May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you all his blessings, and great peace of heart and mind. ----1 Corinthians 1:3

Good Friday morning!!  Wow!!  It's July already!  We are half way through the year!  Can you believe it?  More good news!!  Our prayers have been answered!! The Gamma Knife center called and the insurance company approved the gamma knife surgery.  The big day is July 13th at 6:45 a.m.  We are suppose to leave on our relaxing family vacation at Emerald Cove again on the 14th.  Mike and I will just postpone leaving and will head there on the 15th.  I told him I can sit at home and look at my walls and recover or I can sit in a chair and look at a beautiful lake and recover.  I choose the lake!  Once that is done I should have a date to start my Yervoy treatments.  The prayers from everyone have been so powerful!  Things are moving along and I know that God's timing is perfect even when it is so hard to wait sometimes. 

Mike and I are going to meet some dear long time friends of ours Nick and Teri Sulli who are traveling through San Diego from Carson City, Nevada tomorrow.  I have known Teri since the first grade.  Looking forward to seeing them.  Sunday our whole family will be in the mountains for a day of fun.  Really happy about getting out of the heat for a couple of days.  Mike and I are going to a birthday party tonight.  So I am taking the weekend off from blogging and I will be back here on Monday.  Looking forward to good food, family and fireworks on Monday night.

Here is a picture of Tyler holding up a HOPE sign.  My friend Susan Beach bought that for me and he takes it off the table every morning and shows it to Nani and says, "Hope Nani hope" and smiles really big. I have taught him that it says HOPE.  It melts my heart and I tell him, "That's right Tyler, we have hope."

If you get a chance look at Angel Linda's comment from yesterday. 

Prayer requests: Prayers for someone who needs some peace in their life right now.  Pray that the issues will resolve soon.  Also, please pray that everyone has a very fun and safe holiday weekend.  Remember to thank God for the many blessings we receive each day.

John 1 verses 1 - 5:  Before anything else existed, there was Christ, with God.  He has always been alive and is himself God.  He created everything there is--nothing exists that he didn't make.  Eternal life is in him, and this life gives light to all mankind.  His life is the light that shines through the darkness--and the darkness can never extinguish it.

Read the bible in a year:  Today.....Psalms 90 - 95.  Saturday.......Psalms 96 - 102.  Sunday......Pslams 103 - 105. Hey all of you that are reaing the bible in a year.....We are already half way through!!  Yay!!  Keep going!  We can do it!!

Have a fantabulous holiday weekend everyone!!  I will see you back here on Monday. Today is another wonderful gift from God an He is so Good!

Question:  So what are your plans for the weekend and July 4th?? 

The best use of life is LOVE.  The best expression of love is TIME.  The best time to love is NOW.  You are so LOVED by God!!  He is there for you 24/7.

Good Thursday morning!!  WOOOHOOO!!!  My oncologists office called and said that they got the insurance approval for the Yervoy treatments!!  Praise God!!  I haven't heard anything from the gamma knife center yet but hope to soon.  As soon as they get approval I should have a date for the gamma knife.  I am hoping and praying that we can get started soon.  Please pray in the meantime that the cancer will not spread anymore than it has and that I will get a date to start soon.  Who knew that I would be excited about an insurance approval for treatments but I am. I am so ready to get it started and done.  It is a hefty price tag and I do not know yet what Mike and mine's expenses part will be in all of this, but I am leaving that to God and will deal with that when the time comes.  Thank you, thank you, thank you so much for praying and for keeping us in your prayers!

The support and encouragement from everyone has been a HUGE blessing to us.  The many kind ways that you have expressed your love to us knows no bounds.  We are extremely grateful. 

Here is a picture of my little buddy who had fallen asleep while eating dinner on Sunday.  Tyler is with Nani again today for a day of fun.  Taking care of him has really helped me keep my mind busy and not to think about things so much.  The picture I want to post of Tyler tomorrow is one of my favorites.

Because God is with you all the time, no place is any closer to God than the place where you are right now.

Denise Rogers.....You are so right.  You have to find humor along the journey.  We all need to laugh out loud everyday!

Thank you Brenda Grose and Sandra Clary!!  My heart is happy!!  What a nice surprise!!

Prayer requests:  To find a cure for all cancer.  For strength and to be healed or stay in remission:  Lorri, Lori, Teresa, Lorenzo, Jose, Susan, Cova, Karen, Cyndi, Claudia's dad, Sharon, Betsy, Chris H., Allen, Kenny, Irma, Faustine, Samuel, Father Ruben, Ken, Kristin, Patrick, Becky, Jim, Wayne, Carolyn, Ron, Jeff B., Diane, Bill, Lara, Barbara, Kari, Gary, Denise, Cammie, Cody, Martin, Bec, Felicity, Rylee, Ginger and James.  Pray for their families too.

Read the bible in a year:  Today....Psalms 86 - 89.  Friday......Psalms 90 - 95.

Have a super day everyone!!  Today is another great gift from God and He is so Good!!

Question:  Do you ever do any QVC shopping?  Do you ever order from an info-mercial?  What is the wackiest thing you have ordered? 

Cancer isn't prejudice. It doesn't discriminate from me to you; It changes life in one split second, but here's what it cannot do.....It cannot take our courage or strength, our willingness to persevere; It can't take our spirit or faith, our hope that a cure is near.  It cannot take our persistence or patience, our ability to walk with pride; it can't take our self respect, as we fight for every stride.  It cannot take our sights or dreams, our wishes it cannot shatter; It can't take our memories, our account for what truly matters.  It cannot take our integrity or mind, our willingness to feel alive; It can't take our continuous prayer, our belief that we will survive.    Angel Linda sent this to me in a card to frame.  I loved what it said.

Good Wednesday morning!!  I just want you all to know that I am so blessed with the most wonderful co-workers a girl could ever work with.  My co-workers, who are not just co-workers to me but my dear friends, are my work family.  Quite a few of them got together yesterday and surprised me with flowers, a cake, balloons and an encouraging card at lunch.  The cake had written on it "Leslie, Rocky has nothing on you!"   I am surrounded by a work family that cares deeply for me and my family and who prays hard for me and will do anything for me.  They literally showered me with love. Thank you so much.  It really means a lot to me to have such a supportive staff to work with.  Here is a picture of me at the restaurant yesterday.

I want to thank Tyler's wonderful and beautiful babysitter Sylvia for all of the great stuff you gave to me.  You are so sweet to do that for me.  Thanks for thinking about me and caring so much.  We love you Sylvia! 

I have my little buddy Tyler back with me today!  Going to play at the Family Treehouse later too. He made his first little project there the other day.  It was a 4th of July windsock decoration.  So fun!

Prayer requests:  For someone who is suffering from a terrible migraine headache.  Pray that it goes away.  They have been down with it for a few days now.  Please keep in your prayers our country's military.  Pray for their safety and protection and for their families.  Everyone who has served and is serving is truly a hero to all of us.  Thank you!

Psalms 77 verse 14:  You are the God of miracles and wonders!  You still demonstrate your awesome power.

Read the bible in a year:  Today.....Psalms 80 - 85.  Thursday........Psalms 86 - 89.

Have a wonderful day everyone!!  Today is another precious gift from God and He is so Good!!

Question: Okay....I bought a box of Drumstick ice cream cones the other day.  I hadn't eaten one of those in years.  It was sooooo good!  They have some now that have caramel in them too.  I love caramel.  Are you a fan of them?  Ice cream sandwiches?  Popsicles?

James 1:2 & 3 says.....Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds.  Because you know that the testing of your faith develops perserverance.

Why is joy so important?  Because the joy of the Lord is our "strength."  Joy produces strength and strength is what is needed to fight!

Good Tuesday morning!!  Guess who is 20 months old today?  Can you believe that Tyler is that old already?  Time is seriously passing by so fast.  While I had Tyler yesterday I put on some music and we danced.  We were dancing all over the place....silly dancing. We were also singing.  I am teaching him all kinds of fun kids songs.  I wish that I could of had someone video tape it.  He was just belly laughing.  Love making memories like that with him.  He loves to play with cars and trucks.  He lights up any time he sees a motorcycle.  He likes to look at motorcycle magazines with his daddy. We are working on his colors right now.   He still loves to read books too.  Here is a picture of him reading the newspaper yesterday.  If it has words.....he will try to read it.  hahaha.

I heard from my neurosurgeon's office yesterday. They are working with the gamma knife center on getting insurance approval and will let me know when my appointment is soon. I still don't think it will be for a couple of weeks. Please continue to pray that the insurance comes through soon on both this procedure and for the Yervoy treatments. Thank you! 

I don't have my sidekick with me today so I am heading out later today to have lunch with some friends from work.  It has only been a couple of weeks since school has been out but I miss my co-workers a lot already!

Prayer requests:  For the young woman named Bec that we have been praying for as she underwent intense chemo and radiation to fight cancer.  Well she is done with chemo and is having her last radiation treatment today!!  It has been so hard on her.  Pray that she recovers quickly from all of the side effects and that she will be declared cancer free.  Also for James Tucker and family as he was recently diagnosed with cancer.  And for a little girl who is sick in the hospital with pneumonia.  That she will get better very soon.   

Thank you so much for your continued prayers for me and my family.  God is moving in mighty ways.  Through you all I am staying uplifted and encouraged.

Jeremiah 29:11  "For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord.  "Plans for GOOD and not for evil, to give you a future and a HOPE!" 

Read the bible in a year:  Today.....Psalms 78 - 79.  Wednesday.....Psalms 80 - 85.

I also wanted to let you know of a wonderful organization called "Chemo Angels."  It is how I met Pastor Angel Linda.  They are a wonderful organization who have helped hundreds of cancer patients.  Check out their web site sometime at www.chemoangels.com  If you know of someone who is going through chemo they can sign up. 

Have a terrific day everyone!  Today is another gift from God and He is so Good!

Question.......Did you ever set up a lemonade stand when you were a little kid out on the sidewalk in front of your house?  I think I did that with a friend once.  Teri Sulli....did we do that?

HOPE.....sees the invisible, feels the intangible and achieves the impossible.  My friend Brenda Grose has been texting me an encouraging quote every morning since I was diagnosed last week with cancer again.  This was the one she texted to me on Saturday.  I loved it!  Thanks Bren.  Your quotes always brighten my day.

Good Monday morning!!  My goodness!!  I went out to my mailbox on Saturday afternoon to get the mail and I opened my box and my jaw dropped as to what was in there.  I received 24 cards and a package.  God had put on so many peoples hearts to send me a card.  If you don't know already I am big into cards.  I love getting them and I especially love to send them out.  I was so touched by the sweet notes of love and encouragement you left for me.  All of them were so different, yet each one had written in them very uplifting words of love, hope and faith.  It seemed like God was whispering in my ear as I was reading each one that He is with me every second of this journey and that He is going to give me strength to get through.  I am never alone.  As for all of you who have been with me through this whole journey....I am still sending out my HOPE cards.  That little piece of ministry for me still continues.

I have already seen various miracles in the last few days.  God's plan is so much better than we could ever hope for....way better than we could ever dream for ourselves.  It may not be easy...actually it is hard at times,  but it gives me a chance to grow in my faith even more.

How was your weekend?  I had a very fun and full weekend.  My daughter Jenna and grandson Tyler took Nani out to do a little shopping on Saturday.  We then went to a BBQ and had a great time at my brother-in-law Greg's house on Saturday night.  Greg and his girlfriend Yolanda are such great cooks.

Church on Sunday morning was awesome.  My church family is so incredibly encouraging and supportive of Mike and I.  I seriously do not know what I would do without them.  I want to say a big thank you to all of them.  We are so touched by your compassion and kindness and for all the prayers going up on our behalf.  We had lunch with my son-in-law Ryan's family after church.  Sunday nights are always my favorite....eating dinner with the family and hanging out.  It is always a great way to end the weekend.

When we went shopping on Saturday at Michael's, we found this monkey hat and put it on Tyler.  He loved it.  He actually kept it on.

Prayer requests:  Please pray for someone who is in need of all of our prayers for guidance and wisdom this week.  Pray that the right decisions will be made and that God will clear the right path for them to go down.  Also a prayer for someone who is having some depression issues due to circumstances surrounding them.  Pray that they can get resolution to the problem and for peace.

Psalms  62 verses 3, 4 & 5:  For your love and kindness are better to me than life itself.  How I praise you!  I will bless you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer.

Read the bible in a year:  Today......Psalms 74 - 77.  Tuesday.......Psalms 78 - 79.

Have a marvelous day everyone!!  I've got my buddy with me today!  Today is another wonderful gift from God and He is so Good!

Question: What was the last thing you took a picture of with your camera?