There are all kinds of tears. I know. I'm a woman--I think there is hardly a kind of tear I haven't cried.
We got home from our getaway, which I was unplugged for. I haven't even looked on anything on the internet until this afternoon, my phone didn't get service, I actually used very little of my e-reader. I was very truly unplugged.
It was liberating.
While we were away I gave Kent his gift. It was a deck of cards with a reason why I loved him on each one. The first was a cover that said "52 reasons why I love you." I knew there would be tears. And there were. When I gave the gift to Kent he read each of the reasons out loud. We both halted and started crying at this one: "You even loved my bald head."
And he did. He really did. More so than I did. Losing my hair didn't bother me, I thought of it as part of the journey, but I didn't realize how it was going to affect other people.
As Kent read my list of reasons, I started to cry. I am unbelievable blessed to have such an amazing man as my husband.
This week, I had a panic cry. The one that came after my brother Michael found me on Facebook. I am resolved not to have that part of the family in my life without protecting my own little family first.
So tonight, I had the tears that just don't come. I am sure you know what I mean..the lump in the throat the gag reflex, the sick to my stomach, but tears that just don't come.
You see, my brother doesn't know how facebook works, but I do. So I did a little creeping....I looked on his facebook and there is my biological mother, one of his friends. I haven't been privy to her or my sisters life for about 15 years. They asked me to stay out--so I have.
Then I looked at her list of friends...and there it is. She won't have me in her life, but the pedophile who raped me repeatedly and broke my sister's jaw attempting to have her perform oral sex on him....is in her friends list.
Gag reflex, sick to my stomach, and the tears that just won't come.
Again, I feel the best course of action is just not to allow them into my life. They are a mixed up, broken mess of life....and my mother would say I was lying, I am the degenerate, I am the one who is disgusting and screwed up.
I am sitting here in my living room, thankful that I no longer have to be a part of that mess. Thankful is probably not strong enough of a word.
But I am completely thankful, for Kent, for my little family of Max, Melissa and Jonathan, (and Jamie, Erik and Carl). I am super thankful for the freedom that I live my daily life in...In all things I can say, God is good. He really, really is.
Sunday, 28 October 2012
Thursday, 25 October 2012
To be a donor or not. That's the question.
I have a picture of a friend in my kitchen. It has been placed in a very strategic place to gain my attention whenever I work in the room. It is a beautiful picture of an even more beautiful and amazing woman. Realistically the picture doesn't do her beauty justice.
I don't know if she has ever really known how beautiful she is or the amazing mind she has been given. Her gifts are vast and her compassion for people formidable.
She once loved God and dedicated her life to Him. In fact she was consumed with doing His "good works."
I put her picture in that strategic place so that I would be reminded to pray for her. I miss her terribly, when we have talked and texted since my move to Victoria, it makes me miss her all that much more.
I have been thinking about her more than ever lately, and so to her benefit, I have ended up praying for her more.
It has had me thinking of the "big questions" of serving God. Like this:
I was putting my new driver's licence in my wallet and started filling out the BC Transplant information--actually to update the information. I have always been a donor--but it got me thinking--if I have had cancer 3 times, maybe.....maybe??? they won't want me to donate?
The other big thing that I have been thinking about is if someone has my heart, lungs, retinas, bones, bone marrow or skin after I am gone and then God returns, the bible says the dead in Christ will rise first. Does that mean that my heart, lungs, retinas, bones, bone marrow or skin suddenly depart from the person I donated it too?
Ew. It's kind of a gross thing to think about...but that is how my mind works. I believe the word of God to be truth and if modern medicine has gotten us to this place, it's got to happen like He says it will.
Maybe I should revoke my donation.....To be a donor or not. That's the question.
I don't know if she has ever really known how beautiful she is or the amazing mind she has been given. Her gifts are vast and her compassion for people formidable.
She once loved God and dedicated her life to Him. In fact she was consumed with doing His "good works."
I put her picture in that strategic place so that I would be reminded to pray for her. I miss her terribly, when we have talked and texted since my move to Victoria, it makes me miss her all that much more.
I have been thinking about her more than ever lately, and so to her benefit, I have ended up praying for her more.
It has had me thinking of the "big questions" of serving God. Like this:
I was putting my new driver's licence in my wallet and started filling out the BC Transplant information--actually to update the information. I have always been a donor--but it got me thinking--if I have had cancer 3 times, maybe.....maybe??? they won't want me to donate?
The other big thing that I have been thinking about is if someone has my heart, lungs, retinas, bones, bone marrow or skin after I am gone and then God returns, the bible says the dead in Christ will rise first. Does that mean that my heart, lungs, retinas, bones, bone marrow or skin suddenly depart from the person I donated it too?
Ew. It's kind of a gross thing to think about...but that is how my mind works. I believe the word of God to be truth and if modern medicine has gotten us to this place, it's got to happen like He says it will.
Maybe I should revoke my donation.....To be a donor or not. That's the question.
Wednesday, 24 October 2012
...You say gray, I say not.
And I can't even blame this on the drugs.
My driver's licence expired on September 9th. I went in this week to deal with it. Normally, I am not so delinquent as this, but I was told I couldn't do a wig and that I couldn't wear a scarf for my photo.
Do they not realize, I have to keep this photo for 5 whole freaking years?
Oh, good.
At the time of my birthday, I had 2 weeks of growth on my head. You might think that's a lot, but if it were on my legs, I wouldn't have bothered shaving, it looked more like my head was dirty than hairy.
I decided to wait until my 2nd month of hair growth and then go in for the photo.
...you know that feeling that you are standing at the counter...confessing your weight, height, eye color, hair color...so I tell the woman, she takes the information, she then takes me for my photo. I couldn't take the whole thing seriously, I had a smirk on my face the whole time, knowing, I had to not smile for my photo--I was finally able to pull it off.
So, today, my new licence arrived. I wasn't looking forward to this...actual photo proof of my hair loss.
I look at my licence and my hair color doesn't say black. It says gray. GRAY? That would be arctic blonde people. ARCTIC BLONDE.
Sheesh.
Today I went to a car dealership to spend 20 minutes getting my car evaluated -- 3 hours later I left. I hate, Hate, HATE my car. I miss my Honda Accord so much.
I don't think I will be getting a new (to me) car. It's disappointing, but I guess I will have to put up with my manual transmission for a while longer.
My driver's licence expired on September 9th. I went in this week to deal with it. Normally, I am not so delinquent as this, but I was told I couldn't do a wig and that I couldn't wear a scarf for my photo.
Do they not realize, I have to keep this photo for 5 whole freaking years?
Oh, good.
At the time of my birthday, I had 2 weeks of growth on my head. You might think that's a lot, but if it were on my legs, I wouldn't have bothered shaving, it looked more like my head was dirty than hairy.
I decided to wait until my 2nd month of hair growth and then go in for the photo.
...you know that feeling that you are standing at the counter...confessing your weight, height, eye color, hair color...so I tell the woman, she takes the information, she then takes me for my photo. I couldn't take the whole thing seriously, I had a smirk on my face the whole time, knowing, I had to not smile for my photo--I was finally able to pull it off.
So, today, my new licence arrived. I wasn't looking forward to this...actual photo proof of my hair loss.
I look at my licence and my hair color doesn't say black. It says gray. GRAY? That would be arctic blonde people. ARCTIC BLONDE.
Sheesh.
Today I went to a car dealership to spend 20 minutes getting my car evaluated -- 3 hours later I left. I hate, Hate, HATE my car. I miss my Honda Accord so much.
I don't think I will be getting a new (to me) car. It's disappointing, but I guess I will have to put up with my manual transmission for a while longer.
Now, that's a gift, PART II
D'oh, the picture of Kent's gift didn't show up so-- here it is!
It's a deck of cards with a note of why I love him on each card. Technically it's 54 reasons, because I thought it would be fitting to keep the jokers...right? It has a hole in the top left corner that I put a ring through, to make it easy to flip through....
So onto the next blog!
It's a deck of cards with a note of why I love him on each card. Technically it's 54 reasons, because I thought it would be fitting to keep the jokers...right? It has a hole in the top left corner that I put a ring through, to make it easy to flip through....
So onto the next blog!
Tuesday, 23 October 2012
Now, that's a gift!
Kent and I have planned an anniversary weekend getaway, yes, weeks after the actual anniversary but still, we are going.
We decided to post pone it for several reasons, one of which, we are hoping for some really nasty West coast weather to blow in, so we can sit in the hot tub on the deck of our cabin and watch the angry sea.
Sounds fabulous right? I know!
I have just finished my gift to him. I am a gift giver, it is one of my love languages and for years, and years, we didn't get our love languages right. This year, I have to say, I have conquered the beast!
Both Kent and I have love languages of quality time. We both thrive on just being near each other...that's where the love language similarities end.
His big love language is words. For me, words are cheap, useless, generally not to be believed--yes, I am not a trusting individual. For so many years, words were thrown about in my life with absolutely NO weight, an I will do this for you, was followed by grand disappointment. I love you meant absolutely nothing to me and in a moment of honesty, it still means very little to me. Show me, be consistent, then I will listen to your I love yous. I actually had a 2 friends once say that they wanted to "encourage" me so they took me for dinner....where they told me they thought I was faking my relationship with God. Now, those words took hold in my life and strangled me. It took me a VERY long time to realize that--they obviously didn't know me--and I had to let the words fall off me, like water off a ducks back. The longer I hold onto it--the more I'd be weighed down. I no longer let words like that take up rental space in my mind.
Sniff, I am growing.
I think I finally got it right, this fulfills my need to be creative, to give a gift, but also fulfills Kent's need to hear words. There are actually 54 reasons why I love him, and I have to say sitting down and brainstorming this took me a VERY long time, but I actually could have filled the cards front and back.
Give me chocolate, give me jewelry, give me time away, give me hair....now that's a gift!
Thursday, 18 October 2012
Look what you've done for me
I love Tree 63. Look what you've done has been my favourite since I first got the CD. Here is a link--you can listen along while you read.
Tree 63 - Look what You've done - video/lyrics
This week has been a little anti-climactic on the cancer front. I guess in my head I was expecting this ta-da MOMENT, with an emancipation from the BC Cancer Agency--a you are cancer free declaration that will not come. They believe in a statistical progression towards freedom. It's not going to come for the next 5 years.
I don't care. I am having that moment along with Tree 63. Look what He's done for me. It's amazing. All of it.
Sunday, October 14th, I got a friend request on facebook. I am going to be completely honest here. I look at friend requests on facebook and sometimes I just sigh and think there is no way I am adding this person to my list of friends.
Now, I am not being mean here, but there is a little bit of a "stigma" if you don't have a ton of friends, so some people add every request they get, you know, at-one-time-we-ran-into-each-other-in-a-starbucks-line-up-and-so-you-are-now-my-friend-request. I am not that person. Having said that, I do believe that it is a good tool for ministry with youth and young adults, so I do add each teen or young adult that requests it.
So, I get this friend request. My heart just sinks. I don't want to add this person in fact, I don't know that I want to be friends at all.
It's my half-brother, Michael.
When I was a kid, Michael was my protector. He and I were only 3 years apart, and in a lot of ways my friend. I have always loved male friends over female friends, I guess he was one of the first to be my male friend.
When I was about 8, Michael was removed from our home by social services. At least this is how I remember things. I don't know exactly why he was removed but I do remember that he was violent in a lot of ways. He had a massive callous on the back of his hand. When he wanted to hurt someone--or he got stressed he would bite the back of his hand. When you look at what us kids had to deal with growing up--this isn't a really big shock.
When I was about 12 or 13, Michael resurfaced. He had run away so many times from Foster Care that they just gave up on trying to house him. He was homeless and living in some abandoned houses along the King George Highway in Surrey. I am not sure if he chose to live there to live close to us or not. I am not sure why he wasn't just invited to live with us.
He never laid a hand on Danielle (my Sister) or I to hurt us.
In that time, there was some VERY bizarre behaviour.
So, I am looking at this friend request and sent a message directly to him stating--I only add people I am friends with, are you my brother?
Since then, we have talked (via facebook messaging) to catch up a little. It's the saddest story. He is homeless, living in the lower mainland, he still uses drugs.
And I return to the song. It hasn't been an easy road this life of mine. I don't look at it like it's a bad thing. Each thing I have encountered have rounded off my rough edges, has given me a depth of relationship with my God, Kent and my kids and made me a little more like Jesus.
This past 16 months, the move to Victoria, the job with Dr. Satan, the cancer diagnosis and treatment has made me realize that if I don't rely on God--I could not have done this at all...on my own strength, I would've given up long ago.
I know this isn't the right word, but I am proud of who I am becoming. Very little of the girl that lived in Surrey even exists anymore. I come alive when I see the changes in me.
“I know that I've been given more than beyond measure. I come alive when I see beyond my fears. I know that I've been given more than earthly treasure. I come alive when I've broken down and given you control.” ― Jeremy Camp
Tree 63 - Look what You've done - video/lyrics
This week has been a little anti-climactic on the cancer front. I guess in my head I was expecting this ta-da MOMENT, with an emancipation from the BC Cancer Agency--a you are cancer free declaration that will not come. They believe in a statistical progression towards freedom. It's not going to come for the next 5 years.
I don't care. I am having that moment along with Tree 63. Look what He's done for me. It's amazing. All of it.
Sunday, October 14th, I got a friend request on facebook. I am going to be completely honest here. I look at friend requests on facebook and sometimes I just sigh and think there is no way I am adding this person to my list of friends.
Now, I am not being mean here, but there is a little bit of a "stigma" if you don't have a ton of friends, so some people add every request they get, you know, at-one-time-we-ran-into-each-other-in-a-starbucks-line-up-and-so-you-are-now-my-friend-request. I am not that person. Having said that, I do believe that it is a good tool for ministry with youth and young adults, so I do add each teen or young adult that requests it.
So, I get this friend request. My heart just sinks. I don't want to add this person in fact, I don't know that I want to be friends at all.
It's my half-brother, Michael.
When I was a kid, Michael was my protector. He and I were only 3 years apart, and in a lot of ways my friend. I have always loved male friends over female friends, I guess he was one of the first to be my male friend.
When I was about 8, Michael was removed from our home by social services. At least this is how I remember things. I don't know exactly why he was removed but I do remember that he was violent in a lot of ways. He had a massive callous on the back of his hand. When he wanted to hurt someone--or he got stressed he would bite the back of his hand. When you look at what us kids had to deal with growing up--this isn't a really big shock.
When I was about 12 or 13, Michael resurfaced. He had run away so many times from Foster Care that they just gave up on trying to house him. He was homeless and living in some abandoned houses along the King George Highway in Surrey. I am not sure if he chose to live there to live close to us or not. I am not sure why he wasn't just invited to live with us.
He never laid a hand on Danielle (my Sister) or I to hurt us.
In that time, there was some VERY bizarre behaviour.
So, I am looking at this friend request and sent a message directly to him stating--I only add people I am friends with, are you my brother?
Since then, we have talked (via facebook messaging) to catch up a little. It's the saddest story. He is homeless, living in the lower mainland, he still uses drugs.
And I return to the song. It hasn't been an easy road this life of mine. I don't look at it like it's a bad thing. Each thing I have encountered have rounded off my rough edges, has given me a depth of relationship with my God, Kent and my kids and made me a little more like Jesus.
This past 16 months, the move to Victoria, the job with Dr. Satan, the cancer diagnosis and treatment has made me realize that if I don't rely on God--I could not have done this at all...on my own strength, I would've given up long ago.
I know this isn't the right word, but I am proud of who I am becoming. Very little of the girl that lived in Surrey even exists anymore. I come alive when I see the changes in me.
“I know that I've been given more than beyond measure. I come alive when I see beyond my fears. I know that I've been given more than earthly treasure. I come alive when I've broken down and given you control.” ― Jeremy Camp
Tuesday, 16 October 2012
BC Cancer Agency Appointment Date
"You are cancer free." Said no Radiation Oncologist ever. I could make a pinterest pin for that....
She danced around the point, she would not commit to giving me a free and clear diagnosis. She was really funny today too.
I don't need her to give me the words, she said that I was given great treatment, that there are no real symptoms of cancer left, then she did a physical examination and she was really happy with the progress, she said I looked healthy and said that she wouldn't need to see me -- but that I would be followed by the Medical Oncologist.
She told me that she would recommend me to be off work for 3 months from my last treatment...oops. I actually went back to work August 21st, my last treatment was August 29th. I told her I am trying to take it easy, but I just couldn't handle anymore couch time. She told me it could take 6 months to a year to feel like I have gotten my strength back.
That's a little bit of a relief. I was beating myself up for not being able to do more in a day. I work, make dinner and I am done. I am not able to sleep through the night--I am not sure if it's just that I have gotten into that routine or if it's cancer related. I am enjoying the daily chemotherapy inspired hot flashes during the day, not so much at night. They come about every hour in the night, some nights I can wake enough to uncover to cool off, other nights I am fully awake by the time I realize the hot flash is coming.
I have had time to process running into my old boyfriend, although his words were hurtful, I was sure that I let it slide, but then I would find myself covering up my hair, putting make up on every morning...doing things that I thought would improve my look.
I decided to go to church last Sunday without a head scarf or wig, just to let it all hang out. (haha) I was surprised to find that people were really excited to see my hair and were really encouraging. So, slowly, I am beginning to embrace this new hair. I look like this:
Ok, maybe not. It's not this long or as white, but when I was out with friends this week from Kelowna I realized, hey, my hair looks a little like Dame Judi Dench! What girl wouldn't want to be M? (007 Reference.....)
So, today, without a hat in my bag, I went to my appointment, went to get groceries, and other than times when I need the heat--I am embracing this new hair thing....and to my old boyfriend, you are a former for a reason, thanks for reminding me why.
She danced around the point, she would not commit to giving me a free and clear diagnosis. She was really funny today too.
I don't need her to give me the words, she said that I was given great treatment, that there are no real symptoms of cancer left, then she did a physical examination and she was really happy with the progress, she said I looked healthy and said that she wouldn't need to see me -- but that I would be followed by the Medical Oncologist.
She told me that she would recommend me to be off work for 3 months from my last treatment...oops. I actually went back to work August 21st, my last treatment was August 29th. I told her I am trying to take it easy, but I just couldn't handle anymore couch time. She told me it could take 6 months to a year to feel like I have gotten my strength back.
That's a little bit of a relief. I was beating myself up for not being able to do more in a day. I work, make dinner and I am done. I am not able to sleep through the night--I am not sure if it's just that I have gotten into that routine or if it's cancer related. I am enjoying the daily chemotherapy inspired hot flashes during the day, not so much at night. They come about every hour in the night, some nights I can wake enough to uncover to cool off, other nights I am fully awake by the time I realize the hot flash is coming.
I have had time to process running into my old boyfriend, although his words were hurtful, I was sure that I let it slide, but then I would find myself covering up my hair, putting make up on every morning...doing things that I thought would improve my look.
I decided to go to church last Sunday without a head scarf or wig, just to let it all hang out. (haha) I was surprised to find that people were really excited to see my hair and were really encouraging. So, slowly, I am beginning to embrace this new hair. I look like this:
Ok, maybe not. It's not this long or as white, but when I was out with friends this week from Kelowna I realized, hey, my hair looks a little like Dame Judi Dench! What girl wouldn't want to be M? (007 Reference.....)
So, today, without a hat in my bag, I went to my appointment, went to get groceries, and other than times when I need the heat--I am embracing this new hair thing....and to my old boyfriend, you are a former for a reason, thanks for reminding me why.
Friday, 5 October 2012
It's not like you are Shaun Cassidy.....
Ya, it's not like you are Shawn Cassidy...I think my heart would've skipped a beat if you were. I have to say this was my first reaction....to THE reaction....(PS I am kidding and for those of you who don't know who Shaun Cassidy is--he was the Justin Bieber of my generation....)
I have struggled in the past number of weeks with my appearance. I have known all along that my skin looks good for what I am going through, I have embraced the idea early on that I would be losing my hair, I understood that the medications could be bloating....I knew that these were all part of the process of cancer treatment.
People have been VERY gracious to me for the most part. Until...Tuesday.
Tuesday is 2-for-Tuesday at McGavin's here in town, so I ventured over there to stock up for a month or so...I went in and purchased a combination of rye bread, bagels, white bread, and english muffins. (Just because I wanna brag I got 20 items for $10)
I am in jeans, shirt and a sweater combo...I have maintained throughout this journey that I only wear "sweats" when I am at home and feeling terrible. Every other day, I made myself dress properly. I was wearing (on my head) a black doorag and a really cute scarf that Elise brought home from Cambodia for Melissa...I had no make up on....to me that is completely optional....
I pick up my first basket of bready goodness, turn, and WHAMO there he is. An ex-boyfriend.
He looked me up...then down...then let this "extra breath" kind of like he was disgusted with me and my appearance.
I was startled by this run in.
I went out to my car and realized he had parked almost beside me.
He then walked out of McGavins and went the exact opposite way of where I was heading...
I was a little shocked that he:
1. Didn't say hello.
2. He was rude.
3. He was rude.
I don't like my itty bitty new hair. I don't like my skin. I don't like the bloating, (I haven't gained any weight). It's amazing that this little interaction could make me feel so terrible....for a nanosecond.
You see, I learned a long time ago not to carry around the bricks that people throw at me....so for a second I was all like how dare you....then I thought, it's not like you are Shaun Cassidy....I mean, you look just as old as I do, you hadn't shaved, you look a little disheveled.....
There are lessons in all this: it doesn't matter what people think of me. And I don't need to care what you think. I really don't.
You see, I have a Father who tells me that I am beautiful and that I am valuable....despite my ideas of my appearance. I have a loving, wonderful husband who despite what I have looked like over the past year--adores me, he thinks I am beautiful, even straight out of bed in the morning....(when I had hair) hair all over the place.
I really want women to understand this: the worlds ideal of beauty is something that really doesn't matter and is nearly impossible to attain with out a great photoshop session...
So, I have learned to be comfortable in my own skin, with my lack of hair because I know whose I am. I have been chosen and set apart for great things.
24th Anniversary Night Out!
Wahooo! Time with Kent, just Kent and nothing but Kent. Ahhhhhh. I love it!
Kent took me to a restaurant for dinner called "The Reef" it's a Caribbean Restaurant with the most tasty food and excellent service. Andrew was our server and we will most definitely be back. I put a review on Google/Zagat while we were there. Absolutely a 4 star experience!
My love, my life. I am so thankful that I joined my future with him. I am uber blessed.
So, the gift. I had looked at a gift for Kent a number of weeks ago, ordered it and was hoping it would arrive in time for our celebration October 1st. It arrived on Friday, September 28th. So, I hid it. Because he is a loyal reader of my blog (Hi Kenty) I couldn't talk about his anniversary gift on here.
The gift I gave him is a book. It's not just an ordinary book but an amazing book! It is called, "Learning from Islam -- How to Live as a Christian"
Kent and I love the author and we highly recommend his writing to you who read this blog. His name is Kamal al-Kanady. He has a great view on Islam and Christianity. (as a student of Islam not a practioner of Islam).
We have been captivated by his speaking--he is an uber talented man.
For your enjoyment a quote from al-Kanady and an overview of the book. There are reviews online -- if you want one other than me...I haven't read the whole book--although I intend on devouring it!
"Trust is debating the Israel-Palestine conflict with a conservative Sunni barber holding a straight-razor to your throat." - Kamal al-Kanady
An immigrant white Christian businessman from Canada writes about his experiences in a majority Islamic country in the Middle East. He is a family man, a management consultant, and one of those scholarly types that reads history books for entertainment. He has been learning, not just Arabic and business, but learning from Islam about how he would like to live as a Christian. This book is a call to humility and inclusion in Christian-Muslim dialogue. There are more than a billion of each faith on the planet now, and the relationship between the world's two largest faiths is too important to be left to the minority of priests and imams to sort out. Regular everyday Muslims and Christians need to be building bridges, investing in understanding, and approaching each other with a humble orthodoxy. Perhaps we could start by simply inviting each other over for tea.
You can order the book here:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_19?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=learning+from+islam+how+to+live+as+a+christian&sprefix=learning+from+Islam%2Caps%2C287
Kent took me to a restaurant for dinner called "The Reef" it's a Caribbean Restaurant with the most tasty food and excellent service. Andrew was our server and we will most definitely be back. I put a review on Google/Zagat while we were there. Absolutely a 4 star experience!
My love, my life. I am so thankful that I joined my future with him. I am uber blessed.
So, the gift. I had looked at a gift for Kent a number of weeks ago, ordered it and was hoping it would arrive in time for our celebration October 1st. It arrived on Friday, September 28th. So, I hid it. Because he is a loyal reader of my blog (Hi Kenty) I couldn't talk about his anniversary gift on here.
The gift I gave him is a book. It's not just an ordinary book but an amazing book! It is called, "Learning from Islam -- How to Live as a Christian"
Kent and I love the author and we highly recommend his writing to you who read this blog. His name is Kamal al-Kanady. He has a great view on Islam and Christianity. (as a student of Islam not a practioner of Islam).
We have been captivated by his speaking--he is an uber talented man.
For your enjoyment a quote from al-Kanady and an overview of the book. There are reviews online -- if you want one other than me...I haven't read the whole book--although I intend on devouring it!
"Trust is debating the Israel-Palestine conflict with a conservative Sunni barber holding a straight-razor to your throat." - Kamal al-Kanady
An immigrant white Christian businessman from Canada writes about his experiences in a majority Islamic country in the Middle East. He is a family man, a management consultant, and one of those scholarly types that reads history books for entertainment. He has been learning, not just Arabic and business, but learning from Islam about how he would like to live as a Christian. This book is a call to humility and inclusion in Christian-Muslim dialogue. There are more than a billion of each faith on the planet now, and the relationship between the world's two largest faiths is too important to be left to the minority of priests and imams to sort out. Regular everyday Muslims and Christians need to be building bridges, investing in understanding, and approaching each other with a humble orthodoxy. Perhaps we could start by simply inviting each other over for tea.
You can order the book here:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_19?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=learning+from+islam+how+to+live+as+a+christian&sprefix=learning+from+Islam%2Caps%2C287
Monday, 1 October 2012
Happy Anniversary
Kent and I are celebrating our 24th wedding anniversary today. What a grand accomplishment -- in a world where marriages are short lived and expendable.
And yes, I am patting myself (and Kent's self) on the back.
We are headed out for dinner tonight (I don't know where) I feel so fortunate that I don't have too cook tonight. That could totally be Kent's anniversary gift to me. Sweet.
You know that you know someone when you buy an anniversary gift for him 2 weeks before your anniversary--then not a week ago, (foggy chemo brain---it could have been a couple days ago....) He discovers this item online. And telling by his reaction...he wants it.
Ahhhh. The joy I will get seeing him discover what I have given to him. I will post it tomorrow, with a link on how you, too, could own this special thing-y.
My love language is gift giving -- can you tell?
Tonight, we put into place something we have yearned for--for some time. We are planning a trip. We don't know where, all I know is it has to include something I once dreamed.
When I was starting this journey a new friend Donna said, you need to buy a prezzie. So, I aimed low. Kent, Donna and others said, AIM HIGHER!
So I did.
I was at home, I hadn't yet been diagnosed--they thought I had a malignant melanoma under the skin....much more scary than the lymphoma. I closed my eyes and thought, what would ear-mark this journey. My immediate response was my other love language. Quality time with Kent. I saw a picture. I saw myself under an umbrella, with a broad rimmed hat. I was reading an e-reader. Beyond my feet I could see Kent in the blue ocean water: snorkeling.
That is my prezzie. Kent and I just need to decide when and where. So, the brain storming will start tonight!
And yes, I am patting myself (and Kent's self) on the back.
We are headed out for dinner tonight (I don't know where) I feel so fortunate that I don't have too cook tonight. That could totally be Kent's anniversary gift to me. Sweet.
You know that you know someone when you buy an anniversary gift for him 2 weeks before your anniversary--then not a week ago, (foggy chemo brain---it could have been a couple days ago....) He discovers this item online. And telling by his reaction...he wants it.
Ahhhh. The joy I will get seeing him discover what I have given to him. I will post it tomorrow, with a link on how you, too, could own this special thing-y.
My love language is gift giving -- can you tell?
Tonight, we put into place something we have yearned for--for some time. We are planning a trip. We don't know where, all I know is it has to include something I once dreamed.
When I was starting this journey a new friend Donna said, you need to buy a prezzie. So, I aimed low. Kent, Donna and others said, AIM HIGHER!
So I did.
I was at home, I hadn't yet been diagnosed--they thought I had a malignant melanoma under the skin....much more scary than the lymphoma. I closed my eyes and thought, what would ear-mark this journey. My immediate response was my other love language. Quality time with Kent. I saw a picture. I saw myself under an umbrella, with a broad rimmed hat. I was reading an e-reader. Beyond my feet I could see Kent in the blue ocean water: snorkeling.
That is my prezzie. Kent and I just need to decide when and where. So, the brain storming will start tonight!
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