Saturday, 31 December 2011
Friday, 30 December 2011
20 Questions for a New Year’s Reflection
1. What was the single best thing that happened this past year?
Josh and Debs wedding
2. What was the single most challenging thing that happened?
Dialysis – not sure this counts as a single thing but it was the hardest part
3. What was an unexpected joy this past year?
I have experienced so much joy this year but the most unexpected was stopping dialysis. I will never forget the moment the consultant said I could stop or the tears in the eyes of my oncologist when I told him. I believed miracles could happen I just didn’t expect them to happen to me.
4. What was an unexpected obstacle?
More chemo in March
5. Pick three words to describe 2011.
Hard, joyful and thankfulness
8. What were the best books you read this year?
‘One Thousand gifts’,
9. With whom were your most valuable relationships?
My family, my bible study ladies, my work colleagues, my friends
10. What was your biggest personal change from January to December of this past year?
To learn to take each day as it comes and to look for joy in that day (I don’t always do it but I do try)
11. In what way(s) did you grow emotionally?
I am and always will be someone who wears her emotions on her sleeves, I laugh, cry and love easily!
12. In what way(s) did you grow spiritually?
I am more trusting in an awesome God
13. In what way(s) did you grow physically?
I have curly hair now!
14. In what way(s) did you grow in your relationships with others?
I think I have learnt to treasure all my relationships more and to tell people regularly that I love them
15. What was the most enjoyable part of your work (both professionally and at home)?
Being able to look after my house again – even if I don’t do it very well!
16. What was the most challenging part of your work (both professionally and at home)?
Letting go of work was very challenging
17. What was your single biggest time waster in your life this past year?
I hope I haven’t wasted too much of this year
18. What was the best way you used your time this past year?
Praying
19. What was biggest thing you learned this past year?
That miracles can happen
20. Create a phrase or statement that describes 2011 for you.
Thursday, 29 December 2011
Wednesday, 28 December 2011
Tuesday, 27 December 2011
Friday, 23 December 2011
On a much happier note we had a lovely day yesterday enjoying the company of my children and friends, walking in the fresh air and seeing birds of prey.
Today we are off to London to see The Nutcracker. You can't get much more christmassy than that! We are then going out for Tappas. It will be a lovely day.
Then Christmas starts -
Christmas eve - cooking, church followed by a meal at Joy and Matt
Christmas day - Joy and Matt and family and our family here
Boxing day - at Joy and Matts with kitty and Shaun, Mark and the girls and us minus Josh and Debs who will be with Debs family
I am hoping to have enough energy to cope with lots of business.
May I wish you all a happy and peaceful Christmas with those you love. Thank you for being my friends and sharing my journey. My prayers for you all are that you will KNOW the one who we celebrate.
Wednesday, 21 December 2011
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
This is who holds my hand - who walks with me - who guides my path - who numbers my days. Wow!
Yesterday was cooking day and we have cooked our little socks off! By the evening I was exhausted but happy to have spent the day with my girlie cooking. We work so well together in the kitchen - it is a great joy. The fridge and freezer are now completely full. Just mince pies to do today.
Today my boy comes home and we will all be here. Tonight we are having a meal to celebrate all my chicks and my adopted chicks will be here. Before that we have beds to be made and tidying to be done - not sure if I will have enough energy for all I would like to get done. So will do what I can and leave the rest! Tonight our house will be creaking at the seams!
Monday, 19 December 2011
My strictly party was wonderful with good company and lovely food and great dancing ( not that I danced of course) The nativity was lovely at church.
This week brings lots of business and best of all - my family all together. Josh and Debs come home on Wednesday and stay with us until Sunday evening - wonderful. We are going to see The Nutcracker on Friday in London which will be a real treat. Lots more sparkle!
Saturday, 17 December 2011
Thursday, 15 December 2011
Wednesday, 14 December 2011
Tuesday, 13 December 2011
Monday, 12 December 2011
Sunday, 11 December 2011
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, sayingChloe is now home for the holidays , ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matt 6
So today I am going to try living in this day and not worrying about tomorrow but leaving that to God.
Yesterday Paul's concert was wonderful. Full of great singing and some wonderful brass playing. I was SO grateful to be able to be there and not to be in hospital.Chloe is now home for the holidays apart from a brief visit back Monday and Tuesday to see her professor. This week is to be a week of hospital and GP visits, some making with Chloe, some cooking for the freezer and some Christmas meals ending with a sparkly strictly party next weekend. Sounds good doesn't it.
Saturday, 10 December 2011
Friday, 9 December 2011
Thursday, 8 December 2011
Wednesday, 7 December 2011
there are no ‘ifs’ in God’s kingdom,
His timing is perfect.
His will is our hiding place…..
So do I believe this or not? Is He in charge or not? Does He direct my paths or not? Those are huge questions and it is good to return to them again and again as life appears to throw more ‘stuff’ at me. And again and again I will say – His timing is perfect and His choices for my life are the best whatever I seem to think in the moment. I trust that He is in charge.
Yesterday I had my first antibiotics and then 20 minutes later threw them back up – a great start! I then had to wait until the next dose was due, take my anti-sickness tablets first and then take the antibiotics. This worked thankfully otherwise I think I would be heading for the hospital today. Unfortunately I have to take the tablets 4 times a day an hour before food. Ho Hum! I think I will need to set an alarm on my phone to remind me. I am really hoping that the anti sickness tablets work well as I don’t want to be feeling sick for 2 weeks.
Today – all being well, shopping this morning, school nativity this afternoon and Housegroup meal this evening. All lovely things to do, perhaps made a bit more tricky whilst feeling sick!
Tuesday, 6 December 2011
Monday, 5 December 2011
Sunday, 4 December 2011
Saturday, 3 December 2011
Friday, 2 December 2011
Wednesday, 30 November 2011
Tuesday, 29 November 2011
Monday, 28 November 2011
Thursday, 24 November 2011
Wednesday, 23 November 2011
Tuesday, 22 November 2011
Monday, 21 November 2011
Sunday, 20 November 2011
Friday, 18 November 2011
Thursday, 17 November 2011
Tuesday, 15 November 2011
Monday, 14 November 2011
Sunday, 13 November 2011
Friday, 11 November 2011
Thursday, 10 November 2011
Wednesday, 9 November 2011
Tuesday, 8 November 2011
Monday, 7 November 2011
Sunday, 6 November 2011
Saturday, 5 November 2011
Friday, 4 November 2011
Thursday, 3 November 2011
Wednesday, 2 November 2011
Tuesday, 1 November 2011
Monday, 31 October 2011
Sunday, 30 October 2011
Sunday - still no dialysis. My blood results yesterday were very promising. My creatinine levels are almost unchanged from Thursday suggesting that my kidneys are trying very hard. However my phosphorus levels are rising which means that I have to go on a special diet. The renal diet is quite weird as it is not like any normal diet. At the moment my potassium levels are ok but if i add that into the diet in then becomes very strange. At the moment I have to reduce or cut out
- milk, yoghurt,ice cream
- cheese except goats or cream cheese
- no brown rice, bread or pasta
- chocolate
- nuts
- self raising flour and baking powder (so no to most cakes and biscuits)
- pate and any offal
- seafood
- peas and pulses
- what looks like a random list of vegetables!
- cola
- sausages, ham,