Penciling it in...

Mackenzie and I have read every copy of Oprah's magazine and Sports Illustrated in the Holy Cross Hospital outpatient waiting room, and my guess is we still have time to spare, so I'll catch you up. I am having my spinal biopsy done this morning to find out once and for all if there is cancer in my vertebrae and solidify the treatment plan that will follow. As far as I know, my chemotherapy will still begin tomorrow as scheduled, unless we find something very surprising in this biopsy that alters that arrangement. One major lesson I've learned in this process is to never mark your calendar in ink! We have had to roll with many changes and there will be more to come, so we just try to remain flexible and trust in God's sovereignty as events unfold. I am confident that even when things seem hectic in the midsts of multiple biopsies, MRIs, CATscans, dr's appointments, and the like, the Lord is carrying me through in His palm. Isaiah 12:2 says, “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.”

We had a ball in New York City, creating laughter and memories. We were able to see another Broadway show, Young Frankenstein, from the first row! It was amazing to see the detail in their costumes close up, not to mention the amount of sweat and spit that falls on stage! The musical was just as funny as the movie and very impressive in performance and technical talent. On Valentine's Day, Bob took the girls out for lunch at Tavern on the Green. It was a gorgeous day, and the elegant dining room adorned with real blossoms and elaborate chandeliers was drenched in sunlight from the encircling windows. A perfect day for a marriage proposal, we figured! We kept our eyes glued to every affectionate young couple that walked in, but no one got on his knee. What's wrong with these guys?! However, we got our satisfaction later that night on the top of the Empire State building when a couple got engaged right next to us! They were giddy and cute as we took pictures of them and admired the ring. We did so much during our week in the city that the flight home was a blur of exhaustion. It was great to get back into our own beds and sleep in!

Shannon and Annabelle came over to welcome us home yesterday and collect their portion of the spoils from our trip. I was happy to see my girls I had missed so much! The rest of the day was spent lying in bed and watching a marathon of movies. I needed to rest up for the upcoming busy week with my biopsy, chemo, and BIRTHDAY! The winter is such a popular time for birthdays in my family, people start to think we're joking by the end of February. But as God would have it, He saved the best for last in our family birthdays and mine ends the series at February 20th! You can send all cards and gift packages to the address listed in my first blog post! :)

Please continue your prayers and support. They are greatly needed and appreciated!

There will be more NYC pictures to follow, but here's a sampling. The first couple are a tribute to our trio of red coats, and the last is Bob and I showing our "Dogs Rule" fashion sense in front of Louis Vuitton.