I had chemo on Friday--the fifth of many weekly “maintenance”
chemo sessions. I had to gear up for it because my session two weeks ago left
me sick and tired for up to four days. I wasn’t emotionally or physically
prepared to go the next week, so I played hooky and ditched it. But I know this
chemo is necessary, so I prepped myself physically, mentally, and spiritually
and went in. Who wants to do chemo on
Fridays—I mean it is the beginning of the weekend! But I went in and they were
behind schedule and I told my infusion nurse to hurry it up because I had no
time for this and no time for nausea because I had to get to my son’s soccer
game! We were playing our cross town rival and I wasn’t going to miss a minute
of his game. I headed out of there in
Friday rush hour traffic with a little drizzle of rain (which makes San Diegans
terrible drivers), and needed to get to that game. Greg had a carne asada
burrito waiting for me (what a guy) and my beast of a boy played a great game
with his team beating our rivals 3-0. Got home—no nausea, no fatigue, and ready
to head into a busy weekend.
Saturday was a gorgeous sunny day and I met my friends Rita
and Debbie for an amazing 4.5 mile hike at Torrey Pines State Beach-one of my
favorite happy places. That night we went to see a movie with one of our “bestie”
couple friends Bill and Dani and had a great meal at our local haunt, the
Brigantine, with laughter and fun conversation after the movie…..no fatigue, no
nausea….just an amazing Saturday filled with the beauty of San Diego and
incredible friendships.
I was on a roll—no side effects from the chemo, and headed
into a busy Sunday--can’t beat 75 degree weather in January, with church in the
morning, a pick up soccer game, my mom in town, and a thrown together gathering
at my house. We had originally talked about having a church wide Super Bowl
Party, but since we are a “church in a box”, we had no location. So, I offered
to have our staff/leadership team over about a week ago, with the caveat that
everyone had to bring everything and I would just have my house available (at
the time I wasn’t sure how I would be feeling after chemo).
Well, our party
grew just a bit, and people invited a few other people (of course being polite,
and asking us first) and we had “kids” and grown ups of all generations all
through the house. The upstairs media room was full with people on the couch,
the floor, on big fluffy throw pillows, and bar stools. The downstairs great
room was full with people watching the game, in the kitchen, at the dining
table. The patio was full with little kids running around twirling and saying
they were at “Cinderella’s castle”—credit to little Ellie. The backyard was
full with the ping pong table out. There was an abundance of food and beer and
talk and laughter and joy. And oh yeah, there was a big football game going on
at the same time.
So what compels me to share about this? I mean everyone and
their brother was probably at some type of Super Bowl Party celebrating with
too much food and boring commercials and lots of beer. And oh yeah, terrible
coaching at the end of a pretty competitive and decent game. What compels me is
that this group of people gathering at my home are family-- a family of people
who love Jesus and who shine His light in all they say and do. We were eating
and drinking and talking and sharing and cheering on the game, and it was all
full of grace and love and friendship that is all connected by Jesus. I had
three generations in my house of “kids” I have mentored over the years. I had
THEIR little ones running around like princesses and running into my arms
calling me Lola Kiri (Lola means grandma in Filipino) and Kiri is my nick/pet
name from my “first gen” of Young Life kids.
And this “first gen” are now the leaders of our little church plant that
is growing each month and my former seventh grade student is on the pastoral
team and preaches straight up gospel on Sundays. I get to spend my Sundays with
these precious people who are humble and patient and kind and generous and all
those things the Bible talks about—and they truly LIVE it out. At one point in
the evening when I had a baby on my lap and a toddler at my feet and these KIDS
who are now adults all talking and laughing-- I looked out and I said to
myself, “I am PROUD”. Proud and honored
to be surrounded by kids I saw grow up (in the trenches with them) into amazing
women and men of God. Proud to be LOLA to so many precious ones. Proud to serve
alongside these friends. Proud to proclaim the gospel of Jesus with each of
them.
It was a weekend filled with joy and laughter and love and
friendship and I would have to say it was a pretty awesome Super Sunday! In
fact , it was a super weekend all around. Despite cancer and chemo and all
that, I am blessed beyond belief. And I have to thank God for that. Every. Day.
My heart is full.
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