Happy Easter!

I pray that all of you had a very Happy Easter.  Ours was blessed because we were able to go to church together with our first-born daughter (Frankie) and hear the special music presentation.  Our daughter sings in that choir but had surgery on her thyroid just a couple of weeks ago and was unable to participate this year.  I'm sure that was dis-appointing for Frankie but was a blessing for us as we were able to sit with her during the service.  Afterwards we all came to our house where we had a wonderful meal which had been prepared for us by a friend of our second-born daughter, Ruthie.  It was a blessed time of fellowship.

I have now passed through chemo treatment #7, which puts me "over the hump" of the 13 treatments that have been prescribed for me.  Thank God for the strength He is giving me as I go through this process.  One of the Easter songs really resonates in my being - "Because He Lives".  The chorus says, "Because He Lives, I can face tomorrow.  Because He Lives, all fear is gone.  Because I know who holds the future, I now can face uncertain days, Because He Lives!"  Yes, just as He said to me in that un-forgettable dream, Jesus is healing me.

Be Blessed!

Iris in bloom by the carport!

Clymatis (Sp?) in bloom at the front porch

Roses starting to bloom!  It's too early?

More Roses

And More Roses

My Beautiful Frances

Up And Down!

Can you remember the first time you were ever on an elevator?  In their earlier years, most elevators, even in downtown hotels required an operator.  Someone getting into an elevator would say the number of the floor they desired to travel to, and the operator would announce when he/she had reached the floor.  In particular I remember one in Maison Blanche, a huge store in New Orleans in the early '50s.  That operator normally sat on a stool in the corner near the controls.  He went up one floor at a time, announcing, "2nd floor!"  "Door's closing!"  "3rd floor!"  Up and down.  All day every day.  I heard someone ask him, "How is your day going?"  He responded with, "Oh...up and down!"

That's my stock answer these days whenever anyone asks how I'm doing.  "Oh...Up and down!"  The ups and downs of my life are not determined by the elevator - or the "lift" as it is referred to in many European countries.  Mine is more determined by the chemo treatments I'm receiving for treatment of stage IV colon cancer.  I receive a "chemical cocktail" basically every other week in the treatment center for 3 to 5 hours; then a "chemo-pump" is attached and I return home wearing it for another 48 hours.  As more time elapses I "feel" better.  It's nice to be on the "up-side" of these chemo-lifts. 

Come to think of it, I remember reading one man's testimony after he accepted Christ as his Savior.  He said, "When I feel bad now, I feel better that I felt before, when I thought I was feeling Great!"  (or words to that effect.)  Honestly folks, it's a great feeling to know that one is in the hands of a faithful and all-wise God.  There is nothing quite like it.

Go ahead, make that decision today to "Try Jesus!  If you don't like Him the devil will always take you back!"

4th Chemo Treatment

On Wednesday, February 15th, 2012 I went into Memorial Hospital for my fourth chemo treatment.  I had a really bad week leading up to the treatment.  However, my lab work showed my blood-count to be better than it has been since my surgery.  I have just returned from another visit for only lab-work, and the blood work continues to climb.  I know that this has to be God at work, healing me, as he has promised to do.

I'm getting a Boost along the way!

Good friends supplied chicken soup and cornbread
This cornbread is just like I like it - thin and crispy!

I really surprised Frances for Valentine's day - with this Barbershop Quartet arriving at our home and singing three love songs for her.  She was overwhelmed to tears.  I have to confess I also shed a tear before they were through, but I was so proud of myself because I have never been able to surprise her so completely for anything (birthday, valentine's day, christmas or anything else) but on that day I did it.  I still feel somewhat smug.

Another thing that was part of this package was the large box of chocolates I managed to sneak into the house and set  up by  the kitchen counter so it was the first thing she saw when she came into the kitchen that morning.

Another visit from Frances' neice, bring food!  Yummmmm!

This cardinal came to visit me while I sat in the warm afternoon sunshine one day last week.

Beautiful buttercups clipped from our yard and brought into the house for me (with love) from Frances!  Spring is almost here folks!

Third Chemo Treatment

Jonquils are popping out in our yard.  Spring is Coming!

This is the pump that fits into the pouch and is attached to the surgical port under my left clavical.

I can hardly believe it! But here, just outside our front door the jonquils are already popping out. And I think that in just a few more weeks all this chemo treatment will  pass and I'll have new life also. Jehovah God is an awesome God!

Here is the belt pouch that holds the chemo-pump which I wear for two nights.

I decided to get a new haircut!

This is one of the scenes I passed on the way to Church last Sunday, January 29

Our Youth Group at the Tellico Plaina, TN Church of God Singing

For now, here's what happened: 

Yesterday morning, at 7:20a.m., my brother Wil joined me for the trip to Chattanooga Oncology center and stayed with me the during the lab-work, doctor visit and chemo treament. We started chemo at 9:45 and finished at 12:00p.m., at which time a "chemo-pump" was attached which I must wear until Friday. It's un-comfortable to wear - especially while trying to sleep - but not un-bearable.

Everything went smoothly. The doctor was pleased with the results of the blood work and feels we are making good progress.

I so appreciate your praying for me. May the Lord bless you in return. I'm convinced that your prayers are making a difference in the level of side-effects being felt. They have been very minimal to date.

Supportive Friends and Family

Mother, Frances, and my youngest brother, Lowell

Debbie and Dewain and Me after a meal at Cracker Barrell

Two wonderful meals that my neice, Jean Hamilton prepared and brought for me.

I thank God for my Family.  We are close friends and spend time together regularly.  Any excuse for a party (Birthdays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New years,) brings us together at some one of our homes or in a restaurant where we socialize, tell stories (some true, some embellished), tell jokes, maybe sing awhile, pray together and enjoy one another's company.

One of Frances' neices (Jean Moore) lives here in Cleveland, TN where her husband Rick teaches Old Testament at Lee University.  She is an RN and works with hospice.  She is a twin and has another sister and a brother.  Frances and I have always enjoyed all of her siblings as we have watched them grow from the time they were born.  With her busy schedule - she still found time to come check on her Uncle Fred when I first came home from the major surgery in November.  Then - a few nights ago - she and Rick came by and delivered the delicious meal that you see laid out on our kitchen stove.  What a sweetheart she is. 

Mamaw, Dewain, Frances, Frank, Elizabeth are Frances' family visiting in our home.

Sometimes I like solitude.  I enjoy being alone for two to three days at a time now and then.  Some of you know of my love for the out-of-doors and that I go to the mountains alone and spend time there reading and thinking and praying when I'm not hunting or fishing.  But I love being with my family and close friends.  When you are in a crisis, your family and friends really matter (or at least I can say it seems to me that they matter) more than ever.  Tomorrow, as I go for my second chemo-therapy treatment, my closest minister friend (Dr. E.L. Williams) will be driving for me.  It's thirty miles to the treatment center.  He will spend about 8 hours of his valuable time waiting on me.  I am a blest man to have such a wonderful family and friends.

Me and My Siblings

Dr. Ed Williams, delivering "Meals on Wheels"

Ed and Me

Music To Grow On

I was just listening to a site on You Tube where many of my friends and acquaintances are involved in singing from a song book that came out many years ago and was widely distributed by Pathway Press.  This was the main song book for our local churches in the organization known as Church of God, with International Headquarters in Cleveland, Tennessee.  This chapel is on the campus of Lee University and I pass this chapel each time I go over to visit my Mom - which is fairly regularly.  I just thought you might like to listen also, so I'm posting the URL here. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zE97KEfW2Y0

If that fails, just go to you tube and search for "red back hymnal night"

This particular video is one hour and 40 minutes long - so you may want to be sure to have something to snack on sitting beside your chair.  That is if you like southern gospel music! ☺  These songs bring back so many memories. 

Now we also had a "Convention" book, which was a collection of new songs written and collected and placed in a smaller paper-backed book.  At the annual Camp-Meeting, someone (sometimes the author - like Charlie B. Wycuff or Otis McCoy or Vep Ellis) would lead their new song from the Convention book.  I remember when Charles Wycuff first led us in his song, "What A Lovely Name, The Name of Jesus" and the crowd went ballistic with joy.  Oh what powerful times of un-abashed and un-ashamed worship in song.  One of my hunting buddies wrote a song after the red backed hymnal was published which became very popular in our local churches.  You may have heard Eddie Williams' song, "Jesus Will Hear Me When I Pray".  And Yes, there was shouting in the camp wherever and whenever it was sung.

The Song Book - Believe by Gospel Heritage Music

Mama's Song, "I'm Leaving Here"

My Mom also had one of her songs recently published in one of those paper-backed convention style books (2012).  It's called "I'm Leaving Here".  I MUST try to video tape her singing it and put it up for you to see also.  It's a good one.  The book is called "Believe Gospel Song Collection" and is published by Gospel Heritage House.

Well ... I didn't mean to write so much here.  Just wanted you to have that URL so you could have access to some good gospel music.

Chemo-Therapy

 

Now, Mom, Here's What The Doctor Said

On December 22, 2011 our first born daughter drove her mother and me to the Medical Oncologist's office for consultation on the type of treatment I was to receive. 

Frances waits in the lobby with a handful of papers to read which tell about different options for treatment of my cancer.

There were three options:  1) A surgical port could be placed under the skin on my chest and this would become the entry-way for the chemicals that would be used to fight the intestinal stage four cancer.  It was explained that via this port I could avoid having the nurses search for a good vein each time I came to the treatment center.  Blood samples for lab testing could also be taken through this port.  This would require minor surgery.   2) I could opt out of the surgery and trust the nurses to find the vein each time.  Since I have had the nurse miss the vein a couple of times already, I decided I did not like this option.  3)  A third option would be to take chemo via a pill (actually four pills a day) that is still somewhat in the testing stage as far as side effects go. 



Number One Daughter, who is a school teacher, sits with pen in hand...ready to take notes



I asked the doctor to allow me to sleep on this decision.  At first I felt that it would be easier to just get the pills and take them - but then I would still have to go to the treatment center every couple of weeks for lab work.  So with either of the three options we must travel to Chattanooga for this treatment.  That's not bad for it is only about 30 miles from our home in Cleveland.  Too - I wanted to talk this decision over with Frances.  Fifty four years ago the two of us became as one. 

So we stopped by the Cracker Barrell and went to the "Consultation Room"!

Second Born, "Favrite One" daughter was available for the first day of Chemo


So Chemo therapy sessions started on January 4, 2012.  I will be going to the treatment center every two weeks to spend 5 to 6 hours in a recliner, allowing the doctors to inject chemicals into my system that are designed to kill the "bad cells".  The problem with all the methods of administering the chemo remains the same.  The chemo can also kill some of the "good cells", thus creating sometimes severe side-effects.  I will be o.k., I know that for sure.  However, I will appreciate your prayer that God will cause the chemo to do what it is designed to do in killing the bad cells and pray that at the same time it has no effect on anything that my body needs in order to get well.



Aha! We've got it all sorted out now!

Go Ahead!  Make My Day!