Adventures in Wonderland

Whew! What a weekend. Thursday night the RCB committee got together to finalize the decorations. We created over 80 paper flowers and made 180 place cards for seating assignments. After a 5 hour work shift I headed over to the Santa Ana Doubletree Hotel to help with setup. We had a little hiccup related to space we thought we were getting and what the hotel staff thought we were getting, but Hilda and her team took care of everything and doubled our space. 

After setup, we gave our troops their marching orders and we all got ready for the night. Everyone enjoyed dinner and then we danced up a storm. A company donated a photo booth and they had fun props for everyone to wear. They also handed out our prints for free. I took a few pictures, but I'll order my prints online and post them up later. 

For now, here are some shots from the night!

Paper flowers in vases, just missing their butterflies!

Some of the 100+ crazy and colorful balloons used.

Paper flowers and glittery butterfly.

The character cutouts.

Kristin, me, Tatia and Clarissa

Some lovely ladies!

Dressed up for photo booth fun!

Proof I was dancing - although I'm not sure what dance move this is.

The Little Things We Do

I just discovered a few new blogs in the last two weeks. The first one I want to share is The Little Things We Do. She has a Friday blog theme of fill in the blanks. Here are my fill-ins.

1.  When I'm nervous I     get a pit in my stomach and my face gets red   .

2.  My favorite item in my closet is     my skirt dress from The Limited. I can throw it on for work or play and I'm good to go  .

3.       Following my husband to the hot tub        is my favorite thing to do when I need to relax.

4.  My favorite childhood memory is      spending summer days in the pool    .

5.  Something you may not know about me is     my thumbs are two different shapes. One is bigger than the other    .

6.  A true friend      forgives and forgets   .

7.  Something I hope people think of when they think of me is     that I care    .

Eighty-Four

Today my grandma turns 84. At least we think it's today. You all know the story right? Grandma's parents were living in Hawaii and traveled to register her after her birth and by the time dad got to the hospital he couldn't exactly remember when she was born. February 22nd became her birthday and it's been the day we celebrate her life each year.

Grandma, 

Earl and I wish we could be with you to celebrate everything you mean to us. You are so giving of all your resources - time, energy, love and smiles. You have enriched our lives every moment. I love that you were my roommate when I moved to be closer to school. I have so many fond memories. You truly know how to comfort each of us individually. It brings so much joy to my heart to know I make you proud. 

Thank you for being my grandma. For reading to me and teaching me to love books. For believing each of your grandchildren are capable of whatever we put our minds to. For constantly showing us what elegance and hospitality look like. You are so graceful. We love you so much!

Love,

Melinda and Earl

Thanksgiving 2009

GLEE-ful!

Last night was the DSAOC Teen Club game night.  Somehow it became an ode to Glee. We talked Glee episodes, danced to the soundtrack and discussed the characters.  AND I found out that Lauren Potter, the actress who plays Becky the cheerleader on Glee, will be attending the Red Carpet Ball next weekend. One of the young men who is going to the ball Facebooked her and she is going to be his date. I'm so excited!! I will be following her around and taking pictures and getting autographs ALL NIGHT LONG!

Scoping out the Future

We know God is not slack concerning His promises. Back in December when the doctors first said all they could do was surgery to remove Ignace* and 3/4 of my mom's tongue, God revealed Himself to us. That same day I read Daniel 3 in my daily reading and listened to a testimony of a friend who has walked the cancer road in which she shared Daniel 3. My mom read that night in two different devotionals Daniel 3. And two days later, my friend read Daniel 3 in his daily reading on the same day he read the email asking for prayer. God spoke a clear word to us in FIVE different instances:

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up." [...] Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego came from the midst of the fire. And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king's counselors gathered together, and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them.

God was going to bring us out of this - someway, somehow.

Today, my mom was at the hospital to get fitted for her radiation mask and the doctor did a scope to look at Ignace*.  What he found was a tumor that has been shrinking and responding to chemotherapy and prayer. What he said was that he feels confident ruling out surgery. Did you get that?? From "all we can do is surgery" to "you don't need surgery." The hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them.

We have a long road ahead of us, but we are praising Jehovah Rapha, the One who heals. Two more rounds of chemo and seven weeks of radiation await us. The doctors warned us that the radiation will be worse than the chemo. Please continue to pray for relief from side effects, for her swallowing not to be affected, for strength to face each day. Thank you for all your prayers. He is moved with compassion to act on our behalf.

*Ignace is what we affectionately call my mom's tumor.

The Matzoh Project

For real, my mom is superwoman! In the midst of chemo, cancer and headaches (people who have cancer should be exempt from headaches!) she has designed The Matzoh Project.  Today is Ash Wednesday and we are going to follow along the next forty days and learn more about the Passover.  God has seven appointed feasts - times of meeting between God and man.  The first and foundational of all the feasts is Passover.  Let's all take a deeper look at Passover and our Passover Lamb and fall more in love with Jesus. I invite you all to go to the blog: http://20birds.net/mp/ and participate in the discussion.

60 Hour Work Weeks

Tax season has officially begun. We had our first firm family dinner night. I worked three 11 hour days in one week and worked a total of 59.10 hours. My right upper back is getting sore and tight from sitting at my desk all day and wielding my mouse.

But tonight is the ladies study at church so I will only be working about 9 hours and then I'm heading over to be refreshed!

We are waiting on the MRI results from my mom's scan that was done on the 12th.  Please be in prayer that it comes back CLEAR! (that's me shooting for the moon, but He can do more than I ask, think or imagine so I'm asking for no cancer!!)

Makes Me Smile

Every time I see this picture, I smile. He is too cute.

Big God

Britt Merrick, our friend up the coast and pastor of Reality Carpinteria, just finished his book Big God. Visit the website, Big God, and listen to the video describing this book, where it came from and what he's learned through it. Purchase the book. Watch the teachings. I haven't read it, but I've heard the entire teaching series it came from and I can attest to the solid, stoke your fire passion you will come away with.

And while we are on the topic of our Big God and Britt Merrick, there are some more updates on the beautiful Daisy Love. She's only got a few more chemo treatments to go. Pray for her. Send the family some love on the website.

Up and Running Again

Here are some of the interviews I took after the half marathon.  This was a more rewarding experience than I imagined it would be. Please also head over to the new foundation related to our running group: Up and Running Again.  You can see more of our clips at my YouTube account: http://www.youtube.com/3505mnm.

Article in the OC Register

Go to this link: http://www.ocregister.com/news/running-232576-tierney-run.html.

Read it.

Look at the pictures.

And if you live in the OC, come out on Sunday and support us as we run 13.1 miles!!

The Big 1-9

Not quite a "milestone" birthday, but this is a milestone year, so it counts!

I can hardly believe it's been a year since we traveled to the great city of Minneapolis to meet up and celebrate your 18th birthday. Hold on while I remember that delicious dinner...yumm....

So here we are. Another year older. Another year wiser. And still the same wonderful sister you have been for 19 years.

I can't say I remember your birthday with too much clarity. But I do remember you were the baby of the family for a few years and I think that's why you and Hannah are like little peas in a pod. I remember that I was always jealous of your bronze skin and golden hair - I used to say you got the Japanese skin while I got the German skin. I remember that you were so articulate at a young age - Ms. Lynn would tell Mommy about what you were saying as a 4 year old in Sunday School. 

This past year has been marked with a lot of change for you - but each moment of change has been led by God. He has placed each curve in front of you. Not to test you or make you stumble, but because He finds you worthy to walk this path. Because He sees the strength and abilities in you. Because He knows He will continue to supply any lack and provide MORE than you need. Because He knows what will happen 10 or 15 years from now that will be directly impacted because you went away to college and your mom had cancer.

I am so proud of who you have been, who you are now, and the woman you are becoming. I love you little sister. hug hug kiss kiss.