thread for middle age to older Christian women.
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Thank you Nancy. My oncologist appointment went well yesterday. I am feeling pretty good because I have been off treatment for a couple of weeks. God's timing is perfect! But I am supposed to start back on tomorrow... I am just sitting here waiting for everyone to arrive--both sons and their families and my Auntie.
Glad you got your front porch finished. Now I am praying for complete defeat of the enemy!
Wheatfields and gb, I join others in continued prayer.
Blessings, Chris
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Chris, I am so glad to hear you are feeling pretty good and awaiting family to arrive. I am praying that you will hopefully have NO side effects and I am assuming you are going to be on the lower dose. Have a great time and enjoy your big day.
Love,
Nancy
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Hi all, may I ask for prayers for another member from the Stage IV threads? Her name is moth and she's really sick with her liver mets. If this latest treatment doesn't work, she may move on to hospice. My heart is so heavy.
Thank you,
Carol
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Lord, we lift up our sister Moth to you. Father you know her situation and what she needs. I pray that you would allow this treatment she is on to do it's perfect work for her and allow her more time on this Earth. Help with any pain or discomfort that she has. Let her know how much you love her.
Love,
Nancy
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Carol, I didn't realize Moth was struggling so much. I will surely pray for her.
My family is here and I am so happy. God is good!
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I posted this on Nextdoor yesterday. After a period of time feeling an onslaught from the enemy this was a great response in giving God glory for a huge chapter in my life. I am not on the usual social media sites so I am still learning how to post. I had no idea this was going out to the whole country. The response has been so unbelievable from not only my local neighborhoods but from all corners of the country and in between. It has uplifted me greatly in knowing that my story touched so many people and inspired them. I know that I have shared this story with some of you who have been around for quite some time but the newer people to this thread have not heard it. I did want more of an audience to share my story and that surely happened once I posted it. I hope it blesses you as well.
This Swan family changed my life.
Eight years ago this month I was in the middle of my daily cancer treatments in Lisle, IL. I had suffered a shoulder injury during a diagnostic procedure so I had not only my cancer treatments but also shoulder therapy as well. On my daily jaunts to the cancer clinic I saw these two beautiful adult swans in this pond on Warrenville Rd at Arbor Lakes corporate office complex in Lisle. I had not seen swans before and I was so thrilled to see them. This was absolutely a bright spot everyday as I traveled to and from my treatments. I would see them every day as I drove to my clinic. I was to finish treatments at the end of June but the radiation machine broke down for four days. When I resumed I looked for "my" swans and I didn't see them. I looked on the bank of the pond and I could see several fur balls next to the adults. I was over the moon. I had dabbled in bird photography but was really not into it at that time. When I finally finished my treatments and was dealing with the typical radiation fatigue I vowed I would go back to this pond and see how to gain access. So about three weeks later I had my camera in tow and found out how to gain access and be able to get pretty close to the swans. At this point the five cygnets were swimming like pros right along with Mom and Dad. I took several pictures and on a whim I decided to send one to the Daily Herald photo competition. One day I opened the paper and there was my swan family as a winner of the week. A few weeks later I got a call from the Daily Herald and they wanted to interview me. I told them about my cancer journey and discovering the swans during that time. I told them that I really thought this was a gift from God to me during this very scary and stressful time. I found out my photo was the winner of the month. I did receive some gift card money which was nice but more thrilling was the passion that was ignited in me after that whole experience. I have since then taken photography classes and workshops and spent many hours watching photography tutorials on YouTube and reading photography books. I have been fortunate to have won several photography competitions since then and I am still very passionate about photography to this day. As I look back what if that radiation machine had not broken down. Would those cygnets have been born yet? I will never know that answer but I thank God for this swan family that is now on my living room wall as a testimony to God's goodness and mercy in my cancer journey. I have gone back to this pond several times to try to recreate this photo with newer swan families. It just never happened. It was all meant to be for that moment that this swan family was right there at the right time for me to catch this moment in my life. So as you can see this swan family truly did change my life forever. In The Daily Herald article about my photo they titled it "A Heavenly Sight". I couldn't agree more.
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Teka, thank you. There was someone from NY that responded to my post. Several from CA. It was unbelievable and uplifting.
How did your apt with your orthopedic specialist go today? Is surgery on the table at this point? I have been praying for you.
I spent a good part of this afternoon at the vet with Cammie. I have been concerned about her. She has to be sedated every time I go so it is not like your typical apt would be. The vet was pleased that she gained weight. I have been giving her an appetite stimulant but it has been causing side effects. The vet would like to wean her off the meds. Cammie would be happy about that but I am not so sure how that will go. Time will tell.
Have a good night.
Love,
Nancy
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Nancy, WOW! What a beautiful photo and an even more beautiful story you told. I'm not surprised that it is being read and appreciated near and far.
I'm glad Cammie is gaining a bit of weight.
To all the rest, I wish you a peaceful slumber. It's 8:40 and I'm ready for bed.
Carol
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Teka, I am glad you are feeling better and I will pray for continued improvement.
Nancy, I always love to read your swan story. It is uplifting every time.
My nieces are in my kitchen putting together the anniversary cake. My auntie, who is here, made my original one and has made a mini "fake" replica which she brought with her, and is consulting them on how to decorate it. I will post pictures when they are done. I still have my wedding topper which they will use. How fun! I am just sitting enjoying the show and watching my grandsons play. God is good!
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Carol, thank you. My swan story is still alive and well. It is such a great reminder of God's goodness. I have that print blown up and professionally framed and on my living room wall. I don't ever want to take that picture or that story for granted. God works in mysterious and interesting ways and it is never the same from one person to the next. All of us have a story to tell which are as unique as we all are as individuals. I had someone from San Diego respond to the swan story. I am still dumfounded that I didn't realize my story was posted to the whole country!
Teka, I am SO glad to hear that your cortisone injection has helped you so much. I discovered years ago that my left leg is shorter than my right one and I now have a shoe lift built into my orthotics. It can really throw off your back so perhaps someone can help you with that. I have a good friend who is my age. I thought for sure she would opt for knee surgery and she opted to NOT have it. She is also a bc survivor and I can certainly understand her holding off on it. I just got an email that she is going to do the Chicago Marathon (walking only) for World Vision and clean water. I can't imagine but she likes to set high goals for herself.
Cammie is so thrilled to get some hard and tight mats behind her ears removed. I was relieved that it was mats because I was fearing a tumor. Unfortunately the girl who did it missed a big mat just under that area. Cammie does not want me to brush her but I have fooled her lately and got in a few swipes before she realizes it.
Our landscapers have not trimmed our bushes yet and my front porch area looks like a jungle right now. I want to have them trim before I post any pics of my front porch. I am not finished with my flower in the front either. First waiting on the porch contractor and now waiting on the landscapers. I just bought 23 bags of mulch and unloaded 15 of them onto my patio in the back today. I feel like I have just had a weigh lifting session at the gym!
I love hearing about the wild strawberries. Thanks for sharing your daughter's pic of them. I haven't eaten any sweets since the middle of Jan. so no shortcake for me but I hope you will get to enjoy some.
Chris, I am so thrilled that you are enjoying your time of celebration and watching all the action that is going into your big celebration. I can't tell you how happy that makes me knowing you have longed for this day for a very long time. Yes, please share a pic of the cake when it is all finished. I am continuing to pray that you will feel good and that you can live in the moment relishing every single thing going on around you. I am glad you are not getting tired of my swan story. Every time I share it it is never quite the same. I did have some residents from CO who responded on Nextdoor.
GB, how are you doing? I got my bird feeders back up and they didn't miss a beat as I had feared they might. I put my hummingbird feeder up on Wed. and Thursday and today I have seen a female and male already. I am thrilled about that. How are your Bluebirds doing? How are things on the work front?
Hershey and Jean, I am praying for your PT sessions.
Wheatfields, praying that your recovery continues each day.
Shannon, praying that you will have victory over fear and that you can relax knowing your treatments are finally over.
Have a great weekend dear sisters.
Love,
Nancy
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Carol, I read your latest blog post. Oh my. So many things hit home for me. You have a gift of inserting humor into the most stressful situations that made me smile while I was also being convicted. That is an art in itself! When exactly are your scans or are you still waiting for the next representative?
Seriously, I will be praying for them because that is something I do have control over!!!Love,
Nancy
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Thank you Nancy. Unless they run out of the contrast dye, my scans will be on Wednesday. I'll check in for the nuclear med injection at 9:15, then get the CT scan at 10:00. Then back to the nuclear med scan at 11:30. After that, home for a nap!
Thank you for your prayers, as always!
How are you feeling? Are you able to enjoy your new deck?
Carol
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Hi ladies,
Work is ok I guess. I'm just sort of showing up and doing what I need to do. There's definitely covid in the building, but it is what it is. I'm really burned out though. I've been working at the same job for a very long time, and become sad when I wake up in the morning and realize I have to go in.
The birds are great! We did lose a nest to (I think) house wrens. But a new BB couple moved in, clearly newbies because she's tiny and he still has some juvenile tail feathers. She's been incubating the eggs for probably a week now, so I imagine we'll hear little babies by the weekend. I got lightweight binoculars for my birthday so I've been enjoying watching the feeder!
Kind of hurt all over from the meds. I guess zoladex and exemestane is instant arthritis? I had a long talk with the nurse navigator about it, and she gave me some ideas. I might touch base with ortho just to make sure there's nothing else wrong with my ankles. It's my ankles and the small joints of my fingers and toes. I can barely move my fingers when I wake up, but my warm coffee cup seems to help.
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Carol, I am praying for you for Wed. Hopefully if they told you they had reserved scans for top priority patients then you will get your CT scan as promised. I know it is a long day when you have to have all of these things. Praying for strength on test day and praying for GOOD NEWS in your results.
I am still having quite a lot of issues with my GI tract and some things are getting worse. If things don't calm down I may have to take some drastic action. I am still on my detox diet. I have lost 21 pounds and the good thing in that is that I have been doing some strenuous yard work and am tolerating that better. Today was tough as the heat index is very high and a heat advisory warning was issued. I have been in a race hauling bags of mulch as I have a young gal coming on Wed. to detail my car. I can't haul bags of mulch in my back seat AFTER she spends all afternoon on the inside of my car so that has been my story for the last several days. My porch rebuild is unfortunately nothing I can really enjoy. It was just one of those things that had to be done. My shrubs are too high around it so I never sit on my front porch. However I have a very nice fairly new patio in the back which I rarely use. Yeah, I know. I tend to be on the go a lot and then when I stop I just want to relax in my Lazy Boy and watch TV. I'll have to post some pics of my flowers on my patio. I am still waiting for my landscapers to trim the bushes so I can post a pic of my front porch. I got out my own hedge trimmers last week and trimmed some bushes so I could get my flowers out. I am still waiting to mulch this front area and get my cascading fountain up. Lot's to do yet and the weather is going to be brutal.
GB, I'm sorry that your work is a burden. I remember many years ago having a type of crisis not knowing if I wanted to make a change in my work situation. I am not exactly sure what changed but I stayed put and it all worked out in the end. I think my attitude changed along the way and I am sure I prayed for guidance and direction. I am glad you have your birds to put a bright spot in your day. I would love, love, love to have bluebirds nesting in my yard. I don't have any birdhouses up but I was looking at some they were selling on TV recently. So cute but I opted out.
As far as your meds I was on an AI and I was told by my cancer team that exercise could really help with the side effects. I do think it did help. I was a swimmer and walker during that time. I pray that God will help you to navigate all of what you are experiencing.
Chris, praying you are soaking up all of the celebration going on around you. I would love to see some pics of your special cake when you have time. Praying that your drug has not caused you to feel bad and that you are still enjoying your family.
There are tornado warnings around us but thankfully it is not in our particular area and I hope it won't be.
Take care dear sisters.
Love,
Nancy
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Nancy, it's hot here too. Our AC has been broken. They had to order a part and it's scheduled for repair on Thursday. It's pretty hot in our house though. We bought a portable unit, but it only cools the room it's in.
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GB, oh no. Praying that you can keep cool with your portable until you get your AC fixed. I hope that will happen on Thursday. Our feel like temp is around 110 today. I worked outside mulching yesterday and will probably stay inside today. Yesterday was hot and humid but nothing like the next couple of days.
I just saw a Papa male cardinal feeding one of it's babies on my patio. I had no idea that little one was a baby cardinal as it doesn't look like the adult at all. I think they might have a nest in my hedge as I have seen them in there more than usual. I wish I could have caught that on camera.
Take care.
Love,
Nancy
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GB and Nancy, I hear you loud and clear about the heat. We're in the middle of a heat wave, and recent cold fronts are too far north to give us any relief. Yesterday was miserably hot. I went to buy some ice cream, and it melted in the 5 minutes between the store and home. (Melted ice cream is still yummy, though!)
GB, I hope the AC part arrives on time, and the repair does the trick. Trying to sleep in a hot house is rough.
Nancy, please take it easy doing yardwork. Large bags of mulch can be heavy and awkward to carry. Do you have a neighbor who could help with some of the heavy lifting?
I have three PT sessions remaining. The therapist introduced some new exercises at my last session, so I feel fairly well equipped to do my own self care at home.
Keep cool, everyone!
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Nancy, I loved your swan story and the picture! I am praying for your GI issues, and also do be careful in the heat for it has been very hot and if I think it's humid here I know it's even more sweltering further east. GB, I'm sorry to hear of your work situation and also praying that your AC is soon fixed and that the blue birds continue to provide lots of joy. Hershey, I'm praying for your continued PT sessions and self care at home. Also, Carol, we will be praying for your scans tomorrow, and Chris that you are feeling good and enjoying family now. My hand is getting better, the right one sometimes has a little pain, which I could live with, although my nurse friend said it can take a cortisone shot a while to work, it does seem better than it was. The left thumb that had surgery is healing, and I am doing the exercises faithfully, but I can see where I have a ways to go before it's as flexible as the other thumb. I have a yearly mammogram coming up on the 28th of June, and an appointment with the oncologist. I'm feeling guilty because the first two years since my diagnosis I was pretty good about nutritional eating and now it'll be 3 years, but in the last 6 months I've really been off the bandwagon, eating healthy maybe 2/3 of the time but the other third having whatever I like. Praying for you all and thank you for your prayers!
Love, Wheatfields
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Um...now our fridge is dead. I feel like there's a big target on my back.
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GB, I'm so sorry about the refrigerator. Can it be repaired, or is it time for a new one? Power companies in my area offer rebates for the purchase of new refrigerators. Perhaps that is something to investigate.
Wheatfields, your rehab sounds like it is going very well. Your nurse friend is such a good encouragement, and I'm glad that she is there for you. I will pray for a good mammogram report on the 28th.
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Hershey, I did not work outside yesterday other than water my flowers. I didn't walk either and I hate it when I miss but this heat is just too much. As soon as I had hauled the 23 bags of mulch and spent one afternoon mulching I get a letter in the mail that evening from our HOA board saying that they had hired a company to mulch our parkways and they would prefer the homeowners use brown mulch to match. Sorry too late for my cedar mulch!! I know each year I ask myself how many more years will I be able to do this. I have a lot that is bigger than most in our subdivision and it is a lot for me. I am battling this weed called Canada Thistle and it is about to do me in. Devilish thing to get rid of and I am deathly afraid of using Roundup even though I know that would probably do the job. I am using natural methods. I am glad to hear your PT is about to end. When mine ended I did those shoulder exercises for months. I hope you have found relief from pain and more range of motion.
Wheatfields, it sounds like your surgery and cortisone injections are doing their intended work. I do hope your nurse friend is right and that you will find the injection improving your pain over time. Eating healthy I think for most people is an ongoing and constant battle of choice. At least you are eating 2/3 the time in a healthy manner. That is something and probably better than most. We will be praying for your scans coming up on June 28.
Carol, this is your big day of scans and tests. Praying for strength to get through it and praying for a very restorative nap when you get home. Praying for good results and peace in the wait time.
Chris, I hope you are continuing to enjoy your family. I am not sure how long your celebration will continue but I hope you have treasured every moment of it.
GB, I am so sorry to hear about your refrigerator. I pray that you can either get it repaired or find a new one asap. At least when you are going to work you have AC. Praying your AC in your home will be fixed tomorrow. Know that we are constantly in a spiritual battle. As I have shared earlier I was definitely feeling an onslaught which is still going on in some areas.
My high school girl and her sister in junior high are working on detailing my car in this sweltering heat. I hate it that I only have a one car garage and and my driveway is not very big. She brought a canopy but couldn't fit it in the space that I have. In the twenty minutes I was outside getting the hose ready for her sweat was pouring off my face. I don't know how she does it. She did say it will be two hours which is less time than I thought. For their sake I am thankful. My car was just detailed on the outside two weeks ago and it already looked like new. When I booked this girl I didn't realize she didn't do a wax job. She is probably thinking this car doesn't need cleaning at all. I think she will probably do a better detail in the inside than the big company I have had in the past.
Stay as cool as you can.
Love,
Nancy
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Hi All. I have been praying for you all when I can.
Today I dropped my Auntie off at the airport and my son and his family leave in the morning so my celebration is almost over. I am sitting at the hospital right now waiting for my Zometa infusion which is given at precisely every 84 days. It all has been wonderful to have everyone here but I am ready for rest. I have started a lower dose medicine and am already feeling is effects but I'll make it.
I ask for prayer for my son and his wife. My youngest grandson, who is two, is extremely strong-willed and screams at them. They have the patience of saints but it is wearing on them. Pray they can find a good behavior solution. Their older two are wonderfully behaved so this is real hard on them. We are praying once they are home they can get him back on a good routine which works.
I haven't forgot you want a picture of the cake. Perhaps when everyone leaves I can Gary it done. Gotta go...Chris
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It's fixed, but I think we're still going shopping for a new one before this happens again. It's a pretty old appliance. He said he had to throw out a lot of food. Will find out when I get home. Hopefully the AC will be fixed tomorrow.
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GB, I'm sorry to hear about your refrigerator. Some days DO feel like we have a target on our backs!
Nancy, I'm sorry you're dealing with heat issues. Weather continues to be crazy all over the place. Flooding in Yellowstone? Is that a first? I'm glad you're getting your car detailed. I'm sure it will look great inside and out.
My scans came back as stable, so I'm thankful for that. I couldn't get the bloodwork done because they couldn't find the order. Oh well. I'll try again on Friday.
Chris, I will be praying for your son and his wife and their two-year-old son. It sounds like a super challenging time for them.
Love to all, (and anyone I missed)
Carol
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Chris, it sounds like you are winding down your celebration now. I am so glad that you got to enjoy that. I can imagine that rest is on your mind now. I really do pray that your lower dose of your new med you will adjust to without terrible side effects and that it will do it's intended job. I am really sorry to hear about your youngest grandson. That has to be very, very difficult. I hope once they get back home that things will calm down for him.
GB, the weekend I moved into my new house in June of 1991 (31 yrs) my parents were with me to help. The refrigerator which was already in the house gave out. It was a weekend and if it was just me I could have managed somehow but with my parents here I knew they would need a refrigerator so I had bought one and had it installed I imagine at a premium price with emergency status. That very same refrigerator is going strong all these years later. I know they don't make appliances to last like that anymore but I pray you can get a good one that will last for several years to come. Too bad about losing the food.
Carol, congratulations on stable results from your scans. I am so glad you get results asap. Bummer about the bloodwork though.
My girls who detailed my car didn't look too bad for working in this oppressive heat. They were grateful my car was quite clean already. They were guessing it was two years old. This July I will have bought it new 7 years ago. I gave them a huge tip. There is about 300 people on her waiting list. She is obviously doing something right. My car does look like new now. One of my long time email friends does not mince words with me. She claims I take better care of my car than I do myself. I just smile as I know her intentions are good. I do take care of myself but I can be a workaholic at times.......okay most of the time. LOL
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Nancy, I've used Bonide's Burn Out Weed & Grass Killer in the past. It's all natural, has a wonderful clove fragrance, and works best when applied on a sunny hot day. Amazon carries it in the 32 oz spray bottles.
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Hershey, thank you for that info. I will look into that. My spraying with vinegar feels like an unending battle because I believe if it rains it washes it away. I attacked early in the season and from what I can tell I am not seeing much results from all that effort. The problem is that this thistle is coming up in my hostas and hydrangeas so I don't want to spray anything on those but just keep cutting them down as far as I can. Just an FYI if any of you have this issue do NOT pull them out as it will only cause the underground root to split and multiply the problem.
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HAPPY FATHERS DAY
Honoring all of the Dad's who are in our lives now and for those who have passed. Enjoy this special weekend.
I have rarely posted a picture of myself but I will today. I had a wonderful last few days. I reconnected with my best friend from elementary school. She moved to another area of town and we went to separate junior high schools and then went to the same high school but we had already made new friends by then. She was a cheerleader and I was a band geek. We met on Classmates.com which is a site that reunites high school friends. Other than one other time we hadn't really seen each other for 53 yrs. We talked for an hour and a half and it was wonderful. We are going to stay in touch. She lives in Berkeley, CA. Then the next day I walked almost 6 miles. I am sure a world record for me in my older age. This picture was taken at our the Morton Arboretum in our area. I got to see another old friend who I hadn't seen in person for several years. We had lunch and spent the afternoon hunting for these sculptures through out the many acres of the arboretum. Then yesterday I had a wonderful time at a legacy brunch celebrating our church's 55th anniversary. There is a four day festival going on with a carnival and arts and craft fair and a concert all to help welcome our community and hopefully get them to come to church plus celebrating our legacy. Needless to say I have been pretty wiped out but getting ready to go to church now.
This sculpture is a whole series of man and nature entwined. I'm the one in the front. LOL
I hope you are all doing well this weekend. We have had some really nice weather which is about to turn very hot and humid again soon.
Oh BTW. My friend and I got to visit the swans and they have 7 babies. The mother was hiding in areas we couldn't really see very well but we were very close to Papa swan. I hope to visit there soon with my good camera.
Love,
Nancy
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Nancy, what a wonderful weekend. How lovely to connect with an old (long-time) high school friend! It looks like it was the perfect day! Nice to "see" you.
Carol
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Nancy, lovely picture of you. It almost looks like Mother Nature is watching over you!
Honoring dads today. My half-sister confessed our biological dad was not the best dad so I feel blessed that God sent me to one who taught me the love of God, family, and fishing! I am not doing well today so I shall nap and rest.
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