Dear Reader:

While watering the garden yesterday I noticed these beautiful fall leaves growing in among the state flower, the Yellow Jessamine vine. It made me stop and put down the hose to go grab my Iphone and take a picture. More and more these days my eyes see things they never would have noticed in my earlier life.

I think what life takes away from us through the aging process…God embellishes through “different lens”  to allow us to see what we once overlooked.

Until yesterday a sort of black cloud seemed to have been hanging over me…In the past week my car has broken down, my comode on the B&B side has required major (expensive) surgery, and my oven quit heating or broiling. (unfortunately it involves more than just the two elements to replace and fix it)

On the bright side…since I have two apartments with two sets of appliances life goes on but only one car and my mechanic is closed until after Thanksgiving. So what happened? Friends and neighbors have “carted” me around and loaned me their cars for appointments and errands to the extent that I have hardly missed a beat. Thank you Lord for retired gracious, generous friends…Jane, Anne, Gin-g and Vickie! There is no way I could  have done it without you.

It was Gin-g’s drive, you might remember, that took me to the Charleston Cancer Center for a CT scan of my chest, stomach and pelvis. (It was the scan that required the yucky barium drink) You might also recall, however, that it ended up being so much better than I feared originally with the wonderful Sheila, lab technician, there to help me through it.

Yesterday it was my friend/neighbor, Vickie, who provided the “wheels” to “THE” appointment…to get the results. After all the “bad mojo” of late I was less than confident about the results. My stomach was in knots. Even if I had never had cancer I would have been nervous. I figured by this time in life… I couldn’t imagine all those x-ray pictures not finding something “off.”

Of course, my greatest fear, was that my cancer might have metastasized to other areas of my body…my lungs, liver, pancreas, stomach….you name it…my thoughts had gone there. After all this time what were the odds something hasn’t moved somewhere I didn’t give it permission to?

The uneasiness was also increased due to the sudden, unexpected transitional period I had been in since my long-time friend and trusted oncologist’s departure…for the last four months.

I had a long talk with God and turned it over to Him…this was so far out of my problem-fixing range that it was useless to even attempt to control any of the factors involved in this CT scan. And guess what? I slept soundly through the night and felt a calm, that no matter how the results went…it would still, somehow, be okay. And it was!

Dr. Jeter came in with a big smile and said she had some very good news for me. There was no sign that anything had metastasized! I almost fell off the examination table I was so relieved. (In fact a few spots were reexamined…They were not malignant but ended up being old scar tissues formed from extended radiation and other long-term effects from other treatments and medications.)

These “scars” are my medals of honor…a testimony to the trials, tribulations and love of life that propel me to continue fighting for it… fighting for family, children, grandchildren, friends and people I am still to meet.

I am cooking and getting ready for family and friends tonight with a joyous heart…a special Pre-Thanksgiving gathering to thank God for His continued support and love so I can continue loving those who will come after me. Amen.

So until tomorrow….Gratitude, Thankfulness, Love! I am so happy to be here to feel these emotions today!

“This is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

*All my Japanese Maple “grandchildren” are in their most unique beautiful glory right now. Eva Cate, Rutledge, Jakie, and Lachlan!

And they are off….John, Mandy, Eva Cate and Jakie are off to Huntsville to spend Thanksgiving with WT and Joan! Have fun everyone! Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving One and All!