Cinnamon Stik at the Arbor

We are so ready for some mother~daughter fun...
as we head out to the Shops at the Arbor
starting with shopping at Cinnamon Stik.
A shop that Michelle and I would always go to whenever I visit her. We were so sad when they closed a few years ago. Much to our delight they reopened at a new location joining the Shops at the Arbor which has more of our favorite shops.

Here we go...

and she's ready to fill her basket

Another favorite shop is

Flags of Flair.

The backyards are full of treasures...

lots of jewels for the garden!

We started off later then we had planned so we had dinner instead of lunch, which was perfect!

We sat out back in the patio at Shenandoah's and had such a scrumptious dinner. Started off with hot apple fritters, then a trio appetizer of shrimp cabo, crab cakes, and fried green tomatoes. We had bowls of soup and they make the most savory soups! Our entrees were the Mediteranean Halibut with spinach, apples, and capers and the Blackened Halibut with cilantro rice. And THEN we had dessert... Bananas Foster.

We rolled all the way home!!

Here are just a few of the treasures that came home with us...

Easter plaques

Easter kitchen towels

garden obelisks

got Megan a pretty headband, which looks pretty on mommy too!

We had such a relaxing~peaceful~fun~time together.

Just me and My Chellie, My daughter, My Chelle

I love you my Mija.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and God of all encouragement, who encourages us in our every affliction, so that we may be able to encourage those who are in any affliction with the encouragement with which we ourselves are encouraged by God."

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Back in time for Port Day

"And now these three remain:

faith, hope and love.

But the greatest of these is love."

1 Corinthians 13:13

I'm back in California with these little ones...

it warms my heart how happy they were to see me! I feel very loved.

First of all, Michelle had her port put in today. Her arm is hurting but other than that she's doing good. She won't be able to use her arm for a few days. She has another week until her next chemo session.

Soooo, this Friday we are having a mother/daughter day out! We are leaving the kids with Dan and going shopping at her favorite shop (and mine!) "Cinnamon Stiks" which just reopened this week. And we are having lunch at Shenandoah's (get a glimpse here from our Girls Annual Weekend).

We are very excited!

I got lots done at home in the 4 days I was there. Most of it was work, but best of all was that I was able to see Marty, Kori, Serenity, Adrianna, Marty, Mikey, Elizabeth, and Evan. It seemed like ages since I had seen them and I was missing them so much! No matter where I am, I am missing someone!

Since David and I have been away from home every weekend, we got caught up with lots of gardening and house stuff. Even though Saturday night was windy and cold, we turned on the heat lamps and grilled before it started raining!

Again, I feel very loved.

"Friends love through all kinds of weather, and families stick together in all kinds of trouble." Proverbs 17:17 the message

Update on Michelle

"Thus says the Lord, I have heard your prayer and seen your tears.

I will heal you."

2Kings 20:5

Day 6 & 7: We made it through the first week of many many many more! Even though Michelle is feeling better, there are other things cropping up... rashes, itchy scalp, a sour stomach feeling which she says is hard to describe. But, I'm seeing that beautiful smile again! She even felt good enough to walk to the grocery store.

She is sending me home for the weekend to regroup as she says. I will return on Tuesday so I can be here for "port" day on Wed. I will miss them immensely!!

Correction on port date: Michelle's port surgery is not tomorrow after all, it's the following Wed, March 2. She was telling me last night that she is not ready and wished it was not this week. She is thankful for this prayer answered as she would rather have some days to recuperate before having to go through another procedure.

Day 6: The back and shoulder pain became extreme for Michelle, but I think the fact that she couldn't hold or hug her little ones was worse. We have also had to keep Nathan at a distance because he has had a cold since Sat. He is getting over it but now Megan is starting. Keeping those little ones away from mommy has been quite a challenge. She is still hurting today but it doesn't hurt as much to be touched.

She needed to get out of the house so we ventured out to Michaels for more crafts, because this is a crafty kind of family. She still finds a way to be creative to find ways to teach Nathan. Right now Nathan is scouring the house on a scavenger hunt for 10 things that start with the letter C.

Another good thing is she has not lost her appetite. This girl can eat!

Tomorrow is port day. She will be having outpatient surgery to have her chemo port put in her arm. Just when she is starting to feel a tiny bit better...

Day 4 & 5: Michelle has been taking lots of naps, is feeling tired and having back and shoulder pain. She still tries to do as much as she can. She made it clear to Dan and I that we are to do only what she can't. She does not want more help than she needs. : ) Hugs to everyone from her and me!

Day 2 & 3: Michelle did better after her 2nd day of chemo. Click here to read her blog and read her own words. Today Saturday, she is experiencing some achiness in her teeth and legs. Other than that she is doing good...so much better than I was expecting.

Day 1: Michelle's first visit to chemo land. It made her very loopy. She took books to read and a movie to look at during the 4 hrs of chemo, but she slept through most of it and chatted with others there and listened to their stories. Since she is not used to taking medication, the benadryl they gave her really took affect. She came home and slept for about 3 more hours and once awake she was fine. She ate dinner and slept through the night and this morning she was good too. She is there again today but it shouldn't be as long as yesterday. Since it takes a few days for the chemo to react we don't know yet how she'll be in the next few days. We will wait and see.

Keep Calm and Have a Cupcake~

We are trying to keep calm...

...so we have cupcakes

...and we have together time

...Michelle gets her hair cut

...we make lemonade


...we have fun


...we dance

...and dance

...we garden

...we give Megan a haircut like her mommy

...we celebrate Valentine's Day

...we bake cookies

...we have yummy meals

...and we pray

...that's what we do before the chemo starts.

"For I know well the plans I have in mind for you says the Lord,

plans to give you a future full of hope.

When you call me, when you go to pray to me, I will listen to you."

Jeremiah 29:11-12

My Daughter, My Strength

This is what the Lord says to you:

Do not fear or lose heart at the sight of this vast multitude,

for the battle is not yours

but God's.

2 Chronicles 20: 15-19

I struggle to put into words my feelings about Michelle's new battle with cancer.

It makes it so real and I don't want it to be real.

I want to wrap my arms around her and protect her.

I trust that our Heavenly Father is doing just that and will get her through this.

I can do the earthly things for her

but beyond that I have to trust that God is taking care of

His child.

Below are words from her brother and he describes her so well...

To Michelle

From Mikey

My sister is one of the strongest people I know.

Although she does not deserve this, no one does, I know she will look this straight in the eye because these are the cards God has dealt her.

I know God has major plans for my sister,

because she has been tested many times in her short 33 years.

Everything she has been faced with,

she has overcome and becomes better and stronger.

I often say, why her, and I know she has said why me.

We don't know why,

but she doesn't blame God,

she seeks God's guidance,

and lets God lead her the right way.

As I said, God has major plans for her.

He keeps strengthening her more and more

because she is one of God's soldiers.

Not just a soldier, a leader in God's Army.

Who would you want to lead you, someone who isn't strong,

or someone who has the greatest Strength and training God can provide.

I haven't had a tough life. My challenges I have been faced with have not even compared to my sister's challenges. Yet I will admit, sometimes I blame God or wonder why God would allow certain things to be certain ways.

My sister's challenges drive her closer to God.

I am sure she has had questions of why,

but she opens her arms wider to God.

I wish I could be more like my sister and have strength like my sister.

All I can do now is join her

by praying more and listening more to God.

I support God and I support her.

When it's all said and done our life's work will be based not on what our challenges were, but how we faced them.

I know my sister will beat the living daylight out of this with her will, strength, and grace of God.

I love you Michelle and as this journey begins,

God is here for you.

I am here for you,

all of your family and friends are here for you.

We will be here with you every step of they way!

Love,

Mikey

Trust~Faith~Hope

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

on your own intelligence rely not;

In all your ways be mindful of him,

and he will make straight your paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6

I am placing all my trust, faith, and hope for healing Michelle in God's hands.

Should I be indoors or outdoors? hmmm

I was really into decluttering and organizing closests and drawers, but I kept looking outside and I finally gave in to my urges to be out there instead of in here. First I just sat and enjoyed the warmth of the sunshine. Then I started looking around at all the work needing to be done. Trimming, weeding, pruning, raking. I decided to take inventory of the damage just a few nights of freezing temps did.

so I made myself get up from here and get to work

even though we did this...

I still lost these tomato plants. and my basil. and one bell pepper plant.

my eggplants are looking pretty droopy

but my oranges made it!

as did my lemons, but that's cause they kept their socks on : )

luckily the bedding plants do well in cold weather.
my nasturtiums, pansies, petunias, snapdragons and sweet alysum were not affected.

and the hollyhocks are growing strong.

so are the geraniums

I didn't lose all my tomato plants

and this one that grew out of my oregano

is now looking like the jolly green giant!

so all in all I think my garden did pretty good. we still have the remainder of jan and feb with unpredictable weather, but for now I will enjoy today's 74 degree temperature!

and with the help of these pinwheels,

I will enjoy color in my garden!

A Prayer to Shape My Life

by Marsha Maurer

Keep snipping, God.

Prune my weedy excesses,

my struggling imperfections,

my lop-sided selfishness.

Remove any branches that impinge on others;

trim the disorder from my life.

Fashion me in the image of Your perfection.

Shape my life into a balanced, pleasing form.

Amen