Keep praying for Alice

Alice traveled to M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston this week. (See post dated 3/16/09 to learn more about Alice.) It was time for tests to determine the status of her tumors. The good news is that the tumors have shrunk some, but, not enough for surgery.

So, she returns to Kerrville for 6 more infusions of chemo. She'll have an infusion every 3 weeks, with a trip back to M.D. Anderson after the first 3. That means the earliest surgery could take place would be after the first of the year.

The wonderful news is that the experts are amazed at her longevity and spirit. On Wed., after waiting 3 hours to see the doctor, she was just so excited to finally get in she beamed with happiness. The assistant gave her a hug and told her she had made her day with her cheerfulness.

So, please continue to pray for Alice, the walking miracle. Pray that God's healing touch will be upon her and that He will continue to bless her with His strength, courage, faith, peace and joy.

Party pics

My best friend, Hope flew in from Pasadena, CA for the party!

Colin, in the background, is itching to stick his fingers in the cake.

My son, Charles, was the bartender.

Daughter, Sara, cutting the cake (in background) while Penny smiles.



This is how I looked when I first came in--very happy!

And lots of long-time good friends.

Happy Birthday to ME!

My wonderful, thoughtful, creative, incredibly organized daughter gave me a surprise birthday party last Saturday for my big 60.

Here's the specially designed invitation. She scoured pictures for months, finding me at 5, 10, 15....years of age, finishing with a picture of me and my angel boys at 12.

It was so wonderful to see some of my dearest friends. And those long distance friends who couldn't make it, were able to send birthday greetings and pictures to be included in THE most beautiful album I have ever seen.

It was held in the home I grew up in, where my daughter and my angel boys are living now and where I have celebrated everything from birthdays, anniversaries, wedding receptions and lots of church youth group gatherings. The room is mostly unchanged from when my parents lived there so it is full of wonderful memorabilia and made me feel like my parents were so much a part of the party.

The cake, see below, was covered with more pictures of me at all ages with all the people I love. (Stay tuned for pictures of the actual event.)

Also, assisting in this surprise was my son (who bartended) and best friend, Hope (who flew in from CA for the event and to spend a few days with me). Friends helped with all the arrangements of overnight guests, guest lists, parking, childcare and any other way they could help. I felt loved and celebrated which is exactly the way everyone should feel on their birthday.

Since today is my actual birthday, family and a few very close friends are gathering at our favorite Tex-Mex restaurant for yet another celebration but this time we're leaving the work to the service industry. ;-}

It is so wonderful to have family and friends who join in the good and the bad times...but it's the most fun when we celebrate life together!

Follow-up with the funeral home

I met Monday with my contact at the funeral home, Gordan, to tell him what had happened with my friends Al & Rae and their pushy salesman. We spent an hour and a half talking, with me learning the ways of the funeral home business and him learning how it is paramount to be ultra-sensitive to the family dealing with the issue of their mortality.

This weekend, Gordon and I are going over to visit with Al (Rae will be out of town seeing 2 great-grandsons for the first time) and answer his questions and put his mind at ease. There will be no signing, no pressure. Then when Al is ready to move forward, someone else (not the salesman) will return for the signature with me present, of course. This is a huge improvement over the previous scenario.

Then I had a long telephone conversation with the owner of the funeral home, Barry. First of all he was shocked at the salesman's behavior but totally believed me. Second, this salesman is leaving the funeral home to become a nurse (God help us all!!) so they are hiring a new person. Third, they want me to come in and train not only the new salesman but the entire staff of the funeral home, using my pastoral skills training and fourth....are you ready for this?...when I complete my year as chair of Deacons (next Oct.), Barry and I are going to talk about me regularly doing volunteer work with them including going out with the new salesman on occasion. (I don't want paid work because I want my independence and because this type of work is a calling not a profession.)

My, my God has mysterious ways in which He leads us. I knew I wanted to contribute more of my time to either the local hospital or Hospice after Oct. Never, ever would I have dreamed of volunteering with a funeral home! And yet, God clearly showed me the need, equiped me, put me in the right place at the right time, opened my ears to hear him and gave me an obedient spirit. And the best part, I am actually very excited about this prospect which confirms that it is of God.

Gifted, Called, Equiped, Guided

How in the world can you do that? Isn't it depressing?

That's what I hear when folks find out what I'm up to these days. God gave me the gifts to be a pastoral care counselor and then I sought the training. Between the gifts, the training and, most importantly the calling, I have a peace and joy of being used as God's instrument.

I am Chair of the Deacons this year. In my role, I hear of all sorts of needs and it's my job to communicate the needs to the team leads. Some of the teams we have are: Casserole, Handyman, Hospital Visitation, Homebound and Elderly, Emergency Childcare, Transportation, Prayer and Encouragement and more, 11 in all. I am co-chair of the Grief and Bereavement Team which covers a whole host of possibilities.


This week I have been heavily involved with an older couple, the husband, Al (80), has terminal cancer. The wife, Rae (89), has always been emotionally fragile and this is really sending her over the edge. [These pictures were taken at our Valentine's Banquet.] Monday I was there when a representative from the funeral home came to sell them a plan. (More on that below.)

While there, I found out that someone was taking Al to see his oncologist where he would more than likely be told (and he was) that they had done all they could do and it was time for hospice. He is at perfect peace about this but Rae is not handling it so well. Al did not want Rae to go with him to the dr. so I suggested that she and I go get a pedicure and get the report when we returned. God takes care of all sorts of situations and in this case, through Him, I was able to convince her that she really needed a break and he could concentrate much better. Mission accomplished and 20 beautiful toes later.

This afternoon and evening I was there during the hospice information session and intake. Again, I was able to distract Rae part of the time and keep her calm. (All you have to do with older folks is comment on a picture and get them to tell you about it. ;-} ) The hospice person didn't leave until 7:45p, way past their supper time, so I stayed and scrambled some eggs and cheese and fixed them some toast--something easy to digest but full of protein.

Next Monday I'm meeting with my contact at the same funeral home that the salesman came from, to tell him how awful the salesman was when he met with them. The details aren't important but for a solid hour he droned on and on about this book they needed to fill out (family, memories, favorite color (?), and more) and then started telling them a whole host of details about funeral planning, picking out a casket from picutres, the color of the lining, emblems on the side, and on and on he went and wouldn't stop even though they were clearly overwhelmed and anxious. THEN, he figured up a price for the two of them, well over $20,000, and wanted them to sign right then. I physically placed myself between the salesman and Al, put my hand up, like you would do to a child, and said, please stop. They are not going to sign anything today; we will let you know if and when they are interested. Boy he sure didn't like that and out the door I ushered him.

And, this is one of the best funeral homes around, the same one I used for my parents. I know the man who owns it and I think he would be horrified at this man's actions. So, I'm now taking on the funeral home and strongly suggesting that they have an intensive course on sensitivity and listening skills! Plus, our church keeps them in business so if they offend one customer, they endanger a whole host of people finding out ('cause I'd be sure to spread the word!) and loosing a whole lot of business.

But enough of the details of my week. It has been a humbling, gratifying, prayerful week. That God would call me to walk with someone through the valley of the shadow of death; that He would equip me and strengthen me; that He would give me wisdom and even creativity; and that He would give me joy in the intimate relationships I am developing with these two people of faith is almost overwhelming. My cup runneth over.

Thanks for listening to what's on my heart.