So my last post, in JANUARY I talked about it being a good year. Now that the year is winding down and nearly over, I can return and report that it has, indeed, been a good year.
First, we finally made it out of the Hobbit Hole. We're so happy. What was supposed to be six months turned into six months plus a year. :) I feel like we are living and breathing again and connected to the sunshine, weepy branches filled with leaves, warm October breezes, and growing things. It has truly been a blessed relief. We have a pretty little yard with happy little gardens.
Second, I cut my hair off for my 33rd birthday! Scary and super fun. I love it, and I miss it (when I look at pictures of it long), and I love it. Everyone should have boy-hair at least once in their life. It's awesome.
Third, the girls are back in school. Another blessed relief. I loved our year of homeschooling. It was absolutely one of the best decisions I've ever made. It reconnected me to my children and taught me so many things about them and myself. We were able to travel and immerse ourselves in the world around us. When we went on trips, we didn't have to be back in three days and we spent days at the lake, the river, the dam, the park, the ghost town, the beach, the woods, the mountains. I LOVED IT. But as the school year wound down and I started to look forward, I just didn't feel the same as I had twelve months before. Where I'd felt invited to take the road less traveled the year before, I just didn't feel it anymore. I felt like it was time for new adventures - so we headed over to the District Offices and signed them back up for public school.
Lastly, I no longer have cancer! So now all is right in the world. The end.
...
Joking, not joking. Jokes: not going to leave it at that. Not joking: was diagnosed with rectal cancer this summer.
After months of gastrointestinal issues that I thought were screwy gut flora + possible hemorrhoids, I finally went to the doctor in May and got scheduled for a colonoscopy on July 1st. What we thought would be a quick procedure followed by some temporary meds turned into "you have a large tumor" and "it's cancer" followed by appointments with the oncologist and surgeon and colorectal resection surgery all within a week and a half. The tumor was biopsied and classified as Stage I / early Stage II rectal cancer - with everything contained to that one area = lucky me = no chemo or radiation, just a lifetime of regular colonoscopies (lucky me).
I'll probably write more about it another time, but I am doing well and my family is doing well.
It was a hard summer and a scary summer, but at this point, I feel nothing but overwhelming gratitude. I feel so thankful that it was manageable. I feel so thankful for the experiences that the Lord has given me over the past few years that have helped me to know that even if the tumor had been worse, even if it had spread, it would still be okay. I feel so grateful for the gift of trials and a loving Father who knows how to give his children good gifts.
As this year is winding down and turning cool once again, I feel overwhelmed with joy for the life that I live. It's been another year filled with lots of growth.
Life is hard and life is so, so good.
