Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to me! I turned 40 last week and had a small birthday party at my mom's house. I learned that the best way to get over the turning a whole decade older is to invite people who are older than you and think your age is just great!

The latest cancer news...I only have TWO MORE chemo poisonings and go back to MD Anderson for another scan the first of June. Hopefully they won't be able to find anything and we can move on to the next stage. I am very hopeful because the last blood test for the 27.29 tumor marker was NORMAL. It hasn't been normal for more than a year! That is definitely a good sign that we might be through with this part of my treatment (in two weeks).

The chemo is starting to really kick my butt. I am tired and slightly nauseated all the time, but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and figure two more weekends lying around on the couch watching movies isn't too bad. Let me rephrase...two more weeks lying around on the weekends...I am still teaching and my kids are putting up with me remarkably well.

I have some AWESOME news about my brother and his family...they are moving to Oklahoma this summer. Hopefully he won't be deployable - mom (and Bill) and dad (and Sue) REALLY need a break from the drama of a kid in Iraq and another with cancer - andwe are SOOO HAPPY they will all be much closer than California. We are looking forward to a visit from them in mid July when our cousin from Tenessee will be here to spent quality time with her dad/our uncle. I forsee LOTS of FISHING and fish frying in July!

I am feeling the blessings of the Lord through the generosity of his children in Christ every day. Just last week we received a gift certificate for a new business in town called white stripe catering company [www.whitestripecatering.com] These friendly folks will make you a complete dinner - just call them and tell them what you want - and you just go pick it up! I am talking about GREAT, healthy food for a very resonably price. The menu changes weekly, so if you live or work in Portland check out their website and go see them! I'm sure I will see you there!

I also got a wonderful surprise in the mail today... a box of frogs....... and a my "theme" verse of Jeremiah 29 verse 11 done in beautiful calligraphy and framed! Wow. The first time I was dealing with cancer, one of my former students heard about my struggle and she burned a music cd for me and she folded a green piece of paper into the shape of a frog...it was to remind me to Fully Rely On God. I loved the idea and took it to school where some kid "borrowed" my frog and never returned it. Anyway, Allie heard about my missing frog, so she sent me lots more frogs in the mail - one of them is a big, snuggly stuffed frog and the others are all letters from some of my other former students that were all folded into frogs. What a gift! I read and reread the letters and am just so happy to hear from all those kids and how well they are all doing. VERY FUN!!! Thanks to all of you!!

Thank you all for praying for me! God bless you all! Much love ! Kelli