A Dose of Mountain Air - Best Rx Ever!

A couple of weekends ago, David and I had the chance to get out of town for a few days, and oh my gosh, it was just what the doctor ordered! My brother, Hal, and his wife, Mary Jane, invited us to stay with them in a home on Lake Burton owned by one of Hal's close friends. As some of you know, we had been kicking around ideas for a getaway for several weeks and had asked Hal and Mary Jane to accompany us, but we just couldn't come up with the right fit for traveling distance, time, and lodging. In an "aha" moment, while they were visiting their friend, they asked if his home was an option, and graciously, he agreed. What an amazing friend!

I deliberately didn't call the house a cabin as it is so much more than that! It is beautifully located right on the lake with an amazing boathouse with an upper deck and a wrap-around dock AND a separate connecting dock! The home itself was absolutely gorgeous - six bedrooms, five and a half baths, two television sitting areas, a fantastic kitchen, screened porch with fireplace, and 100% beautiful! It was more than we could have ever imagined!

We rode with Hal and Mary Jane on the drive up on Thursday, and that in itself was a wonderful way to start our adventure. We got to spend the ride "catching up" and listening to our "tour guide" (AKA, my brother.) Because he's made the trip so often, he's very familiar with the area and its uniqueness. We made a couple of stops - one to pick up some fresh tomatoes at a roadside stand and one at the most incredible grocery store I've ever seen, an Ingles in Cleveland, Georgia! After our shopping adventure, we stopped at Mark of the Potter in Clarksville before heading to the cabin. We had actually been to Mark of the Potter once before, but I honestly don't think I appreciated it for the natural beauty surrounding it.

From there, we went to the house which, as stated, was absolutely incredible! We couldn't have asked for a more perfect setting for our first getaway since David's diagnosis. 

Although it rained on Friday, it didn't dampen our spirits. We rode past the property my parents once owned on Lake Burton, the property our cousins owned, and the house my grandparents built in the late 70's outside Clayton. My grandfather was born in 1899, so he was nearly 80 when he decided to build a home in the North Georgia Mountains! Here's a picture of the house I took, which other than the wrap-around porch and added deck is still very much the exterior of the house "Grandpa" built. As the Maren Morris song goes, "The house don't fall when the bones are good." By the way, my grandmother named the creek, and my brother has a creek by his house he named the same! I love that so much!

It turns out the local meat market is owned by the guy who purchased my grandparents' home, and my brother had the opportunity to meet him! He told my brother that the whole time my grandparents lived there, his wife "wanted" the house, so when it became available, he really wanted her to have it. He said they took their three children with them to see the house, and apparently, my grandmother loved those young ones! She told my grandpa to "make sure those folks get this house!" And, even though it meant financing the house themselves for the young couple, my grandpa made sure HIS wife was happy and sold them the house! (And they paid them every cent they owed for it!)  

We have so many memories of times spent at my grandparents' home outside Clayton, and it was truly a unique experience to get to visit those old "stomping grounds." Mary Jane even reminded me of the two of us "sneaking a smoke" in the basement when we were teens! Moi? Oops! I'm pretty sure I was the PERFECT child! :) Okay, well maybe my parents wouldn't agree, but I'm SURE my brothers would! LOL! Our oldest was the only one of our children who got to visit the house, although I'm sure he doesn't remember it; he was only about two years old at the time.

We drove into Clayton on Saturday morning for another trip down Memory Lane, and while it wasn't exactly as I remembered it, there were still quite a few areas that were very familiar! It's definitely more of a tourist town now, but hey, people have to make a living! After popping in to THE Reeves Hardware in Clayton where I may or may not have made a purchase, we went back to the house to rest up for the Dawgs game against Mississippi State and a little fishing time for DC. Hal grilled steaks he got at the meat market, and we toasted to a trip well enjoyed. 

Being able to pick up and go is something I think many of us take for granted; however, when a curveball like cancer and the unexpected setbacks it often brings hits you, you begin to look at everything differently. The opportunities to travel become limited, a "day" trip becomes a luxury, and an "overnight" trip seems unimaginable. We are so grateful to have moved beyond the limitations we felt just a few short months ago. God has been faithful, He has been present, and He has made a way when there seemed no way.

Hebrews 10:23 "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful."

September 2022

November 2022

Check this out -Taken TWO months apart!










Does DC look amazing, or what? God IS good, ya'll! Believe it; He IS faithful!

Goodbyes, Hellos, and Giving the Glory

 A couple of weeks ago, a friend expressed a need for a wheelchair stating that the individual in need couldn't afford a chair. After more than 17 years of storing Jon's custom-built chair in our garage, this was our perfect opportunity to help someone!

When you go through a situation like we did with Jon and have incredible insurance, you realize quickly that not everyone has the same opportunity! There was a time, for example, when our insurance approved a standing frame for Jon, a very expensive and often not covered piece of equipment, but as soon as he no longer needed it, we passed it on to another Shepherd outpatient.

Thus, the picture you see is of a much-needed friend at a time, but happy-to-let-go assistive device when we learned of someone else's need. 

Isn't that how God takes care of us? He knows our needs before we do, and He prepares the way for us. Would we have ever imagined Jon would need a wheelchair? Nope, but our all-knowing God knew and He made the way for another family in need. How Great is our God?

Scoring Touchdowns, Catching Fish, and Making Memories

When we started David's journey late last winter/early spring we assumed, based on the doctor's prognosis, we'd be joining our kids on vacation and enjoying another beautiful Georgia summer with family and friends. Assumptions are bad; in fact, when I was teaching school, I had a sign over my desk that read, "Assume Nothing." I should have taken those words to heart.

So as most of you know, we didn't get to go on that family vacation; we didn't spend much time with friends, and well...the summer wasn't exactly a beautiful one for us. Oh, the weather was typical for our area, but David's health issues made it far from beautiful. 

Yesterday, we went to our 6th-grade grandson's football game against Wheeler (my HS alma mater) and they crushed the Wildcats with #81 (his Dad, his Uncle Jon's, and his Uncle Hal's HS number) scoring TWO touchdowns, one on a pass and run and another on a pass into the endzone! Proud is an understatement. Actually, his team is undefeated giving up only 6 points the entire season! Bring on the playoffs! We also were able to attend our 3rd-grade grandson's game in which he, not to be outdone, also scored twice - once for a touchdown and once for the PAT. This GrandMary loves watching them play as much, if not more, as I enjoyed watching their dad play. Such precious memories!

All in all, life is good; actually, life is pretty great right now. David no longer requires my physical presence and assistance as much as he did even a few weeks ago which makes life feel so much more normal. We are able to make plans for more than a day or so out which is a HUGE blessing! We can actually MAKE PLANS! 

Keep this in mind, folks - While we may make assumptions about where we'll be in a few months or years, God doesn't. Why? Because He KNOWS! Nothing takes Him by surprise. David's abscess? Not a surprise. Could He have healed David without surgery? Without a doubt! But...do all things happen for a reason? 100% The Clarks have been through a lot in our years together, but through it all, we've learned that ONLY by putting our trust in God will we be able to overcome any difficulties we encounter. God will not and does not forsake His people!

Psalm 9:10 - And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.

Gone Fishin'

Since I last posted about David's renewed interest in fly-fishing, he's been on a mission to try out his fly rods - one he's used, and one he's never used, although he bought it sometime in the 1990's. (Yeah, that's how we roll; "I need this now, but I'll hold on to it for 30+ years before testing it.")😂

Last Friday, we rode to Morgan Falls which has some beautiful fishing spots below the dam; he didn't take his rods, but it would have been an ideal time to "test the waters" - pun definitely intended! On Sunday, he went to our side lot to practice his casting. He didn't catch anything other than a few leaves, but it was so good to see him enjoying the moment. 

On Thursday of this week, we went to his sister's home on Wynn's Pond in Coweta County, and he had such a good time trying out his rods; he even caught a few bream! The smile on his face pretty much says it all...He was exhausted after standing for so long, but it was, as he said, "a good tired."

In Psalm 46:10, God reminds us we need only be still. I believe it is in the stillness, we experience His faithfulness to His promises. Perhaps David's desire to go to still waters was a God whisper? Perhaps not, but I saw a peace and joy come over David that I haven't seen in a while. God is good, y'all! He's the Great Physician AND the big smile maker!

On Being Normal

A Normal Fall Saturday with the T Clarks

Webster defines the word “normal” using the words, "regular pattern" or "usual, typical, or routine.” How often do we NOT want to be called normal, as if there is somewhat of a negative connotation to it as in "Her? Oh, she's just a normal girl!" Deep down, I think we all want to live better than regular or typical lives, but when your life has been turned upside down, and your regular pattern or routine is interrupted, feeling normal is incredible!

Through David’s cancer diagnosis, chemo treatments, and subsequent hospitalizations, we’ve felt anything BUT normal! There is nothing normal about being told you're in a fight you didn't initiate! While we are insanely happy that his cancer is in remission, we didn’t expect to be dealing with the complicated surgery and recovery he’s now experiencing which will ultimately cause him to have more surgery early next year. Some have asked if his complications are from the cancer, and to be completely honest, the answer is no. His immune system, however, was so weakened from the chemo treatments, he was unable to fight the infection which invaded his system. Because of the chemotherapy, his appetite was practically non-existent, and he lost an incredible amount of weight (over 70 pounds since February) in a very short period of time. Getting him to drink half of a Boost (similar to Ensure) was cause for celebration! It was BAD, folks, I mean really bad!

In the past couple of weeks, however, he has turned a major corner! His appetite is returning, his strength is improving, and his desire to get out is pretty much like the old DC. In other words, things are starting to feel normal again! For example, over the past few months, our outings were primarily to doctors or health facilities, and after his first hospitalization in mid-July, he completely stopped driving. I don't mind "Driving Mr. Dave," but I know he misses being behind the wheel and feeling dependent on me. Since Friday, he's been like a different person! Friday morning, he asked if I would take him to Cabela's to shop for fly-fishing stuff - he hasn't fly-fished in YEARS. We then went to lunch and did a little Aldi shopping. Was he tired? Oh yes, but such a good tired! Yesterday, we went to our oldest grandson's football game at 9 in the morning and then caught our other grandson's game at 2:30. Was that tiring? You bet it was, but oh so worth it! You'd think after all that activity in two days, he'd want to chill at home today, but you'd be wrong!  

Today, we went to see "Lifemark," the new Kendrick Brothers movie AND had an early dinner at Longhorn. Talk about turning a corner! He took that corner on two wheels! Of course, at the moment, he's softly snoring in his recliner, but hey, he earned that nap! If being normal means a nap to rejuvenate after a busy day, I'll accept "normal" any time!

A Room with a View

One day last week, David commented that his room had such a great view. At the time, I thought, "Wow, I'm glad he has such a great attitude!" Over the next few days, however, he became less focused on what he could see out the window and more exasperated with what he was dealing with inside the walls of his room.

While I knew how desperately he wanted to leave, I was extremely anxious about my energy and ability to care for him at home. At the same time, I realized how selfish it was of me when he was the one laying in the hospital bed! Although I knew how badly he wanted to be at home, I had this growing anxiety about being his sole caregiver again. That knawing feeling of selfishness persisted with questions like - How would I ever get any rest? How would I ever have any time to myself? How would I ever have time with my friends? What about my job? On further reflection, it became abundantly clear that this journey isn't about ME! It's about giving him back the life he deserves no matter how long it takes and what is asked of me.

As I sat down to write this today, I remembered the scripture our son, Jon, who was the original inspiration for this blog, has long claimed as his life verse: 

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” ~ Joshua 1:9 

What a wimp I am! If God brought us to this place in our lives, He will certainly bring us through it! Haven't I referenced that many times in my life? Didn't we lean into that when Jeff had open-heart surgery as an infant? We leaned in a bit further throughout Jon's recovery from his aneurysm and even following my own, and we leaned to the point of almost falling with David's cancer diagnosis and treatments! Why, then, should I be fearful NOW when in the scheme of things, this is just a setback? I mean, David is in remission from cancer! Cancer!! God never said we won't grow tired and weary; He never said we wouldn't be tested; in fact, the Bible tells us that we WILL go through hard times! In James 1:2, we read, "whenever we face trials," not IF.

I wrote in my previous post that growing up we were taught to not ask, "Why me?" but instead to ask, "Why NOT me?" Life has thrown us plenty of curves, and we've "learned to swerve." (Thanks again, Rascal Flatts.) In writing this post today, I'm beginning to see that my focus of late has been too much on the bumps in the road and too little on the view up ahead. Looking out the window now, I'm asking God to give me the strength to keep my eyes on Him and to stop worrying about my own abilities but instead to trust in His abilities. When I surrender to His power, I am confident He will not only provide the energy (and patience) I need but also help me turn my focus outward so I, too, can enjoy the view. 

“The best view comes after the hardest climb.” – Author Unknown

Making the Grade

At church on Sunday, a friend said something like, "Your faith has certainly been tested over the years,", and I replied, "Well, obviously, I haven't passed the test yet!" Since then, I've spent a good bit of time reflecting on why God keeps bringing new hurdles into our lives and asking myself why. I learned from my dad at an early age, however, that when faced with challenges, we shouldn't ask, "Why me?" Instead, we should understand, "Why NOT me?" "What makes me so special that I shouldn't have to face trials in my life?"

My dad was a wise man. He wasn't perfect by any means, but he had a wisdom born of difficult times (his mother made shirts for him out of flour sacks during the depression), addictive behaviors (he was an alcoholic so high-functioning that it was YEARS before I knew about his addiction), and above all, he LOVED me! Not that loving me made him wise; it's just that knowing he loved me made me appreciate all the sacrifices he'd made for me and my brothers over the years made me understand a father's love. You see, he was born into a generation that had so little, and yet, he wanted SO MUCH MORE for his family! He sacrificed on a daily basis so we could have the life he never had! Would he have ever said he was deprived? Absolutely, not! His life was made better because of the love and sacrifices his own parents poured into him! When I think about any time in my own life when I may have been slightly inclined to feel deprived, I remember the sacrifices my earthly father and most importantly, my heavenly father have made for me! Deprived? Oh no, far from it! I have been BLESSED! 

Has my life been perfect? It certainly has not. I've learned, though, that the choices we make either make us stronger or they weaken us to the point of absolute chaos. I CHOOSE strength! Our heavenly Father and my earthly dad gave so much of their own lives to make mine better - how could I ever feel deprived? I know that because of their sacrifices, my life is so much more than it could have ever been without their presence. As the song goes, "You're a good, good father." I am so grateful to have been loved by both.

Tomorrow we face another test. David is having surgery to repair his colon and bladder. This is not a result of the chemo but more so, a result of his weakened immune system due to the chemo. We are putting our trust in the one who heals, our Jehovah Rapha, praying for His divine intervention in David's healing and selfishly hoping that with this trial, we'll finally make the grade in the eyes of the Lord. We are trusting in His promises today, tomorrow, and each day of our lives.

Sending a special shout-out to Julie Curl for her inspiration for this post. XOXO

Caregiver Insights - Part 1 (Likely)

If I'm being candid, I'll admit that being a caregiver is hard, Let me restate that, it's HARD!! To those who have traveled this road before me, you get it; you totally get it. In some ways, I've gone down this road before, but with a spouse?  Never.

Caring for a child is a situation I am pretty familiar with - from Jeff's heart defect at birth to Jon's ruptured aneurysm at the age of 20 (and all the broken bones, sprains, and "normal" childhood injuries that Taylor and Blair incurred.) Being the caregiver of a spouse is something I've had a little experience with - yes, he's had surgeries, but nothing like dealing with cancer and subsequent issues. Was I prepared? H*** No! Can I handle it? H*** yes! Is it fun? Ha! You figure out the answer!

To address the issues at hand: David has a pre-op appointment this Thursday, the 18th, with the surgeon. His corrective surgery is scheduled for Wednesday, August 24. For now, we're taking one step at a time, and I'm asking God for His divine intervention in my patience and coping skills. Selfishly, I'm asking you to not only continue to pray diligently for David's complete recovery but also, for my patience and understanding that sometimes, "A person just has to vent!"

Are We Taking a Left Turn or Just Driving in Circles?

So the PET scan yesterday revealed a bit of a surprise - okay, a LOT of a surprise, but definitely shed some light on some other issues David has been experiencing.

After we had been home from the scan for just a few hours, he got a call from his urologist (yes, urologist, not his oncologist) that he needed to go to the ER to be admitted for treatment and probable surgery for an abscess in his colon (sorry if you're not a detail person, but it is what it is.) Although the doctor notified the ER we were coming, we still had a 3.5-hour wait for him to be seen! Of course, I made several inquiries at the desk, called two doctor's offices, and even texted with our nurse practitioner, but as my mama used to say, "It was a hurry up and wait situation!" Hurry to get there and wait to be seen! After reviewing his history and most recent scan, he was finally in a room around 11 last night, and that was after starting our day with a 7:30 arrival for his PET scan! Yep, it was a pretty long day...

Today, we've seen the PA from his urologist's office but not yet a surgeon for the actual abscess. We know that he will need a stent in his left kidney along with the repair of the abscess.  We are anxiously waiting to see the oncologist as well as the colon surgeon. We need a plan! I will say that although this was a totally unforeseen bump in the road, we are happy to finally be getting some answers. For the UTI to not have been fully resolved after his last hospitalization with all the antibiotics they pumped in him has been concerning, to say the least. When I asked why this wasn't detected on his last visit, I was told that because he only had one type bacteria in his system, there was no cause to perform a scan at that time. Umm, okay. (I did ask that the PET scan be performed during his previous hospitalization, but hey, what do I know?) I was told he needed to "feel better" before doing the scan, so yeah, look where that got us! If I sound a little frustrated, irritated, peeved, or perhaps some more unladylike terms, I am! I have my share of experience advocating for family members, and I like to think I do it in a manner appropriate to my southern upbringing, but sometimes I've learned you have to remind physicians that while they may have many patients, YOU have only one of the individual for whom you're advocating, and NO ONE wants what's best for your loved one more than you!

There will be more to share at some point, but for now, you can most likely find me circling I-285 trying to figure out where to exit this crazy road! Please, "Jesus, take the wheel!"

Taking a Left Turn

I'm not a very good blogger; I think I'm a decent writer, but blogger? No. I say this because I'm just NOT CONSISTENT! Among the traits of really good bloggers is consistency, and considering the last time I wrote anything in this blog (prior to today) was during the pandemic in 2020, I'd say my track record isn't exactly breaking records. 

At the time I began blogging in 2005 (or sharing, writing, tracking, whatever you want to call it,) Facebook wasn't an option. In fact, it didn't become an option outside the world of college students until 2006. Therefore, if you wanted to keep a group of people up-to-date on what was happening in a particular situation or life event, writing a blog was an excellent way to share without making multiple phone calls or writing dozens of emails. Thanks to a sweet friend, my very first blog entitled "Prayers for Jon" began in 2005. Within a couple of years, that blog evolved into this one because it soon became evident that when one person in a family is affected by a traumatic illness or issue, the journey becomes much farther reaching. It impacts not only the immediate family but also those who have embraced the family members whether recently or over a long period of time. Through each of our life journeys, we have been blessed to be surrounded by prayer warriors--many of whom have been total strangers--as well as physical sustenance. You know in the South when people don't know what to do, they feed you! :)

When we change directions or the course of a conversation, we often say we're, "Taking a left turn." So now, we're simply taking a left turn. We've traveled difficult roads before as a family, and we're on yet another one, a familiar and yet not-so-familiar one. Once again, we don't know the destination, but once again, we're trusting in God's presence during our travels. This time, I'm older, wiser (I hope,) and even stronger in my faith knowing that only through trusting in God to be our travel agent will we arrive safely.