And here we have it - a picture of my soon to be famous lunch bags. Have a happy day!

Living in Peace and Making Progress

Hello faithful readers - and readers who just drop in now and again. Ah - I've posted a few more pictures from last weekend - lovely weekend that it was. The pictures are from Sunday. After church I rushed off to Super Store and got some yummy stuff for lunch including fresh buns that were still warm. Steve, Carolyn, baby Anna and Steve and Courtney (are these Steve's working with the S + C theme?) were all over for lunch and a visit. I hadn't seen Anna for maybe two weeks and she had changed so much - cuter and cuter and always doing new things - rolling from back to tummy, handling toys really well, working on sitting, cutting little teeth, and giving out the greatest smiles. So fun.

In the evening we had a family reunion of LK's relatives - the K side. Dear people and good to be together. In fact there was some discussion if we would like to get together just summers or just Christmas - or what. The vote was for both.

I met a new specialist last week - Dr Lam from St. Paul's hospital. We also saw a picture of my poor pancreas with its strictured duct. It's strictured longer and more narrow than I had imagined. Still - it doesn't look like cancer but the duct needs to work. I had a pile of blood work done - looking for markers of chronic pancreatitis and ???

Tomorrow, early afternoon, I have an endoscopic ultrasound and biopsy of the pancreas. It's a day patient thing - less risk involved in this test - but the same risks - particularly pancreatitis. I feel more calm about this one and more resigned to having it as well.

My big goal this week was to get the house ready for the Odegards and the Abrahams when they come home for Christmas. Odegards come first on FRIDAY. So the house is vacuumed, all the rugs washed, fresh bedding on the guest beds, gifts mostly purchased and wrapped except for a few more coming from Amazon and such. Had fun with internet shopping this Christmas - it was perfect for me this year.

Favorite treats of the week - soft black eating licorice, and lipt0n chicken noodle soup (box kind) with egg beaters put in at the end. Christmas oranges are going well and pears are great.Went to a Youth For Christ party yesterday for a big. To these things I bring my own snack - crackers, cream cheese, an orange, Cobbs' apricot delight log (just a slice). I bring it in my special lunch bag that I got from Aimee and Lance one year. I think they say - It’s a happy day for Kathleen" on them. What a hoot. So at the party our friends were sort of sorry for the limited food I could eat. I zoomed - yes zoomed - around the corner hollering don't feel bad for me and here's why --- holding the happy Kathleen bag out front for their delight - I told them I was having a happy day and was fine!! Laughter.

Meredith - you must have been reading back a ways. Quilts for each one - yes - so far I'm keeping up. Maybe books in January. Any time is book time! (Edit - Quilts for the women!! Yes - one for each - Amazing. Looking at your comment on email - I thought first of the baby quilts I'd made :) - It's all about me - Ha. What a small project compared to Tina's 20 some.)

Melanie - I miss you.

I appreaciate your thoughts and prayers - tomorrow early afternoon - test.

Peace.

Anna playing at our house last Sunday lunch. She was rolling but a big ol' coffee table leg got in the way.

Anna is sitting! She's really getting the hang of balancing herself.

Enjoying Anna at the party.

Clockwise - Erin and Maddox with his sweet round eyes, Carolyn and Anna with Erin and Maddox, Courtney and Steve had problems coordinating moods and wakeful periods :) "The Steves" and Courtney conspire about an after party movie.

Very Fun and Successful Single Mom's Christmas Banquet

Monday night we had our Single Mom's Christmas dinner and I think it was the best yet. 21 moms came - not just from my current group, but from the past and some new women too. We had punch first, then turkey dinner. After dinner I expalined our craft and did a little (hopefully) inspirational talk. We made Christmas candles - decorating short candles with wire and beads, putting them on a plate surrounded by bits of cedar. I gave each woman an advent book that I'd printed from the internet (legally). Oh yes, so I did the talk - we had dessert and then we did the craft. Just as the evening was winding up each mom was given a ticket. Then Rushia, one of the women's "pastors" reached under the tree and began calling out numbers that were tied to home made quilts - one for each woman -each lady receiving the quilt with the corresponding number. This was a real highlight - some tears - some hugging of the quilts.

More crafters. People are liking this - it was a hit. (Thanks Genny for the idea!)

Crafting. Look at the red candle - this lady is making tiny wreaths that circle her candle. And then she gave it away to the woman who made the quilts.

The quilts piled under the tree.

The dear lady on the left, Tina, heads up the quilting program at my church. Her husband cuts all her fabric and sews too. She had a dream to make a quilt for each single mom (she ended up with 21). She had a stroke though in August and this set her back some. She continued to work on the quilts as she could and her daughter joined in the project. It gave Tina such JOY to come to the banquet and watch her gifts be given out. She told the moms that they were love that would last forever. Quilts are like a hug you can snuggle under. God bless Tina and may God restore her health so she can continue her labors of love. Each year there are more than 125 quilts sent out from our church - it could be way more than that - to people who need them all over the world. And get this, there is a standard size quilt that the relief agency MCC requires and it is the perfect size to wrap around you and still walk without dragging it. This is important because many who recieve quilts have no home so there quilt goes with them wherever they go. I found this interesting and touching.

And Jars of Clay is the Right Answer!

Congratulations Aimee. And here are the lyrics -

Faith Enough
Jars of Clay

The ice is thin enough for walkin'
The rope is worn enough to climb
My throat is dry enough for talkin'
The world is crumblin' but I know why
The world is crumblin' but I know why

The storm is wild enough for sailing
The bridge is weak enough to cross
This body frail enough for fighting
I'm home enough to know I'm lost
Home enough to know I'm lost

It's just enough to be strong
In the broken places,
in the broken places
It's just enough to be strong
Should the world rely on faith tonight

The land unfit enough for planting
Barren enough to conceive
Poor enough to gain the treasure
Enough a cynic to believe
Enough a cynic to believe

It's just enough to be strong
In the broken places,
in the broken places
It's just enough to be strong
Should the world rely on faith tonight

Confused enough to know direction
The sun eclipsed enough to shine
Be still enough to finally tremble
And see enough to know I'm blind
And see enough to know I'm blind

It's just enough to be strong
In the broken places,
in the broken places
It's just enough to be strong
Should the world rely on faith tonight
Should the world rely on faith tonight

News on a Clear - Cold - and Starry Night

Well, guess what - it was not Advent last Sunday!! This surprised me, Aimee, and Cara too. I know for me it was thinking Advent is the 4 WEEKS before Christmas - but no it's the four SUNDAYS before Christmas. Advent means coming. So this is a special time of being able to meditate on Jesus' first coming while also looking forward to the amazing thought that he IS going to come again.

I don't know what the readings will be like but especially for those who enjoy art, I'm posting this link for Advent readings from the Online Advent Calendar from the Episcopal Diocese of Washington . And I quote "Enjoy colorful glimpses of the exhibit through the windows of the online advent calendar from the Episcopal Diocese of Washington! Each day in December, one more window on the diocese’s third annual online Advent calendar will be released. This year’s calendar features a Peruvian tapestry of unspun wool. Clicking on one of the calendar’s numbered windows produces a web page featuring a daily meditation and one of the distinctive figures from the Cathedral’s “Come and Behold Him” exhibit. The calendar is created each year by the diocese’s webmaster Amy Elliot. "

I wish I understood how to do links on my side bar. Anyway - I read a couple and saw a shepherd and sheep, also a nativity scene built from a gourd. This is the addy for the online advent calendar - http://www.edow.org/spirituality/advent/index.html .

My brain is back from sedation city. It took about a week - I kid you not. First I was super relaxed, then I realized I was stupid, then I got very nervous - VERY NERVOUS - and now I am me - Hurray. I hope to not need to do that again. I see another doctor Wednesday for a consultation. I feel pretty good.

Tonight LK and I went to hear Carolyn Arends and Greg Sczebel in concert. It was great. It was a date we had planned and looked forward to for a while - which I really like - the anticipation. The music really touched my spirit and refreshed me. Two other fun things happened - I WON a draw for a CD - Greg's. I hardly ever win anything! Then, after the concert Andrea Ediger introduced herself to me. I realized that I knew her from her blog and also read the blogs of some of her relatives. Andrea recently commented on Aimee's blog to say the she is the mother of new twins too - just a bit younger. Small world.

Our snow is slowly melting. We didn't get the freezing rain that was predicted, but tonight is pretty icy from thaw and refreeze. It was a little tense driving to the concert.Tomorrow morning Brian Doerksen is singing in the store for a little bit to promote his new CD Holy God. We really like Brian and I am looking forward to bringing his new CD into our home.

Can anyone solve this music mystery- I have one phrase from a song going through my head "strong in the broken places" and I wonder who sings it and what CD it's from. Da da DA da DA da DA.....Anyone? Anyone?

Wishing you peace in the deep places.

Things I've Been Enjoying

Well, of course the snow. But too bad it brings so many hardships with it out here. We're so underprepared snow removal equipment wise. Then the snow is pretty heavy so it knocks out trees and power. We were partially out at the store the other day - did you know you could be partially out? One phase. Very cold. Tonight freezing rain and icy roads are predicted - not good - not good at all.

Boots. I like my winter boots - even though I think they're out of style already. I fondly remember Lando drove me to Coquitlam to get them the day before I had an Alberta winter visit with my brother.

New treats. No fat turkey, thick cranberry sauce and no fat cream cheese on fresh white bakery bread. Yummm. Sweet berry ryecrisp. Pumpkin spice non-fat steamed milk. Warm milk with protein powder.

Warm things. My happy slippers dug out from last winter, wild green with fluffy trim. My new fleece hoody - dark blue gray with really long sleeves. My toasty teddy from Melanie - hand knit by a lady in her church - he has a removable grain filled tummy that I warm in the microwave 1 min. 10 secs.

Phone calls with families.

All for now.

The Klassen Christmas Angel - "Hey, don't be freaked out - I'm bringing good news - and it's not about the dinosaur - although they are cool - it's about a baby - good stuff - very cool - the best present ever." Posted for Melanie because, of everyone, she probably got the biggest chuckle out of the get up.

The deck in winter.

Snowy Morning With Sunshine - Praise God!

 

 

Wearing winter white.

Snowy Driveway and morning light.

Grand Slam :)

Happy First Sunday in Advent! And we have snow too - nearly a foot and it's still snowing. I think it will even stay a little while. Snow makes me very happy - the soft white, the almost holy hush, so clean - and fun too.

Snowy deck and neighboring trees. I love the trees in my neighborhood. There is a part at the end of my street that is a wonderland on a day like this.

Snowy clothesline.

Passed the Test

Phewww...that one's over. Just a quick entry to say the test was not so difficult to go through. I was well drugged, and in a well drugged (conscious sedation), state swallowing a tube the size of your finger is no big deal. The gastroenterologist did not see anything resembling cancer - yea! Also, I don't seem to have any side effects.

We stayed overnight in a hotel near the hospital for added peace of mind in case anything should come up. Tonight I can still feel the remnants of the anesthesia - slowed mind - trouble typing properly - weird.

He would like to order two more tests - as early as a week from now - another in which I swallow a tube and this time sending a small ultrasound wand down (I believe this is to look at the stricture in the duct better) and he wants to repeat the CAT scan done locally here as the radiologist doesn't feel it is a very good one. Hmmm... He wants to redo it at his hospital, which is a pancreatic center. I can't believe all these tests. I don't want to have any more invasive ones unless I have to - but one doesn't really know that till after. I"m not entirely sure what they're looking for - but they're cautious and concerned enough to keep looking.

We're so thankful for every bit of good news. I thank God that the test went well and that He carried me through.

Prayers Welcome

Hi - I have my ERCP test in the morning. The procedure is slated to begin at 10:00. I am praying that the test will be successful - that they are able to do/see what they need to and that I have no adverse reactions - that all goes well. Of course, we are still praying that my health will be restored.

I am mostly feeling more brave. I have quite a bit of confidence in the doctor. I have more confidence in God. A bit of fight is rising up in me. Sometimes I still feel uneasy - of course.

Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers.

Kathy

The football bunch.

The Last Week - or so

Lots of action around here lately. Tuesday and Wednesday LK and I got away to Harrison for some swimming, dancing, dining and sewing. Sewing - yes I said sewing. Aimee called me on Monday and asked me if I would like to sew the gowns for Eva and Elijah's baptism. Ummm...Yes - what an honor to sew a hug, prayer, blessing they could wear. So I got the fabric on Monday, cut it out and brought it along. Never had a sewing machine at Harrison before. The gowns are linen and have rows of embroidery around the sleeves and hem. Eva's has ribbon trim and Elijah's has tucks. The words "Let the little children come to me...and he took them in his arms and blessed them" run around the hem. Very satisfying project.

Got home Wednesday afternoon, FedExed (sp?) the gowns, and worked on preparing for Single Mom's that night, and my finishing up my talk for Open Door Fellowship (the older ladies at church) for Thursday morning. My topic was "Jesus Renovator of Relationships". It went very well (thank God - I know he inspired me).

Thursday night Cara, Andy and Sarah arrived and stayed over as the beginning of their anniversary get away. We had time for a tea before bed and then pancakes in the morning. Sarah, then, stayed two more days and one night. She was so at ease and happy to be here. I'm not used to a child waking me up in the night though and was quite startled by her crying out. She was easily settled though.

Sunday LK and I went to a BC Lions football game with lots of LK's family. It was great fun.Monday night we had a birthday party for Cara at our house. Pictures later. Andy's parents and brother came too. Steve and Courtney, Steve, Carolyn and Anna too. It was great.

Full week eh? This does not seem the life of a sick girl.

Tomorrow I see a gastroenterologist. I tentatively have a time slot for Friday to have the ERCP test. Swallow the camera, shoot the dye into the pancreas, take x-rays. Rare but sometimes serious side effects. SO, I said I didn't want to have the procedure before having an appointment. It has worked out to have a consultation very quickly. We are praying, please join me, that God will give wisdom and clarity if I should have this test and peace about it if it needs to be. I have questions I want to ask about the procedure and other options. Both my doctors here think I am OK but there is a "stricture" in the common bile duct that they feel needs to be checked out. Rats. I think it's just swelling (a suggested option) from the pancreatitis which is healing. Anyway - please join us in prayer that God will show us the next step. I feel pretty good. Still eating no fat although my diet has broadened.

Thanks for stopping by Lovella. Thanks for all the support everyone. I do not feel alone.

Quotes of the week.

Cara to me just as she was leaving for the weekend. (Sarah had a poopy diaper) "Let the games begin!" (big grin and she was off)

Kathy to LK - Why did you come to bed so late? (knowing he was really tired)
LK - It was just so much fun playing guitar with Bob Dylan.

I got new glasses and here they are. Can you tell they are sort of red? The best part is that I can see clearly now and no more headaches. For the first time I have some distance correction which I am really enjoying.

Steve and Sarah compare noses ;) It was great to have Sarah with us for two days while Andy and Cara had an anniversary get away. It was the first time she had stayed at our place on her own and it was really fun and went very well.

Someone is out of practice - ME. I loaded Sarah into the car for a trip to the library and visiting. She put her hands on her head and said - "No Hat!". Hmmm....yes hats. So I let her wear my new scarf which I think she looks quite beautiful in - Christmas Bible play maybe??

Sarah and I had fun going to the library to collect some great books and after that we went to visit Auntie Carolyn and Cousin Anna. Anna had some fun toys, like linking plactic shapes, finger puppets and good stories too. Anna also got to demo her jumping skills. My that little girl loves to jump. Thanks for the relaxing and very warm visit Carolyn and Anna.

Lunch at the House of James with Grandpa LK - and no it's not a liscensed coffee shop - and you should have seen the other shot of LK - even more so :)

Music time with Grandpa at night shortly before bathtime and snacks. LK made up a song about Sarah.

This is Sarah helping sing along in the song. "This is a song about _________. She's my __________. And Sarah would fill in the words. Sarah (Sada) and Friend. She loved this and we were still singing it the next day.

Morning at Grandma Kathy's. First thing after apricot oatmeal is doing puzzles still in her jammies. Hey, Grandma Kathy was still in hers too.

Morning art time. The tedding in the chair has been invited to watch. Sarah likes to have toys watch her.

Posing with some of her favorite creations - the artist, Sarah.

This is the playground close to our house. Hmmm....How could we get that baby swing down? I tried - even used a stick - but I just couldn't get the momentum going. so we buckled Jelly Bean, my bunny, and Sarah into the double stroller and walked on to the next playground.

Sarah at the blue playground. She was the only child who could go down the slide because Sarah had RAIN PANTS on. Hurray.,

Visiting the Great Grandparents.

Great Grandpa is reading Sarah a library book that we picked out at the library that morning. It's about a family of cats and Stanley, the youngest cat loves his grandpa very much. Beautiful art.

This is our picture wall of our kids. And what I want you to notice is that every picture is up to date - an accomplishment that makes me happier than you would think. For years Steven's high school picture has been up there - and I'm not talking grade 12. These pictures hang on the wall I pass every time I walk down my hallway on the way to kitchen or living room - so I'v been enjoying them very much.

We had a spectacular fall with many sunny crisp days and I was fully grateful for each one. Here is a picture of our lawn after LK had already raked it once - so this is the second dump. We'd had a freeze in the night and in a matter of minutes, as the sun hit the tree, all the leaves fell off. It was spectacular and my heart was filled with child like excitement watching it 'snow' golden leaves. I also took the opportunity to run circles around the tree enjoying the crunchy (though not as crunchy as Alberta) leaves.

Here is a picture from my mom's birthday supper. I made a great shrimp casssarole that she likes - with Chinese noodles, creamed soups, cellery, almonds and lots of shrimp. After we had birthday cake while we watched Mr. Holland's Opus. The ladies especially enoyed the movie. The men - OK not so much. But hey - birthday girl's choice!

Here is Mom with her cake. It looks crazy in the picture - I made it so we could all eat it. It is angle food cake with pie cherries, skim lmild chocolate pudding and, for thos who could indulge - oreo icecream. Honestly it tasted better than it looks - especially to me ;0

What made me laugh out loud today. We live in a city. Dogs do not run free in the city. I glanced out my living room window today to see FIVE huge dogs just hanging out together. They were such friends, doggie friends on an outing. They were playing and having fun. I ran for my camera - but alas this man showed up in his brown van and tricked all the dogs but the smartest to get in the van. Perhaps they thought it was delux accomodations since an airconditioner was visible in the back window? The smartest, or most stubborn dog required more chasing and I don't know if he is still out or not. Maybe you had to be there. Sorry I missed the five together. I wonder if these dogs all belong to this fellow or if he works for the dog pound - wouldn't the truck have a name on it?

Fall Posting

Pretty eh? Ah, fall is here. I'm noticing that sweaters that feel cozy in the house are holy and let the wind blow through outside - not so cozy. Got to have a wind break layer. There are so many leaves down in my front yard that it's hard to tell where the driveway and sidewalk are. I love it. the rain is here again also tweaking memories of the very dark winter we had last year. Steven is already using his light book and I will be too. No more SAD.

Thanks for the continued prayers. I had an MRI last ay in Bellingham at a private clinic on Monday. http://www.mtbakerimaging.com/patients/mri_info.html My dad bought it for me - probably the most unusual present he's ever given me. It had love written all over it. Two reasons for going private - timing and the fact that Bellingham has a very new large "open bore" machine. It's still a tube - but it's bigger and open at both ends. Being clostrophobic, this was really important to me. We have high hopes that the MRI will confirm good news. My GP has indicated it did show a need for more tests though - something about a duct being blocked possibly - and the need for me to swallow a camera. Back to the surgeon on Monday. I don't like the sounds of this test - but I will have to learn more next week. Perhaps there is an alternative.
I'm working hard at healing. By this I mean I drink lots of fluids, lots of antioxidents, vitamins, protien powder, NO FAT, some veggies, veggie juices, and a little chicken and fish - but I have to be careful there. Gourmet oatmeal is my friend. Oatmeal with fruit toppings, yogourt, maple syrup, skim milk. Yumm. I made some chunky applesauce the other day that is really, really good. Andy picked the apples for us. Thanks Andy. Andy also brought us plumbs that made a tasty sauce for pancakes, yogourt and, of course, gourmet oatmeal.

I am so greatful for the direction my health seems to be taking. Yesterday I felt just kind of under the weather (ha - ya - literally). I made sure not to eat any meat yesterday and to drink extra protien, gave myself a haircut and painted my tonails pearly pink. By evening I was feeling better. Yet, I do admit the ups and downs, along with limited nutrition I think, are taking their toll physically, emotionally. Spiritually, I would say I am doing better - as one might expect - trusting God's character.

Correction on photo credits. Lots were taken by Aimee and Steve. I don't really know for sure who took what - but I do remember I only took the Schulz family photo vicariously as I stood next to Aimee while she took it. :D Funny mom.

In Bellingham I always see this fellow sitting on the bench at the Village Green. LK took our photo on the way to the bookstore.

After the MRI we went for lunch at Applebees. They have a Weight Watchers section to their menu including nutritional informantion, so it was easy to order and skip the fat. Then we went to Village books and read out in the sunshine by the green. I wondered up to the pottery shop that Cara, Aimee and I had painted pottery at. I discovered that you can do glass designs now so I celebrated - not sure what I was celebrating - the MIR being out of the way - that it would confirm good news hopefully. Anyway, I made a coaster. It may be too busy - but it is my first and I had fun. This is the before picture. After it goes in the kiln the colored glass will melt, spread a little and faltten out. So that was fun - no matter how it turns out.

More Thanksgiving Photos

It's a terrific fall day here. Windy, dry, and fresh. I wanted to say that most of the photos I posted today are taken by Aimee. Steve took the great grandchildren in a row shot. I took the family pictures of Odegards and Schulz's and Elijah on the teeter-totter. Enjoy - it's almost like a visit.

How about these hoodlyms? Took family shots of these guys too - with and without hoods.

I took some family pictures at the park. I like this action one of the Odgards.

Lance played in 5 concerts while he was out. This shot is taken at our bookstore. I carried Eva for the show and Aimee carried Elijah. My niece Erin was there with Maddox in a carrier and Carolyn had Anna. Carolyn got a picture of all of us. I chose to carry Eva over Elijah because she is the lightest. Lightest yes, but she never wanted to sit down the entire night. Walk, dance, bounce, anything but sit. I've noticed how alert she is to her dad's voice. Hmmm...could be a sermon illustration there.

Lance's concert at the bookstore. Here you see Lance, Jonathan, Kenton, and Steve. Steve is funnin' with Lance. The music was great and the reunion with friends was fantastic.

Showing off his cute little build.