Sliding into the Week like "Whoooo!"

Some reasons to smile

Oh, the joy of being an adorable tot with a playground to roam!

So much to be grateful for today! I don’t believe in false positivity or performative thankfulness or forced optimism—and so I share these bits of good news with great appreciation to have an opportunity to “rejoice with those who rejoice.”

I went to Ninewells for yet what was turning into a weekly check on my stubborn neutrophils. And they have finally rebounded! I can restart my targeted therapy! Because it has taken so long for them to recover, they are reducing the dose to see if my white blood count can manage to stabilize longer. But I am so thankful to be able to resume this treatment.

The next day, Dave flew out for an academic conference in the States and the opportunity to see his family. A few short months ago, we had no idea whether it would be possible for him to leave for any length of time. A few months before that, it would have been utterly impossible for him to leave at all—I required help with everything from getting out of bed to getting dressed to getting a shower to getting into my chair. And now I am stable enough that he can be away for personal and professional pursuits.

Rather than leave me entirely to my own devices (and eating nothing but cereal for a week!), my dear friend Jen is here while Dave is away. I do not exaggerate when I say that I am blessed to know the most wonderful people in the world. Jen is a friend whose gifts to me span everything from practical help in the kitchen (grocery shopping, cleaning out my fridge, planning meals, feeding friends who came to help move furniture!) to hours of thoughtful, meaningful conversation. I’m grateful to Jen’s family, too, for sharing her time so generously. (You can also be blessed by Jen’s gifts! She might not come clean out your fridge, but you can read her marvelous books, along with many thoughtful articles. Or subscribe to her newsletter!)

There have been other blessings in the past week, including finally sorting some details that make daily life a little easier, more comfortable, and more functional for me. But definitely the cutest blessing was being able to meet baby Ava in person (and see her beautiful mom, Becky)!

For these your many blessings, Lord, I give you praise.

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