Thank You!

11/20/2008 12:10:00 PM | 2 comments »

Thank you all for your prayers!
And, thank the Lord for the comfort, strength, hope, peace and HEALING that He brings.

We received GREAT news at the doctor's office today!

The doctor and nurse who checked on my mom today said that the bone marrow is CLEAN. There is NO EVIDENCE of leukemia. In fact they said that it looks like the bone marrow is in good working condition, it's producing the cells that it should be, and in looking at the bone marrow... you can't tell what my mom has gone through in the past several months and that she had leukemia!! Amazing! God works in incredible ways.

As you can imagine... we are sooo thankful!

The low numbers that my mom has had in the last few blood tests may indicate that her "normal" blood levels have plateaud at levels a bit lower than those of average women. BUT, where they have been landing are still okay. She still has all the blood cells to function normally (she can fight infections, etc.).

The doctor said that the body is smart and that it already produces far above the numbers that we actually need. So it is basically able to compensate for itself. When I think about all the medical "mysteries" that make things work... it amazes me. We ARE His workmanship... His Creation.

It also is a challenge to me. TRUST HIM. We are His. And, He is GOOD.

So... thank you for your continued prayers.
And, praise God with us for His continued presence with us in this journey, His healing strength, His peace, His comfort and His faithfulness.

I've been focusing on Psalm 71 over the last week. This portion has been standing out to me as I've been reading it. Today especially.

You who have shown me many troubles and distresses
Will revive me again,
And will bring me up again from the depths of the earth.
May You increase my greatness
And turn to comfort me.
I will also praise You with a harp,
Even Your truth, O my God;
To You I will sing praises with the lyre,
O Holy One of Israel.

Psalm 71: 20-22

I thank God that He fulfills His promises in His Word.

But as for me, I will hope continually,
And will praise You yet more and more.

Psalm 71:14

Please continue to pray...

11/19/2008 08:00:00 AM | 1 comments »

Tomorrow morning my mom is scheduled for her regular appointment with Dr. Loren (her oncologist). We'll be taking an early morning trip to Penn Tower.

Last week she had a bone marrow biopsy. Because her regular blood tests for the last few weeks showed that her numbers weren't really going up (and her platelets actually were decreasing) they wanted to do a bone marrow biopsy to check early if there's anything going on -- is there a re-appearance of leukemia cells.

Tomorrow morning we're expecting to hear the results of the test.

This past week her blood test showed an increase in her platelets. Praise God! We're hoping that's a good indicator that maybe her bone marrow is still just tired and taking a while to fully recover and produce all the good blood cells.

Please pray with us that the blood test she gets tomorrow AND the results of the bone marrow test taken last week confirm that she is still on the path of recovery and continues to be clean of leukemia.

Pray also pray that we continue to have the peace that comes from Him alone. That He would continue to be our Source and Strength.

I've been feeling pretty anxious -- wondering, worrying about if IT (...leukemia) might come back. I've been trying to remember and obey scripture... "Be anxious for nothing..." "Who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?"

It's hard to "make" myself not worry. Some thought or question comes into my mind and I think, "Don't worry about it." It usually just makes me think about it more and worry about it more.

But, I'm realizing something and trying to put it into practice. These passages along with the words "don't worry" also gives other directives. These passages remind me... "pray," "ask," "give thanks," "remember," "observe," "seek Him," and so on.

I know. You're probably thinking, "Duh."

But I've needed this reminder. I'm always quick to worry. I'm always quick to be anxious. I'm not always quick to do these things.

I'm learning.
I'm practicing.

Maybe one day these will be more evident marks of my life rather than worry and anxiety.

What a mistake...

11/13/2008 04:21:00 AM | 0 comments »

staying up until 3 am!

I couldn't fall asleep. After finally falling asleep I didn't wake up until 1 pm this afternoon. And, that was with my mom checking in on me. :)

Had quite a conversation with God as I was trying hard to finally fall asleep.

The gist of my side of the conversation was...
God, I need to know that you are in control.
God, I need to know that you and your works are good.
God, I need faith.
God, I need to believe.
God, I need YOU.

Going to try hard to get to sleep at a normal time and readjust to EST.
Haven't been feeling too well since returning
(I was sitting next to two coughing and sniffling passengers all the way from Nagoya to Detroit. Hmmm.).
Today I've been sneezing non-stop.
Hopefully the nighttime cold/flu tablets I took will help with that and my sleep. :)

Back posts.

11/12/2008 04:00:00 PM | 0 comments »

Still awake.
It's 3:00 AM.
I guess that means I've not yet adjusted to the time difference.

Just wanted to let you know... I'll be putting up some "Back Posts" throughout the week. I've started with some quick entries. More about the actual meetings and Manila still to come. :)

With my dance partner in hand, I danced until dark.
Together we swept up the dance floor to the tunes of Michael Buble, Nickel Creek and the Enchanted Soundtrack.

Okay... my dance partner was a rake that ripped the skin off my pinky, and the dance floor was our backyard that has waayyy too many trees.

I was determined to NOT take a 3 hour nap like I did yesterday. I tried to do some thinking/on-the-computer work, but it just wasn't helping. So, I thought some yard work would help. It did.

I think I've now re-adjusted to the time difference. I THINK. But, if that's true, why am I still awake?

NOTE: the fact that our neighbor did his lawn in less than an hour on his riding mower doesn't bother me at all. No, not at all. :)

Home. Now Headed to HUP.

11/10/2008 07:25:00 PM | 1 comments »

Ah.

I arrived in Philly around 3:30 PM EST yesterday afternoon.
Thankfully, I was able to sleep easily through the night.
I hope that means I'll adjust to the 13 hour time difference with no problem. :)

I would have slept more, but it's almost time to leave for Philly.
I'm going with my mom and dad to Penn Tower at HUP (Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania) today. My mom is scheduled for blood work and a bone marrow biopsy this morning.

Please pray with us that the blood work indicates her bone marrow is recovered and working well and for a bone marrow biopsy clean of leukemia. THANKS!!

I'll post more on the trip later. :)

Some Airports...

11/10/2008 09:00:00 AM | | 0 comments »

are just better than others.

My trip to and from Manila had me in 6 different airports. And really, some airports are WAY better than other airports.

I got to travel through...

  • PHL - Philadelphia Int'l
  • MSP - Minneapolis/St. Paul Int'l
  • NRT - Tokyo-Narita, Japan
  • NGO - Nagoya, Japan
  • DTW - Detroit-Wayne County Int'l
  • MNL - Manila Int'l, Philippines
Just a few things I've noticed that make for a really good airport experience for me...
  • bathrooms with doors that swing OUT from the stall
  • friendly, helpful airport staff
  • those lovely ground staff folks pointing me to my next flight (airports in Japan are always GREAT at this!!!)
  • food options. Always nice when there's something I can grab to eat near my gate.
  • walking sidewalks
  • free wireless
You'll notice that all the airports I traveled through are big ones. I don't think I'll find walking sidewalks in small airports in the middle of nowhere. I'm going to have to learn to adjust expectations, won't I? :)

The airports in Japan always seem so clean and organized. Probably my least favorite airport (although they are making improvements) is the one closest to my home. But, I'm always glad when I get there. Home sweet home. Sigh. :)

I was so stiff from sitting for most of the flight to Detroit that I opted to walk to my gate. But check out DTW with its cool Express Tram.

Any favorite airports out there? Any airport tips to share?

Food Frenzy

11/08/2008 12:04:00 PM | 0 comments »

I enjoyed my fair share of food over the last week.
Okay, honestly... I overdid it.

It all started on the trip out to Manila.

In 1999 I traveled with my grandmother and aunt to Manila for the very first time. It was very important that my grandmother, a dialysis and diabetes patient, ate regularly. During our flight it seemed that our eating schedule got all out of whack. It felt like forrrrevvverrr before any food was offered to us. With my best "please help me face," I asked the flight attendant if I could please have a few extra crackers for my grandmother. She very kindly gave me two whole handfuls of crackers and snacks for her. It was a very "Tiny Tim" moment.

Well, ever since that time whenever I'm on an international flight, I feel this need to eat... whenever food is offered to me. In my mind, there is this unknown... When will there be food again? (as if it would be for days, weeks, years?) It's so bad that if you don't see me eat the food right then... check my bag, I've likely stashed it away "just in case."

Unfortunately, during this trip that mentality didn't stop when I stepped off the plane. Throughout the week of meetings we've been offered breakfast, snack, lunch, snack ... and as if I was storing away for winter, I've accepted each offering happily. The food at our meeting location has been DELICIOUS. And, for some of our "on our own" dinners I've been able to order some tasty Filipino dishes.

This was our morning SNACK one day.













Yes, I said SNACK.
And yes, I finished it.

Sigh. I think I should go out for a walk ... a looonnnnggg walk with loooootttsss of hills.


Hope Now

11/07/2008 11:15:00 AM | 0 comments »

This morning I was able to chat online with my mom via Skype.
She shared with me that she'll need to get a bone marrow test on Monday.
For the last couple of weeks her numbers haven't been increasing as the doctors have wanted. So, this wasn't really a big surprise. But still.

After chatting with my mom I sat outside to enjoy the morning and the view before our meetings began for the day. As I was sitting there I suddenly got overwhelmed. So many thoughts and questions started bouncing around my head.

Here I am in the Philippines and my parents are on the other side of the world. Here I am...in the country where I am supposed to relocate in a few months. What if the test shows there's leukemia again?? Then what? How's my mom? Will she be okay? Why are her levels down? Lord, it's been going so well, why hasn't she fully recovered yet?

As this endless list of questions and thoughts continued to fill my mind the lyrics of a song came to my mind.
"How quickly I forget, I'm yours. I'm not my own. I've been carried by You, all my life."

I had my iPod with me and I was glad the song, Hope Now, was on one of my playlists.

The words reminded me again... HOPE.

"Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him." - Psalm 62:5

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible." - Hebrews 11:1-3





Hope Now - Addison Road

If everything comes down to love
Then just what am I afraid of
When I call out Your name
Something inside awakes in my soul
How quickly I forget I’m Yours

I’m not my own
I’ve been carried by You
All my life

Everything rides on hope now
Everything rides on faith somehow
When the world has broken me down
Your love sets me free

When my life is like a storm
Rising waters all I want is the shore
You say I’ll be okay and
Make it through the rain
You are my shelter from the storm

I’m not my own
I’ve been carried by You
All my life

Everything rides on hope now
Everything rides on faith somehow
When the world has broken me down
Your love sets me free
You’ve become my hearts desire
I will sing Your praises higher
Cause Your love sets me free
Your love sets me free
Your love sets me free

Keeping up with Home

11/06/2008 07:31:00 AM | 0 comments »

I'm in the Philippines this week so I've been getting my updates on my family via email and Skype. :)

I got a message from my mom that her counts didn't go up this week -- they stayed pretty much the same. So, she will have a bone marrow biopsy on Monday. The doctor wants to just make sure that the bone marrow is just tired producing white cells.

Pray for my mom -- strength, courage and a good outcome on the test results. Pray that there is still NO SIGN of leukemia... that she continues to be in remission and that her bone marrow will be able to regain the strength and ability to produce the cells the body needs to be healthy and well.

Praise God that my mom feels great and that she is ever aware of the Lord being with her at all times.

Arriving...

11/03/2008 09:08:00 PM | 1 comments »

Travels to Manila were about as uneventful as you can get. THANK YOU LORD!
I have been thankful for the uneventful a lot lately :)

I left Philadelphia around 11:30 AM Saturday, November 1st. I arrived in Manila around 11:05 PM Sunday, November 2nd. Each flight departed and arrived pretty much as scheduled. I was able to sit in each of my assigned aisle seats (as I like it) and I slept through pretty much the duration of each of my three flights -- with the exception of eating the meals and watcbing one movie, "Swing Vote." An uneventul 24 hour trip -- nice.

Arriving in Manila was uneventful as well. Going through immigration was no problem. A hand-over of my passport along with a smile. Stamp. Sign. See you later. Getting my 2 balikbayan boxes went smoothly. After a bit of a wait I saw my green and black covered boxes making their way toward me on the carousel. I was able to "swing" each of my 2 boxes (each packed to the 50 pound max) swiftly onto the wheely cart -- thanks to the "Balikbayan Gear Box Cover's" handles. With my two boxes, 1 carry on and 1 personal item, I made my way through customs without any complications. "Nothing to declare" form was filled out and passed over to the officer. Sign. Date. That was all!

I walked out of the airport, down to the passenger pick up area where my Tita Lita met me to take me home. Thank the Lord for such an EASY trip. For all my trips to go so "problem-free!" :)

I stayed with my aunt and uncle (Tito Rene and Tita Lita) for the night. I enjoyed their company today. We took a trip to the mall and ShoeMart (don't let the name fool you... it's SOOO much more than just shoes), had lunch at my cousin's new franchise cafe, "Fusion."

















After our trip to the mall we went to meet the newest member of the Rivera clan -- Reese Lauren Rivera.












After spending some time with them we took a trip to another fun shopping center (Tiendacitas) and had dinner at a cute little "country-style" restaurant "Mom and Tina's." It was a fun day of being out and about the city and having time with family.

It was great that I slept most of the plane ride and through the night last night. I think it's helped me to quickly adjust to the time change. But... after such a packed day today, I'm ready for some sleep.

Today I woke up to the sounds of Manila in the morning -- rooster crows, roaring engines, honking horns, street vendors selling their goods, dogs barking -- it was somewhat surreal. The thought was very much on the forefront of my mind... the next time I come here, it will be for more than a week. Praying that God would continue to confirm my decisions, renew vision and excitement... and that I would continually live out faith and obedience.

Tomorrow begins the work part of this week-long trip. After a 6 hour bus ride, our group will arrive in Baguio where we will take part in meetings related to prayer and communications. I'm looking forward to meeting the other participants and just seeing what there is to learn and think about.

(As I type this my mom is probably sitting in the "A Room" at Dr. Alley's office waiting for Maureen to get the blood test results from the lab. Pray with me that results show bone marrow is working and she is still in remission.)

-- this post has such scattered thoughts. I guess I'm not as adjusted to the time as I thought!

Two boxes are packed and waiting by the door for my flight out tomorrow.
It took me most of this week to sort through clothes, books and other miscellaneous belongings to pack up two fifty-pound boxes to take with me on this trip. SIGH. Why do I have so much stuff? :)

Physically I think I'm ready. I have made multiple to-do-lists this week and I think I've accomplished most of them (...except for some phone calls I wanted to make). There a couple of things I hope to finish up tonight, but I think I'll manage to still get in a good night's sleep.

Mentally / emotionally ready?? I'm not so sure. This trip to the Philippines is for ONE WEEK. There is a specific purpose -- I'm attending meetings. All of that I can handle. No big deal. I'm actually quite looking forward to the meetings, seeing the people that will be attending the meetings and what we'll be doing for the WEEK.

What makes this trip MORE than just ONE WEEK is... I'm leaving BOXES of stuff there! I have two boxes packed up with most all of my clothes, books, movies and other personal belongings. I packed them up and plan to leave them there ... because I intend to return in a few months "for good." WHOA! Believe me, I know that that's been the plan... but sometimes the reality hits you and ... well, it hits you.

While I'm gone this week my mom will be going in for her routine weekly blood test. The last couple of test results showed her blood levels... while NORMAL, were slightly decreasing. If Monday's blood test shows a continued decrease, they may need to do a bone marrow biopsy to check if she is still in remission or if the leukemia has returned. It's difficult to not worry and be anxious ... "is it back?" Even as I packed my boxes I wondered..."God... what if it comes back?"

Pray for my mom's complete healing. Pray for the leukemia to continue to be in complete remission. Pray that I would constantly and continually TRUST GOD. Pray that I would recognize my inability to control life and to acknowledge not only God's control but also God's loving goodness. God has already shown HIs goodness in so many ways. He has so often displayed His power, His grace and His good works... pray that I would REST in Him.

Pray that I would be anxious for nothing, that I would be thankful, that I would be prayerful and that I would allow God's peace to guard my heart and mind in Christ.

All that makes it hard to feel SOOO READY and SOOO EXCITED about going away. Because there's always the wonder about the days ahead. Pray that I would trust Him with all my tomorrows and receive the gifts that He has for me in the present.

Pray that it would be a good trip to professionally, mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually prepare me for my move.

And, pray for my mom's blood work on Monday. Pray for strong, clean, functioning bone marrow and an excellent blood work!! Mommy will celebrate her birthday on November 7th. What a gift it would be to have another great report!!