Thankfulness Day 6 - Thankful for PWOC

Today I am most thankful for PWOC (Protestant Women of the Chapel) and the ladies in it! Every week we meet for bible studies and fellowship, and the very large group is composed of fabulous ladies! Even before my cancer, they were a wonderful source of support, friendship, and Christian encouragement and growth, and PWOC is something that I get to look forward to weekly.

Sometimes military life can be difficult. And there can be a lot of drama between spouses, particularly here overseas where spouses aren’t permitted to work in the economy, their men are gone frequently, and there are few English speakers to socialize with beyond the bubble of the base.

There are also some rules in the military about whom one should and should not socialize with. Enlisted versus Officers, the various ranks in each of those categories, and then the stereotypes that come with assigned jobs/careers can all add challenges to relationships. One isn’t supposed to socialize with people too far above or below your position, etc. And despite those rules being for the military members themselves, it most definitely affects the spouses and their relationships as well.

PWOC is rather like an escape from all of that. We’re not there for military purposes, we are there for God. We’re there to grow, fellowship, and learn more from the Word and it does not matter whom you are or whom you are married to. It is also a drama free zone as it is composed of people with a different focus and priorities.

The bible studies and discussions have been amazing and excellent opportunities for growth in both wisdom and spirit. And now with my cancer, the women of PWOC have all truly blessed my family and I in ways we couldn't have expected.

One of my friends organized meals for us so that twice a week one of the ladies will bring us a meal, and let me tell you, those meals have been very helpful! My treatments can be time consuming (at least six hours daily), and my new diet means that I have to prepare diet specific meals for myself aside from my hubby and son (who has recently started eating solids). So that’s three different meals three times a day. No joke, the first week my new diet and treatments were in place, I fed my husband Brats for dinner 4 nights of that week. And just Brats, nothing else. He threw some mustard on them and didn’t complain, but it was easy to see how his diet was going to go downhill the following months.

Don’t get me wrong, my husband can fend for himself fairly decently, but after work he only has five hours of free time, which is stretched between working out (in order to keep up military physical standards), as well as his online college classes (which he couldn’t drop), as well as helping me with some of my treatments much less spending quality time with our LO. The meals have been a huge blessing because that guarantees that he’ll have good food at least twice a week, and it saves us a vast amount of time not having to plan, shop, prep, cook, and clean up.

These women have also been on board with me from the start and have been nothing but supportive and helpful during this journey. They provide me with continued encouragement and growth, verses and prayers, and many of my kind friends have taken my LO for a couple hours so I can attempt to catch up on life amidst this craziness. My family and I have been reaping the benefits of their servant's hearts and we are so very thankful for them!

Thankfulness Day 5 - Thankful for my Little One

This post is an easy one, and I’m sure you, dear reader, could have easily guessed this one would have been coming soon. How could I not dedicate a post to one of my favorite companions? The smallest sized blessing in my life is definitely one of my biggest. I am so thankful for our son! This little ray of sunshine brings me countless joys every day.

It is an honor to be his mother and to watch him grow and discover every day. Nothing can make one light up as much as to watch him scan a room of people, friends, and toys, expressionless, until he sets eyes on either my husband or myself and suddenly he’s squealing with joy.

Everyone wants to be wanted, everyone wants to be needed, and everyone wants to be loved. Children fulfill all these categories to the highest degree. My little one wants to be with me every moment possible (whether waking or sleeping!), I am an indispensable person in his life, and I know he loves me dearly. What more could one ask for!?

This kid always has a smile. Even when he is sick and miserable with sicky tears streaming down his face, he will still be smiling. He gives the best bear hugs a tiny person ever could and the house is always filled with his laughter. (Seriously though, he even laughs when he’s choking or if someone sneezes. Everything is funny)

"OHMYGOSH SWINGS ARE AWESOME!"

People tell me he is a most peaceful and calm child (and as I have no other children to compare him to I must take their word on that), and I never have a trouble leaving him to be watched because he is so well behaved. (Though I assure you, this is nothing of our doing. I think God knew we couldn’t handle a wild child during this period in our lives, and instead gave us a peaceful and joyful child instead. Thank heavens for that! )

Together we adventure and explore the world. He is my little pal and rarely leaves my side. 

Meeting the local cows. (At a safe distance though, as that second one looks like he wants a taste...)

This stroller picture is from one of our walks. Few others are so patient as I practice my photography, but this guy will sit and watch as I shoot and will even model for me from time to time. ;) Aside from his outstanding character and big heart, he gives me something to boast of should the occasion arise, provides me a valid excuse every time I’m running behind schedule, and allows me ample opportunities to practice my patience and love. (This child is making me more holy by the day folks! What a gift!)  

I don’t know what we did to deserve this angelic child, 
but I am very thankful God let us have him.

He's a snuggle bug this one <3

“The cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow, For children grow up, as I’ve learned to my sorrow. So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep. I’m rocking my baby, and babies don’t keep.”

I may frame the above excerpt for the nursery. And that’s where likely I’ll be if you can’t find me. If you ever wonder where I am, you can bet I’m hanging with my Adam. <3

"Children are a heritage from the Lord,
    offspring a reward from him."

~Pslam 127:3

Thankfulness Day 4 - Thankful for Italy

I am so thankful for where we live! What an amazing blessing and opportunity it has been to live in Italy. Sometimes I feel like I live in a storybook. I am now living in the midst of the scenery I once saw in travel shows and picture books. This country is rich in culture and history; as such, it is common to drive along the road and see ruins of a castle or other great, old mansion. 

You can stroll through the town and as the bell tolls (because every town has a bell tower) you can see the older folk relaxing outside their houses and in front of shops, eager to socialize and converse with people. I have seen others with bread in the baskets of their bike as they make their daily bread run to get it fresh from the bakery.

I love the relaxed pace. Stores open in the later morning, close around noon, and reopen after resttime, or Riposo as they call it. Time is not so strict, and if you are asked to arrive at 9:00, it really means, arrive around 9:00; none of this crazy hustle and bustle one often finds in the states and the stress of being “the late person”.  People will get here when they get here and events will start when one feels ready to start them.

I particularly love our little place in Italy. I took the picture below after sitting in the house on a foggy autumn morning, and I heard the tinkle of little bells. I peered outside to see a flock of sheep being herded down our street by a little shepherd boy.

Please sir, wait for me whilst I change into my peasant dress and cloak!

There is never a dull moment, (but that doesn't mean it's crazy, they are relaxed, yet interesting moments) and there's always something fantastic to discover. I love living in the Italian countryside! 

Thankfulness Day 3 - Thankful for my Cancer

Today I am thankful for my cancer. That may sound like a strange thing to be thankful for, but you can bet I have thought on it much and it brings me to tears how thankful I am to have this cancer. Come with me as I explain.

            Have you ever experienced a time when you wanted to swap places with someone? I certainly have. Both good times and bad times. I can easily recall back to February of this year, when my baby was a week old and we were in a bustling Italian hospital. I wasn't entirely sure what they were testing him for as they drew blood from my screaming newborn every hour, or what they were saying to me in their foreign language. All I knew was that his blood tests hadn’t come back good and I spent most of my time in fervent prayer over him hoping it wasn’t life threatening. I remember then asking and begging God not to take him from me. We know now that although his condition could be serious, it is not life threatening and can be medically treated. (for those who missed what happened in February, check here: Adam and PKU )

How does this relate to my cancer? Well whilst doing my various treatments and feeling a bit in a slump with the drudgery, work, and unknown progress of it all , the random thought flitted across my mind and said, “Imagine how stressful this would be if little Adam had cancer”. The shock from the wake of the flitting thought hit me like a ton of bricks. Whoa. Adam dying of cancer. How dreadfully, horrible that would be! I followed that trail of thought…

My Adam, my husband, my mother, my father, my brother and sisters, family and close friends, they don’t have it. I DO! The realization was one of those moments when you fall to your knees in awe and profusely thank God. If it were possible there was an alternate reality experience in which someone I love got this cancer, I know I would be on my knees night and day praying for them and pleading with God to let me swap places and let me fight for them. I would be begging with him to spare them and take me instead. If that were the case, and such an alternative experience would have happened, I have been given my desire! It’s quite possible that this cancer was intended for me all along. But I know that if it had been intended for someone else I love, I would have wanted it for them as I pleaded for their life. And so, in a complicated way, I have what I would want if I didn’t have it. This realization has brought me a peculiar peace and incredible relief and joy.

Thus, I have concluded that this cancer, and everything that has come with it, is a blessing. I am thankful for the opportunity to take a leap of faith, thankful for the chance to see and experience just how much my family and I are loved, thankful for the reminder of how precious and short life is, thankful for the opportunity for my husband and I to team up in battle, and above all, thankful that I, and not the ones I love, have this cancer. Today and all the days that follow me, I am and will be so thankful that I have been given this cancer.

“And if I only could,
Make a deal with God,
And get him to swap our places,
Be running up that road,
Be running up that hill,
Be running up that building.
If I only could, oh...

'C'mon, baby, c'mon, c'mon, darling,
Let me steal this moment from you now.
C'mon, angel, c'mon, c'mon, darling,
Let's exchange the experience, oh...'”

~Running up that Hill – by Placebo

(link to the cool song listed above: Running Up That Hill) 

Thankfulness Day 2 - Thankful for my hubby

Today I am thankful for this guy ----------------------------->

This guy is my teammate and life partner, my friend and confidant, my handyman, father of my little love, jar opener, reacher-of-things-on-ridiculous-high-shelves, my bug killer and lover. He’s a dynamic person to be sure and I don’t know what I would do without him!

This is the guy who, after a twelve-hour shift at work, would hop on his motorcycle and drive the 8-9hr drive through the night to visit me at my college when we were dating. This is the guy who arrives home with a fistful of flowers and watches silly movies and shows with me.

This is the guy who ran into the street in the middle of the night shouting out to all of Italy how much he was in love with me. (Definitely one of my favorite memories…) The guy who always mows the lawn and is down to tackle house projects with me. The one who gives our Little his medicine every day so I don't have to be "the bad guy".

This is the guy who I sing and dance with in the kitchen; the one I go on adventures and travels with; the one I bounce ideas off of and have book discussions and bible studies with. The one who leaves the occasional encouraging note or text for me to find. The one who always makes sure to kiss me (and the little one!) goodbye and goodnight.  

This is the guy who, when we discovered the status of my cancer, purchased and read books, dug through research online, helped me order things, make things, and organize my treatment schedule.

This is the guy who wakes daily at 4:30 am so he can wash, chop, and juice all my carrots (nearly a half an hour procedure) as well as brew my special healing tea and other things before going to work at 6 am. After a long day of work he will come home and help me with Adam and chores so I can work on my other treatments. He makes our sprouts and gardens organic veggies for us, spends hours making the silver water for me and making sure all of my other treatment supplies are in stock. Lately he’s been fending for himself more for meals and other things since my treatments and Adam are very time consuming, but he’ll offer to make me food while he’s at it.

This is the guy that sits next to me on the couch for hours during my electromedicine therapy after Adam has gone to bed. We snuggle and talk in the candle light for hours… Today he decided to have some man time with our little one and give me an afternoon off, so they took off on an adventure and I’ve had the house to myself for four hours and counting... (And it has been a lovely break! Thank you babe!).

He is a hard worker, caring, sweet and thoughtful. He is a man of God, values my opinion, and is a hands-on father. He is not perfect, but neither am I, or anyone. And our imperfections give the other opportunities to grow and improve. I am so thankful God put this man in my life! He knew what he was doing when he matched us up and my hubby is an essential piece of my life. I LOVE this guy! And best of all, he loves me back ^_^

28 Days of Thankfulness

Happy November 1^st everyone! I have decided that I am going to attempt to do something common at this time of year in the blogging sphere, making a point of being thankful daily until Thanksgiving and posting about the topic I’ve chosen for the day. I don’t think being thankful is a struggle for me, I am typically very thankful and appreciative of everything good that comes my way, as I am well aware that they are undeserved gifts and can vanish in the blink of an eye. However, I thought it might be fun, would mix up the variety of posts I’ve had thus far, and would cause me to be extra mindful of how thankful I should be for all of the good and blessings in my life. Thereby I have decided to post a daily thankfulness post for you all to read if you would like.

            What’s that? Did you read me right? Yes, I am promising to attempt and post every single day this month… you all know how I am about keeping up on posts… And there's a good chance this may end up similar to my New Year’s resolutions: rather strong in the beginning and then dwindling until at this time of year I cannot recall a smidge of the grand aspirations I had for the year. We shall see how this goal fares, eh?

            We will start today, as day one. Today I am simply thankful that October is over and it is November! Wrapped in this is thankfulness for new beginnings and fresh starts. October was an intensive month health wise, with many new adjustments (and yes, I’m still planning on getting that health update posted somewhere in there!). I feel that November brings a fresh month where we have a solid routine going and hopefully fewer unknowns.

            November also means that Halloween is over! My least favorite of occasions all year has finally passed us over and we can move onto more joyous affairs. I no longer have to navigate the isles draped in black, with their skeletons and hanging death eaters, or see the gross amounts of candy peddled at the checkout stands. The surge of horror films depicting hideous murders will be waning to make room for better movies and the overkill of all things orange will allow the rest of the fall colors back. 

I don’t mind a designated dress up day, nor do I mind celebrating the harvest. Gardening is difficult work and when your produce comes up successfully it certainly brings you joy and relief, and we don’t even need to depend upon it for survival due to our sprawling modern grocery stores, I can’t imagine how much greater the cause for celebration would have been back in the time when one’s farm was the food on the table and could judge how difficult your winter would be.

Some have told me that All Hallows’ Eve began as a Christian celebration. If that be true, Halloween has evolved from these origins into something unrecognizable and I have a growing disdain for the “holiday”. Are the current Halloween participants celebrating the fruits of their hard labor? No. Are they like the Italians, who on all saints day and all souls day go to honor those who are no longer with us? Do you find the American children going to the cemeteries to lay flowers on the graves or light candles to honor the memory of those who have passed? No. But you can find them dressed as the ones who cause death to others. They clothe themselves in darkness, becoming witches, vampires (and not the sparkly ones!), and zombies dripping in gore and blood. Or perhaps devils with horns or as the common ghost, a lost spirit, trapped here (how true that is!). I wonder, no, I know, if they ever witnessed first hand the true nature of the living spawns of evil they are so keen to imitate, that they would no longer be so eager to emulate them. 

The day has become dedicated to a celebration of darkness, fears, haunting, pranks, demons, and violence. And aside from that is the addition of an appalling amount of sugar. The country with an obesity epidemic has a holiday dedicated to obtaining as many sweets as possible… oh my. Okay, time to climb down off my soapbox before I get too worked up about the ridiculousness of it all.

Anyway, I am thankful it’s November! I am all about the upcoming holidays. Thankfulness, friends, family, and food! The month afterward is Christmas and then there are scattered birthdays around and after that. It looks to me like it’s just going to get better! Stay tuned for the following thankful posts. No more mini rants, promise. ;)