At the Beach.....AKA stoney creek

Christine was up from North Carolina this week
and yesterday was a perfect day to visit the beach......



Gabe and Hannah

Stoney Creek with The Phillips Kids

Family time

After a morning of yard
work and house work
in which the boys took
on a large portion of
responsibility, (thanks
Zach for mowing the grass
so Daddy could weed the
driveway and mom
worked on some more
laundry ,) we found a
local driving range.
(the last time we went
to the range was in PA
at pop-pops course.)

No! Zach is not left

handed but since he is

also Not a golfer, he had

to find a way to turn

his disaster of a drive

into something to laugh

about. He succeeded!

We had another bonfire but this time we had
a whole meal, there were campfire pies and corn on the cob! The corn is always the best this time
of year, and so good right on the open fire!



The boys pose for a picture.

Will I ever just get a normal picture of these Boys?
Gone are the days when I could take them to the photographer all dressed up and they smiled for the camera.........oh well, we are certainly making memories. Zach asked me last night why girls are so fascinated with taking pictures all the time. ( I am guessing over this summer several of the girls he hangs out have been taking pictures like I do, he has spent a week at youth camp and a few days at a family camp and I remember my days involved in those particular activities and am not too far off as far as that is concerned.) He will get used to it if he isn't already. They do like to the look at the completed scrapbooks so I know it is not all for not.

Catch the Energy & Release the Potential

Just finished a good book.... FISH!

not my typical novel of a story, but a book on -A remarkable way to boost morale and improve results.

A practical guide for understanding the importance of creating a passion filled workplace....

interesting ......

Choose my attitude -
There is always a choice about the way I do my work, even if there is not a choice about the work itself.
Play -
Have fun while I work.....fun is energizing. How can I have more fun and create more energy?
Make their day -
Is my attitude one of inclusion? How can I make some one elses day?
Be present -
Interact with others; How can I make others want to talk to me as a long lost friend?.....

Capac Days

Lindzy sang the Star Spangled banner
for the opening of Capac days
she was nervous BUT did fabulous....















.....after she sang the town let off a bunch of
white doves, it really was a sight to see.















During the evening we walked a bit downtown,
(due to mom still healing after her surgery
we did not walk far.) We found the local
hang out spot for the best ice cream in town.
Mom had a twit on a sugar cone, we do not find
those very often so she was happy.















Daddy found some friends, Pastor Bernie
and Mr Dennis and spent some catching up
with them.

Last Friday Night.....

Done with U of M !

I had my stitches out today! hooray! I am officially a cancer survivor....how weird is that?

Anyway, we traveled to Ann Arbor today, saw a doctor for the last time and had my stitches removed. In 5 months I need a follow up appointment with the dermatologist and that's that!
Relief is overflowing and my body just needs time to recover but it is on the mend. A few more visits to the chiropractor a bit of cocoa butter on the scars (they still have steri strips where the stitches were and they will stay on till they come off themselves, anywhere from a week to 6 weeks, but who is counting - after everything else.....) and I should be almost as good as new, just more wiser and little older. In a few more weeks I hope to have caught up on the weight and the sleep I have lost but other than that God has been Good once a again

Stitches

Not the best picture but this is sort of what they look like now! this is my leg (obviously:)) I have another spot that looks like this on my back. I thought it only fair to show you my ouchie when back in November I shared Matt's stitches with you:)

anyway, yesterday we called to schedule the appointment to get the stitches out, and it was scheduled for this Friday the 13 at 11 am.

Unfortunately this morning my nurse called back and I guess Friday was a bit to early....... they did say 3 weeks, (what is 4 days is kinda what I was thinking), but now they are coming out on Monday at 11 am. I have waited this long - a few more days will not matter, but I was getting excited.

I had been invited to go scrapping on Friday, and anyone who knows me knows I can not scrap sitting down, never have, not sure if I ever will, so with my stitches that was a no go, but when they were coming out I started thinking I could do it. Now it will have to be next Friday, after more than a month I guess I can wait one more week!

Come next Monday however, you better watch out, I will probably be in Super woman mode. I have been laying low for so long, I know I have a bunch of pent up energy!

CJ Barrymore's

Finally, I was able to get out of the house.
I had been feeling pretty bad for the boys due to the factthat prior
to my surgery I was so wrapped up in hospital visits and the "what if's"
that there was not a whole lot of time for the boys.

After the surgery it was recovering from the pain, the stitches and
the emotional stress so again not a whole lot of time for kid stuff.




After ten days of being cooped up, Friday, we finally ventured out.
CJ Barrymore's is a family fun zone, and we were in need of some family fun!


For a few dollars (we found some great coupons on line) the boys were able to get in
some go-karting, some bumper boats, and a
good game of min- golf.
Not momma of course ( I would find a good
spot to sit and put my leg up, then be ,
like always- the picture person....... the next time we wil try the batting cages, the driving range and lazer tag......





look closely to see who got the wettest on
the bumper boats.

Slip n Slide

Noah had some allowance money, and on a recent stop at the the drug store,

he and dad found this great slip and slide.

Just in time for the 90 degree weather!

1 John 4:4

"You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." 1 John 4:4

One of my favorite Christian books is Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan.

It is the story of a man who makes a journey between the city of Destruction to the Celestial City by traveling a road fraught with dangers. His name is Christian, and the story is an allegory of the Christian life.Near the beginning of his journey he is told that he needs to stop by the Palace Beautiful. He was to go directly to the palace, but he took a nap along the way and he doesn't reach the palace until late at night. As he approaches the gate to the palace, he hears lions roaring. He stops and wonders what to do, but he had been told that if he stayed on the path he would be safe. He begins to approach again, and hears he lions. It sounds like they are right in front of him. He thinks about jumping off the path and running, but he decides to stay on the path and reaches the gate safely.The next morning he asks his hosts about the lions he heard. His host takes him to a window. In the daylight, he sees the road, and the lions - chained to the side of the road.

You know, the Bible says that Satan is like a roaring lion, but as long as we stay on the path God has laid out for us, he is just a loud noise. God has set limits on the enemy of our souls.Too many Christians are too worried about Satan. But look at it this way, if we are in Christ, and if Christ has already conquered the Devil, why should we worry about him.

In fact, if we are living for God, the Devil should be worried about us. We should be invading his kingdom daily, taking back what he has stolen from us. We should be rescuing those who have been deceived by him.

We need to stop listening to the roar of Satan, and listen instead to the song of the savior. It is much more beautiful and it is an unchained melody of love.

Hallelujah, Amen.

Thank You

The call we have been waiting for about my pathology report came about 8AM this morning (I know it is a Saturday morning but we had been call ing the hospital since Tuesday and it had not been ready yet so my nurse new I was anxious and gave me her home number ) I called her last night, she had already gone to bed after a long week for her BUT she called me back this morning from home, What a great gesture from her( U fo M has been nothing short of fabulous!) and they got all the cancer and the lymph nodes are clear! That means there is no more cancer in my body! The next time I go to U of M will be to just get the stitches out and that will be in 10 more days,(right now I just continue to stay off my leg and use my crutches but that is for the healing process, then as far as I know, the next step is to just meet with my dermatologist 2 times a year for the next 3 years then yearly after that, No problem after the last 2 months. right?

Anyway thank you all for your prayers, it has been a long two months but God is Good. Even in the midst of all my doubts and fears Jesus is still Lord.

Joelle

Cards

Cards form Isabel Tarnutzer and Shelby Jones.......

You are just what the doctor ordered!

Your mommies made great

dinners too!

There is always some one worse off than you....

Cancer no matter where or when is always a big deal and a bit scary,(we have lost a lot of friends to this disease and many friends are still around to talk me through the tough days) but at the moment my cancer scare does not seem so bad ( we have not received the pathology report back yet) but in the mean time would you pray for my friends....

Jim Garlow is the Senior pastor at Skyline church in San Diego
He and his wife(Carol) and Matt and I got to know each other when we Pastored the Washington Community Wesleyan church and would attend Wesleyan Round table conferences

June 25, 2007, Monday, 11:30 pm

A Message From Pastor Jim Garlow

Greetings Church Family,

Many of you are aware that much has changed last Wednesday morning at 7:09 am. Briefly stated, Carol has just been diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer. As many of you who have gone through this know, our world has been turned upside down. Nothing is the same.
Barring a miracle (for which we are still praying), the five-hour surgery is scheduled for 7:30 am Tuesday, June 26, followed by a projected eight months of chemotherapy.
We will sincerely appreciate (and really need!) your prayers for Carol.
Also pray for Josie (15), Jake (16), and our two married children—Janie (husband Jeremy) & Joshua (wife Lacy). (We praise God that Janie & Jeremy moved from Victorville, CA back to San Diego the day before we got this devastating news!)
We are all making the needed adjustments, including canceling many things over the next year. Carol has served me graciously for 37 years. My next year will be focused on all the ways I can serve her. It is an honor to do that.
I am so thankful both that Carol has an exceptionally strong faith—and for a loving family. And I am so very grateful for such a loving church family and friend network. We have never needed people like we do now. I am so very thankful for you!
Over the years, I have ministered to hundreds with cancer. Yet, it is an extra jolt when it is one’s own spouse, when it is one’s own family. We are not in denial, but there is still an element of shock each time I explain Carol’s condition.
We have cried much—in fact, lots—sometimes just hugging—without words. Some nights (after I leave her at the hospital) seem very long.
We have been faith-filled at times—sensing God’s close presence. We have prayed confident prayers of healing many times. Yet in the full range of the emotional realities of life, there are other moments we have battled fear—fear of the unknown.
We have laughed some. But we have hugged much. We have become a bit "clingy." Carol and I have had the greatest talks. We have valued every moment alone.
In fact, it is 11:30 pm Monday night as I am writing this. I am tired—because Carol has been in the hospital for eight days now. (She had minor surgery on Monday, June 18.) I was with her at the hospital today—but am going back to the hospital for the night, to be with her before she is taken from the room at 6:30 am. What a privilege that is for me. As many of you know, the word “cancer” has a way of causing one to view life in a very different way—very quickly. Many of you have fought this battle. You know exactly what I am speaking of.
As you recall, Carol and I co-authored a booked titled God Still Heals . In the back are the Scripture-based prayers that Carol wrote. I prayed those prayers in the back of the book over Carol—the very prayers she wrote for others! Who could have known that we would be using her own writing—for her?
This website will keep you updated (http://www.skylinechurch.org/). If you need more specific communication, my wonderful administrative assistant is Tracy Burger, (619) 550-6000.
Carol and I love you all—so very much. Thank you for loving us.

Two final thoughts: God is good. Jesus is Lord.

Your pastor—but more importantly, your brother,

Jim Garlow

Surgery update!

Hi blogging friends, sorry for the delay, it has been a long week.

Before I keep you wondering surgery went well and now we await the results which we should have by Wednesday or Thursday of this week.

Last Tuesday was long day, here is what I remember.

10:00 am arrive at hospital go to nuclear medicine.
by 10:30 I was laying on a gurney getting 5 tiny little needles poked into my first mole removal area, these needles had a clear medicine in that would then go through my lymph node system and show the doctors exactly where the lymph nodes were draining to for the potential of the direction the caner would flow if there is any more cancer in my system.

The needles hurt like ___________and as much as I was trying to be strong I cried like a baby, and I cried hard. Because it was nuclear medicine they could not give me an anesthesia so it was all or nothing and if we did not do this procedure they would not know were to take out the lymph nodes so I had to have it, lets just say I would rather give birth.

after they injected me with the solution I was to lay still for about an hour and half as they moved the scanner to different parts of my body and they x-ray ed these different areas, 6 to be exact, they then gave us a copy of the films and sent me to surgery.

We arrived in surgery about 12:00 pm I had not had anything to eat since dinner on the 25Th and by now I am hungry, I only had water when I brushed my teeth at 8Am, and of course every where I went people were eating! We checked into the nurses station and they give you a buzzer like at the restaurants, when it is your tun they buzz you and bring you into pre-op, my buzzer went off at 12:50, I thought wow! they are ahead of schedule, surgery is not scheduled until 2 pm and it is only 10 min. till 1pm .

I was wrong, we waited in pre op for an hour and half, of course they do all the pre op kind of stuff, weights and heights, blood pressure ,IV's, this by the way was very ouchy too, normally I give blood very well out of my veins in my left arm, so when my iv guy asked what do I prefer, I said left, I meant arm, but did not say that, he went in my let hand, talk about cold, I could feel everything, thank goodness for those warm blankets.

Doctor Chang came by about 2:15 to see if I was all set, what was was I gonna say? no,? I think I will pass, :) they were rolling me to surgery by 2:30 and the last thing I remember was saying, thank you to my nurse as she said good luck and walked out the door ( I was trying to be very polite, but was scared to death)

I came out of surgery at 4:30 there are three incisions in my body, one on my lower leg the original mole spot, one on my back under my bra strap, and then the third is on my bikini line on the right side where they ended up taking out several lymph nodes. I have 8 stitches on my leg, 4 on my back and super glue on bikini line:)

I had been intubated for the process so my throat hurt for three days and I could not swallow anything but liquids and even that hurt, but by yesterday I was eating smaller but three meals a day, I lost 8 pounds over the week, not intentionally and I am sure it will all come back as I eat and drink more, I could not even get out of bed for two days the pain medication they have me on is narco, and it is taking its toll, but yesterday I was feeling better and today I will try to stay up more of the the day , every time I take the medicine it knocks me out. Matt has gone to work for the whole day today and the two older boys are at church camp, so it should be an easy day, I am feeling stronger but can not put any weight on my foot for another two weeks, steps are interesting as well as going potty:)

The surgeon said he thought the lymph nodes looked good to his naked eye, but we really need to wait for the the official results, so we wait...... and as always ...... will keep you posted