Dear Reader:

As I started thinking about the blog today…I wondered how I could possibly “top” Thursday, July 16…a day filled with wonderful news for Betsy from her surgeon that all the cancer had been removed from the thyroid and the parathyroids and lymph nodes had come back “clean.” We have all just witnessed a true miracle with our beloved Betsy and it couldn’t have happened to more deserving young daughter, mother and wife…whose philosophy through this whole ordeal has remained “All is good.” And so it is!

Then Brookie heard the wonderful news she had been waiting to hear for a long time…that, not only, is she a grandmother…but a grandmother who will have a grandson to love.

Of course, I, also, experienced blessings from God through a guardian angel, to me by the “transmission medium” of a “whisper” and an amazing woman named Janet Bender.

Eva Cate finished strong at her princess camp and came home with a special award for artistic creativity…glowing with the special recognition.

Finally…right before I headed to bed Thursday night…I skimmed down Facebook and lo and behold Mev Shieder was sharing some encouraging news about (James)/ her husband’s latest  report from his surgeon showing his  lung x-rays looking good and his medication/treatment kicking in..the oncologist is quite pleased, also, with the turn of events.

I was so “high” from all this good news that it took me a long time to settle down long enough to fall asleep.

I am planning on writing the organizers of  this year’s Relay for Life and suggest the following “mantra” (found in the title message today) be included in the Cancer Survivor’s annual celebration.

“Always believe something wonderful is going to happen”…because it does! Now we just need to add the song “Happy” to the program and I think all of us “survivors” will be dancing off the stage….totally caught up in the “moment”…that special “moment” where a lifetime of happiness can be lived.

Through these past roller coaster days of waiting, worrying, wondering, praying, and counting blessings… something special has  been secretly growing in my garden…waiting for just the right moment to emerge…a garden “miracle” to bring July 16th (with all its waves of joy) to a “crowning” finish.

Do you see all the buds on my Passion Flower vine…especially the one on top? For days I have run out (each morning) to see if any buds have popped out in full bloom. Don’t you find this rather “miraculous” for a plant that normally blooms around Easter (thus the name) to choose the hottest part of July to bloom again?

Then yesterday morning…I ran over to the fence and the top bud had bloomed overnight….I told Brooke and Libby that this “crowning glory” arrived at the perfect time to announce a new child’s future entrance into the world (Brooke’s grandson) and Betsy’s report from her surgeon…cancer -free!

So until tomorrow…Always remember that God can “top” anything (no matter how daunting) at anytime to show us how much He loves us so!

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

* I had just finished typing this post…getting ready to “close shop ” for  the day when I thought I heard something….it was rain…beautiful rain. I have been praying for it all week (for the garden) and Summerville finally got our turn on the last day of the work week.

I did have to snicker when I saw the rain coming down…another “topper“…I told God that He was just showing off now…I thought I heard another chuckle back… amidst the rumbling thunder.

* Mandy brought Jakie and Eva Cate over yesterday so I could see them before they leave on vacation and (more importantly) get a big hug from each grandchild to last through the week…they fly out Monday afternoon. Have fun Turner family!

* More good news just coming in! Rut Rut Ding-Truck got the cast off his leg yesterday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Way to go Rutledge…he got a “standing” ovation from the waiting room crowd that fell in love with him and his Hess truck while waiting to see the doctor! He was very brave. Rutledge sure knows how to “work” a crowd!!! I reckon it’s true what they say about a man and his truck! Our little “macho” man!