Moss doesn't grow on a rolling stone.....

We made it back from MT and are off to NC in the morning....

I have been blessed to feel really good through this trip, and since we haven't seen Todd's dad and mom in so long, we are driving down to see them tomorrow - leaving early.  

Here's some high points from our Montana visit:

- we stayed with Gretchen's parents and felt as though we had known them for years!

  (They took a risk - 5 days of company you have never met! they were brave!)  

- we met her sister and family and had fun with their children

- we laughed, played games, ate too much and had lots of fun

- we worshipped together

- we went shopping for Gretchen's dress and she found one while I was there!!!!  

  I was thrilled to be a part of that!

- we went shopping for Mother's dresses and Eve and I decided that would be a much longer 

   process! but we had fun!

- we enjoyed an outdoor fire and star gazing (the clouds lifted a bit)  

- we learned about beer brewing from one of Karl's friends 

- we researched venues and caterers and brainstormed about the wedding

- we slept too little and were very sad to leave

You open your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing - Ps 145:16

We have prayed for years for Karl and Paul's wives-to-be -- asking that God give them women that are strong in their faith.  He opened his hand.....and we are blessed by not only Gretchen, but by her strong faith filled family!

Through this whole visit, I didn't take one nap!  I didn't feel sick!  I had energy!  

This is my own little miracle!  I cannot believe it!  God has truly blessed me!

Now off to the laundry and repacking.....

Next stop - NC!  

We are squeezing as much living in to the days between chemos ---

Praying that this is a fun, relaxing family time for you - and that as you spend time with your family, you intentionally make efforts to grow their faith -- to testify to God's goodness -- to seize the teachable moments and point to the reason for your hope!  

Thank you so much for praying for us -- You are a blessing to us!

Blessed to be with family

Feeling good and so happy to be with my family!


I survived the hardest part of the trip - packing all the stuff that was to come with us!
We made it to Montana and are having a blast with Gretchen's family.  God truly blessed me to be strong enough to enjoy this time.  


I will be taking off a few days while we have the opportunity to be all together!  


Thank you so much for spending time checking in with me.  
I pray that this Christmas time is steeped in love of our God--be blessed!  
I'll be back on the 27th or 28th.....
Love to you all!




Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth.......Luke 2:14

What a difference!

Much better today!  Still a little nausea and a headache, but better energy!


What a difference a day makes!  I am so thankful to feel more like my old self again!  
Chance and I walked this morning - about 1 1/2 miles.  That always helps the day!  Paul helped me run some errands today and I caught up on laundry!  (tough to pack if the laundry isn't done!)


I am still fighting a cough, sinus stuff and headache--praying it stays inconsequential.  Still get winded climbing the stairs :( Still have the "finger in the socket" feeling -- kinda jittery, but overall cannot complain! 


This total turn around I attribute solely to your prayers...
It is too radical, and nothing else is different!  In addition, the shot yesterday was supposed to make me feel pretty yucky - 
Thank you so much for lifting me up!  You have made such a difference for us!  
I can only think of Ps 50:15 which is one of my very favorites -
"Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you and you will honor me!"  


I called -- you lifted me up - God made me feel better! 
What can I do but  say thank you and point to my healer???
Happy Dance!!!
Thank you!

Check up -

Had a checkup today - blood counts low enough to warrant a "blood booster"
Feeling ok - not great - not normal - 
  but good enough to realize all the stuff I have to do in the next 3 days!!! Yikes!
  Good thing that Christmas will happen whether I am ready for it or not!
Walked 2 1/2 miles today - Yay!


Blood counts today were lower than this point last time, which is to be expected. (It doesn't make it better though!)  Because they know that I am traveling and they want me to be as strong as possible, they gave me a shot of neupogen.  This will stimulate my bone marrow to make more blood cells.  Side effects include (among other things) body aches for several days :(
Oh well -- I am banking on this making me strong enough to resist all the germs on the flight!  


Another nasty side effect is this "amped up" jittery feeling that starts about the weekend after chemo and just hangs on.  I mentioned last post that I was really emotional....that is still making life challenging for me - and my poor family.  I am so snarly!  This is probably a large contributor to the "stressed out" feeling.  Sure hope it goes away when all this is finished!  I am so done with it!!


One a more cheerful note - I have made a photo collage on the front of my fridge of Christmas photos -- that way I am reminded of all of you that are loving me through this -- it makes me smile every time I see it, so thanks for sending them!  Those of you that don't send pictures, e-mail one to me so that I can add you to my collection!  



A friend sent this quote from K-Love to me
“Faith doesn’t deny a problem’s existence.  It denies it a place of influence.”  How difficult it is to not allow this to have an influence.  I have hit the portion of this game where I am unable to do the things that I love doing, that are "normal" - like attend parties, go to dinner with Todd or walk in cold weather.           It makes me really crabby!  
Once again, I have to change my focus from what I cant do to what I have/can do --- 
    How many times do I have to learn this lesson??? 
I am thankful for:
  nice, un-Wisconsin like weather                Christmas lights to brighten the early darkness
  great neighbors that help us out                Paul being here at home
  my phone-keeps me connected to y'all    my fingers being less sensitive than they were
  great job with great insurance !!!               photos of friends to make me smile
  playing canasta - even if I lose often :)     good food(often delivered!)- being able to eat it 
  That I live here in the US and not in the middle of some war-torn country....
  For God's love for me - for us all!


Nothing like counting blessings to make the day better!  



Once again, thank you for checking in on us -- I continue to be amazed by how many people still are looking for my blog and say they are encouraged by it.  All I can say is 
God can use anything for His good and His glory-I am proof of it!   


"That had to be God, cause I know Christine and it couldn't have been just her! She had help!"


You bet I do!  :) Thankful for my Help!
  Ps 118:7 The Lord is with me, He is my helper!  I will look in triumph on my enemies!

Karl got engaged last night!

So happy for them!  Can't wait to be there -- see the cute pictures on facebook if you haven't already!  What a joy!


Still tired but feeling more like myself physically - emotionally, not so much!
Prone to bursting into tears multiple times a day, or being really crabby -- my poor family!
My hands still are super sensitive - guess to match my emotions :) 
Fighting a runny nose and a cough--hoping it is goes away fast!


Rejoicing in Karl and Gretchen, and enduring the rest - 


He will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is fixed on you, because he trusts in you..Is 26:3


If I could just keep my mind fixed on Him.....not on me....

Long Week! Friday and finally starting to come back to life

Getting a bit better-hands are still pins and needles - but nausea is getting better.

Highlight of yesterday - Paul came home :)

Yesterday spent much of the day in bed - this chemo stuff is hard work!!

The nausea kept me busy feeling sorry for myself.  

The pins/needles in my hands makes everything difficult from picking up a glass plate to cutting an apple to washing dishes to answering my phone.  It makes me clumsy too.

Highlight of today, I ran a few errands!  separated by long naps of course..... 

I still can't believe how much I sleep!  

Thankful for my family, for my pillow and for the nausea being lessened.....

Ps 116:1 I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy.....

Thank God It's Friday!

1/4 of the way done with chemo!

Blessed to be disconnected from the pump.

very very tired - still struggling with numbness and tingling in my fingers

nausea is there, but controlled - tho it affects my eating/drinking - 

   I have to work to drink enough fluids to not dehydrate - 

   everything tastes terrible

so in my weary stupor, I try to fix my eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him, endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God and consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men so that I do not become weary and lose heart  (Heb 12 :2-3)

Today I am thankful for:

the rain being rain and not snow 

   (Todd does not need to worry about clearing snow, working and taking care of me!)

a cozy blanket for my endless nap

drugs to help me feel better 

dinners that just "appear"

"hot hands" hand warmers to get feeling back into my fingers

being strong enough to walk with Todd

for his loving care of me

being 1/4 of the way done

friends who encourage me

God's blessings and thanks for your prayers for us!