Learn
to get in touch with the silence within yourself, and know
that everything in life has purpose. There are no mistakes,
no coincidences; all events are blessings given to us to
learn from. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
Last
Thursday, August 31, Liz completed her radiation treatments.
She came out of the radiation chamber, rang a bell to signal
the end of her 28 sessions and turned to face her friends
and family who came to celebrate. No more radiation! (celebration
pictures are here)
The
next morning Jessica, Liz and I packed up the car and headed
for Laguna Beach, California. Liz yearned for the sound of
ocean waves, cooler breezes and rest. The Inn of Laguna www.innatlagunabeach.com
accommodated all her requests.
Our room faced the ocean and provided a view of the shoreline.
We
feasted on spectacular sunrises and sunsets and at night the
ocean sounds lulled us to sleep.
Each
morning I woke early and strolled along the beach; there were
few early risers so I had the beach all to myself. I found
the place I visited as a child, sitting on rocks near the
tide pools. That is where I began my day on Sunday, the Day
of Hope for Liz. I thought of the dozens of people who were
spending that day with Liz out on the trails. Gratitude. I
felt gratitude for all of you and the marvelous support and
energy you generate. No matter where YOU are, we feel it in
Arizona!
The
“girlfriends” came to visit us on Saturday morning.
Yvonne (in angel shirt) and her daughters Heather and Kiersten,
prepared a patio breakfast picnic and Yvonne offered a toast
to mothers, sisters, girlfriends, daughters, godmothers, grandmothers
and great granddaughters. Liz and I know that the women in
our lives will rise to every challenge life brings us.
It
was enough for Liz to gaze at the ocean, listen to the waves
at night and nap during the day.
Jessica
pushed her mom in the wheelchair. We walked the beach path,
dined at local restaurants and even did some window shopping
one day. We are grateful to Grandma Doris’ church, Apache
Wells Community Church, for lending us the wheelchair.
On
Sunday Jessica and I planted two umbrellas in the sand near
our room, spread out some towels and beach chairs. Liz spent
two hours enjoying the ocean breeze and working “fill-in
puzzles.”
Before
we left for Laguna Beach someone wrote these words: RestLizRest.
While you were running and walking and biking and rowing,
Liz began her period of rest. She is taking great care of
herself, eating well, holding positive thoughts and preparing
for the next big race—surgery. We will know the date
by the end of this week. Between now and then Liz will be
preparing her interior landscape for surgery. She knows what
she has to do and she knows how to do it. I believe in her
and we both believe in the power of her healing system. She
stands in the center of the sacred cross that means so much
to both of us.
We
come to many crossroads on our journey. There are many directions
to choose; you just have to pick one and go. We choose life.
Abundant life.
This wonderfully
energetic bluegrass-kinda group is singing these words
of hope
for Liz, for her family...well, for all of us...Dream
Big
You can control the playback by using these buttons
The
Lyrics: words and music by Ryan
Shupe
When you cry, be sure to dry your eyes,
'Cause
better days are sure to come.
And when you smile, be sure to smile wide,
And don't let them know that they have won.
And when you walk, walk with pride,
And don't show the hurt inside,
Because the pain will soon be gone.
And
when you dream, dream big,
As
big as the ocean, blue.
'Cause
when you dream it might come true.
But
when you dream, dream big.
And
when you laugh, be sure to laugh out loud,
'Cause
it will carry all your cares away.
And
when you see, see the beauty all around and in yourself,
And
it will help you feel okay.
And
when you pray, pray for strength to help to carry on,
But
when the troubles come your way.
And
when you dream, dream big,
As
big as the ocean, blue.
'Cause
when you dream it might come true.
But
when you dream, dream big.
Dream
big.
Dream
big.
When
you cry be sure to dry your eyes,
cause
better days are sure to come.
And
when you smile be sure to smile wide, and
don't
let them know that they have one.
And
when you laugh be sure to laugh out loud,
'Cause
it will carry all your cares away.
And
when you see, see the beauty all
around
and in yourself, and it will help you feel okay.
And
when you pray, pray for strength to
help
to carry on when the troubles come your way
