Day 193 - Cruising Through Summer
(813 Completed Days of Treatment)

I know you will not believe me, however, I typed an update two days ago (Friday) and have been trying to get it downloaded into the journal.  I am now in Georgia and I could not get the document to download on Brenda or Stacey's computer, so, here I go retyping.  Remember, this update was typed two days ago.....

Good morning!  I want to let you know I have decided to post a copy of this update along with pictures on my blog so that I can have more pictures and not remove anything that has been saved on this picture gallery.  Of course that means figuring out how to do this task but I will, what else do I have to do, right?

Today (Friday) began relaxing for me as I sat out in my garden enjoying coffee and lifting up the day.  This very shade garden began to take life more than two and a half years ago.  While Katherine slept and fought through all the side effects of chemo, this garden was my refuge and gave me something to do with my hands and my heart to keep my mind going.  Now it is where I enjoy the calm simple life.  Both Lucy and Kitty Cole are all around my feet and both want to get in my lap.  Life seems to be full and the summer days hold many events.  The past few weeks have included doctor's appointments, tests, lots of sleeping and enjoying times with family and friends.  We have heard that all the testing done at the endocrinologist are back and everything looks good.  We are so thankful to know that her organs are fine just slow because of all the chemo she was on during treatment.  We will have a few more test during the summer to pin point any problems that radiation may have caused but for now, we are all smiling and so thankful.

Father's Day weekend was lots of fun.  We had a total of 16 up here in Franklin and enjoyed spending time together around the grill, throughout the house and doing a few "Nashville" events together.  We had planned for many weeks for every one to come up and enjoy time together to celebrate Father's Day.  The brothers played golf, the girls strolled through downtown Franklin, swam in the hotel pool and enjoyed a lovely evening at Blue Bird On The Mount.  Granny and Papa stayed an extra day so we had some "special" memories and down time with them.  For me, it was great to have "pockets" of time with everyone.  Cooking breakfast for all my kids was a wonderful memory and I am so thankful for all the smiles and laughs.  Many times Shannon and I hung out in the kitchen and we loved preparing all the yummy foods and catching up.  The days were so hot but the cousins did not let that bother them.  While David grilled, they would set up a fan so they could play board games outside around the table on the deck and it was a hoot to see them having so much fun together.  Showing the girls around downtown Franklin welcomed lots of laughs.  We parked and walked up and down the streets until Katherine was too tired to continue.  Dinner was early on Saturday and then we packed up coolers, chairs and blankets and made our way up to the Vanderbilt Observatory to enjoy a concert on the lawn and then looking through the telescope at all the beautiful stars.  Because of the tight parking conditions, you had to just relax and not get in any kind of hurry.  Dr. India Sisler told us about this event as it is one of her favorites.  When her family arrived, they picnicked right beside us and we enjoyed watching her daughter, Audrey, play with Nani Grace and Emmi Kate.  They loved dancing, coloring and eating fruit and crackers.  The weather turned out to be perfect, not too hot and no rain.  We also met India's mom and that was special for David and I.  We told her just how special India was to us and how much we would miss her when she transferred.  Once the last car was on its way back to Georgia, we sat around and talked about all the memories and relaxed.

During the past few weeks both Stephen and Will had some mouth surgeries.  Stephen had his wisdom teeth removed and did just fine.  He was running again in about four days, crazy I know!  Will also had some oral surgery and did great.  Both boys are find and back to normal.  Just their crazy selves.

Thursday of last week was a day that had been marked on the calendar for several weeks.  This would be the last time we would see India before her and Mike left the Nashville area to relocate to Virginia.  Both Katherine and I were not looking forward to saying goodbye and wanted so badly for this to be a very sweet and positive time.  We went to the Green Hills area and picked up a special lunch that included homemade chicken salad sandwiches, Picnic Punch, homemade side salads and red velvet cup cakes.  When we arrived, there were moving trucks and lots of busy men.  Both India and Mike were so happy to see us and right in the middle of all the activity, se had a picnic on their empty family room floor.  We talked, laughed and spoke of fun times.  It was crazy, not one time did we even speak about leukemia or the bad journey Katherine had walked.  The entire conversation was just about her life right now.  What a wonderful memory for both India and Katherine and both Mike and I were blessed to be apart of it.  I pray almost daily that the Lord will bring people into the lives of my children that will help guide them in what ever journey they are in.  God sure out did Himself when he dropped India into Kaye's life.  I truly don't think she even understands the impression she has had on Katherine and that will be apart of Kaye's life forever!  We are planning a very special gift for her and we did not want any tears, so we will send it to her once she is settled and back to work in August.  We hugged goodbye in their yard and plans have been made to visit them in the fall.  Us Arnold girls cannot wait.

The days continue to be hot and Katherine is sleeping and enjoying the summer lazy days and of course time with Stephen.  Stephen has begun all his shadow projects so I am excited to hear about his daily adventures.  Katherine and I will traveled to Georgia this weekend so she can go to Big Stuf with PSFUMC.  She is so excited and looks forward to all the fun and seeing what God has to say to them during this camp on the beach.  David and Stephen will be at home holding down the fort and spending lots of time together.  We have so enjoyed this big ole boy, he makes us smile and I have enjoyed having him home.  He will be with us until the middle of July.

We have been informed that Katherine's Make A Wish trip will be granted in July!  David and I are truly looking forward to watching her enjoy this wonderful gift and relaxing as a family.  As soon as we learn all about the event, I will pass along the info.  Well, I have retyped this update and I am sitting here listening to Russell and Stacey Wood and Grant Rainwater.  Russell is cooking my dinner and I am trying to retype and listen to all the conversation in the kitchen.  My sweet girl has just called to inform me they are safe and sound in Panama City, well, they are at the Walmart!  She is so excited about this week.  I think she is more excited that her mother is not with her!  Along with all my kids that I pray for daily, I will ask that God will give her and all the PSFUMC kids an awesome week.

Thanks for checking on us and I wanted to ask that you lift up the families of Nate Richards - 8 years old and Nathan Ing who was 7 years old.  They both are now cancer free in heaven.  Nate had ALL and was in maintenance.  He died from an infection and sweet Nathan's fought more than two years from a tumor in his brain.  I have  been praying a very long time for so many sweet children.  Their names will not be posted on the news but their story will include being apart of families who love Jesus and are thankful they are no long in pain.  The road must be hard and I continue to pray for love and support for these hard days.  Please continue to pray for Lily Hensiek.  She is in the hard part of her therapy and needs our prayers. 

All of you are such blessings to our family and I appreciate each and everyone of you.  Have a grand week, blessings.

Never Quit!

Sharliss, David, and KJ