Forgive my absence, I know some of you faithfully come and read this blog. I have a reason for not writing in a while. Many of you may recognize the name "Juli" from the "Shout Out" section on this blog. We have been next door neighbors since we moved here 3 1/2 years ago. Initally we didn't know each other well but since have become the best of friends (along with another, our dear friend Shara). Juli found a lump in her breast early fall and had a mammogram and ultrasound on November 9th. The last appt I had with my oncologist was November 9th. Our appointments overlapped. On November 17th we found out her lump is cancerous. Besides Mike and both our moms, Juli has seen the most of my journey. She saw my darkest days. She has prayed, cooked, driven and cared for my family. So this is why I have not written in a while. I have been struggling with words to write and say. I am in the midst of writing another blog entry with more, it will be titled "On the Other Side of the Fence" it is my attempt at Ann Voskamp's beautiful style of writing. I hope you like it when I post it. What I Know God is good 20 days til Christmas...who's excited?! I see my radiologist Dr. Speirs Thursday for my 6 week follow up Juli's blog is https://nothingromans8.wordpress.com/ you are able to "follow" her by clicking a link and entering your email on the bottom right hand corner of the website. Don't buy the white chocolate covered peppermint pretzels from Costco unless you have a party of people to share them with #youlleatthewholebag What Made Today Normal I filled the van tires with air Praises My skin looks and feels almost normal since finishing radiation The rainbow below was over both Juli's and my house on November 25th Prayer Requests Continued prayer for my transition out of treatment. Juli's diagnosis initially felt like I got diagnosed all over again. Pray for strength for me to be there for her as much as she has been for me. Shout Out To all of you who read this blog and pray for us continually, we are forever grateful. Aloha Much aloha~Nikki
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In the movie, "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas" the mean ol Grinch steals all of the Who's gifts, decorations and food. He thinks he is going to take their joy also. However the Whos still celebrate without any of the stuff. In an effort to follow in the mini footsteps of the Whos I share some thoughts on celebrating Christmas with less stuff. I've made a list of what people typically "have" to do for the Christmas season...
Gifts: shopping, wrapping, mailing, DIY gifts and stockings Shopping: gifts and food (a lot of both) Cooking: 2-3 large meal prep, shopping, preparing and cooking (and cleaning after) Baking: Cookies exchanges, homemade gifts, meal donations etc. Decorating: tree, inside home, outside the house (lights/lawn) Christmas cards: design, order, stuff and mail Parties: work, school, church parties and party prep (i.e. outfits, nails, hair etc). Activities: visiting light displays, concerts/plays, school activities, parties and large meals Travel: planning, tickets, packing, driving/flying This by no means is a comprehensive list. I wrote this out to visually see what the prep looks like. Mike and I have talked a lot about this and so I offer some suggestions below. So much of what we want, what society tells us we need, we don't need at all. We want you to see what we have learned this year, that life matters. Time together matters. People matter. Stuff and busyness don't matter. Suggestions: If you look at the list above and overlap it with your regular calendar for the month something is going to have to give. The idea that all of the above can seamlessly fit in with all of your other obligations is not realistic. Decide with your family what is really important to them. You don't have to do the same activities and meals every year. Pick some of your favorite activities and be ok with skipping others (even if it means you don't send a Christmas card). Gifts: Mike's idea starting this year is that the kids get 3 gifts each. Why? Because Jesus got 3 gifts. This year we did a toy, outfit and book. Kids don't need a lot of presents. They need you. Other ideas is to give them gift cards but plan a date to go and spend it with them. Give season passes to zoos, museums, and other experiences that they can enjoy all year. For groups of adults draw names, go out to a nice kid-less meal instead of giving gifts, and "go in" as a group to buy larger ticket items for people instead of lots of smaller gifts. Wrapping: I try and wrap gifts the day I buy them so it doesn't get backed up. This year I am skipping the bows and ribbon. I also plan to teach Allie to wrap this year (and be ok with how it turns out) so I don't have to do all of it. Meals: Christmas Eve, Christmas breakfast, Christmas dinner...ask your family which of these meal is the most important. Spend the most time on that one. BLTs and take out are beautiful things. Another idea is to make side dishes, desserts, breakfast items days earlier and freeze them (it's also ok to use paper plates sometimes). My hope for this post was to challenge you to think outside your Christmas box. How can you decrease your stress this Christmas? Do less. Read your Bible, pray, take care of yourself. Be ok with not getting things done. I'd love to hear some of you ideas on this topic. Let's be like the Whos in Whoville and love Christmas because just because it's Christmas. Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I made a list of things I am thankful for today...obviously I could not write everything but this is what came to mind today. God Bless you, Happy Thanksgiving! Health:I am thankful that I only had one cold this year. I never got food poisoning or the stomach flu. I also had no major infections. I was not hospitalized and never had to go to the ER. Family: I am thankful for Mike, Allie and Daniel. I am thankful for my parents, in-laws and our siblings and their spouses. Many of you came out multiple times this year and I am so thankful. Friends: I have had countless friends near and far pray over me this year. I also have an army of friends here in Hawaii caring for us. Meals, childcare, carpool, laundry, encouragement and prayers. I would have not been able to heal the way I have without you. Thank you. Finances: I am grateful for Mike's job and the provision we have had. Our insurance is so good that we have had to pay very little this year in medical bills. We have been blessed this year because finances have not been an additional stress during my diagnosis and treatment. I am also thankful for his command and their devotion to us this year. Medical Professionals: I am thankful for Dr. Clark, Dr. Peterson, Dr. Berenberg and Dr. Speirs for their treatment and guidance this year. I am thankful for nurses Jacqui, Cindy, Abby and Josh at the chemo clinic at Tripler Army Hospital. I am thankful to all the pharmacists, laboratory techs, nurse aids, and the radiation technicians at Cancer Center of Hawaii. Food: Tea and dark chocolate. Enough said. Rainbows: God really gave me a gift this year. This came in the form of literal and symbolic rainbows. He really spoke to me through rainbows and it allowed all of you to connect with me. I have been sent rainbows from around the world. This blog: This blog started out as a way to get information to a lot of people. It has become so much more than that. It has become a way to reach people all over the world. It has been a way to spread God's love, and also a way of feeling God's love. I am thankful for you reading so faithfully. Today: Lastly, I am thankful for today and that I am healthy and strong enough to cook our Thanksgiving dinner. If you had told me in May I'd be able to make Thanksgiving dinner I probably wouldn't have believed you. I am so grateful for my healing and health. Happy Thanksgiving! I have been meaning to tell you my sad tale. You may remember when I finished chemo I left with a ceiling tile to paint and return. Many chemo patients do this at my clinic, as a way to leave their mark and say thank you to the doctors and nurses. Well, I procrastinated most of radiation and came home one day to find that the tile had fallen over in the hallway and broken in half. This led me to procrastinate even more. Finally after radiation we made it to the hardware store and bought another tile. We trimmed it because it was bigger than the original. I set to work a week ago and rainbow-ed my tile and then painted Isaiah 40: 31 on it. I made sure to finish because I knew I was going back to the clinic. After my appointment Josh, my nurse, found a ladder and I picked out the spot. He took out the tile and put mine in...but it didn't fit. It seems like the original tile was the wrong size so when we trimmed the new one it made it too narrow. So now I have a new blank tile plus the one that doesn't fit (plus the one that's in two pieces). So now have to paint another tile. Which is ok. After painting this one I was disappointed how small my "thank you" portion came out. Mike says it's just a sign that God wants me to go back to the clinic. So the saga continues... Tomorrow is my birthday. As my 36th birthday has gotten closer I don't know if I have ever been so glad to see my birthday. You see, my birthday gift this year is: my birthday. Growing older is a blessing. Proverbs 16:31 Gray hair is a crown of glory;it is obtained by following a righteous path.
Every birthday is also an opportunity for: Sharing the love of Christ Spending quality time with your spouse, children, parents, siblings, grandchildren and framily (friends that are like family) #ijustmadeupaword Blessing others with your time, talents, resources and money To forgive one another To reconcile relationships To learn new things Often when we get older we complain about our bodies 'wasting away' 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 16 Therefore we do not lose heart. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen, for what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. Getting old may seem like a pain. Sometimes it comes in the form of literal pain whether physical or emotional. So we have to fix our eyes on the unseen, the eternal. I am trying to do both. If you want to get me something for my birthday here is my list... Pray for others Meditate and read God's word Reconcile a relationship and or forgive someone (s) Don't hold grudges Evaluate needs vs. wants Work less, buy less. Give more. Swap a screen for a book, walk, hand written note, phone call etc. God may be calling you to radical life change. Consider it. Stop comparing youself to others and see yourself how God sees you Stop judging others and see them how God sees them. Do something you have always wanted to do but haven't Time is a gift my friends. Don't dread your birthday. Celebrate it. Celebrate the time God has given you. Every birthday I have from now on will be a reminder of what God has done. More rainbows...and of course some cake. Luke 17:11-19 English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus Cleanses Ten Lepers 11 On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee.12 And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers,[a] who stood at a distance13 and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” 14 When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16 and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”[b] For November I have started what I like to call the "Gratitude Campaign." I referenced the above scripture on the night before my last chemo. This where I got the idea for the Gratitude Campagin. 10 men were healed and yet only one turned back. I want to be the one. I want to be the one turning back, praising God and falling on my face in thanksgiving. As I look back on this year; 30 days of thanksgiving will hardly scratch the surface. Nevertheless I am doing it anyway. You are invited to join me at anytime. Every day this month I will post a picture on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/mylifeabundantly/ of something that I am thankful for. If you would like email updates for this sign up at https://nikknacks.wufoo.com/forms/r1j27cuu0yw5enb/ (no need to sign up again if you signed up for PRAYdiation). Life is hard, and sometimes this world feels like it is falling apart. God is still good. There is always something to be thankful for. Especially the little things. A sunrise, cup of tea, dinner with friends, baby giggles and of course rainbows. So I hope you join me. Whether you choose to post on social media or not, pull out your calendar and write down something each day this month to thank the Lord for. You never know how He will lead you. I leave you with this verse: 1 Thess 5:16-18 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Amen! I am at a loss for writing today friends. God is so good. I woke really early and prayed before it was light. As we were leaving for radiation it was clear I was being delayed on purpose. As I looked in the rear view mirror I see a white limo pulling up. As I lean into the limo, it is filled with my closest friends here on island. Such a gift. Such a blessing. I am so thankful for God bringing me to this day, and for the journey. Thank you to all of you who have supported us these last 10 months. You are my rainbow makers.
What I Know God is good 54 days til Christmas We put up our Christmas tree #yesimserious What I Don't Know What I will do at 12:20am tomorrow What Made Today Normal Daniel fell asleep on the way to radiation You're Invited -You are invited to our "Yea Jesus" party on November 4th at 1:00pm on Kailua Beach (behind Kalapawai Market where the kite surfers launch). -I have started a project for November on Instagram. Each day this month I am posting something I am thankful for. I would love for you to join me. You can find me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/mylifeabundantly/ If you would like email updates for this sign up at https://nikknacks.wufoo.com/forms/r1j27cuu0yw5enb/ if you signed up for PRAYdiation then you don't have to sign up again. Praises the Lord has brought us through 10 months to get to today Limo ride to radiation Surprise arrival of friend Erin Prayer Requests -red/irritated/itchy skin -prayers for my transition out of treatments Shout Out Erin for surprise visit today Ashley Wolfe for organizing limo ride today. To Juli, Shara, Rachel, Sheila, Laura, Ashley Worrel, Emily and Danielle for taking me to my last treatment. Thank you to Adam for manning the kid front today. Thank you to Kristi, Sara, JJ and David Balstad for watching the 30 children of the above mentioned ladies. Aloha Much aloha~Nikki Happy Halloween everyone! This year for Halloween we have Moana and Charlie Brown, and our Cabbage Patch baby. This morning we had ghosts and spiders for breakfast. Tomorrow's a pretty big day around here...stay tuned... Today was the first day of my "boost." This is the type of radiation that treats the area of and around where the tumor was. The remaining 4 treatments will be this way also. Up until today all the tissue from my chest bone to armpit was being treated. The nurse was chanting for me today, "4 more left! 4 more left!" This time next week my treatments will be over. God is so faithful! Amen?
What I Know God is good 60 days til Christmas You are invited to our "Yea Jesus" party on November 4th (celebrating the end of treatments) I need a haircut Our inner Dodger fan has come alive this week I am planning a November project for all of us #gratitudecampaign What Made Today Normal color changing straws are all the rage in our house Praises 4 radiation treatments left Laura and Lucy are here muscle aches have improved the weather is cooler #amen Prayer Requests -red/irritated/itchy skin -prayers against any more side effects from radiation -prayers for my transition out of treatments as it has been almost 10 months Shout Out Laura for childcare this week Bridget and Hu family for meals this week Lea M for pinkalicious care packages Aloha Much aloha~Nikki |
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