Health Update, Updated

If you are wondering how I am doing health wise, I'm happy to report that I'm doing terrific.  I saw  Dr. Hurtubise last month and everything is checking out normal currently.  My CA125 was at a 7 which is still a nice low number.  I was a little nervous going in but that is to be expected I think.  My doctor was trying to get me into a vaccine trial in Buffalo , NY  but after contacting them he found out that I would not be a candidate that they can use in their clinical trial. I was a little disappointed but also relieved as it would be a hardship of time, travel and money. The plan now is just to try to stay healthy with diet, exercise, low stress and lots of prayer. I am feeling good and am just trying  hard to grow back some hair. It's growing a lot slower this time around.  I finally see the eyelashes coming in so that's encouraging.  I don't have to go back to the doctor until June 17 so I feel free to not think about the cancer too much and just enjoy a great spring. Keep up your prayers for me, I appreciate it so much.

Wedding Bells Blues

If you were planning to attend Brooke and Andy's wedding on June 20 here at our home, I want you to know that it has been called off for now for reasons personal to them. We are trusting for God's leading and goodness in the outcome of this situation.

Mother's Day Weekend

I had a very nice Mother's Day weekend.  Scott and Ashley spent three days with us (Eddie too!). 

We did a little shopping, lots of eating, visiting ,etc.  Kacie , Emma and Bella joined us on Saturday evening for the banquet at church and we had a very fun time together.  Bella finally is not afraid of her grandma and was very smiley and content. Emma is a little character and had fun in grandma's makeup and trying on my jewelry. Sunday we went to Grandma Esther's for a family get together.  Patti, Mike , Joey, Becky, David, Doug, Kristy, Hannah, Seth, Rachelle, Tyler, Kylie, Dirk, Mindy, Ashley, Scott, Grandpa and Grandma were all there. Also there were three little ones there that we haven't met yet but will know all three by the end of this year!  The girls and Dirk went together and bought me a set of 6 plates that I had seen in the Better Homes and Gardens magazine and that I just loved.  If you come to visit , I will serve you something yummy on them.  Hope all you mothers that read this had a great weekend too.

Sadie, Regan, Bella, and Emma

Spring Activities at the Sutherland's

Dirk and I have been having a lot of fun outdoors now that the weather is not so frigid.  We have discovered that our little pond back in the woods is just full of goldfish, thousands of goldfish! We have 2 large fish that started out very small  just a few years ago and they have survived the winters and reproduced over time and now the pond highly populated.  We bought some fish food and we are starting to feed them so they will grow faster as most of them are very small.  Regan enjoys throwing the food in with Grandpa.  Also we have developed a very nice spot to have a campfire in our woods and have bought some comfortable plastic chairs to sit in out there.  We have had several fires already and it feels like being up north camping without having to go very far.  There is a lot of water in the woods next to ours and it is full of frogs.  Amber has named the site Camp Croaking Frog which is part of  the bigger area we have named Dirk "Deerest" Park. If you are anywhere near our house , stop in and we can enjoy a campfire together.

Regan, Sadie, Bella and Emma at Grandma's House

The Music In Me

     I'm having fun with teaching my students right now. They have been pretty good at doing their assignments even with all the weeks off I had to take due to recovering from chemo. Many  of them are memorizing pieces and honing their technique and other skills in preparation for upcoming testing, recitals and competitions.  I am very proud of them. I expect a lot from them but we also have a lot of fun.  We have some group lessons planned where they perform for each other, play lots of learning games. and eat cookies and receive candy prizes.  I have lost a few students though this year due to various circumstances and will actually for the first time have open spots next year available for new students who are not currently on my waiting list.

     Right now I am accompanying the Community Concert Choir. This is our sixth year giving a concert at the USA auditorium.  There are about seventy-five members from around the area and from many different churches.  I really enjoy playing for the concert and will be playing three or four solos for it plus a duet with my niece Rachelle.  The concert dates are March 6th and 8th .

     My last musical note is that I am considering doing a concert in the fall and I have begun to select music for it and have been practicing.  Some pieces that I have been thinking about doing are the Beethoven Sonata Op. 31, No. 1,  Chopin's Scherzo in b minor, Liszt's Sonetto 104 del Petrarca, something of Bach's ( I can't seem to settle on just one yet), probably I would have to play something of Rachmaninoff's as his music always inspires me,  and a mix of sacred pieces.  A friend who is a very good singer has consented to do some songs to add interest to the concert. Well this is just all in my mind right now and nothing is for sure yet. I will see how everything goes for me. Hopefully, it will fall into place and become a reality for I find great reward in expressing myself through my music and try to bring something meaningful to the audience as well.