General Update

 

From Paul:

Cycle 9 week 2

 

This week has been encouraging as Doris has been feeling additional energy on occasion. She feels that additional energy in the mornings typically. One day this week, she said, “I almost feel human.” She also has tried to go without her pain relief medication a couple of times.

 

We are enjoying the visit of her sister Julie, who came from Phoenix on Friday. She will be with us until Tuesday. They have enjoyed sharing time with each other. Julie also has been a blessing in Doris’ life. She has a marvelous whole-wheat flour bread recipe, and she has baked several loaves, which we can now preserve by freezing. Doris has really been enjoying the freshly baked bread, and we will freeze it in slices for use whenever she wants it.

 

We had fewer walks this week with all we had going on. But we enjoyed our time.

 

We find that time with family is a treasure. We were able to gather with our family living in the area for dinner on Saturday. Being with our children and the two grandchildren who live near us is a gift.

 

As I observe Doris’ progress in this treatment, I am grateful that she is motivated and humbled by the pain that she is going through. Sometimes it is difficult, but she carries on, and sometimes I can help her through it.

 

We enjoy preparing meals together. I am the sous-chef. Doris carries the burden of planning the meals. I typically purchase the groceries or pick up the order at the grocery store. Then with the instructions of the recipe and her verbal assistance I get things put together. Yesterday was a little different because she prepared part of it. It was magically and perfectly timed to finish at the same time. I find satisfaction when everything finishes up at about the same time. That is one of the things I have learned from Doris. You can get things in motion, start on them in the proper sequence, then enjoy the blessing of eating together something that is well thought-out and pleasing to both the eye and the palate. It is not unlike our lives.

 

Ecclesiastes 3:1

 

1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

 

As we go through our lives, we find that the timing of events feels like it is beyond our control at times. Other times we find a way to sequence things according to our best understanding. But in the role that we play we are the sous-chefs of our lives. God is the Master Chef. He chooses the ingredients, the meals and the timing of those meals. These meals are our learning experiences. When we follow His plan, the flow is beneficial, even though sometimes it is not what we would choose. Our lives are blessed by our experiences, and we learn wisdom by following the plan of a loving God, Whose only desire is to bless us with His love, and bring us home to Him.