Smilies

Hmm... added some code to put the smilies in, but I'm not liking the little box around the images. That didn't happen when I previewed it. Hmm.... not sure if I'll keep them or not.

Does anyone else think or write (handwrite/print) with smilies and internet lingo? I can't handwrite a note or letter without adding happy faces and LOL's, etc. It's pretty bad.... and I think that way, too. :P

I feel like I should update, but there doesn't seem to be much to say....

Sheldon went snowboarding this past weekend -- school trip to Fernie, B.C. They had a great time, and he came back all in one piece.... lol. Always a good thing. ;-)

Chatted on the phone with my girl last night. Did I mention that she got a part time job? Can't remember. Anyway, she got a part time job... haha. She's working some evenings and weekends at Chapters (large bookstore chain). For someone who loves books, you'd think it would be perfect!!! She's not really one for working in retail -- as she's discovered -- and she was finding it pretty boring at first, but I think it's going okay. She's only been there a couple of weeks, and they had her cashing out four tills on her own yesterday. They seem to like her. She's saving up all the money from this job for her Australia trip.

It finally feels like spring! Let's just hope it lasts. It has been so nice the past few days. Today was just gorgeous, with the sun shining and the snow melting. I went for a walk this afternoon (dodging the puddles), and might go again tonight when I'm done posting this.

Not really anything new on my grandma. A couple of my aunts went with her to the doctor last week, to make sure some things are being taken care of. She got a pain patch to help control the pain she's been having, and other medicine to help with the nausea, so she's been able to eat better. The rest of the family stuff... I'm trying not to let it bother me (at least at the moment!).

If anyone is so inclined, prayers for one of my best friends and her family would be appreciated. She is caring for her elderly dad in her home, and he is dying of lung cancer. It's really, really hard on her and she is pretty overwhelmed, to say the least.

I hate cancer. :-(

Think I'll go for that walk......

Edit: I think I'm going to buy a new bike soon. I've been saying that for the past couple of years... lol. Now I really do need a new one. They should be on sale soon. :-)

Family

A serious illness in the family seems to bring to the forefront all those issues and dysfunction that people have managed to avoid/bury/ignore for years. My family has members who have cut each other off at various times in the past (and in the present), and there are alot of secrets and numerous sides to every story -- to the point where I have no idea what is truth. I sort of feel like I'm expected to take sides, and I can't do that. I listen when people talk, but I try to stay out of it. Not only do I not want to take sides, but I simply can't -- it's all so messed up, I don't know who or what to believe. People may have been able to ignore each other or the issues at one time, but now they are being thrown together whether they want to be or not, and it's rather ugly. Unfortunately, it's bound to get uglier. At a time when we should be drawing closer to each other, they are instead driving one another further apart. It's not what my grandma would want. In fact, no one is telling her of the difficulties, because she would be very upset that they are fighting, and she absolutely does not need that now.

I hope for reconciliation, but I tend to think that it won't happen. I know I should be hopeful instead of negative, but I've seen this go on for so many years that I don't have alot of hope of things changing. I think what will happen is they will get through this time ahead, and then once again go their own ways.

Some of the family are going with my grandma to her next doctor appointment. She won't ask questions to make sure that things are being managed well, so others will have to take charge. She's starting having some pain, and she has lost so much weight. :-(

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Currently playing: Great Are You ~ downhere

Basketball

Sheldon's basketball team played in Regional Playoffs this weekend (out of town). They lost their game last night, but won today. Unfortunately, though, because they lost last night they are now out of the playoffs. Disappointing, but I think they were pretty excited and pleased to have made it to Regionals.

The girls' team hosted Regionals here in town this weekend, and won both their games, advancing to Hoopla -- which is the Provincial Playoffs, a pretty big deal!

Online Lenten Devotional

Journey to the Cross

I had a really nice conversation with my grandma last night on the phone -- for about an hour and a half. Only the second time we've talked in the last year, but I think I've worked through much that was hindering our relationship. I'm glad I called her (finally).

My aunt called me tonight. Again, a really good chat. Both conversations brought some much needed healing, and I feel good about things.

It's positive

My grandma definitely has pancreatic cancer. :-(

Waiting for news about my grandma

(Decided to edit this post somewhat.)

Some of you will have already read about this (briefly) on the boards, but I decided to post here, too. I found out yesterday that there is strong possibility that my grandma has cancer -- we are waiting for results. I've posted prayer requests for her before... she has very painful arthritis in her shoulder, she had hip replacement some years ago but was recently having major problems with the one hip and there was the possibility of another hip replacement there. However, she also has heart problems that are a factor in whether to have surgery.

She had been doing better as far as the hip was concerned, but the shoulder was still extremely painful and I believe she was on some strong medication for that. She's lost a fair amount of weight, and my mom took her shopping a few weeks ago because she wanted some new clothes that fit better. What I didn't know until yesterday was that she hasn't been able to eat much, and that combined with the weight loss was of concern to her doctor. He sent her for tests, and then she got a call at 8:00 yesterday morning that they needed her to come back in again for more tests. She has a cyst on her pancreas.... but they won't know if it is cancerous until it's removed, and I'm not sure when that is going to happen, she is just waiting at this point. She told my mom that if it is cancer, she will not have any treatments (she'll be 87 this May).

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Currently playing: Mountain of God ~ Third Day