I mentioned my Schipperke family on Facebook in my last post Wednesday July 28. This may be the most loving, selfless and caring bunch of people on the planet. It should also be noted that there are a couple of people in our "group" who don't have Schipperkes. One of the friends is a lovely young woman in California who has a precocious chihuahua who we had made an "honorary" Schipperke. We also got together and collected funds to help this precious lady and her husband get a Schip.
David's mom called today and said that Dad had gone to the post office and picked up a very large box addressed to me in care of my in-laws. Huh? She spelled the name and said the return address....and I knew it was from one of my Schipperke mom friends.
I was NOT feeling good today. Upset stomach, dizzy, etc.etc,... I just wasn't feeling well. We went over to Mom and Dad's house. I was astonished by the size of the box.
Opening this box and discovering its contents was one of the top 3 memorable times of my life. I have never personally experienced such an outpouring of love and support. Tears of joy started and flowed freely as I carefully examined each of the little treasures, thoughtfully chosen for me.... in a basket... in the box.
But there was more in the box. I removed the colorful tissue paper that basket had been on, and -----whoa----there was a quilt.
Not just any quilt. These amazing women had collaborated on this amazing quilt project. Each friend had provided one or more squares for the quilt. Some of the squares were photos of them and their dog(s), transferred to the cloth. Some were comments, encouraging thoughts. Some squares were decorative. One of the women took on the formidable task of sewing all the squares together and physically creating the quilt.
I was so stunned and overcome with emotion as I examined each square of the quilt. David filmed the whole box-opening process while Dad watched from the sofa and Mom was there with me on the floor. These precious women --from all over the USA, and the world--- had been plotting this---with David's knowlege since the time of my surgery.
Another example of God's perfect timing. Back in June when I had the pneumonectomy surgery, we were still talking about a CURE for the lung cancer....and probably also for the breast cancer cause it's so early. Shortly before the quilt arrived, new CT and PET scans showed that I have metastasis to the spleen and possibly the left scapula. These findings took me from a potentially "curable" stage IIIa to a Stage IV---where all we can really hope for is some kind of remission.
A lymph node is now lighting up in my left axilla (armpit) that had not lit up before. So...things had become more complicated since my surgery, and the prognosis much worse.
So, when the quilt arrived, I was still trying to get my head wrapped around that. The love and care that went into the making of that quilt just boggles my mind. I am so humbled that these friends care enough about me to do something so wonderful.
The quilt has a place of honor in our living room. It's hanging from special wooden clamps attached to the wall. I can easily remove it at any time---and just wrap myself up in it when I feel sick---or am feeling blue and need a boost.
I am so blessed to have so MANY people pulling for me. All my colleagues at work, my church family, my family, my husband, my Facebook family. I can just imagine everyone in my mind...around me, walking with me into the unknown. The Lord has blessed me with these companions for my journey. I pray that He will use this experience to bless them. They are walking with me -- as I follow Him---
"Where He leads me, I will follow...". We can enjoy the journey as we consider the joy of love and friendship, hope and faith.
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