Distraction

(September 2002, pic) God works in mysterious ways I often hear. If there was doubt, I'm believing it now. Who else, but the Lord, would know at this time of year I need a good distraction. My mind would be wandering to what was going on in early September 2002 when Christi was diagnosed and to early September 2006 when Christi entered the hospital for the final time if it weren't for a good distraction. I'd be worried about teaching her classmates and not her, without this great distraction. Now in recent days I've been so busy preparing my lesson plans and materials for a sub so I can get to my doctor appointments that I haven't been able to get consumed with "all that". Thank you, Lord!

(September 2006, pic) We met with the surgeon this afternoon. Shayne knew him from the YMCA (small world, small town actually!). I thought he seemed "young". (You know, like in his 40s, young!) He said I was the only patient who ever requested to see what the gall bladder looked like before, but he's checking on it. I know I must be crazy, but I want to see it. My surgery is scheduled for late next week; I'll just try not to tell myself that was exactly when Christi was in a hospital being diagnosed in 2002 in the same town. What was really good though was that we have a brand new hospital - no memories of Christi being tortured there! Praise God! I was so happy this summer when the old one was shut down. I couldn't remember the happy occasions of the girls' births, just the horrific needle pokes that ALWAYS worked Christi up, then we'd have to go to school. Crazy life! I don't know how I lived it. Sadly, there are hundreds more still living it each day as they fight for their kids' lives too. Yes, I'd rather be in that fight, but why must cancer exist at all?

(Aug. 2005, pic) Grading Theresa and Kaylyn's wonderfully written autobiographies they did for my English class brought happy tears today. I know I don't have the guts to tell them because I'll cry, but both of them wrote about their friend Christi and I was deeply touched. They even had her exact day of death. I was quite surprised. They are so sweet! I hope "Angel" Christi can guide her friends in good ways and be there for them during the many tough days they will face in and out of school. Kaylyn wrote she wanted to go to college to be a nurse. Oh, I cannot possibly imagine a better nurse than Kaylyn!! Actually, I ought to see if I can take her with me next week because that girl is so cute and so sweet; I know she'd make me feel better!