Boomerang Express Day 5

G'Day!

I am on auto-type right now! So exhausted, but so filled with joy from our wonderful week at VBS! We had a great "trip" to the Outback on the Boomerang Express! All total we had 4 kids give their lives to Jesus this week, which is why we do Bible School!

I should probably explain why our pastor got hit in the face with a pie this morning! Every year, we take an offering for VBS...we take either canned goods or money, but the offering is calculated by weight. And it's BOYS VS. GIRLS! Oh my gosh, if you don't think this is a serious competition every year, you don't know our pastor very well! LOL He is so fabulous with children and LOVES to get them going every morning with "BOY, BOY, BOY" chants or "Boys rule, Girls drool!" Now we keep it all in perspective, too...our donations, both money and food, goes to the Missouri Baptist Children's Home and the children do a terrific job every year of raising money and food for them. Brother Ron is our Pastor and Amy is our VBS Director and if the girls win the weekly weigh-in, then she gets to hit Bro. Ron in the face with a pie! If the boys win, then he gets to hit her in the face with a pie! The kids LOVE it!!Today was swim day. The last day at VBS at our church has always been the day we take the K-5th grade to the church camp pool to swim and have a hot dog lunch. The 2's/3's/preschoolers have a water play-day at the church with a big blow up waterslide and kiddie pools. Everybody has a ball!


It has been a wonderful week here at VBS! I am so thankful that God gave me the health and the strength to be able to teach again this year! It's a lot of work but I enjoy it, and the kids that come back every single year love it too. My prayer, now, is first for REST! LOL Then for some of the things we have said or done this week to speak to the hearts of the children and they will take away very important lessons. I know I remember VBS every year when I was a kid and I know it was an important part of my faith development. I am very excited that God allowed me to be a part of these children's faith this week!

Boomerang Express Day 4

So sorry no Day 4 post last night...I had a certain hubby that needed some attention! As soon as I opened my laptop I heard a huge *sigh* coming from the couch and I knew my attention was needed elsewhere! He's been working 14-ish hour days all week getting a house finished by tomorrow so he's been a little stressed and needed some TLC.We had another great day at VBS yesterday! I can tell that the kids are starting to get tired, as are the teachers, because everybody is moving a little slower than they were on Monday! But it was another great time with another great lesson and we livened up our room with a little loud praise and worship music and some dancing! Who says you can't worship the LORD with the dance??!

Boomerang Express Day 3 - What It's All About

G'day, Mates! I am writing today with a very excited, but also very serious heart. I was reminded today exactly why we do Vacation Bible School each and every summer. I was reminded why we all work so hard to get rooms in order and snacks made, lesson plans laid out and songs memorized. It is for the ultimate Glory that it brings to our God. It is for the pleasure that He takes when He sees a sanctuary full of children singing His praises. And it is for the possibility that His message will touch one child's heart and they will commit to live their life for Christ Jesus.Today, that's exactly what happened. Little 11-year old Courtney, who just helped her Mom bury her Dad last week after he fought a very fierce but quick battle with cancer, gave her heart and her life to Jesus this morning. She said that she wanted to, but wasn't sure exactly what to pray and what to say. I went and got Amy, our VBS Director, and we took Courtney into the sanctuary to talk to her and explain to her the act of being saved. And right there, inbetween Amy and I, Courtney gave her life to Jesus in the sweetest little prayer I have ever heard. I had to hold back my tears as she prayed and afterwards when she thanked us for praying with her.

Folks, this is what it's all about. Life...the everlasting kind. The kind that can only be received by accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. It doesn't matter what kind of past you may have had, or the things you have done. If you accept Jesus as your personal Savior, He wipes it all away if you ask Him to. And it doesn't have to be done as a child or in a church...beauty is, you can accept Christ as your Savior ANYWHERE, ANYTIME! Right where you sit, or while you're driving, in the shower or on vacation God will hear our prayer. Wow! I am just so excited for Courtney and her family and give God all the Praise, Honor, and Glory for her salvation today! It's a happy day!!

In case anyone out there is also wondering, like Courtney, how to pray a prayer of salvation it can go something like this:

"Father I know that I am a sinner and I am sorry for my sins. Please forgive me, and help me not to sin again. I want to turn away from my sinful life and live a life for You. I believe that Your Son, Jesus, was crucified on the cross, died, and was buried in order to pay for my sins. I believe that He rose from the dead 3 days later and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to be the Lord of my life and reign in my heart from this instant forward. Please help me to obey your commandments and to do Your will forever. In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen."

Have a beautiful rest of your day!

Boomerang Express Day 2

G'day, Mates! Outback Guide Miss Erica here! Reporting on today's journey that took us deep into the Outback and God's Word!Today our mission was to learn the many ways we can worship Jesus and what verses in the Bible support those ways. We learned that we can PRAY, READ THE BIBLE,

AND SING PRAISES.

And these are just a few of the ways that God looks at us with approval and loving eyes.

We had a total of 77 kids today!! We grew by 6! YAY!! I pray that tomorrow would be even bigger and better and that, above all, God's Will would be done in all that we do.

Have a great Tuesday evening, Mates!

Boomerang Express Day 1

G'Day, Mates!

We had our first day of Vacation Bible School today. Our time frame is 9-12. I got up and at 'em at 530am and had some coffee and 45 mins or so of quiet time before going downstairs and hitting the TM for a 5 mile run. Fantastic! It always starts my day right. You know what else starts my Monday morning out right?? 71 KIDS AT VBS THIS MORNING!! This is our highest Monday total ever! We were so excited! I have the oldest age group and we only had 6 but that just leaves room for growth...I encouraged positive "peer pressure," telling my kids to invite, invite, invite! I can't wait to see what happens the rest of the week as kids invite kids and other kids remember that it's this week. Very exciting! I love, love, love, to see kids gathering together and getting excited about the Lord! It's seriously one of my fave things!!

So here's a few pics of our day today. I meant to take more but didn't remember my camera until later...oops! OK, off to figure out what's for dinner around here...I.have.no.earthly.idea.

Hooroo, all! (That's Aussie-speak for "Goodbye! See you later!")

4 Left!

YAY! Praise God I am another Herceptin down!! OMGoodness, I only have 4 left!! I am beyond ready to get these behind me and move on. Yesterday went great. We left our house a little before 5am, yes, I said 5am...which meant that I had to get up at 4. Ugh. But I had labs at 8am so it couldn't be helped. Truth be told, I would rather get up and get it all done early rather than it dragging into the afternoon. But anyway, I had labs at 8, all went pretty good. My wbc and my absolute neutrophils (which show my risk for "catching a bug") were both a little low, but just barely...and everything else was perfect. I figure my lows are probably a result of doing too much lately and not having much down time...maybe 3 40 mile weeks in a row is a bit much right now. After that we went to the Cardiac Testing Suite and had my echo. I had a very sweet, but very "old school" tech who insisted that she could not tell me anything, that the radiologist would read my echo and would send the report to my dr...but she DID tell me that she didn't think I had anything to worry about, *wink, wink*. So while I didn't leave with a number, I did leave feeling very happy with what she did say, or didn't say...whatever. ;-)Following my echo we went back to the treatment center and got called back into our private suite for my Herceptin infusion. Yes, I said private suite! I was a little bummed at first because I kinda like being out front around all the action and other people...more things to look at, more people to talk to and such. But....I must admit, I liked the suite. It had a big tv, and we could really kick back and just chill for an hour. Actually, though, we didn't even turn on the tv and Jack just sat there and was ornery with the nurses and I played with my new iPhone for the hour! My very fave nurse Renee (that's us below) came to see us for awhile and she is just a hoot! She was my nurse for my very first chemo and she taught us so much and was so positive, I thoroughly believe she was sent from God. She eased all my anxieties from Day 1 and I can always count on her to answer and question or just sit there and gab. She and her new hubby love to float the river and they may come down and visit before the summer's over...I hope so! I got my script to start my anti-estrogen pills yesterday. They put me on Femara. So now my ovaries are shut down AND I'm taking an anti-estrogen meds...LORD, please help my husband! I am praying that I can't even tell that I'm taking them...Hey, don't laugh, God delights when we PRAY BIG! heehee And, like Beth says, if I'm gonna err, I'm gonna err on the side of faith!! :-D

We had a quick bite to eat at the Olive Garden then after a quick stop at the mall, we headed home. I.was.exhausted. I could hardly hold my eyes open. I guess after getting up so early, and the relaxation of finally having another echo and Herceptin over with, my body was just ready to rest. So needless to say, I'm not doing anything today...no run, not even a walk. Just as little as possible. I am going to mentally prepare for our week of VBS, which begins on Monday and sit here and have some couch time.

Thank you all so much for your thoughts and prayers for my appointment yesterday...I felt every single one! Have a great weekend, friends!

Decorating Day!

G'Day, Mates!! (I'm just getting into character and getting ready for our incredibly awesome time we are going to have next week at Vacation Bible School...)

After a speedy 6 mile run this morning, I got cleaned up and the kids and I headed to the church to get our decorating on! We started a little before 10 and were finished a little after 1. We had most of our stuff designed and done, we just had to empty out the youth room and start building. Our outback Bible ranch turned out awesome! Tyler's front porch that he built had guests coming and looking into our room all morning. Zachary helped to occupy Katie, which helped more than anything!

I did in fact mention to Tyler yesterday about how his working and building was so pleasing to God and is a form of worship. How God is so proud of him for giving selflessly of himself and using his talents that God gave him for His Glory. And you know what he said to me? He said, "You know, I thought about that when I was praying last night. That I bet God's pretty proud of me." Ah, let me tell ya, brought a tear to my eye and a smile to this mama's heart for sure! I have prayed that God would open his heart, especially as he gets older and is influenced by who-knows-what, that he would be a good example and be open to what God wants to use him for. Just hearing that he prayed by himself was awesome! God is working! Praise Him!! Maybe he hasn't quite outgrown VBS yet... :-)

We had a great time getting things in order for VBS next week! All aboard for the Boomerang Express where it all comes back to Jesus!!

On a separate note...I am going to STL tomorrow for Herceptin #13 of 17 and a heart echo. If you would please keep our trip and our tests in your prayers, I would be so grateful! I am BELIEVING GOD that my echo will be as strong or stronger than before and that my labs will be great. I am BELIEVING HIM for a great #13 and that I will be coming home tomorrow afternoon with only 4 left! According to His word, I "will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD." Psalm 112:7 Love ya'll!! Muah!

Running Buddy

I had the most beautiful run this morning!

I've been catching up with a friend on Facebook lately who is training for the Chicago Marathon in October. She is home visiting her parents for a week or two and I told her that we should run together sometime. Well today was that day! She was scheduled for 6 miles according to her training plan, so we hit the park a little before 6 this morning and had the most wonderful run! It was so cool outside and very low humidity (what?! In July??). It almost felt like a fall run this morning...my fave! We went a little over 6 miles in an hour and it.felt.great.

I'm always nervous about running with someone new. I never know how they pace, what their goals are (speed, time?), their run/walk pattern, or maybe no pattern, etc. But I think I may have found the perfect running buddy! We kept on perfect pace the entire time, I never felt like I was dragging her slower, or vice versa. So YAY for a FABULOUS start to the day!!

I am going to finish my last two lesson plans for Bible School this morning so that I can finish my list, then the kids and I are heading to PB to gather supplies. Tyler is already out working on the set this morning...he is such a wonderful helper. In studying for yesterday's lesson for Day 2 of VBS, it was all about worship: how we can worship God. At one point students are asked to list ways they can worship God. I need to tell Tyler today that his help and his dedication to VBS is most definitely a form of worship! God appreciates all he's doing...and so do I!

I hope ya'll have a great Wednesday! Hey, week's halfway over!!

Busy Busy Girl!

Hey all!

I hope that everyone had a fantastic holiday weekend! I can't believe that summer's half over already. Sheesh. We had a very crazy busy weekend...it's busy enough having a 3-day holiday, but throw a 3-day family reunion into the mix and it's downright hectic. I did enjoy myself this weekend, but needless to say, I was ready to come home so I could relax!

We did get to enjoy "practicing" with our new toys this past weekend...2 new jet skis! Well, new to us, anyway. My hubby got a great deal on them and we were super excited to hop on and try them out. THEY WERE AWESOME!!! I've never driven one myself and found that once I did, I didn't want to quit! *Here's to more ways to enjoy our beautiful river!*

Couple of sad notes to add to the weekend, a friend who was diagnosed with cancer in February lost his fight on Thursday. Mark was 48 and left behind a wife and 3 kids...so young and so quick. Then on Sunday, about an hour after we left the river, there was a terrible boating accident just near our place. Two boats collided and a 25-year-old man and an 11-year-old boy were both killed. According to our neighbor, alcohol played a major role in the crash. It was a big reminder to us that the river is beautiful and fun but can also be very dangerous if you don't exercise caution and, um, common sense.
Today I have been knee-deep in my preparations for Vacation Bible School, which is next week. I am teaching 4th & 5th grade and I love that age group! They are big enough to sit still and listen and answer questions, but still young enough to be "kids." It's my fave group! So today I am going through my lessons and will finish tomorrow. Tyler, bless his little heart, has been outside in the shop all day constructing my "set" for my classroom. Our theme is Boomerang Express 'It All Comes Back to Jesus' and we are having an Outback Camp for our room setting. He has been actually building the outside of our ranch house today. I'll have to post pics as soon as we get it all set up! We are going to decorate on Thursday.


Then Friday, it's yet another trip to STL for Herceptin. I have an echo of my heart Friday also; another to check to make sure the Herceptin is doing no damage to my heart. I dread these so much because I am always afraid that something will show up that won't allow me continue my "cure." But I am trying not to focus on the negative! I am believing that it is going to show either no change or a strengthening! I only have 5 treatments left, so I am praying that I will be able to continue right on schedule. I want to be done SO BAD! Ahhhhh, I'm so close!!

Please LORD give me, and my heart, the strength to complete these last 5 treatments on schedule. Go before me and take away all my anxiety because I know that You "have not given us a spirit of fear, but of love, and power, and a sound mind" 2 Timothy 1:7. Amen.

I am also waiting, rather impatiently, for my new iPhone to arrive this week. I am hoping that my tracking is accurate and it arrives on Thursday in time for me to take it to STL on Friday! I will have plenty of time to play with it and, hopefully, get it figured out. Plus, playing with it will take my mind off of all the other stuff we get to go do! *crosses fingers!*

And lastly, I have mentally decided to run the Disney Princess 1/2 Marathon next March at Disney World!! I am beyond excited and of course, with a large family and a self-run business it is hard to commit to anything this far out, but I am putting it firmly on my radar with the hopes that it will all work out and I can register soon. I am very excited about this possibility! And the kids just wanna go see Mama sweat so they can go to Disney...ok, whatever! Looks like 240 days til race day! *teehee*

So I hope you are all doing well and enjoying some good summertime, wherever you are! I am still reading all my blog friends, even if I don't have as much time to comment or post as much right now. I love ya'll!! <3

PS- If you are looking for a great cause to donate to, check out Jenna or Caitlin's Team In Training pages. Team in Training raises funds to help stop leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma from taking more lives. It is such a great cause, and I am so proud of these girls for their commitment to their races and the cause. Go Girls!!

Wipeout and Princesses

Hey all! How's your week going so far?? Looking forward to a short week, maybe, or just a wonderful holiday weekend? Me too. After I posted on Sunday, I ended up having such a good day! Praise God! The weather was beautiful and I went for a marvelous run outside then enjoyed the day with my hubby and my babies. We sat on the riverbank for awhile and watched the kids swim, then we took the boat out for a little while and just rode and enjoyed the sunshine without the beastly heat and humidity we have had here for about a week. It was so beautiful, at 830pm we were still on the deck looking at the river talking about what a wonderful day it was. That's the sign of a good day, my friends!

Now I have a first to report to you: my first running accident. I have been running for 5 years now and have never had a wipeout like I did yesterday morning! Let me set the stage for ya...I stepped outside a little before 7 yesterday morning, the sun was shining and it was 59*...OMgosh! Could it be any more perfect?! I cranked my praise and worship on my iPod and headed out for a hour or so. It was perfect. Probably the best outdoor run I have ever had. I was about a mile and a half from the cabin on my way home, just sailing right along, feeling fantastic when -splat!- I tripped over a rock I guess and I proceeded to eat some gravel. Like, literally, I had gravel in my gum! When I got up and surveyed the damage, I had scrapes to my leg, both forearms, both hands, and my chin (decided to save you the gory pics!). It hurt so bad and I wanted to cry, but nobody was anywhere around to cry to! Thank God I didn't injure myself worse or I would have been sitting on the road for awhile waiting for someone to pick me up! After I assessed my injuries, I dusted myself off and started walking back to the cabin but with blood pooling in my hands I decided that I would get there faster if I ran, so I did. So anyway, I am fine just banged up a little! The deep scrape on my left palm is the worst, so tender and sore. Luckily the Lord guarded my right hand/arm and it's not near as bad as my left. But I probably will start some antibiotics of some sort today to ward off any infection and subsequent swelling, since I don't have any lymph nodes to fight off any infection that may develop. And I can tell my platelets are still in the low range of normal because down my left leg are several bruises where I hit the rocks in the gravel, I guess. Am I completely backwards that I am proud, though, that I got my wounds from running?? You runners out there know what I'm talkin 'bout!

We came home for our big Monday evening at our Sunday School teacher's house: a Princess Party! Quite a few of us have little girls in the toddler/preschool/school-age age group so Janet decided to throw a party to pamper God's Little Princesses (which we all are, aren't we?!). It was a perfect evening! Each girl had a mani/pedi, facial, makeup, hair, crown, and put on their fancy dresses. Can you imagine a party better suited for Katie?? We had "champagne" fruit punch in tall flutes and finger sandwiches and snacks then afterwards we headed to the Jolly Cone (our local fast food/ice cream place) so the princesses could show off their beautiful-ness and have ice cream with m&m sprinkles. It was a wonderful evening for the girls and their mamas. It was one I think Katie will remember forever, I know I will! Here are just a few of the highlights:

At the end of the party we had a little time for a devotional. We talked about how it's not about how you look on the outside, which is fine and wonderful to get all dolled up, but God wants us to be just as beautiful (even moreso) on the inside. He wants our hearts to be pretty, too. The girls were taught the saying, "Pretty is as pretty does."

On another note, Michelle just called with the report from my chest xray and it looks like nothing serious. They said they couldn't rule out pneumonia, bronchitis, or the radiation pneumonitis...but there was nothing that ends in "-oma;" I don't like those sort of words. So that's good. All other possibilities can be treated and taken care of rather easily. They recommended a repeat in 4-5 days to compare. She will fax the report to my drs in STL and they can determine what they want done. Praise God for answered prayers!!!

I hope everyone has a great Tuesday!

Not Quite Myself

What a week, ya'll! Sorry it's been a WEEK since my last post...geez. Not much has gone on other than I am on a serious search for my hormones. OMGoodness...no hot flashes or night sweats, yet. BUT, some serious "downtime" and for a bright-side optimistic kind of girl, it's no fun. It all started with a few tears over a commercial, then into concerns about some shortness of breath and a dry cough that I've seemed to develop, and finally into anxiety and fears about a recurrence of my breast cancer. SERIOUSLY!

What is the DEAL?!

This is SO not me!! I have to keep reminding myself that the hormones are no good for me and I am doing by body so good by getting rid of them, but now I need an antidepressant! Running has been my saving grace...I am always in a good mood after I run, but I can't run all day long. But my morning endorphins have been nice. Um, back to the cough...thanks to my friend Tiffany who is going through the same thing, I think I may have figured out my problem. Radiation pneumonitis is common for those who have had radiation to the chest area...symptoms are shortness of breath and a dry cough. So when I called my dr, they agreed that it did sound like that's what it was, but ordered a chest xray to be sure. Michelle did one on Friday and there was a cloudy area in my right lung, so it's the right side for the radiation exposure. Of course in my frame of mind, I asked her if it was lung cancer...to which she responded, "uh, no." She said it just looks like the radiation exposure inflammation. Of course a radiologist will read it this week and they will send the results to Michelle and to my dr. I am praying that it's nothing else. My mind is just working overtime right now...

I have prayed every day for God to take all this anxiety that's building in me right now. I DO trust Him, completely; I DO surrender my fears and worries to Him every day. I'm just waiting patiently for His strength and peace to fall all over me.

This week He timed a perfect devotion just for me: It was titled "Why Worry?" It says that if you find yourself struggling to let go of worry, try praying Scripture daily that reminds you that God is truly sovereign. He is the One who is ultimately in control our safety and well being. Psalm 91:1-2 says, "The one who lives under the protection of the Most High dwells in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, 'My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.' "

I hope you have a blessed Sunday! Here's to a brighter day!! :-)