March 9th, 2013,
Friends...I sm so thrilled to report that Don's latest CT scan was clear...no sign of metastasis.....it appears the Lupron injections are doing their job...and he will continue to take them..... we see the oncologist again in 8 weeks...we are so thankful for this news and for all of you, our wonderful friends who continue to support us in so MANY ways
and who continue to hold our family in your prayers.
God is soooo good, and he would STILL be soooo good even if our news had not been happy....for we know his ways are not our ways...but HE is forever there and forever faithful...there is nothing we will walk through, that he will not be either holding our hand, or carrying us through...there is a song by Kutless titled "Even If" that says "even if the healing doesn't come and life falls apart and dreams are still undone, for you are God, forever good, forever faithful one...even if the healing doesn't come"....I have listened to that song pretty much every day since December of 2011!!
Speaking of all of the wonderful people who have been taking care of us this past year...a precious family has gifted our family with their time share in Cancun...so the CONRAD's...will be taking their second EVER family vacation ...in just 2 weeks...we will all spend a week together in Mexico..Mike and Michelle are coming from California..so we will all be together...how you ever thank someone for such a gift...I truly do not know.....you know who you are....and words cannot express how we feel about your gift.
March 3, 2013
Wow, I cannot believe it has been so long since I updated this page...life has been a whirlwind.
We moved Matt and Mason home after school last year..
Matt was at CU Boulder and Mason at UNC.
So, we have a full house again.
Matt and Marshall are at CU Denver now, still in Business majors, Mason is at Metro Denver and switched from Psychology to hospitality and tourism...a change of major in his junior year....YIKES!!:) They are all attending school full time and working as well, helping the family tremendously, both financially and otherwise...I am so very proud of them.
They are all amazing young men!!
Mom was here for 9 months, helping us after my surgery...she is back in FLA now.
I seem to have recovered from surgery...it has been seven months...now the battle resumes to get the extra weight off...but carefully...which means slowly...which stinks!!
Hubby (Don) is doing well....PSA's are holding, he has a CT Scan Tuesday March 5th, we see the oncologist again on Friday to chat about test results... Your prayers are coveted!!
Christmas was WONDERFUL...Mike and Michelle and our grandpuppy Cooper were here from California...so as is the CONRAD way...it was LOUD, ACTIVE, CRAZY, MESSY and WONDERFUL...!!
October 1st, 2012
I am 8 weeks out of surgery now...still in physical therapy, and feeling stronger every day.
Hubby had an abdominal/pelvic CT scan last week, and we are
happy to report there is no sign of metastasis at this time, so the drugs appear to be doing their job....Praise GOD!!
August 16th
I am just over two weeks out of surgery, and doing well. The first 10 days were rough, much due, I believe to my meds, which I stopped at day 11. I am still limited, of course, but getting stronger every day. I walked 2 miles on Tuesday but had a lot of pain on Wed, so skipped the walk....planning to get it in today. Range of motion is improving....STILL not sleeping well...my only real complaint.
On a HAPPY NOTE...GREAT NEWS to Share....
Yesterday I signed a 3 year contract with a wonderful company who has licensed 24 of my images, to be used in Hotel and High End Retail. All of the pieces were my abstracted poured paintings, including Aspens, Landscapes, Seascapes, and Non Representational Abstracts. I am quite happy with the terms.
I did a Hotel in 2010, ( just 2 images) with another company,which was a wonderful experience, and am thrilled to have a chance to work again in that arena!!:)
July 29th
Surgery is tomorrow morning, still running around trying to get ahead on everything...work, chores, etc....I have been painting my rear off this week, so that I have pieces to post for the next week at least...not sure when I will feel like painting...I remember last time I had this surgery ( 10 years ago) it was painful to hold my head up (without support) for more than a few minutes at a time.
Regarding darling hubby..we saw the Oncologist on Wednesday...the last set of #s were good...he will have another CT scan and bone scan in 8 weeks...:)
We have come into contact with a Wonderful new Prostate Cancer organization called "Please Save Another" (PSA)
If you have a husband, father, son, or brother...there are a FEW things you MUST know....click HERE to my
Please Save Another page!!
Marshall graduated from Regis on the 20th....the Conrad's are through with High School.....yeeha!!!! All of my boys were here....what a blessed girl I am!!
I am not doing so well in updating this page. Hubby completed his 8 weeks of daily radiation 2 weeks ago...it is nice not to begin each day at the cancer center, though the staff there is WONDERFUL!! Don is very tired now, but still never complains. The Dr says he should begin to get his strength back in a few weeks...we are looking forward to that. We will not know if the radiation and drug therapy has eradicated or slowed the cancer for about ten more weeks. He will be re tested then. So...for now we wait....
I want to say thank you to those who have emailed and written notes, and those silent prayer warriors ( you know who you are)...for the many surprises and special "gifts" that have been bestowed on our family these past few months. We feel very loved...Hugs to all of you:)
March 18th,
It has been over a month since I have posted on this page.
Hubby has just finished week 6 of daily radiation therapy...only two weeks to go...he is such a rock....or as our boys say a
Bad A--!! He is still working his night job on top of his day job, still playing racquetball...and has only missed a couple of his hockey games. We still begin each morning (Mon-Fri) at the Rocky Mountain Cancer Center....and he still has not complained once, though he is noticeably more tired.
The boys have been home quite a bit...attending every special event...the most recent being high school hockey state championships. Big brother Mike even flew in from California...AGAIN....My baby Marshall ( the youngest of the 4 and the only one still at home)...is now a state champion...yep...Regis finally took the state title back....Marshall also was personally awarded "All Conference", "All State" and "Offensive Player of the Year". This was his second year in a row to be awarded offensive player of the year..and before that, the title belonged to his big brother Matt. Okay... I am finished bragging, but it feels so good to have Happy things to share for a change!!!!!
Marshall and I are off to Salt Lake City on Tuesday for the High School National Championships....
Marshall is on the far right....
A Circle of Prayer
The Conrad Regis Hockey Men Past and Present
Two of my favorite verses...
October 8th
October 5th
How blessed am I....so many wonderful friends...my darling friend Trudy showed up at my house this morning with a lunch basket for me to put on my desk, so I would be sure to eat!!!
October 3rd
I stumbled upon a blog today that had this question on it...
"What would you have if you woke up tomorrow and only had what you thanked God for the day before?"
October 2nd, Sunday
September 30th,
September 24th, 2011
I am moving slowly today...feeling a bit of anxiety about all I wanted to accomplish this weekend just looming over me...taking deep breaths..not going to go there...determined to feel peace this day...listening to the group "The Katinas" on my itunes...the song "Thank You" talking about just being in a state of thankfullness for even the simple things that we often take for granted.I really need to clean my house...I am inclined to be stressed as I know already I am not going to accomplish all that i wanted today...but am going to put on worship music and as I clean thank God that I still have a home to care for...when so many are homeless or losing their homes this very day. First.... I need coffee!!!:)
September 23, 2011
There is a Bible verse I stumbled upon in my quiet time awhile back that really spoke to me. I wrote it on an index card...and I keep it on my night stand..but I've decided to copy the verse on another card and carry it with me so that I can look at it throughout the day. I've already memorized it..so it is "written on my heart" but I think seeing words in print just reinforces the thought. I am one of those people who has trouble letting go of the past....especially my own shortcomings and failures. The verse is from the book of Isaiah, verses 18-19.
How Beautiful is That????
September 22,2011
February 26th,
I have never been one to really talk a lot about my family on my blog...but indulge me this day.... just a bit of fun.....All 4 of my boys were/are hockey players..well...all 5 if you count my 55 yr old boy (hubby) who still plays.... Matt and Marshall my youngest 2 (junior and senior in High School) play for their High School Regis Jesuit...last night was a great night for us..as their team won the semi final 6-1 and will play for the state title next week...Congrats to the Regis Team.......
My Matt... (# 16) ...the play of the game...scored the first goal to get things started 28 seconds into the game....
Just a bit of celebrating for Matt.....
My Marshall (on the ground in red and white) sort of a funny one..as he is not on the ground often....great night for him..he had 3 assists...
Marshall ( in blue)..with big bro Mike...Marshall is the baby ...but the tallest....
Matt...Senior night.....
Another shot with big brother #2 Mason....( in yellow)
February 24th...Exciting News.....
The only thing as exciting as beginning a new journey, is when someone dear to you begins a new journey. My VERY TALENTED friend, Artist Saundra Lane Galloway has just launched her new site WeddingCaketopPortraits.blogspot.com
Yes....it is what is sounds like..she will paint you a beautiful keepsake of your wedding cake top. Here is a sample...
February 23rd
I am exhausted today....very sad over things I can't share....many people in my little circle of friends are in such pain....I am honored to be able to go before the Lord and lift them up in prayer.....I am honored to know and love them...I am honored to share even their heartache, and yet I am exhausted from the emotion of it all.I have hung my head several times today in overwhelming sadness....I opened my book of scripture a bit ago to this very verse...
"God is my shield, my glory and the lifter of my head. Psalm 3:3
February 17, 2011
"Do what you love, love what you do, and always give more than you promised"
Success Magazine
We live in a world where many seem to have the attitude " do only what is required" or "do just enough to get by". As the mother of four almost grown sons,
22,19 17,& 16...I seem to be having this conversation a lot these days...from writing the minimum words required on a college essay.....to chores and service projects.....
God blesses a cheerful giver,I believe this applies to all of our giving....not just our tithes and offerings..but the giving of our time as well.....
"Whatever you do, do it with all of your heart, as working for God not man"
Colossians 3:23
Friends...I sm so thrilled to report that Don's latest CT scan was clear...no sign of metastasis.....it appears the Lupron injections are doing their job...and he will continue to take them..... we see the oncologist again in 8 weeks...we are so thankful for this news and for all of you, our wonderful friends who continue to support us in so MANY ways
and who continue to hold our family in your prayers.
God is soooo good, and he would STILL be soooo good even if our news had not been happy....for we know his ways are not our ways...but HE is forever there and forever faithful...there is nothing we will walk through, that he will not be either holding our hand, or carrying us through...there is a song by Kutless titled "Even If" that says "even if the healing doesn't come and life falls apart and dreams are still undone, for you are God, forever good, forever faithful one...even if the healing doesn't come"....I have listened to that song pretty much every day since December of 2011!!
Speaking of all of the wonderful people who have been taking care of us this past year...a precious family has gifted our family with their time share in Cancun...so the CONRAD's...will be taking their second EVER family vacation ...in just 2 weeks...we will all spend a week together in Mexico..Mike and Michelle are coming from California..so we will all be together...how you ever thank someone for such a gift...I truly do not know.....you know who you are....and words cannot express how we feel about your gift.
March 3, 2013
Wow, I cannot believe it has been so long since I updated this page...life has been a whirlwind.
We moved Matt and Mason home after school last year..
Matt was at CU Boulder and Mason at UNC.
So, we have a full house again.
Matt and Marshall are at CU Denver now, still in Business majors, Mason is at Metro Denver and switched from Psychology to hospitality and tourism...a change of major in his junior year....YIKES!!:) They are all attending school full time and working as well, helping the family tremendously, both financially and otherwise...I am so very proud of them.
They are all amazing young men!!
Mom was here for 9 months, helping us after my surgery...she is back in FLA now.
I seem to have recovered from surgery...it has been seven months...now the battle resumes to get the extra weight off...but carefully...which means slowly...which stinks!!
Hubby (Don) is doing well....PSA's are holding, he has a CT Scan Tuesday March 5th, we see the oncologist again on Friday to chat about test results... Your prayers are coveted!!
Christmas was WONDERFUL...Mike and Michelle and our grandpuppy Cooper were here from California...so as is the CONRAD way...it was LOUD, ACTIVE, CRAZY, MESSY and WONDERFUL...!!
October 1st, 2012
I am 8 weeks out of surgery now...still in physical therapy, and feeling stronger every day.
Hubby had an abdominal/pelvic CT scan last week, and we are
happy to report there is no sign of metastasis at this time, so the drugs appear to be doing their job....Praise GOD!!
August 16th
I am just over two weeks out of surgery, and doing well. The first 10 days were rough, much due, I believe to my meds, which I stopped at day 11. I am still limited, of course, but getting stronger every day. I walked 2 miles on Tuesday but had a lot of pain on Wed, so skipped the walk....planning to get it in today. Range of motion is improving....STILL not sleeping well...my only real complaint.
On a HAPPY NOTE...GREAT NEWS to Share....
Yesterday I signed a 3 year contract with a wonderful company who has licensed 24 of my images, to be used in Hotel and High End Retail. All of the pieces were my abstracted poured paintings, including Aspens, Landscapes, Seascapes, and Non Representational Abstracts. I am quite happy with the terms.
I did a Hotel in 2010, ( just 2 images) with another company,which was a wonderful experience, and am thrilled to have a chance to work again in that arena!!:)
July 29th
Surgery is tomorrow morning, still running around trying to get ahead on everything...work, chores, etc....I have been painting my rear off this week, so that I have pieces to post for the next week at least...not sure when I will feel like painting...I remember last time I had this surgery ( 10 years ago) it was painful to hold my head up (without support) for more than a few minutes at a time.
Regarding darling hubby..we saw the Oncologist on Wednesday...the last set of #s were good...he will have another CT scan and bone scan in 8 weeks...:)
July 17th
Hubby is doing well right now..PSA's are holding where we want them...we see the oncologist again next week.
We have begun an all plant based diet..no meat..no dairy, etc, just plants and some grains....a great program for cancer....it was really hard at first, but I must say..I am really liking it now...which is quite a shock..as I was a BIG meat and cheese girl.
They have taken us under their wing, and we cannot speak highly enough of them...
Please Save Another page!!
July 7th
It has been quite awhile since I updated this page....Life has been a bit crazy...we moved two sons back home....so now we are back to six in the house....including my darling Mom!:)
Don is doing well...radiation, of course, is over but he is still on an oral drug to hopefully keep any cancer cells that may be present dormant....
I am preparing to have major surgery AGAIN!! Not too happy about that...I had anterior cervical spine fusion-two levels 9 years ago, and the cadaver bone did not quite fuse all of the way on one of the levels, so that is the cause of the pain in neck, back and weakness in right arm that has been getting progressively worse for the past year. The screws on my titanium plate in there are buckling...so I cannot put off surgery, will have it July 30th. It is an 8-12 week initial recovery...so I think my 100 Flower Paintings in 100 Days challenge will have to cease at that time..if not before...lots to do beforehand...
Mom will stay to help for at least a few months following....
I am thoroughly discouraged about having surgery again, last time I had no idea..this time I KNOW what I am waking up to....YIKES....I may need an antidepressant to go with my pain pills!!!!!:):):) Just Kidding.....maybe....
May 30th,
April 20th,
I am not doing so well in updating this page. Hubby completed his 8 weeks of daily radiation 2 weeks ago...it is nice not to begin each day at the cancer center, though the staff there is WONDERFUL!! Don is very tired now, but still never complains. The Dr says he should begin to get his strength back in a few weeks...we are looking forward to that. We will not know if the radiation and drug therapy has eradicated or slowed the cancer for about ten more weeks. He will be re tested then. So...for now we wait....
I want to say thank you to those who have emailed and written notes, and those silent prayer warriors ( you know who you are)...for the many surprises and special "gifts" that have been bestowed on our family these past few months. We feel very loved...Hugs to all of you:)
It has been over a month since I have posted on this page.
Hubby has just finished week 6 of daily radiation therapy...only two weeks to go...he is such a rock....or as our boys say a
Bad A--!! He is still working his night job on top of his day job, still playing racquetball...and has only missed a couple of his hockey games. We still begin each morning (Mon-Fri) at the Rocky Mountain Cancer Center....and he still has not complained once, though he is noticeably more tired.
The boys have been home quite a bit...attending every special event...the most recent being high school hockey state championships. Big brother Mike even flew in from California...AGAIN....My baby Marshall ( the youngest of the 4 and the only one still at home)...is now a state champion...yep...Regis finally took the state title back....Marshall also was personally awarded "All Conference", "All State" and "Offensive Player of the Year". This was his second year in a row to be awarded offensive player of the year..and before that, the title belonged to his big brother Matt. Okay... I am finished bragging, but it feels so good to have Happy things to share for a change!!!!!
The Conrad Regis Hockey Men Past and Present
February 13th,
My DARLING son Mikey ( Mike) who lives in California made a surprise appearance here on Friday night...just walked through the door about 10:30 p.m. I was so excited, I could not stop hugging and kissing him.. Mason, son #2 was supposed to come home Sat...but also came in a day early..SO....mama had all four of her boys home Friday night and Saturday...they made my FEBRUARY!!!!!! I am such a BLESSED GIRL!!!!!
February 9th
Tomorrow Hubby will be finished with week one of daily radiation...with 7 weeks left to go.
We start every morning ( Mon-Fri) at the cancer center where he gets his daily dose of radiation. He is doing well...never complains..and I have to say...we have not spent this much time together in years!!!! The drive there..the chatting in the waiting room...and the drive home...it is actually great quality time before we both head off to our multiple jobs..by the time we end our jobs at night we are exhausted...and not so chatty...so I am treasuring the time we get to chat in the mornings!!
January 31st
This past weekend, all the boyz came home (except Mike of course, who lives in CA) with their darling girlfriends and we celebrated Mason's 20th birthday...with dinner out, and of course..FAMILY GAME NIGHT....which is USUALLY a blast
and always memorable,,this time it was wonderfully both of those things...below is a photo of Mason and Mom...he rarely poses for a photo with me!!
I am so blessed to have a "quiver full" of of darling boys.... though they are away at school.....they visit often, and bring their darling girlfriends with them..we are so blessed to have such darling girls as well...I am in heaven when all the girls are here...
January 24th
Below are the footnotes from my Bible....paraphrasing Isaiah 30:15....
"I must wait for God in quietness and trust No amount of fast talking or hasty activity could speed up HIS grand design.
I have nothing to say to GOD but Thank You."
I love that..I have been pretty Frenzied this past month..feeling that I MUST "figure everything out RIGHT NOW."so I can have some peace....but the frenzy of trying to get the answers is NOT yielding answers, and certainly NOT bringing peace.
I Must WAIT ON GOD in Quietness and trust!!!!!
January 22nd,
News has changed just a bit....after meeting with Oncologist on Friday. Apparently hubby has a 30% chance of cure....and
If current treatment does NOT eradicate his cancer...because his cancer is so aggressive...it would most likely metastasize or reoccur quickly, in just a couple of years...not ten like we thought. So...feeling a bit discouraged again.
Hubby was prepped and tattooed for radiation on Friday,next week is a trial run, then Monday the 30th he will begin the 8 weeks of radiation.....5x a week. That's it for now!!:)
January 11th,
Hi friends...Thank you for the notes and emails and phone calls....we so love all of you!!Thank you to the sweet friends who have taken us to dinner, and helped to keep us busy and distracted these last few weeks while we waited for tests and results!!!
We did get some encouraging news yesterday...that there does not seem to be any "obvious " metastases to the bones or other organs...which is a HUGE relief. Because of Hubby's high numbers..and the fact that he has a very aggressive cancer...we expected metastases to the bones.
We saw the DR today, and said "yeah..no metastases" to which he replied" well, nothing visible, but there can always be microscopic cancer that is not large enough for the tests to pick up" That's a little discouraging..but we are still Praising God!! Radiation has been moved up, and will now begin in a couple of weeks. 8 weeks of 5 days a week..then we will see from there.
I slept last night for the first time in awhile... and some of the "crisis" brain fog I have been experiencing seemed to lift just a bit.
Don is a rock..his spirits are great...he, as is his nature, has been more worried about me than himself!!
He began hormone treatment last Friday to prepare for radiation..so...the journey has officially begun..now in the fight, instead of just "waiting".
December 26th,
Merry Christmas to all of you!!!!
I have not written in awhile.....life has been a bit sad and heavy these past few months....and I wanted to share positive happy uplifting things, but I felt most of what I was sharing was so sad.
I have missed writing......and though things are very sad here still...i know that all the things we are going through....many of you are going through as well....so I decided not to wait to write until EVERYTHING is LOVELY!!!!! I decided like the CLUB 47 journey..we can share in this one as well....and maybe continue to encourage each other...and if nothing else.. know we are not alone...
Since I last wrote ( just one month ago)....my very young uncle lost his battle with liver cancer...just a few days after my dear friend's husband lost his....and a friend of my 19 year old son's died in a car accident just a few days ago.
I have had MANY friends die of cancer in the past few years...
( breast , pancreatic, liver ...etc) and though I walked closely through the journey with two of them.... I usually don't even say "cancer" , but refer to it as the "C" word...as the real world evokes great terror in me.
It appears that I will now have to be able to say the real word, and say it fearlessly.....as it will now be a part of everyday life for quite some time.
As I write this, I know many of you are walking the cancer journey in some capacity......I hope you will continue, as with club 47, to share your personal journeys with me...
We were hoping for a bit of a reprieve from such painful things....but it appears that reprieve will not come yet.
Last week...my darling hubby was diagnosed with advanced..."extremely fast growing" ( the Dr's term) Prostate cancer. We are reeling....as we got the news just as the boys were all arriving home for Christmas......
We had a long consult with the DR the very next day..and treatment will start very quickly....to slow the growth of the cancer...we still have 2 more tests next week, to see if there is metastasis in the bones, etc.
I have had MANY friends die of cancer in the past few years...
( breast , pancreatic, liver ...etc) and though I walked closely through the journey with two of them.... I usually don't even say "cancer" , but refer to it as the "C" word...as the real world evokes great terror in me.
It appears that I will now have to be able to say the real word, and say it fearlessly.....as it will now be a part of everyday life for quite some time.
As I write this, I know many of you are walking the cancer journey in some capacity......I hope you will continue, as with club 47, to share your personal journeys with me...
On a POSITIVE note...we are so thankful for the timing of the news, in that the boys are all here with us...and out of school...so that we could process as a family..and I am thankful that they have a few weeks off school to regroup. We have had a wonderful week together...we had already decided NO PRESENTS this year...so we have spent every day as a family playing games...eating...laughing...playing games...watching movies..playing games....you see the pattern here...we are big game players...but I must say having a house of FIVE men...makes even the simplest Lighthearted game a do or die competition!!!!!!
November 21st,
Friends...
Another friend has passed....his 9 month battle with cancer ended yesterday. ..please pray for his family....he leaves behind a son, a daughter, and a wife who is my dear friend.
Thank you for your emails and prayers these past few weeks.
November 16th,
Friends....another friend was laid to rest today...a wife , children and grandchildren left behind.
Please pray for "C" as she resumes life without her precious hubby.
"C" is a sweet woman with a kind, gentle spirit and an infectious smile....please pray that God will wrap her tightly in His arms, that she will be aware of His great love every minute of the day.
November 10th,
Thank you friends for kind notes and emails..thank you for your prayers and thoughts..for my friends and family.
Since I last wrote, one friend has now been laid to rest, another will soon be removed from life support and one is counting every minute with family as a precious gift as his minutes wind down.
It is such a painful thing to watch those you love suffer..whether it is is physical suffering, emotional suffering, usually one accompanies the other....it is also a gift to be there in any way needed...it is a gift to us...to love another, to care for, comfort and support another......i have been sad and yet at the same time, feel tremendously blessed to have the opportunity to love, serve and pray for them.
Two of my favorite verses...
He gives
power to the weak And to those who have
no might He increases strength.
(Isaiah 40:29)
God's Promise that; When you pass
through the waters, I will be with you; And
through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you shall not
be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.
( Isaiah 43:2 )
power to the weak And to those who have
no might He increases strength.
(Isaiah 40:29)
God's Promise that; When you pass
through the waters, I will be with you; And
through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you shall not
be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.
( Isaiah 43:2 )
November 5th,
We are still dealing with multiple crisis' with both friends and family here...prayers are appreciated...I will try to post more in the coming week.
My Guys on Sunday.. (they hate taking pictures...and you can soooo tell!!)
October 30th,
It has been a tough past week here, and I have not had the time to write. We had a bit of an extended family crisis that rocked our world as well as another suicide in our 17yr old's school, and an ill friend's journey is nearing the end.
It has been an incredibly sad week ...and one of those where you just think 10 minutes ahead, because that is really all you can process at one time.
I have raised four sons, only one left living at home, and in the past 10 years we have said goodbye to 8 teenagers...all but 2 of them suicides. There can be nothing more heart breaking and I still pray for the families of those lost years ago.
I am reminded yet again, to value every minute, to be present in and take joy in every moment. To enjoy where I am, without being distracted by thoughts of what needs to be done next...the next problem to solve , etc.
My oldest is here visiting from San Francisco... his brothers will all come home this morning from their Colorado schools and we will have a Conrad family day. I will hug and kiss them all, as much as they will allow, will try to shelve the sadness for today, to have joy uninterrupted.
I pray your day is also one of Joy uninterrupted.
October 23rd
I did get started in Son #2's room last night..one of my big projects for this next week...
I did NOT get to church today....I am exhausted and a little sick..so I slept in....but had a wonderful 5 hours of praise and painting in the studio with K-Love.....home alone..so no interruptions...
I am committed to NOT working on Sundays as much as possible...so stayed up late last night working on administrative things for CFAI ( one of my day jobs)...so that I would not have to work today. I do NOT consider painting to be working ..ONLY because...it is my favorite form of relaxation and very healing to me....it is a joy to paint...and I don't get nearly enough time at the easel these days..due to my other jobs..
I am re reading a book by reverend T. D. Jakes titled "Reposition Yourself"....about taking control of your mind and life again after tragedy or large life changes, illness....etc.. really for anyone who feels their life has spun out of control in one or many aspects... it is a great book....will read more tonight...
It's highly encouraging and motivating..
October 18th
I have hard at work on those projects in the house...visit the Club 47 Daily page for details...
Today my friend and mother of two of my preschool aged students brought me these lovely flowers AND Starbucks...
wow...i am feeling pretty special.....thank you BETH:):):)
October 21st
As you know..I have been bust working on projects in the house in my "spare" time...here is where I am at....
This is what I have accomplished in exactly one week...YEAH!!!!
Lower studio/classroom. completely cleaned out, rearranged and reorganized...
Upper studio completely cleaned out, reorganized and rearranged
Entry way...wall paper stripped.... walls texturized...re painted
Kitchen....re painted
Dining room and breakfast nook chair cushions recovered...
I got derailed I think with the stress of my house, etc. being a mess, it does not make for a motivating environment
Just a few projects left to go and I feel I will be ready to totally re focus on the weight thing.....
Gotta clean out the laundry room....and the empty bedroom....create guest room/sewing room....those are my goals for the next week....around work, of course.....and I DO INTEND TO EXERCISE AT LEAST 4 OF THE NEXT 7 DAYS......
October 14th
Hi friends...it is actually 12:59 a.m on Friday morning...I am just preparing to turn in... I have not written for a couple of days...when not working....I have been hard at work on those projects in the house I have been talking about.
Thursday was my gallery day, then I had a dinner..so I was gone from 10:00 a.m. until 8:30 p.m., got in a quick 30 min walk then began working again in the lower studio....and storage area...many hours left still on that project..will hit Hobby Lobby later today for a few more organizational items!!
October 11th,
Another great night's sleep for which I am soooo thankful....up at 5:30 for some "quite time" painting in the studio by 8:00.
Remember on Sunday,we talked about the projects I want to work on this week????....today I have set aside primarily for painting, trying to get ahead.... and tomorrow I will tackle project # 1. I did bake some healthy Bran Muffins early this morning...how shocking is that????
October 9th,
I did NOT work today!!!!
Today was a great day... and I feel a bit renewed....getting back to church was wonderful, I had missed several weeks...then I spent the day with a good friend....thrift shops, Lunch at Nordstrom's Cafe ( her treat).... Thank you Kelley:)....and some "girl" time at the mall. That is one thing on my thankful list" that I will mention again..... I am so thankful for good friends. I have been in the very bad habit of working most of the day on Sunday's for a long time now...even when I get to church...usually I start working as soon as I get home. I'm going to make a concerted effort to NOT work on Sunday's in the future. I have been sleeping wonderfully now that I am only having a very small cup of coffee in the morning, or NO coffee at all. I am THANKFUL for the rest I have been getting. It has been a long time coming. It is truly amazing what good consistent sleep will do for you....go figure!!!! I have not slept well for many years.
I want to share one of my favorite verses....it is from Proverbs 31...I have always loved to memorize scripture..I think when you commit it to memory...it really is "written on your heart".
These I memorized several years ago...and they really are representative of who I want to be.When I memorize scripture, I always interchange the he, she, for "I"
"I am clothed with strength and dignity, I can laugh at the days to come. I speak with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on my tongue. I look well to the ways of my household, and do not eat the bread of idleness"Proverbs 31:25-27
I know I sometimes act undignified, I don't laugh NEARLY enough, (i am too serious for my own good) my words are not always chosen wisely, and I have neglected my "home" as my work hours have increased over the last 2 years to an insane level. The only part of that verse that I live consistently is that I am NEVER idle...but I know working obsessively is NOT what God means when He cautions us not to be idle...so I don't have that part right either!!
I know that every time I try to tackle several things at once..I fail...so this week I am going to actively work on the part " I look well to the ways of my household"...the house is STILL not in order since the two boys left 2 months ago....and I am irritable and grumpy ( which is NOT dignified) when the home is not in order...so I will carve out some time to concentrate on completing some of the projects in the home this coming week. I will keep you posted...and would appreciate your prayers that I can discipline myself.
October 8th
We have our FIRST SNOW!!!!!! Just a dusting...but still so exciting...digging out boots and gloves for hockey tonight!!!
Heading up to Boulder for son #3's college hockey game... I made homemade soup and cookies today....why is it so much more fun to do those things on snowy days???
That is one of the "little" things on my thankful list...I am thankful that I live in a beautiful place with all of the seasons...the snow makes me happy, makes me feel warm and cozy...
October 5th
How blessed am I....so many wonderful friends...my darling friend Trudy showed up at my house this morning with a lunch basket for me to put on my desk, so I would be sure to eat!!!
I love the way God uses us as vessels of his love and provision to each other!!
"God will liberally supply my every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19
I stumbled upon a blog today that had this question on it...
"What would you have if you woke up tomorrow and only had what you thanked God for the day before?"
When I read it I felt this sense of alarm...I try to thank God often...for the little things as well as the large...but I was in a bit if a pity party mode this weekend....and not feeling super thankful...since we are in the middle of the Club 47 challenge....I am going to see if I can get 47 things down on paper tonight that I am thankful for...then commit to reading that list to God every day.
The blog I found this question on was:
http://demasu.blogspot.comOctober 2nd, Sunday
Yesterday was a bit hairy...I ended up spending several hours in the hospital having all kings of tests run... truly nothing to report yet..see the Dr. again tomorrow and more tests to come.
Very painful and frustrating day it was...BUT today is a new day.... (the house is a mess..I was in the middle of home projects when I had to stop and go to the hospital yesterday.).....but son # 3, Matt was down from school..he came down to the hospital yesterday.. (what a sweet guy)...and son # 4, Marshall and their girlfriends were all here today..so we made white chocolate covered pretzels..(Matt's favorite snack).My kitchen was a mess from grocery shopping and cleaning out the fridge...but strangely...that did not seem to make it less fun....imagine that. I am one who usually likes to have everything just right, you know.....create the perfect atmosphere..but we had fun anyway!!
Sammy, the pretty little gal in the blue shirt below brought me these lovely flowers....she put them on my desk at my computer and wrote a giant note in word on my computer that said "Feel Better", I am the luckiest girl in the world..i love so much that they all love to be here.
September 30th,
Thought for the day:"When you're stuck in a spiral,to change all aspects of the spin, you only need to change one thing" Christina Baldwin
I love this..because it says you don't have to do everything at once to get results!!! I desperately need to clean out and rearrange the upper studio..and still need to clean out the boys' rooms ( they have been gone over a month)....but I have been too overwhelmed by the tasks at hand to even begin!! I treated myself to the new issue of "Where Women Create" today..hoping to glean some inspiration, and boy did I...that is where I found the above quote...among other fabulous thoughts and ideas...
I am going to make a list tonight...of things I must get back to, to feed my creative spirit...and find the old me..I will share it tomorrow..now gotta put on my"mom" hat and get to my son's hockey game!!
I love this..because it says you don't have to do everything at once to get results!!! I desperately need to clean out and rearrange the upper studio..and still need to clean out the boys' rooms ( they have been gone over a month)....but I have been too overwhelmed by the tasks at hand to even begin!! I treated myself to the new issue of "Where Women Create" today..hoping to glean some inspiration, and boy did I...that is where I found the above quote...among other fabulous thoughts and ideas...
I am going to make a list tonight...of things I must get back to, to feed my creative spirit...and find the old me..I will share it tomorrow..now gotta put on my"mom" hat and get to my son's hockey game!!
September 25th
Being a mother to four sons..though Wonderful...can be a little lonely when it comes to "girl time". I just need to say, as I am counting my blessings....that I am so thankful for "Jordan" and "Sam"...Matt and Marshall's girlfriends. I dearly love them both..and have a great relationship with each of them...they are both so precious to me and I truly love spending time with them. I am sooo very blessed!!!
September 24th, 2011
I am moving slowly today...feeling a bit of anxiety about all I wanted to accomplish this weekend just looming over me...taking deep breaths..not going to go there...determined to feel peace this day...listening to the group "The Katinas" on my itunes...the song "Thank You" talking about just being in a state of thankfullness for even the simple things that we often take for granted.I really need to clean my house...I am inclined to be stressed as I know already I am not going to accomplish all that i wanted today...but am going to put on worship music and as I clean thank God that I still have a home to care for...when so many are homeless or losing their homes this very day. First.... I need coffee!!!:)
September 23, 2011
There is a Bible verse I stumbled upon in my quiet time awhile back that really spoke to me. I wrote it on an index card...and I keep it on my night stand..but I've decided to copy the verse on another card and carry it with me so that I can look at it throughout the day. I've already memorized it..so it is "written on my heart" but I think seeing words in print just reinforces the thought. I am one of those people who has trouble letting go of the past....especially my own shortcomings and failures. The verse is from the book of Isaiah, verses 18-19.
"Forget the former thing;do not dwell on the past.See I am doing a new thing.Now it springs up;do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert, and streams in the wasteland"
How Beautiful is That????
September 22,2011
I have not posted on this page in quite some time....but am going to try to share some thoughts at least a few times a week, as I know that most people who come to see my paintings probably aren't really interested in my ramblings...so I will use this page to "ramble" a bit. I cannot believe it has been well over a month since Matt and Mason left for school. I thought by now I would have cleaned out closets and ordered ONE of the rooms to be suitable for a guest...i thought I would have cleaned out the laundry room..and the upper studio which is in the very FRONT of my house....but I have really hardly had time to catch my breath as of yet. They have also come home 3 of 5 weekends...and though I am thrilled to have them here....yes...maybe that is why the projects have not been completed...I certainly have no time during the work week.I feel that at my age I should have a handle on creatively balancing life...but I seem to be in the pattern of three steps forward , two steps back.Maybe I need to give myself a bit of grace....as we have had many big life changes in the past 6 months.Why is it that I am merciful to others and seem to be merciless to myself....always setting the bar extremely high....(I enjoy a challenge). I think maybe it's okay to set the bar high if it motivates you....but if you know you probably won't quite reach that bar, you cannot punish yourself when you fall short.Is this resonating with anyone out there....or am I a freak of nature?????
February 26th,
I have never been one to really talk a lot about my family on my blog...but indulge me this day.... just a bit of fun.....All 4 of my boys were/are hockey players..well...all 5 if you count my 55 yr old boy (hubby) who still plays.... Matt and Marshall my youngest 2 (junior and senior in High School) play for their High School Regis Jesuit...last night was a great night for us..as their team won the semi final 6-1 and will play for the state title next week...Congrats to the Regis Team.......
My Matt... (# 16) ...the play of the game...scored the first goal to get things started 28 seconds into the game....
Just a bit of celebrating for Matt.....
My Marshall (on the ground in red and white) sort of a funny one..as he is not on the ground often....great night for him..he had 3 assists...
Marshall ( in blue)..with big bro Mike...Marshall is the baby ...but the tallest....
Another shot with big brother #2 Mason....( in yellow)
February 24th...Exciting News.....
The only thing as exciting as beginning a new journey, is when someone dear to you begins a new journey. My VERY TALENTED friend, Artist Saundra Lane Galloway has just launched her new site WeddingCaketopPortraits.blogspot.com
Yes....it is what is sounds like..she will paint you a beautiful keepsake of your wedding cake top. Here is a sample...
February 23rd
I am exhausted today....very sad over things I can't share....many people in my little circle of friends are in such pain....I am honored to be able to go before the Lord and lift them up in prayer.....I am honored to know and love them...I am honored to share even their heartache, and yet I am exhausted from the emotion of it all.I have hung my head several times today in overwhelming sadness....I opened my book of scripture a bit ago to this very verse...
"God is my shield, my glory and the lifter of my head. Psalm 3:3
February 17, 2011
"Do what you love, love what you do, and always give more than you promised"
Success Magazine
We live in a world where many seem to have the attitude " do only what is required" or "do just enough to get by". As the mother of four almost grown sons,
22,19 17,& 16...I seem to be having this conversation a lot these days...from writing the minimum words required on a college essay.....to chores and service projects.....
God blesses a cheerful giver,I believe this applies to all of our giving....not just our tithes and offerings..but the giving of our time as well.....
"Whatever you do, do it with all of your heart, as working for God not man"
Colossians 3:23
