Well, looks like is on its way out the door.  I wouldn't say it's been a totally bad year... Full of lots of good memories...except one.

But it did just occur to me that I hope that 2012 is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay better and brings about waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay more happy, prosperous, joyful, peacful, loving, enthsuiastic, hopeful, miraculous, enduring, laughter-inducing, and extrememly successful moments!

So! Here's to 2012! 
May it bring a year full of good hope, good health and 
deep thankfulness for the whole year.

GoFightWin!, 2012!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yesterday I was just messin' around lookin' on Pinterest.com. (For those of you who haven't checked that out, you might want to...Kind of fun.)

I saw this and it made me think of Harv. It seems like something he'd say.

GoFightWin! Harvey!! ♥

This morning I decided to open my Bible and search for a verse that would comfort me. I searched aimlessly in the Psalms to try to find a verse that gave me some sort of relief or pushed me towards cheerful.

I found some verses that spoke of God being a refuge in times of trouble. Some that spoke of him looking out for us. I found some verses that confused me because sometimes people DON'T actually get the desires of their heart when they ask. And then I remembered a verse that I LOVE. I like to share it with people when times seem hopeless.

 ¹³ May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  - Romans 15:13

I love that verse. I love the words JOY and PEACE. And, I love the word HOPE. This time, though, I noticed the last part about overflowing with hope.

And, that is what I'd like to do -- overflow with hope.
Daily.

Dates

We had a very nice Christmas. Quiet. Low key. Almost boring (in a good way.)

For our gifts to each other, Harv and I decided, well before Christmas and well before we knew what was going on in his body, to give each other a year's worth of dates. He planned six dates and I planned six dates -- which we each put together differently. He wrote his out as if he was the announcer for a prize-winner on "The Price is Right." I went the "crafty" way with cute stickers and paper.

We like the hopefulness of these dates. It gives us some fun things to look forward to throughout the year. We don't know how he'll be feeling when "date night" (or "date day") comes around each month, but my prayer is that we can do every single date before the year is over. We might have to switch things up and go out of sequence, but I'd like to do all of 'em. (The ones I planned shouldn't really be a problem. "sit around & drink coffee date", "sit around and watch a movie date", etc.)

Please pray with us that we make the most of this year as a family.

Surprise!!!

We were just sittin' here mindin' our own business tonight and some sweet people showed up to sing Christmas carols.
(And, they even had printed song sheets! ☺)

Thank you friends! What fun! Harv LOVED it!
We love you.
Merry Christmas!!

Don't know much...

First oncology consultation -- Seattle Cancer Care Alliance  - January 3

Second consultation -- Bellingham --- January 4

In the meantime, chillin' and lovin' and enjoyin' and bein'....

Merry Christmas, friends!

Just 'cause I believe Harv can beat this thing -- and I DO! -- doesn't mean I don't freak out every now and then.

How the HECK did this happen to HARVEY?????

Our plan is to just use the next couple of weeks to enjoy each other. There will, of course, be some business details to take care of ... insurance, disability, reminding me how to manage finances (I happily gave that up when we got married). But mostly, we're gonna hang and try to enjoy a slower pace of life.

Life is likely to pick up speed week after next. :-P

And, that is when we'll probably begin to hit you up for favors. :-)  Thank you for the love you've showered on us so far. We are truly very fortunate to have you all in our lives.

Love you all, people.

Well, it looks like that @#%*?/ intruder decided to make itself at home in Harv's liver. We don't like that, but we're very well aware that Harv's a high achiever and he's gonna defy the odds!

Dr. Pietro said that the first order of business is to do chemo and kill the cancer in the liver. And, that really surgery is not needed. We have to chemo the cancer in the liver  -- which will also attack the cancer in the colon. The cancer in the liver is too pervasive to remove. You need to have at least 1/4 of the liver left and there is cancer in enough parts of the liver that there isn't a section that would leave 1/4.

So, we've talked to Seattle Cancer Care Alliance and have an appointment scheduled for Jan. 3rd...and if we're lucky, someone will cancel and we can go earlier. Still waiting to hear when we can get into an appointment in Bellingham. Praying for wisdom to choose the easiest, and most effective care to kick this cancer in the butt!

Sarah, Hannah and Celeste are understandably upset, but we're all working to stay positive. And, if we aren't able to get any appointments before January, then we'll just use this time to do fun stuff. (I'm not actually very much fun at any time, but I'm gonna try to participate and pretend I'm a whole lot of fun.) ☺

We love you all. We are so amazed at the amount of love that we have already received. What an amazing blessing!

Kickin' butt and takin' names over here!
Love,
chc and fam.

 ********** BREAKING NEWS!!! ************

Celeste just called to say she gave her two weeks notice and Mario will be driving her up here after she quits. We are thrilled to have her come home. It'll just be great in general and it will be so great to have her here to help with everything. Yippee skippee! ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

(sigh)

We didn't get the Christmas present I asked for from God...

Found out late yesterday evening that it is in fact stage 4...and appears to be in his liver and lymph nodes. Prognosis isn't good, but it isn't impossible -- there's still a small percentage of success stories that we're hoping he fits into. If his history is any indication, Harv will be the one of those few that succeed. He excels in most everything.

We don't want to go down this road. We don't want our girls to go down this road. But, we're heading down it anyway. My prayer is that we can head down it peacefully and do what my sister says, "LIGMO" (let it go, move on) each step along the way.

I have a feeling that I'll be asking for help more often than I want to, but I know I'm gonna need it. So, thank you ahead of time.

This afternoon we'll talk to a surgeon, but most likely, we'll be working with oncologists before surgery. Still lots of unknowns, though. Harv's gastroenterologist recommended that we speak to an oncologist here and one in Seattle to make a decision about next steps. If the recommended care is similar in both places, we'll probably stay here. The less travel the better in our opinion. However, we're happy to travel if the treatment is likely to be more successful.

I'm thankful for all the love that is pouring out for us now. These trying times are when a person can definitely see the hand of God -- working through people who love.

More information as I receive it.
Love you all.

That crazy "guest" comes to our house

Yesterday Harv was diagnosed with colon cancer.

It's a little bit scary, but it was also comforting to know the cause of what's been buggin' him.

We don't know details yet, but the ball is rolling. Blood work today and a CT scan. Appointment with the surgeon tomorrow.

We are praying that it has been caught early enough for treatment to be quick and relatively painless, but we're not sure yet where we stand. Best case would be to only have to have surgery. That's what I'm asking for from God. Wouldn't THAT be a nice Christmas present?!

For now, you can stay updated here on what's going on and to know how to pray.

Thank you for your prayers.

Love,
Carrie

Dear Heavenly Father,

A "minute" ago, my little babies were heading to kindergarten. Our worlds changed and grew and got more interesting and scary and happy. They loved learning and they made good friends and had wonderful teachers.

And, they took a step or two away from me.

Tomorrow they start high school. 

I pray, Father, that their worlds change and get more interesting and a little happier. I also pray that they'll have opportunities to grow -- sometimes in ways that they wouldn't choose so they learn how to adapt and move on. 

I pray that they learn a lot and that their minds grow. I pray that the teachers they have will stretch them in good ways and help them to become all that they can be as life-long learners. I pray that they will learn to work with teachers --- even if they may not "click" completely. I pray that you will teach them how to resolve any conflicts they may have and that you will give them the gift of diplomacy and a quiet, gentle spirit when dealing with others.

And, Father, I pray that you will surround them with good friends. Friends that build them up and encourage them. I pray for friends that may think differently, but have strong, healthy values. I pray for protection for them -- even if they might make bad choices. I pray for wisdom and kindness and trustworthiness for them and for the friends they make.

I pray that they will love high school and that they will each -- separately -- find their niche. That you will guide them now towards the things that they will do later in life. And, I pray that you will give them lots of successes with just a sprinkling of disappointments to keep them balanced and real.

I pray, too, Father, for me and Harvey. I pray that you will give us wisdom, kindness, diplomacy and a quiet, gentle, supportive and loving spirit. 

What blessings you have given me in these sweet "little" girls. Please help me to be just what they need in a mama as they start high school and throughout their lives.

Amen.