End of Summer 2015

So, Shao went back to college late August 2015, for her Sophomore year. I knew it would be a tough year, without Zander being there. Beginning of September I began feeling unwell. Headed into the ER clinic on Labor Day and managed to get myself taken by ambulance to the hospital for a five day stay. Remember that acute diverticulitis episode in late June? Well, seems it never really resolved. We decided it was time for the big guns to make their entrance…iv antibiotics. Fun times. I was one round short of finishing chemo. Week after week I would head to the infusion clinic, only to be turned away for low counts. My dear Uncle Bill passed away, and I couldn’t go to his funeral because I was neutropenic…ie, had no immune system. After 3 weeks of it, Dr. Levy said what I had been thinking, “I think we’re done.” So, no last round of chemotherapy, which was fine with me! 

All the time this was going on, my sister had started a go fund me. And began baking yummy things and selling them to friends and family, to benefit me! My landlord had agreed to waiting for my rent until I found a way to pay her…not to not charge me, but to wait for payment. The go fund me raised enough for a car…mine was shot…and enough for monthly expenses. My church approached me and said that they were going to pay my back rent! God provided spectacularly! And by Christmas I was going about my life again! ShaoXi came home for Christmas and Zander flew in a few days later to spend the holidays with us. It was perfect! But it was SO hard when the kids left in January. 

In talking to my regular doctor we discussed depression. And we decided that an emotional support dog would be the best thing for me. Shao had asked the landlord for permission to have a pet and was told no. But for some reason this time she said yes! Now, mind you, I had been dreaming about this for awhile, had been scouring adoption/rescue sites for the perfect dog. And my dear friend Donna, Shao’s godmother, had offered to pay the fees to make it happen! I had applied to a few, trusting that God would work it out if it was meant to be. I could always decline, right? Well, the day after the Landlord said yes, I got a call that I had been approved to adopt a puppy in Tennessee. Talk about God’s perfect timing! And it gets better! Dawn, at the rescue said that it so happened that “Princess” was getting spayed the next day, and that she could be put on a transport right after, as long as the adoption fees were paid. So Tuesday, May 17th, my new puppy was put on the transport trailer, headed my way. This was all just a few days after I was given permission to have a dog. That night, Tuesday, my landlord called and said that she had changed her mind. I told her the puppy was already on its way to me from Tennessee. She said that she was sure I could find someone to take her once she arrived. Umm…no…nope. Things got ugly. Her son got involved. He called my Doctor, and the office pretty much told him that he’d better be careful, because by law, if I was “prescribed “ an ESA , a landlord could not say no. I did ask, and I had the landlord’s letter of approval, but technically I could have just TOLD her, I didn’t have to ask. My puppy, now named Daisy Mae, arrived on May 19th. What a joy! Gave me reason to get out of bed every day! 10+ years later, she’s still here, my best buddy! But the landlord was definitely not happy, so life got a bit tough. Nothing major, but the landlord sure wasn’t being pleasant anymore. Nothing horrible, just uncomfortable. Until…she raised my rent by $450 a month, to be raised even more over the coming year. Rent was now more than I got in Social Security a month. She did not care. Ugh! More in the next installment!

Blessings!

Nancy 

 Part 2 of catching up!

So…Non- Hodgkins Lymphoma. I’m told if you’re going to get cancer, this is a “good” one to get. Uh…yeah, okay…no. But in actuality, it is, because it is usually controllable for many years. It is NOT curable, but it’s controllable. It’s now early May and Shao is coming home soon! Knowing that she is studying and taking finals, I decided to wait until she got home to break the news. 

Usually, when NHL is diagnosed, doctors take a “wait and watch” stance. But in my case, Dr. Levy (my hematologist/oncologist)and I felt that we had already been doing that, over the past two or more years, we just hadn’t realized it til now. The prescribed treatment was six rounds of chemotherapy, over the next several months. I originally pushed to wait until school was done, so I could continue working as long as possible. Having lived with it unknowingly for so long, I was not feeling an urgency to get treatment immediately. I had bills to pay, and nothing to fall back on, financially. My family quickly nixed that and assured me that they would help me with whatever I needed. So I gave notice at work and that was that!

ShaoXi came home just a few days or maybe a week after the diagnosis. 3 days after she arrived, her boyfriend Alexander flew up to meet me. He was very sweet and VERY nervous. I liked him right away, but definitely had reservations about the fact that he had just graduated and was flying back to Australia, and Shao had 3 more years of college ahead. Th day after he came, Shao’s best friend Krista, my “other daughter”, came over to meet Zander. I decided that this was a good time to break the news. Oh, boy, my girl was furious that I had waited to tell her. It took her awhile before she was willing to talk to me, but having Krista and Zander there helped, for sure. 

Once we got over that hump, things moved quickly. I had an out patient procedure to place a port, we spent lots of fun time showing Zander around, and then the time came to send him home. Oh, I had one very sad girl! But I was so thankful that she was there, and able to help me get through several rounds of chemotherapy before heading back to Mississippi for her sophomore year. Chemo wasn’t too horrible. The chemotherapy I had did not make me lose my hair, so that was a blessing. It did make me very tired, and not very hungry. I would have chemo two days in a row, then a shot on the third day to boost my blood’s ability to make new red blood cells. The ickiness hit around day four, and lasted through the weekend. Then I had two weeks off, then repeat. Since the chemo lowered my immune system, I did struggle with diverticulitis after my second round. Oh, yeah…I had been diagnosed with diverticulosis back in maybe 2011 or 2012…can’t remember. The diverticulitis attack caused me to have to wait an extra week between rounds 2 and 3. Not a big deal, just an annoying delay. I spent most of my time resting. I would get up for a few hours, eat a little, then back to sleep for a few hours. That was my summer. Poor Shao, not much fun for her. But she was working, hanging out with her friends, and so I didn’t worry too much about her. It was so nice just having her home! 

Okay, part three in the near future!

Blessings, Nancy

 Holy cannoli! My last post I said I was the worst blogger…this proves it! What a blast to see what I posted so many years ago! THIRTEEN YEARS AGO!!!! Yikes! How do you come back from THAT?!?!?

Ummm…guess I’ll try. Let’s see…last few posts I mentioned ShaoXi was a Senior in HS, and we were looking at colleges. We did indeed make the trip down to Belhaven University in Jackson, MS. While it was the school farthest from home, I felt like it was the right place for my girl. I said nothing, as I wanted it to be her decision. Ultimately she was accepted at 3 colleges, but Belhaven offered the most scholarships. But, beyond that, Shao decided that she truly was meant to go to Belhaven. So in August of 2014 I drove her down and got her settled in. My best friend, Kim, flew down from Pennsylvania to drive back home with me, so I wasn’t alone. Best friends are the best! 

Thus began my life as an empty nester. Oh, it was hard! I couldn’t wait for December! I kind of forget, but I think she flew home. A few times over the four years of college she carpooled with classmates, so it’s a bit foggy! Christmas break was way too short for my liking, but that’s no surprise! One big surprise was that she had a boyfriend! I wasn’t really surprised, I knew about him before she came home. The biggest surprise? He was from Australia! And a Senior, getting ready to graduate in five more months. Long distance relationships are tough enough, but that was REALLY gonna be long distance! 

I also mentioned in previous blogs that I was not feeling well. Once Shao left to go back to school life went on as usual. For the last eighteen months I had been seeing a plethora of different doctors. I had been diagnosed with kidney disease, due to my former doctor prescribing WAY too much ibuprofen to treat constant pain. So there’s that. It doesn’t really affect me much, but I do have to be careful to keep hydrated, and it is of concern if I need to have tests done with contrast dye, like CAT scans or MRIs. 

I had been struggling for years with low iron/anemia, so had a hematologist on board. I adore him, such a great doctor! We were perplexed by the persistence of the anemia, as I had had a few iron infusions which did nothing for me. That winter of 2015 I had some new symptoms, beyond the paralyzing fatigue. I was seeing Dr. Levy every few months by then. March/April 2015 rolled around and I went to my bimonthly appointment. To my shock, and likely his, he said, “Oh, you have some enlarged lymph nodes in your neck!” One biopsy and month later, we finally figured out why I had been feeling unwell for so long. I was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. 

Okay this is getting so long! Stick around, I PROMISE that I won’t make you wait 13 years for part two!

Blessings, Nancy

The worst....

Obviously I am the worst blogger on the planet...it's been a year.  A very long year since I've updated this blog.  I can only say that these days doing much of anything totally wears me out, and I wish I knew why.  In some ways I am better than I have been in past years....but the relentless fatigue/exhaustion doesn't go away, and thus I sit in a fog, with lots of PLANS to do this or that, but never muster up the energy to do any of them.  Everything seems like a huge chore.  Life shouldn't be this way, I am sure.  But by now, I seem to be used to it...which bothers me no end.  I do manage to work every day, but honestly, I don't know how I get through it all...I am doing a very long run, so am on the road 7 hours a day.  But I can't make it financially if I have less hours than that, so that's that.

Anyhow...that said...I am making no promises on how I will continue on with this blog.  But for today, for this very moment, I am here.

This year is a big one for us...Miss ShaoXi is a Senior in High School, and we are all about applying to colleges, auditioning for the dance programs, ad infinitum.  It only brings home to  me the cold stark reality that in about 7 months, my precious girl will be flying the nest, and mama will be flying solo, as well.  Should be an interesting adjustment.  Shao & I are so close that I think it will be harder than most....added to the fact that there is no father in our lives (as in I am NOT married), so I will be truly on my own.  I do hope to join some different groups, etc., that have been impossible what with Shao's schedule for dance, etc.

My girly scored the role of Snow Queen in this year's Nutcracker, and she was beyond amazing!!!!  I am awestruck how she manages to do all she does on a daily basis.  She once again made honors in school, which took a lot of hard work.  She is not one of those kids who never picks up a book and gets all A's.  She works HARD for good grades.  She works hard for everything in her life.  I have never met a more self-motivated kid in my life.  Amazing girl...an amazing gift to me, that's for sure.

This Christmas was one of our favorites.  We literally had little to no money, so we bought each other 3 very small gifts, and that was it.  We weren't able to buy anything for anyone else, so even though I would have loved to have bought for the little kids in the family, it made for a very laid back holiday!!!  We spent Christmas Eve at my niece Kate's house, sitting around watching her 15 mo. old baby girl Kelsi be absolutely adorable, as always!!  On Christmas Day we got up late, opened our presents, and eventually meandered over to my sister Polly's house, where again we watched Kelsi and also my beautiful twin nieces, Cadence & Hayleigh, who are almost 5, as they entertained us thoroughly.  Such treasures they are!

Shao & I came home early, napped and then got up and cooked Christmas dinner together....a yummy seafood pasta dish, a salad, and assorted cheesecake for dessert.  We watched "Elf" and "Heat" and loved every minute of being together.  Best Christmas ever...except for NEXT Christmas...when I will be waiting with open arms for her to come home to me from college, wherever that may be!!!!

In February we will be headed south for a whirlwind trip to Jackson Mississippi, and Winston-Salem NC, to look at two colleges, and audition for the one, Belhaven Univ., in Jackson.  We also plan to do a quick sidetrip to New Orleans for Saturday night....should be eye-opening, for sure! :)  My sister Polly is going with us, to help drive.  We will have to drive straight thru to Jackson, which is 22 hours away from here, so need the help!   ShaoXi has to be there for Friday morning, Feb. 14th, so we will leave on Wed., early evening, and drive straight through!  It will be a little more leisurely coming home, but still we need to be back in CT by Tuesday night, the 18th, so Polly can go to work in the morning, and Shao will go back to school.  Anyone with a couple of spare beds live anywhere on the route??? :)

Shao has applied to 6 colleges....Belhaven U., in MS; University of North Carolina School of the Arts, in NC; Point Park U., in Pittsburgh PA; NYU/Tisch in NYC; Ailey/Fordham in NYC; and Wesleyan U., here in CT.   She REALLY would like to go to Ailey/Fordham.  She has already been accepted at Belhaven academically (she will audition for the BFA in dance program when we go down there), and at Point Park U. both academically and artistically.  So far, Belhaven has offered her the best scholarship money, and that does not even include what they might offer her for artistic merit once she auditions.  On top of that, if you visit the school in person, there is an automatic scholarship of $1000 per semester.  Thus, we head south!

That's about all the news...oh, Shao is driving now!  Makes my life so much easier, even if it does leave me "stranded at home" quite a bit! :)

Love and blessings....Nancy & ShaoXi

Wha' happened?

How is it possible that Christmas is over?  So much anticipation builds up, and then in 24 hours...GONE.   And I'm not talking about the "stuff"....just the time, spent with family, relaxing and talking, watching the kids run around in circles even though every adult in the house has said at least once, "No running in the house!"  And taking eager turns holding our little Kelsi girl, reluctantly giving her up to the next in line. 

Tonight it is snowing and sleeting like crazy.  I'm supposed to go to an appointment about a half hour away tomorrow morning...not so sure I am going to be able to go.  We shall see!!

Shao & I are leaving for Maine on Friday morning.  So excited!!!  One of my dear friends from college lives outside of Portland, and we are going to spend 4 days with him, for New Year's Eve.  He is Shao's "official" godfather, although she has a few who I would say are unofficial! :)  Especially her Grampa Ron, who is husband to her godmother, Gramma Donna.  Blessed girl, to have so many people who love her so very much!

Anyhow, we haven't been up to see Unca' Dick for a long long time (too long!!), so this is gonna be fun.  And we might just get to go with him on Saturday to get two new kittens!  His beautiful cat, Mulan, died this fall, and he is ready for a new one...and decided TWO would be even better! :)
Fun times, new kittens! :)

Not much else happening in our world.  I got to take care of Kelsi today for several hours, while her mama and daddy worked.  That is such a joy...love me some baby girl time!  Other than that...nada.

Blessings to all...hope y'all are safe and warm! :)

Nancy & ShaoXi

Three more days until Christmas!!!  How in the world did THAT happen?  I suppose I am ready...but it doesn't seem like it.  It has been a difficult and sad week here in Connecticut.  I feel like I am on a very wild rollercoaster, lots of ups, and plenty of very steep, swift "downs."

One good thing...no ballet until January!!  Freedom feels good!  Today my girl is in Boston with several friends.  They have tickets to attend tonights performance of "The Nutcracker" at Boston Ballet.  I am excited for her to see a real company perform this, since she has been in so many of them herself with NHB.  Next year she is gunning for the part of the Snow Queen...here's hoping! :) 

We are looking forward to having time off, being able to visit leisurely with family and friends, and to be together.  I hope everyone has a blessed Christmas, and that the real meaning of this season is deeply ingrained in your hearts and souls.   Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift...His Son, Jesus, our Messiah, Saviour and Lord!

 Blessings...Nancy & ShaoXi

About 20 or more years ago, I lived on a farm, in a 300 year old house with wide pine board floors, and rough plaster walls, and views to die for.  To go to work every day, I had to come down out of the hills, past other farms, to a lake/reservoir, and drive alongside that for quite awhile, enjoying the swans who were always there.  I finally came into a tiny little village, with a stopsign in the middle, a old wood-sided general store.  To the left was a lake a few miles down the road.  To the right was the Interstate, another few miles away.  It was a lovely peaceful place, and I looked at homes there to buy.  I taught kindergarten for a couple of years just two towns away, then worked for a large corporation in the nearest city.  

That lovely little village was Sandy Hook, a section of Newtown CT.  Newtown was a pretty and picturesque town with a wide main street, one grocery store and a handful  of  sweet specialty shops.
Every day I drove through those streets.  Yesterday my heart broke for the people of Sandy Hook.  If ever there seemed a safe place in this crazy, broken, sinful world, that would surely be high on the list.  Evil doesn't pay attention to such things, I have found out. 

My heart, thoughts and prayers are with that small community which is reeling in grief today, surely planning funerals for children whose little caskets will be haunting and starkly horrifying by their tiny size.  There is a family who lost mother and at least one son...the Lanza family.  I am heartbroken for them, as well, for those left behind to bear the grief and the perceived shame, although I doubt there was anything they could have done, and no way they could grasped the impending doom hovering over them when they woke up on Friday morning. 

I hesitate to let my girl out of my sight.  I cannot fathom the pain of losing her, although having lost a 6 year old niece to a violent murder, I DO know, I suppose, to some extent.  I know all over this world parents are holding their children closer, and speaking words of love into their lives, now more than ever.  It shouldn't take this kind of act to do that...but in our busy lives, sometimes we are oblivious to the important things right in front of our noses.  

Sandy Hook/Newtown....I grieve with you all.  May our Heavenly Father hold each one tightly in His arms, may you feel His love, may we all be the hands and feet of Jesus to these precious people.

Blessings from CT....Nancy

Yippee!!!

Oh, my goodness...it let me post.  Yippee.  So...hmmm...July was the last time I posted, I think.  Let's recap:
I spent 5 weeks in Phoenix...110 degrees or so...except the 4th of July...Phoenix was one of the coolest places in the US...a lovely 75 or so! Wierd!

Shao danced each day.  I drove her in and picked her up.  While she was there, I did a few things that were really great.  A couple of times a week for the last 3 weeks I was there, I went with my friend Lori, to a stable and played with horses.  I used to have dozens of horses back in the day, and this was such a blast for me! :)  I miss them...hi to Greta, Billy, Chile, Roxie, Riley, Tristan (or was it Trevor?)
Ginger pony, Spoof, ? and Pete.  I only forgot one name...not too bad for an old lady, huh? :)

The first two weeks we were there Lori was away, so I took advantage of that time and went to a woman's Bible Study at the church we attended (Phoenix First AG...DYNAMITE church!) called "Chocolate Talk."  What a blessing that was! 

Shao & I had tons of together time, and it was sweet and very special.  Once Lori came home from vacation we also spent a ton of time with her family...their daughters are from Shao's orphanage in China, and I traveled with Karl & Lori when they adopted their first, Sophie.  They went back 3 years later for Charlotte, my little firecracker.  I love these girls like they were my own! :)

Came home w/o Shao and went right to work at the kids's camp...loved every moment even though my osteoarthritis has reached a point of constant pain, at all times.  But the kids...LOVE the kids...and Skip & Colleen, who are the directors.  Hoping for another opportunity to serve next year.

Went back to work the end of August.  I am doing the same run as last year, for American School for the Deaf in West Hartord CT.  Makes for many hours of driving each day, but I enjoy it very much.  It is probably about the only thing I CAN  do these days, workwise, as I am not walking well at all due to the severity of the joint pain.  And boy am I stiff when I have to get out of the van after 3-4 hours of driving non-stop!!

Shao auditioned for "Nutcracker" soon after school began.  She got 3 different roles, one as a Demi-Flower, in which she has a solo part.  She has just finished up dancing Sat. night's show as I type.  She has had 5 shows since Thursday, and one more tomorrow.  I am going tomorrow, as her solo role is in that show!  Can't wait to see my beautiful girl dance!

We are in the midst of starting to plan for college...EEEK!!!!

Blogger is giving me trouble, so am going to try and post before I lose all of this!

Blessings...Nancy & ShaoXi

OOH...blogger may let me post something...it hasn't for MONTHS!!!!  I'm gonna try...this is a test!!!

Happy day after the 4th of July!

So we are enjoying our time here in Phoenix.  The best part has been the church we have been attending, Phoenix First Assembly of God.  Talk about mega church...but they work hard to get people connected.  Shao loves the youth group!  And we have been blessed to spend some time with Linny and Dwight Saunders and their adorable kids!  What a blessing, and such joy for me to stroke Princess Ruby Grace's sweet cheeks, to hold Elizabeth's hand, and to chat with all the kids.  Wonderful people.  We even got to meet friends of theirs who recently got home with their 3-days-short-of-two-year-old son, Jethro...I THINK from Uganda, but not positive.  What a cutie! 

Got a voicemail from my gastroenterologist that all tests are fine....YEAH!  I'll pick up dr's appts, etc., as soon as I get back to CT...well, a week after I get back...because the first week I am back, I will be working at Dustin's Place, a Christian kid's camp that I just love.  Shao is totally bummed that she will miss out on that, since she will be going from here to SD, to meet up with her team for a missions trip.  According to Shao, that's her favorite part of the summer, working at Dustin's Place.

So that's it for now.  We are blessed with the use of this adorable condo, and the car.  Such a blessing.  God is good...all the time!!!  AMEN!!

Hugs...Nancy & ShaoXi

Oh, and just in case anyone is still bothering to check in here...healthwise I seem to be a LITTLE bit better.  But my team of drs is still trying to figure out just what in the world is going on with me.  I have had so many tests that I have totally lost count.  But so far, they have all ruled OUT things, which is fine by me.  I CAN tell you that after 2 months of extensive tests and appointments, the ONE area I am totally aok is my heart.  BIG SIGH OF RELIEF.  I am currently working with a hematologist, a gastroenterologist, and my reg. dr.  I think the NEXT dr. I will be sent to is a rheumatologist.  OH...and my "woman parts" dr...but I think everything is fine there, too.  I also have an eye dr. appt coming up, and need to find a dentist who will take our insurance.  Aug. is shaping up to be just as full of dr appts as the past six months!!

So...that's the news on that front (I guess I should say fronts, huh?) :)
Keep praying for me, okay?

Nancy

Wow...so there is something wrong with my computer.  Because I have tried to do a new blogpost for a long time now...and couldn't.  But today I am on Shao's 'puter, and no problem.  Guess I have to get my guru friend Henry involved.  But not anytime soon...cuz ShaoXi and I are in Phoenix AZ for the next five weeks.  ShaoXi is dancing with Ballet Arizona and I?  Hmmm...that remains to be seen.  She will be dancing each weekday from 9-5.  I have hopes to actually meet Linny Saunders (of http://www.aplacecalledsimplicity.blogspot.com/ fame) in person...and do some heavy duty lovin' on her kiddos! :)
So I will try to keep you posted on our doings, and such.  Honest, I've been trying, but that crazy computer of mine was NOT cooperating!!!

Hugs...Nancy

Incognito

Good grief. I literally disappeared off the face of the earth...or at least, blog land. I have been sick. Pretty darn sick. For more than a year. It's been hard just getting one foot in front of the other. It still is. Now, I'm not dying or anything. But I have a myriad of physical things going on that all add up to not much of a life, outside of doing the bare minimum (that being work.)

My house is beyond disaster; my child is beside herself if I actually cook anything. Mostly, I don't. It is all I can do to exist. It would be so easy to be totally despondent and discouraged. But I can honestly say I am hanging in there. It helps that I have a new primary care dr. who actually LISTENS (imagine that?!?!?) and he has hooked me up with a host of specialists, all who are trying their darndest to figure out what in the world is going on with me, and how they can fix it! :) I have: a hematologist, a gastroenterologist, a cardiologist, a pulmanologist, and an orthopedic on my team. I'm thinking SOMEBODY has got to figure out the enigma of ME.

Meanwhile...I will try not to be a total stranger here. For the past few days I have actually been able to do a few things, like pay bills online, and do some laundry, without being totally wiped out for days on end. This is good. There's hope. Please pray.

OH...and on a totally COOL note. My treasure ShaoXi was accepted at Ballet Arizona in Phoenix AZ. We are BOTH headed to AZ for five weeks this summer. COOL BEANS!!! You GO, baby girl!!!

Nancy

YIKES!!!!!

I can't explain where I've been. Suffice it to say life totally overwhelmed me, and I had all I could do to just drag myself through each day. I am just coming out of the long dark tunnel now. Two months....plus. Long time.

Our thirteenth "GOTCHA DAY!" anniversary fast approaches. How can that be? Thirteen years of joy. I am blessed.

I promise, I will try to blog more often...MUCH more often (which, hey...that would be like, every TWO WEEKS, and that would work, considering my long hiatus from here!!!)

Blessings to all!!

Nancy

Prayers for Megan

A post or two ago I wrote about ShaoXi going with her friend Megan to comfort her as she faced some minor surgery. Today I heard the biopsy report. It is hard news to hear. Our Megan has Hodgkins lymphoma. It IS highly treatable, but it is still not what any of us wanted to hear. The girls just started High School last week. Tomorrow the family meets with an oncologist. Thursday Meg will go in for further surgery on her arm. I suspect my girl will go with her. And then? Probably chemo. Maybe radiation. Hard stuff to swallow. Cancer just hit home here. While I follow many blogs of folks with kids with cancer, so that I can pray for them....it has now arrived in my backyard, so to speak. And NOW...now I need to act. How sad that it took this to spur me to some form of action. Not sure what that action may be....but I will find a way to make a small difference.

Please pray for Megan. This is going to redefine her world. And since we have had some ongoing concerns for where she was headed, we are hoping it will redefine it for the better. This will be a whole new direction for her, and I am hoping ShaoXi will be by her side to help her through to the other side. That is her plan, my girl, and I am all for it. I told Megan's mom that if there was something that was extremely tough, or if Meg was just in a bad place, that ShaoXi would be there, school or not. Some things have to come first. And close friends are one of them. We have to be warriors for those who have fallen and need help to get back up.

Blessings...Nancy

Vacation

So this is where we have been for the past several days! Recognize it? It's world famous...and rightly, so! Yep, Niagara Falls! Shao & I had never been, and we had the opportunity to go with my friend Wendy and her three kids (whom we traveled to DisneyWorld with two years ago!) It is beyond belief beautiful, and magnificent, and every other adjective you can think up, and then some. We got to see it at night, as well, when the Canadians put colored spotlights on it. And we were there for the Wednesday night fireworks show, as well. We went on the Maid of the Mist boat, right up to the Horseshoe Falls, and went to the Cave of the Winds, which takes you right up to the side of the Bridal Veil Falls, pictured on the right of this picture. If you look closely at this picture, you will see a beautiful rainbow.

We had a great time, and I hope we get to go back another time, when we can explore the area a little more. There is lots to see and do. And we all need to get passports, so we can go to the Canadian side. Unfortunately, mine was expired, and Shao and two of Wendy's three kids don't even have one. So NEXT time we will go and stay on the Canadian side, which apparently is less costly, and has much prettier views. Looking forward to it! Here are some pictures Wendy took. I don't even bother to pull out my camera, as she is a camera hound, and takes 100's of them. I let her do all the work, and enjoy the fruits of her labor! :)

So now it's back to reality...I start work on Monday, and Shao starts school the following day, on Tuesday. And can someone please tell me...first of all...where did summer go???? I am missing it already! And secondly...how in the world is it that I have a HIGH SCHOOL kid now? Where is my baby? This baffles me!

Blessings...Nancy

Ministry in your own backyard

Today ShaoXi got herself up early and headed off with her friend Megan and her parents. Nope, they were definitely NOT off for a day of fun and excitement. Today ShaoXi volunteered to go with her BFF to have minor surgery, to keep her company and minister to her. Miss Megan is phobic about drs, needles, and all things medical. When I say phobic, I mean she goes absolutely ballistic, kicking, clawing, hitting, biting, screaming, and swearing...and that's the better moments, I'm told! So ShaoXi offered to go along and console her friend. And I'm told it was way better than usual, and that Megan's parents were deeply grateful to ShaoXi for coming. I'm thankful for a child with a giving and compassionate heart. And that Megan's surgery went well. Now we just have to wait for the biopsy results. That could be a bit daunting. Please pray that it is a good outcome.

Blessings...Nancy

Silence is Golden

Alright, so maybe NOT, in the blog world. We are alive and basically well, here on Planet Earth. :) I say basically, as I continue to have GI issues, ever since my hospitalization in January. I am not liking my "new normal" much at all. And I think I need to try and tweak it, if at all possible. It is just NOT fun to be nauseous 24/7. This can't be right, can it?

Other than that...loving having my girl home. And she is LOVING being home. I had hoped to get down to PA this weekend to visit friends, but she just wanted to stay home. She is definitely a homebody! Having said that...this doesn't stop HER from leaving ME, if a good opportunity comes up...like going out to Block Island for 3 days last weekend, on her friend's yacht. And sleepovers at places that have POOLS, to combat the beastly heat and humidity we have had since June.

I must say though...the humidity is GONE...thus this post! Now, WHAT, you may ask do the two have to do with one another? Well...my computer is in what we call "the back room." Said room is actually an extension of the attic belonging to the apartment below it, which translates...HOT. No insulation. HOT!!! This is always the hottest room in the house, and because it has 3 tiny high jalousie windows on one wall, and a small one on the opposite one, it does not get much airflow, either. Have I mentioned that this room is HOT? I do not have the courage to come in here much when it is hot, and ESPECIALLY when it is humid. I do the bare minimum and get out, FAST! It really is brutal. Thus...no posts for awhile. But last night? I had to close windows in my bedroom, and I was still chilly!

Fall is definitely on it's way. I am going to put one of the blankets BACK on my bed today. I have seen some leaves changing in our area. I am SOOOOO not ready for fall. It's sad. I actually LOVE fall. It is such a fresh time of year, crisp air, lots of blue skies and big fluffy clouds, crisp apples to eat, gorgeous foliage here in the NorthEast. But I KNOW what is right on it's coat tails. And THAT is what I do not like. Winter. Ice, snow, sleet, mush, cold. Not a fan. And so...it makes me really sad to see fall coming. In truth, I'd take the heat and humidity over the cold.

I DO love Christmas, and that's what gets me through to the first of the new year. But then...oh, then it is all about surviving the next 10 weeks or so. Once we hit the middle of March, I begin to relax. I KNOW we can get snow in March and even April. But it doesn't stick around. It melts. There are some brave little snowdrops and crocuses already up and I can SMELL spring in the air. I can HOPE.

So...watch out. If I know you, and you live in a more kindly clime, I may be camping out at YOUR house in the winter, in a few more years. Once Shao is off in college, I am looking for places from which to escape winter! :) You may want to change the locks! :)

We have one more week "at home," and then are driving to my friend Wendy's in the Catskills in NY, then going with her and her kids to Niagara Falls! We will spend 3 nights there, then drive back to Wendy's. The following morning we will leave VERY early to drive home to CT, as Shao has an open house orientation at the High School, and then right afterwards our church is holding a huge event for the teens. Gonna be a busy week, but also fun, I hope! :) And then we have 3 days and Shao starts HIGH SCHOOL, and I go back to work. Can't believe the summer is winding down. What with Shao being away for 4 weeks of it, I feel like it should be just halfway done, not almost gone! sigh Guess that's all the news from here. I will try to blog more often. Pray for cooperative weather! :)

Blessings...Nancy

Dustin's Place

So, camp is over. But 104 children, and 30 or so Jr. Counselors are still in my heart and mind, and in my prayers. I have to say, that was one of the most amazing camps EVER. I am so excited for where God is going to take this ministry! Skip & Colleen are looking for a large (50+acres) of land, with a lake/pond on it, to buy. Their dream is to have a kid's camp all summer long, then host other groups throughout the rest of the year. They want to have animals at the camp...horses, who knows what?!? :) For next year, they are hoping to have camp for 2 or 3 weeks. After that, the whole summer. But they need to find land. They need to find a BIG piece of land, with certain things on it, to make the camp work well. Please pray for this end, so that the Kingdom of God might be glorified, and many young hearts reached with the message of Jesus' love!

We are talking about me maybe living on the grounds, and caring for the animals. Wouldn't that be the coolest thing ever? If we had too many animals, I would definitely need help. I'm not getting any younger. LOL! :) But I think it sounds heavenly. And to be involved with this ministry...what a gift THAT would be!!! :) I intend to be involved with the kids' camp no matter what. I just loved watching these kids worship God and open their hearts to Him. Precious, precious times!

So...now we are home...the mundane has taken over. I am dog-sitting until Thursday night...then doing it again M-F, next week. Thankfully they left the money ahead of time, so I used it to pay my rent. Unbelievable, that SOMEHOW $1000 came in this month. Of course, I haven't paid any utilities, so that needs to be addressed. But I am amazed that I came up with August's rent. What a clear blessing from God!

The last week of this month we are going to Niagara Falls with my friend Wendy and her kids. I have never been, so am excited for this little vacation. And it's not costing us much, as Wendy is paying all traveling costs, and for the hotel room. We just have to pay for food, and $66 for our Niagara passes, which get us into the Cave of the Winds, the Aquarium, on the Maid of the Mist, and onto the trolley...and something else, I can't remember. $33 each...not really a bad deal at all! :)

That's all the news for now. Hope everyone is having an AWESOME summer. I can tell you that I am glad, glad, glad to have my baby girl home. Oh, how I missed her! :)

Blessings...Nancy

First Day!!

We have made it through the first day of camp! I can't say that was a particularly HARD thing for me, as I was in the house the majority of the time, just responsible for keeping water jugs full at two sites, and keeping a Koolaid one and another water jug full at all times at the tents, where the kids meet to eat, do crafts, whatever. While they have snacks twice a day, the jugs are ALWAYS full for them at all times.

ShaoXi was a jr. counselor for the group of fifth and sixth graders. She is whooped, and in her room...not sure if I will see her again tonight! :) Hope so, as we need to eat dinner, which is halfway cooked.

It was such a blessing...104 kids, all having a blast. They moved from activity to activity, loving them all...we start out with awesome worship in the morning, then they begin their rotations...kayaking, swimming, arts & crafts, fishing, bible time, story telling, games. These kids are kept BUSY! :) Somewhere in all of that we fit in 2 snack times, and lunch! :) What a blessing to serve at Dustin's Place! I am loving it! :)

Blessings...Nancy