What's The Plan?

Over-Ripe Bananas and the Amish

2012-02-19T18:10:00.000-08:00

One of the neat things aboutliving in the Mid-West is an Amish sighting. Seeing them stoically riding along in their horse-drawn buggies with those precious little Amish children still thrills me like looking outto see the snow silently falling. During the eight years I was gone from this area, I had forgotten aboutthe weekly Amish Cook column by Lovina Eicher in our Sunday paper. The column was first written by hermother, Elizabeth Coblentz, who died during the time I lived here before. Theformat is the same. There isalways an account of what has gone on that week in her life and a recipe thatyou should always try.

This morning, her column had a recipe for Banana Nut CoffeeCake. The three over-ripe (nearlyrotten!) bananas in a bowl on my counter were about to be tossed; so, I decidedto save them from the garbage and try it. I usually make banana bread (my son’s favorite) with over-ripe bananas,but that gets so boring. (I’mnursing a sick husband this weekend, so baking was a welcomed diversion.)

I start grabbing all the ingredients and discover that I amout of flour (recall former post on why this is NOT a cooking blog). I had cake flour, which would probablyhave worked fine; but, since we also needed some Advil, I escaped to thegrocery store.

The recipe calls for a 9x13 pan…also boring. I had just thrown away the remains of achicken pot pie I had made from scratch, and a nice round casserole dish washandy. It’s a nice change andpresents a challenge to actually slice and serve! It was yummy… moist and just sweet enough. The topping reminds me of my sweetpotato casserole recipe.

Enjoythis Banana Nut Coffee Cake:

Cake:

½ cup oil

½ cup milk

2 eggs

2 mashed bananas

1 cup packed brown sugar

1½ cups flour

1 cup chopped nuts (I usedtoasted pecans)

1½ teaspoons baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon baking soda

Preheatoven to 350°. In a large mixing bowl combine all theingredients and beat until smooth and creamy. Pour into a greased 9x13-inch pan.

Topping:

1 cup brown sugar

¼ teaspoon cinnamon

½ cup nuts

2 tablespoons butter

4 tablespoons flour

Combinesugar, cinnamon, flour, nuts and cut in butter. Sprinkle on top of cake.

Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes.

Cool; but cut yourself a piece while it’s still warm! (Sick boy even managed to pull himself off the sofa to try a piece.)

For more Amish Cookinformation, “like” The Amish Cook Fan Page.

This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24

Why This Isn't a Cooking Blog, Pet Scans and Wall Art

2011-09-20T12:57:00.000-07:00

I love to cook. Finding a delicious-looking picture and tackling a new recipe are exhilarating. And, since I gave up meat, it makes the cooking even more challenging. Can I create something that even my carnivorous family will enjoy? It's been chilly and raining, so my mind always turns to soup. I love using every vegetable I can find, throw in a little whole-grain pasta, and make a skillet of corn bread. One of my friends calls it "mystery soup," and my husband says it's really more like stew, and there certainly isn't a recipe! Hence, Reason #1 that I don't have a cooking blog. Sometimes, I can't be bothered with a recipe. Besides, I'm from Louisiana and most recipes just need a little more spicing up.

Pinterest has become my latest obsession (now that I'm caught up on all the past episodes of Breaking Bad...sorry, it's like a bad accident you can't stop looking at!). I've repinned some awesome recipes and tried a few immediately. This Snickerdoodle cake was a break from chocolate for me. Don't get me wrong, chocolate is still the preferred dessert in our home, but this was so pretty and light (hah!) with a touch of spice. Took a while to make.... quite a few steps.

Source: foodiewithfamily.com via Karen on Pinterest

Which leads me to Reason #2 I don't have a cooking blog. I'm a WIPER! My mother was a wiper. I have to clean as I go, which includes washing the bowls, mixing cups, beaters, and wiping the counter top, the floor and anything else that flour sifted all over. Now, my sister-in-law Johnette is the best cook I know. Amazing, since she couldn't cook doodly-squat when she married my brother. But, the two mothers in her life were amazing cooks, and she paid attention..... except for the wiping and cleaning part. She can DESTROY a kitchen while concocting the always amazing ten-course meals she loads on her trestle table. But, that's what makes the two of us an unbeatable team. I come behind her washing and wiping (annoying the stew out of her, I'm sure) and voila! It's magic. But, I just can't see cooking, wiping and taking pictures of what I'm doing all at that same time. That's why Martha Stewart has a staff.

And, Reason #3. I cook on impulse. This is why I love my iphone, Netflix streaming, Kindle, and anything that provides immediate answers and gratification. I acknowledge the flaw in my personality. So, when I see something that looks great, I quickly peruse the ingredients, and if I think I have everything I need, I begin. However, 80% of the time, I am missing an ingredient or don't have quite enough of what I need, so I stop and dash to the grocery store (or sometimes I can beg my husband to go for me). It's never as simple as borrowing an egg or a cup of sugar, believe me.

So, while I may share a recipe with you every now and then, I won't be dedicating this space to cooking. I'm keeping that for fun.

No easy transition here, so I'll just say that I saw the oncologist, dermatologist, had blood work, and had my routine pet scan (is there such a thing?) last Friday and got results on Monday. All was clear. God continues to bless me in amazing ways, keeps the melanoma away, and allows me to enjoy this life abundantly.

I so admire my artistic friend Janice Wood in Birmingham, Alabama. She customizes and paints these adorable crossword puzzle wall art (about four feet square). They are unique to each family, capturing special names, places, events, etc. I am thankful that there are talented people with the patience to create wonderful pieces like this. She pours a lot of love into these.

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:1)

Are you an impulse cooker?
Are you a wiper when you cook?

A Lot Can Happen in Six Months

2011-08-28T14:23:00.000-07:00

Half-a-year! That’s how long it’s been since I blogged. Not that I haven’t thought about blogging every single day, especially when I am continuously asked, “have you posted anything to your blog lately?” No!

And, getting started again is paralyzing. It’s like unpacking boxes. It just gets overwhelming. Oh, there’s plenty to blog about because there's been a lot going on since February. With every change in my life, I'm reminded of the meaning of my blog. I'm so thankful He knows the Plan!

A brief recap:

- Clear scans at M.D. Anderson in February. Melanoma still held in abatement.

- Round Top Antiques Fair in March

Visited handsome son in Beaver Creek, CO, in early April

My husband changed jobs in April

meaning…
We moved back to Muncie, Indiana, on May 1

My second precious grandson was born on May 5

After three weeks in a baby coma, finally arrived in Indiana to tackle boxes.

Then, a trip to London in early June

Grandson number 1 turned two in June.

Checked out what was new at Atlanta AmericasMart in July and enjoyed girl-time.

Trip to Argentina in August

Finally, tomorrow I'm beginning a new medical relationship at IU Medical Center in Indianapolis.

So, I’ll cover these events just like the boxes -- one at a time. I’ll throw in new daily stuff along the way, too.

Welcome back! Glad to see you, again.

Psalms 18:30
As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.

Room With A View

2011-02-02T17:23:00.000-08:00

Snow days in Dallas -- well, sort of. Ice and temperatures well below freezing have paralyzed most of the metro this week. I haven't left the house in two days -- have barely gotten off the sofa. I've loved it!

I made a giant pot of vegetable soup yesterday, and we have just hunkered down. My sweet Hudson has kept the fire blazing while we both worked from home. This has been my view today.

I will continue my de-clutter confessions, humble myself and tell you that today I disposed of 5,860 e-mails. I didn't do it lightly or hastily -- it took me hours and hours. (I have a formidable crick in my neck and severe tension in my shoulders. But, it's done.) Many of the messages need to be moved to folders so that they are preserved, but most were just TRASH and that's where they went.

So, I resolve that I will (try) to dispose of my e-mails daily so this doesn't happen again. There are days and days when I check mail from my iphone (while driving, of course) and never make it to my desk top, so this will take some discipline. I'll need some help!

1 Corinthians 14:40

Let all things be done decently and in order.

I'm Still Here

2011-01-31T21:02:00.000-08:00

Thank you, friends and family, for inquiring as to my well-being, no doubt motivated by my bogging absence since Thanksgiving. See this?

A couple of weeks ago, I forced myself to de-clutter my handbag. This is what I found in the bottom (in addition to a wadded-up $1,300 check given to me in early December by a client). This sort of sums up what my November and December were like. I decorated twelve Christmas trees, made a number of wreaths, completed a kitchen renovation project, installed two additional granite jobs, and finished four client projects which included draperies, bedding, a headboard, upholstery...... Whew! All before I left town on December 22 to spend twelve wonderful days in South Carolina with the Blue-eyed Bride clan. Along the way (since we drove, taking our time), we stopped for visits with friends and family in Louisiana and Alabama. I hardly checked e-mail or even phone calls during that period. I was in total decompression mode, and it was wonderful.

But, I DID come back to Dallas and reality and had to go through some de-clutter -- in my handbag, in my office, in my Suburban, sorting through twelve days of mail -- and get ready for two renovations projects starting in late January. I didn't go to market in Atlanta in January because of these projects, but I did check out the Dallas market to see what trends I could spot. The Dallas market doesn't hold a candle to AmericasMart in Atlanta, but there are some top-notch showrooms. Both Global Views and Arteriors are Dallas-based, so they have a nice presence in the Dallas market.

So, what are the trends? Bright colors and animals (heads, noses, antlers, all-things-animal). I was eager to see if Pantone's color for 2011 - Honeysuckle (the wild, bright pink variety) - would show up. It did.

And, plenty of peacocks!

All in all, there wasn't a lot to wow me, but I saw upbeat, happy, color. Still a lot of shabby-urban-neutral-distressed-gray. But there are bursts of color everywhere.... and that makes me HAPPY!

I'm working on some major color in two new little-people rooms. My grand niece Lily and grandson Hudson will be moving into big-girl/boy rooms soon, as their siblings arrive. New babies arriving in March and May, respectively. Lily has chosen a pink and purple theme; Hudson deferred to Blue-eyed Bride.

Two of the fabrics for Lily's happy room:

And, Hudson's:

Stay tuned for the finished rooms.

What else am I doing this year? Catching up with friends, planning some trips, reading the Bible through, seeing lots of movies (ones I didn't have time to see in December and early January), working with some new clients and some existing ones, loving my women's Bible study on Tuesday mornings and our amazing Sunday School class at First Baptist Dallas, trying to stay warm in this cold Dallas weather by burning lots of firewood (love reading my Bible by a roaring fire in the mornings), and being thankful for a new year to see God's plan unfold in our lives. I'm very thankful to have you along for the adventure.

I go back to M. D. Anderson on February 21 for another round of scans. And, by the way, I still have unpacked boxes. But, I'm making progress.

"Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." Isaiah 30:21 (NIV)

Are you listening?

Turkey Trot and Slipcovers

2010-11-25T13:44:00.000-08:00

I could wax philosophical on this Thanksgiving Day 2010. But, if you follow my blog, you already know how thankful I am for God's saving grace, His healing power, and His presence in my life and the lives of my husband and children.

I awoke this morning with an incredible sense of gratitude for living in a country of freedom where we can do whatever we want to today, including watching an annual parade spectacle (a tradition in our family),

sending Hudson, Todd, and Hudson off with numbers on their chests to participate in Dallas’s annual Turkey Trot 5k run/walk,

eating our favorite Thanksgiving food ALL DAY LONG starting with breakfast casserole and a little boy tasting his first ever real whipped cream straight from the beater,

watching football games cuddled on sofas (or in the bed) in front of a real wood fire because it’s turned cold here,

and texting and ichatting with our families, including our sweet Walker who has moved to Colorado to work and ski and won’t be with us this year.

I am so thankful for the young men and women who defend our country and help other countries experience the same freedom we enjoy. For all our warts, this is a great country in which we live!

And, today, I am thankful for some beautiful slipcovers…slipcovers that have been in the making for almost two years. I have been encouraged to post this story for a while, but I refused to even consider writing about them until they were safely wrapped around these chairs.

Beautiful chairs in their own right; but, my client/friend (uh, I think she’s still my friend after this endless saga of screw-ups!) wanted them to be even more beautiful with white, monogrammed slipcovers. And, so we began.

We found beautiful white fabric at Calico Corners. Perfect for our project. I work with an amazing upholsterer who can do anything and do it more beautifully than anyone else. He makes beautiful custom slipcovers, but he HATES making them. (Note for the uneducated: slipcovers are more labor intensive, require more fabric, and are just as costly, or more so, than upholstering. So, unless you need to uncover that furniture, don’t choose a slipcover.)

So, after weeks of brow-beating my upholsterer to finish the slipcovers, they arrived fall 2009. I whisked them away to the monogrammer, carefully choosing the design and pattern. That part was done in a few days, and they are delivered to a joyous client. They did need pressing, however, so she delivered them to her dry cleaners to be “pressed only.” NO NO NO! They washed them. Not just pressed or even dry- cleaned. WASHED. They came back smaller…shrunken…not fitting…too short. After a come-to-Jesus meeting with the cleaners, they ponied up and paid for the slipcovers.

Round 2! Our original fabric was back-ordered, so I found an alternative, more expensive, Kravet fabric. They eventually gave me a price break because they felt sorry for me. We arranged for the fabric to be shipped to my upholsterer. He received the fabric. More brow-beating ensued because he was making them a second time. Finally, they were completed AGAIN. I met him at the client’s house because I was there finishing another project. I eagerly got to his delivery van to receive the beautiful pieces so I could take them to be monogrammed. As I gazed into the van, I saw slipcovers that were not WHITE but ECRU, well practically yellow! I gasped, whisked them into my vehicle before my pregnant, emotional client could see the horror of what I was witnessing. The upholsterer gasped, too, because he was fast-forwarding into the future when we would have to make these things for a third time.

Kravet had shipped the wrong color-way. It took a few weeks, but they admitted their mistake and reimbursed me for their error. But, now that fabric was back-ordered.

Round 3! By now, this project has a code name – The Slipcovers from Hell!

Our beautiful Calico Corners fabric was available, ordered, and arrived. I visually approved the color and got it to my hero---my upholsterer, whom I had bribed, begged, and promised eternal love and gratitude if he would just make them one final time and please HURRY. He came through with flying colors, delivered them to me early Monday morning. I took them straight to be monogrammed, and they were ready by Tuesday afternoon. I had promised my client that the slipcovers would be delivered by Thanksgiving, and I delivered them yesterday. I lovingly caressed and pressed each of the eight slipcovers and installed them. Beautiful!

You don’t always hear about design projects gone bad or, as I call them SNAKE BIT! You know what I mean. No matter how hard you try or what you do, it just keeps getting worse. Remember, I have learned to never say never! But, Lord be willing, it will be a long time before I do another slipcover project. I am so thankful that this one has come to an end.

Now, I do have eight slipcovers in my storage building just like these except they are ECRU. I can make you a really good deal if you are interested.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Oh, Joy!

2010-11-08T19:12:00.000-08:00

Joy! I am beginning to see this word crop everywhere. It's written on all sorts of things for the upcoming holidays...mugs, picture frames, ornaments, greeting cards, etc. Is it an overused or misused word? What is real joy? Do you have it?

Naturally, my thoughts turn to the origin of joy:

"Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."
– Luke 2:10-12

And, I remember that my sweet Blue-eyed Bride memorized the first fourteen verses of Luke 2 in second grade, which she recited as she, her little brother and older cousins put on a Christmas pageant for her grandparents. My mother cried, as did I. Lots of joy going around.

Now, I watch as that heritage is passed to little Hudson. The words "Jesus" and "Bible" are already in his growing seventeen-month-old vocabulary as a result of songs being sung to him. He brings us a lot of joy. I started praying before he was born for an awesome youth minister for his teenage years. Parents need all the help they can get to keep the joy in their lives as children grow up.

A few weeks ago, I observed two very different life stories on my trip to M.D. Anderson for my follow-up scans. (It's redundant, but I must say that this is the most AMAZING place--full of organized, caring, competent professionals. I would love going there if I wasn't going there for melanoma. I'm very thankful that it exists.)

We arrived early Friday morning and made our way to the lab for blood work. Right away we ran into an elderly couple that we would see, again, as the day went on. She was the patient and in a wheel chair being pushed by her husband. I would like to give him the benefit of the doubt and say that he probably was just having a bad day or woke up on the wrong side of the bed. I don't, however, think that was the case. I think that it's more likely that, in the words of Ouiser Boudreaux, he had "just been in a bad mood for forty years." He was grouchy, impatient, mad because his wife was cold and needed a blanket, and LOUD. All of the women in the room were being held back from getting up and smacking him. I wanted him to have cancer (just for a little while) so he might be more understanding. I was sad for her and thought there must not be much joy in her life.

Then, we met a couple from east Texas. A state representative and his wife, who had just been diagnosed with breast cancer. The story they portrayed could not have been more opposite from the first couple. He was loving and attentive. She, daughter of a former pastor, exhibited a calm faith. In the midst of all that the uncertainty, there was joy. I wanted to know them better.

And, there beside me was the rock of my earthly existence. My own calm, patient, Godly husband, supporting me, laughing at me and with me, working on his laptop as our day of blood tests, PET scans, ultrasounds, and doctor appointments went on. What joy he brings to me! An extra measure of patience was required because of a little piece of gum. I had not eaten since 8:00 p.m. the night before AND I forgot my toothbrush. So, I thought I should chew a piece of sugar-free gum to freshen my breath. My PET scan was scheduled for 9:30, right after my blood work. As the needle was inserted into my left arm to receive the radioactive dye, the questions came:

"Anything to eat in the last six hours?"
"No."
"Anything to drink?"
"No."
"Any mints, gum?"
"Uh. I had a piece of gum. I didn't know about the mints and gum."

Put on the brakes; everything stops. Verdict: go rearrange your appointments and come back in six hours. So, I juggled the ultrasound, read a book, sat around and observed humanity, and tried to not bend the arm with the needle inserted or think of food. As a result, my doctor didn't have the Pet scan results at the end of the day when I saw him. It was Friday, so I didn't get the results until the following Tuesday. But, the results were good! All my scans were clear. They were encouraged by the development of my vitiligo, and I don't have to go back for four months. There's some joy!

I just completed this book, and among the many memorable quotes that will stay with me is this one:

"I have found truly joyful Christians only in the Bible,

in the Underground church, and in prison."

--Richard Wurmbrand

I want to have that joy all the time!

Never Say Never

2010-10-27T07:11:00.000-07:00

Wouldn't you think that by virtue of reaching the wise old age of 58 (almost 59) I would have learned by now that I shouldn't say that I will "never" do something...anything. Old habits die hard, so once again I find myself eating my words. Here are a couple:

1) I will NEVER put a television above my mantle. In decorating homes, I have seen a few tasteful uses of the flat-screen wonder above a mantle. But, I have a very traditional look in my furnishings and decor and just could never envision that I would need or want to do that. In fact, in our townhome, I elected to not even have a television on the first floor except in my kitchen to avoid putting one over the mantle. Isn't art much nicer?

But, in our newly-leased abode, I had a choice to make -- and it wasn't even that difficult. I could:

a) get rid of one of my matching red sofas, or
b) mount my flat-screen television above the mantle.

Naturally, I chose the latter, and up that sucker went. Now, what do I do with it. Because we have eight-foot ceilings, there isn't much space to do anything. My other dilemma is that I am still unpacking boxes, so I haven't found any of the items that I might want to use on the mantle, yet.
And, because I am just leasing the house, I don't want to do something costly or permanent like building a frame around it, which I consider the best fix.

My friend and decorating mentor has a philosophy: "The bigger the fireplace/mantle, the bigger the t.v." It's all about proporation. She's pulled it off in a traditional setting.

Do you have any other ideas of links for putting lipstick on the pig above the mantle? Do I just need to get over it?

2) I said I would NEVER drive one of these from Dallas to South Carolina, again:

But, tomorrow morning, Blueeyed Bride is flying in and she and I will jump in this truck and head to Columbia. My urging to her today is: think about everything you might want to put in this truck to take to South Carolina, because I HOPE to never do this again. See how I'm learning!

The good part of this trip will be the time we spend together, the stops along the way to see family and friends in north Louisiana and Birmingham (I'll see that mantle above in person!). Pray for us as we travel.

The real prize awaits at the end of the trip:

He's waiting for his KK. And, I'll see TC, too, of course. And the in-laws. And, Hudson and I will watch a little football and celebrate Halloween. Aaah, Fall. My favorite time.

The other good news, that U-Haul rental is one-way. I'll be flying back to Dallas.

Thanks to so many of you who have inquired about my M.D. Anderson visit last week for follow-up scans. I was hoping to post the results by now. I do know that the ultrasound of my lymph nodes was good, but I don't have the PET Scan results. Thank you for your prayers that my melanoma will not reoccur.

Psalm 121:
I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD watches over you— the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
The LORD will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life;
the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

The Desire of My Heart

2010-10-12T19:19:00.000-07:00

Hallelujah! I have risen from the blogging dead. If you've been checking faithfully (I flatter myself, I know) to find nothing new here, I apologize. I've been consumed with boxes, the many annoyances of setting up a new household, and the demands of my work. I've ignored those I love and care about, haven't unpacked nearly enough boxes, and haven't blogged. I can't promise that there will be daily or even every-other-daily blogs. I can't promise you anything, but I will make a concerted effort to carve out a few minutes here and there to update you on my life.

Here's one thing I have discovered. For me to actually use my time blogging when I could be doing a million other things right now, the topic must be worthy of my sacrifice. My friends are always saying, "blog about this," or "blog about that." And, I agree that some of the topics would make good reading. So, I am keeping a list of those for down the road when no topic presents itself.

But, today, my extremely worthy topic has to do with the desire of my heart or the desire of YOUR heart, as might be the case. And, here's what brought it on today.

This is my Tuesday morning Bible Study, officially called Oasis at First Dallas. And, the woman in the picture is the amazing Godly Joni Cleveland. I could write this entire blog entry about this spirit-filled woman, about her teaching (Our pastor referred to her as a prophet. Pretty amazing from a Southern Baptist preacher who believes women should keep silent in the church!), about how she personally prays for my healing, how she interprets the Word making it come alive to so many, and on and on.

But, when this slide flashed up today during our study of Acts, my blogtennae grabbed it.

Several things came to mind:

1) A discussion I just had with someone close to me who questions that you really have to go to church to worship. I immediately texted the quote to that person. (Sorry, Joni; I was still paying attention!)

2) My Blue-eyed Bride daughter. After a year of planning her wedding--one of the most enjoyable times of our lives--the wedding happened. She went to Hawaii, and I went home. It was like the morning after Christmas, all the presents opened, mess to clean up. The let-down. I was in a funk for a week -- maybe longer. Delighted and proud, but in a funk. And then, BAM! Four months later, she's pregnant. It wasn't MY PLAN for her. Hah! There wasn't even A PLAN at all. The worst thing ever for two organized plan-everything women, one of whom got paid to be a planner (not I). And, I didn't even try to hide my dismay. Mothers are like that sometime. We do know what's best for our children, after all.

Then, I turned the focus from myself (always difficult) and began to think about my precious daughter and her life. And, I knew without a doubt that this was the desire of her heart. It was what she always wanted more than anything -- to be a wife and mother. Next to following Him, what could be a more worthy desire in the eyes of the Lord.

3) The desire of my heart. Can I define it? I think I can. It's what I long for. Whom or what I long to be with. It's what I value more than anything -- my treasure. I know what it is today. I wish it had always been so. I envy those who grasped this desire early, but I am thankful that God was patient with me until I got it. He was gracious enough to know that I needed to get it before the melanoma came. The desire of my heart is to be in absolute lockstep with the Lord. I want to spend time with Him, to be with Him, to be like Him. And, as we studied in Acts 4 today, I want to speak the word of the Lord BOLDLY. Shucks, I may not have enough time left to be timid about the Lord.

What is the desire of YOUR heart? Do you know? Can you define it?

Delight yourself in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. ~ Psalm 37:4,5

Office Space

2010-09-28T17:00:00.000-07:00

Who wouldn't want to do something productive in this office space? My directions from the client: "Make it Tiffany meets Hollywood Glam." Did we succeed?

We added a gold/silver metallic wash between the wooden panels.

And, Tiffany blue paint was added to the ceiling.

High gloss paint, again in Tiffany blue to accent her collections.

Our biggest challenge was finding just the perfect white shag rug. We had to eliminate a lot of "almost-white" rugs, before we found the perfect one. Now, the biggest challenge is keeping Mr. from homesteading in here. Who wouldn't want to, after all?

Cooling Off

2010-09-27T19:56:00.000-07:00

We woke up to rain on Saturday; and, it rained all day. Hudson and I were in a choir retreat on Friday night and Saturday -- preparing for Christmas music. (Can you believe it? Christmas is less than three months away. I love Christmas and the One whose birthday we celebrate, but I do get a little stressed out over the details. Well, I just won't think about that today!) Anyway, now it's cooler after all that rain, and I'm liking it a lot. I just have more energy when I'm not drenched in sweat. Oh, to be one of those retiring ladies with a fan on a fainting couch. Never mind; I just remembered that they wore corsets laced to the hilt. Which, reminds me that I promised to start wearing my compression hose when it got cooler. Well, I'm not thinking about that today, either.

Today, I just want to show you the cutest powder room. This home has so much personality, and the little powder room off the entry sets the mood for the entire home. It was already adorable (look at the cute rabbit wall paper), but when we added the sparrows paining... well, it became wow!

So. Now you know what's coming, right:

Matthew 10:29-31 KJV

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet, not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Picnic Table Winner

2010-09-23T05:34:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to this fortunate follower selected by random integer generator (I feel very mathematically inclined).

Blake said...

Love reading about your journey and your projects. Here's a shout out from Memphis!

E-mail me at karen{dot}akin{at}sbcglobal{dot}net and your picnic table will be on its way.

Many thanks for all your comments. Watch closely -- I'm clearing out while I'm unpacking!

Tuesday Teaser: Life is not a picnic

2010-09-21T07:21:00.000-07:00

But, this folding wooden picnic table by Picnic at Ascot will motivate you to plan an outing. I think these are perfect for a trip to the Arboretum or for tailgating before your next football game. I picked up a few of these at the Atlanta market this year (at the request of one of my clients). So glad I did.

I'm giving one of these to one of you for being so nice to stop and read my blog. Just leave a comment, and I will randomly choose a winner (Blue-eyed Bride will teach me how!). I'll announce the winner on Thursday.

Description:
Folding wooden picnic table with built-in seating for four Sturdy and lightweight with built-in handle.
Includes zippered canvas protective case.
No tools required for easy set-up.
Holds up to 240 pounds per seat.
Made of wood with a strong aluminum alloy frame.
Measures 33.25in wide x 26in high x 53.75in deep; 33.25in wide x 4.5in high x 14in deep when closed.
Weight: 22lbs.

The Dining Car

2010-09-20T06:33:00.000-07:00

I live in my Suburban. It's my primary mode of transportation, my second office, my alternate storage facility, and an occasional loner vehicle for my husband. It very often, also, becomes my dining car. My healthful eating regimen, however, can be challenging when I am required to eat on the run or on the drive to my next appointment.

McDonald's and Sonic both have wraps on their menus, and, I just ask them to leave off the meat. I peel away half the wrap dough and dine on lettuce and tomatoes. Not bad in a crunch. The fruit smoothies at McDonald's is also a quick meal. A little high in calories (natural sugar), but not does have some nutritional value.

I got really creative on Friday. It was a jammed-pack day, but I needed to eat between appointments. I made a quick stop at eatZi's, picked up hummus with roasted red pepper, some whole grain crackers, a fruit cup, and some green tea. Yum Yum!

I realize how blessed I am to have places like eatZi's, and you may not have those choices. But, you probably have Whole Foods, or Fresh Market, or your local grocery store contains the choices I mentioned. The down side: you have to get out of the cockadoody car! There's no drive-thru. Why can't at least one of the now 5,000 frozen yogurt locations in this city have a drive-thru?

I ate my lunch while my gasoline was pumping into my gas-hog vehicle. I do not endorse driving with your knee while you eat your fruit cup (but I've done it!).

Here's to more healthful eating (I've become such a granola) and better drive-thru food choices.

Genesis 1:29
Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.”

John 4:31-34
Meanwhile his disciples urged him, "Rabbi, eat something."
But he said to them, "I have food to eat that you know nothing about."
Then his disciples said to each other, "Could someone have brought him food?"
"My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work."

Finds of the Week: Lonny Unplugged -- Rue Launched

2010-09-17T07:09:00.000-07:00

It's a previous "find" made better. Lonny has added the ability to view beautiful rooms and a blog. Check it out.

And, a new launch by Rue, with more beautiful eye candy.

Enjoy your weekend! I plan to unpack a few thousand boxes, do a suprise birthday party for a client (her sweet husband's plan), catch some football, and celebrate the Lord's Day at First Baptist Dallas.

Enough Stuff, Already

2010-09-16T14:00:00.000-07:00

Have you moved lately? I mean, seriously moved. The kind of move where your whole life arrives in moving vans (two and a-half to be exact). We've moved a lot, so I know what to expect and what is in front of me. This time, though, we have some serious down-sizing to do. It is a continuation of our down-sizing effort when we moved to Dallas in 2006. A career change (and the direction of God in our lives) led us to sell our three-story townhouse last December. So, for the past nine months our stuff has been in storage and we have been living the life of Abraham and Sarah (sans tent and pregnancy).

God has truly blessed us during this time providing living arrangements bordering on five-star resort status through good friends. But, the time has come for us to set up housekeeping on our own, again. We have found a house to lease that will allow us down-sizing room. It has the same square footage as our townhouse, but the rooms are much smaller and not as open in design.

Down-sizing takes commitment, because we can get really attached to our stuff. I am determined, however, to not move some of this stuff ever again. The endeavor will extend to the two storage units we have -- one of which is all Christmas stuff. For example, I have a Dickens Village collection that hasn't seen the light of my Christmas tree in three years. Blue-eyed Bride doesn't want it, so I'm selling it on ebay (unless you want it). She does want my hand-blown glass ornaments, but I think I can get motivated to decorate a tree for few more years. However, this lease space only has 8-foot ceilings, so my 9 1/2 foot tree will not work. See the problems that our stuff brings.

So, I'm putting myself and my stuff out there. Here is what my life looks like today. Let's see how long it takes to bring some order to this chaos and ship some things to consignment or charity.

This is going to be my office ...

There's more, but I am getting depressed looking at the work to be done. I'm accountable to you, now, so gotta get to work!

Getting Big Girl Draperies

2010-09-15T15:00:00.000-07:00

I am always amazed at what a difference window treatments make in a room. They are truly the finishing touch to create that feeling of home rather than of just a house. More than once, women have told me that getting custom draperies makes them "feel like an adult."

Kate and Lily's mom (and dad, of course) got new draperies last week. With their permission, I am sharing some before and after pictures of their adorable Dallas bungalow and beautiful draperies.

Living Room

Dining Room

The girls were a big help on the installation:

Thinking About Melanoma

2010-09-14T19:27:00.000-07:00

It's relatively easy to not think about my melanoma, except for:

1) There's a new television entitled The Big C. Laura Linney has melanoma.

I watched two episodes, but found it about 180 degrees from how I have felt and reacted. It is humorous, and I like that. That's where the similarity to my C ends -- didn't build a swimming pool nor burn my sofa.

2) I keep hearing about people with melanoma. This week it has been:

a forty-year-old wife and mother of a seven year old daughter.
a fourteen-year-old boy who loves sports.

I always try to share the experiences of my journey and the results of my exhaustive research. I hope it helps in some way. I wish I could transfer the hope I have through Jesus Christ my Savior, because melanoma can produce a sense of hopelessness if digested on its own. I wish I could give them the peace I have through my faith in Him, but all I can do is tell them. I pray they find it for themselves, if they haven't already.

3) My swollen leg, ankle, and vienna sausage toes!

Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Find of the Week

2010-09-10T15:00:00.000-07:00

Actually, my friend Marsha found this site for me. And, I am so glad she did. I can't stop looking at all the beautiful rooms and creative ideas from designers all over the world. If you subscribe (it's free), you will receive periodic updates of new designs.

Here are a few of my favorites:

eclectic hall design by denver showroom Jeanne Connolly

eclectic home office design

by Mrs. Limesone

traditional home office design

from Pottery Barn

I could go on, but check it out for yourself. You'll see more from me periodically as I am inspired by these ideas

Houzz- Kitchen Design, Bathroom Design and More»

Welcome Peyton

2010-09-09T19:20:00.000-07:00

You had a preview of Peyton's nursery. Today at 9:58 a.m., we welcomed Miss Peyton into our world. She weighed 7 pounds, 8 ounces and measured 19 inches -- quite the petite young lady. Mommy, daddy and big brother Parker are all doing great.

Peyton's mom and I agreed to show no pictures of the nursery until she was born. We had a wonderful adventure planning this beautiful room. Here are a few iphone pictures that I sneaked on the day we installed the draperies and bedding. I'll show close-ups later.

..... And, this picture just makes me gleeful!

Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Find of the Week

2010-09-03T19:34:00.000-07:00

Temple Grandin walked away with seven Emmys last Sunday evening. I had seen the movie only days before the award ceremony, and was blown away by the true story of an autistic woman who, with the unwavering support of her mother, persevered to overcome the disabilities brought about by her autism. She has become a renowned scientist and speaker on autism and the behavior of cattle. She developed many new systems for the handling of livestock, design of facilities and humane slaughter of cattle.

It is available on DVD, so if you haven't seen it, do so. You will be amazed and inspired.

The real Temple Grandin shown with Claire Danes, whose brilliant portrayal of Dr. Grandin in the HBO movie landed earned her an Emmy.

Blogging is a Big Responsibility

2010-09-03T19:10:00.000-07:00

My daugher, Blue-Eyed Bride, always says to me, "Don't try to force your writing; you'll just get stuck and won't be able to think of anything."

That is not my problem. I have PLENTY to write about; I just can't find a free second to do it. Gone are the days when I could stay up into the wee hours finishing my to-do list. For better or worse, I just figure I'll get to it when I get to it. This morning, I'm getting to it. And, not because I actually have time to do it, but because I am disciplining myself to write before I go do a million things that must be done today: All of my little family is coming home today for Labor Day weekend, plus we will see close friends from Louisiana who are in Ft. Worth, plus a few work-related chores that call for me.

I wanted to share pictures of this cute Giraffe theme birthday party for a one-year old last Saturday. My friend Marsha's little Brenden celebrated in style, for sure. Marsha did a great job picking the theme and colors; and, together we pulled it off.

Marsha had the invitations, guest book, banner, and cupcake toppers designed by an Etsy artist. Always amazing finds at Etsy -- at great prices.

Master Brenden in the background as a newborn. Sweet boy!

One of two pinatas awaiting children with a stick.

Guests enjoyed delicious food before moving to the dessert room.

Sophie was there, showing up in several places.

What a fun day, and I'm so glad I got to be part of the planning and execution of Brenden's first birthday party.

Find of the Week

2010-08-25T22:23:00.000-07:00

Where have I been, and why haven't I already tuned it to Lonny? Yeah, yeah, I've been a little occupied with doctors for the last couple of months, but this on-line magazine has been around since last year, and it is chock-a-block with amazing design ideas covering a whopping 200 pages.

Founded by fabric designer and blogger Michelle Adams (Rubie Green; MA Belle) and professional photographer Patrick Cline (Brand-Arts). Michelle had worked at Domino and is from New York. Patrick is from London. Voilà: Lonny! The online platform is brilliant. See something you like? Just click on it, and the resource appears, ready for your shopping pleasure, if you are so inclined.

image from Lonny magazine

Feeling creative? Then, check out the do-it-yourself section. This issue, for example, has an upholstery lesson (pp 58-60). Sit down out at your computer or curl up with your laptop and browse at your leisure. I know, I know. I miss the print magazines, too, but my Kindle is teaching me to appreciate electronic media; and it is nice to avoid the expense and clutter of those magazines stacking up and my inability to throw them away.

A few years ago, I made myself begin tearing out magazine pages during the first read. Then, I put those ideas in a three-ring binder for future reference. With the advent of blogs and online magazines, saving and organizing those favorite ideas is simpler and neater. Hudson spends a little time each day reading the online newspapers from every city where we have lived. I'm happy he does that and fills me in on what he thinks I would need to hear from our former hometowns. That allows me to spend time reading Lonny and other Finds.

God's word is still my favorite read and inspires me above all else.

Psalm 119:11-12
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.

Don't Touch That Dial

2010-08-24T21:05:00.000-07:00

I live in my Suburban. It's my mini-office, pick-up and delivery vehicle (I once hauled a 90-inch sofa), and mode of transportation 80% of the time. I just retired my 1997 Suburban with 249,000 miles. Broke my heart. I fit into that seat perfectly, and the inside was the color of my hair.

But, God provided me another one. It is a 2004 model, black with gray interior (NOT the color of my hair), less than 100,000 miles, and -- get this -- custom installed hanging rods in the back. I knew it was meant for me when I saw those hanging rods. No more wrinkled draperies! It's growing on me.

When I'm in my Suburban, I am listening to talk radio 75% of the time, Christian radio 15% of the time, and music 10% of the time. And, I just have a simple request. Don't mess with my radio station if you valet park my Suburban.

You see, Dallas has more valet parking sites per capita than any other city in the world (not a scientific statistic). You can be valet'd at the movie, the hair dresser, the hospital, the World Trade Center, the mall, almost any restaurant (even if the parking lot is two steps away), and, of course, the usual places like hotels and special events. So, why is it that the valet dude feels it necessary to change my radio station? Even if he is only in the vehicle for two minutes. And, why must it be blaring? And, why aren't there any women valet parkers? Hudson says he has seen some, but I never have. I'll bet she wouldn't change my radio station.

The King (of Pop) and I

2010-08-21T15:12:00.000-07:00

I've been a little star-crossed this week. I'm not usually affected by their lives, don't think about them too much, and am not particularly impressed nor enamoured by their actions. But, in addition to my fixation on Robert Redford this week, I just realized that The King of Pop (aka Michael Jackson) and I have a lot more in common than I realized.

First case in point: Shortly before my surgery on June 8 to remove my melanoma, the anesthesiologist came to meet with me. She explained the process of putting me to sleep for the procedure, stating that she would give me a little propofol to help me relax and go to sleep before administering the general anesthesia.

"Isn't that what was Michael Jackson took before he died," I asked.
"Yes," replied the anesthesiologist. "We call it Jackson Juice."
I was happy to receive it (administered professionally, of course) and enjoyed the sleep.

Fast forward to yesterday and second case in point: As my dermatologist at UT Southwestern was performing the once-every-three-months scrutiny of every inch of my skin, including, as he says, "places where the sun don't shine," he stated that I had some incidence of vitiligo.

"What?" I reacted. "Isn't that what Michael Jackson had?"
"Yes," he said. "But, don't worry. For you, it's a good thing."

He went on to explain that the whitening of my skin pigment indicated that my immune system was functioning in a good way against the melanoma. First of all, who knew my skin could be any whiter? But, yes, there they were -- some little patches of skin that are whiter --
like I missed a small area with the self-tanning lotion (except I don't use that stuff). I had noticed a little spot on the inside of my wrist, but didn't think too much about it.

He went on to tell me that it is a good sign because it means that my immune system is fighting the melanoma. More to the point, recent studies show that the presence of vitiligo in melanoma patients supports the hypothesis that vitiligo is a marker of immunity against melanoma cells and that its presence represents a favorable impact on the prognosis of melanoma patients. Ironically, it has normally been noted in persons receiving immunotherapy treatment. As we all know, I, as my M.D. Anderson oncologist put it, "rejected" that treatment. So, just maybe it indicates that my self-prescribed immune-boosting therapy is working. I am not smug nor arrogant about this possibility -- just very thankful that it might be, in fact, working.

It was a nice report to hear on a Friday morning. And, the unexpected connection to the King of Pop gave me pause. The commonality of mankind and that which makes us unique are often the same. Why can't I dance like Michael?

Jackson two years after he was diagnosed with vitiligo, here in the early stages of the disease

Ecclesiastes 1:9 (NIV)

What has been will be again,
what has been done will be done again;
there is nothing new under the sun.

Robert Redford is 74 today

2010-08-18T07:48:00.000-07:00

In 1996, I directed my husband to dress in straight-leg jeans, loafers (no socks), and a sports coat over a tee shirt. I took him to the mall and had him stand at the bottom of an escalator as I rode up the escalator and looked back at him. It was a sexy moment!

My inspiration: Robert Redford and Michell Pfeiffer in Up Close and Personal, still in my rankings as one of the most romantic movies I've ever seen. Add Celine Dion singing Because You Loved Me, and I'm a goner.

Admittedly, Mr. Redford hasn't aged all that well (too much SUNdance, I think), I don't care! He is forever etched in mind standing at the bottom of that escalator. Skip to 7:54 on the YouTube video link below and just watch that scene, especially the last shot in the scene. (Sorry that the dialogue is in another language; you'll get the point.) Feel free to indulge yourself and watch the beginning, too, if you're feeling romantic today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pyl4Qy-qcQo

I encouraged my friend Janice to see the movie. To this day, she has not forgiven me for not telling her the ending before she went (as if!). Just in case, you've never seen it, I won't spoil it for you. If that's the case.... what's wrong with you? See this movie.

Hodge Podge

2010-08-17T21:04:00.000-07:00

I've been recovering from my trip to South Carolina and Tennessee. I feel like I am slowly coming out of a coma.

Babies are a lot of work, but I loved every minute of being with Hudson (including the minutes we were separated by a locked door). He's such a good little boy and very easy to care for. He takes two good naps everyday and sleeps twelve hours at night. Maybe that's my problem; I got too much sleep while I was away. He reached the important age of 14 months while we were together. He's learning so many new things, speaking new words, and loves to explore. He's definitely a hunter/gatherer and very neat with his things. We'll just hope that trait carries into junior high. We'll also hope that his love for books continues. (Notice that he must always be holding my iphone)

We traveled to Jackson, Tennessee, to visit my niece Catherine and her little girl Lily (19 months). She and Hudson got along very well. Lily needed to teach Hudson a few tricks with the toys, and he was attentive to her instruction. Catherine's mom arrived the day before we left, and we were excited to get this picture of all of us before we packed up to head back to South Carolina.

Upon returning to South Carolina, Hudson sat for his first haircut. Such a little man, now. A little sad, but the shaggy hair had to go.

My Hudson and I were apart for our very important 30th anniversary (August 9). When I arrived in Tennessee, these beautiful flowers from my sweet husband awaited me. Lillies are my favorite flower, primarily because I love the fragrance.

My best friend and biggest supporter, Hudson has been my rock during the past.... well, thirty years. He's just there encouraging me in his quiet way. Most importantly, I know that he prays for with every single day. What a joy and a blessing he is to me.

I'm feeling pretty strong these days, even though my leg and ankle continue to swell and my toes look like little vienna sausages by the end of the day. Some friends have shared that they experienced swelling for over a year with lymph node removal as a result of breast cancer. When the weather is a little cooler, I will wear compression hose, and that will help, I'm sure; I just can't do that in this heat. Bring on Fall weather!

The Porn Identity

2010-08-11T08:07:00.000-07:00

We entered the movie just seconds before the preview started. My friend Paula and I were seeing The Girl Who Played With Fire. We sat down quickly by a gentleman who was alone.

"May we sit beside you?" I politely inquired.
"Of course," he replied, "if you brought popcorn."
"Sorry. No popcorn; but we have cookies."

He graciously accepted a cookie, thanked us, and the movie began. He was a nice gentleman, even tolerant when I grabbed his arm during a scary scene.

As the movie concluded, he asked, "Did you read the books?"
"Yes, I did. And, I was a little worried about the sub-titles. But, they really weren't that bad," I added. Paula leaned in to lend her agreement.
The gentleman offered, "Well, I see a lot of porn films, so it really doesn't bother me."

What did he say? Porn? I was freaking out. I had been feeding cookies to a pervert. Why would he feel compelled to tell me that? And, why did I always have to talk to strangers...especially those who see a lot of porn films?

I turned to Paula, speaking through clinched teeth, lips barely moving. "Let's go!"
"What?" she asked.
"L e t ' s g o !" I spoke with more urgency.
We hurriedly got up and exited the row.

"What's wrong?" Paula asked. "What's your hurry?"
"Didn't you hear what he said? He said he watches a lot of porn films. Yikes!" I replied.
"Porn? I thought he said he watches a lot of foreign films," countered my friend who obviously hears more clearly than I.

What? Oh, my. Poor bewildered stranger.

"We have to go back and explain," she said.
"Are you crazy? I don't know him and he doesn't know me. We're just gonna keep on walking."
And, we did -- with a futile attempt to contain ourselves.
Laughter truly is good for the soul!

Proverbs 17:22 (NIV)
"A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."

Summer Time Part 2

2010-08-09T19:31:00.000-07:00

Some of my favorite memories of summer growing up center around the annual week I would spend with cousins in Saline, Louisiana. I lived in Saline until I was almost five, then moved to the much larger town of Quitman -- only about 25 miles away, but far enough that our visits were only a few times a year. My father had been pastor of Old Saline Baptist Church before we moved to Quitman. This is the little church where I walked the aisle to accept Jesus Christ as my Saviour and was baptized in a nearby pond by my father.

My parents and many other Toms relatives are buried in the cemetery adjacent to the church:

My father's only sister, affectionately referred to by all nieces and nephews as "Aunt Sis," was the matriarch of the Toms family. (Her given name was Virginia, and she married Leland Rhodes.) We didn't think of her as head of the family when we were growing up because she usually deferred to her brothers, but in later years as their numbers dwindled, she assumed her rightful place. When she called with a request to "come," we all obeyed. Mostly because we always wanted to go to her house because it was fun.

Her mother ( my grandmother) had died at an early age and my grandfather, who had served as the marshall of Saline, was shot down by bootleggers in the main street of that little town. So, the six brothers and their only sister were left to fend for themselves and care for each other. Aunt Sis was the only one of the bunch who made it to college, but that was not what made her brilliant to me. Grouchiness is a Toms characteristic (I apologize to any relatives I might offend, but you know I'm telling the truth and all spouses will readily concur), and Aunt Sis was not without her moments. (They also love to argue for the sake of arguing, but I will save that topic for another day.) The other characteristic of the Tomses is a hint of laziness or more delicately put, the need to take frequent rests, especially after a meal.

Home of Aunt Sis and Uncle Leland in Saline, Louisiana.

Aunt Sis with (l to r) Nancy, Melba, and Steven

The same crew in the same order with my Uncle Leland and their dog Faith.

Same order with their paternal grandmother Lila Rhodes.

After a morning of running wild with my three cousins--Steven, Nancy, and Melba--Aunt Sis would holler for us to come in for lunch. She and my Uncle Leland and his mother Miss Lila would have spent the morning picking and shelling peas or shucking corn or tending to the orchard of peach trees which fronted their homestead. We would come in all sweaty, smelling like puppy dogs (or big dogs), gulp down the delicious lunch she had prepared, and start asking, "When are we going to Diddywah?" I don't even know if I'm spelling this right, because I've never seen it written, but I'm trusting my Google search and cousin Steve. Suffice it to say that Diddywah was the coldest swimming hole in the universe. It was spring-fed and probably only 6-feet at it's deepest point, with the maximum width being 10 feet. It was right off the side of the road with a bridge running over it. Pea gravel lined the bottom at the shallow, sandy end. There wasn't a lot of space, and we would always hope that no one else wanted to find a place to cool off that day.

But, I get ahead of myself, because we WERE NOT going to the swimming hole until we had sufficient time to let our food digest because we would get cramps. HAH! That was a good cover for Aunt Sis taking her regularly-scheduled afternoon siesta; and, when we were younger, we were encouraged to comply with the horizontal position after lunch, as well. When an eternity had passed, we would pile in the car and head to the swimming hole. I can still see Aunt Sis stretched out on a towel with her big hat reading a book, occasionally casting an eye our way to make sure no one had gone under for good. If we stayed long enough, our much older and larger cousin Anthony would show up and dive off a log stretched across the end of the creek. I dreamed of having the courage to walk up on that log and jump, but can't remember ever doing it. To this day, the smell of creosote brings memories of those summer afternoons at Diddywah.

When our lips turned blue, we would load up and go to the house. A watermelon was usually waiting to be cut. See, Saline has a world famous Watermelon Festival, of which my Aunt Sis served as the Grand Marshall, maybe twice. Those Saline watermelons are some good eating!

My Aunt Sis passed away a few months ago. Her funeral was in that little church where my daddy preached and I came to know Jesus . She and Uncle Leland were pillars of that church and of that community. She was the last remaining sibling of my father--my link to the Toms family. But, the bonds of laughter amid the arguments, the smell of creosote, the taste of watermelon, and the music -- there was always music, will join us forever.

My mother sitting behind me (I was three years old) and my Aunt Sis to the right of me.

Psalm 103:17

But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children--

Thanks to my cousin Steve Rhodes for the family pictures and for never letting a snake actually bite me.

Summer Time Part 1

2010-08-08T17:58:00.000-07:00

Summer has, traditionally, been a time for vacation and visiting friends and family. At least that was the case when our children were in school. When school schedules were no longer an issue around which we lived, we became more casual in our visits, seizing a day or a week to get away. Since all of our family live away, we grab opportunities when we can.

But, last week was a week of celebrating family and friends without leaving Dallas. Our son drove over from Louisiana for the weekend, and we shared common loves:

Getting our raw fix at Sushi Zushi....

And, movies....

I didn't cry when either of my children went to college, but I cried when Andy drove off and left his toys. Great movie for adults.

And, thanks to Mary Kay training, a close friend from my days in Indiana came to Dallas. We only had a few hours because I had to leave to fly to South Carolina, but we talked non-stop over lunch at Stephen Pyles. Folks always thought that Angie and I bore a close resemblance (she is much younger!), especially if you looked at my picture upside down.

We gathered with good friends to celebrate Parker's third birthday at the Highland Park Pharmacy. Hudson and I put together the candy buffet to go along with all the other fun stuff happening.

I haven't had a lot of free time since arriving in South Carolina, but I managed to free up an hour to meet my good friend Catherine for coffee today.

There is an advantage to having lived in many different places during your lifetime. Good friends abound, and it is great when you can reconnect, even if only for an hour.

Ecclesiastes 4:10
   If one falls down,
       his friend can help him up.
       But pity the man who falls
       and has no one to help him up!

Where's the Key?

2010-08-07T09:09:00.000-07:00

Look at this cute little boy. It's my grandson Hudson (14 months old on the day this was taken). Maybe, he's wondering, "Why is my KK outside and I'm in here? Why is Fiona outside with KK and Boudreaux is in here with me? Why are my other grandparents outside now? Why is my Daddy driving up and frantically running to the door?"

The good news is that he will not remember this day when I locked myself out of the house while Hudson was inside the house. For a good thirty minutes it was sheer panic as other doors and windows were tested, calls were made, and text messages were sent.

Hudson's mommy (Blue-Eyed Bride) is attending BlogHer 2010 in New York; I am in South Carolina with Hudson and his daddy and the two dogs. On the evening in question, Hudson's daddy had dashed off to church to attend a meeting. I had phoned in an order for food delivery. When it arrived, I opened the door to receive the food and pay. That's when the little devil dog Fiona who barks at every living thing decided to dash out the front door. Impulsively, I closed the door behind me to keep Boudreaux, the better behaved Golden Retriever, inside, as well as not allowing Hudson to wander out on the porch and fall off the steps! Quick-thinking grandma, right? Seriousy, WRONG! The little auto-lock button was pressed, and I was locked out. Yikes.

I grabbed the food guy's phone, having a brief Carrie Bradshaw moment in reverse. It was not a fancy sophisticated iPhone like mine. It was some outdated version with buttons to push. (Food guy later said, "Wow, you figured that phone out a lot faster than I did." Shut up and just give me the phone.)

Sequence of events:

1) Call Hudson's daddy. No answer; in meeting.

2) Call Hudson, my husband, in Dallas, Texas, imploring him to text Todd and give me the phone number for Hudson's other grandfather (and don't ask questions, just do it).

3) Call other grandparents, who happen to be 5 minutes away having dinner, asking if they have key (already know they don't and there is not one hidden somewhere).

4) Ask food guy to watch Hudson, who is standing on the sofa watching all of this through the window, while I run to back door just to check. I do; it is locked; take note I can easily break out a window pane and reach to unlock that door as the keys are in the lock.

5) Run back to front (running is a figure of speech here, understand, as I am aced bandaged on this particular day); Hudson is still standing on the sofa. I can get an occasional grin from him by singing and making funny faces. My goal is to keep him on that sofa looking at me so I can know where he is and what he is doing. He is capable of getting off the sofa without getting hurt; that is, unless Boudreaux accidentally knocks him off. Every time I tapped on the window to get Hudson's attention, Boudreaux would jump up on the sofa to see who was calling him. Tell food guy that he is in charge of keeping devil dog Fiona, who is incessantly barking at food guy, in the front yard.

6) Other grandparents arrive and start checking everything I have just checked.

7) Hudson's daddy calls his dad and says he is ten minutes away. He had received text. I say, "Can you make it 3 minutes, please?"

8) Food guy is still there because he wants his tip. I ask other grandfather to please tip him so he can leave. He does and he does.

9) When other grandparents arrive, Hudson starts to shed a few tears because he wants to be where we are. The tears begin to increase and it turns into sobbing.

10) Daddy arrives, driving like sixty! Dashes from the car to the front door to unlock and rescue Hudson from the evil grandmother.

I had been praying all the time that Hudson would just stay on that sofa and be safe until his daddy arrived. It was all fine, and Hudson was grinning in no time.

My son (now twenty-four) reminded me of a similar incident when I coached him through unlocking the back door when I was locked outside. I didn't recall it (your mind erases those dreadful things), but did remember when I locked him in a running vehicle when he was only a few weeks old and had to call a locksmith to unlock the car. There was, also, the time when I broke out a window and had my son crawl through it to unlock the door (he was smaller and could fit through that one pane size). I also recall coaching our miniature dachshund, who was locked inside the car, into jumping on the door lock to successfully unlock the door. (See any patterns here?) I'm sure that my husband could recount a multitude of like events.

I am happy to report that the subsequent days have been less eventful and that Hudson's daddy is regaining confidence in my ability to care for his son. Do you have a locked-out story?

Revelation 3:7-8
"To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:
These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.

Note: Photo is a reenactment of actual event.

A Daily Dose

2010-08-04T20:24:00.000-07:00

Boosting my immune system to fight any reoccurrence on melanoma has led me down a path of interesting eating habits and supplements. Here's my daily regimen:
Juice Plus + -- a whole food based nutritional product containing a wide variety of naturally occurring nutrients – including antioxidants and other phytonutrients – from 17 different fruits, vegetables and grains in powdered concentrate form.
Natural Vitamin D3 -- a useful nutritional tool to improve overall health.
Turmeric -- who knew what this little miracle spice could do? I'm taking 4 grams per day,
Omega-3 Fatty Acids -- another essential for good health. Since the only meat I eat now is salmon, I probably get enough of this, but what's another pill.
Aloe Vera Juice -- for good digestive health.
Vitamin B Complex -- for energy and to offset the fact that I am eating a primarily vegetarian diet.

Other anti-cancer foods that I focus on are olive oil, dark chocolate (a potent antioxident...at least 72% cacoa), red grapes with seeds (never mind that your mother told you that grapes would grow in your stomach if you ate the seeds), brown grains, and green tea. Overall, I'm just more cautious about what I put in my body (i.e., things from a can or plastic container or microwaved food).

There are many other things in the anti-cancer regimen: breathing deeply to take in more oxygen, for example. My most important aspect is studying the word of God to more clearly understand the plan He has for me

Since some of my regimen can be rather boring, I have come to South Carolina for the next ten days to amend my daily dosing to include this:

Not boring, very satisfying, and makes you sleep well at night!

Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." Nehemiah 8:10

Coming next: How I, today, lost any hopes of winning "Grandmother of the Year" awards.

Reminders....

2010-07-29T20:11:00.000-07:00

No matter how much I know and believe something, a little reminder is always welcome. Here was one I received this week:

(Sorry for the iphone quality taken with my left hand through the window of a moving vehicle.)

This reminder: God's promises are true; you can count on them. This was the largest rainbow I have ever seen. I was driving from McKinney to Dallas after an appointment at about 7:00 p.m. It had been raining. Then, in an open field I saw it rising from the ground. When I could safely turn and look over my left shoulder, I could see where it ended. I can't recall every seeing an "all-the-way" rainbow. It was awesome and I was humbled by remembering it's origin.

Genesis 9:12-16

And God said, "This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth."

You may not be worried about being destroyed by flood waters, although there are places where that is a real threat. But, chances are, you're worried about something. The Bible contains over 5,000 promises from God; and, if you are his child, you, like I, are "standing on the promises." Who knows what to believe today? There's certainly not a lot of trust going around. But, certainly, we know WHO to believe. God does not have the ability to lie to us because He is perfect, holy, without darkness; He is the light! So, I know there is a promise for you today in His word. One that will take away fear, or provide assurance, or make you happy, or make you humble. It will be just the one you need when you open His word to read.

I received word from M.D. Anderson that I will return there on October 22-23 to meet with the Integrated Medicine Department, have an ultrasound of my lymph nodes and a PET scan. I am continuing with my vitamin and supplements regimen and healthful eating. I felt challenged this week when I attended an event with a Mexican buffet. Honestly, I found plenty to eat that didn't include meat. It was rewarding.

My right ankle still looks like a balloon by the end of the day, but the tenderness caused by the lymphedema is less. It's a nuisance but hasn't slowed me down. Someone reminded me this week that rest should be part of my wellness plan. I agree, and I plan to do better...soon!

Thanks to all of you who have offered suggestions, advice, warnings, and opinions. They are all welcomed (whether I heed them or not). I read, read, read and am so thankful I have melanoma during the Google age. My myriad of clients continue to be inspirational as I work to meet their expectations and be a blessing to them in some small way.

I wanted to play basketball

2010-07-25T18:47:00.000-07:00

My brothers were basketball stars. They were great players and successful coaches. They had state championships, all-conference titles, and even an All-American honor. Halls of Fame house their pictures. (We just attended another induction ceremony in Louisiana tonight.) They were ten and fourteen years older than I, so I spent a great deal of my childhood going to their basketball games. Then, they became coaches and one of my sisters-in-law was a coach. When we weren't at games, we were talking about basketball. Meal time discussion topics included zone vs man defense and offensive schemes to beat the upcoming opponent. See what I mean? We were consumed by basketball.

At the Jackson Parish Sports Hall of Fame ceremony: Larry Toms, left, introduced our younger brother Stuart, right, as we was inducted on Saturday evening. Stuart was inducted into the Louisiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 1989.

I just assumed that I would play basketball because my brothers did and everyone thought they were great. But, I didn't get the gene, nor was I encouraged by my parents to play. Nay, there was not even a goal in our yard by then. See, outside of basketball, we spent our time going to church and singing. And, we needed a piano player. My daddy had prayed for a piano-playing daughter, and, there I was. So, the piano was my destiny -- not basketball. He brought a piano to our home when I was five, and I started playing--first by ear until they could find someone who would teach a five-year-old.

I've wondered how our lives would have been different if one of my brothers had taken up the piano and I could have been the sports star. Oh, well; we all ended up loving basketball and singing together. There is one slight injustice, however. My basketball playing/coaching sister-in-law also plays a mean piano. She's my hero, and in my personal Hall of Fame! I grew up with her, and, even though she was five years older than I, she always had time for me. We spent many Sunday afternoons at singing conventions with our fathers. I thought it was torture. Why couldn't I be doing something that normal kids were doing on a Sunday afternoon? But, she was there, too, so it made it much more bearable. She taught me cool moves on the piano--fill-ins, rhythms, key transitions--and, we loved singing together (and still do when we get together). She's a pastor's wife and, next to my mother, the most Godly woman I know. I never had a sister; but, if I had been blessed to have a sister, we could have been no closer than this relationship that I have with my sister-in-law.

Johnette Toms, left, is married to my brother Stuart. My niece Catherine Lucas, right, came in from Jackson, Tennessee, for the induction ceremonies.

I didn't start to write this blog about her, but that's where God took it. Family is important. My parents taught me that, and I've tried to pass that down to my children. They taught us to look out for each other and protect each other, caring for each other as our Heavenly Father does. Whatever one of us did to the other, we forgave and were forgiven. I can still hear my father saying to one of the nephews spatting with another, "Son, that's your brother." And, we knew what that meant.

My "I wish I could play basketball" scripture:

Colossians 3:17 (NIV)
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

About my family:

Philippians 1:3 (KJV)
I thank my God upon every remembrance of you.

Take Care of You

2010-07-22T21:23:00.000-07:00

The more I read about cancer, the more I am convinced that there is something dreadfully wrong in our country. According to the American Cancer Society, 1,529,560 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in 2010. This year, 569,490 people will die from cancer -- more than 1,500 a day. More than 11,700 people will die from melanoma this year. (Source: "Cancer Facts and Figures 2010") Why was I always so smug to think that cancer wasn't something that would ever happen to me? If it is true, as according to David Servan-Schreiber, MD, PhD, and author of Anticancer: A New Way of Life, that all of us have cancer cells in our bodies, but not all of us will develop cancer, why don't we hear more about ways for the bodies that God created to fight the harmful agents that have infiltrated our systems?

The food we eat, beverages we drink, and the air we breathe have become our attackers. How do we change what we've always known and, quite frankly, enjoyed about food? It's not easy; it's not very enjoyable, but it is absolutely essential. Why don't we see more studies about natural ways to treat the health issues we face? I am not a conspiracy theorist, by any means, but I believe with all my heart that our health system today is being manipulated by pharmaceutical companies and insurance companies. And, as with most of the failures in our country, it's all about greed. There's simply no money to be made by recommending that people juice, add turmeric to their food, eat red grapes and blueberries, consume dark chocolate, drink green tea, give up meat (except for omega 3-rich fish), give up white bleached flours, beware of plastics and cans, and exercise. And, the insurance companies would rather pay for a one-time invasive procedure than have you be monitored by sonogram every three-four months or pay for preventive therapy.

So, it's up to us to change our behavior, to live a more healthful life, and to educate ourselves in how to do that. It's up to young mothers to introduce that healthful behavior to their families. I'm choosing to fight melanoma by changing just about everything I put in my body. I welcome your input and hope you will share your stories. We hear a lot about people who die from cancer, but there are many survivors. I heard of one today: a breast cancer diagnosis with recommended double mastectomy. She refused the surgery, deciding to help her body fight the cancer. That was fourteen years ago. She's still going strong.

Dr. Servan-Schreiber has teamed up with M. D. Anderson to examine the effects of an innovative, standardized integrative oncology program based on the model outlined in his book. This is great news for all of us. Someone you love, if not you, will have cancer. Maybe our focus will shift to preventing cancer rather than curing it. Not an original thought, I'm sure. I just didn't pay attention before.

Hello, Houston; Good-bye Catfish

2010-07-20T20:05:00.000-07:00

My visit to M. D. Anderson today was eight hours of driving and four hours of clinic (and a cherished lunch with my pregnant niece). All in all, I felt encouraged by the appointment, even though Dr. Homsi encouraged removal of the remaining lymph nodes in my groin. He was not, however, and advocate of interferon. Characteristic of other surgical and medical oncologists, the “standard of care” (node removal and interferon) was the recommended treatment. I communicated early in the meeting that I was not interested in the standard treatments for several reasons:

1) They are at best 10%-15% effective
2) They have really bad side effects
3) It’s the lazy way out. I realize that this is a harsh statement and that there just isn’t anything new out there for treatment except for melanoma in an advanced, metastasized state. Sad, isn’t it, that we don’t focus more on prevention instead of treatment?

So, when I communicated my thoughts, he said, “I can see that you have done your homework on this.” He and his resident were very receptive to a more “integrated” treatment that focuses on building up your immune system through good nutrition, anti-oxidants, and exercise. He also picked up the phone and spoke with Dr Aggarwal about the use of turmeric in cancer treatment (a study he did not know about even though it was being conducted down the street.) Now, in defense of the good doctor, there are 17,000 employees at M.D. Anderson, and I know that although they try to operate out of their own tunnel, they cannot know about every ongoing study. The bottom line is that, of this minute, I will not have additional node removal nor take interferon. I will :

• See an Integrated Medicine Specialist at MDA within the next few weeks
• Return to MDA within three months for a sonogram of my groin lymph nodes
• Have a PET Scan in three months
• Continue praying for complete healing and non-reoccurrence

I am so grateful to all of you who read this blog and have prayed for me. I covet those prayers and hope you will continue to lift my name when you talk to our heavenly father. Hudson, my best friend and biggest supporter, is concerned that we will be dropping fried catfish from our diet. All things in moderation, honey!

To Market, To Market

2010-07-17T19:36:00.000-07:00

A trip to market each year will usually reveal things that are "in," colors, and trends. Over the past years you could spot polkadots, elephants, birds, monkeys, and anything "green."

Here's what I noticed over the last three days in Atlanta:

Angel Wings

Is there a place in your home for these?

Turquoise

It's been strong all year, and it's still around. When Pantone picks the color of the year, manufacturers are often slow to respond with product; but not this year. It's everywhere -- in home decor, fashion, and jewelry.

Soft turquoise in urban industrial:

Look how it's mixed with orange and rust to go into fall:

Showroom: Dallas's own Global Views

Other notes: Birds are still big, bees are making a comeback, and I spotted lots of butterflies.

All in all, my leg has held up pretty well during the miles I've covered. My friend Pam from New Orleans met me here and thought she would be pushing me in a wheel chair. Naahh; we didn't need that. The short bandage wraps have helped with the swelling, so I've just kept walking. The real reason we come here is to be together. Sometimes there are a lot of us; this year it's just the two of us.

Before, during and after my surgery I would receive a text message almost everyday from Pam. It would say simply, "I love you," or "I'm praying." I would always respond, "I know." And, I did. These angel wings remind me of her (not John Travolta, as I mused today). And, this anonymous quote:

"A real friend is like an angel who warms you by her presence and remembers you in her prayers."

Psalm 91:9-12

If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter,

no evil evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home.
For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go,
They will hold you up with their hands so you won't even hurt your foot on a stone.

From Atlanta: Design Forward . . What's It Called?

2010-07-16T19:21:00.000-07:00

Two distinct styles are dominating the Atlanta Market this year -- and, they don't even have a name. It's just a look. At least ten showrooms featured this collection of industrial objects. Surprisingly, it is not the gen-xers in lofts who are the primary buyers of this style. It's the second-homers. Interesting.

Urban Organic / Industrial Chic

French pallets with wheels. Use: coffee table

Softened with Lucite:

Lamps made from balusters and anything else they can find:

Interesting light fixtures:

Showroom: moss studios

More uses:

Home Office

Shabby French / California French

You've seen it; it's everywhere. But, what is it? Neutral, gray, muslin, burlap, chipped paint. Many of the items come from Italy and France. Some are stripped or painted. It's the alternative to Urban Industrial right now.

This showroom introduces the occasional darker wood into the mix, making it more interesting.

Showroom: Eloquence

The creativity of man is evidenced here like nowhere else. A thousand times I've caught myself thinking, "Why didn't I think of that?" Even the ideas I wouldn't choose to incorporate into my personal style gain my admiration. I admire the re-purposing of objects, the inclusion of artifacts, and the preservation of antiques. Most of all, I am thankful that there are people who have those gifts and that I am able to be here and enjoy their handiwork.

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 (NIV): Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

Next: The Colors of Market

Lymphs, Lamps and Laughter

2010-07-13T21:00:00.000-07:00

I could not ask for a more diverse life these days. I'm writing as I wait for Dr. Saint Cyr to come in and remove the final stitches from the T-spot of my incision and flap. Last night was the end of sleeping with my leg elevated on two pillows. Hooray, because I'm a side-sleeper. (Note: To compose on an iphone is pure insanity, but I seize the time when it comes, and I'm sure I'm not the only blogger who has to do that.)

The weekend was spent with my friend of 25 years--a weekend where we saw 4 movies in three days and focused on everything but melanoma and lymph nodes. We sat through two sub-titled Stieg Larsson movies: The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and The Girl Who Played With Fire. They were so good that we didn't even notice the sub-titles. I am reading the final installment of that trilogy -- The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest -- but I understand that the movie is not due out for a while.

I also wanted my friend to see Winter's Bone, and I didn't mind seeing the award-worthy performance of Jennifer Lawrence again. Great, great movie where the take-away is don't mess with your Missouri kin. Could there be two characters who are so different, yet so similar than Lisbeth Salander and Ree Dolly?

Then, we saw a new movie with Michael Douglas-- Solitary Man. I must admit I took a brief nap during that one, which was the one redeeming factor of the movie.

So, after movie marathon weekend, it was back to work on Monday and taking care of my swollen right leg. A little lymph node massage from the therapist was helpful, and she gave me some good pointers on self-massage. I kept wondering how I could be swollen from the removal of only three lymph nodes. She enlightened me that there are only 10-12 lymph nodes in the groin, so I guess when 1/4 of them is missing, that would create the problem. She encouraged a lot of movement, as did Dr. Saint Cyr.

Well, as always, I learn to be careful what I wish for. Got the stitches removed, the wound all cleaned up, scabs peeled off, and now this leg is wrapped from can to can't! It is wrapped in an ace bandage from the ankle to, well, you know where! I may have to seek a cooler clime as I will be wearing this for several weeks to encourage the flap to flatten out.

The wrap slows my gait a little, but I did manage to do a five-hour installation today--lots of window treatments, bedding, and acessories. My new favorite go-to in Dallas for last minute accessory fixes is Arteriors Too. It is an offspring of the Arteriors showroom World Trade Center and the local warehouse and distribution center. Defnitely worth a stop and prices are wholesale and works when I don't have time to order.

But, the most fun of the day came in the form of lunch at Stephen Pyles with Jeanette and Marsha.

May I just say that Marsha strong-armed us into a dessert called "Coffee and Doughnuts." I had a five-hour installation to work off that splurge, and I needed it.

Trying to stay awake after that lunch on the 30-minute drive to my installation, I thought of how thankful I am for the diversity in my life. Yes, even the adversity. The challenges I have faced with my melanoma have brought amazing new people into my life, strengthened my faith, drawn me closer each day to God, and have made me immensely aware of and thankful for the too-many-to-count blessings He gives each day. Like:

Good friends with whom to eat, watch movies, and laugh
Sources for beautiful items with which to surprise my clients
My clients
God's love for me and the ability to search his word for the ultimate source of illumination.

Psalm 119:105 -- Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Check!

2010-07-09T10:00:00.000-07:00

As I begin my day in Bible study and prayer, there are always numerous items that I have to discuss with God. There are, however, two constants each and every day:

"Lord, please lead me in a blog topic that will teach me something and help someone else."

"Lord, my business is yours. Lead me to the clients and work that you want me do."

Today, before I opened my eyes, I prayed about the blog topic. My appointment for M. D. Anderson is scheduled for July 20, so I wanted to incorporate that trip into the content. But, as I was drinking my coffee that my husband (my most treasured gift) has faithfully delivered to me in bed every morning of our almost 30 years of married life (he says it started because he didn't think I was ever going to get up and it was his polite way of saying "get up!"), my dear friend Kathy called to check on me and update me on her life and her upcoming trip to Italy. She began to tell me about referring a few people to my blog, thinking it would be helpful to them in situations they are facing (i.e., divorce, death of a loved one, etc.). I was blown away and began to praise God immediately for answering my prayer about this blog. Check!

Now, about my business. I already have the coolest, most fun, entertaining, lovable clients (most of them) in the world. Many of them have become very close friends. We have lunch, go to movies, hang out...and most of them are MUCH younger than I, so I am most flattered that they even want to be around me. I'm getting to see their precious children grow up and witness their lives unfold. What a blessing! This week my joy has ranged from:

A young mother of 9-month-old twins. She is my new heroine, no kidding. She has no nanny, no help. She is amazing and so in control. I guess I could have done what she does (not now, no way) when I was her age, but I stand amazed as she feeds two, changes two, cuddles two, catches two as they fall over because the dog ran into them, and never raises her voice. We're going to make her home beautiful together!

Peyton's Room. Remember the cherry-blossom-themed nursery? We continue to make decisions and move to completion. We have a delivery date: September 9. Here's another sneak preview of fabrics we are using in this little princess's room. This was our inspiration fabric from Osborne & Little:

Then we added some other yummy go-withs:

It will be fun to see this all installed and ready for her to come home.

There were many other joys this week, but I had a rather unusual call for assistance. It was a request to help de-clutter. Now, I've done a couple of these before and, I must say, it is not my favorite thing to do. (If only Blue-eyed Bride were here; she's an organizing genius!) As, I went for the initial consult, I knew immediately why God put this one on my to-do list. Clinical depression is a serious, serious illness, and this is an extreme case--a debilitating situation. She was a spotless housekeeper, with nothing out of place. Then, the illness came -- along with a back injury -- and the clutter piled up. I am calling in my favorite guy team of John and Travis (although primarily painters, they can do anything, and are always willing to help me) and we will get this done! And, I will pray that this will help her depression in some way. Thank you, God, for sending me to her. Check!

"My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus - Philippians 4:19

I'm looking forward to the weekend and a visit from my friend Paula from Michigan. She doesn't get independent films in her theaters, so we will probably be sitting in the dark for a large part of her visit. Hudson doesn't get it! He says that you can't visit in a movie. Hah! YES WE CAN!

Enjoy your weekend!

Aaahhhh.....

2010-07-07T19:52:00.000-07:00

Let me introduce you to two very special people in my life.

This is Holly:

And, this is Bryan:

They are the wonderful friends who take care of my hands and my feet. And, what a welcomed visit that was this week! I had been a little hesitant to put my foot into a pedicure bowl until the stitches were out and the incision healed. They had even graciously offered to make a house call while I was sofa-ridden. Bryan was very careful and gave me extra massage time to help with my swelling

The swelling in my leg is lymphedema and is a result of the lymph node removal. I have an appointment with a lymphedema therapist next week to get some pointers in alleviating some of the swelling. One of the tips is: sit down and elevate your foot/leg. I do elevate when I sit down, but I am back to about 80% of my work schedule, so sitting and elevating don't always work out in the middle of the day. I do think that if Bryan could work his massage magic everday, all would be better. The Texas heat doesn't help, either, of course.

I will be in conversation with M. D. Anderson tomorrow to set my appointment. It will be enlightening to get their input. And, a little extra treat will be visiting my niece who, coincidentally, is a med tech at M. D. Anderson. She has a baby due in August, so I have to get to Houston to see the nursery and pamper her a little before their life changes forever.

As my feet were being pampered, I thought of this verse:

"And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" Romans 10:15 NIV

Pampered or unpampered, I want my feet to bring the good news of Christ. The OPI Red polish is just a little lagniappe.

Imaging

2010-07-03T15:09:00.000-07:00

There may be some scan that exists that I haven't had in the past two weeks, but I doubt it. I've had a PET, CT, MRI, and smack in the middle, a mammogram thrown in for good measure. Let me just say for the record: if men had to have a mammogram (or some similar squeezing of a highly sensitive area of their anatomy), there would already be better breast imaging technology, or at least, a less painful technique.

Yes, I have been seen on the inside with nothing left to the imagination. I've had enough radioactive dye flowing through me to light this side of Dallas. It was all worth it to receive the extremely welcomed news yesterday that all of my scans were clear; no evidence of cancer presenting its ugly head somewhere else.

After seeing Jesus in the PET scan, I entered the MRI imagining God watching, laughing, saying, "Go ahead, if you must, but I already know what's in there. I created her. And, what's more, I see things you can't with your machines. I know what she's thinking, what she cares about, and what's really in her heart."

And, there it is. The real image that matters.

Genesis 1:27
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

We hear so much about genetic research, genetic testing, genetic engineering, the human genome, DNA -- it's all very deep and promising and controversial. More than anything, I want to have the genes of God my father. I want that DNA. I want to be exactly like Him, inside and out. When I trusted in Him, he cleaned me up inside--erased all my sins. I fail in so many ways to model His behavior, but I don't have to earn His love. He's always there, picking me up, encouraging me to keep going. That's the freedom and good news I'll be celebrating this weekend.

Summer Drama

2010-06-30T22:17:00.000-07:00

It's not as if there isn't already enough drama in my life this summer, but what would we do without a good television medical drama and a riveting cop show for our viewing pleasure. Tuesday nights on TNT these two shows are back-to-back, but my best friend DVR keeps them around until I can find the time to watch.

HawthoRNe with Jada Pinkett Smith presents some decent medical stories, personal relationship issues (of course) with humor thrown in. Provides a nice, mindless hour of entertainment. You'll recognize several cast members from other series like ER. And, there's Michael Vartan from Alias. (Now, that was a SHOW!)

Hang around after HawthoRNe and see Memphis Beat. My Name is Earl star Jason Lee has lost the mustache, but he kept the corn-fed accent. Critics have bashed it because it is actually filmed around New Orleans rather than in Memphis, but it's worth a look just to hear the music.

That all happens Tuesday. But, today is Thursday -- MRI day. Then, on Friday I will meet with my medical oncologist and discuss the results of both the MRI and CT scan and what comes next. Somebody's going to want to make a plan for moving forward.

My brother told me this week that sometimes God doesn't make it real clear what choices we should make; we just have to step out. When I do that, I will be armed with as much information as I can gather about what's going on with melanoma all over the world. But, we did both agree that if God chooses to write your course of action across the sky in giant letters, He can do that, too. Now, that's the kind of drama I'm looking for this summer!

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice . . .

2010-06-29T20:56:00.000-07:00

. . . That's what little girls are made of. And, that's what this little girl's room will feel like when we are finished. This pink and taupe room will belong to Peyton Emerson, and I'll give you just a little peek today of the magic we're working in her room.

This wallpaper was our inspiration. When we found it, we knew that cherry blossoms would rain down in this room. We were lucky that the walls were already painted the taupe/gray background color.

What goes with cherry blossoms? Umbrellas, of course! And, where else but Etsy would we be able to design this custom umbrella to add that special touch to the room.

Then, we called the creative and talented Cindy Housholder to make our blossom dreams come alive on the walls.

A few more previews:

And... because her Daddy is an Emerson fan:

I'll share more of this magical room as we add bedding, window treatments, and all the other things that little girls need in their special room.

I am praying for a healthy and happy Peyton to be born in September and for God's blessings on this special family.

Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward.

Psalm 127:3 (NASB)

Monday, Monday

2010-06-29T07:09:00.000-07:00

I have never liked Mondays; well, that is until I became self-employed and could plan my Mondays as I choose. I loved this Monday. I was a little tired after a very full Sunday. But, it was so refreshing to be able to go back to church yesterday. Being with the folks who are so faithfully praying for me charged me for the week ahead.

Even though it was dreadfully hot today, I enjoyed getting out and picking up accessories from Arteriors, bedding from Peacock Alley, and drapery hardware from one of my suppliers. It's always nice to be around pretty things, like the timeless beauty of these matelasses from Peacock Alley:

Then, it was off to an afternoon of hanging pictures and arranging shelves--two of my absolute favorite things to do. My client and I did a gallery wall of family pictures up a staircase. It was fun to hear her talk about different family members and periods of her life with her husband and two little girls. We filled the wall with the stories of her life and interspersed three of these awesome mirrors from Arteriors to add a little light:

I feel like I know her so much better, now. She's been married seventeen years; Hudson and I will celebrate #30 in August. "How do you do it?" she asked. "How do you stay so happy for so long?" We discussed this in Sunday School yesterday. Who is resposible for bringing happiness to a marriage? Here's what I told my daughter about that same topic before she was married:

Your happiness in life must come from the Lord. It's the relationship you have with Christ that will satisfy your every need. Your husband, your friends, your teachers, even your pastor will disappoint you at some time--just as you will disappoint them. It cannot be helped; we are only human. But, Jesus will NEVER disappoint you. Through His love, which satisfies your every need, you can love others...even when they disappoint you. You can forgive them, even when you don't want to. And, you can give up an argument, even when you KNOW you are right.

Yes, it was a good Monday. Look who else has a little trouble with Mondays.

Blueeyedbride sent this picture of Hudson trying to get on with his Monday!

On to Tuesday!

Jesus in the Pet Scan

2010-06-25T14:19:00.000-07:00

Did you ever see that drawing that went around several years ago that you were supposed to look at and see either a scary figure or Jesus? We had one on our refrigerator for a few weeks. We all saw Jesus, except for my daughter (blueeyedbride). We still tease her today that she "couldn't see Jesus." Can you?

I had an experience yesterday during my PET scan that bears sharing. After drinking the radioactive banana smoothie, getting the radioactive dye in my vein, and an 80 minute nap to let the dye travel through my body, I was placed on the moving table to begin the scan. Just as the table began to move into the tube, I closed my eyes to ask God for peace and to be able to be still for 30 minutes. And, there He was ... The Comforter. The Holy Spirit. I saw the face of Jesus. Tears began to roll down each cheek. I couldn't wipe them, but He did. He wiped them away as I sofly hummed:

Here! He is here!
He has blessed us with His presence in this place;
We will not be the same....
(Doxology: Words by Rick Vale;

Recorded by Sandi Patti)

This morning, most of my stitches were removed. He left a few at the T, because it is a critical spot, but it feels better. Then, on to the Medical Oncologist, Dr. Amy Harker-Murray. It was a good meeting as she gave me the great news that nothing of concern showed up in the PET scan. And, she reiterated the options of doing more lymph removal and/or interfuron treatment as extra precaution. The clinical trials for both are not really encouraging, but I will pray earnestly about these options before I see her again next week. We will also have CT and MRI results by then.

I am boosting my immune system with Juice Plus, Aloe Juice, Vitamin B and D. There are some interesting results out of M.D. Anderson concerning the use of turmeric (curry spice). So, I am hot on that trail, too. I certainly don't have the answers; so, I am relying on the Lord to direct my next steps.

"When we are at our wits' end for an answer, then the Holy Spirit can give us an answer. But how can He give us an answer when we are still well supplied with all sorts of answers of our own?"

-Karl Barth-

From: Forgotten God: Reversing our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit by Francis Chan

Looking for Normal

2010-06-24T05:18:00.000-07:00

I'm not even sure what my "normal" is now, but I'm trying to get some going. My good friends at the Michael Raymond Aveda Salon opened their arms (and the bottom drawer to rest my foot) yesterday when I finally felt like I could endure some color and a trim. Mario worked his magic, and we all laughed a lot -- part of my recovery prescription. (Sorry about the iPhone-quality picture.)

I stopped in at the World Trade Center for a little while yesterday. Market officially begins this weekend. and I normally avoid the place like the plague during a big market, but one of my clients is needing some rugs. My good friend Mary at Feizy came and picked me up from their corporate office across the street so I wouldn't have to hassle with parking. I discovered just how low my stamina is, and didn't stay long. But, did find some great rug choices. I am planning to go to Atlanta market in July. I may be on of those oft-detested market-goers in a motorized scooter. This is an open apology to all of the people in those scooters that I scowled at during my entire life. I am so sorry!

The heat doesn't contribute to my stamina, that's for sure. Whew, it's hot here. But, it was nice and cool in the choir rehearsal room at First Baptist Church last night. I HATE being fussed over... I prefer to do the fussing. But, those sweet Christian friends and prayer warriors created much fuss when I returned to rehearsal. And, I needed the infusion of the worship experience, prayer, and laughter that happens there. The alto section sounded especially good to my ears last night. Can't wait for Sunday. You can tune in live at www.firstdallas.org.

I guess another part of my new normal are the medical tests that are ongoing. I have a PET scan today at 1:00 p.m. Had to have my cup of coffee in a hurry this morning; nothing by mouth six hours before. Then, tomorrow, I have a CT scan and meet with my plastic surgeon (bye-bye stitches) and the new medical oncologist. Speaking of Dr. Saint-Cyr, my plastic surgeon, look at this link for an amazing story from the Dallas Morning News today.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/062410metnewthumb.1ad907d.html

Gotta run start this ?normal? day. Makes me wonder what other people are doing today and the agendas that make up your normal.

Psalm 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation;

Whom shall if fear?

The LORD is the strength of my life;

Of whom shall I be afraid?

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

2010-06-21T20:54:00.000-07:00

Psalm 139:14: I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

When our son was born almost twenty-five years ago, we used this Psalm on his birth announcement. I had chosen that verse before I knew that he would be born with a cystic teratoma the size of a man's fist on his neck and would undergo surgery when he was three days old to remove the non-malignant mass. Today, the tumor would have been detected via sonogram; in 1985, sonogram technology wasn't there, yet. It was a scary time for all of us. I think it must have been far worse for my precious husband. There we were with an almost-three-year-old at home, I was in one hospital, the baby in another for the surgery. Yikes; it makes me squirm, even now, to remember that stress. He says that was when his hair began to turn gray.

It still makes me sad to look back at the pictures of that baby boy with that mass on his little neck and tubes down his throat. I have often described that event as a time in our lives when God wanted us to hear him say, "Hey; I'm in charge here. I love you, and you still need me." There have been other times in my life when He has had to slap me up beside the head to get my attention. He'll do it, too! Not because He is a mean or angry Father, but because He loves me. I would worry if he was ignoring me.

Melanoma gets my attention. It's a nasty little cancer. During my first visit with Dr. Sharma, he was explaining how the lymph system in the body operates, and said, "The body is a magnificent creation." Yes, it is; and, we must still rely on the Creator to fix it when the smartest of humans cannot.

There's been a lot of interest in the process since detection: Here is the back of my leg after the dermatologist removed the mole by slicing. (I'm allergic to adhesive, and they put a band-aid on it; that explains the red rash-like dots.)

Based on the initial pathology evaluation, I knew that the removal site would be large and have a graft. My dermatologist niece warned me, repeatedly, that it would be large! Amazingly, Dr. Saint-Cyr, my plastic surgeon, was able to create a flap from skin below the excision, and rotate it up to cover the gaping hole. That meant that the graft didn't have to come from my abdomen--a welcomed result. So, the end result of five hours of surgery:

Amazing, isn't it? My stitches will come out on Friday, so my mobility will continue to improve. I am still sleeping with pillows behind my leg so that the flap doesn't rest on anything. After the stitches are removed, I will begin wearing an ace bandage around the flap so that the skin will begin to lay flat. When someone talks about the appearance of the scar and what it will look like later, I just have to tell you ... I don't really care! I am beyond vanity with this little battle scar. I am more concerned with what's going on inside my body.

And, once again, God, I get it.

1 Samuel 16:7 ... for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

Take Up Thy Bed and Walk. . .

2010-06-19T09:17:00.000-07:00

Other translations of John 5:8 include the words: pallet, couch, and mat. All that guy had to do was get up and grab his bed and walk. Jesus knew that he had been lying there for a while and couldn't get to the healing waters. So, "out-of-the-box Jesus" just had him skip the whole water thing and be healed because Jesus said so. (Wasn't about the water, was it?) Of course, Jesus got in a lot of trouble with the establishment because he had the guy toting his bed around on the Sabbath. So sad: they got caught up in the minutiae, again, and missed the whole point and the blessing and the Saviour!

That story makes me wanna... SHOUT! Getting that splint off propelled me to move! All I had to do was get up; I didn't have to lug the couch with me. I took a shower (oh, the things we take for granted), did a little paper work, watched taped episodes of Glee and Friday Night Lights, and even talked with a new client. Then, I had to take a little rest. (Easy, girl!) Priceless friends continue to feed and nourish us--physically and spiritually. I'm officially calling a moratorium on food! The freezer is full, and so are we.

I've been thinking a lot about the second coming of Christ. Cancer will do that to you, I guess. (and, my good friend Richard Trussell, who got me all excited thinking about it when he and Jan dropped off dinner). When I was a child, and even into my teens, I just assumed Jesus would come and our family would all leave this world together. I just couldn't imagine a life without my parents or brothers. That was MY plan. My father and mother left in 1990 and 1993, respectively. God's plan -- He trumps every time.

I still think my exit strategy has merit...for believers, of course. I hope that if you are reading this that you would be leaving with me. Life here is pretty good--even with the scary and depressing events of our world today. But, I just know that the next stop is too awesome for me to comprehend. I am not being morbid or fatalistic, it's just what I have always known! There's not a nano-second of hopelessness about me. Any outcome for me is a win-win!

If you're lying around moping about your hopeless circumstance, GET UP! And, walk. Or better, yet: run, jump, scream, raise your hands up and SHOUT! Follow Jesus; his plan trumps every time.

Milestones

2010-06-17T18:32:00.000-07:00

This week, Baby Hudson and I both reached major milestones relating to our travel in vehicles. He became frontward facing in his car seat; and, I was able to move to the front seat and actually sit upright in the seat. Since my trip home from the hospital, Hudson had been shoving me in the back seat of the Suburban with my right leg as stiff as a board. We put a blanket underneath me, I reclined, and he pushed! Quite a sight. All of the valet parkers at the medical center (a Dallas thing!) were in awe of our unorthodox technique of entering and exiting the vehicle. Early on, I was concerned about exposing myself to the world. Soon, it was "who cares! Just get me out of here." But, today, the splint came off, so I now have some flexibility in my leg and can bend my knee. I still have stitches (for another week) and have to protect the flap from rubbing on anything, but I am thrilled with the extra mobility. The only little bit of pain I have is in my groin where the lymph nodes were removed. And, that is only when I take a step that's too big!

Blessings have come in many forms during the last few weeks. I am always amazed, and often amused, at how God provides. For example... Yesterday, I persuaded Hudson to take me to an appointment with a client to see her recently-flooded kitchen that will require some work. I had to go to the doctor anyway, so I figured we could just make an extra little stop (remember, how I had to get in and out of the vehicle!) to meet with the contractor and figure out what we need to do in the next few weeks. We brought along a wheel chair so he could push me around the house. During the visit, I commented about how glad I would be to be able to get my hair washed (it had been almost two weeks since it was shampooed). She proclaimed with glee, "I've been a hair dresser for thirty years and have a small salon in back. Let me do your hair." And, she did! So unexpected; so God. Then, she prayed for me.

I just marvel at the surprises provided by my creator. I am so glad he is out an "out-of-the-box" thinker/doer. How boring life would be if it always worked out just like we think it should. Where would the trust come from if we could always figure it out on our own? Fresh and new: that's what tomorrow will be.

"It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is they faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23.

What's The Plan?