Hello! How are you? That may seem silly especially when I really don't know who I'm asking that to, but many loved ones come to mind as I'm typing away - and I do wonder how you are. Hope you are well...but that is relative, isn't it? Those that are heavenbound are "well" no matter what, right? Those that are not heavenbound are not well no matter what...until they are heavenbound!

This week has been much better than last. Energy has rebounded, nausea has basically disappeared, only the shortness of breath remains...sometimes I puff like the "little engine that could". And I've been useful!! I was back in the kitchen at church helping with a luncheon last week and oh, it felt so good!!!!

Chemo #3 begins on the 27th of July. It's an important cycle coming up, this next one. It's kind of the half-way point, for one thing. Originally, the doctor said 6 treatments, so if that schedule remains, then we're half-way. But it's important because there will be a PET scan - a full-body scan - after this treatment to confirm that the treatments are blasting away at the cancer cells and tumors. Of course, the test could show that the treatments are not. If the treatments are working, we will continue as we are - and hallelujah!!!!! If they are not working, then we will take another look at our options. There aren't many, to be most candid. Just so you know - and aren't taken by surprise (and please excuse my forthrightness...but this is just life and how it is...) one of our options is to do nothing - to discontinue treatments and simply live life for as long as God allows. That is something we considered in the beginning, but treatment offered hope of remission and so we pressed on - and believe you me, we WILL continue on! Should treatment no longer offer the hope of remission, we may just "live life". I say "we may" because I know that I do not have a death wish - I may just get very desperate to hang on to life for what I hope is much longer. We may participate in trial treatments, we may try different chemo drugs - just don't know at this point. Thank you for your prayers concerning all this...we just ask that we have wisdom to make decisions that ultimately will honor God and bring Him glory. I said to someone just the other day that I had just asked God to allow me more time here because there were things I still wanted to do and talents & abilities He has blessed me with that aren't used up yet! My gas tank still has fuel in it!!!

One of the side effects of chemo is something called "chemo brain". Have you heard of it? It's a "condition" that happens after having chemo where you forget, or worse yet, don't even know you're supposed to remember or haven't a clue what's going on. I think I had that before chemo even started!! Oh - and my hair...I still have my hair!! Can you believe it? On my head anyway - and that's most important. I haven't much hair left on my arms, though I still have eyebrows. I've tried a couple of scarves - I end up looking like a pirate. Or a gypsy - just need large gold hoop earrings and I'm all set. I haven't any talent in this scarf department.

Please continue to pray for Don. I woke up the other night to scurry to the bathroom and he was awake. He's never awake in the night. Never. Later that morning I asked him if he's awake much in the night and he said a little, usually around 4 or so. I asked him how come? He said he's just concerned about me and is praying. He keeps a lot inside, I know, but I was glad for his sharing this little insight into the burden he carries. Thank you for praying for him.

Well, I've rambled on enough. Thank you for your love and care, for your prayers, for your faithfulness to God that encourages us to be faithful, for your willingness to be used by God in so many ways right where you live and work. May God be pleased with the attitude of your heart and the tasks of your life - and if not, may you take a look anew and have the courage to make a change.

Love you,
Deb