The countdown begins.....

Waiting...waiting...waiting until 7 glorious days at Tahoe! Yep, vacation is coming! I love Tahoe, and there's just something about celebrating the birth of our nation, 4th of July, on the water with fireworks! Of course, the gentleman on the dock who belts out "God Bless America" when all the fireworks are done certainly adds to the deep, heartfelt love of the night!

Ah, yes, and even though the waters get choppier earlier, and crowds of people seem to ooze out of the forest, traffic doubles or triples and going to the store becomes a day-long trip, if we are prepared we will avoid most of it and be able to soak in the quaint, lazy daze!
I'm looking forward to the smell of the pines, the view from the balcony and the sounds of boats on the water.  I can hardly wait to walk to the 'mansion' and Eagle Rock-maybe even do some biking this year!  I can't wait for the first ride up and down the shore from Incline to Emerald Bay and finally, immersing myself into the bluest of blue depths to cool off!
Yes, I always look forward to vacation....but I am especially fond of Tahoe.  Maybe because my parents loved it so much, maybe because it simply mesmerizes me.  Winter, fall, summer~ it's a different place each season. It fills my senses and revives my soul. I find rest and solace in this place.  I am me, here.
Waiting, waiting, waiting....

time flies and I am filled...

....its been too long...too short...too big...too small....too long.  It is simply too incredible to consider that my niece and nephew are now a high schooler and a college man! 
San Diego was fabulous!  I love my family...small doses are good.  But I really miss my sister Carol.  I miss her humor. I love her spirit and I love to watch her be a mom and wife.  I miss her B.S., too.   I cry every time I have to leave her.  Spending time with her makes me crave more! 
She and I teamed up to give my sister Beth a makeover of sorts.  With Carol's prodding and my counsel, we were able to get her to change her haircolor and  get her hair cut!  She looks beautiful!  10 years younger, brighter and so vibrant!  We hope that this is the push she needs to boost her confidence and enable her to not only land a job, but make some wiser choices in her life. 
So, while lives were changing-our hearts were warmed. While kids were growing up right before my eyes, my life became fuller. As I breathed deeply the wafting scent of fresh hopes and dreams, my heart softened and life  enveloped me.  Is this how people hold onto these moments?  We grow bigger to hold them all?  Or are we able to ''zip file" them to fill the available space? 

The big "C" Phase II

So, Dennis is now well passed phase two of his cancer treatments.  Praise God, he has recently, successfully undergone the brachytherapy~ otherwise known as the implantation of tiny radioactive seeds into his prostate.  He had 55 seeds placed for a partial dose implant. The biggest fear after this procedure was his ability to pee pain- free and, praise God, he did great!  He did have to use a seive the first day or so, just in case any of those little seeds tried to escape, but not one escaped! 
Now, we wait for phase three-direct laser therapy.  We have his first appointment on June 30th to meet the radiation oncologist and make a plan for this final phase of treatments. What we do know is that it will be 5-6 weeks of daily (Monday through Friday), 10-15 minute treatments.  What we don't know is when it will start and how it will affect him.  We expect that it will drain him a bit, making him tired.  But, as this phase unfolds, I will keep you posted! In the meantime, we are continuing to believe God for complete healing.  He is doing a wonderful work.  Your prayers are coveted!