoying a pizza luncheon with Tom's parents in Brandon, Florida

My first ever motorcycle ride, on a HARLEY!

Thank you, Bob Branham...what a fun drive up Casey Key at night...spectacular!

Enjoying shopping in downtown Venice!

More shopping...more dolphins, turtles and fun for all!

Who's the gal in short, beach blonde hair???

Thank You, Wyatt & Mary Brown for having us over for a delicious spaghetti dinner...

& a rousing game of "Hand & Foot"...

Brown's vs Kline's

(Ginny's maiden name is Brown!)

Saying "good bye" to Ginny & "hello" to Carylee

A pajama/pizza party with my parent's awesome, wild & crazy friends...

(back row: Mary, Jane, Barbie, Rochelle & Marcie)

(front row: Barb (mom), Cindy, Carylee & Me)

The "boys"

(back row: Bob, Bob, Dale, Bob, Lowell (dad) & Wyatt)

(kneeling: Jeff)

I can't tell you what this group of people means to me.  What amazing support they have been to my parents through all the trials of these past two years.  Not only do they worship together, encourage one another, pray together, sing together, play cards together, fellowship together & laugh together, they welcomed me and my friends as family.  After Sunday worship we all went to brunch together.  After brunch the ladies surrounded me in a huddle and prayed over me one by one...God bolstered me through these sweet ladies for the road ahead and have faithfully throughout this journey!  Thank you sweet friends!

Venice Arts Fair with Carylee

Biking fun...even though it was a little chilly!

Always a good day for Nokomis Grove Ice Cream!

More shopping fun...

One of my highlights from this special trip was seeing each of my dear friends in my wig!

Priceless!

Thank you Dad, Mom, Ginny & Carylee for making these two weeks most memorable.  I love you all dearly and treasure each and every minute God allows us to have together.

"Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us,

the treasure which has been entrusted to you."

2 Timothy 1:14

Catching Up on February

Valentine's Day was not a day I was looking forward to.  Remember just a short year ago Tom & I had a private, romantic dinner for two in our home?

Valentine's Day 2012

Oh, do I miss him!

Zac and Sarah surprised me, along with my sweet friend, Margaret, by taking us to a local Italian restaurant for dinner and then back to the house for dessert and games!  What a fun night of fellowship and laughter that took my mind off of what "could have been".

Sweet Margaret & Me

Super Special Sarah & Zac

Our Valentine Dessert

Rice Krispie Treats from Margaret!

Thank You for ALL the Valentine Greetings!

Thank You!

Valentine's Day was on Thursday and I had gone in for some pre-op testing and a physical.  While meeting with the doctor there was some concern on my EKG that made her schedule me for an echocardiogram on Friday.  It was late Friday afternoon when the nurse practioner called me and said that I had a blod clot in my port near to my heart!  Because I was leaving for Florida that Monday the only option they could give me was Lovonox shots, twice a day in my belly!  If it meant going to Florida, I would do whatever they said!  I headed down to The OSU Medical Center right away to be instructed on how to administer the shot and to also pick up a 30 day supply.  Because this is considered a "specialty" drug my insurance would not pay for it up front so I needed to pay the $2,400.00 dollars and then insurance would reimburse me!  I walked out of the hospital with a small grocery sack that cost $2,400.00!!  I have become quite good at administering these shots, I did have practice with Tom and I do admit it's easier to stick yourself than someone else...at least that is the case with me!

Lovely Lovonox

"A joyful heart is good medicine."

Proverbs 17:22

Surgery Behind/Recovery Ahead

Thank you, Di Coughlin for this amazing reminder of Spring!
"I lay down and slept;
I awoke, for the Lord sustains me."

Psalm 3:5

One day sitting on the beach...the next laying on the operating table!  It never ceases to amaze me how God continues to shower down His blessings on me.  After arriving back into Columbus on a snowy, stormy night (10:57pm) the airport closed around midnight, getting me back in the nick of time for a 5:30am arrival for surgery the next morning!

Surgery is over, healing has begun and I'm realizing it's tougher than I expected.  I came out of surgery with three drains instead of the two they expected.  I had my one week follow-up appointments with the surgeon and plastic surgeon on Tuesday.  I am thankful they were able to remove one drain and they said from an outward appearance all looks well.  It's the pathology report that wasn't so good.  The margins from the tumor site were not as broad as they had hoped and 5 of 11 lymph nodes tested positive...not so good.  Of course I was sad...I think I'm still sad...trying to take it all in.  They would like me to go ahead with the radiation treatment, starting in 2-3 weeks.  I will go back 3/19 and hopefully get another drain out, if not both.  I take it all one day at a time, trusting HIM to see me through each day...that's what He does...giving me only what I can handle.

"And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you,

for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore,

I will rather boast about my weaknesses,

so that the power of Christ may dwell in me."

I Corinthians 12:9

Can I be totally frank?  I'm feeling pretty weak...how much power do I need?  I really enjoyed blogging when I did it for Tom, but now that it's all about me...it has become a chore.  I've needed to post for a long time and now I'm so far behind...it feels like work rather than a blessing.

I've come to realize that when I'm down physically, the mental isn't far behind.  When I feel good, my mental health is better too.  I think I just want to live on vacation ALL the time...life isn't a vacation and God has called me to live this one life well...I'm trying, but I'm wearing thin.

Thank you, Rebekah Coblentz for this burst of sunshine!



"And working together with Him,

we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain—for He says,

“At the acceptable time I listened to you,
And on the day of salvation I helped you.”

Behold, now is “the acceptable time,” behold,

now is “the day of salvation”— giving no cause for offense in anything,

so that the ministry will not be discredited,

but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God,

in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses,

in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness,

in hunger, in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit,

in genuine love, in the word of truth, in the power of God;

by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left,

by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report;

regarded as deceivers and yet true; as unknown yet well-known,

as dying yet behold, we live; as punished yet not put to death,

as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich,

as having nothing yet possessing all things."

II Corinthians 6:1-10

Thank you, Tim & Julie for another gorgeous bouquet AND a HoneyBaked Ham!!

Thank you for all the meals that have come:

Ingrid Morris - Beef Burgundy

Nancy Green - Chicken Gumbo

Jill Coon - Ham, Squash & Stuffed Mushrooms

Ginny Englehart - Chicken Alfredo

Karen White - Pot Roast

Gifts continue:

Thank You, Jill

Thank You, Karen

Thank You, Aubrey

Thank You, Judy

Thank You, Julie

Thank You, Mary

Thank You, Mom

Thank You, Ginny

 

"I will bless the Lord at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul will make its boast in the Lord;
The humble will hear it and rejoice.
O magnify the Lord with me,
And let us exalt His name together."

Psalm 34:1-3