Sandy Snavely's Blog, page 2

What’s Brewing – Our Journey Through Cancer – The Visit

O, Come let Us Adore Him

Today was the day we’d been waiting for since the diagnosis was made. We walked through the door where cancer is the subject of all conversation; an exclusive community with one common need – help, and one common goal – healing. As Bud checked in at the reception desk I picked out two chairs where we could sit together and wait; something we’re becoming very good at doing.

The place was dotted with people, many of them wearing soft hats that fit snugly around their heads; most of them with cheerleaders sitting by their side. I want to be that for Bud. I don’t want him to endure even a second of feeling alone in this battle. Time dragged on as we flipped mindlessly through magazines while catching quick glimpses of this, our new family. Then, I caught a glimpse of the chemo room and the reality of it all hit full throttle. Lord, I don’t want to be here. I want to go home now.

At last the cheerful nurse called our name and led us into Dr. Orwoll’s office. Dr. Orwoll, is a lovely woman who can pack more words into a sentence than I can pack carbs into my thighs. But, she’s gracious and brilliant and commanded our attention with her first handshake. An hour later our brains felt like they were about to explode. As far as we can understand, Bud is looking at six months of treatments, including IV’s, chemo pills and lots of office visits. And while there is no cure (which was new news for us) there’s a very good chance that we can force the cancer into submission, kill it off and keep it from returning any time soon. We’ll begin with an informational meeting with a nurse who will teach us how to navigate our way through treatments, then quickly followed by Bud’s first IV, on January 4th. And though we came home feeling overwhelmed and exhausted, we woke up the next morning refreshed, encouraged and ready to get started. Because we’re needy. For help. And all these appointments and treatments, and pills, are God’s gracious provision for our needs.

Now, I’m sitting here, looking at the Nativity in our living room, with the chalkboard sign above it, “O Come, Let Us Adore Him.” And my heart is filled to the brim with new understanding. The shepherds that came to the manger, that glorious night when Jesus was born, were the neediest of the needy. When the angels appeared and told them to come and see what the Lord has done, they dropped everything and came running. And when they saw the Savior, wrapped in humanity, they fell to their faces and worshiped the God who promised to be for them; strength in their weakness. Peace in their fear. Hope in their despair. Comfort in their affliction. Light in their darkness. And joy in endless supply.

So as we sing, O Come Let Us Adore Him, may we, the neediest of the needy, run quickly with our arms outstretched and cry, “Here I come Lord Jesus. Here I come!”

Love and joy to you and may this be your most joy-filled Christmas ever! Sandy

What’s Brewing – Our Journey Through Cancer – The Visit was first posted on December 23, 2015 at 9:15 am.
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What’s Brewing – Our Journey Through Cancer – Need To Know

Being married to a military man all these years has definitely changed my vocabulary. I use words that the average civilian doesn’t understand; like o’dark-thirty, most skoshy, squared away, and that ever annoying  – need to know.

But isn’t need to know what we think we want? A free for all information stream that answers all our questions? To know everything? Now? All at once? Often to our demise?

Soldiers get that; it’s part of their DNA; to act only on what’s been given to them, until they need to know more. Because too much information is often dangerous. It causes some to get stuck in the details, others to fixate on the solution instead of the process, and has even been known to turn a few would-be heroes into deserters.

But, that’s where cancer has put us; in the season of, need to know. 

This past week Bud and I met with our family physician, Dr. Knopf. And we came away with three more pieces of the puzzle to fit into the big picture. 1. We have an oncologist; Dr. Orwoll, well known for her dedicated research, which has gained her a great reputation for being able to precisely match the right chemo to the right cancer with incredible results. 2. We have an appointment; December 21st, where the next few steps will be revealed. And 3, we have a location; Providence Medical Building. Baby steps. One inch at a time. Toward the finish line.

Nevertheless, on the morning of our appointment with Dr. Knopf, visions of PIC lines, nausea, hair loss, fatigue, immune deficiency, and the never ending stream of doctor visits, niggled at my overactive imagination and broke through those lines of need to know, leaving me terrified and exhausted.

Then an email, from a friend who’s been where we are, gently lifted me up from the pit.

Sandy, don’t look at the whole package all at once. Deal only with what you can do today. There will be strength for tomorrow. Just take of this moment. You’re in good hands.. The Lord has His eye on all the details.  May you both see the parting of the waters, as you bravely walk forward in this new frontier, and meet the most incredible people you will ever meet … and enlarge your family. You will have stories, and moments, that only you will be able to tell.

Thank you Bonnie Knopf, for teaching us how to walk this journey with grace, humility, and patience. And so I’m thinking; what if there’s more to 1 Corinthians 10:13 than we’ve known before?

What if our need to know everything, is more we can bear? What if God’s incremental offers of information are better than our need to know now demands? What if we’re stronger, more focused, less fearful, and more curiously joyful, when we don’t know what’s coming around the bend? What if our need for too much information is more costly to our faith than too little?

Thank you for sharing this journey with us, as we soldier on, For His glory!

Love and joy, Sandy

More later …

What’s Brewing – Our Journey Through Cancer – Need To Know was first posted on December 14, 2015 at 8:05 am.
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What Brewing – Our Journey Through Cancer “The Choice”

Bud and I held tightly to each others hands as we walked through the corridors of the hospital; anxiety pulsed through our veins. It was all I could do to keep my thoughts centered on something other than cancer. It’s the last day of November. The Christmas decorations are up and they’re more beautiful than ever. I can’t wait for the kids to gather around the table. Bud wants us to serve ham. Maybe I’ll make that new sweet potato dish I saw the other day; the one that doesn’t have marshmallows on it. I love online shopping. I think I’ll design some fun napkins with the kids names on them. The whole family thinks I’m obsessive about holiday themes – no point in disappointing them now. Let’s just keep things as normal as possible.

We sat down in the little room with the paper covered bed and waited. Then, the knock on the door. Dr. Boskind walked in wearing half a smile, shook our hands, and asked us about Thanksgiving. Small talk. Always a good way to ease into big talk.

“It was quiet and sweet,” we said. “How about you?”

“It was great. I love Thanksgiving. I love everything about it. It’s the best holiday of the year. I hate Christmas. I wish we could just wipe it off the calendar.”

Wipe Christmas off the calendar? Who but Scrooge hates Christmas. He’s too nice of a man and too good of a doctor to hate Christmas. I searched my vocabulary for a clever comeback but all I had was, Jesus is the Reason for the Season, and the clock had already ticked away the allotted time for idle chatter; it was time to dig into the reason for our season; cancer.

Fifteen minutes later we had what we came for; a diagnosis with a dash of hope. Bud has non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. The best way to treat it is with chemo. Lymphoma has a sixty percent cure rate. Where he will be treated, and by whom, is all still to be determined. We walked hand in hand back to our car, holding on to each other for dear life, because our life is dear; to us, to our family, to our friends, and to the One from whom Hope came down at Christmas.

And so, at this time of year, while Muzak fills the malls with carols, and frenzy fills the calendar with too much to do in too little time, I sadly confess that Dr. Boskind was right – Thanksgiving is the best holiday of the year, for Christmas without Jesus is Christmas without hope. It is simply a celebration of nothing and a costly misuse of our time and money.

Bud has taken the lead in proclaiming this journey through cancer as a gift of time, given to us by the God who holds time in His sovereign hands. How we use and treasure this gift is a choice. And so, in this advent season, we choose Jesus, the Son of God, the Promised One, the Messiah, our Savior, whose love and sacrifice came down to us wrapped up in hope.

And so, our friends, we invite you to come along with us in this journey of hope as I grip the wheel and set my course toward the needs of my husband and family, and Bud, ever the military man, sets his focus on “Soldiering on.” We value your friendship and your prayers, for us and for our family. In an effort to keep our lives as normal as possible we will not be posting updates on Facebook and we would ask that you respect our decision by doing the same. Blessings to you as we enter into this Christmas season, may we all experience the joy and the wonder of His mercy and His grace as we exalt the Name of Jesus everywhere.

Love and joy, Sandy

“Those who know Your Name will trust in You, for You, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek You.” Psalm 9:10

What Brewing – Our Journey Through Cancer “The Choice” was first posted on December 6, 2015 at 7:09 am.
©2013 "Life Over Latte". Use of this feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this article in your feed reader, then the site is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact me at sandy.snavely@frontier.com

What Brewing – Our Journey Through Cancer “The Visit”

Bud and I held tightly to each others hands as we walked through the corridors of the hospital; anxiety pulsed through our veins. It was all I could do to keep my thoughts centered on something other than cancer. It’s the last day of November. The Christmas decorations are up and they’re more beautiful than ever. I can’t wait for the kids to gather around the table. Bud wants us to serve ham. Maybe I’ll make that new sweet potato dish I saw the other day; the one that doesn’t have marshmallows on it. I love online shopping. I think I’ll design some fun napkins with the kids names on them. The whole family thinks I’m obsessive about holiday themes – no point in disappointing them now. Let’s just keep things as normal as possible.

We sat down in the little room with the paper covered bed and waited. Then, the knock on the door. Dr. Boskind walked in wearing half a smile, shook our hands, and asked us about Thanksgiving. Small talk. Always a good way to ease into big talk.

“It was quiet and sweet,” we said. “How about you?”

“It was great. I love Thanksgiving. I love everything about it. It’s the best holiday of the year. I hate Christmas. I wish we could just wipe it off the calendar.”

Wipe Christmas off the calendar? Who but Scrooge hates Christmas. He’s too nice of a man and too good of a doctor to hate Christmas. I searched my vocabulary for a clever comeback but all I had was, Jesus is the Reason for the Season, and the clock had already ticked away the allotted time for idle chatter; it was time to dig into the reason for our season; cancer.

Fifteen minutes later we had what we came for; a diagnosis with a dash of hope. Bud has non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. The best way to treat it is with chemo. Lymphoma has a sixty percent cure rate. Where he will be treated, and by whom, is all still to be determined. We walked hand in hand back to our car, holding on to each other for dear life, because our life is dear; to us, to our family, to our friends, and to the One from whom Hope came down at Christmas.

And so, at this time of year, while Muzak fills the malls with carols, and frenzy fills the calendar with too much to do in too little time, I sadly confess that Dr. Boskind was right – Thanksgiving is the best holiday of the year, for Christmas without Jesus is Christmas without hope. It is simply a celebration of nothing and a costly misuse of our time and money.

Bud has taken the lead in proclaiming this journey through cancer as a gift of time, given to us by the God who holds time in His sovereign hands. How we use and treasure this gift is a choice. And so, in this advent season, we choose Jesus, the Son of God, the Promised One, the Messiah, our Savior, whose love and sacrifice came down to us wrapped up in hope.

And so, our friends, we invite you to come along with us in this journey of hope as I grip the wheel and set my course toward the needs of my husband and family, and Bud, ever the military man, sets his focus on “Soldiering on.” We value your friendship and your prayers, for us and for our family. In an effort to keep our lives as normal as possible we will not be posting updates on Facebook and we would ask that you respect our decision by doing the same. Blessings to you as we enter into this Christmas season, may we all experience the joy and the wonder of His mercy and His grace as we exalt the Name of Jesus everywhere.

Love and joy, Sandy

“Those who know Your Name will trust in You, for You, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek You.” Psalm 9:10

What Brewing – Our Journey Through Cancer “The Visit” was first posted on December 6, 2015 at 7:09 am.
©2013 "Life Over Latte". Use of this feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this article in your feed reader, then the site is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact me at sandy.snavely@frontier.com

What’s Brewing – No Other Name

It was a good day. Not a great day. Just good. The kind of good that melts into other good days and gives us that peaceful feeling that life, in this little sequence of time is – good. Until it’s not, because on October 1st, good was replaced by tragic. Nine victims dead. Nine injured. And while their cries joined together in a requiem of terror, the one with the gun died in a futile declaration of ruthless independence.

Unable to comprehend it all, I stared at the TV as if the story would end, like an episode of Blue Bloods, with the family all sitting around their Sunday dinner, laughing, munching, and looking forward to a new week with another feel good ending. But for nine families in Roseburg, there will always be an empty place at the table, while the nine who lived bear the scars that mark the places where bullets shot through their sense of security and left them with memories they will never be able to forget. Roseburg has fallen into the rank and file of yet another school shooting. And the pain of our nation has again been divided between our right to bear arms and our fear of guns, while the question the shooter asked his victims hovers over us, “What religion are you?”

Today, I am of the religion that says, while I believe the Constitution of the United States of America to be a brilliant document, cultivated in the soil of Biblical principles, I live by a higher standard than the parchment on which it was written. I am of the religion that believes personal rights can never guarantee personal freedom and liberty isn’t won by law but by grace. I’m of the religion whose enemies don’t live on the other side of political debate, but, on the dark side of spiritual power. I’m of the religion whose cause is Christ and whose purpose is to make God look good in all I do and think and say.

Therefore, if my neighbors believes that extending the laws of gun control will help them sleep at night and wake up in the morning believing their children are safer, because insanity has been disarmed, then it is my duty, according what I believe, to surrender to them the opportunity to try it and see. And if by chance, stricter gun control curbs the violence in our streets, shopping malls, churches, and schools, then my religion will , with unbiased freedom and deep humility, say, “You were right and I was wrong.” However, if the incidents remain the same, or increase, may my religion never allow me the freedom to say, “I told you so.”

And should I be forced to answer the question, “What religion are you?”

I pray I will have the courage to say, in the spirit of countless men, women, and children, who have died, and continue to die, before me, “I have no religion, but Jesus.”

Love and joy, Sandy

What’s Brewing – No Other Name was first posted on October 18, 2015 at 8:04 am.
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What’s Brewing – A Good and Lasting Tree

Tuesday morning I boarded a plane and headed for the place where my life began; Chicago. Something strange happens when I go to Chicago; my Midwest accent comes back, I begin craving Italian sausage sandwiches and Chicago dogs, I walk faster, talk faster, and lay awake at night pondering my roots. Maybe that’s because I see them in the faces of my cousins and my precious uncle – a man who at 93 still drives, still works, still plays golf, and has a harem of three incredible women, (he’s been a widow for 10 years), who still thinks he’s the cat’s pajamas. And he is.

Uncle Cliff is a man of many stories. A man, who with less than a high school diploma, managed to build homes and acquire properties, accomplish feats of heroism, and travel the world with the love of his life – my Aunt Jo. He’s a strong man with a determined spirit that thrives on problem solving and salivates at the thought of doing something he’s never done before. He loves life and lives it well. Ever the consummate gentleman, he never lets a lady open a door for herself, or pay the bill, or walk alone. His laugh is musical. His humor is tinged with clever teasing. His will is strong and his heart is tender. He’s a tall German/Norwegian man who’s fists are always ready to provide and protect all that he holds dear. He loves his sons to the point of tears.

When I look into my uncle’s crystal blue eyes I see all that makes him great, and I see where I came from and why I am the way I am. It makes me want to walk tall and live humbly, to love deeply and care gently, and to treasure these roots that prove the power of God who, with unwavering faithfulness, has grown a good and lasting tree deep into the soil of His amazing grace.

And I am blessed.

Love and joy, Sandy

What’s Brewing – A Good and Lasting Tree was first posted on September 7, 2015 at 5:42 am.
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What’s Brewing – Let it Reign

It’s been a long, hot, dry summer. The kind of summer that causes Oregonians to do something they rarely think to do, like pray for rain. Because our skin is dry, the grass is brown, and our weather forecasters are getting bored with the same old same old; it was hot today and it’s going to get hotter tomorrow.

And it did, with record temperatures that held steady until we quit praying for relief and began praying for rescue as the nightly news brought us face to face with the people who lost their homes and the pictures of the three firefighters who lost their lives.

Then last night I woke up to the sound of rain thundering against the parched earth like heavy drops of answered prayer. He heard, He remembered, He answered.

Draughts have a way of reminding us of what we’re missing. Of what we can’t live without. Of how powerless we are make them stop. And how completely dependent we are on the promises of the One who rules over earth, and fire, and rain.

But that all changed last night when the skies broke loose, the rain poured down, and the promises of God met us in the morning.

From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. John 1:16 NLT

And I will send showers, showers of blessings, which will come just when they are needed. Ezekiel 34:26 (NLT)

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23ESV

Let it reign Lord

Let it rain

Love and joy, Sandy

What’s Brewing – Let it Reign was first posted on August 30, 2015 at 8:02 am.
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What’s Brewing – Ellie’s Window Anniversary

July marked the one year anniversary of the launching of Ellie’s Window. The plot, the characters, the title, were all given to me at a time when my heart felt shredded by life. It was one of those undone moments in time, that at the time, felt as if it would never end.

It was there, in that dark and lonely place, Ellie’s Window appeared. The title, the plot, the characters – all showed up, dangling their offers of hope in front of me and daring me to join them on a journey that would change my life in profound and wonderful ways. Ellie, her mother Audrey, and her daughter Charlie invited me to look through the window and watch their stories unfold. Those stories, woven together with threads and thorns, helped me to see how complicated relationships can be as they weave their way through tears, and testing’s, without being ripped away from fabric that holds them all together. Charles and Mac rose up with their fierce loyalty and enduring strength, giving me a picture of unshakable faith in the midst of pain and loss. And Cheri appeared like a cool wind on a summer day, reminding me that there truly is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. But, it was Bernie, that bundle of wisdom and folksy charm, that had the courage to look into my eyes and say, “Honey Girl, it’s high time you just get over it and get on with livin’ this life the good Lord’s given you.”

And so I did.

All these characters, became more than names on a page, they walked into my life and taught me what life taught them; you can’t feel loved unless you’ve once felt unloved, you can’t feel hopeful unless you’ve felt hopeless, and you can’t long for Heaven unless you’ve tasted the fear of Hell.

May I invite you to join the journey of Ellie’s Window. It’s the best of what I have to give when life feels overwhelming. And I pray that Ellie, Audrey, Charles, Charlie, Mac, Cheri, and Bernie, will find a nesting place in your heart where their stories will live and bless and give you the courage to keep on keeping on. For His glory!

And by His grace perhaps by this time next year Charlie’s Choice will finish where Ellie’s Window left off.

Love and joy, Sandy

What’s Brewing – Ellie’s Window Anniversary was first posted on August 18, 2015 at 8:09 am.
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What’s Brewing – Just Sign Here

On this day of Independence I have chosen to share a post from AnnaLee Conti, a writer who has become a great internet friend. May her words re-ignite a courageous fire within us, that will remain ready to pick up the pen and take a stand for truth. Read and be blessed.

Two hundred thirty-nine years ago, 56 patriots signed the Declaration of Independence which gave us an independent nation–the United States of America. Who can recount today the high price they paid by signing that document?History tells us that five of the signers were captured by the British and tortured as traitors before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons in the Revolutionary War. Another had two sons captured.

Others lost their wives, their homes, and their fortunes and died penniless. Nine of the signers fought and died from wounds or the hardships of the war. One wealthy trader saw all of his ships swept from the seas by the British navy. He had to sell his home and properties to pay his debts and died in rags.

These men were lawyers and jurists, merchants, farmers, and plantation owners. They were not wild-eyed, rabble-rousing ruffians. They were soft-spoken men of means and education.

They had security, but they valued liberty more. Standing tall, straight, and unwavering, they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured. By signing, they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.

Today we celebrate not just the document that forged our freedom but the courageous men, (and their families) who when asked to sign, picked up the pen, and wrote their names in red.

Happy Fourth of July! Love and joy, Sandy

I love this woman! Visit AnnaLee’s blog – http://annaleeconti.blogspot.com/

 

What’s Brewing – Just Sign Here was first posted on July 4, 2015 at 8:10 am.
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What’s Brewing – And So Life Goes

 

I know, I’ve been completely erratic in the blog department. I’ve had times when my mind was brewing with bloggish thoughts – yet no time to grab a cup and enjoy the aroma of fresh ideas. And then there’s been those rare occasions when nothing was brewing at all, no deep thoughts, no relevant ideas – just an empty cup waiting for Starbucks to make a house call.

And so life goes.

But today. This morning the sun is shining, the birds are singing, and Google Calendar seems to have forgotten my address. It’s been like this for a few days now. Peaceful. Serene. A blank page with a thousand words all clamoring for a place to come and play.

And so life goes. No longer caught between what I ought to do and what I want to do. And what I want to do, is sit and listen and wait and ponder and write. Until there are no words left on the palette. No ideas left untouched. No blogs, or stories, or encouraging notes to friends, left unwritten.

Summers should always be like this. Quiet. With time to do only those things that bring joy to our souls. Whether its writing, or reading, or planting flowers, or hiking, or wading through streams with bare feet. Summers should be that time when time stops and our hearts take over. Until fall interrupts it all. Again.

And so life goes.

Excuse me. I smell a latte brewing. More later.

Love and joy, Sandy

 

What’s Brewing – And So Life Goes was first posted on June 25, 2015 at 7:19 am.
©2013 "Life Over Latte". Use of this feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this article in your feed reader, then the site is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact me at sandy.snavely@frontier.com