Five on Friday (April 27, 2018)

I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises.

I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are helpless take heart.

Come, let us tell of the Lord's greatness; let us exalt his name together.

I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears.

Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy;

no shadow of shame will darken their faces.

In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened; he saved me from all my troubles.

For the angel of the Lord is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him.

Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!

Fear the Lord, you his godly people, for those who fear him will have all they need.

Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing.

The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help.

He rescues them from all their troubles.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

Psalms 34:1-10, 17-18

This has been a hard week for our family in a multitude of ways, and the Scripture above has never been more comforting. I'm choosing to focus on the normal, everyday blessings this morning because even when life is challenging (that word seems like an understatement), when there doesn't seem to be a way out, God is always near and always present and we can always trust Him.

1. You will want to add making these chocolate chip cookies to your weekend "to do" list. A good chocolate chip cookie can cure almost anything.

2. Rory went on an overnight field trip this week, something her class has been planning all year long. There is nothing more exciting to a 5th grader than the idea of an overnight field trip so the energy level has been through the roof. The 5th and 6th-grade class, along with their brave teachers and a few better parents than me, drove to the ark and creation museum and spent the night in the ark. She doesn't have her own phone, of course, but she has been borrowing phones and sending me many updates. Many updates.

3. While Rory was gone, Camen and I were able to spend extra time together and it was delightful. I always, always forget how much the kids need alone time with us. Resolving once again to try to make it a priority. While Brian was off to a meeting, we grabbed tacos and Dollar Store candy and settled in to watch a LeBron James documentary. 

4. Was completely surprised by a generous gift from my boss for Administrative Professionals Day (totally forgot that was happening this week) and so I'm window shopping Amazon for a make-up mirror and a fancy perfume I've been really wanting to try. Retail therapy is the best, especially when it's not your own money. 

5. Saw a new doctor this week and, pending insurance approval, I will be doing a 7-day test run of a spinal chord stimulator neuromodulation next week. Sounds complicated, right? That's cause it is. If it works, I'll have surgery and a whole host of wires and things I don't understand will be permanently implanted. I feel nervous but hopeful. I've spent more of this chemo break in doctor's exam rooms than anyone would want, but I have really loved all 3 of the new doctors that have been added to my "care team" and I know they're all working together to help me be as functional and healthy as possible. I'm trying to ignore the fact that my break is already half over. It is flying by and I don't want it to end.

(my phone camera is pretty awesome!)

Our weekend is crazy full. State competition tonight for Camden. I'm missing that event so I can pick up Rory from her overnight trip. Saturday is more state competition: vocal solo for Camden and a drama monologue and choir for Rory. Saturday is also the end-of-season soccer tournament. There are no extra players and Camden has been the goalie all season so we're doing our best to get him to both the competition and tournament (which is 90 minutes away). We've requested that he perform sooner rather than later, but are waiting to receive an answer. Our hearts are heavy this week and we are just putting one step in front of the other, showing up for each other, looking to our Creator for guidance.