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Sunday, August 27, 2017

I Need to Take a Break for a Little Bit




Hello,
  I am feeling weary physically and emotionally from the battles of life right now. My blood counts are low, I'm hiding from germs at home, and I'm needing a lot more rest. The nurse has been telling me more rest. My husband has been telling me more rest. Now my body and emotions are telling me more rest.

  This last week has been hard in many ways that I won't bother you with. Some of you are dealing with tragedy in your lives in many forms. I pray especially for those of you in Harvey's path. Some are facing physical illnesses or diseases. I have faith. Right now I need to rest.

  I am going to take a break for a little bit. I'll be back and write a bit here and there, but I find I cannot keep up with all the comments. I read every comment, and I pray for every request, but it takes quite a bit of time to reply to every one. If you would like me to reply, please just ask me to and make sure I have your email. Otherwise, it's going to be very hit or miss for a bit.

  I've been so excited about getting down to my last month of chemotherapy, I failed to anticipate the cumulative effects on my body and emotions. So, now, I have to face it and endure it. I thank you all for being so encouraging to me through this and for praying for me. God bless you all!

With warm regards,
Laura
Even now, I will worship the Lord for He is good.

Written by Laura Lane at 41 comments:
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Friday, August 25, 2017

A Thrifty Week at Harvest Lane Cottage #112

Welcome to another 
Thrifty Week at Harvest Lane Cottage!

Each week I share ways I've saved money, my thrifty and frugal projects, and my blessings from God. 

A Thrifty Week at Harvest Lane Cottage

I am so glad you dropped in for a visit today—or tonight!
Please say hello! I'm always looking for new blog friends!
~~~~~
♥♥♥
~~~~~

Dear Reader,

  My husband was the thrifty one this week! On Saturday, our van wouldn't start. He found it was a very, very dead battery. He bought one and installed it himself. It was a lot of money, but we didn't have to pay the mechanic. Late Saturday night, our plumbing backed up terribly. He stayed home Sunday morning and fixed it himself saving us at least a hundred dollars in plumber charges.

  Well, I am under house arrest. Giggle. Not really, but I am supposed to stay home as much as possible. I'm under neutropenic precaution, because my blood counts are too low. That means I need to be extra careful of germs and be a homebody. It's a little discouraging, but I thank God that I've not been this way the entire time. In a month, chemo will be done. Thank you Jesus! 

  It's been a rough week. I was surprised since the first few days after chemo were better than usual. Ah well. Nurse Walker says it's because the effects are cumulative. Speaking of which, I love Nurse Walker. We even talked knitting yesterday after my appointment, and she showed me her latest project. I used to go to church with her ahem years ago. 

  So, not much on my thrifty list this week, but we shall go on. Next week might be much better since I know I'll be at home. 

God bless!
Laura

~~~~~
♥♥♥
~~~~~
A Verse for You

 “They cried unto thee (God), 
and were delivered: 
they trusted in thee, 
and were not confounded.” 
Psalm 22:5

Come to God through Jesus.
Learn how.

~~~~~
♥♥♥
~~~~~

Here's my thrifty week including blessings I received.

Amy's birthday barbeque.
  • My Lowell fixed a barbecue dinner for my daughter's birthday.
  • My husband fixed the van. He saved at least $65 in mechanic's charges.
  • He traded in the dead battery at the store for $12 which paid for his charcoal and supplies for the cookout we had for my daughter's 16th birthday.
  • My Lowell also fixed the plumbing. That saved at least $100 in weekend charges. 
  • My husband gave my daughter some cash so that she can buy exactly what she needs for her birthday, and it will be her style.
  • I ordered some cute little pumpkin pie slice earrings for my Amy's birthday from an Etsy seller. 
  • We use PAC Physics and Chemistry for high school. We have the 1st year set. I was checking and found that the book one set was missing. After searching, I bid and won a replacement set on ebay for about 25% less than buying a new set. 
  • I didn't go out for lunch with my daughter yesterday like I wanted to. 
  • I used yarn that had been given to me to work on Tribbles for a gift.
  • My friend, Joyce, gave me some colloidal silver. It is doing wonders healing my port surgery wound which has been red and sore since May.
  • My Lowell made a clean out the refrigerator stir-fry that was delicious!

That's my thrifty week.

 What are you doing in your home this week?

~~~~~
♥♥♥
~~~~~

ღLauraღ
...doing what I can with what I've got
where I am on a short shoestring budget!

~~~~~
♥♥♥
~~~~~

And I thought I hated
photos of myself before!
Ah well all is vanity!


~~~~~
♥♥♥
~~~~~

Written by Laura Lane at 24 comments:
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Monday, August 21, 2017

Happy Homemaker Monday ~ August 21, 2017


As I write ... very early Monday morning

 The weather....  Hot! High nineties. Who told the weatherman it's August? Chance of showers this afternoon, but not until after 2 p.m. I hope that will give us a chance to see the partial eclipse just after 1 p.m.

 Right now I am... up early. I just put coffee on for my husband, water on for tea for me, and eggs in to boil.

 Thinking... I cannot believe this will be my 27th year at home raising and teaching my children. I taught from the birth of my eldest son who was 26 in January. How did that happen?

 A quote to share... 
♥♥♥♥♥


♥♥♥♥♥ 
On my reading pile...  I just finished my Summer Reading List with the exception of Bible Faith by Kenneth Hagin. I'm taking my time and studying as I go. There's a whole lot of writing in this book! Some of you have expressed wonder about my attitude and faith as I go through this cancer recovery. This book has helped me see the truth of having a strong, complete faith in God and His love and goodness to me. I'll start compiling my Fall reading list, soon.



Favorite blog post last week...  

 Something fun to share... 

Thank you to the precious reader who sent me this just because! I don't know who you are, but I was super-blessed when I opened the box. My only clue was the name Elizabeth on the invoice with my address listed. You are sneaky my dear! It's just as cute as the picture. Now I need to get another project on the needles so that I can use it! 


On the menu for this week.... Sorry, I haven't done this yet!
  • Monday...  Chicken and veggie stir fry
  • Tuesday...   Probably lentil soup
  • Wednesday...  Church Supper 
  • Thursday...   To be announced
  • Friday...   Dinner out with hubby maybe
On my to do list... 
  • Biscuits and Gravy at Braums to celebrate the first day of school. We've done it for years!
  • Doctor appointment to check my blood counts.
  • Work on school planning.
  • Order school books.

In the workbasket...  
  • I'm embarrassed that this is still on my list! I really should hem my husband's jeans. They've been waiting awhile. I'm always afraid to make the cut!
  • You can see a tribble on my needles in the picture above. I just started it for my other mama Annie.

 Looking forward to this week...
  • Feeling better! The farther I get from chemo, the better I feel. I'm on a three week cycle. It didn't seem to knock me down as badly this time. Thank you God! I wrote the name of Jesus right on the Perjeta bag before they hung it on the IV pole this time.
  • UPDATE: I've been having some pretty bad side effects since Monday afternoon. Prayer appreciated.

 Looking around the house... Streamers leftover from my daughter Amy's 16th birthday party. Laundry partially folded on the table. Gotta get to that after breakfast. 

 From the camera... 
My morning tea

My Michael's books so far. 

Devotional...  Revelation to Writer


On my prayer list...

  • Peace of Jerusalem and Israel
    •
  • Wisdom, health, and protection for President Trump, Vice-President Pence, and their families. 
  • Healing for our country so that we may be ONE nation under God.
  • Cancer will die the death in my body. My heart, brain, organs, spleen, and healthy cells will be protected. I will live and not die and declare the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Psalm 118:17

My prayer for you, my reader...

Jesus,

I ask you Lord to keep people safe during this eclipse. I ask you to help each to focus on you, the maker of heavens and earth, moon and sun, stars and infinite space. May they seek your face dear Lord.

I ask you to bring healing to the many who read this blog who are needing a miracle. I ask it all in the name of Jesus and by the power of the blood of Jesus. Amen.

 Thanks for dropping by!
Please say hello.
Laura


Joining with Sandra at Happy Homemaker Monday.
~~~~~
Written by Laura Lane at 47 comments:
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Saturday, August 19, 2017

A Nothing Thrifty Week at Harvest Lane Cottage #111

Welcome to another 
Thrifty Week at Harvest Lane Cottage!

Each week I share ways I've saved money, my thrifty and frugal projects, and my blessings from God. 

A Thrifty Week at Harvest Lane Cottage

I am so glad you dropped in for a visit today—or tonight!
Please say hello! I'm always looking for new blog friends!
~~~~~
♥♥♥
~~~~~

Dear Reader,

  I've done absolutely nothing thrifty this week! While at chemo, my friend went out to McAlisters and got me a delicious french dip sandwich and cup of broccoli soup. On chemo days, I'm tired, but I feel good enough to eat. ~smile~

  Thank you all for praying! I feel pretty good for chemo week. I know it's because so many are praying. I also took a permanent marker with me to chemo. Jesus is the name over every name! I wrote Jesus right on the Perjeta chemo bag! That's the one that's been making me so sick. So far, so good!

God bless!
Laura

Just had to share this photo of my Annie and me back in the day.
~~~~~
♥♥♥
~~~~~
A Verse for You
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, 
whose mind is stayed on thee:
because he trusteth in thee.
Trust ye in the LORD for ever:
for in the LORD JEHOVAH
is everlasting strength.” 
Isaiah 26:3 KJV

Come to God through Jesus.
Learn how.

~~~~~
♥♥♥
~~~~~

Here's my thrifty week including blessings I received.
  • I always save by shopping at Aldi instead of Walmart.
  • We ate out of the cupboards and freezer most of the week. That's always a saver. 
  • A dear reader, Sandra, sent me a bag full of cotton yarn in fresh, lovely colors. Oh, and she sent a gift card to my favorite Christian restaurant Chick-Fil-A! Love it! Thank you!
  • My dad and Annie brought us meat for the freezer and some other supplies. Thank you! I won't have to worry about meat for awhile thanks to you Dad!
  • I bought sandwich fixin's so the kids wouldn't eat out so much.
  • I received a mysterious box with a little lamb inside! The invoice said only Elizabeth with my address! This was the yarn bowl that I showed y'all a few weeks ago.  It's even cuter in person! Thank you to the mysterious Elizabeth! That was so sweet of you! 

That's my thrifty week.

 What are you doing in your home this week?

~~~~~
♥♥♥
~~~~~

ღLauraღ
...doing what I can with what I've got
where I am on a short shoestring budget!

~~~~~
♥♥♥
~~~~~



What do you want your Christmas to look like?

Christmas Gifts for Children... 

Precedents, Disappointment, and Gratefulness
~~~~~
♥♥♥
~~~~~

Written by Laura Lane at 25 comments:
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Tuesday, August 15, 2017

Just Popping in With an Update on My Cancer Recovery Journey


 Hello Dear Readers,

  Just thought I'd pop in for a little update on my cancer recovery journey. I think I am doing well with the chemo. It's no walk in a rose garden, believe me, but I am making it through. I take treatment every third Tuesday. The last four or five days before treatment are usually pretty good. By the day before treatment, I feel like myself and feel good. Then they zap me again. ~ gentle smile~

  Today I took the fifth treatment. I'll take the sixth, and as far as I know, final chemotherapy treatment on September 6th. I expect I'll be feeling much better by the time Fall comes around on September 22nd! Praise God!

  I can no longer feel the lumps! I believe God is healing me completely. Yesterday, the nurse practitioner couldn't feel them either!

  Surgery will be sometime in October I think. Six weeks later, probably late November or December, I'll start radiation. I think that will be daily for six weeks. Merry Christmas. I'll be my own Christmas lights! I get to take IV medicine every three weeks throughout the process, but it won't be chemo, so the nurse said I'll feel better. This will be followed by pills for five years. All this will be finalized by the doctors, of course, as they continue to evaluate my progress.

Current prayer requests:

  • Cancer will die the death and be eliminated from my body.
  • I will have enough appetite to eat during the first half of the cycle. I lost too much weight during the last cycle, and they're concerned. I'm having issues with taste, texture and not being hungry.
  • Thrush in my mouth will be controlled.
  • Diarrhea will be controlled.
  • My blood counts will come up. I'm currently anemic, but not dangerously so.
  • I will find a better balance between rest and getting things done. The chemo, feeling sick, and the anemia are making me very tired. 
  • I'm feeling emotional due to the hormone blocker medicine, my fatigue, and the underlying difficulties of medical treatment of a long-term illness.
So that's my recovery life in a rather large nutshell. I truly appreciate the cards, letters, gifts, encouragement, and most of all the prayers that so many of you have prayed on my behalf. I can never thank you all enough. May God return blessings to you. Your kindness and love has undergirded me in the journey. 

Thank you all!

Laura



Written by Laura Lane at 95 comments:
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Friday, August 11, 2017

A Thrifty Week at Harvest Lane Cottage #110

Welcome to another 
Thrifty Week at Harvest Lane Cottage!

Each week I share ways I've saved money, my thrifty and frugal projects, and my blessings from God. 

A Thrifty Week at Harvest Lane Cottage

I am so glad you dropped in for a visit today—or tonight!
Please say hello! I'm always looking for new blog friends!
~~~~~
♥♥♥
~~~~~

Dear Reader,

  We've had the most wonderful low temperatures for August that I can remember. I've enjoyed spending a little time outside. On Monday, I even went for a short walk with my friend Laura. She visited me along with her daughter this week. It was so fun to spend time with them. 

  I feel better this week. That's to be expected as I get closer to my next chemo date. This time it will be the 15th. As always, your prayers are appreciated. I truly believe the prayers of the saints are making this much easier for me. I also fully believe that I will be completely cancer free and live out a long life with my high school sweetheart. We started dating way back in 1981! Oh, just had a flashback to big hair. Oh my! I wouldn't mind having some of that hair now. Tee hee!

  I hope you're squeezing all the fun possible out of these last days before school starts. I'm looking forward to fall more than ever. When the calendar shows the change of season, I'll be done with this chemo. Praise God!

God bless!
Laura

UPDATED 11/17/2017: This week I was declared cancer free "rare, total remission"! Praise the LORD! God has been with me all the way.

~~~~~
♥♥♥
~~~~~
A Verse for You
“So do not fear, for I am with you; 
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  
I will strengthen you and help you; 
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” 
Isaiah 41:10

I ran across this verse while listening to Isaiah this week. I'd forgotten the second part, "I will strengthen you and help you; 
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” I could certainly use some strengthening right now. 
 How about you?
We just need to ask Daddy God.

Come to God through Jesus.
Learn how.

~~~~~
♥♥♥
~~~~~

Here's my thrifty week including blessings I received.
  • I always save by shopping at Aldi.
  • My friend Joyce gave me some Colloidal Silver and Bentonite Clay to treat an infected cut on my finger. I saturated a cotton ball with Colloidal Silver and put lots of tape around the cotton and my finger to hold it on. The next morning, the results were miraculous. I put on the clay, and by that evening, it was much better. It was healed the next morning. Those are miracle products! I had been thinking about having a doctor look at it since I'd tried healing it for over a week. Joyce saved me a doctor visit.  Thank you Joyce! 
  • My friend, Laura, visited me from St. Louis. She brought along food to make two wonderful dinners and breakfasts, too. She made Chicken Alfredo over zucchini noodles and Meatballs Parmesan. Both were delicious low-carb meals that fit into the Trim Healthy Mama lifestyle perfectly. No. I'm not following THM right now. I must wait until after therapy to lose weight on purpose. Doctor's orders. 
  • Laura also gave me a denim skirt. Thank you Laura!
  • In the last couple of weeks I've received a couple of generous gifts in the mail. Thank you Vickie and Karla!
  • I bought some good quality hand towels, some washcloths, a couple pillows and pillow cases, and some kitchen towels with a gift card I received for Christmas. Part of it was for a hat I returned that was just like one I already own. I didn't buy the cheapest towels. I bought towels that were a step up from the bottom in hopes that their thicker material will make them last longer. The pillows were priced as here and now pillows, but I needed them and had to work with the credit I had.
  • My father came to take my girls to his house for a grandpa and granny visit. He brought me meat for the freezer and three totes of fabric and laces for us girls from Annie. Thank you Dad and Annie!
  •  We've saved lots of money since we didn't need to run all three of our air conditioners.
  • I bought some thin pork chops at a good price and made homemade breaded tenderloin sandwiches. 
  • My husband made a video to teach my friend and I how to make pie crust from scratch. 
That's my thrifty week.

 What are you doing in your home this week?

~~~~~
♥♥♥
~~~~~

ღLauraღ
...doing what I can with what I've got
where I am on a short shoestring budget!

~~~~~
♥♥♥
~~~~~

 Have you started making and collecting for Christmas yet?
I call it Kringling.


 I love to make Christmas gifts.
Do you?
Try this Candy Cane Cocoa. 
It's fun.
~~~~~
♥♥♥
~~~~~

Written by Laura Lane at 37 comments:
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Wednesday, August 9, 2017

The True Value of Time


"Know the true value of time; snatch, seize, 
and enjoy every moment of it. 
No idleness; no laziness; no procrastination; 
never put off till tomorrow what you can do today."

 ~ Lord Chesterfield


  Moments get away from us so quickly, do they not?  If we truly made use of every moment, how different would our lives be?  I must admit, my life would be quite different.  Do we need to be productive every moment?  No, I don't think so.  After all, Our LORD is the One who said, "Be still and know that I am God."

  Rest and relaxation is very important as well.  If we are praying, meditating on God's word, or investing in others by listening and talking, we are still redeeming the time in a very valuable way.  I think that Lord Chesterfield meant not to let the moments slip away into nothingness...wasted. 

Carpe Diem.  Seize the day!

God bless you all

Laura
Reaching forward
and realizing that our time
is finite whether we have
a diagnosis or not.





No Rules
Written by Laura Lane at 35 comments:
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Thursday, August 3, 2017

A Thrifty Week at Harvest Lane Cottage #109

Welcome to another 
Thrifty Week at Harvest Lane Cottage!

Each week I share ways I've saved money, my thrifty and frugal projects, and my blessings from God. 

A Thrifty Week at Harvest Lane Cottage

I am so glad you dropped in for a visit today—or tonight!
Please say hello! I'm always looking for new blog friends!
~~~~~
♥♥♥
~~~~~

Hello!

  I'm just finishing the first half of the chemo cycle. It was better than last time, but I just didn't do a whole lot of thrifty things. You all have been so good to stay with me even though it's not been a very thrifty summer. Thank you! I am looking forward to fall. I should be done with this by mid-September. I'm going to celebrate! Even though surgery will take some time to recover from, I should be able to do some things.

  I hope you'll stay with me. I'll be back to my thrifty self one of these days!

God bless!
Laura
~~~~~
♥♥♥
~~~~~
A Few Verses for You
Do not fear, for I am with you; 
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  
I will strengthen you, I will help you, 
yes, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.  
Isaiah 41:10 

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, I will give you rest.  Matthew 11:28

Lord my God, I called to You for help, and You healed me.  Psalm 30:2

These were shared with me by 
~~~~~
♥♥♥
~~~~~

Here's my thrifty week times two!
  • My friend bought me a slush during chemo. She got it during half price Sonic Happy hour. Thanks Rebecca!
  • Ate from the freezer and fridge
  • I didn't buy yarn at full price at Michael's.
  • We ate at home when we wanted to go out a couple times.
  • I made some of my big meals at lunchtime, because we had more people home for that meal a couple of days this week.
  • Homemade biscuits rounded out a rather skimpy meal one evening.
  • I made a from scratch chicken soup using a bag of odd chicken pieces that were given to us. I added potatoes, carrots, onions, and rosemary. Here's how to for Rosemary Chicken Soup.
  • I decluttered many of my Pinterest boards. I deleted things I didn't think I would actually make. Virtual real estate.
  • I took a bunch of bags of real estate to the crisis center.
  • I reviewed Mary Engelbreit's new book for free.
  • I bought a piano book on Ebay for Amy for a fraction of the cost of new. Check out this awesome package! The stamps were mostly 13 cents each!  

That's my thrifty week.

 What are you doing in your home this week?

~~~~~
♥♥♥
~~~~~

ღLauraღ
...doing what I can with what I've got
where I am on a short shoestring budget!

~~~~~
♥♥♥
~~~~~

 Have you started making and collecting for Christmas yet?


 I love Christmas books all year round. 
Do you?
Try this one. 
It's fun.
~~~~~
♥♥♥
~~~~~

Written by Laura Lane at 44 comments:
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