Haven't Blogged in a while So here's a recap.....

We had a good Thanksgiving dinner. Rhianna helped me prepare the meal. She loves to help cook. I really enjoy the fun things we get to do together. Since my battle with cancer some of my biggest fears are not seeing her grow up or her maybe not remembering me when I'm gone. So I try to savor every moment I have with her as if it might be our last. I still have fond memories of my grandmother and I want her to do the same with me.

So we got together at my house with my side of the family. A lot smaller crowd than usual. I am use to having 25+ people. Since we moved we don't combine the families anymore we don't have enough space. Before the move we had the all the dinners at my house. But I really enjoyed spending time with my family, especially my Mom.


Finally got a christmas tree put up... Not mine of course I went to get mine out of storage and at some point someone decided they needed half a tree. Go figure lol. But I was able to find another one in storage so it worked out fine. It was a lot smaller than my other tree but it works.


We were laughing the other night about some of our tree experiences. One of the funniest was one year after taking great pains decorating the tree which was a live tree. I asked Roger to cut the twig at the top so I could tie my bow. But apparently I wasn't clear because he cut the top completely out of it. It went from a twig sticking out of the top to a V shape in 2 seconds flat. LOL But in his funny way he managed to fix the problem. Yes he wired the piece back to the top. I was afraid the entire time the piece would fall out. But it never did. It did turn brown though.


At first I was a little discouraged about the holidays because things have really been slow for Roger this year especially the last few months. The jobs coming in have trickled to almost nothing. (construction is not the trade to be in right now.) We have always gone overboard in the gift giving area. Always buying expensive gifts, giving large amounts of money, trying to do more than the year before. But as the holiday started to approach I began to realize this year we were not able to do things like we have in the past. And to be honest I was upset.

I have been really praying about things and asking God to just humble me and to just show me the plan he has for us this season. I have come to realize I have put so much emphasis on the wrong things. It's not what gift I could get for who. Or did I spend enough. There's not any gift I or anyone else could buy that would measure up to the gift that God has given us. And thats the gift of eternal life through His son Jesus Christ. I am ashamed to say that in the past I have had so much focus on so many of the wrong things that I haven't really been celebrating the true meaning of christmas.

So this year my focus will be on the things that truly matter. First and foremost The Birth of my savior Jesus Christ and the things he has blessed me with. Such as my family, my home(even though we have tons left we need to do) and my health (I've been in remission for 3years&5 months). I thank God for giving all of us another year together. I'm really looking forward to spending time with my family and hopefully starting new traditions.


I guess you can say I may have already started some new traditons ....Roger, Tosha, Rhianna and I went to the Spartanburg Christmas parade last night. First time I've ever seen it at night. Roger don't usually go. I really enjoyed the time we all spent together. Rhianna really enjoyed the parade. she was so excited she was reading the names of the banners etc... when the bands would come by she said her heart was rumbling she really had a great time.

We had parked in the parking garage so when we left we exited out the rear onto magnolia St. We passed the Soup Kitchen at the Presb. Church Rhianna recalled seeing them in the parade.. she ask what a soup kitchen was and I told her. She was so sweet... she said she loved to cook and wanted to go help them prepare the meals for the hungry people. I was so touch by her wanting to help even though she was only 6. She's my special Angel.. I see God using her one day in that capacity. she has a big heart..


We're also planning to go as a family to the Bethlehem Walk at Holston Creek on Sunday night. I'm really looking forward to it. I went last year and I would recommend to anyone who hasn't been to go.

Simple things and special memories....

Thankful For...

1. My son Steven was not severely injured in his accident on Monday morning. When I arrived at the accident scene he was already enroute to the ER. I saw his car I just knew his injuries would be bad. Thank you God for protecting him from more serious injuries and for allowing me to remain calm to get Teresa and I to the Hospital safely.


2. Being able to pick Rhianna up at school today. It was her first day back. She has been through a lot this week. Keep Praying her antibiotics kick in full force soon... and she gets better soon


3. The warm weather we've had the last few days... Rhianna loves the outdoors. We had fun today while she was here.


4. The fact I serve a soveriegn God who loves me so much! Even the times I'm living in the flesh and not seeking his will for my life. Thank you God for forgiving me when I do mess up...

5. The weekends almost here... maybe I'll be able to get my dishwasher hookup so I want have to handwash them Yay!!!

Christians and pumpkins....

A christian is like being a pumpkin. God picks you from the patch, brings you in, and washes all the dirt off of you. Then He cuts off the top and scoops out all the yucky stuff. He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, and greed. Then He carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside of you to shine for all the world to see."

I am so thankful everyday that God picked this "Bad Pumpkin" and removed all the bad seeds from my life. Jesus didn't have all the seeds we struggle with day by day. Yet he paid the ultimate price for us and our bad seeds. It was such a horrible price to pay. I just hope the people around me see the light of Jesus shining in me everyday.



But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:7

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12

Something to think about..

I was going through some of my files and ran across this poem a former Pastor had read in one of his sermons. I liked it and had him get me a copy. After reading it again tonight it made me think about my own "DASH". I just pray God will give me the wisdom to be more mindful of how I live my life and how I treat others. I want to spend the rest of my "DASH" seeking God's will in all that I do. And I want to live a life that will be pleasing to Him. I want others to see Jesus in me.




"DASH"



I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone, from the beginning ...... to the end
He noted that the first came her date of birth and spoke the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all.. was the dash between the years (1959-1999)

For that dash represents all the time that she spent alive on Earth...
And now only those who loved her, know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not, how much we own: the cars... the house... the cash.
what matters most is how we live and love, and how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard.... Are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left , that can still be rearranged.
If we could just slow down enough to consider whats true and real,
And always try to understand the way other people feel, and be less quick to anger,
And show appreciation more, and love the people in our lives like we've never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect, and more often wear a smile...
Remembering that this special dash might only last a little while.
So, when your eulogy's being read with your life's actions to rehash...
Would you be proud of the things they say about how you spent your dash?

5 things I'm thankful for today

1 My family whom I love very much!!!!

2 spending time with my granddaughter Rhianna. She has been so sick. We made " pumpkin" biscuits today. lol Biscuits in the shape of pumpkins. she's so creative and she loves to cook even though she was feeling bad

3 getting the dishes washed FINALLY!! 3rd time today! I hate to handwash dishes, I miss my Dishwasher!! now if I can just get laundry done.

4 not having to cook dinner (I started it and Tosha and Nate finished it for me tonight)

5 wireless routers ours is finally working again

Biopsy,"Tattoos", and Reality

After Being admitted to hospital I was moved to the cancer center wing. I was given 2 units of blood during the night. Anyone that's had a blood transfusion knows that it's a slow process. It only takes 2 minutes to have your blood drawn. But it takes hours to receive it back. I can barely remember being brought into the room. Must have been the affects of the sedative I was given. I have a low tolerance to medications. The next morning when I woke up I was still kind of confused about where I was. But as I started opening my eyes things started coming back to me. I remembered I had been told I had cancer. I was taken to have my biopsy that morning. The biopsy show the type of cancer I had. This allowed them to decided what treatment I would have. It was decided I would have a combo of chemo and radiation. Much of the day was spent having blood work, talking to the oncologist, cat scans, etc. I think I was still in shock because at times they would be talking to me and I could see their lips moving but it wasn't registering with me what was being said. I felt like I was in a dream because everything was happening so fast. All I wanted to do was wake up! Only I was awake. I finally let Roger tell everyone what was going on. I had not wanted my children to know. I have always tried to protect them. But I realized this was one thing I couldn't control. The oncologist had told me I would be taken to radiation to have other scans and be prepared for my first radiation treatment. It ended up being late in the day when they finally came and got me. I was taken to the Radiation Dept where I had other scans and received my wonderful "tattoos" (friendly reminders of the radiation) The target marks would allow them to place me correctly for my treatments. Afterwards the technican wheeled me out into a small waiting area to wait for my Radiaton Oncologist. It was very Dim and quiet I was the only one there. It was the first time since this whole ordeal had started that I was completely alone. As I sat there I was so numb. I felt so alone. I was so scared. Could this really be happening to me. On the table beside of me was pamplets about cancer and radiation. Everywhere I looked I saw something about cancer My mind started racing. I just wanted to leave. I wanted to forget it all. Reality was starting to creep in. Was I going to die? I wasn't ready to die. I had a 3 year old grandaughter I wanted to see grow up. I wanted to see my daughter get married one day. I had so many things left undone! I just wanted to go home. I wasn't ready to face this. I wanted to know why this was happening? I started crying out to God to Please Help me!! Please Help me!! I can't do this. I told him I was scared I wanted it all to go away. I needed his help. I needed Him to give me the strength to face it all. I started to pour my heart out to Him. I told him I wanted him to make it go away. But as hard as it was I began to ask Him for his will to be done. Not mine. I told him I wanted to face it but I needed his help. What ever the outcome would be I would trust him. I realized that when I stopped asking why and began to start asking for his help. I started to calm down. By the time the Oncologist finally came I was able to discuss treatments, complications, and what she thought the outcome might me. It was really hard but I knew I wasn't alone. God was allowing me to finally listen and to ask questions even if they were hard. I was finally willing to accept I had cancer. And I was ready to start the fight. It was my first step in learning how to live with cancer. When the time came to sign my consent form I was able to sign it with a new sense of strength. God had given me the ability to put my signature on the form. And I knew I was ready to start the fight!! With his help I knew I would make it!

God and Cancer.....

I'm sure anyone reading this knows of someone who's life has been affected by Cancer in some way. Never in my life did I think I would be faced with such a thing. I had a close friend who died of Lung Cancer a few years before I found out I had it. He died only 8 short months after he was diagnosed. I can still remember his wife calling me the day they found out. Only now can I really relate to what he must have been going through. As I said I went to the ER hemorrhaging. My sister in law Angel went with me. I called Roger to tell him I was there. I was seen by an ER Doctor who told me he needed to consult with another Colleague. In the mean time a nurse came in and gave me a sedative as my BP was elevated. Roger got there shortly before the other Doctor came in. I hate to admit it but I had not keep up with my yearly exams. (PLEASE any woman reading this GO!! get your yearly exam.) To my surprise the colleague was the GYN I had not seen in forever. He did his exam. I will never forget him saying those 3 words "You have cancer" and it has spread. NO! It can't be!! At that point I think I was in shock. I felt like I was caught up in a whirlwind of sorts. My life was suddenly spinning out of control. I was told I would be admitted to the cancer wing of the hospital. I needed a blood transfusion I had lost lots of blood. I would also have a biopsy first thing the next morning. Utter fear was all I could feel.
I'm ashamed to say although I was a Christian I had been out of Church probabally 6 or 8 months when I found out. There were several things that happened that lead to me leaving the church I was attending, (I want share those now) I'll just say the enemy is always working to discourage you. But that night in the ER I agreed to let Roger call his Mom to tell her. She said she was calling the Pastor. I agreed to let her. I knew in my heart I needed God to help me make it through this ordeal. When the pastor arrived we talked and he told me God still loved me even though I had not been seeking his will in my life. He prayed with me and I asked God to forgive me for turning my back on him. I asked him to guide me through the journey that was ahead of me. I knew without him I couldn't make one step. After I prayed a since of peace came over me. I realized although I still had cancer. I would not have to face it alone. He would be with me no matter what!

My first Post...

Sooo Here it goes. I'll start by telling a little about my self. My name is Sherry. I have been married to Roger for 18 years. We have 2 adult children. Steven 28 who is married to a wonderful wife and mother name Teresa. They have blessed me with a precious grandaughter named Rhianna. And Tosha 25 who is engaged to a fun loving and great guy named Nate. God has blessed me with a precious family whom I love very much. I am also a Cancer Survivor! Yeah the Big C! I was diagnosed with stage 3B squamous cell carcinoma on May 10 2005. It is a day I will never forget. Funny how life can stop you on a dime. I had been shopping that day in greenville with my daughter Tosha. After returning home I started hemmorhaging and went to the ER. I thought I was having early menopauseal symptoms. Boy! was I wrong!! I spent 4 days in the Gibbs Cancer center. I've had 35 radiation treatments, 4 Chemo treatments, 2 Blood transfusions, and a cessium implant. It is only by the grace of God that I am able to write this today. God's grace is always sufficient!! no matter what the situation. That is one reason I decided to start blogging. I want to share my story. Having cancer has really changed my life. Life has many twist and turns as well as Ups and Downs. I sometimes refer to life as Hills and Valleys. Sometimes we have to walk through valleys before we can climb hills. I have been in a valley many of times since my diagnoses. I'd like to share those times too. Being able to climb out of the valley only makes me appreciate life more. God is great!! With him anything is possible I am proof of that.