Update

Thanks for all the prayers - my Grandmother did well with her surgery and is at home recuperating.

My Dr. changed the area that will get treatment - it is smaller and will be more shallow energy so it will not pass all the way through my ankle. He said I have between 10 and 15 treatments left. Yeah!

Thankful List

35. Meals - I have had several wonderful church members bring meals for my family - I can always tell they were made with love.

36. Giving Back - I am looking forward to the day when I can help others in need.

37. Computers - help me stay in touch with the outside world

38. Feet - I am very grateful for my two working feet and ankles - can't believe I thought about giving one up.

39. My Health - I am amazed at how well my body is handling what is going on - I know that a positive attitude helps - thanks to all my supporters.

40. Sleep - I will be in bed soon and wonder what I will dream about.

Here goes 21-30

Thankful list

21. Sunshine - last three days the sun has really lifted my spirits!

22. Basketball - William and Luke are both enjoying learning to play and are right now outside practicing with each other on the driveway - we don't even have a hoop.

23. Wii - William and Jake finally found something they will play together and not fight - most of the time - they really like Super Smash Bros Brawl.

24. Aunts - I am very blessed with many special Aunts on both sides of my family.

25. Uncles - I will not leave you out - you keep my Aunts busy!

26. Cousins - I have lost count of how many I have but enjoy the uniqueness of each one - this includes, second and third - etc.

27. Nephews - Bryce, Tylor and now Evan - very special friends to my boys - I am looking forward to a niece sometime soon.

28. Grandparents - I have not forgot you - I love you all for the gifts - material and not so material.

29. Joyce and Terry - speaking of unique - they are wonderful and always full of love and support.

30. Jim and Jeanette - I love following you on your adventures - even if I just follow you by website, emails and phone calls.

31. Michael and Robin - wonderful new married couple - love how they support each other.

32. Borja Family - you know who you are - each one of you is special to me and I miss seeing you more often.

33. Bud - just enjoyed a busy Sunday with church, lunch out, haircuts, carwash and now basketball with the boys.

Oops! - went past 30 - I got carried away and did not want to leave anyone out - if you feel left out - email me so I can include you on 34-100.

More on my list

I have completed 9 treatments and have just started to feel a little internal burning in my ankle. It is hard to wait to get them all done. I need to work on my thankful list so I don't get depressed, so here goes 11 - 20

11. God - this list is not in order and I did not forget you!
12. Catholic Church - I love the traditions!
13. Cookies - I am going to enter a cookie baking contest - I have always wanted to do this and I have already tried my first test batch - yummy!
14. Cameras - I love taking pictures - I realized that I did not take a picture for almost 3 weeks after I found out I had cancer - makes me sad to think that I was so lost in fear that I did not think to do something that makes me happy.
15. Mail - I have been getting many get well cards and packages - this helps keep my spirits up - I also enjoy emails.
16. Lotion - I have always loved lotions with wonderful smells - now I have one that does not smell for my ankle, but it seems to be working well for my skin.
17. Birthday Cake - Always brings a smile to my face and I get to take pictures!
18. Sand - hot or cold between my toes - wet or dry - run or walk - you always take some home to clean out of your car - leaves good memories.
19. Ocean - where you find the best sand - always changing - could stare at it for hours.
20. Seagulls - I used to not even look at these birds and then last weekend they were always on our balcony - one morning William and I stepped out to get a closer view and the seagulls swarmed us - we both jumped back in surprise and starting laughing - I guess they were looking for breakfast, but we had none for them - one that we studied closely had a bent toe - they normally have 3 toes - we walked on the beach and found the seagull prints with 2 toes and knew who they belonged to - cool!

L is for lists, lists and more lists.

Both my husband and I love lists - we enjoy making them and then crossing off what has been accomplished. On New Year's Eve I started thinking about a New Year's Resolution List - I don't usually make one of these lists, but I have been doing a lot of things lately that I don't normally do. As I was thinking about my list I remembered some people have lists of 100 things they want to do before they die - I do not feel like this would be a good list for me, I already have my list of songs , I have a list of people that are going to drive me to my treatments, I have a list of groceries, I have a list of doctors, but someone told me they are inspired by their list of 100 thing they are thankful for and praise God everyday for these things - this is a much better list for me, so I want to start one - I think I will just do 10 right now and then add as I want to.

Lisa's Thankful List

1. Rainbows - I saw one when I was driving to my first radiation treatment and it made me smile.
2. Family - I am so blessed with so many wonderful and supportive family members.
3. Friends - I am equally blessed with old and new friends helping and praying for me.
4. My boys - they always find a way to make me laugh everyday.
5. Books - I am always more focused and relaxed when I am reading a book - my favorite part is always the middle.
6. Tea - I stopped drinking coffee and soda - so now I drink at least 3 cups of tea a day.
7. Music - I love my list of songs - reminds me of how much I am loved.
8. Baths - I usually am a shower person, but one of the radiation nurses said I should take a bath, so I don't drop the shampoo bottle on my foot or don't hurt my skin from the pelts of water. The doctor had already told me to soak my foot for 20 minutes a day to increase the circulation, so why not my whole body. People say that baths are relaxing, but I am still working on that. I know this is more detail than you need, but I am trying to convince myself that I am thankful for baths because I miss my showers.
9. Birds - I love to watch them - some how they make me happy - I love hummingbirds and the sound they make when they fly.
10. Seasons - My son Luke asked me the other day what was my favorite season, he guessed it would be spring because he knows I love flowers, but I told him fall because I love to see the leaves change color, he said he likes Winter for snowball fights - I decided not to remind him that the snow is rare in Dallas, Oregon. I also love summer - going to the beach and building sandcastles with my boys.

Happy New Year!