THE HATED "C" WORD

It is the word no one wants to say - me included. You hate hearing it - you hate associating it with someone you know - you think if you don't say it, it will go away and not be there - and you fear it.

CANCER - no matter where it is, how big it is, how advanced it is - you fear it. I have known a few people who have had it. You pray for them and want to help in anyway you can. And you always are thankful it is not you.

But what happens on that day when it IS you?? How do you feel? What do you feel? What do you do?

Well - two days ago my biopsy came back on a mole on my face that I never ever imagined would be a problem. That biopsy said - MELANOMA, STAGE 2. Melanoma - the official name for a nasty skin cancer. The type of skin cancer that can spread to other parts of the body if not caught quickly enough. Stage 3 melanoma is the stage where it can start to spread. This was the second biopsy on this mole - the first small biopsy came back suspicious and the doctor wanted to take a bigger biopsy. He was talking about it maybe being a melanoma in situ which is a stage 0. So I was totally NOT prepared to hear the words "Melanoma, stage 2".

How did I feel? Like it wasn't really me that he was talking to. What did I feel? I felt numb, then I withdrew into myself for about 24 hrs. - not wanting to talk to anyone. What did I do? A lot of praying!! My doctor did not want to wait 3 weeks till the next available opening to remove it, so he is working me in on Monday, Aug. 4. One week from Monday. I am glad it will be done soon but I am definitely not looking forward to the procedure. I know it will hurt like X?!!X when he numbs my chin cause it hurt when he did the biopsy. And it will hurt afterward when the numbing wears off. And there will be a scar. But all that I can handle because the Lord will be with me and He will guide this surgeons' hand to get all of the cancer out!!!

How am I feeling now? Still scared and anxious - it is still cancer no matter where it is at. But also I find myself feeling drawn to and repeating over and over the following scripture:

"YOU, DEAR CHILDREN, ARE FROM GOD AND HAVE OVERCOME THEM, BECAUSE THE ONE WHO IS IN YOU IS GREATER THAN THE ONE WHO IS IN THE WORLD." 1 John 4:4

ONE YEAR AGO TODAY

THEA - June 15, 2007 - one year ago today - the painful decision to not let you suffer was made. That was one of the most painful days of my life and I had many more after that - thinking of you and missing you. You were my "soulmate" - we did so many things together and went through so much together.

But today - instead of being sad - it will be a day of remembering your life and all the good things and fun things you did and we did. We had 14 wonderful years and God blessed me with you and I will always thank Him for you.

The first picture we took of you. We had only had you for less than a week - you were about 8 months old and already I loved you. And even though you were small, you still thought you were tougher than Spirit!!

Then we decided to let you become a momma. But even though you had an adorable baby girl, she didn't live. You were very sad for awhile but we got through that.

Then we decided to torment you and Tiki came into our life. She was very much a "stinker" and always wanted to play and wrestle with you. At first you didn't want anything to do with her but then you became best friends forever.

You always made us laugh when you wanted something - cause even if we put it up high out of your reach, you would show us by jumping very high and taking it from us!! You did love to jump. You could jump from a standstill at my feet and jump into my arms with no effort. And then there was Christmas!!! How you loved Christmas and getting into the presents and the paper. You thought every present was yours!! You were so funny at Christmas.

Then Fancy came along and the three of you were the best of buddies!!! You would all race around the yard, chasing each other and jumping out at each other!! You were so much fun to watch. You were definitely "The Three Amigos"!!

The time then came when the Lord showed me what He wanted us to do. I discovered you were wonderful with the elderly at nursery homes. You loved being with Mom when she was first admitted to the nursing home. You slept with her when she took a nap and sometimes even didn't want to go home with me. I think you would have been content to spend the night with her. After we came home, our therapy dog training began and you spent many hours visiting nursing homes, hospitals, special education classes. You logged in "officially" 250 visits to receive your "Outstanding Therapy Dog" award. But I would guess you had over 500 visits in your career as a therapy dog. You were so patient with everyone and would sit so quietly on their laps to be petted. You were a blessing to them and to me.

As you got older, you became deaf and didn't see very well and you became very white around your muzzle and head. But that didn't stop you from continuing to enjoy your visits and playing with your buddies.

As your time here grew shorter, you still continued to give me your love and I loved you in return. You were pampered and cuddled and loved. Today I won't think about the last few weeks of your life. They were hard and it makes me sad to think of that time. So instead I will remember you in all the silly and wonderful things you did - jumping at my back when it was time to eat, running up and getting in my face and staring into my eyes when I first came home from work as if to say - "Are you really home??"; sitting with Mom on her lap, getting Fancy by the throat and spinning her around on the floor, going to sleep on Jo's lap and waving bye to her, and curling up by my side in bed every night.


I love you Thea and I miss you still a lot - but I will always, always have 14 years of wonderful memories in my heart that will never be lost!!!

THEA
08/06/92 - 06/15/07

WILD, WILD ANIMALS!!!

We made it to our safari ride!! Had a great tour guide - very funny. Saw lots of wild animals - my favorites being the elephants. I love elephants. The momma and baby elephant were so precious. And of course we saw rhinos, alligators, zebras, giraffes, and this wart hog!! Cute, isn't it??!! Of course, I instantly thought - PUMBA!!! It was so much fun riding on the safari with the entire group. We all took some good pictures and had a great time. After the safari, we headed for the "Lion King" show where I got to see PUMBA!!! It was a great show.

Later on, we went to the Dinosaur Ride. Had to wait in line awhile for that one but it was exciting. But the most exciting part was the "Wild and Dangerous" animals we saw while waiting in line!!! There was the T-Rex skeleton - very big and I was glad it was not real!!! Can you imagine coming face to face with that!!

But then, there was the most scary animal of all - and it looked right at me and at my camera - I was soooooo scared but I managed to get a picture of this wild and dangerous animal before it ran away!!!

It was the Bettyasaurus!!! It was touch and go for a minute - but we all came away safe and sound!!! Hahahahahahahaha!!! We all had so much fun - memories we will treasure forever!!

OH NO!!! WHAT IS IT???

Yesterday Terri and I went up to Virginia and that is where Terri had her hair done and I got my hair cut also. While we were there, we took a little drive up to "Hungry Mother State Park" which was about a 10 minute drive from where we were. It was a very pretty drive and we have decided we are going to go back another weekend and spend all day in the park when we have more time. But while we were there - this critter made it into our car and came home with us!!! What is it??? It is a possum (the state animal for Tennessee - just kidding!!). The possum is about the ugliest animal on the earth - it is a giant rat with gray hair and a hairless tail. As I said - UGLY. And we had a LIVE one on our back porch the other night - a baby one but it was still a live one and UGLY!! It is hopefully gone now. But anyway - we went into the visitors center and there was this stuffed possum and somehow (through the magic of money!!) he made it into this bag and into my car and into MY bedroom!!! Hahahahaha! I just couldn't resist him - he has a hoodie on that says - "VA State Parks - "Possumably" the best!!" I ask you - Who Could Resist That???!!!!

WE'RE OFF - TO THE ANIMAL KINGDOM

OK - it is now Sunday and the WHOLE family is going to Disney's Animal Kingdom!!! There are 12 of us going!!! We started out the morning getting our pictures taken. First there were the "Three Mickeys" - Aunt Dixie, ME, and Pat. We had all bought the same t-shirt at Disney and wore them Sunday. And we instantly became the "Three Mickeys". We had fun with that all day. Of course then there were the "non-conformists!!!" - the one of a kind, non-matching threesome!!! - Carole, Betty, and Ann. Oh well, some people just have to be unique!!

When we arrived at the Animal Kingdom, we each had to have a "buddy" and each twosome was responsible for each other. That didn't always work. But we basically did pretty well. We started out heading for the Safari as we had "fast passes" and had to be there at a certain time to get right on the ride. So we were "booking it" to that. But I did get to stop and take a picture of one of the "main points" of the park - this tree!! Very unique and a lovely picture. (I also got to stop for a moment and catch my breath! Ha!) We arrived at the safari and went right on - no waiting!!!

Next up - WILD ANIMALS!!!