The Oak Tree

This weekend was a wonderful experience! I came home from Tulsa Friday Night. My dear friend Karen and I went shopping and celebrated Life! Then Saturday, I went with my church congregation (we call it a Branch or a Ward) to Omaha, Nebraska to visit the Temple there. What is the Temple? you may ask? Well, as Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the temple is the "House of the Lord." It is a sacred building, and after its dedication only faithful members of the Church may enter. Inside, members learn more about the purpose of life and make covenants to serve Jesus Christ and their fellow man. In addition, they participate in religious ceremonies that reach beyond mortality, such as baptisms on behalf of deceased ancestors and eternal marriage.

So, on Saturday I had the wonderful opportunity to be able to go there. Its such an amazing feeling, there is so much peace and clarity. You truly can feel the Lord's presence. Now, for those of you whom may have more questions about the temple, I invite you to click on this link. It is a website that the church as put together to talk more about Temples and their purpose. http://lds.org/temples/faq/0,11264,1904-1,00.html

here is a picture of the Winter Quarter's, Nebraska Temple





Then after going to the temple, I was able to celebrate life some more by seeing my Beautiful RIO family!!! Our dear friend Kelly had a beautiful wedding reception, it was fun to just celebrate her happiness, and everyone's for that matter.

Today was also an amazing day! I was able to go to church and to just feel peace and love there. I just feel so blessed to be alive, to have wonderful friends and family in my life. While I was at church, I heard this WONDERFUL poem that has now stuck with me. I want to share it with all of you!

The Oak Tree
by Johnny Ray Ryder Jr.
A mighty wind blew night and day.
It stole the Oak Tree's leaves away.
Then snapped its boughs
and pulled its bark
until the Oak was tired and stark.
But still the Oak Tree held its ground
while other trees fell all around.
The weary wind gave up and spoke,
"How can you still be standing Oak?"
The Oak Tree said, I know that you
can break each branch of mine in two,
carry every leaf away,
shake my limbs and make me sway.
But I have roots stretched in the earth,
growing stronger since my birth.
You'll never touch them, for you see
they are the deepest part of me.
Until today, I wasn't sure
of just how much I could endure.
But now I've found with thanks to you,
I'm stronger than I ever knew.

So, here is whats going on.. I will be doing Chemotherapy on Mondays, every 14 days for the next 4 months. A total of 8 treatments. So, on those days I will leave Sunday night, and then come back home HOPEFULLY Monday nights, just depending on what time they start the Chemo. The Cancer Treatment Center has been a HUGE blessing to me, even though it is far, I know that it is the best place for me at this time. Then, once they are finished with Chemo, I will have to do Radiation therapy as well, the length of that will be determined based on the size of the tumor. Oh and for those who have been asking. My lovely tumor is about the size of an iphone. Weird huh? It doesn't hurt, I do get winded fairly easily, but other than that I rarely notice it. The cancer is Stage 2, but is the most curable of them all. According to my friend, its like I won the cancer lottery! haha (thank you for that!) the past week in Tulsa was physically and emotionally exhausting, and I know that it may only get worse before it gets better, but I also know that I am cancer survivor because I am NOT giving up. In a way the cancer has saved me, it has opened my eyes and I feel like I have truly become the STRONG person I was meant to be. I know this sounds weird, but I am kind of looking forward to all this. I know it won't be easy, but I am looking forward to learning, growing, and progressing. And honestly, my body is probably the healthiest it has ever been. I live off of (and have been the past few months now) organic foods, barley grass shakes (they taste like grass, but knowing that they are incredibly good for me makes it go down easier) Acai berry drinks (the healthiest fruit I hear?) and exersise.. lots of it.. Can I tell you? My Body and My Mind have become best friends now. My mind tells my body to keep going when it feels like it can't take anymore poking and stress. And my body tells my mind to "shut up" (what? thats how friendships work.. you know you are close to someone when you can tell them to "shut up") My body also tells my mind that .. actually I really don't know, but I know that they are working together for the first time ever and that is something I know I have needed for a long time. I think we all need that.
So, my challenge for you... Make YOUR body and YOUR mind become BFF! Its totally worth it.
Lauren