So, the day I came home from the hospital, January 29th, the pressure valve on the well decided to stick and not give us water.  Paul had friends up here trying to fix it.  They rigged it to work temporarily, but he was told by a friend who has worked on wells that he needed to fix it SOON, because it wasn't going to last long.

Of course, he's out of town, and the pressure switch died.

I called the friend who rigged it to work before, and he was going to come up to fix it, but another friend showed up first and got it working.  When my mom called Jonathan to tell him that it was working, and he didn't need to come up, he told my mom that he was REALLY mad at Paul.  That the switch should have been fixed in the days following the "rigging," and that he left town without fixing it, and of course, it broke again.

It's going to make Paul mad, because he never likes being told that he's wrong.  And I think he was counting on this friend to actually come out and help him fix it.  And his friend says that he'll find a repairman, but he's not doing it.  That the entire control panel needs replaced to the tune of $500.  Or we can replace the pressure valve for less than that.

Paul likes thinking that he can fix anything around here, and for the most part, he can.  But he couldn't fix the furnace (in fact, he messed it up worse), and he can't fix the well.  So, like it or not, honey, we have to hire someone to do it.  And that will kill him.  And I get to be the one to tell him.  Goody.

So, I suppose you've seen the new Dodge commercials starring the Rock 'em, Sock 'em Robots.  Every time the ads come on, Paul talks about how his friend had that game, but he never did.

Rohan had a gift card to Toys R Us that needed to be spent.  So, last Friday, I got onto their website to see if I could spend the gift card there.  I could.

Paul and Colton are sitting in the floor playing Rock 'em Sock 'em Robots.  They're happier than clams.  Paul is the Blue Bomber, and Colton is the Red Rocker.  Rohan is pacing, waiting for his turn.

It's so fun to see my 45-year-old boy get excited over something silly like that.

So...

I told you about someone who said he'd pray for me.

But I didn't tell you about someone who DID pray for me.

This post may be very confusing to those of you who don't know me well, or don't know me IRL, or haven't known me long.  So if it confuses you, feel free to skip it.

Tonight, I was talking on the phone to Corlea.  I asked if she had the gift of prophecy, because I needed someone to help me through my run-in with my former pastor yesterday.  We talked about it some, and she thought that what God was teaching me was that he wasn't a scary dragon.  He was a strange, strange man.  Just a man.  As saved by grace as I am.  One who has made mistakes.

But he was a man I hated.  He ruined "my church."  He fired or let go or watched go every staff person that I ever loved, except for Dallas.  He watched as a very talented worship ministry was dessimated.  The talent scattered to the 4 winds.  Yes, that talent is now in a lot of churches rather than in one, but he watched it burn to the ground.

And then, in the middle of the discussion with Corlea, I remembered something else that I had wanted to tell her.  On Sunday, after a very moving worship time that ended with the song "The Beauty of Simplicty," and the words, "We, we love you.  We love you, Lord.  We love you.  And we, we love you.  We love you, Lord.  We love you, we love you."

I had been sitting, because my leg hurt, but as we started singing those words, I rose to my feet and raised my hands.  I couldn't sing.  But I sang in my head.  And I told my heavenly father that no matter what, I loved Him.  I love Him through the pain.  I love Him despite knowing what on EARTH he's doing.

As that song ended, Mike got up to preach.  He always starts with prayer.  And I heard him praying through the speakers, and suddenly, he wasn't in the speakers anymore.  He was in my ear.  He had reached over my mom, who was on the aisle, and put his arm around my shoulders.  And he thanked God for me.  In front of the entire congregation.

I don't remember all of his words. I do remember that he thanked God that I was there and healthy enough to be there.  And I remember this, "God, make her whole."

Is it sheer coincidence, that two days later, I am confronted by a man who I blamed for a lot of hurt in my life?  And I realized that he wasn't scary.  I was safe.  He may have run me out of his church, but he ran me into the arms of a church that loves me.  He may not know my name, but there are people who do. 

God may not answer Mike's prayer to make me physically whole.  But yesterday, He took a giant step in making me spiritually whole.  He taught me that I'm fighting another dragon.   I am fighting the cancer dragon, not Matt Herd.  God will take care of Matt.  God will take care of me.  I am healed of the anger and the hate toward someone who is human, and just a strage man, who is the pastor of a mega-church, but isn't personal.

Mike Worley, if you're reading this, thank you.  You will never know the amount of healing that happened because of that prayer.  I will not ever regret following you out the door of WVC.  It has obviously taken me a long time to get over being angry at the feeling that we HAD to leave.  But I have gotten over it.  I love the church that you've planted, in a school, who wants to build a 4-plex to house poor folks.  The church that repaired our truck brakes and our furnace.  The church who has helped Paul and me to train up our children to be amazing "Christ Ones." The church who has a rock-n-roller for a worship pastor.  The church that calls themselves "The Gathering" (what are they, a cult? ).  I guess we're a bit strange, too.

Matt, if by some strange coincidence you are also reading this, I forgive you.  You didn't even know that I was hurt and angry, and I know that you haven't asked for my forgiveness.  But I forgive you anyway.  Don't be late for Dallas's appointments anymore if he asks you to be there.  He needs you.  And I pray that God uses Woodmen Valley Chapel in amazing ways.  I also pray that he brings you a worship leader that you can hold on to and who loves that church like Mike Harris loved that church.

Well something wierd happened today.

I did have the infusion.

But partway through, the only pastor from our old church that I still have any sort of relationship with, came in.  I said, "DALLAS!"  And he came over to me for a hug. He told me that he had been really praying for me.  I asked what he was doing there, and he told me that they had found a large, malignant, inoperable tumor in his brain.  His daughter and granddaughter were both there.  He introduced me to both of them.  He was going to meet with Dr. H.   He went to the room to see Dr. H, and his granddaughter lagged behind.  I asked her what was going on, and she told me that they were giving him very little time.  That they were doing radiation simply to buy some time.

I cried.  A lot.  I hate this disease.  Just really really hate it.

When Dallas came out of the room, he came back over to hug me.  I told him that we were blessed, because for us "to live is Christ, and to die is truly gain."  He agreed with me.  But told me that I had better win my battle since he wasn't going to be able to win his.

30 minutes later... the receptionist came back and asked if the S. family had left.  I told them that yes, they had.  She left.  She came back and asked if I knew Matt Herd.  Um... yeah... he's the senior pastor who was the reason we left our last church.  I guess he was supposed to meet Dallas there to pray, and he was late.  He asked if he could come speak to me to see if I knew where they had gone. 

Of course, I had to introduce myself.  He didn't know me.  But he said that he recognized my face.  I told him that we didn't go to his church anymore, but we had for a long time, so it would make sense that he recognized me.  I told him where he might find Dallas and his family.

Now, I was sitting in the chemo room with IVs attached.  He asked how I was doing.  I told him that I was taking one day at a time, but that I was doing pretty well right now.  He said that he was going to pray for me while he was looking for Dallas.

Now, I have to admit that I've wanted to have the opportunity to talk to that man for more than 2 years.  And if you ask me if I believe he really did pray for me, I will tell you "no."  I was just completely bumfuzzled by his presence.  I know that it wasn't the time or place to say what I've wanted to say to him.  And that moment was about Dallas. I just wish I knew what God was trying to tell me.  Matt Herd.  I had a conversation with Matt Herd.  Good golly.

I was so flustered by that visit that I ODed on my lunchtime pills.  I take 3 oxycontin in the morning, 3 at night, and ONE at lunchtime.  I took 3.  And I've been shaky all night.  Oh well.  I told one of the nurses right away, and she said I'd be fine.

But the iron seems to have helped.  I do have more energy.  YAY!

Don't worry.  Cancer STILL sucks.  But Kath had a beautiful Xanga setup by this lady, and I went looking at her stuff.

I found this.  With the perfect headline.  The joy of the Lord IS my strength.  So it's time to switch outlooks.  And looks of the blog.

Twila Paris wrote a song called "The Joy of the Lord."  It used to be one of my favorites, and now that it's my headline, I believe I'll sing it again!

My prayer for each of you is that despite the road you're travelling that the joy of the Lord can be your strength.  Joy doesn't mean giddy happiness.  I think it would be silly to think that I'd be giddily happy that I have cancer.  But I do have joy.  And I pray that for each of you.

BTW, notice the time stamp.  I don't have a clue what happned.  I was watching CSI: Miami with Paul, and next thing I know, it's 3:30 am, and I'm waking up from a sound sleep.  I guess I was tired.  He didn't even wake me up kissing me good-night!

Each of the girls' baskets brought in $100.  YAY!

One of the "items" being auctioned was a basement refinish.  It went for $17,000!!!

The auction as a whole brought in... are you ready??? 

$40,000!!!!!!

Yes-sir-ee-bob...  40 grand.  Insane.

I came home with two baskets.  One is a candleholder thing that didn't have any bids on it during the silent auction.  Neither my mom nor I wanted it, but I bid $20 to get started, and she went over and outbid me at $25, but then let me have it.  It was Zach's (a good friend of Ciera's), so I wanted it to at least sell.  The other basket I got was a Red, White, & Blue basket. Full of everything like wall hangings and tins and candy and candles and even Mickey Mouse in Uncle Sam garb.  I paid $42 for that one.  Had I actually paid for all of the items in the basket, I probably would have spent $75.  Not that I would have bought it all.  Sometimes it's fun to get baskets like that just for the surprises inside.

There were 10 people at our table, and all of us had bid on desserts.  And NOT ONE of us got a dessert!!!  Well, take that back.  One couple at our table won a large fruit tray.  That tasted great to me.

I didn't make it past the dinner and silent auction.  I think I stayed for about 3 of the live auction things, but those were going for $500+, so I knew I wasn't going to win anything else.  So I just came on home.

The girls' trips are paid for.  Meleia's passport has arrived.  We need to go to Goodwill in order to get grungy clothes for the girls to do house building in, but other than that, we're ready for them to leave on 3/25.

Lemongrass Spa has recently made personal websites available to their consultants.  I got mine set up today!!!  Because I am not able to do Spa Parties right now, all of my business is being done through the web.  These personalized pages also make it easy for folks like me, who know people all over creation, to do "out of town" business.

If you haven't heard of Lemongrass Spa, go to My Site, and check it out.  If you or someone you love likes Bath and Body Works, or The Body Shop, they will LOVE Lemongrass products. 

Lemongrass products are all natural.  There is no alcohol in them, and for the most part, no preservatives.  The products are all homemade in Baily, Colorado. 

Yes, this is a shameless plug.   Please check it out, and if you have any questions, zip me off an email.  You can order directly from the website and the products will be shipped to your home.

Thanks, friends!

Nora,  I don't know if they can ship to Canada, but I'm thinking not.  However, if there's something that you see that you love, let me know.  I'll have it shipped here with another order, and I'll send it to you.  That goes for Deb and Kit, too.