tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25695543621521117822024-03-05T00:29:03.704-06:00The Dust Bunny ChroniclesMollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10234256570307315393noreply@blogger.comBlogger129125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569554362152111782.post-69682576660088188552014-07-03T02:58:00.000-05:002014-07-03T02:58:38.900-05:00An invitationLet me invite you to visit my previously private blog.<br />
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It is called: <a href="http://hopeslongjourney.blogspot.com/">"Finding Hope"</a>, and it is the chronicle of an amazing journey of faith, hope and trust God has had me on over the course of seven years.<br />
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I hope you are blessed!<br />
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<img src="http://www.donallen.net/mollysig1b.png" /><br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.donallen.net/mollysig1a.jpg"></a></div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10234256570307315393noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569554362152111782.post-37182754804778515792012-03-17T23:25:00.001-05:002012-04-02T18:44:57.618-05:00Happy Birthday, Michael!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_fdj5rfBK5Mx8EUUGlu3tQsFo572qya0Kbnu25iiduTxnAL68jGb7Va8GI7I-ghw2nzHph3gKUOiaKGYhVHNR6TQkpMabAcfmdq052nhEsCNPvmj4Ebqhyphenhyphenysb-LETrQz4LSUQUceLlA/s1600/Happy+Birthday+Michael.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726948982278349234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_fdj5rfBK5Mx8EUUGlu3tQsFo572qya0Kbnu25iiduTxnAL68jGb7Va8GI7I-ghw2nzHph3gKUOiaKGYhVHNR6TQkpMabAcfmdq052nhEsCNPvmj4Ebqhyphenhyphenysb-LETrQz4LSUQUceLlA/s400/Happy+Birthday+Michael.jpg" /></a> I love the images that <a href="http://namesinthesand.blogspot.com/">Carly Marie </a>has taken of names in the sand in honor of children who families have loved and lost. And I have always wanted to honor Michael by writing his name in the sand some place special.<br /><br /><br />This year, on his birthday, M1 and I happened to be on the Northern Coast of Spain. While it was amazingly beautiful, it was hard to be away from Don and the other M's on a day we have spent together for the previous four years.<br /><br />Our group's schedule allowed me to get away and write his name on the beach in San Sebastian. Unfortunately, the weather was turning ugly, and there was no hope of a sunset. But it made me happy to see his name in the sand, and I hope it made him happy, too!<br /><br /><img src="http://www.donallen.net/mollysig1b.png" /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.donallen.net/mollysig1a.jpg"></a></div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10234256570307315393noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569554362152111782.post-50162172683890275772011-03-02T19:55:00.003-06:002011-03-02T20:37:47.614-06:00The ElephantA long-time friend just recently found out she has breast cancer. She has been heavy on my heart and constantly in my prayers since I heard the news last Friday.<br /><br />I have actually cried more while crying out to God on her behalf more than I did the entire time I was experiencing cancer.<br /><br />This perplexed me and I have sought to understand what was going on with me.<br /><br />As I was thinking about her yesterday and praying, God gave me the most wonderful analogy, and I just had to share.<br /><br />Any major life crisis, cancer, in this case, is like an elephant in your life. And in order to function, this elephant has to be carried. For one person, this is beyond impossible and would completely incapacitate them.<br /><br />But your friends, family, their friends and family (and their friends and family, and so on) get word of your crisis and pray. They drive carpool, make meals, clean your house, do laundry, run errands, and sit with you.<br /><br />In essence, they are coming together and "lifting" the elephant for you. Their combined effort makes the task possible, and lightens the burden of the bearer - the person experiencing the crisis.<br /><br />When I first started my cancer treatment, I remember praying one day with my precious friends Kim and Fran. When it was my turn to pray, all I could say was, "Thank you Lord for those who are carrying the burden of my cancer, because all that is left for me to feel is <em>peace</em>." And it was <strong>so true</strong>. I could "sit under the elephant" without fear of being crushed because the burden was faithfully lifted by so many over the months of my treatment.<br /><br />Now I have the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">privilege</span> of carrying the elephant for my friend, Julie. And it is my hope and prayer that the burden that remains for her is so light that all that is left for her is peace.<br /><br />And I have a new appreciation for all that those prayer warriors did for me. Thank you just isn't enough.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.donallen.net/mollysig1b.png" /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.donallen.net/mollysig1a.jpg"></a></div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10234256570307315393noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569554362152111782.post-34048441341349020852010-08-30T23:58:00.002-05:002010-08-31T00:06:27.780-05:00Vote for LCAThis school is very important to our family and we would appreciate, if you have a facebook account, your votes (you can vote 5 times for one school)!<br /><br />Just click on the "Dream Big. Act Now." Button to the left.<br /><br />Only 4 days remain to vote!<br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br /><img src="http://www.donallen.net/mollysig1b.png" /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.donallen.net/mollysig1a.jpg"></a></div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10234256570307315393noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569554362152111782.post-52160652121362467482010-05-09T02:28:00.007-05:002010-05-09T04:02:02.374-05:00What Mothers DoIn honor of Mother's Day, I wanted to share a few thoughts on mothers I have had/heard in recent weeks:<br /><br />I have been working my way through Beth Moore's Bible Study, "Esther", for over a year now. Thankfully, after months of trying to do it solo, I have joined a "group" and the accountability has spurred me on toward completion.<br /><br />In the first week Beth focused a portion her teaching on Esther as an orphan. A child without a mother. And this precipitated a story about Beth's daughter and grandson that I have not been able to stop thinking about. I wish you could just hear it straight from her, because no one can tell a story like Beth. But I will do my best to summarize:<br /><br /><blockquote>Amanda, Beth's daughter, told her a story about Jackson, who is 19 months old. He had learned to sit and eat goldfish in his chair and he was happily doing it in the next room, while chattering to himself. It got very quiet, and as any mother would do, Amanda peeked in to check on him. <br /><br />There was Jackson, feeding goldfish to their Golden Retriever, sticking his fist practically down his throat in the process. Once he had given a goldfish to the dog, he would eat one. This continued back and forth and Jackson was so proud of himself for sharing with his "buddy". When he saw his mother walk in to the room, he grinned from ear to ear, held up a goldfish, and said, "Mama!"<br /><br />At that point, Amanda had a decision to make, eat the goldfish covered with dog slobber and make her little boy's day or reject it and break his heart. And so . . . she ate it.<br /><br />Beth finished up by asking, "Who else is going to do that but your mother!?!"</blockquote>And I thought, THAT is what Moms do . . . they tolerate slobber, spit up, sweat, tears and worse. They go without to give to their children. They love and they love without expecting anything in return.<br /><br />Another thought came to me on a camp out a few weeks ago at about 4:30 a.m.:<br /><br /><blockquote>I had the privilege of going with M3 on her first Girl Scout camp out and honestly I was as excited as she was. There were 6 moms and 11 girls staying in 5 tents. M3 had surprised me by telling the leader she wanted to stay in a tent with 3 other girls (no moms) because I had assumed she would want to stay with me. <br /><br />Now, being that I AM her mother and all, I do know her pretty well. So, in the back of my mind, I was prepared that she might end up sleeping with me over the course of the night.<br /><br />When we all "turned in" we were keeping watch on my smart phone (despite the fact we had no running water and cooked all our meals over a fire, we did manage to have cellular access) at the giant storm that was headed our direction. It was due to hit some time in the middle of the night, and we were prepared for the worst. <br /><br />I felt a sense of responsibility, being that I had access to the radar map, to keep checking on it through the night. And about every 15 minutes my sense of responsibility would wake me up to update the map. Amazingly, the storm dissipated and all we got was a lovely cool front and some light rain out of the whole thing.<br /><br />But about the time the rain stopped, I felt a hand on my leg, and heard a familiar, "Mom?" There, in my tent was my sweet M3.<br /><br />At first I was angry, because she is not supposed to be out by herself. But before I could react, she explained that she needed some insect repellent for her and her "buddy" who was standing outside the tent waiting for her.<br /><br />My anger gave way to admiration, because I recognized that it took a great deal of courage to come across the campground and find me in the middle of the night, even <em>with </em>a buddy. <br /><br />And then she finally broke down and said she wanted to go home. The wind was loud and she couldn't sleep (and I could tell she was scared). <br /><br />I am sure she was thinking, "Mom's tent is full, there is no where for me to sleep in there. I will never make it through the night without her."<br /><br />God had already prepared me for this moment, because I simply said, "Would you like to sleep in my cot with me?" <br /><br />That was all she needed to hear. <br /><br />We went back, got her blankets and the two of us settled down in my little cot for the rest of the night. <br /><br />She held my hand to her chest and I could feel her heart still pounding from fear. <br /><br />In just a few minutes, though, it slowed and I realized she was asleep.<br /><br />In a matter of minutes she went from tears to peaceful slumber, safe in her mother's arms.</blockquote><br />And again I thought, "That's what moms do."<br /><br />That's what ONLY moms can do.<br /><br />Thank you, Mom, for teaching me how to do what only moms can do.<br /><br />Thank you, my Mother-in-law, friends, and family, for being encouragers and examples.<br /><br />Happy Mother's Day!<br /><br /><img src="http://www.donallen.net/mollysig1b.png" /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.donallen.net/mollysig1a.jpg"></a></div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10234256570307315393noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569554362152111782.post-22698939544662979742010-02-04T21:47:00.004-06:002010-02-05T15:49:50.148-06:00Can you believe . . .<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx5ZN2hC2DAflAo8PuiAfISQmQ5w8HLpQ5GzlXcJAwR3Knj3KPGSzTujkc347JR3JSxzvKCL6tK6SrosviOilTGAA3BCY4UwQ2oAlltIpgq2YREEWq1Cu3PT8JwLMH79DqAzW09S0azQ/s1600-h/M1+and+Mom.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 182px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx5ZN2hC2DAflAo8PuiAfISQmQ5w8HLpQ5GzlXcJAwR3Knj3KPGSzTujkc347JR3JSxzvKCL6tK6SrosviOilTGAA3BCY4UwQ2oAlltIpgq2YREEWq1Cu3PT8JwLMH79DqAzW09S0azQ/s400/M1+and+Mom.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434879469735450514" /></a><br /><p style="text-align: center;">this is my SON?!?</p><br /><br />After the last game of his Junior High Basketball career. 25 wins and 2 losses. What an exciting season!<br /><br /><img src="http://www.donallen.net/mollysig1b.png" /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.donallen.net/mollysig1a.jpg"></a></div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10234256570307315393noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569554362152111782.post-25955355843524713422010-02-02T09:02:00.004-06:002010-02-02T09:18:58.152-06:00Happy Groundhog Day!M4 asked this morning what the Groundhog Day Cupcakes<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJYc6bLYCKAtGUfa-o2Mq2t3Cqg73d3nHvUBRVYjQJjk0HQnsCWQnH6sbFDNJ8kZ9IUIyeellTN66c5qQ3VhCZGLGUEVnZL80tt2Og4J_mI80oYtbw7SvxavOUepT2s05W_O08HZkm5w/s1600-h/IMG_3100.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJYc6bLYCKAtGUfa-o2Mq2t3Cqg73d3nHvUBRVYjQJjk0HQnsCWQnH6sbFDNJ8kZ9IUIyeellTN66c5qQ3VhCZGLGUEVnZL80tt2Og4J_mI80oYtbw7SvxavOUepT2s05W_O08HZkm5w/s400/IMG_3100.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433664174376541666" /></a><br /><br />were all about. So we did a little searching <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQWgUkt3Ui_1LDZ3NzIg5tLL7_OI1eRuFngtv4KhmmUYRcmziVPY92iU4DpvVkdNEZ9z2NEN3Sw0RFrQJzNEHyfobJsF6I06NbtG_NDldaY_04ahy8eAEto7m5z4nZvoJylh0MPqox0w/s1600-h/IMG_3099.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQWgUkt3Ui_1LDZ3NzIg5tLL7_OI1eRuFngtv4KhmmUYRcmziVPY92iU4DpvVkdNEZ9z2NEN3Sw0RFrQJzNEHyfobJsF6I06NbtG_NDldaY_04ahy8eAEto7m5z4nZvoJylh0MPqox0w/s400/IMG_3099.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433664163862529282" /></a><br /><br /><br />and found the youtube video to "educate" him on the great American tradition . . .<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1jVtx0o-Pn8&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1jVtx0o-Pn8&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />With all the acorns around here, I think (the squirrels at least)could survive a LOT more than six weeks of winter . . .<br /><br />Have a great day!<br /><br /><img src="http://www.donallen.net/mollysig1b.png" /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.donallen.net/mollysig1a.jpg"></a></div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10234256570307315393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569554362152111782.post-64983306016105843022010-01-05T10:33:00.002-06:002010-01-06T00:32:36.884-06:00Happy New Year<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxIX3zD-6jvRcKNdVZIzM-C68VB2cEe9ErGhJ45pBGFHF6HCHyChk9pXtcfd3vGPtGnlrYsyjXEVjSKES4h9jDFBquOmLiGZqZLdnOKCZ6oGXH7goQ-4I6IWOMqKptrDza_BfZeHCMMg/s1600-h/IMG_5987.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxIX3zD-6jvRcKNdVZIzM-C68VB2cEe9ErGhJ45pBGFHF6HCHyChk9pXtcfd3vGPtGnlrYsyjXEVjSKES4h9jDFBquOmLiGZqZLdnOKCZ6oGXH7goQ-4I6IWOMqKptrDza_BfZeHCMMg/s400/IMG_5987.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422182966708862098" /></a><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br />Our traditional sparkling white grape juice toast on New Year's Eve</p><br /><br />In 2009:<br /><br />I started the year without any hair.<br /><br />I drove daily (M-F) to radiation every week in January.<br /><br />I enjoyed watching M1 play basketball, M1 & M2 play baseball and soccer, M3 play softball and swim and M4 play his first season of soccer.<br /><br />I was declared "cancer-free".<br /><br />My husband took me on a wonderful, week-long vacation to Hawaii.<br /><br />M1 has grown gracefully into a teenager.<br /><br />M2 has singlehandedly taught M3 and M4 to ride their bikes (in one week's time!)<br /><br />M3 has returned to full-time homeschool and we both LOVE it!<br /><br />M4 has learned his alphabet and to count to "infinity".<br /><br />I lost my car keys - about four months ago - and still haven't found them.<br /><br />Got to spend a week with my family at Disneyworld.<br /><br />Celebrated my parents 45th anniversary.<br /><br />Bid farewell, temporarily, to two dear friends. Robbie, and family, to Australia and Marie, and family, to Canada.<br /><br />Said goodbye, until heaven, to friend, Carol, and "Papa Doc", my SIL's father.<br /><br />Enjoyed watching M3 sing, with friend, Hannah, and M1 and M2 perform the swordfight scene as Inigo Montoya and "The Man in Black" from the movie, "The Princess Bride" in the school talent show.<br /><br />Made it through two rounds of preventative treatments. (TWO TO GO!!)<br /><br />Learned that you don't go to the urgent care clinic when you are having chest pain (no matter what adjective you use to describe it . . .)<br /><br />After cleaning my house for a full week (having nothing else to do during that time), and being very pleased with myself, am coming to grips with the fact that, though it will not stay that way, <em>"Without oxen a stable stays clean, but you need a strong ox for a large harvest."</em> Proverbs 14:4. And despite the mess they make, I am VERY thankful for my many oxen (I mean, children).<br /><br /><img src="http://www.donallen.net/mollysig1b.png" /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.donallen.net/mollysig1a.jpg"></a></div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10234256570307315393noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569554362152111782.post-55429147366364104092010-01-03T19:00:00.000-06:002010-01-03T19:00:01.219-06:00Beyond the DoorHave you ever heard the song <a href="http://popup.lala.com/popup/576742231835344525">"Heaven in the Face"</a> by Stephen Curtis Chapman? He wrote the song after his five-year-old daughter, Maria, was killed in a tragic accident.<br /><br />The first time I heard it I actually thought I might have a wreck it was so emotional for me. And every time since, it takes me back to that place of longing, of missing Michael to my very core, just for a moment.<br /><br />I completely understand where he is coming from, losing a child. Despite the fact that I never knew Michael in this world, except for inside of me, his loss drained me completely. For a very long time. <br /><br />So why do I bring this up today? I heard the song again on the radio. <br /><br />I don't often hear it alone, so I don't usually get to listen and contemplate the words.<br /><br />I've always understood, in listening to the song, that, to Chapman, heaven is all the special and wonderful things that he remembers of Maria while she was alive. And all of the sudden, I HEARD what he was saying. These are the words of the chorus:<br /><br /><blockquote>God, I know, it’s all of this and so much more, <br />But God, You know, that this is what I’m aching for. <br /><em><strong>God, you know, I just can’t see beyond the door</strong></em>. <br /></blockquote><br /><br />When Michael died, I was consumed with the thought of him in heaven. I wanted to be with him and I wanted to be here on earth, too. I would find myself talking to God and saying stuff like, "God, I know you are the greatest thing in heaven, but when I get there, I just want to see Michael."<br /><br />I am sure it is that way with any loss: child, friend, parent, sibling. You miss them so much you just can't wait to see them again. And they will be the ones "meeting you at the door". And you want to see them so desperately that nothing else about heaven matters, but just <em>getting to the door</em>.<br /><br />Over time, God gently reminded me to "miss" Michael and "worship" Jesus. Because it is only because I know Jesus that I could ever hope to see Michael again. To long for heaven because Jesus has prepared a place for me there. <br /><br />And someday Michael will meet me at the door and take me by the hand and lead me to Him.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.donallen.net/mollysig1b.png" /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.donallen.net/mollysig1a.jpg"></a></div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10234256570307315393noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569554362152111782.post-68703528064421632172010-01-02T06:08:00.007-06:002010-01-02T10:59:39.210-06:00Blast from the pastWe have been doing some MAJOR cleaning (as in "cleaning out") and I came across the oddest thing. It was a box, marked "Master Bathroom" that has been sitting in our linen closet next to the laundry basket SINCE WE MOVED IN TO THIS HOUSE.<br /><br />The funny thing is, I thought it had cleaning supplies/tools in it. Like caustic chemicals and "As seen on TV" type cleaning tools that never worked for me.<br /><br />But I opened it up, to "clean it out" and this is what I found:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu5sw_pJjuVTSX7FZcmzu7go8cyVm4DbInPxTCenVYCihyIXVRqkZbpEBaxQaAGH_DKbORE_Q7ZMdZjxG7i2UWNjSXl1wYACWBO5ugpUYdw4xa_jQNbrl6zwRenzU5JGmFwwh7o-7tfg/s1600-h/IMG_5976.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu5sw_pJjuVTSX7FZcmzu7go8cyVm4DbInPxTCenVYCihyIXVRqkZbpEBaxQaAGH_DKbORE_Q7ZMdZjxG7i2UWNjSXl1wYACWBO5ugpUYdw4xa_jQNbrl6zwRenzU5JGmFwwh7o-7tfg/s400/IMG_5976.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422118679370754562" /></a><br /><br />Just for fun, see if you can figure out what this box was for - I'll give you some clues.<br /><br />This box made the move with us to this house in December of 2000. <br /><br />I had packed this particular "box" actually in DECEMBER 1999.<br /><br />It had a hand can opener, napkins, paper towels, trash bags, baggies, flash lights (with batteries dated 1999 in them), a can of lysol, matches, paper cups and plastic utensils.<br /><br />It was stored in our previous home in the crawl space under our stairs with about 20 gallons of water.<br /><br />Can you guess what it was for?<br /><br /><br /><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br />IT WAS<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />ONE OF TWO BOXES<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />OF OUR<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Y2K SURVIVAL KIT!</p><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Nzl6yOwaCLIsS64qOYHCnFq4K4PJC0oHp5OD6qPaEdfN5xVXtN3MGDJOR71Avk2_4ycLpjvdwH1Jtu6-CDNrfVoKJimRK0-H4dJUZnxBJkoQjHetWzigyxxmP3i0R2zx1_Snd9qWdg/s1600-h/IMG_5977.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Nzl6yOwaCLIsS64qOYHCnFq4K4PJC0oHp5OD6qPaEdfN5xVXtN3MGDJOR71Avk2_4ycLpjvdwH1Jtu6-CDNrfVoKJimRK0-H4dJUZnxBJkoQjHetWzigyxxmP3i0R2zx1_Snd9qWdg/s400/IMG_5977.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422119588169657586" /></a><br /><br />Talk about a blast from the past. This time ten years ago, the civilized world was breathing a sigh of relief that the world as we knew it then did not come screeching to a halt as it hit midnight of 12/31/99.<br /><br />It caused me to go back in time to what our lives were like in 1999.<br /><br />Ten years ago, we had two small children aged four and almost two. Neither had played an organized sport, yet. I had just turned 30. We had three dogs. We lived in a different city. We didn't know that terrorists could fly airplanes into skyscrapers. We didn't know what it was like to be in a major car accident, lose a child, have cancer. We didn't quite understand how MUCH God loves us and how GOOD He really is.<br /><br />I miss a lot about ten years ago. But I am so grateful for the lessons of life and love that we have been allowed to learn in the past decade!<br /><br />I think I'll keep my Y2K box. It can be my "Hurricane Preparedness" box (now that I know what is in it :) )<br /><br /><img src="http://www.donallen.net/mollysig1b.png" /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.donallen.net/mollysig1a.jpg"></a></div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10234256570307315393noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569554362152111782.post-3778043063164719902009-12-25T12:26:00.000-06:002009-12-27T12:29:03.085-06:00Merry Christmas!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk8K3wV4akWOatKo1teBv6y5YR3Cc5GskAF0tUDnXKajtqqxowERRKLnlQ_AtklGaTxQL4YnGvvy8KGniO7YXIimMV1gWdotzRXd2untZ6zZrrq615JS8r6brYS0FJka0Zatm1pTIpVA/s1600-h/IMG_3055.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk8K3wV4akWOatKo1teBv6y5YR3Cc5GskAF0tUDnXKajtqqxowERRKLnlQ_AtklGaTxQL4YnGvvy8KGniO7YXIimMV1gWdotzRXd2untZ6zZrrq615JS8r6brYS0FJka0Zatm1pTIpVA/s400/IMG_3055.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419984530821484674" /></a><br /><br /><img src="http://www.donallen.net/mollysig1b.png" /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.donallen.net/mollysig1a.jpg"></a></div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10234256570307315393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569554362152111782.post-38263641490227086152009-12-24T23:53:00.004-06:002009-12-28T09:36:05.458-06:00BookendsToday God is celebrating with me. Once again He is sending snow. (This time we are in north Texas visiting family) For most people, they are welcoming a white Christmas. I am welcoming a “You did it!” from God.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpLqu5IFYr0_7RiJDoDpb4Bwshk28pwIHJaFTsJDGdjgp7CwBZ01esNiNty7nA6m6K72ExF9PhDyFpc6IUIttFMDN0oPEl1rkyOR-fU9KDHFZo7EFP1XTqyaLZGZFzOubNQbfjFzQ28w/s1600-h/IMG_3063.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpLqu5IFYr0_7RiJDoDpb4Bwshk28pwIHJaFTsJDGdjgp7CwBZ01esNiNty7nA6m6K72ExF9PhDyFpc6IUIttFMDN0oPEl1rkyOR-fU9KDHFZo7EFP1XTqyaLZGZFzOubNQbfjFzQ28w/s400/IMG_3063.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419983703798682162" /></a><br /><br /><br />He sent me snow to start my treatments this month. And he sent snow to mark the end. (I completed my last treatment yesterday!)<br /><br />Never in my life have I experienced snow in Texas twice in one decade, let alone in a month!<br /><br />Thank you to all my friends and family who prayed, fed, and helped us through this month,too. We couldn’t have done it without you!<br /><br /><img src="http://www.donallen.net/mollysig1b.png" /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.donallen.net/mollysig1a.jpg"></a></div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10234256570307315393noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569554362152111782.post-71870420046928023872009-12-20T11:26:00.001-06:002009-12-27T11:48:05.361-06:00Buddies<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4UIlY_YCVVV1vNwUhIurxsDQ2R_ew8epu4kvnzIlKsrq_W9rWbLuMX6K35kPXGftVRjVk1aIF39NwOaZk2UqyZ-zUf9hy62GdEf-X-W36caeAar2y-XAaXCb2lpg8rxwTIrOWp9OcAA/s1600-h/IMG_3022.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4UIlY_YCVVV1vNwUhIurxsDQ2R_ew8epu4kvnzIlKsrq_W9rWbLuMX6K35kPXGftVRjVk1aIF39NwOaZk2UqyZ-zUf9hy62GdEf-X-W36caeAar2y-XAaXCb2lpg8rxwTIrOWp9OcAA/s400/IMG_3022.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419969391218655538" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge68Zarni34Jfo2j2XmoLC_A35uLNRYeNdGpPgsagxEvdPYPD4obhcHIwmX4V6tQQ1MqIAYvl2JDCcmervE2cFOLh8bUmG4XbnRqY9o-3ar9GU9s4m0NRfrLJJntZ40SDuaS8C-SLIlw/s1600-h/Feller+and+Missy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 292px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge68Zarni34Jfo2j2XmoLC_A35uLNRYeNdGpPgsagxEvdPYPD4obhcHIwmX4V6tQQ1MqIAYvl2JDCcmervE2cFOLh8bUmG4XbnRqY9o-3ar9GU9s4m0NRfrLJJntZ40SDuaS8C-SLIlw/s400/Feller+and+Missy.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419969379293961298" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSsklPmLVVw6g3oJ7ryaCNuojSS5PzZgBi8ZNF1669Q05b317SgKAeTVI6i7VyDLnkYmJOvOVuhH1kkMdSJmNF6T2NrqyAH2X77PYynTQq2wwbnxacqkm2ATcc6xts4VmCIUNoCvaR1Q/s1600-h/IMG_5970.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSsklPmLVVw6g3oJ7ryaCNuojSS5PzZgBi8ZNF1669Q05b317SgKAeTVI6i7VyDLnkYmJOvOVuhH1kkMdSJmNF6T2NrqyAH2X77PYynTQq2wwbnxacqkm2ATcc6xts4VmCIUNoCvaR1Q/s400/IMG_5970.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419969399182116226" /></a><br /><br />Adding another puppy is sort of like adding another sibling to the child mix. It takes some time and effort to get them to like each other. And a little bit longer to be sure the big one isn't going to hurt/kill the little one.<br /><br />We seem to be making progress and Feller and Missy seem to be the best of buds.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.donallen.net/mollysig1b.png" /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.donallen.net/mollysig1a.jpg"></a></div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10234256570307315393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569554362152111782.post-57734084070417983332009-12-17T11:05:00.002-06:002009-12-27T11:26:19.564-06:00Taking Matters into My Own Hands<strong><em>WARNING: This is more of a self-medicating trial-and-error post full of information simply for myself to remember in the future and for others who may have bad days post steroid infusions. But, it could also be for people who sometimes just seem to have a bad day . . .</em></strong><br /><br />The first week after treatment was a doozy. I didn’t just have a bad DAY, it was an entire bad WEEK.<br /><br />In talking with my doctor about why I have these “days” she suspects it is the steroids that I get via IV just prior to the Rituxan infusion.<br /><br />So, I am trying to get a handle on the cause/effect and formulate my own solution. And I will preface it all by saying I am not offering medical advice, and by no means am I an expert on the subject of cortisol/adrenals, but just letting you know what I did and how it worked for me in my situation.<br /><br />First theory: I am getting a bolus of steroids that is shutting my adrenals down on Friday and lasting through the weekend. On Monday, my adrenals “wake up” and realize they need to start producing my own personal steroids again, which for some reason causes me great pain (starting in my adrenals/kidneys and then moving throughout my body). <br /><br />So I consulted my very knowledgeable friend, Marie, on what kind of adrenal support I could take to moderate the drop from Sunday to Monday. Her suggestion: OTC 1% Hydrocortisone cream. <br /><br />Now, this is the stuff that you use when you get an itchy rash. But it also happens to be the same stuff your adrenals make every day just to keep you balanced somewhere between stressed out and asleep. (Too little cortisone = asleep or fatigued, Too much cortisone = stressed out). <br /><br />If you apply it to your skin, (preferably a thin skinned area, like your forearms) it is absorbed into your bloodstream and it functions just as the cortisone your adrenals make.<br /><br />Theoretically, normal adrenals make 20 mg of cortisol a day. And 2 ml of 1% Hydrocortisone cream is 20 mg. <br /><br />Second theory: If I started taking the cortisone cream prior to my crash on Monday, it would balance out my cortisol levels. My adrenals wouldn’t get an alarm signal to start producing cortisol from zero, and I would not have the bad day/days I have previously had.<br /><br />I started by taking .5 ml (5 mg) of cream on Saturday night. I repeated the dose Sunday morning and Sunday evening (total 10 mg for the day), Monday morning/evening, and Tuesday morning/evening. I was going to taper off the dose to just the mornings on Wednesday and Thursday, but I was starting to get a chest cold and became concerned about that and just forgot.<br /><br />The results: I did not have a bad day this week at all. There were a few hours on Monday night when I felt the adrenal pain (around my kidneys in my back) coming on, but it was close to bedtime and I felt confident if I took a pain pill and went to sleep it would not get any worse. I also was not exhausted and draggy all week (which is what usually happens after my bad day). I actually felt pretty “normal”.<br /><br />You would think something so simple would be recommended for treatment. But I guess the makers of a $2 tube of cortisone cream have no incentive to get you to use their product like, say, the makers of the prescription pain pills I take, do.<br /><br />I will say, too, that the cream is not to be used on a daily basis long term. It contains stuff that, when used long-term has been known to cause cancer. But when you have a short term period of stress or are feeling run-down, a little "pea-sized" dose of Hydrocortisone cream once or twice a day for a few days can't do any harm.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.donallen.net/mollysig1b.png" /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.donallen.net/mollysig1a.jpg"></a></div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10234256570307315393noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569554362152111782.post-6305486255681311962009-12-05T10:42:00.000-06:002009-12-27T11:05:25.902-06:00More Snow Pictures<CENTER>THE "M's" WITH THEIR SNOWMAN</CENTER><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixUnaICGLBY_ul2xzIK9Z9QgUHxc7SJ7YjKR9svKdagXWziVPUbGe_b9MFzgcY2kG3GC3BJ-tNuWPGUgRv8YQGzkzy_90FC9k6HnlEMA-3gfP1Ct6Yi0egjVkl-YMxMkTSPU8OG9ewFQ/s1600-h/ms+with+snowman.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixUnaICGLBY_ul2xzIK9Z9QgUHxc7SJ7YjKR9svKdagXWziVPUbGe_b9MFzgcY2kG3GC3BJ-tNuWPGUgRv8YQGzkzy_90FC9k6HnlEMA-3gfP1Ct6Yi0egjVkl-YMxMkTSPU8OG9ewFQ/s400/ms+with+snowman.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419959502692733186" /></a><br /><br /><CENTER>SNOW FORT</CENTER><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIzlRBnGMiGVYiCSNQZoQazoc2TsEdQU2hC852WN5krIwMN3X6AJVhRzpO58OVdxL3FKkfwnTH3B7nLD-MjiG0paSM0ejrFOuiQXtPbO23AqTkePBtastuE5_Ic0wuDMB584pjDgOGGA/s1600-h/IMG_3004.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIzlRBnGMiGVYiCSNQZoQazoc2TsEdQU2hC852WN5krIwMN3X6AJVhRzpO58OVdxL3FKkfwnTH3B7nLD-MjiG0paSM0ejrFOuiQXtPbO23AqTkePBtastuE5_Ic0wuDMB584pjDgOGGA/s400/IMG_3004.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419959493384688210" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-SiN8Et-Dd0799oNA1vlB076ypf0o_xaQY8A8hs4JxFM82F-tOmvTr8axlkooZhEQo86uhXYFTWEWYzsPfDDaLocDVF0aFPoYRaW6FXc-SMOkD5_habSdZyZ6fkl0RlCvNYK2C9jnuA/s1600-h/IMG_3001.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-SiN8Et-Dd0799oNA1vlB076ypf0o_xaQY8A8hs4JxFM82F-tOmvTr8axlkooZhEQo86uhXYFTWEWYzsPfDDaLocDVF0aFPoYRaW6FXc-SMOkD5_habSdZyZ6fkl0RlCvNYK2C9jnuA/s400/IMG_3001.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419958140067881874" /></a><br /><br /><CENTER>SNOW BALL THROWING DEVILS</CENTER><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWUFSTrI5ETroAC6PUvJA-JL9sQRSi_tl-HJZZ0knyEGNQExeAEurl3HK5kp6NUob-fNBekx6ZxDq01skjpThL-eGiSnb09H8wsDm96FyJMIEXEHu3U6d8VILYbRaYULdWYf3_lKKxyg/s1600-h/IMG_2992.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWUFSTrI5ETroAC6PUvJA-JL9sQRSi_tl-HJZZ0knyEGNQExeAEurl3HK5kp6NUob-fNBekx6ZxDq01skjpThL-eGiSnb09H8wsDm96FyJMIEXEHu3U6d8VILYbRaYULdWYf3_lKKxyg/s400/IMG_2992.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419958122542950530" /></a><br /><br /><CENTER>SNOW ANGEL</CENTER><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis5iZPu87TGiSJKBuly6HIsMQr598Nrmv7sLzh6OWeeb7oP5n3mFSaPyf1vDerPL0uftsZ_DBBDpf6f1Y6NPFb5uE5HMW1pfyE8VIB6Vsd6bt4Um1DtEYHUcIyQIq98JGAQC7QR0azRQ/s1600-h/IMG_2985.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis5iZPu87TGiSJKBuly6HIsMQr598Nrmv7sLzh6OWeeb7oP5n3mFSaPyf1vDerPL0uftsZ_DBBDpf6f1Y6NPFb5uE5HMW1pfyE8VIB6Vsd6bt4Um1DtEYHUcIyQIq98JGAQC7QR0azRQ/s400/IMG_2985.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419958107299987650" /></a><br /><br /><CENTER>FRONT YARD</CENTER><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNRzcUX8OI-jhWWBuFxMR-Mlh2GYt9ap8w4dgrNu7_LTu1lC6uizFThhYPm9i_XlRC0TXOybqqpYLchf7Lq5LnZxYahdbrICCneRBtEdWTIqAKyxETkL8BeOY4Pz_OXXJqiUVgZOVLFg/s1600-h/IMG_2995.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNRzcUX8OI-jhWWBuFxMR-Mlh2GYt9ap8w4dgrNu7_LTu1lC6uizFThhYPm9i_XlRC0TXOybqqpYLchf7Lq5LnZxYahdbrICCneRBtEdWTIqAKyxETkL8BeOY4Pz_OXXJqiUVgZOVLFg/s400/IMG_2995.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419958132906431970" /></a><br /><br /><CENTER>BACK YARD</CENTER><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnRQbW67-YepTbr0nyy0TL3XgnurIUI0FYq2igahIQec-vCMQeHYsQVrFebZ0oUvpCCuZUl8I6G4j-yukx0R7_sM_lHTPSabsv_o9ehBsj-KcUOURvjAUgA0LzsMj4BylRKvaRNJziCw/s1600-h/IMG_2991.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnRQbW67-YepTbr0nyy0TL3XgnurIUI0FYq2igahIQec-vCMQeHYsQVrFebZ0oUvpCCuZUl8I6G4j-yukx0R7_sM_lHTPSabsv_o9ehBsj-KcUOURvjAUgA0LzsMj4BylRKvaRNJziCw/s400/IMG_2991.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419958120502918834" /></a><br /><br /><img src="http://www.donallen.net/mollysig1b.png" /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.donallen.net/mollysig1a.jpg"></a></div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10234256570307315393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569554362152111782.post-77374452874209489342009-12-04T22:22:00.001-06:002009-12-27T10:41:57.032-06:00Sedative from HeavenThe long dreaded day arrived for me to have my first of four weekly preventative Rituxan treatments. All the kids were up early (for us) and around 7 a.m. it began to snow like crazy at our house. It was the most beautiful snow I have ever seen in Houston. Tons of it. <br /><br />As most southern Texans do any time a flake of snow falls from the sky, we all went giddy. We went outside just to see what it was like. We couldn’t stop watching it fall. We took video. We took pictures.<br /><br />Unfortunately, M1 and I had to leave our observation post and head out on the road to get him to school and then me on to chemo. I think we were both sulking all the way, thinking we were going to miss the whole thing being stuck inside all day at our respective locations.<br /><br />But many amazing things happened that day. <br /><br />It stopped snowing at our house for a while – so we didn’t miss anything there.<br /><br />It hadn’t even STARTED snowing at my chemo location. And when it did, there was an entire wall of windows for me to watch it fall from. Later, my friend Marie and I had a fabulous Potbelly’s lunch while we watched the snow together.<br /><br />M1 was dismissed early from school. By the time he got home there was more than enough snow to go around. He even got to play in the snow AT school during study hall.<br /><br />When I got home, the kids had built me a snow person (not sure of the gender . . .) and everything around our house was blanketed in white.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK-Kk_VzERD0EshBkePlXQgRAeSlJrS0VE9VAX9sf7vpeRrEFd0CTQpABv73xjTY1t8SOTL51z-CPEAOzHfRRsJCZvFcOQOR1aEQqVk5Bx5HGa2z9CxabzEAIdDkbhDLWe9skWVHADyw/s1600-h/IMG_2988.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK-Kk_VzERD0EshBkePlXQgRAeSlJrS0VE9VAX9sf7vpeRrEFd0CTQpABv73xjTY1t8SOTL51z-CPEAOzHfRRsJCZvFcOQOR1aEQqVk5Bx5HGa2z9CxabzEAIdDkbhDLWe9skWVHADyw/s320/IMG_2988.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419952732762123202" /></a><br /><br /><br />We were able to spend the rest of the afternoon in the snow, then inside thawing out, then out in the snow, then inside for hot chocolate.<br /><br />We even decked Missy out in her amazingly fashionable coat.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirF7lu1K6mRm8wXK0bcfWXNzC1P2fpUWjyoz5P-gWTutU_IPS8VDGYT9vFnLhP5ebyRRWkzni8KBs4PHY9m5TFMHZB50vJHXdczlqammzM09fb2x4oepOmaUUOqwob-CBhSb3KhTiXpg/s1600-h/IMG_2989.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirF7lu1K6mRm8wXK0bcfWXNzC1P2fpUWjyoz5P-gWTutU_IPS8VDGYT9vFnLhP5ebyRRWkzni8KBs4PHY9m5TFMHZB50vJHXdczlqammzM09fb2x4oepOmaUUOqwob-CBhSb3KhTiXpg/s320/IMG_2989.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419955120248073170" /></a><br /><br />The only bust of the day was our attempt at “sledding” on Rubbermaid container lids. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv-sSYw1zzFKISJjhkSYZJ6AAkgbXU-ERjbOar3vuGby10NvSV3bQPp-Q6j41BrYqxTxbR7qDeReVp8HGgC2koPLpplDIY3aUW8kxp9eQpYJIOMY_VKaiOKCOSj3E_OuGWJsbog1NB2Q/s1600-h/IMG_2997.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv-sSYw1zzFKISJjhkSYZJ6AAkgbXU-ERjbOar3vuGby10NvSV3bQPp-Q6j41BrYqxTxbR7qDeReVp8HGgC2koPLpplDIY3aUW8kxp9eQpYJIOMY_VKaiOKCOSj3E_OuGWJsbog1NB2Q/s400/IMG_2997.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419955740661829618" /></a><br /><br />God knew what I needed today. I needed something to calm and distract me. And he sent me a sedative in the form of snow.<br /><br />It was the best “snow day” ever!<br /><br /><img src="http://www.donallen.net/mollysig1b.png" /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.donallen.net/mollysig1a.jpg"></a></div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10234256570307315393noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569554362152111782.post-74862418042374460702009-11-24T17:52:00.003-06:002009-11-25T08:09:51.028-06:00Yes!Here is our new baby, Missy. She is a toy Australian Shepherd, M3's Christmas present, the answer to our puppy prayers, and well worth the wait. (She is also my "fuzzy therapy" to help get me through chemo. When we are not house training, dealing with teething, socializing, etc. :) )<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi-zizOFiWhyphenhyphennDLxXR8I1egJ5SbWTnWcbvE_LzpDG1XpC3GAykuEr6-Yy3hyFiy5Yjda2-t0N-QlH99OPcZDMefr5dffsQpTYiE8jtt2KfWBT6yeh0zglePhVvWlwZKlli82Y-2DVMhA/s1600/M3+%26+Missy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi-zizOFiWhyphenhyphennDLxXR8I1egJ5SbWTnWcbvE_LzpDG1XpC3GAykuEr6-Yy3hyFiy5Yjda2-t0N-QlH99OPcZDMefr5dffsQpTYiE8jtt2KfWBT6yeh0zglePhVvWlwZKlli82Y-2DVMhA/s400/M3+%26+Missy.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408042618109525778" /></a><br /><br />If you are looking for a dog like her, you can check out her <a href="http://toyaussies.media.officelive.com/default.aspx">breeder's website</a>. I think all of her littermates are spoken for, but I am sure there will be more in the future!<br /><br /><img src="http://www.donallen.net/mollysig1b.png"><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.donallen.net/mollysig1a.jpg"></a></div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10234256570307315393noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569554362152111782.post-75944259633204231022009-11-23T16:32:00.004-06:002009-11-23T21:23:27.255-06:00ThanksgivingOur church began celebrating "A Season of Prayer" for the next seven weeks. Don and I were both asked to contribute a daily devotional.<br /><br />The verses for my assigned day (yesterday) were: 1 Thess 5:16-18 and Psalm 103. The verse that stood out to me was:<br /><br /><blockquote><em>Give thanks in all circumstance, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. </em> 1 Thess. 5:18</blockquote><br /><br />And the first thing that came to my mind related to that verse was a day about seven years ago. I received a phone call from Hermann Hospital here in Houston. It is the primary trauma hospital for our entire region. They fly people there in helicopters. It was also close to my husband's office.<br /><br />They told me Don had been in a car accident and that his ankle was broken . . . so far. <br /> <br />Now, I am an optimist, and so, I figured I was driving to the hospital, picking up my injured husband, and bringing him home. Got a call from Don's tennis partner, who said the weather was probably too bad for tennis that night. I jokingly told him tennis was definitely off and that hopefully Don was at Hermann because he had the accident close to the hospital and not because they had to fly him there in a helicopter.<br /><br />Over the course of the hour long drive to the medical center, I went from thinking I would bring him home to what would I do if I had to identify his body? (When I was in nursing school doing my ER rotation, I overheard them calling a family member to come to the hospital when the patient had already died, but they only told them they were seriously ill.)<br /><br />When I arrived at the ER, they couldn't find him on the patient register. I panicked, thinking he must be in the morgue. But then the volunteers at the desk realized he was "the John Doe that came in on Life Flight" (what a way to find out your husband was airlifted . . .) and that he was in X-ray.<br /><br />They quickly took me to him. He was moved to an orthopedic room, awaiting surgery the next morning. Into the early hours of the morning, it was a blur of phone calls, anxious visits from friends and ministers, and coordinating our children's care at home.<br /><br />And, when reading the above verse, this is what specifically came to mind about thanksgiving:<br /><br /><blockquote>One drizzly October evening, seven years ago, I received a phone call from Hermann Hospital downtown. My first thought was that it must be someone from church calling. When the voice on the other end called me Mrs. Allen, I realized it was something very different. My husband had been in a car accident . . . he had a broken ankle . . . was I coming? I went from cooking dinner in my kitchen to the wife of a trauma patient in an instant.<br /> <br />That night, in Don’s hospital room, I lay on a cot next to his bed. My husband was bruised and bleeding, hooked to many tubes and beeping machines. He was scheduled for the first of what would end up being a total of seven surgeries in the morning. The road ahead would be long and difficult and painful. But right then, I was just thankful that he was alive and, at the moment, sleeping peacefully. <br /> <br />And my prayer matched his rhythmic, sedated breathing: “Thank you, thank you, thank you . . . “<br /><br />God wants us to give thanks in every circumstance, whether good or bad. <br /><br />What can you thank God for today in whatever circumstance you find yourself?</blockquote> <br /><br /><br />I hope that you have a blessed Thanksgiving, in whatever circumstance you find yourself.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.donallen.net/mollysig1b.png" /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.donallen.net/mollysig1a.jpg"></a></div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10234256570307315393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569554362152111782.post-25704245955272329892009-11-21T17:04:00.002-06:002009-12-24T17:26:15.428-06:00You would never know . . .Recently, I was at one of M1's junior high basketball tournaments and enjoying watching the game. As I was watching the opposing team, I kept having the feeling that I knew some of the players. All the various places I could know those boys from ran through my mind: little league, homeschool groups, community organizations, etc. but I couldn't figure it out.<br /><br />At half time, I was scanning the crowd for the rest of our cheering section and saw a familiar face. But it wasn't a face for our team, it was for the opposition.<br /><br />In my former life (before children), I was a neonatal intensive care nurse. I took care of many babies, born at various stages of development. And every once in a while, I developed a special relationship with the parents/family of one of my patients.<br /><br />And THIS familiar face was a mother of one of my former patients. One of the special people who I have been fortunate enough to keep up with for the past fourteen years.<br /><br />And her son, one of the players on the opposing teams, was one of my last (and most favorite) patients I took care of in the NICU.<br /><br />He was due a month before M1, but was born about four months premature (correct me if I am wrong, Chris). Eric (as I called him) was special to me partially because he was a living visual of what M1 was looking like in utero. But he was also special because of his parents and sister. They were just neat people. And over the course of his time in the unit, we spent a lot of time together.<br /><br />One of the last days before Eric was discharged from the unit, he was my only patient. I spent a lot of time rocking him. He layed on my belly and kicked from the outside while M1 kicked from the inside. They must have been practicing their basketball moves even then . . .<br /><br />Fast forward fourteen year, and here is Eric (at 6 ft.)and M1 (at 5'11")out on the basketball court battling it out. I was in awe and overwhelmed at BOTH of them.<br /><br />You would never know that Eric had once been a micropreemie and the M1 had once fit in my belly!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKl8Y-zeqH2-J8xdrARDIRdMSK5QYpkWIjRn1PO47ZAbq3GmRe3end2PVMde0nZzbO26jTnp2KzzTJnxl-Pda4pHaT-qcxF5dBN__DPacKSRppS0SPVqDMChwf5QXzAOhVYdlfBagViA/s1600-h/_MG_5106.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKl8Y-zeqH2-J8xdrARDIRdMSK5QYpkWIjRn1PO47ZAbq3GmRe3end2PVMde0nZzbO26jTnp2KzzTJnxl-Pda4pHaT-qcxF5dBN__DPacKSRppS0SPVqDMChwf5QXzAOhVYdlfBagViA/s400/_MG_5106.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418947062411501378" /></a><br /><br /><img src="http://www.donallen.net/mollysig1b.png" /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.donallen.net/mollysig1a.jpg"></a></div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10234256570307315393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569554362152111782.post-17437165727161342112009-11-11T17:30:00.001-06:002009-11-24T17:50:29.253-06:00How can you say no to this face?We have been talking for over a year about getting M3 a dog. She has done a lot of research and looked at several different breeds. But the timing (for many obvious reasons) had never been right.<br /><br />So this weekend, we found out about a friend of a friend who was keeping a sweet Jack Russell/Chihuahua puppy looking for a home. When we saw "Sammy's" picture, we fell in love with him.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFO5cB7QpGzgjwDG0BRngHQaDnQ7owRU1NUGFV3ADlbObCQgvnGyizv1uWnQZbLm2HHXUj7XIkw-zYhhfXWdP5zH_aujnR3HFkPMOvKimeGFRGbUV3yF0V71JBP3s1XGBSr10ZFAUOLQ/s1600/P1010147.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFO5cB7QpGzgjwDG0BRngHQaDnQ7owRU1NUGFV3ADlbObCQgvnGyizv1uWnQZbLm2HHXUj7XIkw-zYhhfXWdP5zH_aujnR3HFkPMOvKimeGFRGbUV3yF0V71JBP3s1XGBSr10ZFAUOLQ/s320/P1010147.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407818707703687378" /></a><br /><br />But in discussing him with Don, we decided he was not the right puppy for M3. It broke both of our hearts to have to tell her that we needed to keep looking and say "no" to Sammy.<br /><br />I cried with her when I sent the email to my friend and her friend who had been looking for a home for Sammy. I am grateful that these two precious ladies were praying for us as we made our decision.<br /><br />M3 seemed to be at peace when I assured her, that in respecting her Daddy's direction, in the end, the puppy she got would bring her so much more happiness (overshadowing the sadness she now felt).<br /><br />And I am grateful for my husband who has to do the difficult thing sometimes and tell us "no". In the long run, I know it is the right decision.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.donallen.net/mollysig1b.png" /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.donallen.net/mollysig1a.jpg"></a></div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10234256570307315393noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569554362152111782.post-74819195201640207912009-11-09T22:00:00.006-06:002009-11-24T17:52:14.224-06:00ConfessionI have to admit, I really DON'T want to do <a href="http://thedustbunnychronicles.blogspot.com/2009/07/back-in-chemo-chair.html">chemo</a> again.<br /><br />(UPDATE: This is <a href="http://thedustbunnychronicles.blogspot.com/2009/07/back-in-chemo-chair.html"><em>preventative chemo </em></a>- I have to do it once a week for four weeks every six months for two years after my original chemo. June/December 2009 & June/December 2010)<br /><br />There is something to be said for being blissfully ignorant, and I am not (ignorant) anymore about what is coming.<br /><br />I am feeling really good. It is going to be the Christmas holidays and school holidays. I have a lot I would like to do and enjoy.<br /><br />And what do I get to do? Go get pumped full of medicine that is going to make me feel sick and tired. <br /><br />I actually had a king-sized meltdown in front of my husband. Like a two-year-old, I told him I hadn't made my appointments yet "because I don't want to . . ."<br /><br />Thankfully, for both of us, the last time I had a meltdown was <a href="http://thedustbunnychronicles.blogspot.com/2008/09/please-pray.html">over a year ago </a>and related to the cancer, as well.<br /><br />So, I'm steeling myself to make the call (still haven't) and considering booking a padded room as well.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.donallen.net/mollysig1b.png" /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.donallen.net/mollysig1a.jpg"></a></div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10234256570307315393noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569554362152111782.post-47623099877049093142009-09-24T18:23:00.000-05:002009-11-23T16:26:27.127-06:00ReminiscingThe month of September has found me reminiscing quite a bit.<br /><br />All the talk around here in the news is about IKE hitting our area, and that definitely brings up a lot of memories from the period of my diagnosis.<br /><br />Every few days, I find myself thinking, "What was happening a year ago today?"<br /><br />Scans. Tests. Surgeries. More scans.<br /><br />We are preparing to go out of town on vacation next week, and once again, I was wondering what anniversaries I would be celebrating then.<br /><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br />And then<br /></p><br /><br /><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br />I realized</p><br /><br /><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br />that I could</p><br /><br /><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br />take this picture<br /></p><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeTczLCIx34iOjeOSZmcNlfLY15mvyetwOYThP1FxK17qNC6lbornYE5524hwxehxp1L_6kg4xaL4b-gJXq5Kyp-TitGoWUN_BnAAnX6T_DssIkme1O8LXh7IWlGHUtjggb_8-t4eBlg/s1600/_MG_4049.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeTczLCIx34iOjeOSZmcNlfLY15mvyetwOYThP1FxK17qNC6lbornYE5524hwxehxp1L_6kg4xaL4b-gJXq5Kyp-TitGoWUN_BnAAnX6T_DssIkme1O8LXh7IWlGHUtjggb_8-t4eBlg/s400/_MG_4049.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407428216285403378" /></a><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br />on the anniversary of my first day of chemo.<br /></p><br /><br />Pretty cool, huh?<br /><br /><img src="http://www.donallen.net/mollysig1b.png" /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.donallen.net/mollysig1a.jpg"></a></div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10234256570307315393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569554362152111782.post-9468740534641277562009-09-09T15:40:00.002-05:002009-11-23T15:50:26.853-06:00Good newsregarding my health.<br /><br />Not only was my quarterly CT scan clear this week, but "there has also been interval improvement/near complete resolution of post-radiation inflammatory changes involving anterior lungs". <br /><br />Basically, I am cancer free and now almost completely/completely free of any damage from the proton radiation!<br /><br />There is supposed to be unavoidable burning and permanent damage done when you have radiation. Our thought was, by doing proton, that we would minimize such side effects. But it appears that God has seen fit to heal that completely as well.<br /><br />I am so thankful!<br /><br /><img src="http://www.donallen.net/mollysig1b.png" /><br /><br /><em>(sorry this is only about two months late - hoping to catch up over Thanksgiving!)</em><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.donallen.net/mollysig1a.jpg"></a></div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10234256570307315393noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569554362152111782.post-17405912009996046292009-08-21T21:49:00.002-05:002009-08-21T21:52:55.372-05:00Where's Daddy?We are lucky around here. Don works at home quite a bit. So it is actually odd NOT to see Daddy in his study during any given weekday.<br /><br />Today, M4 came in from playing and asked from the entry:<br /><br />"Where's Daddy?"<br /><br />From the kitchen, I replied:<br /><br />"He's in the study."<br /><br />Only to hear M4, with concern:<br /><br />"But I don't see his skin."<br /><br />(His skin, and the rest of him, had evidently LEFT the study for a moment!)<br /><br /><img src="http://www.donallen.net/mollysig1b.png" /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.donallen.net/mollysig1a.jpg"></a></div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10234256570307315393noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569554362152111782.post-59456738238429945862009-08-20T23:44:00.004-05:002009-08-21T00:22:47.480-05:00A Dory Kind of DayIf you have ever seen "Finding Nemo" you will understand. If not, you might just want to skip this. <br /><br />I was getting ready for church a few Sundays ago, and having a leisurely, relaxed morning. I do this thing on the internet called <a href="http://www.thegrocerygame.com/">"The Grocery Game"</a> where they give you a chart (love charts) with items on sale at stores in your area that also have had coupons recently in the paper. The point of the game is to maximize your savings. Use coupons when items are on sale and stock up.<br /><br />Anyway, so I was looking through this list of groceries, and it went something like this: "mayonnaise, bread, lunchmeat . . ." <br /><br />OK, so picture Dory, at the end of the movie. Marlin has left to go off and mourn and here's Dory, lost and confused and forgetful again. Nemo swims up and she has no idea who he is, until she sees the word "Sydney" on the pipe in front of her. Then the entire movie flashes before her eyes and she REMEMBERS they have been looking for Nemo all along.<br /><br />Back to my list, so I see these words, "mayonnaise, bread, lunchmeat . . .", and all of the sudden, I REMEMBER that I am supposed to make 70 finger sandwiches for baptism after church that morning. All the conversations and my plans I had laid out in my mind came flashing through my brain in an instant, JUST LIKE DORY! <br /><br />So, of course, my leisurely morning turned into a little bit of a hectic one. Especially since I didn't even have any of the ingredients I needed for the sandwiches. Luckily, I didn't have to face any tuna nets. . .<br /><br />But I laughed all the way to Walmart thinking about how much Dory and I have in common. Not just on that day, but a lot of days, lately.<br /><br />I keep attributing it to the chemo, I don't THINK it runs in my family (where <em>are</em> they, anyway?)<br /><br />And I was thankful that God used my online grocery list to give me a gentle reminder of what I needed to do <em>that</em> day.<br /><br />Just keep swimming, just keep swimming, just keep swimming, swimming, swimming . . .<br /><br /><img src="http://www.donallen.net/mollysig1b.png" /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.donallen.net/mollysig1a.jpg"></a></div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10234256570307315393noreply@blogger.com1