Sunday Morning

My dad went in to surgery on Wed. and had two discs removed from his neck (this is some sort of strange family tradition, since both me and my older brother have had the same surgery). All seemed to go well, and I talked to him on Thursday. His throat was a little sore but his arm was feeling much better now that his nerve wasn't pinched anymore.

On Friday evening my Mom called and my dad was back in surgery because there was bleeding into his throat and he couldn't swallow. My mom had given Dad some ice cream and when he couldn't eat that (his most favorite food in the whole world!) she knew something was wrong. He came out of that surgery okay and I'll call him today to see how he's doing.

My friend, Norma, has had cancer for about 2 1/2 years. I was told yesterday that this would most likely be her last week. I am taking the family dinner on Tuesday and will say my goodbyes. This is so hard because she is about my age, and seemed so healthy before she got sick. She is dying of melenoma. The skin cancer spread to her brain and her lungs before she even knew there was anything wrong with her. She didn't have a weird mole or anything, and so it took a while and two samples to Johns Hopkins to figure out what kind of cancer it was. Please, please wear your sunscreen! And make your kids wear there's too! Even a little sunburn can lead to skin cancer!

On Friday Chelsea had a party after the end of her school play. She called at intermission and asked if some girls could come over for a "late night". I said that would be fine, so about 6 girls came over. When they got her she said one of them could spend the night if it was okay with me. It was a girl Chelsea hang out with a few years ago. I always liked her and so I said yes, hoping they'll start hanging out more. I went to bed about 11:00. When I woke up on Saturday, I heard voices in the family room so went down there. I was surprised to see Chelsea and 3 other girls! They are all good girls and again, I am glad they were here because Chelsea's current friends aren't that great in my opinion, promising to call and they never do, saying they'll sleep over and then calling 10 minutes before they are supposed to come and saying they can't, etc. So I really am hoping she starts hanging with the group of girls that were here. She has been friends with all of them since at least 7th grade, and one of them since 4th grade. I never tell her who she can and can't hang out with but I think I'll let her have another sleepover with these 3 girls and hopefully she'll realize they are much better friends than the current ones she hangs out with.

Well, I need to get ready for church. We have a long day ahead of us. Chelsea and I are Director and Assist. Director for our church Christmas play, so we have practice this morning, then we are doing the Prayers of the People at the 11:00 service. Then we are helping with our church bazaar this afternoon until 3:00 when our church's annual congregational meeting will be held. We'll leave home at 9:00 and get home about 6:00! I've got some Shephard's pie that is frozen so I've popped it in the oven and set the timer, so we should have a hot meal when we get home.