Lesson Learned.

Are you ever shocked when something that you've been hearing your whole life finally makes sense to you? This school year has been tough. Sure, there's been the whole cancer thing that has kept my energy low and my absences high, but even if I had been totally healthy, this year would've been a challenge. I have an interesting little group of personalities in my class this year. If you've never had much experience with working with children, you might be thinking, "Come on. How much of a personality can a 7-year-old actually have?" Well, surprisingly enough, they have enormous personalities at this age. Huge. So big that sometimes they take up the whole room. So big that sometimes there is conflict. Without going into confidential details, I'd like to tell you about one of those "personalities". You know, the kind that takes up the whole room. We'll just call this little person "kid" for the sake of this post.

I met kid before school started. He had been in and out of various custody battles, foster homes, and placements. He was the subject of unthinkable abuse, and he didn't stand a chance in this crazy world. Until a wonderful person came along and invited kid to move into her home. She would create a happy, healthy environment for kid, and she wouldn't hold his past against him. Well, time passed. Things happened, and kid just couldn't adapt to this type of normalcy. He was so used to being in a victim-type relationship, and he couldn't seem to shake the far reaching consequences of his history. At last, this wonderful person had to make the decision to remove kid from her home. Though, it was difficult. You see, she still loved kid. She still wanted the best for kid, but kid couldn't turn away from his old self.

As all of this has transpired in the last few weeks, it has made me do some deep soul searching. I know that God allows bad things to happen so that He might be glorified, but this situation really had me puzzled. Finally, I realized - this is what redemption is ALL about. This is a picture of what Christ has done for us.

We are kid. We are full of sin and flawed thinking. We are born with a sin nature, and we are deeply in need of someone to give us a chance. God is the chance. He is basically saying, "Yes, you have a history. You have a sinful past, but I am going to overlook all of that and make you mine." He is willing to take us in and change us into His own. What's the catch? We have to allow it. We have to yield our own wills to His. This is where kid couldn't handle it. He couldn't seem to yield his own will.

Take God up on His offer to give you a chance today. If you haven't taken "the chance", let me tell you about it!

Birthdays and Babies

March is a month full of birthdays for my family. We started the month with Brian's birthday, and now we are ending with the celebration of my sister's and stepmom's birthdays. My family came over after church for lunch and presents. Then, I took sweet Hensley outside to get some photos of her. She's such a pretty girl!

You'll notice that neither of the birthday girls are blowing out the candles.

46 days...

Some people are teachers because they feel called to teaching children, and the other 90% teach school for a little thing called . . . SUMMER! Y'all, I'm exhausted. Worn out. At the end. of. my. rope. Just ask my husband. He gets an ear full of my complaining approximately 57 times a day. I've always said that all good things (as far as my educator value goes) must happen before Spring Break. After that, I'm worthless. I am itchin' for summer way more than my students, and I think I'm going to croak if I hear my name one more time. Anyway, I'm thankful for my job, especially in an economy when so many are unemployed. But, I am SO ready for June.

So that's what you mean...

John 15:5, "I am the vine. You are the branches. If a man remains in me, and I in him, he will bear much fruit. Apart from me, you can do nothing."

Have you ever tried to grow an orchid? I just love the way they look. So artistic. So precise. But, unfortunately, I've never had much luck in growing them. I seem to either give them too much water or too little. Too much sunlight or not enough. After a few short weeks under my care, orchids usually pass away and join the ranks of all the other trying plants that I just couldn't quite properly care for. I took this picture a few weeks ago. It's an orchid. Actually, to be precise, it's an orchid that I've had since the beginning of October. Are you as astounded as I am? It even made it successfully through the move with us. I hadn't really stopped to consider how long I'd managed to keep the plant alive until just this weekend. That's when it hit me. I haven't really done anything for this plant. I just set it in one place in the house for a while, and then I move it to another. Once a blue moon and when I think about it, I soak its pot in a little luke warm water. Somebody told me to do that once.

"What's the point, Lindsey? Get on with it!" I'm sure you're thinking.

Well, the point is, orchids are great reminders of how we need to live in the Lord. We just need to remain in Him. Just as this orchid has remained in my care, we must remain in His care. It may seem like nothing is happening and that He has forgotten about us, but the truth of the matter is, He's working under the surface. When we can't see growth or fruit, that means that His work is in the roots. Remain in Him, sweet friend.

Bertie the Bloodhound

Hello, Blog World!
My name is Bertie the Bloodhound. I am the cutest 7-week-old puppy that you've ever seen! I am so happy that Brian decided that he couldn't live without me. He's a really nice guy, and he sure has a sweet spot for puppies. I'm glad that he talked his wife into getting a third dog. She was a hard sell, but she was in love as soon as she saw my wrinkly face. Who could pass up on that? I'm having the best time crawling all over my enormous sister dog, Gladys. She's a regular jungle gym! Vito has a tough exterior, but I'm doing my best to work him over. Thanks for looking at me. I'm looking forward to regular appearances on Pleasant Drive.

On Sunday, Brian and I loaded up in the trusty Tahoe and headed slightly north to attend church with my maternal grandparents (Granny and Papaw). Originally, the plan was for all of their family members to accompany them to the worship service. However, it didn't quite work out that way. Nonetheless, it was an enjoyable time of visiting. Here are a few pictures form our post-church lunch at Granny and Papaw's house.

Sweet Hensley Grace (Hensley is named after Granny and Papaw. Hensley is their last name.)

My brother-in-law, Brian (and Hensley's dad)

Another shot of Happy Hensley

My sister, Ashley with her lovely daughter

Maddox is hanging a stuffed possum (that's opossum, for you Northerners) off of Papaw.

Maddox warms his feet by the fire.

And, a few shots from Sunday night at home. Vito is fascinated with fire. It's a babysitter for him, really.

And, gorgeous Gladys!

We love our puppies. Can you tell?

Lindsey. Unscarfed.

You've heard of MTV Unplugged. You know, the raw, acoustic, unadorned versions of the latest and greatest songs. Actually, I don't think that this is even around any more, so maybe you haven't heard of it. Either way, on to the point at hand. For the longest time, I felt very ashamed and embarassed by my hairless state. I'm sure some of you remember my desperate posts surrounding my hair loss. It was a rough time, and it took a while for me to realize that bald is beautiful.
Well, time has passed. Healing has happened, and now I'm rejoicing in my inner beauty. After all the only beauty that truly matters and lasts is the beauty of Christ in me, the hope of glory.

My friend, Jana, asked if she could take my picture, and I was thrilled to take her up on such a sweet offer. I was happy to have some one document this phase of my life. She did a wonderful job. She is a gifted photographer.

Wonderful Weekend

This weekend, Brian and I threw caution to the wind and got the heck outta dodge for the night. Earlier in the week, Brian's sister (Lauren) asked if we would like to go out of town with her husband and her. We're always up for a little adventure, so we agreed to go. Unfortuntately, the weather wasn't the most pleasant, so we mostly just ate and visited, but it was a great time away.

First stop - Mi Cocina Mexican Restaurant. It was great! Brian and I split chorizo queso and brisket tacos, and they were both wonderful!

We also stopped in Schakolad Chocolate Factory for some tasty treats! Surprisingly, the key lime truffle was my favorite.

Josh and Lauren

Brian found a wonderful historic hotel for us to stay the night. It was located in the downtown district.

View from our room

Getting out of town is so important in a marriage. I never realized that before being married. I look forward to the next time away with my husband.

Happy Easter!

Welcome to Friday, dear ones! I don't know about your neck of the woods, but it has been a constant downpour for the past 3 days in mine. I'm ready for some sunshine! One of my tasks of Spring Break was to set my table for Easter, and I'm so glad that I did. It was definitely a bright spot for me this morning, in the midst of the dreary weather.

Have a blessed weekend!

What a Difference a Day Makes...

or a month or a few months. Today I went for a MUGA scan. This is a test that takes a movie-like picture of your heart. It tests the pumping function of the heart. You see, chemo and Herceptin are extremely hard on one's heart, so the doctors like to check and make sure that everything is working correctly as their patients undergo treatment. I'll be required to have a MUGA every 3 months until Herceptin is complete.

For this test, the patient has blood drawn. They tag the blood with radioactive markers; then, reinject the tagged blood. At this point, the patient is hooked up to electrodes and placed on a scanning table for a period of imaging. It's about an hour long process.

No, my intent is not to bore you with medical terminology today. As I layed there still and silent, I began thinking about my first MUGA (pre-surgery, pre-chemo). I remembered feeling terrified throughout that scan. "Are they going to find more bad news?" I wondered. "Am I going to be a good candidate for chemo and Herceptin?" All of these anxieties plagued me.

Today, I was overwhelmed with peace. As I was halfway through with my internal conversation - "Hmm. I wonder what I'll eat for lunch today. What style of dress should I get for Easter." - I realized the total and complete difference in my mindsets. Today, I was carefree and filled with joy.

Only because of the Lord, folks. Only because of the Lord.

Super Aunt Lindsey Strikes Again!

For those of you who have been tuning into my blog since its foundational posts, you'll remember my playdates with Maddox (my nephew). Well, due to surgery, chemo, moving, yada yada yada, it's been difficult for me to have many special times with him lately. Finally, praise God, my Healer, I felt up to him spending the night last night. We're having a blast! Here are a few looks into our time together.

Playing Elefun

Maddox showing me his injury

Ice cream treat from Dairy Queen

Bathtime fun

Super Maddox flies with Uncle Brian

Bedtime stories (don't mind my baldness. it was a sweet moment that I wanted to document.)

Unfortunately, it's cold and rainy today, so more time outdoors won't be possible, but we do hope to have lots of fun inside.

Thank you, Lord, for sweet times with children!

Feeling tired, lonely, and cheated?

Good Morning, Faithful Readers,
It's 7:45 and I just settled in to the couch with a cup of strong coffee and my Bible in tow. I sent my wonderful husband off to work with a smile and a kiss, and I knew that the next task of the day had to be time with the Lord.

Today, I'm going to be honest. Brutally truthful. Self-exposing. For the past couple of days, I have really put Brian to the test as I let my emotions rule my mood. One minute, I've been happy as a lark. Then, in the very next second, I would allow a total paradigm shift as I indulged the wrongful thoughts that Satan put in my head to steal, kill, and destroy my joy. I was constantly ridiculing Brian for not writing my name in the sky and failing to pen elaborate love letters to the one he holds dear - ME! Ridiculous? I think so. You see, it wasn't until late evening yesterday that I said, "Brian, I know why I'm acting like this!" I'm sure that he was worried that I was going to go into another 30 minute dissertation about how he could better meet my "needs". But then, God just revealed it to me, "I haven't been spending enough time with the Lord," I said. Life had gotten in the way of my quality time with my Jesus. I hadn't sat down and really taken in His truths and presence in almost a week. Sure, I could sit here and say, "Well, I was busy with Brian's birthday. We were out of town. I still read the Bible and prayed with Brian." And on, and on, and on. But, the truth of the matter is, when I'm not using Jesus to "fill me up", then it all falls on my husband. He can try with all his might to make me happy, but he can't do it, not matter how hard he tries.

Ladies, we have a lot on our plates - jobs, cooking, cleaning, social organizing, etc, etc. But, time with God is a non-negotiable. It's a necessity if we are going to successfully combat Satan's mental/emotional attacks on us. Let's spare our husbands from trying to run a race that they can't possibly win. Let's find our joy in the Lord, so that we are free to love our men with full tanks!

Happy Birthday to You!

Are any of you planners or schedulers out there? Maybe you can relate to my devastation this morning. Brian and I have been looking forward to a Colorado getaway at his grandparents' house. Unfortunately, winter weather along the drive has kept us at home. Since we were planning to be travelling on his actual birthday, I had a celebration for him on Thursday night. Then, I served him breakfast in bed yesterday before we went to work, and I bought some small "road trip" gifts and a singing card to give to him this morning. The plan was for us to wake up in a hotel along the drive this morning. I feel terrible now that we are actually at home and able to celebrate on his birthday. I think he understands, though. Here are some pictures from yesterday.

Breakfast Tray (Since it was his birthday, I spared him from an early morning photo shoot.)Brian got a fly fishing rod from his grandparents last Christmas. His parents got him a reel for his birthday to accompany the rod.

Dale and Vito lend a hand.

In other news, yesterday was the official end of chemo for me. Each round lasts for 21 days, and yesterday marked the 21st day after my final treatment. Yay!!! I feel such joy in my Jesus for His provision in my life. I'm feeling stronger each day. And, I found out that the Herceptin infusions that I believed to be weekly for a year are actually only every 3 weeks now that chemo is complete. You can imagine how free I felt upon hearing this news. I had been thinking all along, "I'm going to spend every Friday for a year at this chemo lab." Now, I feel so unattached to cancer. What a blessing!

Happy Happy Birthday, Baby!

Well, I had a few minutes this evening, so I decided to go ahead and upload a few pics from the birthday bash. It was a lovely night of al fresco dining!

The Happy Couple (I'm just excited about having hair in the near future.)

Group Shot

Key Lime Pie - Brian requested Key Lime Pie from the bakery that catered our wedding. It was just as yummy as we remembered.

Walnut Crusted Salmon with Mango Salsa, Baked Potato, Grilled Asparagus. Tasty :)

One of Brian's gifts from me. This wasn't his real gift. I got him a hammock and hammock stand. He's been beggin' for these every time we go to Target, though.

Maddox and Brian

Ashley and Dad

Chelsey is texting. Imagine that. Actually, I can't say anything. I text a lot, too.

It was a fun night! Colorado, here we come!

Out for a few

As you can tell by my lack of posts recently, it has been a crazy week! And, I'll be in and out for another week. Tonight, we are starting Brian's birthday festivities and we're headed to Colorado for a little getaway tomorrow afternoon. So, stick with me and I'll have some great pictures when I return.

And, I thought that I'd leave you with a funny picture of Gladys. She's really gettin' after that Kong.

Who's that hiding in that Snuggie?

The worst has happened. Just when you thought that my husband couldn't possibly add another item to his "as seen on TV" museum, he pulls out another stop. Brian's birthday is this Saturday, and his sister and brother-in-law gave him his gift early - a Snuggie. Can you believe it? Brian has been intrigued by the fleece wonders for months now, and he even tried to fashion his own out of a robe, but it was not quite a success. At last, he has his very own, complete with a free book light.

P.S. - Do you have any creative birthday ideas, either for gifts or celebrations? I've got a few up my sleeves, but I'd love to hear the best things that you've done for your husbands on their birthdays.

Here's a little corny survey for ya. Have a great day!

Do you like blue cheese?
LOVE it!!! The best way that I've ever eaten it is in this blue cheese and tomato salad at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse. Mmmm!

Do you own a weapon?
Yes, don't all Texans? We have a shotgun and 2 huge dogs.

What flavor Kool-Aid is your favorite?
Black Cherry or Pink Lemonade

Do you get nervous before a doctor's appointment?
I used to, but now I'm used to it. I go to the doctor every week.

What do you think of hotdogs?
Um, I don't get that excited about just a plain 'ole hot dog, but I do love a chili cheese coney from Sonic.

Favorite Christmas movie?
Elf and Four Christmases

Can you do push ups?
Nope. Well, not a standard pushup. I can do a girl version.

What's your favorite piece of jewelry?
My wedding ring.

Favorite hobby?
Blogging, taking pictures, cooking, anything with Brian


What's your height and weight?
5'9" and 137 lbs (though I need to lose a few before summer hits. YIKES!)

Middle name?
Brooke

Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment?
1. I hate Lord of the Rings (Brian is watching it.)
2. Our dogs are the funniest.
3. I'm thirsty.

Current worry?
Hmm. I'm not really worried about much right now. I've recently learned to roll with the punches a little better.

Current hate right now?
Being bald.

Favorite place to be?
Destin, Florida with Brian

Where would you like to go?
I'd like to go on a Mediterranean Cruise and to take a tour of the Holy Land

Do you own slippers?
Yep, black furry ones

What color shirt are you wearing right now?
Red

Can you whistle?
Not very well

Favorite color?
I LOVE color. I really like most colors very well. I don't much care for orange or royal purple, though.

Would you be a pirate?
Uh-uh. I get too motion sick.

What songs do you sing in the shower?
I don't sing in the shower.

What's in your pocket?
nothing

Last thing that made you laugh?
Pictures of our dogs running in the backyard.

Worst injury you've ever had as a child?
I wore sundresses most days of my life until I was about 12, if that gives you any idea about how many possibilities for injury I encountered in my childhood. I had never been hospitalized, had a broken bone or stitches, or even a cavity until this past year.

Do you love where you live?
More than anything.

How many TVs do you have?
Two - one in the living room and one in the guest room

Who is your loudest friend?
My sisters.

How many dogs do you have?
Two. Vito (American Bulldog) and Gladys (English Mastiff)

Cats?
Zero.

Does someone have a crush on you?
Yes, my husband can't stop thinking about me (at least that's the way I have it pictured).

What is your favorite book?
To Kill a Mockingbird

What is your favorite candy?
I LOVE candy, though I don't eat it often. I love Skittles, Junior Mints, Reese's anything, all kinds of M&Ms. I'm a candy crazy!

What song do you want played at your funeral?
I don't really care. Although, I want my funeral to be a celebration of my life, not a mourning of loss.