Prayer for Kelly

A little over two years ago my sister, Kelly, was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast Cancer. Some doctors expected her to only live a mere six months. But she's still here over two years later. In fact, for almost an entire year now, she has been feeling great and her body has slowly been healing! Each new check-up brings new encouraging news about the progress of her diagnosis. At one point, she was even given the label "NED" (no evidence of disease).

She is on several medications and maintenance drugs to help fight off the aggressive cancerous cells. About a month ago, she went in for her bone treatment and began feeling terribly the following day. Many people have reactions to this treatment, but she had not had any for the last two years. So why start now? Then, on Thursday, they did her quarterly round of tests to make sure things were still progressing positively. Today, she met with the doctor. Bad news.

Apparently the pain she has had for the past month is not a reaction to the medicine as previously hoped. The cancer is attacking her bones again. This time, it's attacking more than the bones. There are three spots in her liver (so small they can not even take a biopsy of them). She will begin again with chemotherapy within the next week or so. She is already taking several pain pills each day so that she can function as normally as possible. With the added effects of chemotherapy, the next few months could be exhausting!

SO

Please send a prayer for her and her family. Pray specifically for her strength - both physically, mentally, and emotionally. Pray for her husband and two sons, that they can be strong for her, but will have someone to lean on themselves. Please pray for my mom, brother and I. Prayers for a miracle are appreciated as well!

Favorite Recipe

I thought I would share with you my favorite recipe. I tried it for the first time in college the night of Ring Dance. I've since made it a few more times including Christmas Eve and will be making it tonight (Valentine's Day). It's from the Betty Crocker Quick & Easy Cookbook.

Ingredients:
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped (I use more)
1 tablespoon butter or margarine
2 teaspoons packed brown sugar (I usually use 3)
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
1/4 cup water
4 slices tomato
4 slices Swiss cheese, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon chopped fresh or 1/2 teaspoon dried basil leaves

1. Cook garlic in butter in 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, just until garlic begins to turn golden brown. Stir in brown sugar until melted.
2. Sprinkle salt over chicken. Add chicken to skillet. Cook, turning once, until brown. Add water. Cook over medium heat 8-10 minutes, turning once, until chicken is glazed and no longer pink when centers of thinkest pieces are cut and liquid has evaporated. Chicken will be golden brown. Watch carefully to prevent scorching!
3. Top each chicken piece with tomato slice, cheese, and basil. Cover and heat 1-2 minutes until cheese is melted.

I usually make it with sauteed garlic and broccoli. Let me know if you try and like it!

So I have been tagged by the Stillers in an interesting blogger tagging game! Unfamiliar? Well, here are five things you may not know about me:

1. I started gymnastics when I was three years old and started lifting weights when I was six years old. I quit when I was twelve, to give cheerleading a try. I was a cheerleader my Freshmen year of high school. I don't tell many people about this, so shhhh!!! Only two of my co-workers have uncovered this secret so far (and that's only because Chris told them)!

2. I drank an entire blender filled with chocolate milkshake in a mere 24 minutes. Why?? To dunk my Aggie Ring of course!! I dunked my ring with two friends, Joel and J. Joel drank a pitcher of freshly opened Root Beer in 6 minutes (only threw up three times). J forced down a pitcher of room temperature coffee in 31 minutes. J and I didn't feel so well afterwards...

3. I keep all of my clothes in the closet evenly spaced out. When I bring out a shirt from the closet, I respace the entire row so that they are even once again. I space out Chris' clothes as well. Every time I go into the closet, I make sure his clothes are evenly spaced. He makes no effort to help me out though.

4. I LOVE to cook! I really like chicken, but I HATE cleaning it. I usually make Chris do this dirty task. I don't cook as much as I would like, but I enjoy it when I do have the time. If I didn't work, I would have a home-cooked meal on the table everyday waiting for Chris when he got home. For now, he only gets a cooked meal a few days a week. Poor Chris.

5. I absolutely HATE driving on tall bridges. Tall to me is basically anything not on the ground. My first year coaching, I actually tried to get someone else drive the bus simply so I wouldn't have to drive on one of the connecting overpasses. Don't worry, I'm working on this one and have since driven on many overpasses both in the bus and in my car.

Well, I'm supposed to tag 5 people, but I don't think I know 5 people with blogs. So, the only one left that hasn't been tagged is Kelly !