THE BIG "C"

Nearly every day you and I learn about cancer, the Big "C" whether we like it or not. It attacks and claims those we love. I know it causes me to shake my fist, not necessarily at GOD, but at the disease itself. A scourge that is only too familiar, and painful, and sad. There is a happy ending to match every tragic ending.

Last week I was worried sick over a friend who'd been told that she had uterine cancer. Lisa had surgery two days ago and received a good report that her cancer had not spread to any surrounding organs. Her prognosis looks good.
This week one of my Greenwood clients said that the doctors told her she had new cancer. She's been healed once and is believing for a miracle again.
Uncle Herman Fickes--Prostate Cancer. Herman is my husband's uncle.
Chrissy Titus--passed away after a long battle with stage 4 stomach cancer. May she rest in peace. Chrissy fought long and hard and was a good woman who helped to raise several children, one of them being my adopted daughter Erin Titus.
Jerry Rushing beat cancer twice. He is a godly man, father and husband to Luanne. We're life-long friends and rejoice that he is still around.
Diane--my own mother is a breast cancer survivor. Radiation treatments were brutal for her. I love her bunches. I need her to be around for a long time.
Aunt Jean--cancer that resulted in a hysterectomy by age 30.
Grandma Garland--stomach and esophageal cancer. God bless her. We all miss her so much to this day!
Aunt Janet--rare blood cancer. Alive and well and her hair has grown back.
Susan Fritz--best hairdresser in all of Pennsylvania beat breast cancer and opted for mastectomy. Wow and seriously, I call her the Hair Goddess.
Cameron B, Shelly's husband. Police Officer, father of two. Gone. His life lives on but his loss leaves a gaping hole for the Crutcher family. I only met him once. To you Cam.
And one more, Dawn Stufflet's sister--Gone too young.

I am never going to be able to name all of the people I've known or know who have faced this disease but honestly some weeks it feels like it's always Cancer Awareness Week, ya know? I'm writing this to say, Cancer sucks, and it hurts and it is wonderful when prayer and chemo and radiation work in tandem. Miracles and stories of healing keep me going. So, here's to all of those, more than I can name who fought the fight, who are in the fight. You are heroes in my eyes.

If you want to add to this list, feel free to do so. I'd love to hear your stories of courage and triumph and tears. My heart goes out to you.

Until next time...Breathe and be thankful for breath and life and loved ones.

Sun-dried Tomato & Spinach Quiche (Torta Rustica)

1 package refrigerated ready piecrusts (Pillsbury)
4 eggs
1 container (16 oz.) part-skim ricotta cheese
4 ounces asiago cheese
1 tsp. coarsely crushed black peppercorns
½ cup grated parmesan cheese
1 10 oz. pkg. frozen chopped spinach, thawed & well drained
¼ cup seasoned bread crumbs
¼ cup sun-dried tomatoes, drained and coarsely chopped
1 tsp. dried basil


Preheat over to 425. Arrange one piecrust in 9-inch pie pan.
Lightly beat 1 egg over bottom of crust; set aside

In large bowl, combine remaining 3 eggs, ricotta, pepato and parmesan cheese and basil; mix until well blended. Stir in spinach, bread crumbs and tomatoes. Scrape mixture into prepared piecrust. Smooth top to make an even layer.
Place second piecrust over filling; brush remaining beated egg over top. Flute egg & seal.

Bake pie 15 minutes. Reduce over temp to 375*; bake 20 minutes longer, or until golden brown.

Cool pie in pan on wire rack at least 30 minutes before cutting. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Up at 6 am

My husband can tell you I'm not a morning person. Well, not a morning person in the sense that I long to rise at the crack of dawn and get my day going. No, I'm more of a lounge in bed person while my hubby puts on the coffee, takes his shower and does man stuff. However, if he turns on too many lights or bangs around a bit while he's getting ready, I'm DONE FOR!!! So, my mind immediately starts racing and the mental "to do list" begins....That's how this morning was. Alarm went off. Hubby hit the snooze button. 7 or 9 minutes later the alarm dings again. So, I laid in bed for a few sweet minutes and said hello to Jesus and thank him for another day of life. I pray for my friends who are struggling in many ways. I pray for my children, all 3 of them. The songs of Jesus Culture begin to make their way into the fiber of my being and I'm up. 6:45 am is early for me folks. But so far, it's been a productive morning. Blogging is just part of what I've got on tap for the day. Laundry has been loaded into the washer. Other load in the dryer. Bed is made. Dishes washed.

It's Wednesday and that means it's my Meals on Wheels delivery day. Ministry opportunity day. 67 degrees and sunny and I have the awesome privilege of spending time with some Greenwood shut-ins and an elderly widower whose great-grand daughter died tragically three weeks ago. All I'm doing is handing out food and giving a few hugs and some loving. But it's a great way to spend my morning and it makes me realize that early mornings sometimes turn into the best kind of days. Until next time...breathe.

Countdown to Kenya

43 days left. 11 in October. 30 in November. 2 in December. My spirit is being stirred towards the things I love about Kenya...children running up to me with huge smiles on their faces...seeing Terry, our sponsorship child...the thrill of tackling our two daughters, Bethany & Erin. Meeting Erin's mother, Debbie for the first time before the wedding on December 10th.
Aaah, Kenya, I am almost ready for you. I know that my heart will break once again when I am faced with poverty, and sights and smells that assault senses. But I know full well that I will see Jesus in the faces of those I meet, because Jesus is everywhere in Kenya.
Yes, I'm almost ready for joy, heartache and the face of Jesus.

58 Days

Okay, here we are at 58 days til Kenya. Get ready girls. We are coming to see you!

THE SILVER SPOON

It is a beast...I wondered how my husband could order a cooking book nearly four inches thick...nay, nay, the equivalent of The Joy of Cooking on steroids. It truly is a monster. But once I cracked open this manual, I began to understand why it is the quintessential cookbook for Italians. The Silver Spoon is prized as the cookbook one generation passes on to the next generation. For many reasons The Silver Spoon is the most successful cookbook in Italy, the book that has its place in every family kitchen, and the one that many brides have received as a wedding gift.
With our summer lake season nearly over, my husband suggested that we as a couple endeavor to cook weekly from The Silver Spoon. Check back later this week for Round 1: Beef Stew with Coffee.