Little did Tara know when she ran her first mile for the LLS that she would be so connected to Lymphoma. I really feel that this was a "God thing" and that He orchestrated the whole thing. (Just the fact that Tara ran a marathon is a miracle in itself...no offense, honey, but you are too much like me, and if I ran a marathon it would be a TRUE miracle!!)

I can attest that the LLS does a great job with education and helping those affected by these diseases. Please do not feel pressured to donate, but keep Tara in your prayers as she trains. She has a very hectic schedule and needs to stay healthy!

Carli left this afternoon for Grove City. She is making sure that things are all set for her to return there in January. Plus, it has been a while since she has seen her friends. Many of her good friends are seniors, and she has limited time to spend with them. It will also be nice for her to see how Kelsie is really doing :)

Please continue in prayer for this next round of chemo. It is getting more difficult for Carli with every treatment. But, hopefully ONLY 2 MORE!!!!

Team in Training

Hey everyone,

This is Tara trying out the whole blogging thing for the first time! Many of you know that in 2006 I trained and ran in the Columbus Cap City Half-marathon and the San Francisco Nike women's marathon. I trained and participated through an organization called Team in Training. This organization raises money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma society and more than 75% of the money raised goes to the society. All the donations go towards research as well as resources for families. When I origionally participated I had no ties to Leukemia or Lymphoma however I felt that the mission of the society was strong. I still feel that the society has a strong mission only now I have a very strong tie to that mission.

I am training to run the Columbus Cap City Half-Marathon again this April and I am raising money to support the fight against Leukemia and Lymphoma. I will be doing this in honor of my sister as well as others fighting the same battle. I will be training over the next several months as well as raising money for the society. If you would like to help me by donating please visit my website www.active.com/donate/tntcoh/tntcohTAnders1 and donate online. I could also use your prayers and encouragement as running that far is no easy feat (and this time I know just how far I have to run!) I also realize that many of you have been touched by someone with cancer and if you would like me to run in their honor as well please let me know and I will attach a ribbon to my jersey with their name. Your donation is tax deductible and if you would like to know more about the society you can read more at http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org.

Thank you so much and have a great holiday season!
Tara

We had a great weekend. Saturday was the Kohler Thanksgiving. We had about 35 people here and it is great food and lots of talking and laughing. I am thankful for a finished basement for the kids to play in, and for my niece's husband who stays with them and keeps them occupied! They are so good at cleaning up the basement that you'd never know there were a bunch of kids down there!

Carli ate as much as she could, but the commotion really gets to her so she spent much of the evening in her room. She still wasn't feeling well and she feels bad if she doesn't eat, and then after she does, after a while she feels yucky again. She really can't win!

Sunday she taught her last day of Sunday School (the quarter ended) and then felt tired and nauseated so she went home. I miss her now when she can't go to church. It was so nice to have Kelsie, Tara and Todd there. Feels good when the girls are home. The past week went so fast-Carli said that it went very slow for her...I can only imagine that the hours drag on when you don't feel well.

Pray for her to start sleeping better. She said that she just can't stay asleep and then she is tired in the morning. I can relate to that. Part of the battle is just trying to do what she can to feel better, and sleep sure would help.

Last night we went to see "Enchanted". If you want to see a corny but hilariously funny movie, go see it! Carli went with us and it was good to have her laugh! There weren't many people in the theater, and we felt like we were the only ones laughing out loud. Oh well...we had a good time!

Hard to believe that Thanksgiving is almost over for another year. Carli did not feel well enough to come to our church worship service, but Jeremy brought her for part of the Thanksgiving Sale. It is an amazing time with our church family and guests...time for fellowship and purchasing some unique items brought by members of our church for an auction. The proceeds go to local, national and international missions. We were so surprised when our church decided to make Carli one of the recipients. The love and support from our congregation never lets up! She has been concerned about finances, and wants to be able to continue with missions once she is able. Just another huge blessing. This will allow her a little breathing room when taking care of school expenses. You can imagine how "broke" she really is after 8 plus months with no job and unexpected things that come up. Plus, her tuition will be due soon as well as expensive books...being a biology major is an expensive one as far as textbooks are concerned.

Her appetite wasn't the greatest today (even though Ted's stepmom Lee made an amazing meal). She didn't feel well and slept on the couch most of the afternoon. Tonight she has the bloated and achiness again. But, that is what she has learned to expect at this point after chemo. Each day will get better...

My family is all here on Saturday...she is worried that a lot of noise and commotion bother her. I said that noone will mind if she goes up to her room for some peace and quiet. My brother Gary is coming from Connecticut which will be nice...Sally has to work, though. we'll miss having her here. Hopefully Carli's appetite will be better by then!

She's trying to talk me out of making her get her last round of chemo! I told her I would take her if I had to drag her kicking and screaming. Tonight she made one of the first comments that let me know she is worried about her tests coming up in January. I said that it will be nice to be this time next year when she is fine and back to her "normal" life...and she said "maybe I will be". Please pray for her to perk up a little quicker this time, and give her peace about the next 2 treatments. I think that we all need that peace...the peace that only Jesus can give. Tonight I was watching Gray's Anatomy with the girls and Dr. Bailey said"I'm callin' on Jesus" before a surgery. That's what I need to do often...keep callin' on Jesus.

I guess I am in a little trouble for posting that photo! Carli thinks that she looks sick...I think that both of them look like we have been walking around all afternoon! We did have fun, but for some reason we all were very tired and don't have the same shopping stamina that we used to!

Carli got chemo #14 today. Jeremy took her...she wanted him to see what she really goes through on chemo days. I didn't do much relaxing, however, as it is almost easier to be there than to be wondering how she is doing. She said that she asked Dr. Stallings why she is getting sicker as she goes along, and he said that your body just kind of gets tired of the whole process. No kidding! I thought that maybe your body would get used to it, but I guess that it is the other way around. The good news is...only 2 more treatments!!!

She is feeling pretty yucky tonight, her mouth is already bothering her, but she did manage to eat a little. Ice cream and jello were the fare of the evening. She feels better if she eats a little bit of something frequently...instead of letting her stomach get completely empty. She never knows what she will get hungry for. Can be kind of frustrating for the cook! Thank goodness we have a pantry and freezers. We are blessed to have enough to eat, and are very thankful for our many blessings.

Noone who knows me can believe that I have been at a loss for words! This week has been a long one, but not terribly eventful. Carli has been feeling OK but very tired. She just doesn't have any stamina...she did get her Camp scrapbook done, however. It is huge with many wonderful photos and memories. She really lets her artistic side show when she scrapbooks!

This photo is from last Saturday at Easton in Columbus. Tara, Carli and I had fun shopping, or I should say "looking"!

We got a wonderful surprise tonight. Carli got a letter in the mail from Grove City, and Ted and I just assumed it was her tuition invoice for the coming intercession and semester. She opened it after we finished dinner...and it is a small scholarship for next semester! An alumni couple who lost a son that had graduated in '99 set up the scholarship fund for a student that has overcome physical hardship in order to continue their education at Grove City College. What a blessing that we never expected! God continues to show us he is walking with us through this very trying time in our lives. We are so thankful.

Please pray for a better week this week! Yesterday Carli and I went to see Tara and Todd in Columbus, and we went to Easton for a little while. Saw Jane and her mom who happened to be there for the weekend which was an added bonus!

Only problem...Carli thinks that she overdid it. Today she felt really yucky and had Kelsie teach her Sunday School class for her. (Kelsie came home yesterday afternoon to see Dalton High School's fall production). It was nice to have both girls home today, even though Carli was pretty low-key. It is fun to hear them talk about things at Grove City and listen to each girl's interpretation. It is really hard for Kelsie right now, her classes are really tough. It was nice to have Carli tell her that she WILL survive and that she is looking forward to being on campus with her for spring semester. I am believing that this will happen...

Ted and Jeremy went to Camp Friedenswald this weekend for Men's Retreat. I am so glad that Ted went, and Carli can't wait to hear stories from Jeremy (especially since they spent 9 hours total in the car together!). Camp is Jeremy's home away from home, and Ted needed some R&R. Carli was excited that her 2 guys got to go to camp...her favorite place!

I'm not superstitious, but week #13 is not treating Carli well! She still is very sick tonight with a headache, body aches and a bloated tummy. She managed 2 scrapbook pages today, but was too sick to go to class tonight. Thankfully her professor understands (and recently missed class herself d/t illness) and is coming in early next week to help Carli catch up. So many people have been so wonderful. I wonder if some day (if not now) Carli will realize how many people supported in her in so many ways. When I start having a pity party with myself, I have to stop and be thankful for all of the wonderful things that have happened.

There is an amazing young man (15) at school with Muscular Dystrophy. He has no muscle control over any part of his body, is totally reliant on others for every aspect of his life, has recently been told that he cannot take anything by mouth, but yet he keeps his sense of humor and keeps coming to school just to socialize and see his friends. What a witness he has been to me these past few weeks. When I think that God is being cruel, I think of this student and how he never complains about the situation that he is in. Please pray for him and his family for strength and courage to face what's ahead. The other day I was rubbing an ice cube over his lips and tongue, and I thought of what Christ had to endure for us. The song by Mark Schultz "I Have Been There" played over in my head. Jesus really does understand what we are going through...He has been there!

chemo week #13

Got the test results today. Dr. S said that the nodes in the spleen are gone, and the chest ones improved since the CT in August, but they are not gone yet. He still recommends 2 more rounds of chemo, which would put her last chemo date on December 17. She will have chemo the week of Thanksgiving, which she isn't too happy about, but she will be off for her birthday! Thank God for small favors. Anyway, she asked Dr. S what next, and what if the CT still isn't clear. He said that after Christmas, probably the end of January, he will order a PET scan, which will show if there is any cancer activity still there. If there isn't, we're good and she will have periodic check-ups and CT scans. If it is still showing, then they would consider stem cell transplant using her own stem cells. (If I understood everything right). Please pray that she will be done in December! She is really hoping to do intercession at GCC in January, and already has her schedule figured out and is working with GCC to get everything in line.

Her chemo went fairly well today (no emesis)-she had to fight it during the "red devil", but she won! If that isn't a metaphor for life, I don't know what is!! Hopefully she will continue to be OK as I have parent-teacher conferences tonight, and Jeremy has to work. Hopefully Ted will be able to stay home with her. Time for some father-daughter bonding :)

Emily and Rob's wedding

OK, so I'm not the greatest at these posts...but you will get the "gist"...the wedding was beautiful and the bride and the bridesmaids were stunning! There were many friends from Grove City there, and Carli loved seeing them. She held up pretty well...she even did some swing-dancing with her swing partner from GCC (Seth). I didn't know that either one of them could dance so well! We were amazed...they really burned up the dance floor! Jeremy got stuck sitting with the parents (we were sitting with Todd's parents...it was fun to talk about the wedding of '04) and hopefully we didn't bore him too badly.

It is a blessing to have the time change tonight, as tomorrow morning Carli teaches Sunday School and she isn't home yet....

Chemo Kitty

This little kitty followed Carli and Jeremy when they were on a walk...she adopted it, of course (never hurts to have free vet care) and now it is living with us. When I put my foot down and say that I don't want another cat, she gives me those eyes and says "but she's my chemo kitty". How am I supposed to react to that? I really don't want to care for any more animals, especially when she goes back to school. But, she really is enjoying the kitty and it keeps her company. We'll see how this all ends up in future weeks!! If any of you have any suggestions for a mom that really doesn't like cats, let me know!!!

I can't believe that it is November already! Carli said that having this second week off was like "Christmas". Tonight she said that she can't believe how much better she feels at the end of the second week. She did two half days of job shadowing this week-one at Healthpoint in Wooster, and one with the PT that works for Wooster City Schools. She is strongly thinking about physical therapy, is looking at schools that offer it, and is trying to get her schedule put together for next semester at GCC. She is going to try to graduate next December (08) and hopefully start grad school the following September.

After going to the different schools and working with children (some had cerebral palsy, some muscular dystrophy, and other diagnoses) she said "I can so see myself doing that...I loved it!" That is nice to hear, as she has really been wondering what direction she is going to go. She has always said that she wanted to be a vet, but now is leaning toward PT.

I am just so thankful that she will have the opportunity to move on with her life. This week was a gift. Now on to the wedding this weekend! Looks like a good weekend for Emily and Rob....