Prayers, praises and pots of chili.

Prayers:

-  Marcy, the granddaughter of my gallery director, found out on Monday that she has a "hot spot" somewhere in the region of her collarbone.  She is going for a biopsy on Thursday to have the doctors formulate a treatment plan.  One plan would be a bone transplant.  Another plan would be treatment at a facility that would require travel.  Marcy was diagnosed with lymphoma and went through a bone marrow transplant this past spring.  (If memory serves on the time.)  Marcy is young.  She is in her 20's.  The treatment for the lymphoma in her lungs has thrown her into early menopause.  Her hair fell out.  The treatments made her incredibly ill.  This setback is very devastating for Marcy, Maggie and her whole family, I'm sure. 

-  Karen, our church secretary, has been suffering from some breathing issues.  They cannot figure out what is wrong with her.  A bone marrow biopsy (I suppose it was something like that) ruled out cancer.  PRAISE!!!  Still, she is basically like a case for Dr. House, as they cannot figure out why she is in the condition she is in.  She has been in the hospital for a week and a half. 

-  Josh, a friend's son, fell off of his bike on Monday.  He crashed kind of hard and there were witnesses that saw it.  He was crying, but can be a bit dramatic anyhow, so they watched him.  After a few hours, the crying persisted and dinner went untouched.  A trip to the ER confirmed that his leg is broken in 5 different places.  (Small fractures.)  He kind of twisted his leg as he went down since he was trying to brace himself.  He is in a cast above his knee and is not to place any weight on his leg at all.  He has three siblings ranging from 6 weeks to 3 1/2 years.  Josh's 6th birthday was Tuesday.  :(

Praise:
-  Karen's NO CANCER ruling.  Oh, how that e-mail brought instant tears to my eyes.  I know that I inhaled a deep, cleansing breath. 
-  Mom is healing nicely.
-  A friend's husband got spectacular news regarding a health issue he had been suffering.  He has been cleared and the weight of that health problem was able to leave him. 
-  K-'s penmanship was so wonderful on her spelling test tonight, that I gave her a Japanese eraser as a reward and incentive to keep up the good work.  Her penmanship (she's 6 remember) can be a little dreadful, so I was glad to see her working so hard to improve it.  Whatever her teacher is doing with them in class is working wonders.  

Our first fall leaf of the season!



Pots of chili:



Since mom is still on the mend, my sister and I are still trying to flip my parents a few meals each week.  If she catches a double meal night and I catch one, it gives them a few to fend for themselves.  I called my mom, told her that the chill in the air had inspired me and that I was going to make chili.  I offered my parents a pot.  (Dad loves my chili.)  As K- read to me last night, I cooked and chopped.  After I got her to bed, I finished the prep and delivered a pot for my dad to plug in on his way out the door to work. 

Mom called and said that my dad had come home for lunch and ate two bowls of chili for lunch. 



He ate another bowl for dinner.

He still has half the pot left.

My message on their answering machine?  "I cannot be held liable for any middle of the night attacks of heartburn or any backlash that may be experienced tomorrow."

I made a batch big enough to split, so K- and I had a crock pot full awaiting us when we got home.  It was so funny to hear her talk about the chili to Hubs as they were walking in the door.  Made my heart happy that she was that excited for chili!



Smiles in my day:

-  Included above.