ALMOST A ’10′, THANK YOUR SOUND GUY/GIRL, DEBRIEF-DEBRIEFS-DEBRIEFS! 7/20/09

RADIATION SCHMADIATION
One week of radiation down!
So far I am doing very well with it, and it has been easy.
I know it could get harder as the tiredness may build up, but I am thankful for how well I am feeling.
I will have 3 more weeks of morning radiation, and then I will start back to work and have afternoon radiation (after work) for 2 weeks.
Fortunately the first week back at work is very low key — meetings and work days until Wednesday, and then 2 days of teaching before the weekend. Also, students are usually very well behaved in the first two weeks of school, so I am praying all of these things will factor into a transition that is not too hard.

I have been more tired in the morning and have been sleeping later, perhaps effects of the radiation or perhaps Eric and I have been staying up later? But I still feel I’m a 9.9/10.

INCREASED ACTIVITY LEVELS
Lately I have enjoyed ramping up my activity level.
My mom is in town again and I have been trying to help her with doing projects around the house — for me that is mostly painting and light helping in the yard.
This past week I enjoyed many activities with my church body — I helped Eric with sound and PowerPoint for our church’s VBS, I went on a movie outing with the worship team (saw Food, Inc.), I volunteered with the worship team ladies at the Women Discipling Women conference, and I went to Adam and Megan P’s shared birthday party with the worship team.
Looking back on it, it seems like I’ve been busy, but I haven’t felt too tired or anything.
I’m hoping that these activities will prepare me for the daily demands of teaching. So far I am encouraged with my stamina.
Thank you all for your prayers for my continued health!

SOME COOL HIGHLIGHTS FROM SAID ACTIVITIES:
* I learned a lot about RUNNING SOUND and even did a little on my own — I have a new understanding and respect for the guys who minister in the soundbooth.
There are times when it looks easy, but they have to do many things at once that we barely notice, unless, of course, they make a make a mistake or have technical difficulties!
It is one of those “thankless” ministries, so if you have a sound crew at church that you haven’t thanked recently, let me encourage you to do so.

* FOOD, INC. was a fun night.
I enjoyed especially the concept of the debrief after the film.
It is, naturally, a controversial documentary that led to interesting discussion and different points of view that were fun to share and hear. It was good to be around the worship team also because it’s been a while since I have spent time with all of them. I am looking forward to eventually rehearsing and singing again with them. I’m thankful for how God has shown me how much I often have taken it for granted — it’s been good to “take a break” from it so that I can appreciate being a part of it so much more.

* WOMEN DISCIPLING WOMEN
I met several neat ladies and also got to know a little better some of the ladies from church, like Lynn Greenfield and Kyndra McCrary. Kyndra and I volunteered together in one of the breakout seminars on imitating Christ in our emotions, which led to a great debrief with she and I afterwards. It was cool to hear some of the things going on in her life and hear her talk about the Biblical truths from the seminar that applied to her situation. I loved the fellowship and mutual encouragement of that debrief time!
I was also struck overall by how the gospel is truly a lifelong part of our lives — that we are always to come to the Lord totally dependent on His grace to live our lives. I always appreciate the Biblical counseling angle of seeing the gospel and the Word of God as totally sufficient for our lives! It was a great day of reminders.

* I got another opportunity to spend time with CHURCH FRIENDS at the Powell’s birthday — it was a nice night of sitting outside, eating yummy food and sitting around talking and laughing. I was surrounded by fun, funny people that I am thankful for. I hope I can continue to feel the gratitude even when I am back in the regular day to day schedule of things.

PICS

Eric did sound AND sound effects for VBS last week — here he is banging the gong that tells the kids to go to their next craft. I was so impressed with how our church almost totally immerses the kids in the time of Rome and the persecution of the underground church — I got to watch a group go in and meet “Paul” under house arrest, chained to a Roman soldier. I also went in with them to the “cave” where the Christians were meeting. It actually touched me as I considered the difficulty and persecution the Christians faced in the first century. They so loved Christ and lived for the glorious truth of the gospel that they were willing to risk and often give their lives to follow Christ. It was cool for our kids to experience that time period “first hand.”

Here’s another picture of Eric in the waiting room where we wait every weekday for my name to be called over the PA to come in for radiation treatment.

Here’s a picture of me in the waiting room also. E and I usually read a little bit. I usually only get through half a page because they call me pretty quickly. Today I was in and out in about 7 minutes. Quick!

On Friday Eric and I went over to my brother’s house after radiation and hung out with his family. My nephew J was excited to see that my hair is growing back, and he was very sweet and happy to see me. Here we are snuggling on the couch watching Aladdin. J does a really good dance imitation of Aladdin, by the way.

Here’s Eric with our Nephews C and J — here they are tackling him and C is hitting him with padded bowling pins. Boys sure like to be violent! Eric is a good sport to play with them. :)

This is a letter from my sister-in-law Susan Margrave — she sent this sweet letter and pink breast cancer awareness bracelet to me the other day. The bracelet is actually quite pretty and says on the heart, “Together we can make a difference.” Her letter was very kind and encouraging — some of her words: “Jennene, I just want to say that I am so happy that you are on your last leg on this cancer journey. After eight long months you can finally see the finish line. When I heard that you were diagnosed with breast cancer I was a little scared, but after the way I saw you handle it I eased up….I am comforted to know that I have someone like you in my life that will always be there for me and that you are someone that I can always go to if I ever need advice or just a hug. I am so blessed to have you as a friend and a sister. I am enclosing in this letter a breast cancer bracelet that I bought you when I was at the farmers market. I had gotten the chance to talk to the woman that sold me the bracelet and I told her about your battle with the disease….she didn’t know anyone that had the disease and now she knows plenty of people that have the disease and she walks for them (in the walk for breast cancer) and now she walks for you. I am always thinking of you sis, so enjoy this bracelet because my thoughts went to you the second I saw it. I love you and God Bless you.” Incredible, no? Such a kind and sweet letter, and that is just part of it. I am blessed to have her and Kara as sisters also and I’m so thankful for how they have been caring and involved in my life during this time! They were quick to comment on a blog post or send me a note over Facebook or a present to let me know they care. It’s very cool to have these girls in my life!! :)

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