So, I've never really spent much time gardening. I don't think it's because I don't like it. I think it was just that I never really had a place of my own to do it.

Yesterday I spent a little bit of time out in the front yard weeding. I loved it.

I loved being outside. I haven't spent much time outside since... fall??? I loved the sun, warm on my skin and the breeze that cooled me down. I loved the feel of all the dirt and grass in between my fingers. I loved the quiet, gentle sounds of the outdoors - the occassional bird chirp, the soft whirr of cars driving by, the buzz of the bee that's made it's home in our front yard.

I loved doing something where I could SEE change. I loved that I could see that I had been productive when I said, "I'm done for now." I loved that there was something I wanted to do and I could actually accomplish it and know that I had done it.

I loved exerting physical energy in a productive way. I haven't really been keeping up with exercising -- at all. I need to get back to a regular routine. But, spending time pulling weeds... I loved "working my arms" and "doing squats" ... and actually having some "external" results for the effort!!

Ok, so we'll see if I find myself out in the garden again. Maybe I loved it so much just because it was a good stress reliever. Maybe I loved it so much only because I didn't spend too long doing it. Heheheheh.

We'll see. I have always loooovvveeed being outside and flowers... so who knows, maybe I have discovered a new love.

1 - as much as I THOUGHT I was pretty good at learning and using names, I really have to improve in this area!

Being in the hospital there are at least 4 different individuals each day who work specifically with my mom. I'm not doing well this week at remembering and using each of their names... HORRIBLE!!!!

2 - I really do enjoy American Idol.

This was the first season that I watched American Idol. I liked it! So much so that I downloaded some songs from iTunes and yes, I even voted a couple of times during the season!

3 - I tend to over-prepare for things sometimes and end up doing things unnecessarily.

Today, I noticed our new neighbor came in and switched on the TV and started watching TV.
"Hmmmm..." I thought to myself. "How are they watching? They didn't call to subscribe."
So later on I turned on TV and hit the "Basic Channels" button on the menu. And... what??? There were all these channels coming in crystal clear.

Last time my mom was in the hospital the TV in the room required an $8/day subscription to get even basic network TV channels. So, in preparation for this week's stay, I packed up our little travel TV and DVD player. When we arrived I set it all up and maneuvered the antenna to get FOX in clearly.
UNNECESSARY. I didn't need to do it. Oh to learn the balance.

4 - I miss work.

I left Orlando last July. Since then my work assignment has been preparing to go overseas -- training and developing a ministry team. Since the end of March -- I've not really done too much of those things either. I've mostly been focusing on caring for my mother. (Which has been a HUUUUGGGEEE blessing!!) But, I've been feeling it lately... I miss being involved in the work of Bible translation. Please continue to pray for me during this time -- for God's wisdom, discernment and timing as to what my next steps are in regards to my work. And, for patience and trust.

5 - I think Jack Black is funny.

For those of you who didn't see... they did a fun segment on American Idol with Gladys Knight and the "Pips" (Jack Black, Ben Stiller, Robert Downey, Jr. -- they're in a movie together this summer). Jack Black just makes me laugh :)

6 - My parents surprise me sometimes.

Like tonight... my dad and his brother (visiting from the Philippines) are going to watch the midnight showing of Indiana Jones. My dad... the man who usually naps during Wheel of Fortune or some prime time TV show!
And my mom... while I was trying to spit out the name of the person on the American Idol, she beat me to it. What's surprising is that the guy was... Jack Black! I didn't even know she knew him. Hee-hee!
It's been fun seeing in my parents little, fun, random, sweet surprises like these.

even while we were in the hospital last month!
Honestly, sometimes it was hard to remember that.
(How very ego-centric, I know!)

When my mom was diagnosed and soon-after treated for her leukemia, that was the same time that I was planning to get ready to leave for Manila. If things hadn't been as they were... I probably would have applied quickly for my visa, bought plane tickets, packed and had flown over to make my new home in Manila.

I was excited as I anticipated moving to Manila in late March / early April as there were 2 big events that were taking place around that time. A Scripture Dedication was being held in the Philippines and a conference was going to be held in Asia as well.

When my mom was diagnosed, there was no doubt in my mind or heart that plans would be put on hold and that I'd have to decline my involvement in those two events. I KNEW that being with my mom and my family at this time was where I needed to be. And God gave me such peace and assurance in that decision.

Even though I knew this... it was still sad to miss these things.

I missed seeing people celebrate having God's Word in their language. I missed seeing people from here in the States witness the joy and impact that comes with God's Word in the heart language. I missed seeing friends experience Filipino culture first-hand. I missed the rush and the adrenaline of working events like these and participating in all the fun production aspects. I missed working alongside friends I haven't worked with in a while (almost a year!). I missed exploring Asia with good friends. I missed seeing and experiencing God through those experiences and people.

Life continued. Of course.

But for all those things I missed... I would not have ever chosen to have missed out on God's blessing of being with my family during this time. I wouldn't have ever chosen to have missed out on experiencing and seeing God during this difficult time -- through my family, my friends, His Word, His Spirit and His presence.

Life continued. Sometimes different from how we expect it. Of course. But grateful that as life continues... so does He.

BTW: My friends Ruth and Heather were in Asia during the past month. Check out their blog archives from that month to read about their experiences!!

My mom is starting her first round of the consolidation therapy tonight. She'll be in for the week and hopefully will be able to go home sometime on Sunday.

I'm staying with her again -- to keep her company and be around in case she needs anything. Unfortunately, (I never learn...QTIPS CAN BE HARMFUL TO YOUR HEALTH!!) I got an ear infection that started sometime last week. I'm on antibiotics and have drops and I THINK it's getting better. It's just not comfortable -- at all. Pray that all the pain would go away and that it will be all well again!! I want to be of help to my mom during this time -- pray that my body would let me :) Thankfully... there's a lot of downtime in the hospital so I should get plenty of rest this week. Pray for us ... (my dad too!) that we have His strength, rest, renewed health ... and that my mom's treatment goes well.

So... we obviously didn't plan the timing of this stay well at all. Tomorrow night is the finals of Dancing with the Stars AND American Idol. As long as we can watch American Idol, I'll be fine. There's a family waiting room on this floor that I guess I'll have to take control over tomorrow to guarantee that the channel will be set to Fox :)

We brought my mom to the doctor yesterday to review her recent test results and discuss the course of follow-up treatment. While we're still waiting for confirmation from the doctor, it looks like we can anticipate going to the hospital for one week at a time for the next 4 months or so.

In a way I'm relieved... to know what will happen next and to know that more can be done to make sure the leukemia stays away.

It's also a little bit exhausting to think about. The constant prepping to go to the hospital and coming back, trips to the doctors office, careful watch and care at home during recovery times, and then back to the hospital again.

Thinking about the next 4 months or so it seems like it's just going to go by in a whirl.

As my friend had shared with me... learning to living with cancer.

Pray that I'd be intentional about "living life" during this time - keeping up with phone calls, email, work, spending time in the Word, resting, having "me" time, etc. Pray for wisdom for me in determining plans for my work with Wycliffe. Pray for my mom and what this cycle means for her physically, emotionally and psychologically.

It was a nice day out today. Took a quick walk with my parents after dinner. Nice, quiet, restful moments... thank you, Lord!

This song has been playing over and over again in my mind. I just can't seem to shake it... "Back to life. Back to reality. Back to the ... ... "

Okay, I don't remember the rest of the lyrics, so it's basically just those two lines I've had in my head!

I guess those lyrics have been on my mind lately because that's how I feel. It has been over a month (45 days) since my mom was initially diagnosed with leukemia and we began this crazy roller coaster of a ride. (You can read about that journey on the blog Love and Prayers.)

God has worked in such powerful ways during this time. He has provided over and over again. He has shown us His healing power. He has extended so much grace and love to us through so many. He has given His peace and His comfort. His Word has spoken His Promises and Truth to us. He has been with us.

My mom went through agressive chemo treatment that had her in the hospital from March 28th until April 24th. During that time she went through it all with such grace and strength. God was at work. The doctor discharged her and said that everything during the chemo and recovery went "great." PRAISE GOD!!!

She was discharged the evening of April 24th and told to "live a normal life." We've now been home for two weeks and it's like we're "back to life..."
For about a month I felt like I was living this sheltered existence in the hospital. Pretty much everything was focused on my mom and leukemia -- as I think it should have been. But now that we're home... it's been an adjustment.

I think we're all still settling back in to day-to-day life. For me, it's been a challenge because in a way I hadn't really been home since the beginning of March. So I'm trying to piece back where I left things off and figure out where I need to pick things back up. I need to make phone calls to get back in touch with friends I haven't talked to in weeks! I need to write emails and catch up on the overflowing inbox I've unfortunately neglected during this time! I need to file papers that have stacked up.

"Back to life. Back to reality."

And in the midst of all the things to do, there is the new reality...my mom has leukemia. A friend of mind whose father has cancer reminded me that it really is learning to "live with cancer." Ah... a lesson I'm learning.

Would you pray about that for me? Pray that I'd know how to live life in this new reality? Pray that I'd take time to rest and relax -- and not worry and hover over my mom. Pray that I'd cling to God and His Word - not fear and the unknown. Pray that I'd have God's wisdom to discern what I need to do next in regards to my work with Wycliffe...and when. Pray that I'd have the faith and trust to GO when and where He tells me to go.

On Monday, we go back to the hospital to meet with my mom's doctor. Hopefully we'll learn what happens next for her treatment. Usually with the type of leukemia my mom has, there is follow-up treatment that takes place - consolidation therapy. It would mean about a week in the hospital for chemotherapy and a few days at home for recovery. That would happen about once a month for 3-4 months.

Pray for wisdom for the doctors as they determine what treatment my mom should have. Pray for wisdom and grace for my mom (and us) as we continue to learn what it means to live with cancer. Pray for God's continued healing power - that the leukemia would be destroyed and NOT return. Pray we continue to depend and trust on Him.

Hahahahaha!

So, we rented the movie P.S. I Love You which I surprisingly liked - a lot! As the movie started and the opening credits ran my dad was reading out loud the names of the actors and actresses that were flashing up on the screen.

Then in a tone that had a tinge of shock and surprise he says, "Kathy Bates ... oh, she still scares me!"

Hahahahahaha!!!

For those of you who remember the movie, Misery, Kathy Bates is probably forever tainted in my dad's memory by this scene.

This is going to be the month of movies.

The other day I walked into Blockbuster with two new releases in my hands. The friendly Blockbuster guy asked if I was interested in signing up for their movie pass (for about $30 I can take out two movies at a time -- unlimited for a month).

I asked if I could sign up for just a month and quit. Another friendly Blockbuster guy said "Yes" and he would even cancel it for me when it was time. (Yeah, we'll see about that.) Since I already had the two movies in hand and knew that I'd want to rent again this month I said "Sure." In my mind I had it planned... I'm going to beat out Blockbuster. So for this month I plan to rent as many movies as I can. Hahahahah!!

What makes this plan work is two things. One - we literally live right up the hill from the Blockbuster in town. And, two - since we're just back from the hospital after being "gone" for over a month, I'm doing a lot of projects at home. Cleaning, organizing files, laundry, etc. It's the perfect time for May Month of Movies!

So far this week I've rented...

• Dan in Real Life
• 27 Dresses
• Jane Austen Book Club
• The Savages
• Lars and the Real Girl
• I am Legend
• Spiderman 3
• Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married?
• Year of the Dog
• Over Her Dead Body
• Saawariya - (LOVED it!)
• Sydney White
• Hairspray
• The Spice Mistress - (bleh)
• P.S. I Love You
• Resurrecting the Champ

Any movies you'd recommend renting??