nothing plain about jane

What Goes Around Comes Around

2009-10-18T18:30:00.000-07:00

(This post is from Vickie, Jane's Friend...)

You know, Jane is one of the most giving people I know. She is always there for others. Take the time that my daughter was in the production of "The Wizard of Oz" this winter. Jane was there...opening night, flowers in hand!

When Jane was diagnosed with breast cancer, our whole family was heart broken. What could we do? (Of course, pray! but what else?)

I came across a flier at the hospital that caught my eye...

"BRAS for the CAUSE"

I knew I had to participate. Basically it is a contest/challenge, to design a bra to help raise awareness about breast cancer. Immediately, my friend Leslie came to mind. We just had to do this together. I'll save the amazing details, but here are the results...

"Boobs of Steel"

Of course, my daughter wanted in on the action! She just adores Jane and wanted to do something in honor of her. Her "bra for the cause" is entitled ...

"Got the Ta-Tas Covered!"

Now, this is where YOU come in!

These two bras are competing at Carolinas Medical Center-Union, in Monroe. They will be on display in the Edwards Cancer Center Conference Room on Thursday, October 22 from 7 am - 5 pm and Friday, October 23 from 7am - 12 pm. Employees and visitors are eligible to vote on these days. Please go and vote for these bras and for Jane! They are both in honor of her.

The top three go to Rolling Hills Country Club, on Thursday, October 29 for the Tickled Pink Event. A winner will be chosen at that event. We hope to win! Thanks for helping us!!!

If you want more info on Tickled Pink, visit http://www.tickledpink4breastcancer.com/.

Count It All Joy

2009-10-15T14:02:00.000-07:00

Today is October 15th and it has been quite a journey since September 30th. My friend Vickie has created this beautiful Blog (Web Log for those who don't know, I could not remember) to continue my progress online.

The out pouring of love and concern for me has been overwhelming, from meals to presents left at my front door (thank you to who ever left me the pink Longaberger mug at my front door). I am blessed!!

Last week was quite a week. I managed to cover a few of the side effects from Chemo and ended up at the Oncology office 3 days getting IV fluids. On Friday my nurse JoAnn said we now know what my cocktail will be after each Chemo ...more fluids.

So this week has been a great week for feeling better and having a much better attitude, especially since next Wednesday will be my 2nd infusion.

The lessons I have learned...

-I need 4 to 6 bottles of water
-do not count calories:)

-remember to take my vitamins

-eat lots of protein.

-decrease salt...a lot

Chemo had definitely changed my taste buds. My morning coffee~gone. Cokes~gone.

There is definitely something called Chemo brain, now I have an excuse:) but I forget things so I am trying to journal my days and make lists and now is not a good time to tell me secrets I might forget that it's a secret.

My friend, and neighbor, Kathy gave me a book by Elizabeth George called Finding God's Path through your trials. The very first chapter "Accepting the Truth" she starts off with James 1:2
"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials." Your first instinct is to think, "Yeah right!", and close the book, but actually, it is a very true and simple statement. She quotes William Vander Hoven which sums it up " Life need not be easy to be joyful. Joy is not the absence of trouble, but the presence of Christ."

John 16:33, from The Message, reads...

"I've told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I've conquered the world."

No matter what our day brings we can always trust in this scripture, E. George brings up that joy is a choice not an emotion. I can honestly say that the scriptures read a little differently to me now, the meaning is more clear, God's voice is more clear.

I love what King David says in Psalm 27:4 he was freaking out his enemies are after him, like cancer after me... he says

"One thing I ask of the Lord,
this is what I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord
and to seek him in his temple."

So my prayer is to see the Lord through out this process, that the cancer or the treatment will not beat me!!

I am a fighter and I will win because Jesus has conquered the world.

Anne Richardson (my sister-in law) gave me a book by Leighton Ford, The Attentive Life. I love what he says.

"Each of us is part of a Greater Story, and behind our stories is a Storyteller calling us home. The deepest longing I have is to come home to my own heart...to bring my real self before the real God, to be changed into his true image, to become all that God has made me to be. It was and is longing to belong, to have a home for God in my heart..."

Thank you for reading my Blog and for checking up on me, I hope I will be able to update a little faster after my next treatment but the time spent at my computer has been short.

Thank you Vickie for creating this beautiful Blog!!!

P.S. I hope ya'll have enjoyed the music :)

P.P.S. I am adding a picture of me with, my haircut shorter that it has ever been so I can get use to no hair.

October...Breast Cancer Awareness Month

2009-10-09T17:36:00.000-07:00

It's one thing to be "aware" of breast cancer. It's another thing to HAVE breast cancer.

My friend, Jane, was diagnosed with breast cancer four weeks ago. Life has been a whirlwind ever since. There have been tears, doctor's visits, test, more doctor's visits, more tests, exhaustion, discomfort, more tears and a pressing into the Lord.

This blog will be run by Jane. I just wanted to get it kicked off for her!

Jane is an amazing woman. Those of us who know her, KNOW there is nothing plain about her! (Making the title apropos).

She is a woman who is in love with Jesus, her husband and kids.

She is a woman who says what she means and means what she says. You always know where you stand with Jane, and that is so refreshing! She and David are two of the most generous people I know. And she makes me laugh. Just the thought of her makes me smile.

As tears have flowed, our friend Beverly had this precious word of encouragement for us...

" 'Thou hast taken account of my wanderings; and put my tears in Thy bottle. Are they not in Thy book?'

-Psalm 56:8

I don't know , but it seems that scripture is saying that our tears are MUCH too valuable to remain in the "precipitation-evaporation cycle", only to become raindrops again! He even records them in His book! HE knows the pain and anguish in our soul that produces those tears, and they are valuable...even precious to HIM! So, HE saves them. How sweet is that?

xox, Bev "

There will be ups and downs on this journey. There will be tears and laughter. I, myself, am looking forward to having Jane pour out her heart here, in this place. We will be able to share in this time with her, supporting her with cards, meals, comments and most importantly...our prayers.

"The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective"

-James 5:16