Poem

"The Oak Tree"

A mighty wind blew night and day.

It stole the oak tree's leaves away,

Then snapped boughs

and stripped bare it's bark

until the oak was tired and stark.

But still the oak tree held its ground

while other trees fell all around....

The weary wind gave up and spoke,

"How can you still be standing, Oak?"

The oak tree said, "I know that you

can break each branch of mine in two,

carry every leaf away,

shake my limbs, and make me sway.

But I have roots stretched in the earth,

growing stronger since my birth.

You'll never touch them, for you see,

they are the deepest part of me.

Until today, I wasn't sure

of just how much I could endure.

But now I've found, with thanks to you,

I'm stronger than

I ever knew.

I know some of you have already seen this poem on the Christmas ornament. I just wanted those that haven't seen this poem to be able to see it. I read it again today! My sister Chauntel who lives in Texas is having a big trail in her life. She has three children her youngest a year ago had a surgery for his head. His head was fused together and they crushed it and built it back with metal plates and screws. He has not gained any weight since last year and now he has golf ball size or bigger lumps on his head. The other day he had a lot of puss come out of one of the sores. They have been trying for awhile to figure out what is wrong. Their is more to the story but the just of it is he is having surgery again tomorrow. My sisters family is sick so her husband can't be with her at the hospital during the surgery. I am reminded daily how thankful I am for my trail. It never seems to be as bad as someone elses. I know that my sister is so much stronger than I am and is being watched over by our Heavenly Father. Our whole family loves little Jackson and our prayers and thoughts are with them tonight and tomorrow as the doctors operate on him.

I know I haven't updated in a while. Some days I was to tired and some of it was because I don't feel like anything has happened lately. Saturday the whole family pitched in and cleaned the house and Ryan even cleaned out my car. I love a clean house it makes me so happy. I know that is so wired but it does. We then had to take the kids to a few things going on and while they were out Ryan and I looked for Christmas outfits for pictures this year. I think we were out an hour and I was totally wiped out. We decided to order outfits for the kids off line. That was much easier than shopping. There was a friend of my mother-in-laws that was putting on a fund raiser so we headed over there later in the afternoon. While we where there I run into a girl I used to work with when I was in college. I know I have said this before but that is one of the best parts about this is the friends I get to see again. I also received two card on Saturday from some girls I went to elementary school with. It was so nice to hear from them and hear who they are doing.

Sunday I was able to get some Christmas shopping done on line. That was nice to not have to go out. I may just take up shopping on line. That could cause some problems it is to easy to spend money that way. It was nice to go to church on Sunday and make it through all the meetings. I love seeing everyone and hearing how people are doing. I wish it wasn't dark when we come out of church. It seems like it is bed time when church is over. I am already looking forward to summer and the longer daylight hours.

Today I had some blood work done. I asked them why I was a little more tired the last couple of days. They called me an hour after the test and said all your numbers are up. Nancy said it is just the chemo making you tired not your counts. So I guess the chemo does build up in my body and make me more tired as I go? They told me that my numbers actually look better than they did when I started chemo. So the shots worked great this time. Nancy said have a nice Thanksgiving. She said I don't have to worry about germs well.....just like anyone else has to worry about getting sick. So yah, I can be around the family for Thanksgiving and not have to wear a mask.

I hope everyone has a nice Thanksgiving and enjoys their families. I think we all have things to be thankful for this year.