Happy Mother's Day!!

I hope everyone has had as good a day as I have!  I woke up, took a shower, then Tim and I went on a lovely walk throughout the neighborhood.  He then made a scrumptious brunch for all of us, and then ironed some clothes for the boys while I took a power nap, and then we all went to church together.  We came back and just relaxed for an hour or so, and then Tim and I made dinner for a lady (who has 8 children) who has 3 types of cancer that she's been fighting for quite a while.  We then came home and made burgers and fries (Tim made me homemade veggie burgers!), so we enjoyed a nice dinner together going over verses that each of us gleaned from our quiet times this morning.  That was a sweet time!  I was then shoo'd out of the kitchen so I didn't have to help clean up! 

The last 2 days I spent with Nicole in Kissimmee, FL for her soccer tournament.  In the 2nd game they played she made 3 of their 5 goals (which I have learned is called a 'hat trick'), so I was one proud mama!  The girls won the 2 games they played on Friday, but then lost the 3 games they played on Saturday.  However, they had enough points to be ranked #4, which earned them a trophy!  Tim and the boys came up Saturday to watch her last 2 games and I took Nicholas back to the hotel that we had stayed at the night before because they had a small waterpark right in the middle of the hotel.  He loves that stuff and had a blast!   We arrived home last night around 7:30 to an immaculate house that Tim and the boys cleaned while we were gone - what a blessing!

I'm working backwards here, so 2 days before Nicole's tournament I was able to meet up with my brother!  He was in Tampa for a conference, so I drove over to his hotel on the last day of the conference just as he was checking out.  We drove over to a beach that was near the hotel and just sat in the car with the windows rolled down and enjoyed the sunshine and the breeze and the company!  I then drove him to the airport, but here's a picture to prove we really did get to see each other!

About a week before that, Tim and I took a 'turn and burn' (as his brother, Tommy, calls it) trip up to his hometown of Covington, KY to attend his brother, Mark's, funeral.  Mark was diagnosed with cancer just a short time before me, and Tim was able to visit him at the end of August last year and then we all saw him when we were up there the week of Thanksgiving.  He lost his valiant fight with the disease 2 weeks ago today, so we drove 13 1/2 hours up there on Thursday April 30th, went to the funeral on Friday the 1st, and then drove 13 1/2 hours home on Saturday.  The kids stayed home alone, and I have to say, I couldn't be prouder of them!  They took care of everything, being where they needed to be, cleaning the house, and just acting like the young adults that they are!  Tim has been back to his hometown at least 5 times in the past 10 years for funerals that I haven't been able to go with him to because we didn't feel comfortable leaving the kids.  But this time was different, and I was very glad to be able to be with him and support him during that time.  He comes from a family of 9 siblings from the same parents, and then 4 step-siblings and 1 half brother.  Here's  a picture of 6 of the 9 and the half brother:

Well, that's about all the news that's fit to print.  Oh, my last blog entry mentioned a cytology test they did on me and we did find out the results were negative, so that's good!  So I am scheduled to start 3 maintenance doses of chemo once a month for 3 months probably beginning at the end of the month.  Bladder cancer is very tricky, so we're just hoping my body is fighting it off!  Thanks for all who have prayed for us!


OK, I think I really am going now.  I can hear that the kitchen is almost clean and people have brought their Mother's Day cards to the coffee table, so this should be fun!  I love cards!  :-)  Blessings to all!