Five on Friday (April 14, 2017)

For when I tried to keep the law, it condemned me. 

So I died to the law - I stopped trying to meet all its requirements - so that I might live for God.

My old self has been crucified with Christ.

It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.

So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God,

who loved me and gave himself for me.

I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. 

For if keeping the law could make us right with God,

then there was no need for Christ to die.

Galatians 2:19-21

1. Our Friday Bible study group decided to watch David Platt's Secret Church on the cross during this week prior to Easter. It has been so good and meaningful. Also time consuming (4+ hours of sermons were a lot to take in over the past 3 days). Brian and Camden watched the final hour with me last night, and Camden's ability to digest and evaluate tough topics never ceases to amaze me. I'm looking forward to the discussion this morning, and Brian and I have decided we're going to start watching them as a family. Just not all in 3 days!

2. So I met with Dr. C Wednesday, and it is true that my scan showed exactly no growth/shrinkage. She still considers this a win - in her words, "growth was considerable back in November." Okay, then.

There is a slight complication with one of my lungs that they're keeping an eye on that could be related to either pneumonia (which I don't have) or the trial drug (yikes!). My day at the hospital was quite long, and I didn't get home until after 7. I actually rested much of the day yesterday and felt well, which was awesome. Sometimes that can be an indication that days 2-4 will be tough, but I'm hopeful this will just be an easier round. Who knows!

3. Brian and the kids are out of school today so we went to the library and park and then grabbed 1/2 price Sonic ice cream on the way home last night. It's either a sign of how busy we've been or that the kids are getting older and not asking for park trips because this is the first time we've been since September-ish.

He is just all arms and legs these days. It is shocking to me how quickly he is growing. It will slow down eventually, right?

Her go-to pose these days.

4. After several more tries, I managed to wear my new false eyelashes. They feel conspicuous and very fake (which they are, of course!), but they also make me feel a little more like myself. My long eyelashes have always been a small source of vanity for me I'm sorry to admit. However, I'm already conspicuous with my bald head, no eyelashes, and no eyebrows so I guess these glamour lashes are not more conspicuous than that! I have already gone to the drugstore for a less conspicuous set to try.

I was not feeling well on Monday and went to work with minimal make-up (specifically on my eyes/brows), and received way too many sad looks for me to ever try that again.

(something is definitely not right on the left (they should be lower on the lash line?) and I think I should have worn black eyeliner to cover up the black lash strip. Notice all the fuzz on my head - a result of 2 weeks off chemo I believe.

5. We've been doing a little cooking/baking these days and have found several new recipes that are going to stay in rotation. Honey glazed sugar snap peas were a delightful change of pace for a veggie side. This Mexican quinoa salad is awesome. I've taken it to 2 potlucks in the last couple of weeks, and it has been a big hit. I can see making this in the summer months and eating it for lunch every day. I made this lemon almond pudding cake for a friend who visited at lunch last week and I'm planning to make this Magnolia Lemon Pie next week for company. Camden and I both LOVE lemon, and spring seems to be the right time to pull out all the lemon desserts. In other food news, I just wanted to mention for memory-keeping purposes that our church (and Lindsey who is organizing it all) has been so gracious to us by providing meals every week. It has shortened my grocery trips as well as removed much of the stress involved in planning meals and then cooking after a long day at work or the hospital.

We are starting off the 3-day weekend with fresh cinnamon rolls (thank you, Lindsey!). Our weekend plans involve the annual church egg hunt and picnic tomorrow and then big services on Sunday. Studying the cross via Secret Church/Friday Bible study has been so good on this week leading up to Easter. I am hopeful I will feel well enough to participate in everything. Happy Friday!