General Update

 

From Paul:

Cycle 3 soon?

During my life experiences, I have had some musical training. I studied piano from the age of 9 through junior high and high school. That is about eight years except for approximately one year when I was between piano teachers. Then when I started up again, I studied both piano and organ. When I was a senior in high school I sang with the concert choir, for which I had to audition. In college I studied organ, including five years of private organ lessons and two semesters of organ specific classes – one on organ registration, and the second on hymns.

With that in mind, it is no wonder that I find great comfort, peace, and spiritual strength from good music. Today was no exception. We attended our own church sacrament meeting as long as comfort would allow today. The opening hymn was not one that would normally be indicated by the time of day. Nevertheless, it is one of my favorites – Abide With Me, ‘tis Eventide.

1.

Abide with me; ’tis eventide.

The day is past and gone;

The shadows of the evening fall;

The night is coming on.

Within my heart a welcome guest,

Within my home abide.

O Savior, stay this night with me;

Behold, ’tis eventide.

O Savior, stay this night with me;

Behold, ’tis eventide.

2.

Abide with me; ’tis eventide.

Thy walk today with me

Has made my heart within me burn,

As I communed with thee.

Thy earnest words have filled my soul

And kept me near thy side.

O Savior, stay this night with me;

Behold, ’tis eventide.

O Savior, stay this night with me;

Behold, ’tis eventide.

3.

Abide with me; ’tis eventide,

And lone will be the night

If I cannot commune with thee

Nor find in thee my light.

The darkness of the world, I fear,

Would in my home abide.

O Savior, stay this night with me;

Behold, ’tis eventide.

O Savior, stay this night with me;

Behold, ’tis eventide.

 

In particular I felt resonance with verse 3:

Abide with me; ‘tis eventide, And lone will be the night if I cannot commune with thee nor find in thee my light. The darkness of the world, I fear would in my home abide. O Savior, stay this night with me; behold, ‘tis eventide.

 

In high school, our concert choir sang many songs acapella, meaning with no accompaniment. This arrangement is one that we sang of this hymn. It is of interest to know that this was sung by a Combined choir from Brigham Young University. These youngsters are just a few years older than I was at the time I learned it as a senior in high school.

 

Abide With Me 'tis Eventide

 

There are times in this current journey that are difficult. We have to live in the moment and look forward to something. Most of the time it is something positive that we anticipate. But the difficult times are the unknown: of duration, or of comfort, or of efficacy of the treatment. The indications are good from the regimen of treatment Doris is experiencing, albeit with a pause. We trust that the pause will come to an end this week, but we will know for sure on Wednesday after the follow-up visit at the wound clinic. If everything is in order, treatments will resume on Thursday with Cycle 3.

From Doris:

Peace and Quiet

We are parents of seven children. During the time they were living at home, our house was always noisy.  Now that they are no longer living with us, our house is always quiet unless our children or grandchildren are visiting.

I erroneously thought that once our children left home, our house would not only be quiet but it would be peaceful.  I have learned these last few weeks that feeling peaceful does not necessarily come from being in a quiet place.  For me peace comes when my mind is at rest. 

The best place for quieting my mind is in the holy temple.  The best location outside of the temple is our back patio.  I simply sit with my eyes closed and listen.  I hear the sounds of birds, dogs, neighbors, lawn mowers, squirrels, etc. and I realize I am part of this glorious world. My mind quiets and is no longer focused on my cancer journey.  

Peace comes.