Sitting in the sun with Pippin and Tucker--about to read, drinking some cold water. Hillsong in the background. A day doesn't get much better than this!
Today is the first day that everyone is either working or at least out of the house. It's been an exhausting 4 days--trying to keep up with my family!
Saturday Kent and I went to a a BBQ hosted by his co-worker. We didn't know what to expect, except that his co-workers would be there.
We got there and were immediately introduced around. There were lots of lovely people there that we had never met before. People that knew the host and hostess for varied reasons.
I ended up sitting outside with a lady, (and I completely do not remember her name, although I played EVERY game I could in my head to remember it. Including the Seinfeld....it rhymes with...)
She had emigrated to Canada from England 4 years before. This intrigued me, as her kids were middle school aged. Why and what would make you leave your homeland for Canada? Especially ENGLAND???
She talked mostly of a better quality of life. Her husband could only find work 4 hours from their home. If she got to see him on the weekends, he was still working, so they would squeeze time in -- in the evenings. Not a way to live and raise children. They got to the point of realizing that they would have to sell their house to just "live" in the economic climate and keep a business afloat.
I told her I had just a year ago emigrated from Kelowna to Victoria. She laughed. She said it was a place she always wanted to visit. I encouraged it and said, "You could stay with my friend Sheila Staring!" (Just kidding, I didn't....)
At some point, the rain started and the wind started, but I didn't want to leave this conversation, she was really interesting. At some point we began talking about my trips to New York, Guatemala, Mexico etc...
She was amazed that I would be able to leave the places I had been, she kept repeating it over and over again.
Then, I dropped a bomb.
I said, "It was fairly easy to leave the kids in the orphanage, I had 20 teenagers with me to make sure they got home safe."
WHAT? She exclaimed.
So, I ended up describing the HistoryMaker/Elevate classes I taught, the prep the kids had to do, the work they were expected to do....
It ended up being so cold I was forced to leave and go in the house.
Fatigue hits me quite abruptly and I went and found Kent about 7 and asked if we could go. We said our goodbyes to Andy and Tracey and thanked them for hosting, when I turned to leave, there she was.
She said, "It was so good to meet you and I just wanted to tell you how BRAVE I think you are."
Interesting statement. I have been thinking about this lots. Brave.
The first trip I went to New York, I didn't know what I was expecting. I was really nervous being in charge of 17 Emmanuel teens, 3 from Merritt, and not to mention -- a youth pastor. (they need constant supervision....) :)
Those trips became a part of the fibre of my being. Like living out my faith, like I walk after God, March Break was reserved for Emmanuel Youth Missions trips.
I think in the past couple of days I have really realized what a treasure those trips were. What an amazing opportunity....brave or stupid, I will never know--but amazingly blessed. There is just something so precious about living with the teens, sharing an experience like a 3rd world country, seeing amazing poverty but depth of relationship with people--it changes who you are and gives a clarity of what is important.
So, this week, I have been thinking over and over and over again. What are Kent and I going to do next spring?
We have a desire to serve. I should be healthy. We want a holiday--but we also want to DO something.
So, this week--I have been praying for specific direction for the following year..we don't have kids at home so we aren't stuck to spring break!
So God, what do you want us to do and where do you want us to do it? We are willing.
ON THE CANCER FRONT:
I have a PET Scan booked in Vancouver tomorrow.
If they find cancer on this scan I will do another round of chemo on July 4th and then they will be switching me over to the radiation oncology service. I have an appointment booked in July with Dr. Wai.
If NO cancer is found they will do another round of chemo on July 4th and then release me from the medical oncology service. I will be under a recall system for every 3-4 months for the next 5 years.
I don't know when the results will be in, but I am hoping for the non-radiation scenario. I am tired of feeling like I have Montezuma revenge, I am tired of tired and I am eager to get back to normal life.
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