January is Almost Over

Wow...it's only been two weeks, but it seems like a lot longer.  I'll catch you up before February arrives.

If you would like to see or play in the snow.  Greenville has plenty.  We  had  7 inches at the end of last week and at least another inch or two this weekend.  There has been so many closures (since before Christmas) and the temperatures are rarely over freezing. many closings are due to the bitterly cold temps rather than snow.  It was 1 degree this evening according to my car's thermometer at 6:30 pm.

Jeff has been sick for the last week or so.  He is taking antibiotics for sinusitis. I followed suit and began antibiotic for chronic sinusitis, only to have them fail and now am on several new medicines.  You can read all about it on my caringbridge.  

Church work has been busy.  There was a vision planning workshop last weekend with 30 in attendance.  I have suspended regular Sunday School for elementary aged kids and beefed up our Children's Church.  It begins on Sunday.   I still have fun bible games and activities for kids during bible hour.  Jeff has been preaching some really good sermons lately.   My memory isn't always too good, so I have been taking notes for the last few months, it sure helps.  I am still on orientation at the hospital.  Slowly I am getting better, but keeping up with the pace is a challenge in my new department.

Sarah loves being at her high school and caring for the athletes.  She has been missing the kids due to all snow days.  Lots of time has been spent working on her thesis as she looks toward graduation. There have been some frustrations especially since there have been changes at the University of Toledo.

Mary has been student teaching since the beginning of the semester.  I guess all is going well.  She has a nice little website for her classes.  Mary's Class.  She is going to be a great teacher!  Her "new" car is working well.  Since it is making it through the snow, I think it should be fine in the LA warmth!

Haven't heard too much from Matthew, but that is usually good news.  Judging from his class schedule, he will be very busy throughout each week. Tonight we watched the Sooners beat the OSU Cowboys at basketball.  Jeff did get a response when he texted boomer and got a sooner right back!  Matthew is ok!  :)

With February fast approaching we look forward to:

1. Matthew's 20th birthday
2. Janelle's birthday and Dan and Janelle's Anniversary
3. Check up with my oncologist.
4. Follow-Up Vision Planning at our church.
5. A Pastor's Conference early in the month along with a CPR class for me!
6. My Stem Cell Transplant Birthday.  My bone marrow turns '1'! Some call it a re-bday. I am having a celebration!  Come and join us in person (preferrred) or by skyping (gracie.wilhelm)

A Celebration!

~Grace is One Year Post Stem Cell Transplant~

(Her One Year re-Birthday J)

When?  Saturday, February 22, 2014

Where? 319 W. Cass Street, Greenville MI

(at the corner of Cass St and Irving, one block north of M-57)

Time?  Open House from 2 pm to 5 pm.

No Gifts!  Just your presence and smiles!

Call Grace at 616-894-0139 with questions or for easy directions.

Skyping during the party is welcomed!

Silver Lining

Guess What? I am looking at the silver lining of some of our cloudy skies.

After his flights were cancelled twice, Matthew finally made it back to Oklahoma Sunday evening.  He started classes and so far I haven't heard any complaints.  I miss my kids.  Mary is enjoying student teaching so far and Sarah is glad to be back caring for her high school basketball athletes.

My last few days of work have been going better and I will fly solo on Friday!  Say a prayer, I will need it.   I also finally received my Revlimid from the new specialty pharmacy. Now I can get back on schedule. I made the red dots to put on the lid so people think stop!

Cloudy skies do continue here in Michigan with another inch of snow and lots of wind last night.  I even missed my exit home while driving home from work.  It was crazy.  Still I like seeing the snow covered ground.  It's is pretty most of the time.

Well, look for some new pictures that I will post soon.   Have a great day!

A New Year ~ 2014

Christmas Day concluded with a call telling us that Dad W. went to heaven.  We packed up and were on the road heading for Florida by lunch the next day.  Mary and Matthew rode with us, and we bought Sarah a ticket to fly down Sunday afternoon.  It was so nice to spend time with our extended family over the weekend.  Although it is sad to not have dad here with us anymore, we know that he is in heaven with his Savior.  We celebrated that at his funeral early on New Years Eve.  New Year's Day we got back in the car and drove another two long days, with bad weather back to Michigan. Luckily, we were able to stop for dinner and watch part of the Sugar Bowl where Oklahoma was victorious over Alabama! Boomer Sooner!  Check out our Family Photo Album to see pictures.

I made a new motto for 2014:  Trust More ~ Worry Less.  I am trying my best to stick with it. My new position at the hospital has me busy and tired at the end of a day.  I often wonder if I will ever be able to keep up with this fast paced job.  I have decided that I need to let Dr. B worry about my myeloma and keep trusting the doctor that facilitated my remission! I know that God has a plan for me here on earth for now and I need to work on living day to day as "normal" as possible.

Mary is back at U of M, and will start her student teaching as soon as school resumes. Michigan students have had snow days all week!  I told her she has an extra day to plan, but knowing Mary she is ready to go and chomping at the bit to get in the classroom.  Of course we all look forward to Mary's Graduation Friday, May 2, 2014.  She will then move out to LA to begin her new job with Teach for America, at a high school, teaching English.

Sarah just returned to Toledo after getting an extra few days off thanks to the snow days. She worked diligently on her thesis over the break with Matthew's help.  He would read the statistics and she would type them in (even in the car during the ride home from Florida).  She is anxious to get back to her high school and take care of all the basketball players.  Sarah will receive her Mater's Degree on Saturday, May 3, 2014.  We all look forward to seeing her hooded at graduation and find out where her next job will be.

Matthew has only another day here at home with us before returning to the Unversity of Oklahoma.  It has been so wonderful having him home. He has worked hard helping us keep the house clean and clearing lots of snow that fell. We have had a lot of fun and did some of the goofy things that we used to do when he still lived here full time.  His sisters had fun with him too.   Tonight we are going to try and see the northern lights  after midnight.  They are supposed to be visible in west Michigan if the clouds clear. Matt flies back to OK on Friday morning.  That will make me sad...but I am so proud of him and his success at OU!  I want to try and fly to Norman this spring to see a show, afterall,  I am still a theatre mom!

Jeff has been super busy.  He was strong for all of us and his family throughout the week of the funeral. He gave a very nice message before the service. Back home, he is back to getting ready for church, keeping up with the bills and did snow blowing for us and the neighbors.  He continues to be my caregiver as needed, especially yesterday after I had 4 shots and an infusion they left me pretty sore last night and today.

We learned last week, that Sammy, our dog of 10 years, died at his new home of one year after being adopted just before my transplant.. I couldn't be around dogs and their dandur among other things.  We are glad that our friends that adopted him gave him a wonderful last year!  Sammy was 14.

So in keeping with my new motto~ I am back to work orienting to recovery and I am looking forward to continue learning more and more and increasing my stamina.  Going in with a good attitude.

Here's to a great new day, week, months and year!