Mom just finished her 4th cycle of chemo post surgery. We just went on Wednesday for treatment. Mom's surgery in September went so good. I can't believe they kick you out of the hospital so fast! Mom's margins came back clear as did her lymph nodes. She has been fitted for a prosthesis (ya'll you would never know if you didn't know). Most chemo patients describe food tasting metallic, Mom doesn't experience that, she says things just taste bitter. For those who really know her, she is off chocolate (I know it freaked me out too but, it just tastes so bad she doesn't want it).
We made it through Thanksgiving with Mom feeling good. During that time one of my friends from OBU (who is 27 and has the same type of breast cancer Mom has) had brain surgery. She woke up the week of Thanksgiving having seizures. I'll be honest ya'll, it really scared me. The what ifs became so apparent, so real. I was afraid to even tell Mom about my friend, but she found out through another friend's blog we read. Mom began reading my friend Lindsey's blog which you can find at http://www.pleasantliving.org/. Lindsey is an amazing Godly woman, her faith in the Lord just blows me away. Since Thanksgiving, Lindsey has been a HUGE encouragement to my mom. I encourage you to read her blog and pray for her. Lindsey and her husband Brian have given up alot in the last month and God has shown up in huge ways!
I am finding that one is very aware of the holidays with a Mom on chemo. She will probably be the most spoiled lady this Christmas! Did you realize how much of the holidays revolve around food? It's really not much fun when food tastes bad.
And now it is Christmas Eve. And we are preparing for our Annual Family Christmas Party. When Mom and Dad moved to the mountains we began having our own version of "Cortese Christmas". The previous 15-20 years we had spent Christmas Eve with my best friend's family. Since we were too far away to go, we brought Cortese Christmas to the mountains. Things must change when you have a chemo patient, so we have adjusted this year. I am sad to say this will be my first Christmas Eve in 20 years that I have not eaten salad, pasta with homemade sauce and meatballs, and bread. We just can't do it this year. We can't spent 2 days making sauce and meatballs (Yes I know that is retarded, but we do it and if you tasted it you would know how worth it it is!). So this year we are going easy (As easy as my precious OCD mother will allow us). And you know what, it's okay. We don't have to do it big all the time. It's okay to relax and enjoy what Christmas is supposed to be about!
Our family loves tradition (almost to a fault). I want to show you some of the decorations in our house. Below are some pictures that I took today:
Here is our little tree in the study, its our only theme like tree. The little gingerbread men that hang from it were made by my mom and myself when I was in elementary school.
The stocking are hung by our chimney with care and our gifts are ready for the gift exchange tonight!
Here is our tree! I love this tree! We have a hodge podge of ornaments on this tree and I love it! Every ornament has a story or is tied to a person who gave it to us. We even have ornaments that were my great grandparents!
We got this ornament from my Aunt Etta. It was made in honor of the roadrunner that lived in our back yard. Actually we had two: Timmy and Tommy. This ornament reminds me of our roadrunners and my cousin Kevin (he loved roadrunners growing up).
I got this ornament a few years ago. That one little word has had alot of meaning this year. Many times the Lord has asked me if I would praise Him no matter what happens, no matter what He brings, whether good or bad.
Here is the formal dining room. The furniture belonged to my great grandparents on my dad's side.
This is Mom's Christmas present. Awesome story: this was given to me by the man who makes these. It is massive. When I was given this piece of scripture art I knew it needed to go to Mom.
I hope you are all doing well this Christmas. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the love you have shown my family this year. The support you have shown us is simply overwhelming. Before I go I want to leave you with a verse from 2 Corinthians 9:15 "Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!" I pray this Christmas that you realize that those gifts you may or may not have stacked under the tree really don't matter. Whether or not you are with family doesn't really matter. All that really matters is Jesus, He is the gift that God gave us. He is the reason we celebrate Christmas. He came to this earth, lived, died on the cross, and raised to life again the third day. Not for no reason, but so that we could have life everlasting. He came so that we could have a relationship with God. Without Jesus there was no hope. Don't forget to thank God for the gift of His Son!
Merry Christmas! We love you and covet your prayers! Please pray for Mom's stamina as she finishes out chemo in the new year and then endures radiation and another surgery! Thank you for praying for us! Please let us know how we can pray for you!
Much love to you all! We will consider it ALL JOY!
Ashlee
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