Tuesday, March 26, 2013

A Dash of Hope or Dashed Hopes


About a month or so ago things were going pretty well for Kyle and I. Kyle’s health was stable. I was feeling good. We hadn’t had any catastrophes for a week or two. Money wasn’t flowing in, but we were paying our bills. Kyle was doing some work for his Mom and had a possibility of another job he may be able to do lined up. I didn’t dare comment on it out loud to anyone, but in the back of my mind I dared to hope that maybe things were starting to turn around for us. I was feeling hope and peace for the first in a really long time. I should have known better.

Within the next week, a bulge Kyle has had on his side was determined by a surgeon to be a tumor. It would have to come out so the doctor ordered a scan to see how invasive it was. We had our Lumina for 4 months and Kyle hated it. I heard about it everyday (I didn't really like it much either). He found another used car he wanted to trade it on. We made arrangements to complete the deal on Saturday.  Thursday night I got a call from Kyle to come pick him up. The Lumina quit in a puff of smoke. Diagnosis: terminal with a seized motor. Then Kyle got a new sore on his foot. Moreover, for the finale, I came down with a bad case of the flu that it took me two weeks to get rid of. Just like that, I felt my hope dashed into a million pieces.

Shane’s wife Abby told me that when it rains it really does pour. I told her when it rains on Kyle and I it floods, but its okay because we are becoming experts at bailing water.

Kyle had a CT Scan and believe it or not there was no tumor found. Everything looks great. I had spent days preparing myself for the very worst. I just stared at the doctor. He probably wondered what was wrong with me. I no longer know how to react to good news; Kyle’s foot is free of sores for the time being; He got a job at The Trophy Corner. He is in charge of the trophy assembly. He loves it and his boss loves him. He is working more than I think he should, but I can’t stop him. It is as if he is the energizer bunny. He is working 10 and 12 hours a day. This job has made a world of difference in him. He has his confidence and self-worth back. He is the Kyle I fell in love with. It is fun to watch him. He comes home every night and tells me every thing that happened during his day; we donated the Lumina to the kidney foundation and somehow came up with the extra money for the other used car. Kyle loves it and doesn't complain about it all the time; And I got over the flu and replaced it with a cold and allergies.

With the coming of the spring weather this week a feeling of hope has come back for me. There is a dash of hope in my heart. I feel peaceful. I am trying not to have the attitude of waiting for the other shoe to drop. I actually feel as if I can enjoy the moment. The heavy clouds that too often hang over me seem to have dissolved in the sunlight of the warm spring day. I’ll take it for however long it lasts.

Sunday, March 17, 2013

Hope and Prayer


My cousin Shane has cancer. It is now blocking off any food from going into or through his body. Shane is too weak for surgery or chemotherapy. The doctors are ready to send him home and make him comfortable. Shane and Abby do not seem ready to accept that. They still have hope. Hope for a miracle, hope the doctors will think of something else to try, hope Shane will get strong enough for surgery or chemo, hope for more time.

We sit on the sidelines and are helpless. We have no idea what to do to help so we pray. We pray for a miracle, we pray they will be comforted, pray they will be able to make the right decisions, pray for peace, pray he won’t have to be in pain, pray for the ability to say the right things at the right time.

It is a horrible situation and I so I ask you to pray too.


Friday, March 1, 2013

Random Photo Friday


Today is random photo day. The day I pick a random photo out of my pictures and lucky you, you get to see it. Woo Hoo!

Today's photo was taken almost a year ago on Easter. Where did the time ago? It sure seems to be flying by. We had a great Easter hunt with the kids and a delicious dinner. We were sure glad the kids showed up to find the eggs. Otherwise we would have been a bunch of grown adults walking around the yard looking for the eggs Dad hid. Kids just make everything more fun. It would sure be fun to have some (Hint! Hint! Heavenly Father).  Kyle and I sure do love these girls. We are so lucky everyone is willing to share their kids with us. We love them all.

"The Girls" Easter 2012