Category Archives: thanksgiving 2011

Thanksgiving 2011

Posted by jOi-C in family, thanksgiving 2011

I am so thankful that I got to celebrate Thanksgiving at home with my family. We’ve all had our share of trials and blessings, and it was great to hear a recap of God’s faithfulness from each family.

Our blessings definitely outweigh any trial we have faced and continue to face during the short remainder of this year. My recovery from surgery, considering I was only one day post-op, was so tolerable that I got to enjoy every bit of our family time minus the set up and clean up. Wait what was the cons of surgery again?? hahah j/k

 

It’s always great to watch and listen to all the chaos that comes with having a large family with lots of little kids. From Gracie enjoying icing off her cupcake, to Justin hugging a light pole during a game of football….I didn’t miss a beat.

I will especially treasure our quiet evening at home after everyone left and all was cleaned up. Thank you Lord for all the many blessings, both big and small, but especially the ones we easily take for granted…like watching my hubby enjoy his food coma (and that’s without turkey!). Thank you for a ‘blessings-filled’ month of remembering to be thankful and for a wonderful Thanksgiving at home with my family, I couldn’t ask for more.

As our “Thank-full” month comes to a close, may we always remember to be thankful both in the good and bad….till next year’s food coma.

 

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Click here to view the Ormeo’s Thank-full 2011 edition
Click here to view the Ormeo’s Thanksgiving Challenge 2009 edition

Thank-full Weekend Edition

Posted by jOi-C in enzo, SHMILY, thanksgiving 2011, that's me

“I am thankful I have consequences because I know my parents love me.” – Enzo, 7

ps. I know you’re thinking how sweet this is and it is…but it cracks me up because earlier today he was complaining about consequences and mom not being fair EVER. LOL

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Click here to view the Ormeo’s Thank-full 2011 edition
Click here to view the Ormeo’s Thanksgiving Challenge 2009 edition

Thank-full Day 22

Posted by jOi-C in family, God stuf, my cancer journey, thanksgiving 2011, that's me

I am thankful for the Bible verses that were important to my mom, that I can hold on to today as I face a major and life changing surgery. From the very beginning of my cancer journey, which has been very short thus far, God has been gracious to allow me to experience this journey with my mom even though she’s been gone for 11 years. The verse that she held on to during her own journey still resonates within me since the first week after my own diagnosis.

Now as I sit with her Bible, I find the only verses that are highlighted and bookmarked since she last used it  many years ago. It’s as if she knew that I would one day pick up her Bible to find those verses.

Psalm 37:3-5 (NIV)
3 Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.  4 Take delight in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the LORD;  trust in Him and He will do this.

As I face the days beyond surgery/recovery and cancer, I will hold on to three things.

  1. I need to trust in the Lord, both in the good and in the bad.
  2. God is holding my right hand, so I don’t need to be afraid. Isaiah 41: 10, 13 (NCV)
  3. “This is the most awesome experience [Mom had] with the Lord.” (click here to read about that)

PS. By the time you are reading this (auto-scheduled) blog post, I will hopefully be out of surgery and recovering in my room for the night. Thank you for the prayers and love everyone has shown my family and especially me.

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Click here to view the Ormeo’s Thank-full 2011 edition
Click here to view the Ormeo’s Thanksgiving Challenge 2009 edition

Thank-full Day 21

Posted by jOi-C in God stuf, my cancer journey, thanksgiving 2011, that's me

 

I am thankful for the “Night of Worship” with Watermark Church. It was just what my heavy heart needed. This week as my family and I prepare for surgery, I can’t help but worry about how my family and home will flow as I recover, and more importantly where God will take us from here.

But as I listened to each song, I was reminded that God is who He says He is and will never falter.

“Oh my God He will not delay. My refuge and strength always. I will not fear, His promise is true. My God will come through always. I lift my eyes up, my help comes from the Lord.”

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Click here to view the Ormeo’s Thank-full 2011 edition
Click here to view the Ormeo’s Thanksgiving Challenge 2009 edition

Thank-full Day 18

Posted by jOi-C in friends, movie night, thanksgiving 2011

I’m thankful for a late movie night out with friends (and maybe a family member, who may or may not want to be exposed hahaha). I’ve always made it a point to avoid the opening nights of all movies, opening week really. Somehow I was suckered into going and we had a BLAST! The line outside was crazy but because we were lost and had no clue what to do, we walked in to pick up our tickets and they told us to go straight into the theatre. Chatting and giggling with friends in the theatre for a couple of hours before showtime was a much needed break!


Guess who? ;)

ps. yeah so I’ll admit it…Breaking Dawn was AWESOME! I was a little disappointed they cut it short….ugh now I need to read the book because I’m not sure I want to wait till Part 2 comes out.

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Click here to view the Ormeo’s Thank-full 2011 edition
Click here to view the Ormeo’s Thanksgiving Challenge 2009 edition

Thank-full Day 17

Posted by jOi-C in my cancer journey, thanksgiving 2011, that's me

Today I am so thankful for two things…yes two in one day because I was so excited about it! First thing I’m thankful for is the warm and toasty blanket they give you at the hospital that’s fresh from the warmer…it’s so cozy when you’re waiting forever! and second thing I’m thankful for today…eeeks YAY!…wait for it….I remembered to shave the part of my arm they stick the IV in and load up with tape! You don’t know how thankful and excited that made me (and my hairy arm)!! hahah oh what a difference it makes when it’s time to take the IV out.

Toasty blanket + shaved arm + 4 hr IV infusion = HAPPY JOYCE!

Thank you Lord for the little things =)

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Click here to view the Ormeo’s Thank-full 2011 edition
Click here to view the Ormeo’s Thanksgiving Challenge 2009 edition

Thank-full Day 16

Posted by jOi-C in my cancer journey, thanksgiving 2011, that's me

I’m thankful for a great CT scan. Even if doctors still have to wait till after surgery for a final pathology report, I am grateful that there isn’t anything out of the ordinary that we have to worry about prior to surgery next week.

It’s awesome how God knows just how much we can handle and when we can handle it. Through out the last few weeks, things come to us piece by piece. I know God doesn’t want us to worry and wants us to completely trust Him, but He knows just how much I can handle and that I need little absurd things to freak out without being overwhelmed or crushed.

Really, if you knew the little things that I stress about, you would laugh because I worry about the stuff that doesn’t even matter…like the CT scan smoothie (NASTY NASTY stuff), my arm getting a free wax every time they put medical tape to hold IVs in place…I know, I know, petty worries when I could worry about bigger things.

This week my worry is the daily shots on my stomach that Toots will have to give me for 10-14 days after my surgery.  I REFUSE to administer them to myself! Ya hear that medical community???? K someone needs to tell my doctors and nurses that. ugh!

For someone who HATES needles and shots and blood work, I sure have seen more of it in the last couple of months than most people do in their lifetime!

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Click here to view the Ormeo’s Thank-full 2011 edition
Click here to view the Ormeo’s Thanksgiving Challenge 2009 edition

Thank-full Day 15

Posted by jOi-C in God stuf, my cancer journey, thanksgiving 2011, that's me

I am so thankful that God has provided me with a great oncologist. For the couple of weeks we had to wait for a referral, we always prayed that God would give us a great oncologist (and not just have to settle for one) that would be able to the right procedure quickly. I was secretly praying for the robotic hysterectomy because of all the positive reviews I have read and heard from others, compared to the traditional abdominal hysterectomy.

God knew just the right oncologist to give me. Dr. Buckley is one of the main oncologists/surgeons that perform the da Vinci Hysterectomy at our local hospital. This news clip is of him talking about Gynecologic Awareness month, which was back in September (I didn’t even know they had that!) and the robotic procedure. At my first appointment with him, before I could even ask about the robotic surgery, he started our conversation off with why he didn’t see a reason why he couldn’t do the robotic surgery! What a relief and definitely an answer to prayer!

So we continue to pray that the surgery will proceed as planned on November 22nd and the entire surgery will be successfully completed using the da Vinci robot. It’s still major surgery and any type of surgery is scary, but I have to admit, the machine looks pretty cool! It kind of reminds me of Dr. Octopus from Spiderman 2.

 

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Click here to view the Ormeo’s Thank-full 2011 edition
Click here to view the Ormeo’s Thanksgiving Challenge 2009 edition