118 The Message

Psalm 118


Thank God because he's good, because his love never quits.

Tell the world, Israel,

"His love never quits."

And you, clan of Aaron, tell the world,

"His love never quits."

And you who fear God, join in,

"His love never quits."



5-16 Pushed to the wall, I called to God;

from the wide open spaces, he answered.

God's now at my side and I'm not afraid;

who would dare lay a hand on me?

God's my strong champion;

I flick off my enemies like flies.

Far better to take refuge in God

than trust in people;

Far better to take refuge in God

than trust in celebrities.

Hemmed in by barbarians,

in God's name I rubbed their faces in the dirt;

Hemmed in and with no way out,

in God's name I rubbed their faces in the dirt;

Like swarming bees, like wild prairie fire, they hemmed me in;

in God's name I rubbed their faces in the dirt.

I was right on the cliff-edge, ready to fall,

when God grabbed and held me.

God's my strength, he's also my song,

and now he's my salvation.

Hear the shouts, hear the triumph songs

in the camp of the saved?

"The hand of God has turned the tide!

The hand of God is raised in victory!

The hand of God has turned the tide!"



17-20 I didn't die. I lived!

And now I'm telling the world what God did.

God tested me, he pushed me hard,

but he didn't hand me over to Death.

Swing wide the city gates—the righteous gates!

I'll walk right through and thank God!

This Temple Gate belongs to God,

so the victors can enter and praise.



21-25 Thank you for responding to me;

you've truly become my salvation!

The stone the masons discarded as flawed

is now the capstone!

This is God's work.

We rub our eyes—we can hardly believe it!

This is the very day God acted—

let's celebrate and be festive!

Salvation now, God. Salvation now!

Oh yes, God—a free and full life!



26-29 Blessed are you who enter in God's name—

from God's house we bless you!

God is God,

he has bathed us in light.

Festoon the shrine with garlands,

hang colored banners above the altar!

You're my God, and I thank you.

O my God, I lift high your praise.

Thank God—he's so good.

His love never quits!

I Never Promised You A Rose Garden

Last Tuesday, I returned home from surgery, slightly addled and mostly nauseous. This is my typical response and nothing to be alarmed about. I stumbled groggily from the car to my bed, elbow-guided in the right direction by my resident stud muffin, Kevie-Kev. He doesn’t let me run into walls or anything and he always holds the plastic throw-up tub for me, even though it grosses him out. Once I was settled, mom brought in a vase of beautiful roses, (pink, of course, I’m sure you see the connection) and said, “Look what came for you!” My brother David and his lovely wife Caroline had sent flowers to brighten my day. I lay in the growing twilight, admiring my flowers with a loopy grin on my face.

By Friday, two more arrangements had joined the first and my room smelled like a flower garden. I was beginning to feel glamorous like Zsa Zsa Gabor, who I always see photographed with massive sprays of fresh flowers sprinkled behind her, and even when I came up the stairs, and my bedroom door was closed; I could still smell the flowers. I was reading in bed on Saturday, when Sher came into my room. She said, “What’s that smell? It smells in here!” My Zsa Zsa bubble promptly burst. Laters

Hey, Nice Rack!

thanks to Google for the pic- sorry, I have no idea who to credit

Another surgery tomorrow- a lumpectomy, sentinel node biopsy and probably radiation in a few weeks. The results from the last reconstructive surgery were so awesome, that I’ve convinced myself that I need to do some kind of public showing of the new breasts before they go under the knife again. I am thinking something spectacular, something I could get arrested for, something that will make the newspapers, but to be honest, the best I will probably do is to go sans bra in my fuzzy bathrobe when I take the dog out to potty. You know, in the dark and all.

I’m hoping not to lose the girls when this is all said and done. It looks like they will be around for quite a while, but I suppose that you can never tell with these kinds of things.

I was thinking of a funny story though, a friend that I knew from some years ago had a double mastectomy and the night before the surgery, she and her husband had a goodbye party for her breasts and it was very symbolic and therapeutic for them. They even had a trumpet in the mix to herald the occasion. That is my favorite part of the story, I can just see them….marching solemnly around the room, blowing the trumpet,  “dah-dah-dah…… we now say good bye to the breasts!!” How sweet were they?
I thought we should try it, but I doubt I could convince the hubby, and besides, where would I get a trumpet at this late hour? Not very likely; though we might have a kazoo abandoned in a toy box or a recorder from school band. Hmmmm..... all good ideas, but maybe I’ll save it for later. You know, just in case.  I would appreciate your prayers tomorrow. Laters.

That Look

A trip to the City on Saturday. I went for some new shoes, but got an American Girl doll instead for Sher. I guess that's just the way this mothering thing goes.

We have visited the store several times, but my cheap little heart could never pull the trigger on a doll that cost more than most of the clothes I own. But Saturday, after multiple trips of being put off, Sher had that "look" as we waked around the store; me fingering tags, wincing at the prices, she looking longingly at the rows of dolls in cardboard cases. She got one- I couldn't bear the "look" in her eyes. She held her doll lovingly all day, frequently kissing the top of her head, making sure her tiny, purple shoes didn't fall off as we walked through Central Park. She named her Christina Elizabeth, but only after making sure I approved of the name. She loves stories, so I told her the one about how her name was almost Elizabeth, but that we settled on Sheridan at the last minute. It made the name feel just right. I am the biggest sucker ever, but was also informed that I am the "best mommy ever," so I'll take that as one of the dearest compliments I've ever received. Laters.